in law enforcement is commendable, but don’t forget your roots, either. Talk with your dad.”
“I don’t think he wants to hear it right now.”
“Maybe if you come up with a plan. Maybe compromise some.”
Brandon nodded. That was just it—he didn’t have a plan, and now another complication. All he’d been able to think about in the past three days was Nora Donnelly. He’d called the hospital, but she hadn’t returned to work.
“I get the feelin’ there’s something else on your mind,” Hank said.
Brandon stroked the horse. “It’s a case I’ve been working on. A woman was attacked in the emergency room parking lot.”
“I read about that. How is she doing?”
“She was checked out and released that night.” He shook his head. “It’s just I have this feeling she knew her attacker.”
Hank frowned. “You mean like a husband?”
“No, she’s widowed, and she says she hasn’t dated anyone since his death, so no boyfriend. That seems strange because she’s pretty.”
“Pretty, huh?”
Brandon nodded. “Yeah. Even with all the bruises from the attack.”
“So she’s caught your eye.”
Yeah, she’d caught his eye all right. He released a long sigh. “My life just keeps getting more and more complicated.”
Hank grinned. “A pretty woman is always a complication, but the right one is so worth all the trouble.”
Four days had passed since the attack and Nora wasn’t sure what to do. There hadn’t been any more threats. No one was hanging around her apartment. No mysterious phone calls. Was the man still watching the hospital? Was he waiting for her to return to work? Had this been Jimmy’s sick way of letting her know he’d found her?
Nora walked into her bathroom and examined the fading bruises on her face, only a faint discoloration shading her jawline. A long time ago she’d learned to apply makeup like an expert, hiding her shame and humiliation. She closed her eyes and began to tremble as she recalled that night. The pain had been nothing compared to the fear that her ex-husband might have found her.
Although Jimmy couldn’t get his hands on her right now, he had people who would do it for money. She glanced around her furnished apartment. Should she take Zach and leave San Angelo? Their emergency suitcases were packed and in the car. Money and Zach’s medication were close by. Although it would be hard to change her location and identity, she was prepared to run again. Anything to stay out of Jimmy’s reach. To keep her son safe.
Although she and Zach never talked about their past life in San Diego, it didn’t mean he didn’t remember those awful years. She also knew their freedom could be snatched away at any time.
No, she couldn’t let Jimmy find them. No matter what she had to do, leave the state, color her hair, anything. He would never take Zach away from her. Nor would she go back to that life. She’d already broken the law to protect her son, and she’d do it again. That’s why she’d taken more than money from Jimmy’s wall safe. Just some added insurance to keep her and Zach out of harm’s way.
The doorbell rang and Nora jumped. She thought about not answering it, but went to look though the peephole and saw Deputy Randell standing on the other side.
Taking a relaxing breath, she opened the door to Brandon Randell. He was dressed in a white shirt, dark trousers and a black cowboy hat. His gun was strapped around his waist and he wore a badge on his breast pocket. He could pass for an old time sheriff. “Hello, Deputy Randell.”
“Mrs. Donnelly,” he said with a nod.
“I thought we’d finished with the questioning.”
“Now that I’m a detective with the department, I’ve been assigned to your case.”
Great. “Has anything new come up?”
“Maybe.” He looked past her. “May I come in?”
What could she do, but step aside? After removing his hat, the detective walked in, then stepped into the small kitchen and dropped a folder on the table.
Brandon had rushed over to Nora Donnelly’s apartment the second he’d gotten this lead. He was determined to find this guy. He glanced over her face. The makeup hid most of the bruises, but they didn’t mar her beauty, either. He motioned for her to sit down. She did and so did he.
“This morning, I went to the hospital and talked with some of the nurses in the E.R.,” he began as he opened the file. “It seems that a few days before your attack, you attended a woman who came in with multiple bruises, laceration to her face and a broken arm. All done by the work of her husband.”
Nora nodded. “Karen Carlson. She was in bad shape. We had to keep her overnight.”
Brandon looked over his notes. “A nurse, Beth Hunt, told me you sat at Karen’s bedside because she was so afraid her husband, a Pete Carlson, would come to get her.”
Her blue eyes lit up. “Have you found him?”
His heart tripped and he had to glance away to concentrate. “Not yet. But you convinced Mrs. Carlson to go into a shelter.”
Nora blinked. “You think it was her husband who attacked me?”
“He could have.” Brandon pulled a picture out of the folder. “Does this man look familiar?”
Nora studied the mug shot. “He’s burly, but I can’t say for sure.” She handed it back. “Are you going to arrest him?”
“First, we have to find him. But, yes, he has a long rap sheet. He likes to drink and fight, not caring if it’s a man or a woman.”
“But he’ll be arrested?” she asked again.
He nodded. “For his attack on his wife. I need to talk to Mrs. Carlson, first. Would you be willing to go with me?”
“Isn’t that your job, Detective?”
“Under the circumstances, I think she’ll be more willing to give me information with you there. Twice before she’s dropped the charges against the man.”
It hadn’t taken much to see that Nora Donnelly was uncomfortable. She didn’t trust easily. Was it just him, or all men? Had a man hurt her before? Her husband?
“I don’t know how I can help.”
“All I want is for you to talk with Karen.”
Those large eyes locked with his momentarily. Damn, it was hard not to react to her.
She glanced at the wall clock. “Okay, I’ll go, but I’ll need to be back before three-thirty. My son will need his medication.”
“Is he sick?”
“He’s
