Page 111 of Guarding Over You
“Anyone talk to you a lot about him?” Ford asked. “More than normal?
“No. The person I talk to the most when I go to the ER is Maddy. When she’s even there.”
“No way it’s Maddy,” Blaze said. “This is ridiculous.”
“Don’t cloud your judgment,” Clay said. “Be open-minded to anything. Maybe it’s not her. I don’t know her.”
“She’s in her late fifties,” he said. “And been a huge support system for me from the day I got there. She was the one who was there for me my second day when it ended horribly. You all remember that.”
“Maybe it’s a mother thing,” Ford said. “Is that possible? She’s watching out for you?”
Blaze was shaking his head. “No. Question her, but you’ll see I’m right.”
“Can she be trusted?” Ford asked.
“With my life. I’m telling you, it’s not her.”
“Then maybe we talk to her and get her opinion on things. She’d know if anyone was talking or thinking in another direction, wouldn’t she?” Ford asked.
He sighed. “It’s not what I want to do, but she would be one to help. Hands down.”
“Do you have her number?” Ford asked. “Could you call her outside of work?”
“I have it,” he said. “I’ll call her now.” The phone rang twice. “Hi, Maddy. It’s Blaze.”
He put her on speaker. “I know who it is. What are you doing calling me on a Sunday night? Can’t wait to see me in the morning? Do you miss me that much?”
The humor came out on the phone. “I do. But I’ve got a problem. Or actually Arden does.”
“What’s going on?” Maddy asked, her voice more serious. “Is everyone okay?”
He lifted his eyebrow at the concern in Maddy’s voice. Arden heard it too. She didn’t want to think it was the older woman either.
Her gut was telling her no way. It couldn’t be anyone who she talked to at work, and she was running them all in her mind.
But then she had to remind herself, she didn’t know any of them that well. Not close enough.
Blaze filled Maddy in on what was going on. All three notes and what happened today.
“Hi, Maddy. This is Ford Ridgeway with the Sheriff’s Department. Is there anyone you could think of who might come after Blaze?”
“Goodness no. I mean everyone flirts with Blaze, but he doesn’t return it. I’ve heard nothing from anyone that would make me think they were stalking him. Least of all evil enough to go after Arden. Are you sure?”
“I’m sure that whoever it might be is realizing that if they hurt her, they hurt me,” he said firmly.
Arden looked at Blaze’s eyes. Dark blue and serious.
He believed exactly what his brothers were saying and the guilt she was feeling over putting her daughter in harm’s way had just been transferred to him.
34
ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP
“I’ll be back down before you leave,” Blaze said the next morning. The sun hadn’t risen, but he wanted to sneak out now before Gracie woke.
“We’ll be fine,” Arden said.
“No. I mean it. Lock the doors. Clay has the cameras on the front door and one by the back. You’ll know if someone is there and I’m close by.”
