Page 408 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Addie kissed him with her smile. “I’m not being naïve, but I’m trusting him.”

“Okay.” Didn’t mean he had to like it.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Jacob watched her go.

The longer she was gone, the more he tried not to grumble about it. The doctor came in. He was given more instructions, and they reiterated everything done to put all his innards back together. Maybe he would remember.

The nurse did her thing so he could pee in private again.

Addie didn’t come back in for that, which was good. When someone left—or showed up—a couple of times, the door opened, and he caught a glimpse of her in the hallway.

He didn’t want to think about that man in the dark of the room.

Or the one in the parking lot.

He wanted to be in the light today and worry about the rest later. He was going to worry aboutall of itlater. When he could move without nearly screaming. When cops didn’t factor in his life—except one beautiful one.

“Hey.” Her face swam in front of his. “You’re pretty out of it.”

“You’re just pretty.”

He heard the exhale that accompanied her smile. “Jake?”

“Yeah?” He reached up with his hand not tethered to meds and touched her cheek. Ran his hand into her hair.

“Did you see who stabbed you?”

He shook his head. “Don’t talk about that.”

“Jake, I need you to tell me.”

“Don’t remember.” That was a good answer.

“Is that true?”

He pressed his lips together.

“Tell me.”

He said nothing.

“The police are going to bring in whoever it is. We can’t have someone who would hurt another person like that, leave them to bleed out on the ground…” She cleared her throat. “Walking around free. It isn’t right.”

So much pain. Not his, but the grief of the man who had done it.

Jacob had seen it in his eyes as the knife went in. Not anger, just pain.

“Who was it?”

He swallowed. “Celia’s father.”

Instead of rushing out to tell the police, she touched her forehead to his. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Tell him I didn’t kill her.”

“I know, honey.” Addie kissed his forehead.

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