Dylan (Bowen Boys, #3)(9)
“And the girl, what did she say? And don’t think I didn’t notice that you keep avoiding that question.” Marshall was as tenacious as a dog with a bone. “Caitlynne, I want answers.”
“She’d been shot five times. One of them creased her temporal lobe pretty well. The others, two in her left arm, one in her right upper side that broke three ribs, and then there was one in her back. Walker said that she’d been shot from a downward angle. And when he showed me that, I knew that she’d been well below the shooter, maybe as much as ten feet. I think she was jumping from a window when whoever it was shot her.” She handed him a picture from her briefcase. “This is what she looked like after surgery. The one at her head, Walker thinks that’s why she has no memory. She asked Dylan when she got there if he knew her, because she didn’t.”
“Christ. Can I have the picture?”
She nodded.
“What is her condition now, and why didn’t he call the police then?”
“Last report I had, she was still unconscious and not moving. He didn’t call the police because she had threatened him if he did. She also asked him to bury her in his backyard when she died. She told him that, while she didn’t know what happened, she didn’t want the police involved.” Her personal phone rang. “I hope that’s Dylan. I’ve been trying to reach him all day.”
She picked it up and told Marshall who it was before answering. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you all f*cking day. I have some news on the girl you should—”
“She’s awake. About an hour ago.” Dylan sounded pissed. “She doesn’t remember who she is still, and she’s demanding to leave.”
“I’ll be there in five hours. Don’t let her go.” Caitlynne hung up and told Marshall. “I have to go and find out if she knows anything and isn’t telling Dylan, or she really doesn’t remember. I have no way of knowing these things, but I want to see her face when I talk to her.”
“I’m going with you. I’ll call Warren and let him know. I’ll go to the airport now and meet you there.” She didn’t even bother telling him that she didn’t think he should go, but simply nodded.
Twenty-two minutes later they were leaving the airport, and Warren was with her. Walker hadn’t come with her this time, and after making a quick stop by the house to pick up their son, they were on their way.
When they landed just under four hours later, the entire family was there, with the exception of Dylan. She handed the baby to his daddy and then hugged everyone. Monica was getting so big that she looked like she might pop at any minute. But she had six weeks to go, and everyone was worried about her.
“I don’t know why. I’m perfectly fine for a woman carrying around an elephant on a trampoline.” They both laughed as they sat in the back of the car. “I’m really fine. It’s just hot, and the twins are making me hotter.”
Twins. And no one but a very few knew the sexes yet. Caitlynne looked at George as he cooed over the baby. She was so glad that he’d forgiven her for not telling him the name, but they’d wanted to surprise him. Little George Walker Bowen was the pride and joy of all of them.
They pulled up in front of the house a few minutes later to find Dylan on the deck, waiting for them. Shit, the man was pissed, and even from as far away as she was, she knew that he was nearing his breaking point. She suggested that maybe he needed to run, and Khan nodded. She went into the house and up the stairs with Marshall. It was time to meet the new sister-in-law.
~~~
She heard the door open quietly and then shut. She wished the man would just do as she asked, and do it now. She spoke to him without opening her eyes. The light hurt too much.
“I don’t want to hear another word about you protecting me. I don’t care that you think there might be something special between us. I want you to call me a cab and help me to get into it, and you’ll be okay.”
“Do you know why he’ll be okay?” She opened her eyes to see who had spoken. This man was different than the other one. From…Dylan, he’d said his name was. She looked to the man’s right and saw a very beautiful woman standing next to him.
“Are you the police?” The woman shrugged, and the man shook his head. “Well, that’s helpful. Do you think maybe I could get one of you to shut that curtain? The pounding in my head is no match for it.”
The woman moved to do it, and then both she and the man sat down. “I think it’s best if I leave here. I don’t know what is going on or how I got here, but I have a feeling that I’m not in the best of positions right now.”
“You’re not. There’s a warrant out for your immediate capture. And you’re considered armed and dangerous,” the woman said. “Do you know who you are?” She shook her head. “Could you look at me when I speak to you?”
“I have a pounding headache, as I’ve said, and I don’t know if I’ve worn glasses or what before coming here, but things aren’t too clear, and looking out makes me ill. But if you want me to puke, then I can look at you.” The woman laughed. “I’m glad you find this to your liking. I would really like to get up and punch you in the nose, but I think that all I’d do is piss you off, and I’d be here longer. Where is here, by the way?”