Family Sins(67)

The hair stood up on the back of Clayton’s neck. He knew without Riordan saying anything that the Wayne family was somehow involved.

“That’s terrible. I’m assuming you called to do more than fill me in.”

“Leigh Youngblood had another run-in with her twin. He was about to put a knife in her back when her boys stopped him. According to her, he threatened all of them and told her he’d get even. She swears he’s responsible.”

“But—”

“Hear me out. You know where Miss Champion lives?”

“Yes.”

“Both vehicles were parked at her house this morning while she and Bowie were at her father’s funeral. I need you to do a door to door down that block and see if you can get me an eyewitness to someone messing around her house.”

“Will do. I’ll start first thing tomorrow morn—”

“No. Today. Please. No more delays. We could have another body next time instead of a hospital patient.”

Clayton’s shoulders slumped. Shit. He was about to wind up in Mad Jack Wayne’s crosshairs again. “I’ll give you a call if I find out anything.”

“I appreciate it,” Riordan said, and disconnected.

He was still at the site of the wreck when the tow company began pulling Talia Champion’s car up the mountain. Behind him, Bowie was in his mother’s Jeep, weaving his way past the rescue units on his way into Eden.





Fifteen

The ambulance sped through Eden with its lights flashing and siren screaming, putting everyone who saw it on alert and feeding the gossip mill’s curiosity to find out who was inside.

That information began to spread quickly after they wheeled Talia Champion into the ER and began to assess her injuries. The EMTs were explaining her condition, where they’d found her, and what her stats had been when they’d loaded her for transport up on the mountain.

Someone overheard “car wreck.”

Someone else overheard “off the side of the mountain,” and by the time Bowie got to the hospital the news was spreading throughout Eden.

When he asked where she had been taken, he was directed through a set of double doors to room A3. There were people all around her when he walked in. She had an IV, which they’d probably started in the ambulance, and a heart monitor and a blood pressure machine were hooked up to her fragile body. What he saw was enough to make him sick.

This had happened to her because of him.

“How is she?” Bowie asked.

The doctor paused and looked up. “Are you Bowie?”

“Yes, sir.”

“She was asking for you.”

Bowie frowned. Damn it. I should have come straight from the mountain, even with the blood and dirt. “I got here as fast as I could. Is she going to be okay?”

“She has two broken ribs, a concussion, and I’m putting staples in the cut on her head. Her knees have serious contusions, and she had a dislocated shoulder, but it’s already back in place.”

Bowie winced with every injury the doctor mentioned. He wanted to break Justin Wayne’s damn neck.

“Is she going to need surgery?”

“X-rays didn’t indicate the need at this point. It’s a miracle, considering what happened to her.”

“I know. My brother and I were the ones who pulled her out of the wreck.”

The doctor looked shocked. “You went down the side of a mountain?”

“I love her, so, yes, I—we—did that. You are admitting her, right?” Bowie asked.

“Yes. They’re getting a room ready for her now.”

“Am I allowed to stay with her?” Bowie asked.

“Yes. One more staple and we’ll move you both upstairs.”

*

While Bowie was waiting for Talia to be taken to her room, Chief Clayton was beginning his investigation in her neighborhood. He took the east side of the block. His deputy took the west.

It was nearing four in the afternoon. The sun was hot, and the breeze was pretty much nonexistent. The beauty in this part of Eden came from the old growth elms and oaks lining both sides of the streets and the welcome shade they provided. He parked against the curb in the shade of a majestic elm and headed for the first house. A couple of sharp knocks at the door made a small dog inside begin yapping.

He frowned. A damn ankle-biter. Man, he did not like those little yapping dogs.

As soon as the door opened he recognized John Bailey, a fifty-something man who owned a local auto parts store.

“Mr. Bailey, I wonder if I might have a few words with you?”

“Well, sure, Chief. What can I do for you?” John asked.

“By any chance were you home this morning?”

“No, sorry. I didn’t get home until a few minutes ago, but Patsy was here.”

“May I speak to her?”

“Sure, I’ll go get her,” John said, and a few moments later his wife, Patsy, came to the door, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel as she approached. She stepped out onto the porch to talk.

“I’m here. What’s up?” she asked as John came out with her.

“By any chance did you notice someone loitering in the neighborhood this morning? Specifically, around the Champion property?”

Patsy thought back.