Flipping open her cell phone, she dialed Zach’s number. “Zach, it’s Grace Harmony. I’m at Dolores’ house. She’s in trouble.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Come quickly.”
She disconnected, not wanting to explain. She wasn’t sure if Dolores had been shot or she’d lost the baby. Most likely this was the miscarriage.
A siren sounded in the distance, a welcome sound. The EMT’s arrived first and went to work. Two paramedics she worked with rolled on the scene. They loaded Dolores into the ambulance just as Zach arrived.
“She’s losing the baby,” Grace said to him. “I’ll drive.”
He followed, his face a study in disbelief. “The baby?”
“I think so.”
“She really wanted this baby.”
Grace just nodded grimly.
The scene of Zach pacing in the hospital emergency room was getting tired and stale for Grace. She went through the heartache with him three times now. Her strength ebbing, she wasn’t sure she could go through this again. She had to solve this during this rewind.
She brought him coffee. He held it, not taking any sips, as if he’d forgotten that it was there. “Drink.”
He looked down at the white Styrofoam cup as if he’d never seen it before this. “Can you find out what’s happening?”
“I can, but it’s better to let them work on her. They’ll let us know when they can.”
He nodded, obviously knowing that was the answer she would give. “I was just starting to wrap my brain around the idea of a kid. Never really thought about having one. When Dolores and I divorced I didn’t expect to remarry.”
“One never knows what life brings us.” She rubbed her head. “Sorry, that was trite.”
He put a hand on her thigh. “It’s okay.”
His warmth infused her and the vision of them and children sprang out of her mind like a screen coming up before her. She wanted to smile at the happiness she saw in the picture.
“You’ve done so much, Grace. How did you come to be there?”
“I was out running. I couldn’t sleep. Ended up on her doorstep, I guess to check on her.”
“Did you know something was wrong?”
She could lie and tell him she did, but she wanted him to trust her. “No, I didn’t. At least not consciously.”
“I’m glad you were there,” he said, his voice hollow.
A nurse appeared in the doorway. “Mr. Holten?”
Zach stood as if braced to hear whatever news she brought.
Chapter Twenty Six
The baby that didn’t make it wasn’t his. Dolores was okay, but the baby, a twelve week fetus, was not his. He didn’t know which emotion to feel first, relief or disappointment.
He knew at that point in time, he couldn’t ever trust Dolores again. He was done making excuses for her lies.
Now was the time to look forward and that meant this woman standing in front of him. He didn’t know why, but she seemed to be a part of his future.
“Let’s go,” he said.
She jumped out of her chair, her mouth opened. “Aren’t you going to wait until she’s settled in a room?”
“No, I’ll come see her tomorrow.” He could hear the bitterness in his own voice.
When they got to her car he said, “You must think me a jerk.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t know your history with Dolores.”
“We have quite a colorful one. We ended our relationship three times before we married. I should have known better.”
He shook his head while he slid into the passenger side. She drove him back to his car at Dolores’ house. “Have you met the tenant?”
Zach looked up at the darkened apartment. “No. Seems odd that the person didn’t come out with all the commotion last night.”
“Maybe they aren’t home.”
“None of my business.” He glanced over at Grace not eager to leave her company. “You need some breakfast?”
“I need a shower and to go to work.”
“Can I meet you for lunch?”
“As long as you don’t mind being stood up.”
“Why?”
“Because if a call comes in I have to go.”
“That’s how it was when I was a cop.”
“Then it’s a deal. Noon in the hospital cafeteria?”
“I’ll see you then.”
Grace met Zach at lunch. Her morning had not gone well. Even her partner had remarked that she didn’t seem to have the touch anymore.
“Off day?”
“I usually can just get a feeling for what they need, but not today. At least I haven’t killed anyone.”
“About Dolores.”
She raised a hand. “I’m not sure I’m up to talking about her.”
“Good idea. Let’s talk about something else,” Zach said.
Silence ensued as Grace attacked her salad with gusto. Zach leaned back and watched, his sandwich untouched.
“What?” Grace asked, her fork in mid air. “I never know when a call is coming in so I eat when I can.”
“Understood.”
Grace dropped her fork. “I think we have to talk about Dolores.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s right here with us. I’m not sure I want to do this with her here.”
“I talked to her. She knows where I stand.”
“Yes, but I still think that she’s in danger. I can’t pretend she isn’t there. She’s what brought us together.”
Zach took a bite of his sandwich and chewed it as if they were the words Grace had said. Once he swallowed he spoke again. “Okay. Then maybe we need to get this murder out of the way.”
“You believe me?”
No one ever does. She understood what Cassandra in Troy felt.
“Yes.” He said it without flinching. His gaze never left her face.
“I don’t want you to patronize me.”
“I wouldn’t, Grace.”
He reached across and took her hand in his. His warmth settled about her, like a womb. The vision didn’t appear, but the remnants of its memory washed over her. “Okay. So who do you think would want to kill her?”
