Including keeping his mouth shut about her father’s involvement in his presence.

While he knew it was the right thing to do, he still struggled with the guilt. He didn’t want to keep anything from her, but he didn’t want her to die, either.

Because if the threats were valid—and he had no reason to believe they weren’t—it was only a matter of time before someone would strike again.

CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN

Sarah studied Gavin out of the corner of her eye. He’d been quiet since entering the hospital. As well as watchful, all at the same time. Once on Michelle Nelson’s floor, he pulled his phone from his pocket. “I need to make a quick phone call.”

“Sure. I’m just going to head on over to the waiting room.”

He hesitated, then nodded. She noted that he followed her to the room but didn’t enter as he pressed the phone to his ear. He was sticking awfully close. She supposed she should be grateful since it appeared someone might be trying to harm—kill?—her, but she found it kind of unnerving, if she was honest.

She shook off the observation, instead focusing on the two detectives and Caden huddled with Mrs. Nelson’s family in the corner next to the coffeemaker.

She scooted closer, hoping to be able to eavesdrop. Gavin lifted the phone to his ear, then snagged her gaze. The knowing look there sent heat into her cheeks. But it didn’t stop her. She snitched a cup from the stack and filled it, moving slowly, adding cream and sugar. Stirring.

“. . . can’t believe this happened,” the girl to the right of Caden said.

“Is she able to talk?” Detective Attwood asked.

“Yes,” an older woman answered, “more so in the last twenty minutes. She keeps asking about Brianne. We don’t have the heart to tell her the truth, but I think she suspects she’s . . . gone.”

Detective Bancroft settled a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. “Do you think she’d be up to talking to us? It would help a lot if she could.”

“If she’s awake, I’m sure she’d like to try.”

Sarah caught Caden’s eye and he narrowed his. She sipped her coffee and fell into step behind them as they made their way to Michelle’s room.

Caden dropped back. “What are you doing?” He kept his voice low.

“Not investigating—just waiting, like you said I could do.”

He scowled, then sighed. “By the way, Annie tracked down the Max we’ve—they’ve—been looking for. She got some security footage off the main door of the VA hospital and ran some of the faces through the recognition software. One came up Mark Anthony Xia.”

“Max.”