“Something like that,” Nolan replied calmly.“The guys called me over. I came by and took her to my place. Fed her. She seems a little steadier now.”
“Nolan…” Jasper started, but Nolan cut him off.
“Listen, maybe we should meet up. Talk. Man to man.”
“I don’t have time. Say it now.”
Nolan let out a heavy breath, as if what he was about to say tasted unpleasant.
“Okay… she wants to hire me. She wants me to dig. To figure out what’s true and what’s just those online reporters blowing smoke.”
A chill ran through Jasper’s body.
“Don’t you dare get involved,” he snapped.“Everything she read is a lie. A setup. A fake. Tell her that. Take the job, take her money, but in a couple of days hand her a fake report.”
“Jasper,” Nolan scoffed.“I’m not stupid. I knew something was off the moment I saw you two together. I thought she was just related to your ex, since Lynn looks so much like her. Turns out she’s the mom.”
“Enough,” Jasper cut him off.
“All right,”Nolan sighed.“But you’re gonna have to either tell her the truth or come up with something unbelievably convincing. The kid’s smart.”
Jasper didn’t answer. He just breathed.
“What about that bastard?” he finally asked.
“Give me more time. We’re not going easy on him this round. And we’re sure as hell not waiting for the law to take its sweet time.”
“Don’t spare the money,” Jasper said quietly.“This is personal now.”
“I’ll prep everything properly.”
“And… thanks for Lynn. Keep an eye on her, okay? I’ll stop by tonight. Try talking to her.”
“Better tomorrow. She’s fired up. Won’t wanna see you. No offense.”
“I’m surprised, Nolan,” Jasper said sharply.“Giving parenting advice when you don’t have kids of your own.”
“Yeah, well, I can still tell when someone screwed up spectacularly,” Nolan shot back with a smirk.“You’ve got one shot, Jasper. Don’t miss.”
“I won’t,” Jasper said, his voice low. He hung up.
He stood there for a few seconds, unmoving, the phone still in his hand.
He inhaled deeply, as if that might make things easier.
It didn’t.
Lynn was with Nolan. Frank was still breathing, but not for long. Nina was hanging on by a thread. And Jasper himself was balancing between a past clawing out of its grave and a present splitting apart at the seams.
Time to end this. Jasper turned and headed to the OR. To do the one thing he still did best—save other people’s lives while his own was falling apart.
CHAPTER 47
After work, Jasper didn’t drive home. At the last moment, he jerked the wheel, crossed a double yellow, and cut through traffic toward the antique shop on the corner. Nolan kept his office there—an inconspicuous place, perfect for his kind of business.
Jasper pulled up to the curb, got out, climbed the porch in two steps, and pushed the door open. A bell chimed overhead.
A young man in a white dress shirt stood behind the counter.
