Justifiable Risk (25 page)

“Don’t worry, honey. It wasn’t personal.” Bessie scrubbed the final dish and handed it to Eva.

“What?” Eva tried to look innocent, but hiding feelings from Bessie was as unlikely as being in southern humidity without sweating.

“She gets pretty single-minded when she’s on a case. Leaving without saying good-bye this morning wasn’t necessarily about you.”

Bessie was as bad at hiding things as she was, so the statement relayed her own doubts. “But it
could
have been about me. I don’t want to cause her any more trouble. She’s put herself on the line at work and now—”

“And now you’ve given her something worthwhile to think about, and it’s past time.”

“I don’t want her to be distracted or put herself in jeopardy. The people behind Paul’s death have proved they’ll go to any lengths to avoid being discovered.” Eva considered her next question, but had to ask. “Has she always been such a risk taker?”

Bessie’s gaze shifted to the ceiling and the worry lines across her forehead deepened. A verbal response wasn’t necessary. “I understand. She changed after she lost Clare, didn’t she?”

“It was painful to watch. She wouldn’t let me help. For a while she didn’t care if she lived or died.” Bessie emptied the dishwater and wiped her hands on her apron. “But I can see a change ahead. I think you have something to do with that.”

Eva dried the dish she was holding and placed it in the cabinet. “I don’t know, Bessie. I don’t want her hurt for any reason.” The idea of Greer being in danger because of her or in pain as a result of their relationship sent a shiver down her spine. Finding her brother’s killer was important, but was she willing to let Greer sacrifice herself to do so? She prayed she wouldn’t have to make that choice.

“I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we go turn in that rental car of yours? There’s no sense wasting money when we have a vehicle sitting in the garage gathering dust.”

“I don’t know, Bessie.”

“It’s my old Honda, nothing special, no sentimental value, so if you run it in a ditch, I’ll collect the insurance money. Come on.”

“Okay, if you insist. I
could
put the money to better use.” Bessie’s smile encouraged and warmed her as it had from the day they met. If nothing else came of this trip, she and Bessie had become friends and would remain so long after she returned to her life.

She wasn’t sure she could say the same for her and Greer. Was Greer capable of moving on after losing Clare? Sometimes a loss that deep never healed. And if Greer was ready to try again, could she? Would she be able to have a fully committed relationship, given her career and lifestyle? In some ways they already seemed more than friends, but could their closeness survive separation? She considered all these questions but found no answers as they pulled up to the rental-car office.

After they returned the rental, Bessie insisted that Eva drive while she regaled her with tales about some of New Hope’s more infamous residents. Eva navigated the pickup along the back roads toward home, trying not to wreck it as she laughed at Bessie’s stories. She took her time, enjoying the scenery and Bessie’s company.

Though it was barely twilight when they turned off the main street from town onto the side road, the tall trees along the roadway made it seem later and much darker. As Eva maneuvered the turn, headlights from behind lit the interior of the truck. “Back off, buddy,” she muttered. “Don’t you hate tailgaters? That’s how I met Greer, you know. I was—”

Eva wasn’t able to finish her statement. The vehicle behind them rear-ended the truck and it lurched forward, swerving toward the ditch. “Jesus.”

“What the hell?” Bessie said, looking around for the culprit.

Eva’s pulse pounded in her ears as she fought to right the truck’s direction. It crossed to the other side of the road, and she brought it back under control. Her hands slipped on the steering wheel. “Bessie, see if you can get a look at the driver or the vehicle.” Eva doubted she’d have much success with the combination of bright headlights, dust, and blacked-out windows. “I’ll try to lose him.”

“I feel like I’m back in a war zone. Who the hell does crap like this?” Bessie grumbled.

Eva sped up and their tail kept pace. Bessie hung on to the seat back and tried to get a look at the driver. All Eva had been able to make out was that the vehicle was a black or dark blue jacked-up truck with a push bar on the front. It had no identifying marks or tags on the bumper. She could only hope Bessie would notice something more significant.

Eva pumped the accelerator again, but their pursuer got closer. Eva looked at Bessie and shook her head. Her heart pounded and she was almost hyperventilating. “Tighten your seat belt. I’m sorry. I can’t lose him.” A second jolt from behind sent the truck fishtailing. Eva jerked the wheel to correct, overcompensated, and the truck careened off the road.

The out-of-control activity around Eva suddenly slowed. The suspect vehicle veered around them, made a U-turn, and headed back toward town. Their truck slid closer to the ditch and a large oak tree. Eva wasn’t prepared for the violent jostling when the seat belt in Bessie’s old truck gave way. She pitched sideways against the door, across the seat into Bessie, and back into the steering column. Her head hit something solid, and before everything went black, she thought about Greer and wished she’d been more open about her feelings.

As Greer made one final pass through the warehouse district on her way back to the station, her cell phone rang. “Ellis.”

“Greer?” JJ’s tone told her immediately that something was wrong. “Where are you?”

“On my way back to the station to get my bike and head to the house. What is it?”

“Come to the hospital. Bessie and Eva had an accident on the way home. An ambulance brought them here. It isn’t serious.”

She didn’t hear the last part. Her pulse raced as visions of another injured loved one flashed through her mind. She executed a U-turn in the middle of downtown and floored the gas pedal.
“Tell me!”
The words were barely audible as she clenched her teeth to remain controlled.

“It’s not serious,” JJ repeated.

The air rushed from Greer’s lungs and she gasped for breath. God, no, not again
.
JJ’s reassurances still didn’t register. Bessie was her only family. She couldn’t lose her. And Eva—she wasn’t sure about her feelings for Eva, only that she wanted a chance to find out. “Are they—?”

“Don’t panic, partner. When EMS arrived, they seemed shaken but okay. It’s a precaution. We haven’t been able to talk with them yet.”

Her anxiety eased only a little. She wouldn’t be satisfied until she saw for herself. “Are you sure? You aren’t keeping anything from me, are you?”

“That’s all I know. I’ll see you at the ER entrance.”

“Make sure patrol doesn’t miss anything…in case it wasn’t an accident.”

“I’m already on it.”

Greer slammed her cell phone shut as the car skidded to a stop at the hospital. Several patrol officers near the entrance surrounded JJ. When she approached, she heard him say, “Scour that area with a fine-tooth comb if you have to. And report to me, only me.” JJ broke away from the group and guided her into the ER. “They’re in here.” He pointed to the small private exam room. “I’ll wait for you.”

She paused at the door and took a deep breath. Whatever awaited her on the other side, she had to be calm and supportive. This wasn’t about her or her past. She needed to take care of the people close to her in the present. She stuffed her emotions down and opened the door.

Eva and Bessie lay on gurneys side by side with nurses administering to them both. They were chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened. Bessie’s lower lip was cut and swollen, and her right eye was developing quite a shiner. The left side of Eva’s forehead sported a goose egg that had already begun to bruise. She showed no other physical signs of injury.

“Have you two been playing bumper cars or what?” Greer tried to deflect some of her anger at seeing her aunt and Eva even slightly hurt.

“Hi, honey. We’re fine. Aren’t we?” Eva nodded in response. Bessie’s concern was obvious. She understood the anguish Greer was experiencing and tried to reassure her. “You should’ve seen this girl handle my old truck. I thought I was on a racetrack. But we’re okay.”

“Yes,” Eva added, “just a few bumps and bruises. No permanent damage, but it’s good to see you.” She extended her hand to Greer.

It had been a long time since a woman offered her hand in such a simple and unassuming manner. The look in Eva’s eyes said she was volunteering more than a gesture of reassurance. At this moment she held the key to Greer’s peace of mind, and one touch—confirmation of her body heat, the cadence of her heartbeat—would make everything right again. But if Greer allowed her feelings to surface now, she’d be useless professionally.

Greer stepped between the two beds, took Bessie’s and Eva’s hand in hers, and kissed each lightly. “I’m so glad neither of you was badly hurt. I’m not sure what I would’ve done.” The thought was too horrifying to verbalize. “Has the doctor checked you already?”

“Yes, honey. Being head of nursing has its advantages. They put us on the fast track and we’re being cleared to leave as we speak.” Bessie eyed her suspiciously. “Go ahead and ask. The cop in you is about to bust out at the seams.”

She overruled her emotions and switched into work mode. As much as she didn’t want to ask the question, she had to know. With everything that had happened lately, anything was possible. “Was this an accident?”

Eva and Bessie exchanged a look before Eva answered. “It definitely was
not
an accident. He intentionally rammed us twice. The vehicle was a truck, jacked up all around, dark, with tinted windows. I couldn’t see the driver at all.”

Greer forced the fear that rose in her into a more productive direction. Someone was definitely after Eva and they’d involved Bessie in the attempt. Fear gave way to anger as she made mental notes of Eva’s details, then turned to Bessie. “Anything to add?”

“A humongous push bar on the front of the truck and a couple of horizontal dents across it. I’d recognize the pattern if I saw it again. But like Eva said, nothing on the driver. Honey, we may never know who it was.”

“Oh, I’ll know, one way or the other. Good work, both of you. Chances are the truck was stolen. We’ll probably find it abandoned somewhere.” Who dared to attack the people she cared about again? She hadn’t been able to save Clare, but she
would not
fail this time.

Eva’s grip on Greer’s hand tightened. “This is all connected to Paul’s case.”

She could see the worry that suddenly clouded Eva’s deep brown eyes. “Yes—and this is the second time somebody has gone after you. I intend to see that it’s the last. I’ll brief JJ while we wait for your discharge. Neither of you move until I come back. Are we clear?” They nodded.

True to his word, JJ was waiting outside the door. “Did you get anything?”

She filled him in on the sketchy details, though they probably wouldn’t help much. “Eva is the link to this whole thing—Paul’s death, Tom and the sergeant’s shooting. She’s the only consistent element.”

“I’m afraid you’re right. What can I do?”

“Stay on the patrol guys about the hit-and-run and help me find Baron Wallace. I’ve put the word out on the street but come up empty so far.”

“Will do. I’ll call you later.” He paused and Greer could tell he wanted to say more but wasn’t sure how.

“What is it, JJ?”

“I was wondering. Do you think we need to put a guard on Eva twenty-four seven? If all this is connected to Wallace, these drug guys mean business.”

JJ was right, but so far the cowards had come after Eva one at a time from the shadows. If they continued that mode of attack, she was in a better position to stop them than a cop who wasn’t familiar with Eva or the situation. But she didn’t want to jeopardize Eva’s safety for the sake of her own ego. “It couldn’t hurt. Have the county boys swing by the house a couple of times a night, if they have time. Otherwise, Bessie, the dogs, and I’ve probably got it covered. They won’t be able to sneak up on us with that pack of yappers we’ve got.”

When JJ left, Greer took a seat in the waiting area outside the exam room. She needed a few minutes to gather her thoughts. This suspect had made the fatal error of involving people she cared about in his crimes. The outrage that rose in her again filled her with heat. Cops weren’t supposed to investigate incidents involving friends or relatives because their objectivity went out the window. But more than most, cops understood the need to protect and avenge loved ones. They would back her all the way.

She thought about Eva and the recent shift in their relationship. What began as a contentious professional situation had become more. Though they’d known each other only a short time, they were connected. Greer had learned that time didn’t necessarily diminish or intensify affairs of the heart.

Against the odds, Greer cared for Eva, and the thought unleashed conflicting emotions. She’d risked her career and several friendships to side with Eva against the department—but it was the right thing to do and it was her professional obligation. The rule-bound part of her wanted to dismiss these feelings as simple lust and return to life as before. She
shouldn’t
encourage or engage in her physical attraction to this woman who was part of an ongoing investigation. Eva
shouldn’t
be living in her home. Greer
shouldn’t
have kissed her, no matter how strong the desire.