Page 35 of Two Hearts' Accidental Heroes

“She drugged him one night somehow, to keep him away from me. I imagine she put something in that whiskey he liked to drink. I think Wes paid to have me, because they got into a huge argument when Dad tried to grab me from my room one night when she was home. The next thing I heard was that Dad’s truck went off the bridge into the lake. They found his body inside the car, and they did an autopsy. Supposedly, there wasn’t only alcohol in his system, but also a toxic level of cocaine. I think that it was just assumed that Dad was doing drugs, since he drank so heavily anyway. I’m sure they were right. In fact, maybe Mom found whatever stash he had hoarded and that’s how it ended up in his system. Anya was working at the mall the night when it happened, so she knew nothing about that particular argument. She was so distracted anyway after thinking she’d lost Eric.”

“But that wasn’t the end of it, was it?”

“No. Somehow, Wes found out I was pregnant after Dad died and had someone grab me and bring me to him. I was kept locked up for five years. I mean, I was kept fed and had television, movies, and my art. He didn’t touch me while I was pregnant, either time. He tried to keep me comfortable, especially after I was forced to give up my second baby, who was a boy, only a few months later. After about five years, Wes stopped wanting me physically. That’s when he moved me to my cabin, where I’ve been living for about four or five years. I’ve kind of lost track of time.”

“But he held something over you?”

“Actually, it wasn’t Wes who did that,” she admitted softly. “Although I think Wes was being kept in line too, for that same reason.”

“Maybe by his partner?”

She nodded. “Every so often, I get a message on my phone with a picture of my son. Sometimes, it’s a video with one of those computerized voices. What worries me is that I haven’t heard from the guy in a while. I don’t even know if my son is safe,” she said in a ragged voice.

“I have a feeling that Wes might know something about that, which is probably why it’s important for him to talk with us,” Rick said, as he drove into Rice Lake.

A few minutes later, Rick pulled into the hospital parking lot, parking his truck near a vehicle that he obviously recognized.

Appearing a little older than the last time Shanna had seen him up close, Jake Loughlin gave them a wave from inside.

Rick nodded back as he stepped out from the truck, meeting Shanna at the passenger door.

“Be careful,” Jake whispered, rushing them toward the hospital entrance. “We’re worried about this silent partner of Wes’ showing up to stop him from saying or doing whatever he’s planning.”

Soon, they were inside the hospital.

“Let’s walk upstairs and avoid the elevator,” Rick said, steering her gently toward the staircase. “He’s on the second floor.”

As they hurried up the staircase, Jake lagged behind. “I can’t tell you how good it is to see you here, Shanna. I only wish that your mom could have survived to see this day.”

“Me too,” she answered softly.

When they got to the room, the nurse pointed them down the hallway instead. “We had orders to switch him to another room,” she told Rick softly. “He’s in two-twenty-six.”

“Thank you,” he whispered. “I gather someone’s been enquiring?”

“More than one person.”

Jake glanced around. “I see that my security detail is here in place inside the hospital. We should be safe. I’ll let the two of you go in and talk with him first before we get a formal statement.”

Shanna noticed a man standing at the end of the hallway, obviously keeping an eye on what must have been Wes’ room.

Rick nodded, steering Shanna through the hallway toward room two-twenty-six.

“You’re looking better today,” Rick said to Wes as he followed Shanna inside.

Wes was sitting up in his bed, looking at Shanna with definite regret.

She went to Wes, reaching for his hand.

Wes looked down, staring at the hand covering his. “Can you ever forgive me, Shanna? Please don’t ever tell Johnny about how he was born.”

“Will you tell me where Johnny is?” Shanna asked.

“Yes, I was finally able to get him away from my partner,” Wes admitted. “There was a reason that he wanted control of Johnny, Shanna. When he was born, I put all my legitimate holdings in his name. They’re pretty vast. Wade was already proving to be a screw up, so I wanted Johnny to have half a chance. I knew I wouldn’t be around to see him grow up.”

“Where is he, Wes?” Rick asked.

“With my mother, living in Northern Michigan. She’s a good woman, Shanna. She enrolled him in school, and he’s been doing well. But he’s proving to have too much energy for her. She doesn’t know how long she’ll be able to take care of him. She’s not in the best of health herself.” Wes squeezed Shanna’s hand, which was still resting on his. “You know, there’s a sickness in me, that I could never control. It’s a sickness that my father had too. I need for you to promise me that you’re going to keep a close eye on him and do everything you can to make sure he grows up right. I named him Johnny after my grandfather, who was a man I admired very much.”

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