Page 74 of Kyle

He rubbed his hands over his face and felt like a million years old.

"What's the progress?"

Matthew strode to the refreshment table and poured some coffee.

"We had her in the interrogation room and she put on quite a performance. She did not deny that she spoke to the asshole. Said he came up to her begging for some cash and that she remembered him from before."

He sipped coffee.

"Cried when we told her what he said about her hiring him to kill my sister. When asked how he would know where she would be, she wept even more and reminded us that my sister is a celebrity and people are always stalking people like her."

He came, sat.

"We've nothing to hold her. No physical evidence, no recordings of the transaction. The bastard is as high as a kite and keeps changing his story. One minute she paid him five hundred, the next she promised him sexual favors. No jury in the world is going to believe that a woman like her would ever agree to be with a man like him. He's jonesing for a fix and had to be taken to the hospital. The case is stalled."

Chapter 16

Ingrid struggled to open her eyes, the light from the full moon piercing her eyelids. A frown touched her brow as confusion reigned. Her left side was on fire, and something was clamping her left hand to a bed. Her eyes flew open as memory slammed into her brain with the force of a hurricane and had her remembering.

Her distressed moan had Kyle waking with a start. Her hand was fluttering beneath his agitatedly.

"Kyle." Her voice was husky as if it had not been used in a while. But she was awake! Joy exploded inside him, and he was careful not to jog her arm.

"Baby, Sweetheart." Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead. "How are you?"

"I was shot." She whispered. "Someone shot me."

"Yes." He swallowed the lump that had lodged in his throat. "Are you in pain? Should I get the doctor? The nurse?"

"My baby. I want to see my baby." Her eyes darted around the room and then back to his face. "Is he alive? Is my son--"

"Yes." He assured her quickly. "He's alive and sleeping right now."

"I want to see him." She eased out a breath and winced.

"You're in pain. I should--"

"Kyle, who shot me?"

"I-- it was a junkie."

She frowned. "I asked him if he wanted money and he said something like she wanted me dead. Who wanted me dead?"

"I don't--"

"Please tell me."

He was saved from responding when the team bustled into the room.

"Well, look who finally surfaced." Dr. Pierce beamed at her as he took her vitals and studied her chart.

"How long have I been out?"

"Two days, and during which, your husband has not left your side."

Her eyes darted to his face. "I can just imagine. He looks like hell."

Kyle laughed huskily, tears blurring his vision. "She wants to see our son."