helpless and had promised himself never to sink into that dark place again. He’d lost count of how many times he’d walked into it and out the other side.
With help from God.
He shoved the helplessness back and strategized ways to protect Robin. She was the key not only to a cop’s murder but potentially to something bigger. Why else would a guy walk into a hospital, impersonate a doctor and spike her IV?
The question was, how far up the chain did it go? And how was Jake going to protect her if the cops were blocking him every step of the way?
An hour later, the glass doors slid open and a red-faced Ethan marched toward Jake. Jake knew that look, that I’m-frustrated-and-want-to-slug-something look.
Jake shifted in the vinyl chair.
“What happened?” Ethan said.
“Her blood pressure dropped and she nearly died,” Jake explained.
“Where’s Dunn?”
“I’m here.”
Ethan turned to him. “Where were you when someone tried to kill my witness?”
“Making a call about the case. Just checked on the witness. She’s stable. They’re moving her to a room.”
“You find anything out at the scene?” Jake asked.
“You’re not a cop, Jake,” Ethan said. “I can’t talk to you about it.”
Jake cocked his head in question but didn’t challenge Ethan. He was under a ton of pressure and Jake didn’t want to add to it.
“Dunn, call Monroe. He’s working on the woman’s background: school, hobbies, bank balances. Everything.”
Dunn pulled out his phone and marched outside.
“You’re not looking at her as a suspect, are you?” Jake asked his friend.
Ethan put his hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Seriously, go home.”
“Not happening.” Jake eyed Ethan. “A doctor left the E.R. just before her B.P. dropped. Gut tells me he’s the one who spiked her IV.”
“Did you tell Dunn about this?”
“No.”
“Good. Let’s keep this between us.”
“You don’t trust your own men? You need to fill me in, buddy,” Jake said.
“Not now. I’ll call you later.”
“I’ll be here.”
“Jake, seriously, this isn’t your problem.”
“The woman’s here because of me, someone tried to kill her while I was sitting outside the door, and you just said you can’t trust your own guys. It is my problem.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t trust them. It’s just…this is complicated. The chief of D’s is breathing down my neck on this one, probably because Detective Edwards wasn’t supposed to be at the Chambers Building tonight.”
“Meaning?”
“I don’t know,” he snapped. “Was he dirty? Or doing undercover work someone isn’t bothering to tell me or the chief about?” Ethan took a long, deep breath and exhaled. “Don’t you have other clients who need you?”
“They pay me, they don’t need me. Go find the shooter.”
“As long as you’re here, maybe I’ll take Dunn back to the scene.”
“Take him, please take him.” Jake smiled.
They shook hands and Ethan went outside to confer with Detective Dunn.
In truth, Jake didn’t have anything pressing to deal with. He was still getting his act together after his mom’s death six months ago, going through her things, getting the house ready for sale. He was taking his time and slowly easing into his P.I. business.
Yet clients had conveniently appeared over the past few months when word got out that a former federal agent and army vet was offering his services as a private investigator. Jake had promised himself he’d be selective about his clients. He’d work with the fragile ones who were in trouble and didn’t know where else to go.
Fragile, like Mom. He had taken a leave from work when he’d learned his mom had six months to live. He could finally be there for her, take care of her during her last months on earth. He felt he was finally making up for letting her down time after time growing up.
Yet she never saw it that way. She actually blamed herself for the abuse, which had driven Jake even crazier.
“Let it go,” he whispered under his breath.
He’d been a good son in the end and now offered his services to clients who needed him most. He offered hope when they suffered from despair. That’s where he did his best work. God’s work.
The E.R. door swung open and a nurse glanced at Jake. “She’s asking for you.”
Jake pointed to his chest. “Me?”
“You’re Jake, right?”
“Yeah.”
“They’re taking her upstairs in a minute, but she wanted to see you first.”
With a nod, he followed the nurse and fought the urge to rush to Robin’s bed.
He approached with caution, steeling himself against how she’d look. She’d almost died a few minutes ago.
The nurse pulled the curtain aside and Robin glanced up at him with tired, brown eyes. She looked worn out but much better than she had an hour ago.
“Hey, you look good,” he offered.
“Don’t lie. It’s a bad way to start a relationship,” she joked.
“And a sense of humor. Amazing.”
“No, the bad guy luckily didn’t kill that.” She sighed and glanced at the nurse. “May I have a few minutes alone with Jake?”
“Sure.” The nurse pulled the curtain closed to give them privacy.
“Look, I’ve heard things about you,” Robin started, studying her fingers while she fiddled with the blanket.
“Don’t believe everything you hear.”
She glanced up. “What about the military background?”
“The hospital grapevine is pretty good.”
“And you used to be a federal agent?”
“True. How did—”
“It
