Page 7 of Forgiving Chase


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The guard stood and stepped inside the door. “Do you need something?”

“Can you tell me when my brother will be here?”

His eyes squinted with confusion as he shook his head. “Sorry, ma'am. I'm not sure who your brother is.”

“Josh Halloway. The sheriff. Didn't he send you?”

“No, ma'am. I work for Guardian Security.” He pointed to the words embroidered on his navy blue polo.

Guardian Security? The hospital must have hired him then. “Thank you.”

He turned and went back to his chair.

She glanced out the window and tried to recall why the name of the security company was familiar when an older blue pickup truck driving slowly through the parking lot caught her eye. Memories of flipping over the guardrail came flooding back to her, along with the fear and the pain. She remembered the EMTs, the sirens, being rushed to the hospital.

Josh had been here. He’d said Killer was all right. No need to worry; Dad and Jess were taking care of her dog. She took a deep thankful breath. Josh must have been here late.

And Chase? Why was Chase on her mind? She hadn’t heard from him in years. He’d left, she'd cried over his loss, licked her wounds, and moved on, putting him solidly out of her thoughts.

So why think of him now?

The feeling that there was something important she needed to remember niggled at her brain. She glanced at the closed curtain next to her, certain Sylvia was behind it. Chase's brother had been the love of Sylvia's life. Maybe that was why he was in her thoughts. Jacquie had found Sylvia on the bathroom floor right after she'd seen a man in a hoodie leaving the service station.Driving an older blue pickup truck.

Jacquie glanced out the window once again, searching for the truck, wondering if it was the same one from last night. It turned the corner, heading toward the back of the hospital. If she could make it to the back parking lot, she might be able toget itslicense number.

What were the odds that it wasthe same one? There had to be a thousand pickup trucks in Granite Falls, but how many were older models and blue?

Jacquie pushed awaytheblanket and started to sit but stopped as fire shot through her head.Suckingin a deep breath, she bore down against the throbbing ache and slid her legs over the side of the bed, easing to the floor. She leaned her weight on one foot and then the other. No pain in her ankles. Good. She inched forward. A sharp soreness pinched her rib cage with each step.

Her clothes were in the closet. Gingerly, she pulled on her jeans and T-shirt. Her sweatshirt was missing, and then she remembered using it as a compress. Everything came rushing back to her in a blur of images and sounds—bright headlights, the screech of tires, a figure in the darkness.… She glanced at the curtain again and hoped her old friend would pull through.Movingacross the room, she peeked into the hall. The guardturned tolook at her.

“I’m supposed to walk and exercise my muscles.”

He nodded and went back to reading something on his phone. His presence should make her feel better. It didn't.

She eased toward the back stairwell, hoping she hadn’t taken too long. One step at a time, she gingerly edged down the back stairs. By the time she’d made it halfway down, the door below banged open and someone came barreling up the stairs toward her.

She froze on the first landing.

The man came into view and paused. The sight of him knocked her off balance and stole her breath. He looked so much the same as she remembered, and yet so vastly different.

“Chase,” she whispered and reached for the wall to steady herself.

“Jacquie! What are you doing out of bed?” He hurried up to the landing next to her, placed his hand on her arm, and started to guide her back up the stairs.

The scent of his aftershave and soap, like rain on a grassy field, assaulted her senses. How could he be here?

She pulled away from him. “Stop. I need to get to the rear parking lot.”

He frowned. “No, you need to get back in bed. Someone tried to kill you last night. Twice.”

Twice? What was he talking about?

She tried to put it together but the details fell away as she found herself falling into the deep blue of his concerned eyes. The same beautiful shade of blue from her dream. Her heart quickened. “Were you in my room last night?”

“No, but that's why I'm here. Now, what's in the rear parking lot?” The imprint of his hand where he touched her arm made her head swim.

She faltered as dizziness and fatigue washed over her, stealing her strength. “I…don’t owe you an explanation.”

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