Page 36 of Haystacks and Hoaxes

“You kind of are now that you joined the Lonestar team.” He grimaced at Rock. “I’ll see if there’s anything I can do to make her medical benefits retroactive to her start date. If not,” his worried gaze returned to her, “this hospital stay will still be covered one way or the other by Lonestar Security. It should be covered under our worker’s comp policy.” When she started to protest, he cut her off. “You were attacked on company property while on the clock. ‘Nough said.”

The relief flooding her was tainted with the worry that he might mean he and Chanel were planning to cover her medical expenses out of pocket. However, when she tried to drill down to specifics on how her hospital bill would be covered, he changed the subject.

“They’re going to keep you overnight for observation.” He wagged a warning finger at her. “You’ll have a security detail with you at all times. So help me, Mila, we’re going to figure out who’s behind this if it’s the last thing we do.”

He sounded so distraught that she did what she always did when she was this overwhelmed. She said the first silly thing that popped into her head. “I take it you didn’t send the edible flowers?”

His jaw dropped in astonishment.

“It’s not like you were my first suspect,” she assured in a teasing voice, “since you’d just finished assuring me I haven’t outstayed my welcome at your place.”

“While you amuse yourself cracking jokes,” he growled, “I’ll amuse myself by imagining you rolled up in bubble wrap. If that’s what it takes to keep you safe, I just might.”

“Are all brothers this mean?” She stuck her tongue out at him.

“Only the ones who care.” He ran a hand wearily through his hair. “I need to head home and be a dad to Gwen for a few minutes. I was hoping to be here when Luke stops by, but?—”

“I’m fine,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes at him. “Fine enough to give my statement to the police, then be back at work in the morning.”

“As if!” He shook his head at her. “You almost died today, Mila. You’re not stepping foot out of this room until a board certified doc gives you the green light to do so.” He gave Rock a harried look. “Where’s Hawk?”

“I sent him home.” Rock’s jaw tightened defensively. “She’s my partner. I’ll take tonight’s shift.”

Deck nodded, looking grateful. “Really appreciate you doing this.”

“It’ll give me a break from Johnny.” Rock took a seat on the vinyl chair beside her bed. “He practically lives with me and my brother these days.”

“Glad to hear it.” Decker’s expression lit. “The holidays are always rough on him.”

Mila and Rock exchanged a blank look, making her brother run a hand through his hair again. “I may have said too much. Sorry about that.”

Mila couldn’t believe he was going to just leave them hanging like that. “Is Johnny alright?” she demanded.

“He is now.” Decker leaned over her bed to tap her nose. “The only person you need to worry about right now is you.”

“Which sort of begs my next question.” She made a faceat him. “Am I going to be alright?” The doctor had made it sound like her condition was treatable, but she could use some more reassuring.

“Yep.” He tweaked her nose again. “As deadly as the poison was, you only took one bite of the tainted fruit, and Rock and Hawk were there to call for immediate help. We’re giving the Lord all the credit for the way things turned out.” He pointed upward.

The moment he stepped from the room, she gave Rock a wide-eyed look. “What in the world did he mean about the holidays being tough for Johnny?”

His haggard expression relaxed. “My inquisitive partner really is back. You had me scared out of my mind for a few hours there.”

The genuine concern in his voice made her heart do a few crazy flips. “My life has turned into the Twilight Zone,” she grumbled. “And we still have no idea what I did to land in this mess.”

“You did nothing wrong.” His voice was firm. “All you did was make a few sketches of Chester Farm. I keep staring holes through them, trying to figure out what anyone could’ve objected to you seeing.”

“You really think my sketches are at the root of all this?” She waved a hand at her hospital bed.

“My gut says yes, though I can’t prove it yet.” He leaned her way to drum his fingers on the edge of the bed frame. “I won’t give up until we get the answers you deserve. That I can promise you.”

“Thank you.” As their gazes met and held, she experienced a floating sensation. For the space of a few heartbeats, his gaze was unguarded and full of longing.

Then he blinked, and his expression grew shuttered. “We checked the security cameras at Lonestar. The guywho delivered the edible flower arrangement was wearing a Santa costume. He also kept his head down and never looked directly at any of the cameras.”

Too bad!“He’s a dead end, then?”

“It wasn’t a complete bust.” Rock waggled his eyebrows at her. “I ran the image through one of our forensic programs, since his height and build loosely meet your description of the maintenance guy at your apartment.”

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