Mara smiled gently, real warmth and understanding glimmering in her blue eyes. Always. Terror is the constant state of being a mother.
Im so afraid Ill mess it up and that Chloe will pay the price.
Oh, darling. No parent is perfect. Youll do your best, and youll make mistakes. But at the end of the day, Chloe will know how very much you love her, and shell forgive you. She sighed. God knows, Ive made my fair share of mistakes.
Really? Slone wouldve loved to hear more about what mistakes Mara thought shed made, but Chloe let out a wail just then, and Sloane whirled and raced back to her daughters side.
Mommys right here, sweetie. I would never leave you. I love you, Little Bug...
* * *
Liam strode into the Roaring Springs Police Department first thing in the morning. The institutional metal cubicle dividers and plastic chairs were disguised with wood paneling and dark green trim paint. The place tried to be, but didnt quite achieve, a national park office. At the end of the day, it was a cold, hard police department at its core.
When hed first gotten his badge, hed reveled in the small town feel of this place. But recently, hed hankered for something a little...more interesting...in his career.
He might as well do some digging into the mystery of those cameras in Sloanes house. It wasnt as if hed gotten a wink of sleep last night, what with worrying about Sloane and her daughter, anyway.
He started by calling every security company in Roaring Springs and the surrounding towns. Not one of them had installed a security system at the address in question. He did luck out, though, when he discovered that one of the places had installed window locks at that address a few months back as part of a renovation. That company had the name of the contractor whod remodeled the house. A quick phone call to that gentleman confirmed that no security system had been in place at Sloanes house at the time she purchased it and moved in.
Interesting.
Liam picked up his phone and placed one more call, this time to the FBI field office in Denver.
This is Special Agent Roberts. How can I help you?
Detective Liam Kastor, here. Roaring Springs PD. I need some advice.
Does this have to do with that murder at the Colton ranch? I wasnt the agent consulted on that case, but I can pass you to
Thats not what Im calling about. I have a local citizen, a single mother, who appears to have someone doing high-tech surveillance in her house.
Any idea why?
None. She used to be a defense attorney in Denver, but shes been down here for a little while doing the stay-at-home mom thing with her toddler. Theres an ex-husband, but the divorce and settlement are finalized.
Have you examined the cameras? Roberts asked quickly.
No. I havent acknowledged that I spotted them, and the homeowner didnt stay in her house last night. Her child is sick, and they stayed at the hospital.
Sorry to hear that, sir. Well, weve got a tech specialist I can hook you up with. He could take a look at whats installed. But youll need a warrant to get into the house to look at the surveillance equipment.
I have permission to enter the premises.
Thats handy. Let me give you our tech guys number...
In short order, Liam spoke with a man named Rahm Zogby, who agreed to drive down to Roaring Springs and take a look at what was going on in Sloanes house. But he wouldnt arrive until after lunch, so Liam had some time to kill.
An internet search of Ivan Durant proved educational. The guy was the only son of a wealthy couple and had grown up with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. Fancy private schools, fancier private university and law school, hired by a top law firm, fast-tracked to partner. No doubt, daddy bringing his considerable legal business to the firm hadnt hurt Ivans career.
The guy was handsome in a squared-jawed, Nordic way. But Liam found his eyes a little too cold, the set of his shoulders a little too arrogant, the pout of his mouth a little too spoiled.
Durant had better not cause Sloane any more pain, or ol Ivan and he were going to have a problem.
Liam used police sources to dig into Ivans financials and discovered the guy was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. The gambling Sloane had mentioned must be a serious problem. That, or the dudes lavish lifestyle was draining his finances. Or maybe both.
Liam did stumble across a magazine interview where Ivan railed against prenups. Durant hinted that paying his off had wiped him out financially.
Good for Sloane. At least shed walked away from the jerk with financial security. However, it also made for a pretty decent revenge motive.
Still. She was the mother of the mans child. Surely Ivan wouldnt mess with Sloane if it meant hurting his own daughter. Or was the guy that big an ass?
Hey, Liam!
He glanced up at his boss, Police Chief Tegan Howard. Yes, maam? She hated being maamed by anyone other than very contrite teenagers, whod better maam her or get a lecture on manners.
She rolled her eyes. You busy?
Not especially.
Any chance you could pick up that prisoner you dropped off at the hospital last night and bring him back here? Hes got an arraignment this afternoon, assuming he can stand and speak coherently.
Im on it. Perfect. He could stop by and check in on Sloane and Chloe while he was there. Liam grabbed his coat and headed for the hospital.
The elevator door opened to the third floor of the hospital, and Liam stared at a block party in progress. Or at least, that was what it looked like. The hallway was crowded with people talking and milling around. He recognized Russ Colton with a start, then Wyatt and his fiancée, and then he spied Fox.
Aww, hell. The Colton clan had found out Chloe was here and had converged on Sloane. He waded through the crowd to his best friend. Hey, Fox. Hows Chloe doing?
No idea. Cant get a straight answer out of anyone around this place. What are you doing here?
I came to pick up a prisoner. Is Sloane around? Id like to say hi. Give her my best.
Yeah. Shes in with Chloe. Chased everyone out of her daughters room a few minutes ago so the kid can rest.
With this mob out here? A dead man couldnt rest.
Fox grimaced at his family. Yeah, youre right. Help me get rid of them?
Sure.
Liam strolled over to Mara Colton, whom hed long ago identified as the real power in the family, while Fox headed for their father, Russ. Howdy, Mrs. C. Im sorry to hear your granddaughter is sick.
Why, thank you, Liam. Thats kind of you.
I dont know much about these things, but do you think all this commotion is good for Chloe? Maybe a little more...quiet...might help her rest and recover?
Mara glanced around in fond exasperation at the crowd. I do believe youre right. Ill go have a word with my husband.
Mission accomplished. Between the two of them, Russ and Mara would clear the place fast. Sure enough, it took about three minutes flat for the ward to go silent and deserted.
Ahh. Better.
Liam poked his head inside Chloes room. The little girl was fiddling with the elephant hed brought her last night, and a cartoon was playing on her television, but she looked listless.
I hope you dont mind that I chased your family off, he murmured.
Youre why they left? Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sloane said sincerely. She stepped away from Chloes bed to come over to him.
Hows she doing?
Fevers down, but shes been throwing up, and shes starting to cough. Doc says the respiratory infection is the rough part of this virus. So were not out of the woods yet.
Shes getting constant care and the best support available. Shell be fine, he murmured.
From your mouth to Gods ear.
How are you holding up? he asked softly.
Fine.
No. Seriously. How are you doing?
She looked up at him candidly, and for an instant, naked fear shone in her hazel eyes.
Thats what I thought, he muttered as he gathered her into his arms for a hug.
She shuddered against him, a long, full-body shiver of terror. I
Her phone buzzed, interrupting whatever she was about to say.
Frowning, she stepped out of his arms and pulled out the device. She swore quietly and moved out into the hallway, away from Chloe.
Liam followed her. Whats the matter?
Its Ivan. I dont want to talk to him, but I suppose Ill have to tell him Chloe is sick.
Why? You dont owe him anything. He doesnt have custody of her.
Sloane stared up at him as the call went to voicemail. You sound like you dont like him.
I dont.
But youve never met him.
He hurt you.
Sloanes eyes widened. She opened her mouth to speak, but her phone started to ring again. Crud. Its Ivan. Hell keep calling until I answer. Can I ask a favor of you...as a police officer?
Startled, Liam replied, Of course.
Listen to the call. So you can her breath hitched and then she continued grimly so you can testify to what you heard in court, if it comes to that.
Alarmed, he took Sloanes arm and steered her into the empty hospital room next door. He pushed the door shut. Why do you need a witness for the call? Is he threatening you?
Not exactly.
What exactly? he asked sharply. The hackles on the back of his neck were standing up, and he realized with a bit of a start that his right hand was balled into a fist. He forcibly relaxed the fingers and focused all of his considerable observational skills on Sloane. Elevated breathing. Faint sheen of perspiration on her skin. Gaze darting around. She was scared.
Youd better damned well believe I want to hear this phone call, he growled.
The phone rang for a third time, and she took a deep breath. He watched, eyes narrowed, as she put the phone on speaker and accepted the call.
Hello, Ivan.
Why the hell are you avoiding me? a male voice snarled.
Im busy. And I dont have to answer your calls. Were not married anymore. You can speak to my lawyer if you have something to say to me. You have her phone number.
Ivan swore viciously at that suggestion, and Liams eyebrows climbed. Temper much?
Then Ivan spat out, Im not kidding, Sloane. Ill expose what you did. I want Chloe back. I will take her from you.
You dont want Chloe. You just want to punish me.
More swearing.
Look, Ivan. Chloes sick. Shes in the hospital with a bad viral infection. If you want to come see her, I wont stop you.
Im busy. And besides, I dont want to catch some godawful disease.
Shes your daughter.
I said Im busy.
Then get to your point. Or were you just calling to threaten me? Sloane asked coolly. Liam had to give her credit. She was an icicle under pressure.
My parents wanted me to remind you that theyve got a scheduled visit with Chloe next week. You have to bring her to Denver.
I havent forgotten. But you did just hear me say shes in the hospital, right? I dont know if shell be well enough to go
Ivan cut her off. I dont care if you have to scrape her out of her sickbed and pour her into an ambulance to get her here. Ill sue for breach of contract and overturn the custody agreement if you dont comply with the court order down to the last letter.
Shes a baby. Shes very sick.
Tough shit.
Ivan. Shes your flesh and blood. Show a little compassion
Ivan cut her off with another blistering round of swearing that made a muscle tick in Liams jaw.
Then Durant snarled, Ill drag you back into court so fast itll make your head spin. And Ill get that eff-ing custody order amended. Im going to end up with Chloe if its the last thing I do
Sloane cut him off, her voice hard enough to cut through glass. Ive got a police officer listening to this phone call, Ivan, so before you devolve into more threats against me, consider yourself notified that you are being monitored.
Thats a load of crap. You had no idea I was going to call you. No way did you have time to arrange for a cop to listen in. You can take your high-and-mighty attitude and choke on it, wifey dearest. His tone turned even more menacing Youre going to regret ever dragging our personal life into court. Ill make you beg for mercy before Im done with you. Youll never see your daughter again. I ruin your life. Ill ruin you
Sloane had gone pale, and the hand holding her cell phone was trembling violently.
Liam lifted the phone out of her hand and disconnected the call. He was sorely tempted to give Ivan Durant a piece of his mind, but pulling a stunt like that would force him off the investigation of what was going on with Sloanes house.
Besides, she was shaken enough without him heaping any more drama on top of what Ivan had just piled onto her.
The phone rang again. Liam glanced at the caller ID and blocked the number.
You cant block him! Sloane exclaimed. What if theres an emergency and
Liam cut her off with quietly intensity. And what? You can always unblock him and call him, But are you really going to turn to that jerk for help with anything in your life? He didnt show even a hint of concern when you told him his own child was in the hospital. Do you really want a man like that anywhere near your daughter?
No. Of course not. But what if he actually does need to talk to me about something?
You have a lawyer. He can call him or her.
Sloane looked up at him, lost. She appeared so young and vulnerable and scared out of her mind in that moment. Liam swore silently at himself. As attracted as he was to this woman, he had no business even considering a romantic entanglement with her. She was off balance, frightened and still trying to get on her feet after what had obviously been a hideous divorce. She was in no condition to get into a relationship with any man.
God knew he didnt want to be the rebound guy. It would only end up hurting them both in the end.
You should seriously consider installing an app on your phone that will record phone calls. If he threatens you again, it would help us to have a recording of it for evidence purposes.
Good idea, Sloane replied woodenly.
He pressed her phone back into her hand. You have tons of family. Friends all around you. Turn to us. You dont need Ivan Durant for anything. Weve all got your back.