Elizabeth’s eyes flitted around the room and back to Martin’s face before she reached for his hand. "Do you think the police will charge me?"
Martin held on to her. "Depends on the evidence. I'm more worried about your dad sticking his nose into things. Do you have any idea what his interest is about?"
"After finding out what he did, I stopped speaking to him. I never thought he was capable of something that horrible. He and Hal Dufour go back a very long time. They met at the University of Iowa and went to law school together. When my mom got sick, Hal told my father about the opening at Horizon. Now his daughter is dead, and Cecile slapped me when I told her...."
"When you told her what?" Martin’s investigator came through.
She shook her head. “If you look, you'll be able to find out. The autopsy will be redacted for identifiers, but it’s a public document. Viola Dufour was pregnant, and Randy missed it. The pregnancy was in her tube, which can turn life-threatening alone. He rushed her surgery and left pus behind. The combination of the infection and the ruptured tube caused her death."
"It was malpractice?"
"The ME will label it malpractice. I call it manslaughter. The ER attending and staff are facing legal action too. They let him cancel the standard pregnancy test. The hospital and anyone involved with her care are liable. That includes me."
Martin’s brain was swirling. "Try not to worry, Sunshine." He leaned across the small table, his tongue darting to lick a little strawberry jelly from the corner of her mouth. "Would you let me have my people check further?"
"I still can't believe you’re here. Promise me you’ll tell me what you find, no matter what." She rolled her palm in his hand.
He couldn’t make a complete promise. "I will do my best. We’ll make our way through it together. I'm not losing you again, but I need to head out. Will you be alright alone?" He picked up their empty dishes, rinsed them and placed them in the dishwasher.
"No worries...I'll be fine." At his insistence, she wrote down all his phone numbers. They shared a lingering, passionate kiss before he stepped outside.
"Latch the door." Martin stood on the stoop and waited to hear the bolt engage. Anyone could break into her house. When he got to the hospital, he planned to order an alarm system and assign a surveillance detail to her. He wanted his Sunshine safe.
Chapter Ten
Julian and Martin sat in the corner of Austin's hospital room. Two PAs from the Colorado branch worked at Austin's bedside, watching him with eagle eyes.
"Personal security for Elizabeth Reed?" Julian's question came from curiosity and caring.
"Elizabeth...my Sunshine." Martin’s voice cracked, and his eyes dampened.
Julian's eyes lit with awareness. He was one of the few who knew of the girl he lost.
Martin explained their history. "I didn't think. She was honest, sometimes to a fault. She would never fade away. I wrote often, and when I didn't hear from her, I focused the hurt into the training. Week six, I got the news I was accepted to the special warfare rating. I couldn’t deal with more. Back home, she found out she was pregnant. We were each other's first in the back of my pickup. Cliché, huh?”
“Mon frère, originality has never been your strong suit,” Julian teased with caring.
“Her father gave her a choice—abort the baby or marry the banker's kid. I got her background report. Tech is damn thorough. Our baby girl died right after birth." He gulped on the words. "When the cops picked her up for questioning this morning, I found a picture of the baby—Grace."
Julian winced and focused on his friend. “What can I do?”
Martin talked about the letters and her mother's confession, as well as how she found them. "Before I left her house, I took them. She agreed for me to hold them in case the warrant comes down. They are too private, and she doesn't trust they'll stay that way. Her mother's letter is missing; we didn't find it. We’ll try again tomorrow if she doesn't find it tonight."
“I’ll remove them and keep them safe.”
Martin opened his wallet and showed Julian the photo of Grace.
“Mon frère, I'm so sorry. The petite one, Grace, was beautiful."
"Today, after the lawyers left, we talked. The pain and guilt came pouring out from both of us. We’re at an impasse—she believes it’s her fault, and I say it’s mine. We have a lot to learn again, but I love her."
Julian smiled. "What's the problem? See where it takes you. First, dump the guilt. Both of you. Remember what you taught me: guilt is toxic."
"You're right; guilt is toxic. After that comes fear. She's afraid this is a dream. I'm afraid I'll screw up. I feel so foolish about wasting all this time. I don't want to lose another moment with her."
"Enjoy it. Second chances don't happen often."
Martin smiled. "I guess they don't. I asked for her permission to run Knox's murder."
