Page 106 of Lost Hours
“Me too, but we located her in time, and that’s all that matters.” Mina studied his face. “Tell me about your arm. Do you need to see a medic or should we go straight to the ER?”
“Let the medics treat Becca.”
Mina shoved her hands in her pockets, but immediately removed them and plunged them into her hair. “You shouldn’t have done that. He could’ve killed you.”
“Better he kill me than you.”
“Says you.” She stared into his eyes. “My heart nearly stopped when Osborne shot you. I don’t know what I’d do if anything ever happened to you.”
He liked hearing her declaration, but she still hadn’t fully committed to a future with him. “I don’t think I could live without you again either.”
She stilled. “So what are we going to do about it?”
He took her hands in his. “That’s up to you, honey. I’m fully invested in this thing between us, but you have to decide if you can trust me—trust us going forward in a new relationship.”
27
Nolan stood with his teammates on the inn’s veranda, overlooking Founder’s Day in full swing on Main Street below. In a few hours they would be responsible for hosting the kid’s art project, but for now they were free to enjoy the day.
If they could, after Mayor Sutton’s death. They’d been so focused on finding Becca and bringing Dr. Osborne to justice, that they hadn’t properly dealt with things, and there was an uneasy undercurrent in the team.
Jude slid onto the railing. “It’s so crazy, man. I still can’t believe the ME was responsible for killing the mayor.”
Reece dropped into the wide porch swing next to Abby. A shaft of sunlight crossed her face, and she lifted her hand over her eyes. “It might blow us away, but we didn’t know him very well. Can you imagine what the locals must think?”
Nolan had spoken to several people, and he’d also talked to Mina, who relayed the town’s shock and dismay. “It’s a surprise. A big one. A shock, really. I’ve heard there was no inkling that he wasn’t the kind doctor he portrayed himself to be.”
Gabe narrowed his eyes. “Just goes to show you don’t know people like you think you do.”
The zeal in his tone said he could only be thinking of one thing. His family—a bunch of criminal slackers who he’d left behind when he graduated from high school. He hadn’t known their proclivity for crime until he reached his freshman year, and his father was arrested and convicted of armed robbery. He’d survived four years of being razzed about that in his small town.
Hayden perched next to Jude. “Too bad Percy Vaughn hasn’t remembered whatever secret he claims the mayor told him. I’d like to put that to rest too. And find out where that money was going.”
“Dude.” Jude grinned. “You’re only interested in finding out if Cadence has moved here.”
Hayden socked his teammate in the arm. “You’re wrong. I honestly want to know if Percy remembered anything.”
“I believe you.” Jude’s grin widened. “Not.”
Nolan stepped between his teammates before they really started duking it out. “Has anyone heard from Percy or Cadence?”
“Actually, I have.” Hayden shifted on the railing. “I’ve gone by a few times to check on him.”
“Ri-i-ght. To check on Percy.” Jude chuckled.
“Hey, I liked the old guy,” Hayden said. “He still doesn’t seem to remember who the people were that he thought the mayor was helping with his money. We may never find out.”
“Dementia is a bear,” Abby said. “Remember to keep praying for PercyandCadence because it doesn’t only affect the one with the disease.”
“In case anyone is interested.” Hayden glanced around the group.“Cadence is going to take her dad back to Portland after Founder’s Day. He wanted to stay for the mayor’s memorial presentation tonight.”
He swiveled to look over the town, and Nolan couldn’t get a take on how his teammate felt about her not moving here to take care of her dad, as she’d once mentioned.
“Hey man,” Hayden said. “Isn’t that Mina coming up the hill?”
Eager to lay eyes on her, Nolan pinned his focus on the road.
“Come on, guys.” Abby got up and stretched. “Let’s get ready for the art project and let these two have some time alone.”
