Page 17 of Vanishing Legacy
Jonah thumped Cash on the back. “Just remember, I’m here whenever you or Penny need. Don’t hesitate to reach out, brother.”
Cash didn’t want to think about how much he needed this moment with his friend. The last time they’d been locked in a hug, they’d been pummeling each other in the ring. It was good to have a friend like Jonah to lean on when times were tough.
Cash let the embrace linger a beat longer. “You know, if we keep hugging like this, people might start to talk.”
Jonah chuckled and released him. “Guess I better go before the single nurses get jealous.” He gave a resigned sigh and walked down the hallway.
Cash slid the door open and stepped into Penny’s room. He paused at the familiar sensation of his phone vibrating in his pocket and fished it out. The caller ID was Detective Williams.
He stepped back into the hall and closed Penny’s door. “Hey, Detective, what’s up?”
“Hey, Cash. You still at the hospital?”
“Yeah, why? What’s going on?”
“I’ve got something to share with you. Mind if I swing by?”
“Sure thing. Trauma room three in the pediatric ER. It’s just down the hall.”
“Got it. I’ll be right down.”
Cash slipped inside Penny’s room and took a moment to check the computer for updates in her chart. The results from her blood work looked great. A note from radiology said they were backed up and it would be another half hour before her film was processed. He could call in a favor to speed things up, but with Penny resting comfortably, he didn’t see the point.
A soft tap echoed against the glass doors. Williams waited as Cash slid the door open and stepped into the hall. “Good to see you again, Detective Williams.”
“Call me Matt. Everyone else does.”
“Thanks, and I’m just Cash. How’s the investigation? Any updates?”
Matt ignored the question. His chin jutted toward Penny’s room. “How’s the little one doing?”
Cash’s gaze flitted to Penny, then back to Matt. “Doing great. Waiting on one more test to clear, then we should be able to go home.”
“Glad to hear it. I came down to let you know we’ve made a breakthrough in the case. We have a lead. Ms. Hendrix picked the suspect out of a photo lineup. Name Jeremy Black mean anything to you?”
He shook his head. “No, not that I can remember. That’s the guy?”
“He’s a low-level dealer. Arrested for possession a few times. Aggravated assault, assault during the course of arrest, evading arrest, trespassing. The rest is pretty much more of the same. He’s been on parole for about six months.”
Oh, he couldn’t wait to lay eyes on the scumbag who’d shot Libby and attempted to abduct his daughter. What he really wanted was to call up a few of his old SEAL team buddies and teach Black a lesson about hurting innocent people.
Of course, he’d never do that. He’d settle for the perp walk and parking himself at every court hearing to have a front row seat at justice being served.
“So you caught the guy. Sounds like great news,” Cash said.
“Depends on how you look at it.” Matt paused. “He’s dead.”
The air seemed to thin around Cash as he absorbed Matt’s words. “He’s…dead?”
Matt ran a hand over his hair. “It’s been a wild day. There was a shooting over near Baker Street Park. We just got word the victim matched the BOLO description. His prints matched the evidence we found in the car and the shed. It’s him, no doubt.”
“Okay…” Cash processed the information. “So, what now? It’s all over?”
Matt was silent. His eyes traced back and forth across Cash’s face, weighing his words before he spoke. Finally, he said, “Cash, I need you to brace yourself for what I’m about to say. We believe Jeremy Black was hired to kidnap Penny. This isn’t over. She could still be in danger.”
FOUR
FRIDAY, 7:39 A.M.