AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As soon as Aaron and Chief Warren got back into the cruiser, Sonny was on the phone to the sheriff’s department. He gave Rance Woodley the news and contact information for the security chief, Ron Daley, at the Hotel Devon.
“Also,” Sonny said. “I’ve given all my men orders not to release any of this information or tell anyone about this until we verify the ID with Charlie Raines. Since he’s still here in the hospital, I can do that for you if you’d like.”
“Yes, that would be helpful,” Rance said. “I’mshorthanded as it is right now, and we’re already getting calls in from everywhere about the sketch. I can focus on that, if you’ll run the photos by Charlie and let me know his reaction.”
“Will do,” Sonny said.
“Thanks again,” Rance said. “This is good news…really good news.”
Sonny ended the call, then glanced at Aaron.
“Take me by the hospital next. We’ll show Charlie the stills pulled from the security footage. I haven’t been to the hospital to see him, and now’s a good chance. Afterward, drop me back at the office, and then you take the stills and show Dani Owens. If we get the go-ahead from both of them, then we can start running a search on this man.”
“Yes, sir,” Aaron said, and took the next right turn and headed for the hospital while hiding his delight that he’d be seeing Dani this soon again.
Charlie was dozing, already worn out from sitting up to eat breakfast and getting a bath. Afterward, when the two nurses began rolling him from side to side to change the sheets on his bed, he cried out in pain.
“I’m so sorry, Charlie,” the nurse said. “We’ve finished with your bed now, and your pain meds are on the way.”
“Where’s Mom?” he asked.
The nurse gently patted his arm. “She’s out in the hall. We’ll let her know we’re through here. Maybe you can get some rest now.”
As they walked out, Betty Raines walked back in. She saw the tears on his face and hurried to him.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry this is so hard.”
“It’s okay, Mom, I just hurt, but they’re bringing some pain meds. Did Dad go home?”
“Yes, to check on the house and the animals. Shirley and Sean have been taking care of them while we were here, but now that you’re doing better, Daddy and I are going to trade visiting times.”
“Tell him to check on the kittens. There are five of them,” Charlie said. Betty swept Charlie’s hair from his forehead and then cupped the side of his cheek.
“Don’t be worrying about all that. Your daddy already knows to look after your kittens.”
Charlie sighed. “Yeah, okay.”
Betty glanced at the remote. “Do you want to watch TV?”
“You can if you want,” he said.
Betty was about to reach for it when there was a knock at the door. She turned around just as Aaron and Sonny Warren entered the room.
“Morning, Betty. Morning, Charlie,” Sonny said.
Aaron went straight to Betty and gave her a hug, then winked at Charlie. “How’s it going, buddy?”
Charlie rolled his eyes. “They’ve violated my modesty and rolled me around in this bed like a burrito.”
Betty chuckled. “The nurses just gave him a bath and changed the sheets on his bed. It was an ordeal. He’s hurting a lot right now and we’re waiting for pain meds.”
Aaron stifled the urge to laugh. “Hospitals don’t have to follow the rules of society when they’re busy saving people’s lives. Next time just close your eyes. If you can’t see them, then they can’t see you.”
Charlie snorted. “I’m too old to fall for that line.”
Sonny let them talk. After learning how frightened Charlie was of the man who’d shot him, putting him at ease was the best way to introduce the photos again.
Aaron glanced at the chief and then took a deep breath.
