Page 54 of Written with Love

“Did you see who hit you?” she asked, touching the side of his face with a wet cloth. “I’m just cleaning up some of the blood.”

“No, they snuck up behind me. It was dark.”

“Do you think it was one of Palmer’s men?” she whispered.

“No,” he said after a moment of thinking.

“But you didn’t see them?”

“No,” he said again.

“None of my guys saw anyone else on the property,” Palmer said, coming back into the room. “But we had a few men clock out early. I’ve sent them text messages asking. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Thanks,” he said.

“Are you sure you didn’t just bump your head on something?” Palmer asked.

“Pretty sure.” He motioned to the spot on his head and heard Palmer wince. “Yeah, that doesn’t look good.” He heard him move closer. “Looks like you were hit with something. I’ll head to the basement and check it out. Where did you find him?”

“Along the side wall. To the left of the stairs,” Juliette answered. “Behind a row of boxes by an old dresser.”

He remembered falling against the dresser before hitting the ground and glanced at his elbow. There was a large dark bruise in the spot he’d hit.

“That doesn’t look too bad,” Juliette told him as she took his arm and looked at the bruise.

“It’s from the dresser. I remember hitting it before passing out.”

Just then Dr. Stevens walked in, one of the workers showing him the way.

“Thanks, Brian,” Dr. Stevens told the man and then moved over to check on him.

For the next half hour he was examined and, to his surprise, stitched up with four stitches.

“I’d like it better if you went to the ER in Edgeview,” Dr. Stevens said. “For now, I’ll settle for you being watched very closely for the next twelve hours.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Juliette chimed in. “I technically just moved in.” She smiled at the doctor, who nodded.

“Fine, but call me if anything changes. You know the drill. After all, this isn’t your first bump on the head.”

Max chuckled. “This time it wasn’t my fault.”

“Right,” Dr. Stevens said. “You should call Aiden. Report it officially.”

He nodded in agreement.

“I’ve already called him,” Juliette said. “Right after I called you.” She touched his hand.

Palmer had come back up from the basement and had been standing across the room waiting.

“I found what you were hit with,” he broke in.

“What?” Juliette and Max asked at the same time.

“A pipe wrench.” He nodded towards the door. “I left it there for Aiden in case there are prints or other clues he can use to find out who hit you.”

“Yeah, a pipe wrench would fit the bill,” Dr. Stevens said, moving over to the sink to clean up. He dumped the bloody gauze into the trash.

“Why?” Juliette whispered.