Page 24 of Two Hearts' Accidental Heroes

“Okay, be sure to let me know what you turn up. I’m on my way to physical therapy.”

“How’s it going?”

“Not as well as I was hoping. Steve is worried about my knee. He’s afraid I’m going to need more surgery,” Rick confessed, frowning.

Jake heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry to hear that, Rick. Is he sure?”

“No, not yet. He said we’d give therapy a shot for a while. Either way, my pararescue days might be over,” Rick admitted, standing.

Jake eased back in his chair, studying Rick. “Let’s see how this investigation goes. Give me a couple of weeks to find out more about Wes Montgomery. It might be time for me to work with a full-time investigative team if we come up with any leads about the traffickers.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” As Rick reached the door, he hesitated with his hand on the knob, looking back before unlocking it. “What makes you think I’ll be any good at this?”

“I knew it the moment I talked with you as a teenager. You’re an observer and judging by the way you connected with Shanna and knew instinctively what was going on with her, you’re not afraid to go with your gut and do what you think is right.”

Clearing his throat, Rick opened the door. “I just sure hope you’re right, Jake.”

“I know I am,” Jake said firmly.

Grimacing, Rick walked through the doorway, closing the door softly behind him.

Rick was distracted during his entire physical therapy session, although he could definitely feel the tightness in his knee, even with the slightest movement. At least he wasn’t quite as concerned about the future as he’d been before talking with Jake.

But he was anxious about beginning this investigation, although he probably wasn’t in good enough shape at this point to get a job at the marina if it would require a lot of physical labor.

He had his doubts about the images that Jake had shown him. Of course, what did he know? Jake was the one with experience, so he had to be pretty sure it was Shanna if he was willing to begin this investigation.

“You seem distracted today,” Steve muttered, inspecting Rick’s knee as he bent it in different positions.

“I am. Jake might have some work for me to do while I’m here in town.”

Steve became thoughtful. “I imagine that it’s probably something I shouldn’t ask about.”

“You’d be right,” Rick agreed.

“Then I’d probably better tell you that someone working out here thought they recognized you the other day,” Steve said.

Rick frowned. “That’s not good.”

Steve turned away to type some notes on his pad, motioning that he was done with inspecting Rick’s legs. “I said you were a friend of Jake’s from out of town and that I couldn’t remember your name. But can I suggest something that might help?”

“Sure,” Rick said, sitting on the edge of the workout table.

“Why don’t you just grow a beard? It’s the best way to remain invisible around here.”

“I might just do that,” Rick agreed.

“It’s August, and the nights are beginning to get cooler, so it shouldn’t be too uncomfortable for you either. I’ll see you again tomorrow around six. I’m going to introduce you to one of my assistants. He’ll probably be working with you in the evening after you show some improvement and we’re ready to step it up a little.”

“Thanks, Steve,” Rick said, standing from the bench. “I don’t feel as stiff today.”

Steve nodded agreeably. “Good.”

Another twenty minutes later, Rick had showered and dressed and was trying to decide what to do about dinner when he stepped outside of the rehab facility. It was strange that someone might have recognized him nearly ten years after leaving Crystal Rock. He’d put on quite a bit of weight from regularly working out and had even grown a few more inches, so he barely resembled his younger self.

He probably wouldn’t be recognized at the grocery store, he decided. When Jake had given him the keys to their family home, Rick had been stunned. Apparently, Jake had been keeping an eye on the place and occasionally rented it out to people he trusted. Dad must have been doing alright financially after all when they’d left Crystal Rock. Despite Brian’s run in with the men whom they’d assumed were probably traffickers, Brian had no further trouble once he’d enlisted in the Army. Rick hadn’t talked to Eric for a while, but he’d enlisted in the Air Force after graduating high school, and his enthusiasm had been why Rick had ended up in the Air Force as well.

Mom and Dad were supposedly still living apart, although Rick suspected that things might have changed after he and his brothers were on their own, especially since Mom had been reaching out to all of them.

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