Page 10 of Guarding Colton’s Witness

“Wyatt the Pirate. What’s up?”

“That was cute when you were eight, not so much now.”

“You all love my nicknames.” She had one for all her siblings.

“No, we don’t. Listen, is Sam with you, or have you found him a foster already?”

“He’s with me, why?”

“I need to talk to him, and I thought it would be better to do it in an environment that’s more comfortable for him than the station.”

“True, but does it have to be tonight?”

“We found his parents this afternoon. They’re dead, Matti.”

“Oh, no. How?”

“Shot. They were in an alley behind the motel where they were staying. I’ll leave it up to you to tell him about his parents.”

“I hate this, but yeah, come on over.”

“See ya in a few.”

After disconnecting and returning her phone to the coffee table, she leaned her head back on the couch and stared at the ceiling. Should she tell Sam about his parents? Maybe she’d wait until after Wyatt talked to him to decide. She wouldn’t tell him tonight, though. Tomorrow maybe.

The boys returned to the living room, and Sam dropped to the floor, taking the remote to his fire truck in his hand. While he played, she pulled Ryan aside.

“My brother’s on the way over. Wyatt’s a detective, and he wants to talk to Sam.”

Ryan’s gaze went to the boy. “It can’t wait until tomorrow? Let him have tonight to just be a kid having fun with his new toy?”

“I asked the same thing. They found Sam’s parents. They’re dead, Ryan.”

“Damn. From the sound of it, they were terrible parents, but he still loved them. You can hear that when he calls them Mommy and Daddy.”

“Yeah, I hear that, too. Let’s let him have tonight before we tell him.”

“I’ll tell him with you,” he said.

“That would be great. He really likes you, and I think having you with him when he’s told will help. Are you working tomorrow?”

“Yes, so after my shift ends?”

“Why don’t you plan to come to dinner again?” She ignored that little flutter in her heart that she’d have another chance to see him.

“I have a better idea. Why don’t we tell him, then take him out for pizza?”

“That is a good idea. It’s possible he’s never had a pizza in his life. If he’s really sad after we tell him, going out might dim that sadness a little.” There was a knock on the door. “That’s Wyatt. I’ll step out on the porch with him for five minutes while you tell Sam a policeman wants to talk to him. Prepare him as best you can.”

“Okay.” He touched her arm as she took a step away. “Matti.”

She looked back at him. “Yes?”

“You’re a good person.”

She smiled, absurdly pleased that he thought so. He was, too. And sexy. But he was an emergency room doctor. She knew firsthand that doctors worked long hours and didn’t have time for their families. Her father had taught her that. So, Dr. Ryan Palmer would stay in the friend zone, a very handsome friend whom she’d enjoy looking at. Nothing more.

Chapter 6