Her baby let out a soft sigh and she looked down at her again, and nodded. “Of course, Sheriff. I’ll do whatever I can.”
Hank flicked his finger across the screen of his smartphone and then turned it so she could see. “This is the clearest image we could get.”
“You’re right. With the hat it’s hard to tell. His physical build is right, though. He was wiry like that. And he had a big floral arrangement in his hands.” A shudder ripped through her as she remembered the way he’d come at her with those hands, hurting her and whispering hateful words meant to break her spirit down.
Lydia, Tank, and Troy peeked in from outside in the hallway. When Hank saw them, he beckoned them in to ask them a few questions and they told him what they could.
Tank said, “Honestly, my focus was on Jessica, and when I went outside the door, everything looked normal out there, at least as far as I could see.”
A deputy came to the door, a large floral arrangement in his gloved hands. “Sir, we found these in the vacant patient room near the entry doors.”
Hank turned to Jessica, the question apparent in his eyes, and she nodded. “That was them.”
Hank asked the deputy to make sure the vase was dusted for fingerprints.
“Hank,” the deputy said.
“Yeah?” Hank looked up from his smartphone, which he’d been making notes on.
The look on the deputy’s face communicated as much as words could that he needed to speak with Hank privately. He excused himself and joined the deputy in the doorway and Jessica watched as his head fell forward and his shoulders sagged briefly before he straightened back up. He said something quietly to the deputy who nodded and then walked away. When Hank returned to her bedside, his expression confirmed her worry.
“Sir, are you all right?”
He tapped the screen of his phone, blinking hard, and then looked up at her and nodded. “Just got some bad news about a friend.”
“I’m very sorry. Are they okay?”
Hank swallowed and then nodded, a sorrowful smile on his face. “He is now.”
Even though she didn’t know this man well, she couldn’t rein in the urge to reach out to him. She squeezed the top of his big hand. To ask questions seemed rude. Sensing his grief and hoping it was appropriate, she said, “I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you.” Hank sat back, breathed in deeply, and sighed as he focused on his notes. “Okay. I’ll arrange for someone to be here to watch over you while you’re in the hospital.”
“Thank you, Hank,” Lydia said as she came to stand by Jessica’s side. Jessica looked up at Lydia when she sniffled and saw her swipe tears from her cheeks. “We’ll take her back out to the ranch with us when she’s discharged. Hank? Was it Patterson?”
Hank nodded. “He just passed.”
Lydia drew in a deep breath and nodded, wiping at more tears.
Hank cleared his throat as he stood and looked at the two men standing near the door. “Keep up the good work, gentlemen.”
“We’ll keep her safe,” Tank said, absolute certainty in his voice.
She met Tank’s gaze for a second before averting her eyes, doubly embarrassed that not only had her water broken all over him, he’d also been right outside the door while she’d given birth. And Troy had been inside for every moment of the painful process. Her cheeks felt like they radiated enough heat to fill the building.
Standing beside Tank with his muscular arms folded across his chest, Troy reaffirmed. “She’ll be safe out at the ranch with us until this blows over.” When she made eye contact with Troy, all she could see was warmth in his gaze as he looked at her, which made her feel even more self-conscious. She figured she must look a fright.
Hank nodded. “Until we catch him. We’ll hopefully confirm his identity through the fingerprints on the vase. If it was him that you saw, I doubt he’s going to give up so easily.”
“I don’t know if he saw me or not. He may have just been checking. Maybe he’ll give up—”
Hank gave her a resigned look. “Given your position near the desk, and his behavior when he turned in your direction, he saw you. He backed up toward Grace’s door, hesitated, and then thankfully turned and walked away.”
“Grace’s door? Oh no. I forgot she was here, too. Oh my God, that was close. You think it was him?”
Hank shrugged. “I’m erring on the side of caution. I can’t seem to keep the women of this town from coming into the crosshairs of bad men, but I can damn sure do my best to protect them.” He leveled his gaze on Tank and Troy. “You two watch out for her and let me know if you have any trouble.”