Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Mrs. Cruz, Mr. Cruz left specific instructions. Keeping you safe is my one priority.”
“Then you can accompany me. Hamish, it’s my father. Silas was going to take me himself.”
He looks dubious.
I don’t back down. I will call the police if I have to. I don’t know where I am, but I’m sure they can trace my location. Hamish isn’t going to wrestle me for the phone. I know that and Hamish knows it too because he picks up his jacket which is hanging on the back of the stool he was sitting on and gestures for me to go ahead.
We hurry out to the SUV. I don’t even bother with an umbrella, several of which are in a basket by the door. We climb into the SUV and drive off the property in the pouring rain. It takes us twenty minutes to get to the hospital, and I text Mr. Higgins once I’m in the lobby.
Police officers are standing at the elevators, and a few minutes later, Mr. Higgins appears. I go to him, hugging him in my relief. He tells the officer who I am, and for a moment I wonder what I’d do if they don’t let me up, but they do. However, they stop Hamish when he tries to follow me on.
“Just her.”
“It’s fine. Just wait for me here. I’ll come back down as soon as I see my father. I promise. Where would I go?”
Hamish draws a deep breath in, and I know he doesn’t like it, but I don’t even wait for his response. Instead, I get onto the elevator and don’t look back as the doors close.
“Did Silas call you last night?” I ask Higgins.
He looks guilty. “He did.”
“And I’m guessing you arranged for him to see my father?”
“That wasn’t me.” He glances at the guard riding with us. “I just gave him Horatio’s room number.”
“Did he say what he wanted to talk to him about?”
“No. Just said Horatio would want to hear it.”
“And this is where they arrested him?”
“I believe so.”
The elevator doors slide open. “My dad’s confession, is it true?”
We step off the elevator and he draws me away from the uniformed officers standing there. “I don’t know. To be honest, I don’t know what the hell he’s doing. He’s not telling me much, which makes it very hard to help him.”
I nod, and I know already which room is my dad’s by the two additional officers standing outside of it.
“Come on. They’re transferring him back to the prison this afternoon. We’d better go talk to him while they’ll still allow it. But, Ophelia, one question for you. You were supposed to marry Ethan Fox. Silas Cruz—did he force you? I can help you if he did.”
I look up at him and consider his question. How do I answer it? I touch the back of my wedding ring with my thumb.
“It’s complicated,” I say, remembering how Silas had reacted when I’d used those same words to describe my relationships with my father and the Foxes just weeks ago. How everything has gone sideways since. “But I’m all right,” I add on, not sure why, maybe to reassure Mr. Higgins. Maybe because it’s true.
“Let’s go in,” he says, taking my elbow and escorting me into room 414.
A doctor is taking my father’s blood pressure, and another police officer is inside his room. I notice the chain hanging over the edge of the foot of the bed. They must have his ankle cuffed to the bed. It’s degrading to see my father like this, and tears well in my eyes because he doesn’t deserve this.
“Ophelia,” Dad says, using my full name, which he rarely does.
I drag my gaze to his, knowing he saw me looking. “Dad.”
I run to him, and the doctor steps away. When the police officer comes forward to block me, Mr. Higgins puts a hand on his arm. “She’s his daughter. She just heard he was stabbed. Please.”
“Fine.” The guard steps back, and I hug my father. I would have anyway.
I realize as he holds me how much I’ve missed him. How much I miss my dad.
A sob breaks between us and Dad rubs my back. I pull away and wipe away my tears.
“Dad. Are you okay?”
“I’m going to be just fine, honey. You don’t worry about me, okay?”
I nod, even though I know I can’t do it. “What happened?”
“It doesn’t matter. Had little to do with me, I think. Just ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Who did it?”
“They don’t know. How are you, sweetheart? You’re still banged up from the accident.” He touches a bruise on my forehead.
“I’m fine, Dad. I’m tough, like you. Listen, I need to ask you some questions.”
He nods gravely like he was expecting this.
“I know Silas came to see you.”
“He did. And I’m pleased, Phee. It’s good you’re married to him.”