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The click in his ear sent a surge of panic racing through him.
Something was wrong.
He jumped in his car and tore out of the parking lot, calling Josh on the way and filling him in.
“Do you need backup?” Josh asked. “I’m stretched, but I’ll round up someone.”
“Maybe. I’ll let you know. She said to come alone, but it was the way she said it that gave me concern. I think she could be in trouble.”
“Damn. Okay, if you don’t call me the instant you get there, I’m coming over.”
“I should be there in fifteen minutes.” He disconnected the line.
The fifteen-minute drive to get to the barn was the longest fifteen minutes of his life. He’d barely turned the engine off when he was out the door and running toward the stables.
Jacquie stood in front of Cash’s stall, her hand on the stallion’s neck, looking as gorgeous as ever as she talked softly to the horse. She looked fine. She looked safe. The breath left his chest, and he relaxed. Until he saw Aiden was sitting on a barrel across from her, a grin on his face, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world.
Chase slowed and carefully approached. “What’s going on?”
“Hey, brother,” Aiden said, standing, and walking toward him. A big smile filled his face. “Thank you for coming.”
Chase fought an urge to deck that smile right off his face. “What are you doing here?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“Jacquie and I are catching up,” Aiden said. “Can you believe she went into law enforcement? What are the odds?”
Chase looked to Jacquie, his eyebrows raised. She looked okay. He stepped up beside her. “Are you okay?”
She gave him a slight nod. Her eyes darted around nervously.
He turned back to his brother and took a moment to adjust to the shock of seeing him again, the same brown hair and blue eyes as his own, the same lean build. He had a new scar on his face, but the brother he remembered was all there. “What do you want? Why are we here?”
Aiden shrugged. “I need your help.”
Chase studied his brother, trying to determine what he was up to. Aiden looked sincere, and there was nothing shifty in his demeanor. “Why don’t you start by telling us what’s been going on around here and whether or not you had anything to do with the attack on Jacquie and Sylvia.”
“I’ve been trying to help them, though, this one doesn’t make that easy.” He gestured toward Jacquie.
Yeah, right. “Why do I find that so hard to believe?”
“Tell him what happened at the hospital,” Aiden said to Jacquie.
“When Josh and I got to the hospital earlier, we found Ronnie was unconscious in the hallway, along with Keith, Sylvia’s nurse, who was lying in a puddle of blood on the floor.”
“I’m aware of that. Josh filled me in when he called to tell me they found one of Sylvia’s roommates dead in the park. You know anything about that?” he asked Aiden, his voice hard.
“I’m afraid I do. That’s why I’m here.”
Chase’s heart sunk. “Did you try to kill Jacquie?” His voice was low. Threatening.
“No, brother. I’ve been doing everything I can to save her.”
Why was his brother always so smug? Even the night their father died, it was like nothing affected him. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“That’s a question only you can answer.”
Jacquie was being suspiciously silent. Chase turned to her. “What do you think? Do you believe him?”
She met his eyes, took his hand, and gave it a squeeze. “I think you need to listen to him.” Her tone was gentle but sure.
