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“We were able to get Treven on ‘accomplice’ to murder because of some locals testifying that they saw him dancing with Jane and some teenagers testifying that they saw him running from the river at the right time. He got ten to fifteen years. I put a bug in his lawyer’s ear to claim insanity so nobody would believe him about this woman who’d murdered Jane. He certainly seemed insane, and his story was all over the place. Once he figured out who Hattie was he started screaming to anyone who would listen that the billionaire beauty Hattie Ballard had murdered Jane. It made him seem even more insane. His parents jumped at the insanity plea, and he’s served his time with more privileges but luckily no freedom yet. I pray every day he won’t get released. I doubt he’s learned any lesson. To murder a woman on a dare? I’m sure it’s only the tip of the iceberg in the crimes he’s committed.”
Jensen had risked a lot to keep Hattie safe. He was a great man, but Steffan was still shocked. Helping a murderer get an insanity plea instead of somehow proving it was cold blooded murder had to grate on his friend. Jensen had done it to protect Hattie, and Treven must have done an effective job covering his tracks with the murder.
Hattie showing up here was a huge mess for Jensen, especially if the Rindlesbachers or any of their lackeys caught wind of it. No wonder she’d acted so off and lied about the amnesia.
“The question is…” Jensen looked at Hattie, then Steffan. “Will you help me smuggle Hattie Ballard out of Augustine for the second time and keep her safe from the Rindlesbachers?”
Steffan should’ve hesitated. He was a prince and a doctor. He had a level of responsibility to his family, his country, and his hospital above all others. But he understood why Jensen hadn’t hesitated to help her five years ago. It was the right thing to do.
He nodded.
“Hattie … will you promise once again to never return? I’m sure you’re leery of Treven, but his parents are the bigger worry. Until he’s released.”
“I promise,” Hattie said. “I am never paragliding again and I will stay far, far from your borders. Thank you both for helping me. I know what you’re risking for me.” She looked between the two of them.
“It’s what we do,” Jensen said, winking gallantly, some of his normal teasing returning.
Steffan looked at his friend and wondered if Hattie was interested in him. Jensen was a hero, and this was the second time he’d risked himself and his career, even compromising his strict moral code, to rescue her.
Jensen gave him a sly look. His friend could easily be the one to take Hattie somewhere safe. He was giving Steffan the chance because he knew Steffan was interested in her.
It couldn’t matter. She’d just promised never to return to Augustine. His family, his life, and his career were all here.
“Steffan, let’s have you discharge Hattie and inform your nurses that I’ll escort her out. I’ll give your nurses a story about how I’m taking her to the station to run prints and discover her identity while you run to your house, change into some nondescript clothes, and grab hats and sunglasses for you two,” Jensen said. “Then we’ll meet in the parking lot of the Open Green and I’ll tell you the plan.”
“What plan?” Steffan asked. The Open Green was the city park that extended from the River Walk and bordered the Traverse Cemetery.
“Oh, I’ve always got a plan. It’s just finding somebody willing to implement it. Luckily, today the CMO of our esteemed hospital masquerading as a handsome prince is willing to help.”
Jensen grinned, and Hattie even smiled. Steffan’s gut churned. Maybe he shouldn’t have agreed so quickly to help Hattie escape his country. She really wouldn’t return again? There went any hope of dating the beautiful fugitive. Steffan would never leave his country for good, and she could never return.
Chapter Five
Jensen strode to the door, seeming more than ready to implement his plan, whatever that was. Hattie was grateful for the detective—or rather, the chief. What an honorable man. He was putting his personal instincts over his duty, trusting her when many would never put their career and honor on the line like that. Twice. She prayed she could get out of this country and not endanger either of these men.
“I need to check her vitals before I discharge her,” Steffan said. “Can you stay in the room?”
Jensen nodded, pulling out his phone and looking busy with emails or something.
Steffan eased in close to her bed and looked her over. He checked her heart rate, giving her a stern look. “Still elevated.”
“I tell you, it’s you,” she said, glad she could tease with all the stress and darkness floating around them.
Jensen was smiling, and she doubted it was from the emails.
“I’ll check it again later.”
She didn’t tell him it wouldn’t help.
He took her blood pressure, looked in her eyes with some kind of lighted device, and listened to her heart and lungs with his stethoscope.
“I think health-wise, you’re okay to leave. I’ll make sure you don’t overexert yourself.” He smiled, and she returned it. “Don’t leave this room without Jensen.”
“I won’t.” Her heart was beating too fast. Was it fear of the unknown, worry about Jensen’s plan, or this incredible prince being too close like they’d teased about?
“Okay.” He lifted his chin to her, all manly and appealing. “I’ll be back soon. Try to eat and relax. Jensen is brilliant, and it will all work out.”
She believed Jensen was brilliant and grateful they would both help her, but the knot in her gut said it wasn’t going to ‘all work out.’ At least not smoothly. Hattie had been hiding from this nightmare and the anguish over Jane’s death for five long years. Facing it was worse than she’d imagined. Without Steffan and Jensen, she’d be a mess. If only she could somehow repay them.
