60

PENSACOLA BEACH

Creed hated to leave Hannah. She looked so fragile with all those tubes and needles poking into her. Thanks to Maggie, he had been able to sit by her side and hold her hand. The doctor had told him her condition was stabilized, but they were keeping her in ICU overnight. No matter what the doctor had said, nothing could have made Creed feel better except maybe Hannah opening her eyes or squeezing his hand. Neither of which she was able to do.

He had promised Liz Bailey that he would meet her at Walter’s Canteen on Pensacola Beach.

“I heard about your business partner. How is she doing?”

“She’s a tough lady. Doctor said she’s stabilized.” He scooted his chair closer. The place was full and loud. He didn’t add that Hannah certainly didn’t look anywhere near stabilized.

“Maybe this is how they intended to hurt you.”

Liz Bailey said out loud what Creed already knew. He figured it was definitely part of their plan, although he didn’t think for a second it was over. More than anything, he didn’t want anyone else involved or concerned, so he told Bailey, “Yeah, maybe this was their strategy.”

She filled him in on what she knew about the children they had rescued. All five had been returned home to their families. She said she had visited the little boy, whose name was Rudy, and he asked about Grace. Rudy’s parents had asked her to pass along their contact information.

“They want to meet you. To say thank you.”

“We were all just doing our jobs.”

She slid a piece of paper over the table.

“All I promised was that I’d make sure you got it. You can do with it what you want.”

Bailey’s phone started vibrating and she grabbed it. She took one look at the text message and frowned.

“I’m sorry. I gotta go. My night to be on-call and they’re calling.”

“It’s okay,” Creed said.

She started pulling out a twenty-dollar bill and he stopped her.

“But I invited you,” she said.

“Doesn’t matter,” he insisted. “Last time we were here, your dad picked up the tab. It’s my turn.”

She shook her head as she grabbed back the piece of paper she had slid across the table and wrote a second number down.

“If I can help, let me know. Or if you just want to talk.”

He couldn’t tell if she meant it flirtatiously or just as a colleague. She left as he tucked the paper into his wallet.

He finished his drink and zigzagged through the crowded bar. He was almost to the door when he noticed a commotion at the other end of the packed room. He recognized Jason in the middle of the mess, but he didn’t know the four men who had just started to shove Jason around.

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