Mathews’s jaw clenched. “One of them died on the scene. The other is in bad shape, but he could still pull through.”
Grant couldn’t help but grieve for the man who’d died in the line of duty. If it weren’t for him, Dale might still be out there with Wyatt. “I wish I’d have let them know sooner about Wyatt’s weapon.”
Mathews rubbed his eyes in a gesture slow with fatigue. “They were both wearing a vest, but it doesn’t do a bit of good against a skull fracture. Or a lucky shot to the neck.”
“Wish that made me feel better,” said Grant.
“You and I both know that’s not the way it works. The only thing that will make you feel better is to get your family home, safely tucked in their own beds, and watch them sleep every night until you start to believe that they really are safe.”
Man, that sounded good. Too bad that wasn’t part of his reality. As soon as everyone was truly safe, he had no reason to stay. He couldn’t be the man Isabelle needed, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to stick around and watch while she found one.
“They’re not my family,” said Grant, feeling a jolt of painful loss he didn’t understand.
“Maybe not on paper, but you treat them like their your own. They probably feel like that, too.”
Grant had no idea. It had been so long since he’d been part of a family that he wasn’t sure if he even remembered what it was like. All he knew that whatever he was feeling right now sucked, and if that’s what it meant to have a real family, he wasn’t sure he was a strong enough man for the job.
“I’ve got to go see Isabelle. Let her know what’s going on.”
Mathews lifted a dark brow. “Are you sure about that? I mean, wouldn’t it be better to wait until Dale is home safe and sound?”
“The longer I wait to tell her, the worse it will be for both of us.”
“Good luck. You’re going to need it,” said Mathews. “And when you see her, will you tell her that I questioned Melissa Norton and she told me she got the tea from a delivery man. He asked her to give it to Isabelle. The kid had no idea it was poisoned.”
Grant’s phone rang. Caller ID showed the number was private, but he didn’t dare not answer it, in case it had something to do with Dale. “Hello.”
Keith’s voice wavered nervously in Grant’s ear. “Isabelle found out about Dale and left.”
Panic slammed down hard on Grant. “Left?” he shouted. “What the hell do you mean she left? Where is she?”
“She was so upset I went to get a nurse to see if they could sedate her. She was gone when I got back. I have no idea where she might be.” He sounded frantic, but not half as frantic as Grant felt.
“How long ago?”
“I was only gone a few minutes.”
Grant was sincerely regretting his decision to take her clothes. A woman in a hospital gown would have drawn a lot more attention, making it harder for her to get away. “She won’t get far without her car. I’ll have them seal the hospital.”
“I’m on it,” said Mathews, picking up the phone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Wyatt needed a place to hide so he could clean the blood off. He hated being on foot, but he’d be harder to find this way than in his car, especially with the highway patrol on his trail. At least he hoped that was the case.
The nearest neighborhood wasn’t going to work. The houses here were new. They’d have decent locks, maybe even security systems, not enough trees to hide him. He needed an old neighborhood—one with old locks and loose windows. Maybe he could even find something abandoned or vacant.
He figured he had only a few minutes before the police were crawling all over this development. A few construction workers were still hammering away. One of them had left his ancient truck unlocked with an open toolbox in the back. That’s all Wyatt needed to make his escape.
A minute later, the truck rattled to life and he rolled away as casually as his racing heart would allow. The noise of the work going on must have masked the sound of his getaway, because no one followed him out of the development.
Wyatt wasn’t going to give up on his son. What Dale had done today proved he had a backbone. He wasn’t a lost cause. Wyatt would have to punish him for his defiance, but after that, they could move on and be a family again. But for that to happen, he had to get Dale back.
Kidnapping him again wasn’t going to work. He needed to find a way to make Isabelle give Dale to him willingly. If Dale knew she didn’t really want him, maybe he’d decide life was better with his old man.
There was only one thing he could think of that would make Isabelle decide to give him Dale. He needed an even trade—some other kid she’d be willing to bargain for—and he was pretty sure he knew exactly who to pick. He’d been watching her house long enough to know there was one little girl she was close to, one little girl whose mother was hot enough to get Wyatt’s attention and timid enough to tell him she knew her place in the world.
He’d followed her home a couple of times before, thinking he might be able to use her to get closer to his son.
His instincts had been almost right. It wasn’t the mom he needed. It was her daughter.
Isabelle made it as far as the door to the hospital when she realized she had no car. Hers was in a crumpled heap somewhere. She didn’t even know where.
Grant had been thoughtful enough to bring her purse. She checked her wallet for cash so she could call a cab, but all she had was a five. The ATM by the gift shop was out of order. She had no clue if cabs took plastic and didn’t want to ask any of the hospital staff for help, because they’d see the ID band around her wrist and try to stop her from leaving. No matter how hard she pulled, she couldn’t get the stupid thing off.
She thought about calling one of her friends to come get her, but she didn’t have her cell phone and couldn’t for the life of her remember even one of their phone numbers.