The bartender had said no one else was down there with her, but the drunk guy who’d accosted her on the way to the basement was close enough. Jake’s partner had taken care of the scene and got the guy’s name. He’d be the first person Jake would visit when he knew Ryley’s outcome. For now, she rested God knew where inside her head, probably talking to the ghosts that kept her company. At least she wouldn’t be alone.
The hospital door squeaked open, and a man stepped inside wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. His mussed hair looked as though he’d just gotten out of bed.
He rushed to her side, his face shadowed in worry. He glanced at Crews. “Aren’t you the guy from the police station?”
Crews shifted his jacket to show the badge on his hip. “Detective Jake Crews.”
“I’m Tucker St. James. Ryley’s brother. We weren’t formally introduced when I picked her up the other night.” Tucker took his sister’s hand. “Were you there when it happened? Do you know who did this to her?”
Crews’s eye twitched. “Why do you think someone did this to her?”
Tucker met his gaze. “Because you’re with the police and you’re here, watching over her while she’s unconscious. Unless, of course, you were there to question her again. I know you aren’t her boyfriend. She doesn’t date cops.”
Crews chewed that information over.
“If she’s in trouble, I’m her attorney, so you can leave. I’m going to advise her not to answer any of your questions until we talk.”
“She didn’t mention you were her brother when you picked her up at the station.” Crews shoved away from the wall. He gazed to Ryley, and the muscles in his shoulders relaxed. She did have a family.
“So, what were you doing? Arresting her for breaking in to your mom’s house again?”
“No, she helped me with a case. I went to the bar to ask her a question and found the other bartender panicking.”
“She doesn’t date cops, and she doesn’t help them, either.” Tucker’s brows pulled together.
“Maybe she’s branching out,” Crews answered. “She seems to be helping everyone these days.”
“What happened?” Tucker asked, pulling Crews’s gaze away from Ryley.
“I tripped. I’m a klutz.” Ryley answered as she opened her eyes.
The door squeaked again, and another woman and man walked in, neither of whom Crews recognized, but apparently, the brother did.
“Jane, what are you doing here?” Tucker asked.
“Checking in on my client. I heard she had an accident.” Jane stepped around the the bed and nudged Crews out of the way.
“You’re not her attorney. I am.”
“Boy, she really must get into trouble if she needs two attorneys,” Crews said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I’ll check with the doctors to see about getting her moved,” the man with Jane announced.
“Oscar, wait,” Ryley called out.
“She’s not being moved,” Tucker growled.
“She’ll have access to the finest physicians money can buy. We’ll fly in the best if need be. She’s in good hands, Tucker. The Wilson estate has seen to that.”
Ryley rested her hand over her brother’s, pulling his gaze back to her. “It’s okay. I can handle this.”
She was good at taking control of situations. Smart. Jake stood out of the way and watched the power play between all the people in the room. If he was a betting man, he’d put his money on the psychotic ghost hunter lying in the hospital bed.
A muscle in Tucker’s jaw ticked, but he stepped out of the way. “By all means, but don’t think you and I aren’t discussing this later.”
Ryley smiled, then winced. “Jane, Oscar. I’m fine, just a little broken at the moment. I fell, and things fell on top of me. It’s no big deal. I’ll recover.”
“Are you sure Felix Wilson didn’t have anything to do with this?”
“I’m sure,” Ryley said.
“Who’s Felix?” Jake asked.
“The slimy cousin that wants to sell off the Wilson farm,” Ryley answered.
“You know I wouldn’t put it past him, not after that incident in the diner,” Oscar added.
“What incident?” Tucker asked.
“Enough,” Ryley said. “I’m going to be fine. I just need to rest.”
Jane’s eyes searched hers as if to see if she was telling the truth. She nodded. “Call me later when you’re ready to discuss things.”
There was something implied under her words, judging by the look Ryley gave both Jane and that guy Oscar.
“Of course.”
Jane’s gaze softened and drifted to Tucker’s. “I didn’t know she was your sister. Call me if she needs anything, anything at all.”
“She won’t,” Tucker said, turning his gaze back to his sister.
Ryley tipped her head in Crew’s direction. “Looks like your timing was off.”
“Or just perfect, seeing how I was there to handle things. Your buddy the bartender isn’t very capable under pressure. I was sure he was about to pass out when you fainted and got blood on his shirt.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s the least I can do for seeing how you helped me catch Curtis Jones’s killer.”
As if that name piqued Tucker’s interest, he straightened. “Who was it?”
“Benny Waldridge,” Crews said, moving closer to the bed now that Jane and Oscar had left. “We found him on more video cameras just like you suggested after he kidnapped Curtis. The case is all but shut.”
“Did you find the books?” Tucker asked.
Crews slid his hands in his jacket pocket. “What would you know about those books?”
“When I told you she doesn’t help cops, I meant it. She wasn’t helping you find Curtis’s killer; she was helping me.”
“Why would you ask your sister for help? What’s your connection to the case?”
“Logan Bane is the private investigator that works for my brother’s law firm. Bane knew that the fight would get back to the police and swore he didn’t have anything to do with it. My brother wanted me to connect.”
“That’s why
