“That’s great, Leon,” Charley said. She had to get out of here before Rod realized he’d misplaced his gun and came back to look for it.
“I’d like to show you the car.”
“Leon, I apologize, but I’ve got to cut our visit short. I have a prior commitment and I need to be on my way.”
“You do?” In addition to the fresh wounds on his freckled face, Leon appeared pale and more gaunt than usual. The last time he’d exhibited even a slight smile was the day he’d said she should rename her store theLittle Shop of Horrors. Today hisexpression was completely bland again. “If I get the car running, maybe I can pick you up later. For dinner?”
“I can’t today.” Charley remembered Sully finding out from Owen the caliber of bullet in Rod’s gun. She would take his gun straight to Sully and Owen. She knew that since CSPD was in possession of the report on the bullet taken from her mother during the coroner’s autopsy, they could test Rod’s gun. Rod Vaughn could either be eliminated or confirmed as a suspect in her mother’s murder and thus, the man who attacked her. When the cell phone in her pocket rang, she jumped. “Hello?” It was Sully. She couldn’t explain what she was dealing with in front of Leon but tried to sound as normal as possible. “Sully, I promise I’m on my way. Right now.”
“Charley, we need to talk,” Leon said and closed the front door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Where is Charley?” Sully asked his dad while sitting in the hospital bed, fully dressed.
“Was she driving from Triple C-West?” Owen replied, having just returned from the country with a change of clothes for Sully. Sully’s boots had survived the car crash, but the torn and bloody clothes he’d had on in the ER had been thrown out. “It’s Tuesday, a workday, and the traffic could be slowing her down.”
“I assumed she was with Chloe on Triple C-West or maybe at her log cabin.” Sully rubbed his forehead. “I told her I didn’t want her in Old Colorado City without me.”
“I fully understand your concern.” Owen nodded. “So far, Burt Groves has no solid leads on the person who attacked Charley and shot her mother.”
“Talk about kicking yourself a hundred times,” Sully said. “I wish we’d bought Vaughn’s gun when given the chance.”
“And maybe you would have if it had been you in the gun store when Vaughn came in that day instead of Roy.”
“Maybe.”
“Burt told me CSPD has DNA on the guy who is strangling and stabbing women, but none of the suspects they haveinterrogated so far have been a match,” Owen said and rubbed the crease in his brow. “The cops need a break in the Cave Killer case. Right now.”
“Yeah,” Sully grumbled. “Anything new that might suggest the Cave Killer also murdered Charley’s mother and attacked Charley?”
“The police haven’t ruled that out. But personally, I don’t think it’s the same guy because the MOs don’t match,” he said, referring to the method of operations: one involving a gun and an attack versus a knife and strangling.
“I agree about the MOs. Dammit.” Sully nodded and repeated, “Where is Charley?”
“Charley is an independent and brave young woman, Sully,” Owen said, taking a seat beside Sully’s bed. “She’s been through a hell of a lot in a short time. Don’t underestimate her capabilities. And she has that SIG Sauer P365 you gave her.”
“Yeah, she does,” Sully said. “But if I knew she was at her apartment right now, I’d leave the hospital, discharged or not and go get her.”
“Since you’re not officially discharged yet, give Charley a few more minutes.”
“I’m going to call her again.”
Sully picked up his cell, just as the nurse entered the room with his discharge paperwork. He placed his cell on the bed and tried to pay attention to the instructions. The hospital had already made an outpatient follow-up appointment for him with Dr. Sankari. He was told the external stitches would dissolve. Sully was informed to immediately call the doctor or return to the ER with any pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, passing out, or bleeding. Sully signed the paperwork indicating he understood and swung his legs off the bed.
“Mr. Custis, you’re discharged and good to go,” the nurse told him.
“I’m expecting someone to meet me here, so may I wait for a few more minutes?”
“Of course. Take your time,” the nurse said.
“Thanks.” Sully picked up his cell again and scrolled for Charley’s number.
“Hi,” Charley said, passing the nurse and bopping into his room.
“Charley, where have you been?” Sully all but barked.
“Hi, Charley,” Owen said with a fatherly frown at Sully. “Great to see you.”
