Matteo put the ambulance into reverse and escaped. “Return to the estate. Move!” Kieran yelled. Ian dialed 911.
“Tiny Tim, report,” Kieran demanded.
The second vehicle stayed with Martin. “He’s alive, but he’s unresponsive and trapped. FD is en route.” Rich and Wesley “Alamo” Crockett climbed in to stabilize Martin’s neck and perform basic first aid.
Entering the gates of the estate, Ian received two more alarming phone calls. Tony Olivetti said, “Whoever did it was either stupid—or there are other people out there interested in dead infant grave desecration. The grave below William’s was robbed three days ago.”
“You know I don’t believe in coincidences.”
“Neither do I. My guy reported the markers are used as foot markers. The pertinent grave is above not below the marker.” Tony stood in the parking lot of the public cemetery. “We have it protected.”
“Tony, we have a situation here. Be careful. I’ll call you back.”
The second call was from Zach Wentworth, one of the men assigned to Sophie Garland. “Ian, I just woke up and called an ambulance. Troy and Ms. Garland are still unconscious.”
Ian grimaced. “Backup is en route.”
Whatever happened to Cassie six years ago was more significant than anyone thought. He wondered if Cassie’s comment about rules from the night before was a scrambled thought, or if the Whitmans were involved in her attack. These precision break-ins to secure homes and apartments without a trace, the grave robbery, the crash, and the drugging of Sophie and six experienced personnel upped the ante. There was big money involved in keeping Cassie quiet. Quiet about what? He needed William’s DNA, and he needed Cassie’s help. He hoped the light of day would make things clearer.
Kieran pulled Tucker from bed and sent him to the hospital to check on Martin, Zach, Troy, Sophie, and the other security staff. As soon as it was safe, Ian wanted Martin transferred to the estate. Hunter assured him the personnel who were drugged would be fine and discharged soon.
* * *
Fresh from a shower, Ian forced down a smoothie while Cassie remained asleep, unaware of anything that happened. His phone beeped with an urgent message from the gatehouse. Before he could send a reply text, the doorbell rang. He plastered a smile on his face and unlocked the door. It was six am.
“Hi, Mom.” He leaned down to give her a kiss. “What are you doing here?”
“Don’t you ‘hi, Mom’ me. I spoke to Kieran; he answers my calls. He told me everything. What do you think I’m doing here? And your father? I will adjust his perception of my expectations later. Why didn’t you ask for my help? Where is she?” Lillian Chase’s brow arched.
Ian had no time to answer before his mother was heading down to the pool house. “Mom, stop.” Ian ran after her. He kept pace with her down the path, explaining as fast as possible what happened in the last ten hours.
“Ian, you are a competent young man, but when it’s personal, you don’t think with any sense. It eats at you—here and here.” Lillian placed a hand on his heart and his belly. “I can hear it in your voice. Dad is in court. He will be here after twelve. I have a bag in the car, and I’m here to help you in any way I can. You’re going to need an extra pair of hands to take care of Martin.”
In minutes, Lillian Chase, dressed in a fluorescent green scrub top decorated with tiny teddy bears and matching green pants, walked into Cassie’s room. The look in Lillian Chase’s eyes compelled Cassie’s brothers to jump to attention. “My word, look at this little girl surrounded by these big men. Everyone out. I need to meet my patient.”
Jamie, Eric, and Pete were sitting in the corner discussing Cassie’s latest bloodwork. “That includes you three. Just leave the chart.” She tilted her head at the physician assistants. “Out. And you must be Eric? Go to bed.” She pointed to his bandage.
The three men filed out. Cassie smiled at how the huge men cowed to a feisty older woman.
“Good morning, Cassie. My name is Lil, Ian and Kieran’s mom. I’m also your nurse. Let me get a look at you.”
Lillian joined the family an hour later. “Aunt Rachel, you can go sit with your girl. She’s asleep. The rest of you gentlemen—and I use the term lightly with this motley crew—need to work out a schedule. You’re not going to overwhelm that young lady. Coma victims need a predictable schedule. Who are Tucker and Pete?”
Pete identified himself. “Tucker is with Farmer…uh… Martin, ma’am.”
“I’m Jamie, Mrs. Chase.”
“From this moment on, it’s Lil. Mrs. Chase is my mother-in-law, and I haven’t been ‘ma’am’ since I left Pearl. I’m sure you know better than to allow all of them in there at once.
“I bathed her and put her in a chair. Just so you know, there is an elopement alarm under her. If she tries to move, we will know. She was comfortable before she fell asleep. I reoriented her to time and place. She’s very upset about last night, but I’m sure you’re aware of that.
“One of you should change the skin graft dressing. It’s oozing again, and her shoulder is very swollen and bruised. The pulse in the right wrist is faint; you will need to tap it. I hung another liter of her nutrition as she needs every calorie she can get. I have a recipe for Ellen. It is high in calories—but without the corn syrup. Cassie might tolerate it better. After reading a bit of her chart, you two and Tucker and Eric keep wonderful notes. I should steal you away to work for me.”
“You can’t have them, Mom,” Ian chuckled.
Lillian’s eyebrow rose in response. “Ian Chase, Cassie has questions. After she wakes up from her nap, you will go in there and answer them. Cassie needs to know the rest of last night’s story. She needs to know why she didn’t get her test. And, yes, I know she forgets. You will keep answering her. We’ll add to the reminder book.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
