Paul disconnected. He sat for a minute, musing about the sequences of events. He liked to be able to envision things in his head in order to understand how all the loose pieces fit together.
By the time the tow truck had arrived and pulled the SUV out of the ditch, Jace had appeared. He parked his cruiser behind Paul’s, but kept his lights on. Jace stepped out of his vehicle, then sauntered over to meet Paul, looking like a man without a care in the world. Paul knew better. He could see the tense set of Jace’s shoulders.
“Hey, Paul.” Jace stopped beside him, his eyes grim as he watched his sister’s SUV being towed away, a jagged hole where the back window should have been. “I’m going to go to the hospital to see my sister, then I will drive her back to my mom’s house. She’s got Reenie’s kids.”
Paul smiled. Only Jace could get away with calling Irene “Reenie.”
“She’s fine. She had been starting to refuse treatment—against my better judgment—when we made a little discovery.”
Jace whistled after Paul had finished bringing him up-to-date. “Whoever said life in a small town was dull? And we have no idea where this child came from?”
“None. It’s a mystery. I do want to head to the hospital to get a report on the child’s condition.” And on Irene’s.
Paul drove back toward LaMar Pond. The struggle not to speed was causing his leg to ache with tension. The last thing he needed was to cause another accident on this snowy night, but he was so concerned about Irene that his nerves were taut.
She’d had more than her share of pain in her life. And she might not like it, but if she was in danger, then she’d just have to get used to having him around until she was safe again.
He wouldn’t take no for an answer.
* * *
What kind of person could take another woman’s baby? Irene’s heart was shattered as she struggled to withhold the tears brought on by the child’s fear and sorrow. It wasn’t a hard jump to imagine a mother somewhere, suffering through a nightmare.
Irene held the little girl close as the doctor examined her. She knew the doctor was annoyed that she was getting in his way. She could hear it in his fussy voice and see it as he peered over the tops of his glasses at her. At them. But it made no difference. She had tried to set the child down. The doctors and nurses had tried to coax her away from Irene.
It was no use. The child fought and kicked out any time someone tried to take her from her chosen protector. Which was how it came to be that Irene was allowed to hold her while the doctor examined her. And it was she who had helped the child out of her bloodstained dress. The process was made difficult because the girl wouldn’t completely release Irene. Eventually, it was managed. Irene was out of breath by that time.
“Well, the good news is that the child doesn’t appear to be hurt. She needs some nutritious food, a bath and, I expect, rest.”
Irene nodded. She had already surmised all that. “But the blood? Is any of it hers?”
Please say no.
“No.”
She sagged slightly with relief, then caught herself and forced her tired back to straighten. She couldn’t give in to the weariness that was dragging at her.
Someone knocked on the door. The child snuggled in closer. Irene leaned down and kissed the child’s head, offering what comfort she could. The door opened and Paul peeked into the room. Some of the familiar annoyance surged up briefly. Then it faded, when she remembered how happy she’d been to see him earlier. There had been a time when she had dreamed of Paul noticing her, back when they were both teenagers. Then he had noticed her, and for a few short months, she’d been happier than she’d ever been. Until he’d broken her trust and wounded her young heart.
She’d been devastated.
She’d managed to get over that. Had told herself she was better off without him. He’d hung out with a rough crowd back then, she mused. Well, except for Jace. She’d been sure Paul would end up arrested or worse. Before that could happen, he’d moved away for a few years. She couldn’t believe it when Jace said he’d become a cop.
Not that she’d cared. She had fallen in love, gotten married and started a family. And then he had come back and become Tony’s boss. She had resented that, at first. After all, Tony had seniority. But Tony took it in stride, and, as time went on, Paul had proved to be a good boss. The reckless kid she’d known had learned to control his wild side and become dedicated to serving others. He’d also apparently developed a strong relationship with God.
She had held on to her doubt, waiting for him to disappoint her again.
But tonight, he had been a real gift. If he hadn’t come around that corner when he had, she would be dead. And who knew what would have happened to the little girl?
“Hey,” he said in a loud whisper. “Jace will be here in a minute. He’s talking with your mom on the phone.” He indicated the little girl with a nod. “How is she?”
“Well, she’s not injured,” the doctor replied. “Is someone from child services coming for her?”
Irene grimaced. She had known that would be the next question, and she didn’t like it. Not that she had anything against child services. They did a job very few people had the stomach for. But she knew that her new friend was not going to go willingly.
“I have not called child services yet,” Paul responded, his voice deep and sure.
What? Shocked, her gaze flew in his direction.
He met her eyes and shrugged. “As far as I’m concerned, this is still a police matter. Speaking of which, Doc, I will need her clothes with blood for DNA testing.”
“I’ll ask my nurse. Mary—”
All conversation stopped as the girl’s head whipped around.
“Does she recognize the name, do you think?” Irene looked between the two men. They looked as surprised as she felt. “Maybe it’s her name.”
Leaning back so she could see the small face, Irene tested her theory. “Mary? Hi, Mary.”
The smile she received was like a ray of sunshine. Mary giggled and hunched her shoulders. It may or may not have been affirmative, but it was better than calling her “the child.”
“Okay, then. We will need to keep Mary with us for the time being.”
At the name, Mary smiled at Paul. He blinked. An answering smile softened the edges of his mouth. When was the last time she had seen a tender smile on his face? Paul was always in total control of himself. Her heart fluttered as the memory of that same smile from her high school days floated up to the forefront of her mind.
Not going there. He had broken her trust and her faith before. She may have forgiven him, had even allowed his presence in her life and that of her children’s due to his friendship with Jace and Tony, but no more. And even if she was willing to believe he could be relied on, if there was one thing she didn’t need, it was an emotional entanglement with another cop.
“Where will she stay?”
Paul scratched the top of his head. She knew that mannerism. He was still trying to figure things out. To make all the pieces fit.
“I don’t know.” She smiled at the admission. She had known it. “I was thinking of having a protective detail with Sergeant Zee in charge. Thought Mary would be more at ease with a woman in charge.”
Irene nodded, saddened. A protective detail made sense, but it was a shame that it was needed. This little girl should be with her mother. Hopefully, Mary would be reunited with her family soon.
Jace arrived. Without a word, he walked over and leaned in to kiss Irene’s forehead, careful not