Page 31 of Vanishing Legacy
Alana had a point. The police did it all the time. It’s why they’d included him in the initial investigation. Maybe they were leaping to conclusions, but he’d rather know for sure where the enemy lines were.
There was one thought niggling in the back of his mind. “It did seem like a pretty big coincidence that Trejo would confront me at the exact moment Bizik snatched Penny.”
Alana’s dark eyes softened. The only way he could describe her in that moment was beautiful. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure out if it’s connected. In the meantime, we’ll keep you both safe.”
He had to clear his throat to speak. “I have no doubt.”
The thick folder in front of him beckoned. As a distraction, he opened it for the first time. A quick scan of the papers said Alana had done her homework. Full background checks on his colleagues at work, Penny’s therapists and doctors, teachers, Sonia’s family, police reports, and a brief bio on his parents and sister. Several papers appeared to be satellite images and water current maps of Savannah and Tybee Island.
He put the sheets on the table and turned them toward Alana. “These charts are from the Coast Guard?”
“I’m taking a second look at the investigation,” Alana said. “Covering all the bases.”
“Yeah, okay.” He tucked the papers back into the folder. There was a part of him that didn’t want to go there. Not right now.
The muscles in his neck ached. He kneaded the tendons and looked through the doorway. Penny was on her tummy, head propped in her hands, crossed legs swinging in the air. Rocco had his legs stretched out, leaning against the desk. Raven enraptured them with whatever story she was reading.
“It’s been a long night. I should probably get Penny home soon. When do we start this whole bodyguard thing?”
“Right now,” Alana said. “Officially, I’ll take point on your case. We’ve discussed the rotations and come up with a reasonable plan. I’ll take day shifts. Juliette and Noelle will alternate night shifts. Twelve hours. When we’re in public, one of them will assist. Does that still sound good?”
Twelve hours a day with Alana. He had to fight a grin. Things with Trejo were serious. The weight of their situation did not escape him. But electricity sparked in his veins at the idea of spending more time with Alana. “Yes. That all sounds great, thanks.”
“You’ve expressed interest in having Rocco around,” Noelle said. “I’ll leave it up to Alana. If she’s comfortable having Rocco there, then we are too.”
“There’s one other thing,” Noelle said. “Close personal protection at the hospital will be tricky. Besides the issues with sterile environments, doctor-patient confidentiality…”
“We’re not saying it can’t be done, but it would be easier if you took time off.” Juliette tossed her pen on the table. “Trejo’s shown he has no qualms about public attacks. It’s the smart thing to do.”
The Elite Guardians had no idea what they were asking. The clash between professional ambition and paternal duty dominated his thoughts and kept him up at night. The title of Chief of Surgery was his dream. His North Star, guiding him through the long nights and demanding surgeries. And it was within his reach. A breath away. This was forcing him to give it up.
EIGHT
EAST RIVER STREET
SUNDAY, 12:29 P.M.
After church services, Alana drove to lunch while Cash used his phone to check on his post-op patients. In the back seat, Penny’s sleepy head jostled against Rocco’s old high-backed car seat. Alana figured it was too risky to bring Rocco along if she was on the clock in public places and had sent him to church with Miss Martha.
Not the easiest thing when she considered the harrowing experience at Hillspring Church last Christmas. But she refused to let fear drive her decisions, especially when that was in the past and there was a very real threat to Cash and Penny right now.
Cash finished his text and tucked his phone under his leg. “I’d say everything’s gone off without a hitch so far today…for the most part.”
Alana stole a quick glance at him. “Trouble at the hospital?”
“No, I mean the mini Penny meltdown before church. I don’t understand why brushing her hair is a knock-down, drag-out fight every time.”
“She’s probably tender-headed. I can relate. Something about having my hair pulled…I don’t know. I just see red.”
“See red like…?”
“Like my fist might smash into someone’s face before my brain can tell my hands to stop.” She flicked her gaze to him, then back to the road. He had his brows scrunched. “Okay, I’m exaggerating. But it’s true that I’m tender-headed, and hair-pulling is a surefire way to get me angry.”
He harrumphed. “Maybe you should try brushing her hair next time.”
Alana turned off Bay Street onto the Lincoln Street Ramp, where smooth pavement gave way to bone jarring cobbled stones. She slowed to a crawl and glanced in the mirror. Penny smacked her lips, but she didn’t wake. “I’d be happy to give it a shot. If you don’t think I’ll make it worse.”
“You can’t possibly make anything worse.”