Page 73 of Colton’s Inferno

Carol wiped the back of Lucy’s hand with an alcohol pad. The astringent smell filled the back of the ambulance. “This is going to pinch.”

Lucy closed her eyes while the EMT slid a needle into her vein. When she looked up again, Aiden stood at the back of the ambulance. “Hey, Carol. Can I have a minute with Lucy?”

“So long as it’s only a minute. We need to get back to the hospital.”

After Carol jumped down, Aiden climbed up the ladder. He sat in the chair that the EMT had just vacated. “The firefighters just looked through your house. They found the source of the gas leak.”

“And?”

“A burner on the stove had been turned on but there was no flame. Any idea when the stove was used last?”

“I made pancakes for breakfast,” she said, “and used the electric griddle.”

“What about Rusty? Did he make breakfast before he left?”

She shook her head. “The only thing he made was coffee.”

“Do you remember the last time you used the stove?”

“It was Saturday morning. When you were over and we made breakfast.”

“What about dinner last night?” he asked. “Any idea what Rusty ate?”

“He had leftovers for dinner and didn’t make anything before he went out this morning.”

“I know these questions are getting deep into the weeds,” he said. “But we’re trying to figure out if the stove had been left on accidentally.”

“It wasn’t,” she said. Then again, that meant one thing. “Someone tried to kill me again.”

Her pulse started to climb. Her chest tightened. She sucked in a breath and blew it out. The mask filled with condensation.

“Hey,” said Aiden. “You are safe.”

This time, the danger wasn’t in her mind. “I’m not safe, though. Everything that’s happened has been deliberate.”

“Local law enforcement is investigating. They are good at what they do. They’ll find out who is targeting you and why.”

“Is that before or after I get murdered?”

Aiden rubbed the back of his head. “We talked about this before, but you really can’t stay here. Especially if Rusty is in the hospital.”

He was right. “My parents aren’t in the area. All my other family is gone. I lost touch with my friends after Derek’s death.” How had she let her world become so small? Then again, she didn’t trust anyone other than Rusty. And now, Aiden.

“Well,” he said. “You can stay with me. I’ll sleep on the couch, or whatever. We can figure that out later.”

“I don’t know,” she began. But what other choice did she have?

“C’mon, Colton,” said Carol. “Time to go.”

“I’ll meet you at the hospital.” He brushed his lips on her forehead. “Think about what I said.”

She liked the idea of staying with Aiden. Making breakfast with him in the morning. Sleeping in his arms at night. Being with him was a safe harbor in the middle of a stormy sea—at least for now.

Aiden jumped to the ground, and Carol climbed into the back of the ambulance. “The oxygen must be helping,” the EMT said. “Your cheeks are getting rosy again.”

Chapter 19

Tuesday, September 6 7:43 a.m.