Page 15 of Deadly Force

“Is he your boyfriend?” she asks.

“He’s just a friend of my brother,” I say quickly, shaking my head.

She sighs. “Oh. Well. He’s very attractive. But so very, very large.”

I burst out laughing. “He is. He likes to lift weights.”

Betty looks decidedly confused, so I change the subject. “What’s the new menu like?”

Her nose scrunches in disgust. “Revolting.”

She slaps a hand over her mouth, panic flashing in her eyes. “But don’t tell them. You mustn’t tell them I said that.”

I infuse as much assurance into my voice as I can. “They won’t hear it from me.”

They might darn well hear it splashed all over the article, though.

I lean forward slightly, keeping my tone gentle. “Betty, how long have you been sitting out here?”

She blinks, looking around like she’s seeing her surroundings for the first time. “I…I’m not sure. Someone said they’d be right back.”

The journalist in me can’t let it go. “Who said that?”

“The new girl. The one with the mean eyes.” Betty’s voice drops to a whisper. “She doesn’t like us very much.”

That gives me pause. I study her flushed face—open, sincere, maybe a little confused, but not lying. Not imagining things.

I glance back toward the building, heart thudding now for a different reason.

This wasn't just negligence. It might not even be carelessness.

After thinking Caleb had wrecked my chances of uncovering the truth here, he’s done the one thing I couldn’t: he found me a credible source.

FOUR

Caleb

Agitated and annoyed, I hurry back to Brooke with a nurse in tow, praying I didn’t just make a huge mistake. Leaving Brooke alone wasn’t smart. Second day on the job and I’m already losing sight of why I came.

When I see her beside the tree, intact and still breathing, the tension eases. Stupid move to leave her out here, even if I had her in sight the entire time. Shaking off the thought, I let the apologetic nurse wheel Betty back inside.

It’s not even her fault.

Betty was left outside due to a staff shortage and an oversight at shift change. It shouldn’t have happened, and I’m going to make sure it doesn’t again.

I say goodbye to Betty and gesture for Brooke tohead back to the Nissan. From the wry smile on her face, she’s got plenty to say about my interference.

“What did you do?”

I didn’t do anything. I wish I could’ve. “Reminded them of their duty of care.”

Her eyebrow hikes. “How?”

I unlock the truck and toss the camera inside. “Why?”

“I’m curious. I’d like to know your method. Or did you just grunt and flex your muscles?”

I bark a laugh as she hops in the passenger seat. “You’re supposed to be in the back.”