by Jane Godman
“I don’t understand. Are you saying that she didn’t know what color the RevitaYou bottles are?” she asked at last. “If she used them, she must have known that they’re green.”
“Exactly. Your dad did a good job of marketing his product. Those bottles are very distinctive. If Jenna had bought any RevitaYou vitamins, there is no way she would get confused about the color of the bottle.” Griffin took her hand. “For some reason, she made up the whole story about getting sick as a result of taking the pills.”
Abigail shook her head. “Why would she do that?”
“I can only think of one reason. Jenna must be the person who wants to get at you.”
“But why?” Abigail’s head was spinning. “We were friends. I wasn’t close with her like I was with Veronica, but we got on. I never had any reason to suspect that she disliked me or had a grudge against me.”
“I guess we’ll find out in time,” Griffin said. “But sometimes these things can be quite minor. It may even have been an imagined insult. Maybe she said ‘good morning’ one day and you didn’t respond. Or you forgot her birthday or sat in her favorite chair.”
“Even if one of those things was the trigger, I can’t believe she would be guilty of killing Evan.”
“Jenna Avery has proved that she is a liar. Riley and I have told Detective Iglesias about our conversation with her. Now it’s up to him to find how far she would go. Is she also a murderer? Only a police investigation can uncover the truth.”
Abigail got to her feet. “I’m still struggling to understand how any of this could be happening.”
Just then the baby monitor kicked into life. “Does Maya need food?” Griffin asked.
“No. She’s eaten lunch,” Abigail said. “A drink and some fruit will be enough to keep her going until dinner. Why?”
“Let’s go out. Some fresh air will take our minds off what’s going on.”
Although she appreciated the suggestion, Abigail couldn’t help wondering if anything would distract her from her thoughts. She was being pursued by a sinister figure who wanted to destroy her. Until today that person had been faceless. The possibility that it could be Jenna had shaken her to the core of her being. Someone she had known for so long, worked beside every day, talked to and laughed with... It made everything so much worse than if her attacker had been a stranger.
When Griffin brought Maya through from the bedroom, the baby’s usual post-nap grumpiness lasted for as long as it took Abigail to change her diaper. Once she’d been placed in her high chair and given a snack of formula and stewed fruit, Maya was all smiles.
“My sisters were like that when we were kids,” Griffin said. “The best way to keep them happy was to feed them. Sometimes it still is.”
It was rare for him to talk about his family and, as she checked that Maya’s bag was stocked with everything they needed, Abigail sent a sidelong glance in his direction. “Growing up in a house with two sets of female twins. Did that make you and Riley closer?”
“No.” His expression was closed, and she thought he wasn’t going to say any more, then his shoulders relaxed. “You must have guessed by now that I didn’t entirely fit in.”
Even though she had figured out that he felt out of place within his adoptive family, Abigail sensed that this was an area where she had to tread carefully. All the research she’d done prior to Maya’s birth had told her how necessary a sense of identity was to an adopted person. It was critical that she didn’t do or say anything to undermine Griffin’s self-worth.
“I can see that you are very important to your siblings.”
He appeared to consider her words carefully as though the idea hadn’t occurred to him until now. “I think that’s true. And, if you asked my brother and my sisters, I’m sure they would strenuously deny that I am not one of them.”
“But?” Abigail probed gently.
“I can only speak for myself. And I have never really felt like a Colton.”
“That must be very hard.” She covered his hand with her own.
He shrugged. “There are worse things in life.”
She watched his face, unsure how far to push him. Physically, this man shared so much of himself with her. When she examined her feelings for him, she knew that Griffin Colton had changed her life forever. But she was forced to hold her own emotions back because she knew he was afraid of letting go. So maybe it was time for her to take his and lead him...
“Like knowing your parent had been killed?” As soon as she’d spoken, she regretted the words. The pain that flitted across his face almost took her breath away and she reached up to touch his cheek. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No. You’re right. I was very lucky to have been given a home by Graham and Kathleen. I was loved and cared for. In many ways my life with them was privileged but I was also given a sense of responsibility and social justice.” He caught hold of her hand, pressing it to his lips. “Even so, they didn’t shape who I am.”
“Your mom did that.” Tears stung her eyelids at the thought of the child he’d been and the pain he’d endured.
“Everything I am is because of her.”
“She would be so proud of you, Griffin.” Abigail reached up and drew his face down to hers so she could kiss him lightly on the lips.
“Thank you for that.”
Maya, clearly feeling she had been left out of the conversation for long enough, let out a loud belch. When it got them both to turn around, she clapped her hands.
“Oh, no.” Griffin shook his head. “We are not going to start applauding bodily functions.”
She gave him one of her cheeky grins and drummed her heels noisily against the high chair.
“Does that mean you want to get out?” Griffin asked.
Maya held up her arms in response. Griffin lifted her from the chair and held her up while Abigail cleaned her face and hands with baby wipes. As she did, two things occurred to her. One was how quickly they’d gotten into a baby care routine. The second was that Griffin’s expression had lightened. Even though he hadn’t really opened up about his childhood, she sensed that the first barrier had been breached.
As their eyes met over Maya’s head, he smiled, and she knew he was letting her know that she was right.
* * *
Sheridan Park was busy with families and dog walkers. Griffin took Lucy on her harness and leash and, as usual, she attracted a mixture of reactions. Most people admired the cute little ferret, who performed a range of gymnastic tricks. Several were curious and asked questions about her. Only a few were wary and regarded the unusual animal anxiously as though she might be about to break free and go into attack mode at any minute.
Maya, watching from the comfort of her stroller, chuckled at the antics of her ferret buddy. As they strolled around the lake, Griffin was pleased that Abigail appeared relaxed and reasonably content. She’d taken the news about Jenna hard but he admired the way she dealt with everything that came her way. Lately, just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, she was rocked by more bad news. Yet she faced each blow with determination and courage. Her inner strength was amazing, and he figured it must have built up when she’d had to cope alone during the difficult years of her childhood. Even though their personalities were different, they had so much in common.
“I used to come here with my mom,” she said, as they followed a path around the water’s edge. “My dad was very controlling, and he didn’t like her to leave the house without him, but she tried to make my life as normal as possible. We’d sneak out and spend time here, feeding the ducks and eating ice cream.”
“She sounds like a remarkable woman.”
“She was. Most people don’t understand that because she left me behind when she finally ran out on my dad. They figure that only a very selfish woman could have done something like that to her child.” Her
face was half-turned away from him as if she was watching the wildfowl on the water, but he sensed her mind was focused on another time and place. “But you have to know my dad to understand the circumstances. He’d made her life a living hell and she’d reached the point where she had to leave before he broke her. She couldn’t have known when she went that he would stop her from seeing me again.”
“When someone is driven to take desperate action, they often can’t see any alternatives,” Griffin said.
“My mom was scared and in hiding. She had no money, no family and no one to help her fight him.” Abigail turned to look at him. “She needed someone like you to advise her.”
“Let me see if I’ve got the math right. You were ten when Sofia left Wes left, right? That means I was seven.” He bumped her shoulder gently with his own. “I don’t think I’d have been much use to your mom.”
Laughing, she dug him in the ribs with her elbow. “You know what I meant.”
Just as Griffin was enjoying the carefree moment, his cell phone buzzed. Although he was tempted to ignore it, there were too many claims on his attention. His junior colleagues were all good at their jobs, but there were times when his expertise was needed. And the Colton siblings had an agreed code that they would be there for each other at all times. Then, of course, there was always the possibility that the police had news.
Sure enough, the call was from Emmanuel Iglesias. The detective didn’t bother with a greeting. “I just stopped by your place.” There was an urgency in his tone that concerned Griffin. “Where are you?”
“In Sheridan Park. What’s this all about?”
“Are Abigail Matthews and her daughter with you?”
“Yes. But what—?”
“Go to the coffee shop at the park entrance and wait for me there. I’m on my way.” The detective ended the call before Griffin could say any more.
He stared at the screen of his cell for a few seconds, his mind running through a list of possibly reasons for Emmanuel’s unusual behavior. If he was coming to arrest Abigail, Griffin wouldn’t let that happen. Not without a fight.
Abigail’s hand on his arm drew his attention back to her. “What was that about?”
“Emmanuel Iglesias wants us to meet him at the coffee shop.”
Her face paled and he could tell she was having the same thoughts as he. Had her anonymous tormentor managed to plant more evidence to convince the police of her guilt? Was Emmanuel on his way to finally slap the cuffs on her?
She swallowed hard. “Why?
“He didn’t say.” Gently, he placed her hand on the bar of Maya’s stroller and covered it with his own. “But there’s only one way to find out.”
Chapter 13
To Abigail, each step that took them closer to the coffee shop at the park entrance represented the clanging of a closing prison door. Why else would Emmanuel need to see them with such urgency?
Her feet were moving in time with Griffin’s, but every nerve ending was crying out for her to swing the stroller around and run in the opposite direction. The person who wanted to frame her had won. The police were coming to get her. But she couldn’t be parted from her baby...and Griffin.
When they reached the entrance to the coffee shop, Griffin stopped. “We can’t take Lucy inside.” He looked around. “Since there’s no sign of Emmanuel, we’ll wait here.”
There were a few people around and Abigail’s attention was instantly drawn to a small, slight figure dressed all in black. It was such a warm day, and it seemed odd that anyone would wear a sweatshirt with the hood pulled up. As the person moved toward them, she noticed that he, or she, was also wearing shades.
At the last minute, she saw the outstretched hand and the knife pointed directly at Maya. Her throat tightened with dread. When she tried to cry out and let Griffin know what was happening, no sound came out. With only a split second to act, she threw herself between the lethal weapon and her baby.
Time slowed. Heat seared Abigail’s upper left arm as the knife sliced through her flesh. The stroller tilted and she tumbled with it to the ground. Scrambling desperately to protect Maya, she lay over the top of the stroller and anticipated the next slice of the blade.
As if from a distance, Griffin shouted, and Maya started to cry. When Abigail looked up, the hooded attacker was standing over her holding the bloodied blade inches from her face. As she lifted her right hand to shield her face, a tiny, furry figure darted out from beneath the stroller. Lucy sank her sharp teeth into the assailant’s left wrist at the top of the gloved hand that held the knife.
Letting out a screech, the hooded figure dropped the weapon and tried to shake Lucy free. With her leash hanging loose, the little ferret hung on tight.
Pain washed over Abigail. Warm blood was pouring down her arm and her vision started to fade. Desperately clinging to consciousness, she tried to look around to see if Maya was okay. Unsure whether the pounding in her ears was her own heartbeat or running footsteps, she was relieved to hear Emmanuel call out a warning.
“GRPD. Stay right where you are.”
Ignoring him, the attacker finally knocked Lucy away and spun around. Although Abigail couldn’t see what was going on, she heard the detective talking into his radio. “Sheridan Park. Close down the exits. The suspect is on foot and moving fast. She’s injured and leaving a trail of blood.”
She?
Griffin was kneeling beside her, but his face was an indistinct blur as he removed his T-shirt and used it to apply pressure to her injury. “We need paramedics here. Fast. She’s been stabbed.”
“Maya?” She clutched his wrist with her right hand.
He slid an arm around her, and she rested her head against his shoulder. “She’s unhurt. Detective Lopez has her. We’ll take her to the hospital with us.”
“What about Lucy?” She managed to gasp out the question. “She saved my life.”
“Emmanuel doesn’t know it yet but he’s about to take a ferret into protective custody.”
When he joined them, Emmanuel was carrying Maya and holding Lucy’s leash. “The paramedics are on their way.” As if to confirm the truth of his statement, they heard the sound of approaching sirens. “Uh. What do you want me to do with the rodent?”
“Get someone to take her to my sister, Sadie. She’ll look after her until I can collect her,” Griffin said. He took Maya from Emmanuel and, although the baby tucked her head into his neck, Abigail was pleased to see that her tears had subsided. “Then, you need to explain what’s going on.”
“Yeah.” Emmanuel nodded. “After I’ve coordinated the search and taken care of the wildlife, I’ll follow you to the hospital.”
Detective Lopez had done a good job of keeping any onlookers back and the ambulance was able to drive right up to the steps of the coffee shop. As it stopped, Emmanuel started to walk away.
“Wait.” Abigail’s voice was a croak. Shock was setting in. She was shivering wildly, and her teeth chattered as though she was freezing. But she had to know now. Later wouldn’t do. “You said the person who attacked me was a she. Does that mean you know who it was?”
“Yes.” His expression was grim. “It was Jenna Avery.”
* * *
Once they were in the ambulance and on the way to the hospital, two paramedics examined Abigail. Griffin’s anxiety for her was off the scale, but he maintained a calm exterior for Maya’s sake. Although the baby had recovered from the shock of having her stroller overturned, she had picked up the tension in the atmosphere and was clingy and whiny.
The paramedics had guided him to a seat that was out of the way of the action and requested that he fasten himself and Maya in so that they were safe during the ride. It meant Maya couldn’t see her mom and she kept up a loud protest throughout the journey.
“It’s okay. I’m here,” Griffin told her. She gave him a tear-stained look that to
ld him that, right at that moment, he wasn’t what she wanted.
It wasn’t easy to hear what the paramedics were saying while he was trying to comfort the distressed baby, but he strained to listen to their conversation. “Vital signs are all okay, but the wound is deep and she’s lost a lot of blood.”
“I’m calling ahead. We need the trauma team prepped and ready for surgery.”
Surgery. What did that mean, exactly? Could Abigail lose the use of that arm? Was amputation a possibility? Tell me she’s not going to die...
When they reached the hospital, there was an emergency team waiting for them. Griffin caught only a brief glimpse of Abigail’s face as they rolled the gurney past him and into the building. She wasn’t conscious. Her beautiful features were as pale and still as a marble statue. Her T-shirt was stained a deep crimson.
“She’s lost so much blood. Will she be okay?” He unfastened himself and Maya and got to his feet.
“If you follow the signs to the family room, sir, someone will be with you as soon as they can.” It wasn’t an answer.
Tuning into his mood, Maya hooked a hand behind his neck and rested her cheek against his chest. For an instant, he battled to keep control of his emotions. Holding Maya firmly, he walked into the building.
The family room was small and cozy with bright pictures on the walls and a well-stocked toy corner. There was no one else around and, after sitting Maya on the rug with some play items, Griffin took his cell phone out of his pocket. There were messages from all his siblings. One of Emmanuel’s colleagues had taken Lucy to Sadie’s place and, while handing over the ferret, had given her a brief account of what had happened to Abigail. The family support system had already swung into action. For the first time in his life, Griffin felt like a Colton.
On our way. Riley’s text was brief, to the point. And very welcome.
He knelt on the floor beside Maya, trying to distract himself by playing with her, but his whole body hurt. He couldn’t get enough air into his lungs and his heart felt as if it was trying to burst out of his chest. Even as he talked to Maya about the toys, his brain was asking “what if?”