cops catch the killer.”
Good God. Addie had known right from the start that this attack was aimed at her, but it was sickening to hear the motive spelled out.
Well, if it was true.
“What exactly does Ogden believe I should be doing to help the cops?” Addie asked.
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks. He’s crazy,” Weston reminded her.
That didn’t make her feel any better. Mainly because it was coming from Weston. Yes, he’d saved her life, but Addie reminded herself that he’d also used her to find the Moonlight Strangler, the very monster at the heart of all of this.
“Ogden said you should try hypnosis and some drug therapy,” Jericho finally answered.
“I’ve done both.” A reminder that wasn’t necessary since her brother and Weston already knew that. If she thought more hypnosis would help, she’d gladly repeat it. Ditto for another round of drug therapy once the baby was born.
“Ogden believes you know plenty of things you’re not saying because you want to protect your birth father,” Jericho added. “And remember that part about him being crazy.”
Addie wanted to curse. Or scream. “I wouldn’t protect him. Not ever.” Of course, she hadn’t needed to tell Jericho that. But it did make her wonder. “Is this personal for Ogden? Maybe the Moonlight Strangler killed someone he loved?”
Even though Weston wasn’t touching her, she could almost feel his muscles tightening.
“We’ll check all angles,” Jericho assured her, but anything else he was about to say was cut off when they spotted a tall gray-haired man in scrubs making his ways toward him.
Addie instantly recognized him. It was Dr. Applewhite. There were only a handful of regular doctors at the small hospital, and she’d known Dr. Applewhite since she was in elementary school. However, she didn’t usually see such a serious expression on his grandfatherly face.
“Teddy’s in surgery,” the doctor said right off. “He’s lost a lot of blood. A lot,” he emphasized. “But there doesn’t seem to be any damage to his vital organs. He should pull through.”
Addie hadn’t even realized she was holding her breath until the air rushed from her throat. Like the doctor, she’d known Teddy most of her life, and it felt like a stab to the heart to know he’d been hurt because of her.
“Thanks for telling us,” Addie said. “My mother’s already called his family to let them know. They’ll be here soon.”
The doctor had no sooner stepped away when Jericho’s phone buzzed, and she saw Jax’s name on the screen. She also saw the debate Jericho had with himself before he finally put the call on speaker.
“I found something,” Jax greeted.
Addie had braced herself for bad news, but the relief flooded through her. Guarded relief anyway.
“I’m looking at Lonny Ogden’s phone records, and he’s only been in contact with one person in the past twenty-four hours. Ira Canales.”
Yet another name Addie didn’t recognize, and apparently she wasn’t the only one who didn’t.
“Who is he?” Weston and Jericho asked in unison.
“He’s the campaign manager for Alton Gregory Boggs.”
Addie shook her head. “The attorney who’s running for the state senate?”
“The very one,” Jax confirmed.
She’d seen campaign ads. Everyone probably had. Pictures of a smiling Boggs and his equally smiling wife were plastered on billboards all over the area.
“It’s not just a couple of calls to Canales,” Jax went on. “Ogden phoned him six times today. All under a minute long so I can’t be sure if Canales actually spoke with him. Ogden could have just left him messages.”
True, but it was a start. Maybe Ogden had said something to Canales that would tell them if Ogden truly had a connection to the Moonlight Strangler. Any connection that would help them learn the killer’s identity.
“I’ll call Canales now and have him come in tomorrow,” Jax continued. “Jericho, have you been able to question Ogden yet?”
But Jericho didn’t get a chance to answer because of the shouts that were coming from the ER. One of the shouts she instantly recognized as coming from the night deputy, Dexter Conway.
“Stop!” Dexter yelled.
“Stay here,” Jericho insisted. He drew his gun, then hesitated a split second so he could make eye contact with Weston. “Watch out for her.”
Jericho rushed out, racing toward the sounds of Dexter’s repeated shouts for someone or something to stop. Weston stepped in the doorway in front of her, and he, too, drew his gun.
Just like that her heart was right back in her throat. “What’s happening?”
Weston shook his head.
But Addie heard something she definitely hadn’t wanted to hear.
A gunshot.
The sound put her heart right back in her throat. “Another attack?” she managed to ask.
“Maybe.” Weston didn’t budge. He kept watch and then started a new round of profanity. “Yeah. It’s a gunman. And Jericho’s in pursuit.”
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