He crossed the room and picked up a sheaf of papers tucked in a folder before handing them to Peyton. She flipped through the legal documents. Her hands trembled as she scanned the pages, and Dawson watched her face drain of color. When she looked up at him, there was something raw and panicked in her expression before she quickly shuttered it. “Is this why she called me? To take Grace?”
“It’s possible. Until we find her, we won’t know for sure. But these guardianship papers make things a lot easier for everyone because they allow you to take Grace now. The caseworker will alert the court in the morning, and there may be a hearing, but there’s no reason to believe the judge won’t allow Grace to stay in your care.” He paused, letting that sink in, and then continued softly, “Lilia called you because she believed you’d protect her child. This baby needs you.”
She looked up at him. Steely determination replaced the shock. “You think Grace is in danger.”
He shrugged. “We can’t know for sure, but those guys already had Lilia, and they still came back. For what? We’ve looked through the backpack Lilia hid with Grace. There’s nothing in it besides baby supplies.” Dawson rubbed the back of his neck. “The probability that Grace is in danger is minimal, but it’s something we can’t rule out yet.”
“Dawson’s right,” Chief Garcia intervened. “But Ms. Hughes, taking Grace is your decision. If you don’t want the responsibility, I’ll keep her location secret and do everything in my power to protect her. Would you like a few minutes to think about it?”
She straightened her shoulders. “No. I’ll take her.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Hopefully, Lilia will be found within the next few hours, and this nightmare will be over.” Her fingers brushed against her temple, near her head wound, as if it was aching. “I’ll need transportation back to the train depot to collect my vehicle. And I guess I’ll stay in a hotel nearby. The Limestone Inn near the highway should do.”
“You can’t drive with a concussion,” Dawson interjected. His voice softened as he took in her exhaustion and the blood still matted in her hair. She’d been through the wringer tonight. “I’ll take you to the hotel tonight and arrange for some officers to drop off your vehicle there after the crime scene is processed.”
Peyton offered him a smile of gratitude. “Okay.”
Chief Garcia tilted his head toward the door. “Dawson, may I have a moment, please?”
His tone was polite, but there was no question that the chief had given an order. Dawson dutifully followed his boss to a small alcove. Voices from the nurses' station filtered down the hallway,and the brightness of the fluorescent lights hurt his eyes. He braced himself for the discussion.
When Chief Garcia faced him, there was no judgment in his gaze, only concern. “I’m not one to insert myself into the personal lives of my subordinates, but it’s no secret this case is personal to you. You don’t need to drive Peyton and Grace to the hotel. I can have Liam do it.”
Logically, it might be smart to wash his hands of this here and now. Let Liam take Peyton and Grace to the hotel. His colleague would ensure they got there safely, and Peyton was an armed law enforcement officer, more than capable of handling herself.
And yet…Dawson couldn’t bring himself to take the out. He was in this, and had been from the moment Peyton called. No matter their history and the hurt between them, he would never abandon her.
“I appreciate the offer, sir, but it’s unnecessary.” Dawson straightened his shoulders. “She called me for help, and I want to see this through.”
The chief studied him for a long moment and then nodded. “If that changes, you’ll let me know.”
“Of course, sir.”
As his boss walked away, Dawson took a moment to breathe. Doubt niggled as he second-guessed his decision all over again. It’d take a long time to heal the wounds Peyton had carved in his heart, and already, he could feel her wriggling past his defenses. The history between them was complicated, as were most things in adulthood, and some inner wisdom—maybe faith, maybe just age—urged him toward grace. Peyton had been thrust into a difficult situation, and she was facing it alone.
He couldn’t let her do that. Not when she reached out for his help. So he’d stay. Protect her. Solve this case, and then say goodbye.
For good this time.
FIVE
Darkness pressed against the truck as the bright lights of the hospital faded in the distance. Peyton felt some of the tension in her body loosen as the familiar sights of Knoxville flowed past her window. Charming red-brick buildings flanked by wide sidewalks and large oaks. Dawson eased to a stop at a red light. The cheerful awning of Roasted Beans fluttered in the light breeze, and across the street the last customers were trailing out of Ruby’s BBQ. A smile lifted her lips as Ruby herself came into view, calling out to a woman who’d forgotten her cell phone. They exchanged a few words together and a laugh, and then Ruby lifted a hand in farewell before slipping back inside to lock the door.
Home. She’d missed it.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stop by Ruby’s for something to eat?” Dawson asked from the front seat of his SUV. His gaze met hers in the rearview mirror. “She won’t mind keeping the kitchen open a bit longer.”
“No. I can grab something light at the store. I’m not that hungry.” Peyton glanced at little Grace nestled in her car seat. She’d gobbled down a bottle at the hospital and was now in amilk coma. Her chubby cheeks were tinged with healthy color and dark strands of wavy curls peeked out from underneath the brim of her knitted cap. She was precious.
Lilia’s child. And, at the moment, Peyton’s responsibility. Love and terror mingled together into a ball she couldn’t detangle. The last few hours had been utterly surreal.
The light switched to green and Dawson pulled away from the intersection. The buildings of Knoxville faded into the distance as they headed for the highway. Grace stirred in her car seat, screwing up her face, and then a sound erupted from underneath the blanket that sent Peyton’s eyebrows into her hairline.
“What is happening back there?” Dawson’s mouth quirked in a teasing smile. “You okay, Peyton?”
A laugh bubbled up. “That was not me!” More toots came from Grace. “Good gracious, she’s worse than a grown man!” Peyton dissolved into giggles. Dawson’s accompanying laugh was effortless and contagious.
