Hour of Need (Scarlet Falls #1)(42)

Footsteps at the doorway interrupted him. Hannah walked into the nursery.

“Do you want to feed her?” Grant asked.

“She looks comfortable with you.” Hannah perched on the edge of the toy box. “So I called that number. Kate’s mother answered. She and Kate’s father live outside of Boston. She said they haven’t spoken to Kate in almost ten years. She didn’t say why. They’re driving down.”

“Get any vibes from the call?”

“Icy ones.”

Coming from Hannah the corporate attorney, who could negotiate billion-dollar contracts in three languages without breaking a sweat, that said a lot.

“So if she hasn’t seen Kate in a decade, she doesn’t know the kids.” Second thoughts weighed on Grant. “I hope we haven’t let a panther out of the bag.”

“Me too,” Hannah said. “Mac left for the funeral home. That’s all right with you?”

“Definitely. I have enough on my plate. I have to run to the ice rink where Kate worked. I won’t be long. You’re on kid duty.”

Staring at the baby, Hannah took a deep breath. “I hope I can do this half as well as you.”

Grant traded places with Hannah. “Sit.” He handed the baby to his sister. “Burp her halfway through.”

“But—”

“You’ll be fine. In the daytime, she’s a happy baby.” He ducked out to check the room across the hall. Carson had flung off the covers and sprawled sideways across his twin mattress. Grant pulled the door closed and went back to the nursery. “Carson’s still asleep. Keep an ear out for him. He’ll want a snack when he wakes up.”

Downstairs, Grant donned a coat and boots. AnnaBelle whined at the back door. “All right, you can come outside with me.” AnnaBelle bounded out into the snow. Grant found a shovel in the garage. He cleared a path from the garage to the back door. Shovel in hand, he headed for the front of the house. Barking drew his attention to Ellie’s house.

“Good dog.” A small figure huddled on the front steps leading to the porch. AnnaBelle crowded close.

Grant crossed the lawn. “Nan?”

“Grant.” Nan exhaled in relief. Dressed in jeans, a sweater, and sheepskin boots, Ellie’s grandmother shivered on a patch of ice. She clutched one arm to her chest. Her teeth chattered. “I’m so glad to see you.”

“What happened?” He dropped to one knee beside her.

“I came out to get a package on the porch, and I slipped down the steps. I twisted my ankle and landed on my wrist.”

“How long have you been out here?” He looked her over.

“I don’t know. Maybe half an hour.”

Given her age and absence of body fat, that was too long. “Is it just your ankle and wrist?”

“My pride took a nice knock, too.” Nan winced. “I didn’t hurt anything vital. I tried to crawl back into the house, but I couldn’t get up the steps.”

Grant eyed the three cement steps she’d fallen down. No doubt she had bruises she wasn’t feeling yet. “Let me get you inside and we’ll get a look at that ankle. Ready?” Grant scooped the tiny old woman off the icy concrete.

“Oh, my.” She gripped his shoulder as he carried her into the house.

AnnaBelle pranced beside him past the gutted living room. Grant walked back to the kitchen and set Nan down on a chair. He sat in the chair opposite and put a hand on the back of her boot. “This is probably going to hurt.” She didn’t make a sound as he eased it off her foot, then peeled down her wool sock, but her ashen face tightened. Her ankle was swollen to an angry purple. “I think I’d better take you to the ER.”

“Oh, maybe we could try icing it for a while” Her voice shook as she shivered again.

He gave her foot a doubtful glance. “I’m afraid it could be broken.” Hypothermia was also a concern. “You should call Ellie.”

“I hate to bother her while she’s at work.”

“She’s going to want to know.”

“Oh, all right. Would you hand me my cell?” She pointed to the end table, and he passed her the phone. “I hope she doesn’t get in trouble.”

“I’m sure Ellie’s boss will make an exception in an emergency.” While Grant was in there, he snatched a blanket off the back of the sofa. He wrapped it around her shoulders. Her color was graying. She was clearly in much more pain than she would admit. He didn’t want to wait any longer. “Tell her to meet us at the hospital.”





Chapter Sixteen


Ellie finished reviewing her flash drive. There was no sign that anyone in the office, including Frank, was hiding any information about the Hamilton case. Where could she look next? Grant had been less than cooperative. She put her palm to the fatigue ache in the center of her forehead. She hadn’t slept since Julia had tried to sneak off the night before. She’d never be able to close her eyes again.

Her top drawer vibrated. She opened it and checked her cell phone in case it was Nan or the school. A message alert displayed, but she didn’t recognize the number. Ellie opened the text, discretely leaving the phone in her drawer. Normally, she wouldn’t violate the no-personal-calls rule, but there was nothing normal about this week. A photo appeared on the screen.