Текст книги "Reclaim Me"

Автор книги: Ann Marie Walker

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Текущая страница: 15 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

Chapter Twenty-eight

Allie rode with Hudson in the ambulance. At first they’d tried to tell her she had to follow in a different car, but after a few quietly spoken words from Max, she’d been ushered to a seat in the corner of the rig and told to stay back and allow them to work. She had no idea what he’d said to them, or to the police for that matter, but he’d made it possible for her to stay with her husband, and for that she would always be grateful.

Max had arrived shortly after she’d called 911 and immediately took control of the situation. His confident and calm demeanor was her lifeline amidst the bedlam that erupted after what had seemed liked hours but in reality had only been a matter of minutes. Paramedics and police, loud sirens and flashing lights. Allie blocked them all out and kept her focus on the man Hudson trusted most in the world, relying on him to see her through the darkest moment of her life.

The ride to the hospital was a blur. Allie sat in the corner as instructed, wearing the jacket Max had given her to cover her torn blouse, and offering silent prayers. A team met them when they arrived, and she watched in fascinated horror as the scene before her played out like one of Dick Wolf’s television shows. Words that had no meaning to her were barked by men and women wearing hospital scrubs or white coats. There were a million questions she wanted to ask them, but before she had time to form even one, Hudson was being whisked through a set of double doors.

She followed his gurney down a wide hallway and into a large trauma room. Once inside the room, the team moved at a pace that could only be described as organized chaos. To her it looked like total confusion, everyone moving in different directions and all talking at once, but to them it was a series of well-choreographed maneuvers. And at the center of the storm was Hudson. She could barely see him through the mass of bodies, but at one point she caught a glimpse of his left hand. It lay unmoving at his side, unadorned of the platinum band she’d slid on his finger only nine days before.

“You can’t be in here,” someone called out.

Allie didn’t move. She didn’t even breathe.

“Ma’am, you need to wait outside,” a man said from beside her.

“There’s so much blood,” she murmured. The room shifted beneath her feet and she swayed.

Hands gripped her shoulders. “Let them do their job. And come sit down. You don’t want them to have to stop because you’ve passed out, now do you?” the man said, gently coaxing Allie back out into the hall. “Here, have a seat. Someone will be out to update you as soon as we know more.”

She took a seat on a padded vinyl chair at the nurse’s station, but kept her eyes trained on the closed trauma room door. No one came in or out, yet she knew that despite the room’s calm exterior, inside the team of professionals was still working hard to keep the man she loved alive. Or maybe it was over. Maybe they had lost him, and instead of an update someone was going to come out of that room at any minute to tell her she was a widow. Tears brimmed her eyes as she rocked back and forth in her seat, willing them not to fail. Please . . . please save him . . .

Behind her the automatic doors swung open on a sharp buzz.

“Allie!” Nick jogged toward her. His hand was linked with Harper’s, and even from where she sat Allie could see his white-knuckle grip. “What’s going on? Max’s message said to meet you at the ER, but he didn’t tell me what the fuck happened.”

She stood and took a deep breath, trying to find the strength to say the words out loud. “Hudson was shot,” was all she managed to squeeze past the lump in her throat.

The blood drained from Nick’s face. “How bad is it?”

Allie blinked away her tears. She had to be strong for Nick. No matter what the outcome in the room behind them, Nick was her family. And just like Hudson, she would do anything for him. “I don’t know yet,” she said, trying her best to keep her voice level. “They’re still working on him.”

Nick ran a hand back through his hair. “How the fuck did this happen?” The nurse at the station looked up from her computer monitor and Nick lowered his voice. “My brother doesn’t live in a world where people get fucking shot.” His head snapped up, and Allie saw realization dawn. Guilt flashed in Nick’s eyes. He swallowed hard, and when he spoke his voice was barely a whisper. “Is this because of me?”

“No.” Allie shook her head emphatically. “It’s my fault. Your brother is lying in there because of me.” A commotion at the end of the hall stopped her from explaining any further. The door to the trauma room opened and a young doctor in blood-splattered hospital scrubs approached.

“I’m Doctor Weber,” he said, glancing between Allie and Nick. “Is one of you Mr. Chase’s next of kin?”

Allie took a step forward. “I’m his wife.” Behind her she heard an audible gasp escape Harper’s lips and a mumbled Fuck from under Nick’s breath.

“Your husband lost a lot of blood,” the doctor said. That much she knew already. What she didn’t know was if he was going to be all right. The man standing before her had the ability to give her hope or bring her world crashing down around her. Time ground to a halt as she waited for him to tell her if the man she loved was still alive. “The bullet missed the hilum of the lung, which is a good thing.”

Allie nodded as though she understood. But in reality all she clung to was the word “good.”

“However, a pulmonary injury of this nature can still be very serious. The chest tube we put in is filling with a lot of blood, but we won’t know the extent of the injuries until they get him into the OR.”

“He needs surgery?” she asked.

“Yes. They’re taking him up now.”

As if on cue the double doors swung open. Several people rushed alongside the gurney as they wheeled Hudson down the hall. He was so still, too still, and covered with tubes that at the moment were the only things keeping him alive. Allie’s hand flew to her mouth as they passed by, holding in the sob that silently racked her small frame. If she let it out, she didn’t think she would ever be able to stop.

“We’ll know more once they can see the damage.” The doctor continued talking, explaining how the lungs were extremely vascular and how they were essentially sponges filled with gas. Allie listened, trying to take in the complicated medical jargon he was translating into layman’s terms. But all she could think about was Hudson, in a room somewhere above them, being prepped for surgery by a team who quite literally held his life in their hands.

“But they can fix him, right?” Nick’s heartfelt words broke through the fog of fear that clogged her mind. His question was simple and straight to the point, and really the only one that mattered.

“Doctor Katz is doing the surgery. She’s one of the best in the world.”

Allie wondered briefly if it was a coincidence that a world-renowned surgeon just happened to be on hand. “How long before we’ll know anything?” she asked.

“Surgeries like these can take anywhere from four to six hours, depending on how extensive the repair. There’s a waiting room for families on the same floor as the OR. The surgeon will come out to update you as soon as Mr. Chase is taken to recovery.”

“Alessandra.”

Allie turned to find Ben Weiss standing behind her. The sight of him nearly took her breath away. He looked so much like her father, easily passing for a real uncle and not just the kind you called by that name because he was such a close family friend. It was too much. This time, when her eyes brimmed with tears, she could do nothing to hold them back.

“I had the Ingram helicopter pick up Elena Katz,” he said. “They landed on the hospital’s helipad a few minutes ago.”

“Thank you,” she said, hugging the man who had been a constant source of quiet strength the past few months. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’re welcome.” His eyes crinkled in a weak smile. “And did I hear congratulations are in order, Mrs. Chase?”

“We planned to tell everyone. But with everything that’s been going on, it was . . . complicated.”

“Obviously.” A deep crease formed between his brow. “Max bought you some time with the police, but they’re going to want to interview you as soon as possible. I won’t be able to hold them off for very long. And the press coverage is twice what it was after . . .” He stopped talking and drew a deep breath. “I’m going to need you to tell me everything, Alessandra.”

Nick pushed away from the wall where he’d stood slumped in a quiet conversation with Harper. “That goes for me too. Starting with who the hell shot my brother and ending with when you two got hitched.”

Her gaze shifted to Harper. Under any other circumstance she would have been all over Allie, pumping her for details after complaining about being denied the opportunity to meet hot groomsmen. But instead she stood quietly next to Nick, fear and worry written all over her face. Her uncharacteristic silence was an unnerving reminder of the gravity of the situation.

“It’s a long story,” Allie said.

Nick slung his arm around her shoulder. “Well, according to that doc, we’ve got a few hours to spend with our asses parked on plastic chairs. Let’s head on up and you can start from the beginning.”

*   *   *

Allie tried her best to answer Nick’s questions. She took him through the past few weeks step by step, carefully avoiding any mention of the footage Julian was using as leverage. The fact that Hudson had exposed himself to blackmail the night he helped Nick cover up his dealer’s accidental death was only one part of a very complicated story. But Allie knew it would be the only part Nick would cling to, and in doing so would blame himself for everything that had transpired since. There was no way Allie would let him live with that guilt. Protecting Nick would be the approach Hudson would take if he were there. Following what she knew would be his wishes was the least she could do for him.

“So did you get the bastard on tape?” Nick asked when she was done.

Allie pulled the recording device out of her pocket. It was splattered with blood, but whether it was Julian’s or Hudson’s, she couldn’t say. Either way, the sight of the dark red streaks caused her stomach to roll. “The device was on, but I don’t know if it picked up the conversation or not. I haven’t had a chance to play it.”

“Would you like me to listen to it?” Ben offered

She nodded. “Yes, please.” Hearing Julian gloat about murdering her parents in cold blood had been bad enough the first time. She certainly didn’t need to hear him taunt her again from beyond the grave.

Ben had no sooner left when Harper moved to take the seat he’d vacated next to her. “So my best friend got married and I didn’t even get a piece of cake?” she asked. She tried to keep her tone playful but Allie saw right through her attempt to lighten the mood.

Nick spun on his heel, shooting her a look from the spot where he’d begun pacing. “Yeah, what the fuck is that about?”

“Nick!” Harper said.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way,” he said, looking remorseful and suddenly shy. “You know I’m crazy about you, Allie, and goddamn, you’re the best thing that ever happened to my brother.” He sat in the chair on her other side. “But the mighty Hudson Chase with a ball and chain is not something I ever thought I’d see.”

In spite of everything, Allie smiled. She reached for each of their hands and held them tight. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. We both really wanted you to be there. And we plan on doing it again if . . .”

“When,” Harper corrected. “You’ll get married again when Hudson recovers. And I don’t care what he says, I’m throwing you a bachelorette party. There’s no way I’m missing out on Chippendale action just because you’re already married.”

Nick perked up. “Does that mean I can hire a—”

“No.” Harper cut him off before he’d even had a chance to get the word “stripper” out of his mouth.

Nick gave a small laugh. “S’okay. Mr. Uptight probably wouldn’t go for it anyway.”

The door opened and Ben walked back into the room. “Alessandra,” he said, his voice low. “Detective Green is here. She would like to take your statement. I told her this wasn’t a good time, but . . .”

“Did you listen to the recording?”

He nodded. “It’s all there.” His eyes clouded and she knew he was reliving the loss of his best friend all over again. “With any luck we can put this to rest quickly.”

Detective Green was waiting for them at the nurse’s station. She offered a brief hello, asking if there had been any update on Hudson’s condition before leading them to a small room at the end of the corridor. Inside the confined space was a chair and loveseat, and on the table between them rested a box of tissues. It was the room where family members were given bad news, and a quiet moment to grieve. Just being there made Allie’s skin mist with a cold sweat.

“Please, have a seat, Miss Sinclair,” she said, lowering herself into the armchair.

“It’s Mrs. Chase, actually,” Allie murmured. She and Ben Weiss sat side by side on the small sofa.

The detective stilled momentarily before continuing to unpack her notepad and pen from a worn leather satchel. Somewhere in the back of Allie’s mind it registered that this was a woman who was not often caught off guard. “Congratulations. I wasn’t aware you and Mr. Chase had married.”

“It’s a very recent development,” Ben answered on her behalf. “And one they chose not to share with the press at this time. I’m sure you can understand, given the media scrutiny Miss . . . Mrs. Chase has been under since her parents’ passing.”

“Not to mention Mr. Laurent’s reaction,” Green added. Allie’s gaze flicked up from the scratch on the wood coffee table that had become her focal point and met the detective’s steady gaze. “I spoke to Max Knight at the scene,” she said, and not for the first time Allie wondered if that was really his last name. “He explained that Mr. Laurent had been threatening you.”

Ben shifted forward in his seat. “If you’ve already taken his statement, I don’t see why this can’t wait given the current situation.”

The look on the female detective’s face made it clear their meeting wasn’t up for debate. “Which is why we’re speaking here rather than at the station.” She turned to Allie. “I need you to tell me your version of the events that lead up to the incident tonight at Mayflower Place.”

Allie took a deep breath. She knew full well Max would have never revealed what Julian had been holding over their heads. Without a doubt his statement would have been brief and to the point, focusing on Julian’s crimes, not Hudson’s. “Julian contacted me when we were in Europe over New Year’s. He wanted me to return his ring, but when I brought it to him, he was livid that I had ended our engagement. In his mind I had backed out on a business deal and he was to be compensated.”

The detective didn’t write a single word in the notebook she held in her hands. Instead, she kept her eyes trained on Allie. The scrutiny left her painfully aware of not only the words she spoke, but every movement or gesture she made. She folded her hands in her lap in an effort to keep her trembling fingers from betraying her nerves.

“He wanted me to break up with Hudson, then offer to take him back only if he signed over his interest in Ingram Media. Once that was accomplished, Julian wanted me to marry him with a prenup in place that gave him full reign over the company he felt he rightfully deserved.”

“What did you tell him?”

Allie let out a disgusted huff. “That he was crazy and that there was no way I would ever agree. That’s when he told me he killed my parents.” Her voice cracked and her gaze dropped to her hands. After a beat passed, she cleared her throat. “He murdered them, Detective, same as if he’d been the one to pull the trigger.” Allie met her shrewd stare. “And he was threatening to harm Hudson if I didn’t do exactly as he instructed.”

“Did it ever occur to you to contact to the police?” Green asked, scribbling a few words in the notepad that Allie couldn’t make out.

“Of course it did. But the investigation wasn’t yielding any results, and I didn’t have any proof. It was my word against his. Until now. I had a digital recorder tucked inside my blouse tonight. Julian discovered it just before Hudson arrived.” She swallowed hard. “It was what set him off.”

“He admitted his involvement?”

Allie nodded. “Everything.”

Ben reached for the device inside his suit jacket. It was wrapped in the handkerchief that usually peeked from the front pocket in an immaculate square. “It’s all on here.”

Green pulled a plastic bag marked EVIDENCE out of her leather satchel and sealed the recorder inside.

“Julian Laurent killed my parents, and right now all I can do is sit in that waiting room praying he hasn’t taken my husband as well. Julian might be dead, but the damage he’s done is irreversible. For that he will never fully be out of my life, but the sooner I can start trying to put him behind me, the better.”

“If what’s on this device corroborates your story, I don’t anticipate any further issues.” Her eyes softened. “I’m not an especially religious woman, Mrs. Chase, not with what I see on a daily basis. But I’ll be praying for your husband’s recovery. If anyone deserves a happy ending, it’s the two of you.”

“Thank you, Detective.” Out of the corner of her eye Allie caught a flash of blue. She turned her head just in time to see a woman in hospital scrubs entering the family waiting room. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, not even bothering to wait for a reply before hurrying down the hall.

“Is he okay?” Allie blurted out the moment she yanked open the door.

The woman in scrubs was standing in front of Nick, who was seated in one of the molded plastic chairs. His foot was tapping at a frantic pace, making his entire leg shake, and his face seemed to have aged well beyond his twenty-two years.

“He’s still in surgery,” Nick said. His voice was so quiet and flat, Allie hardly recognized it.

“These are Mr. Chase’s personal effects,” the woman said, holding out a large manila envelope. “I’m sorry I don’t have any news for you. Hopefully someone will be out with an update soon.”

“Thank you.” Allie sat in one of the chairs on the opposite wall and reached into the envelope. Hudson’s smartphone and wallet were inside, but there was no sign of the burner. Surely he’d had it; how else would he have gotten her text and known she was with Julian? But where the hell was it? Max, she thought. Of course he would have taken care of any loose ends before the police arrived. Unlike the unregistered phone Hudson had used for their covert conversations, the phone Allie held in her hand was for business. The four inches of technology that was his constant link to an ever-expanding conglomerate. Allie felt confident the only entries would be work-related, but on the outside chance there was anything even slightly incriminating . . .

She powered on his cell phone. The fact that his pass code was her birthday made her smile, but when the home screen popped up, her smile faded and tears sprang to her eyes. Staring back at her from the device Hudson looked at all day while he ruled his empire was their wedding day selfie. She drank in every detail of the photo, from the way she snuggled so close to her new husband to the way his hand curled possessively around her shoulder. But it was the look in their eyes that jumped off the screen to pierce her heart. A look that said simply, “I am home.”

Curious if the shot of the two of them sharing a kiss after sampling wedding cake was also on the phone, Allie tapped the album icon. When she did, she found not only the photo she was looking for, but dozens of others. All candid shots, and all of her. Browsing the rolls of wrapping paper at the Christkindlmarket; sharing a laugh in front of the fire with Harper; reading a book, wrapped in a cashmere throw in Hudson’s library. Picture after picture taken during unguarded moments of happiness. The fact that Hudson had not only captured them, but kept them stored on his phone, was just another example of the romantic nature he so vehemently denied having. She smiled to herself. When he woke up, she was going to give him hell for this.

When he woke up . . .

If he woke up . . .

No. She shook her head to clear it. Thinking that way wouldn’t help anyone. She had to stay positive. If not for her, then for Nick. With the few exceptions when Harper had corralled him into a chair, Nick had been pacing the room nonstop. The panic and fear in his eyes the few times he’d glanced her way had caused the ache in Allie’s chest to tighten to an excruciating level. It was clear his emotions, and quite possibly his sobriety, were hanging in the balance. Seeing Allie break down would only test his tenuous hold. The last thing she wanted to do was make this any harder on him.

So instead of lingering on photos that conjured memories so happy they were sad, Allie turned her attention back to the manila envelope. She reached inside to retrieve his wallet, but when she did, her fingers encountered something else: his wedding ring. She held the platinum band up, and for the first time realized there was an inscription. She hadn’t noticed the words when she’d slipped the band on his finger. The barn had been lit in dim candlelight, and her gaze had been focused on the man she loved, not his ring. But in a hospital waiting room, under harsh fluorescent light, the words etched inside were impossible to miss.

Hers Forever 1/17/15

It was too much. Allie clutched the ring in her hand and held it to her chest. Hudson was her love, her life. She couldn’t imagine a world without him in it. Tears fell in heavy streams down her cheeks and her body shook with sobs.

“Mrs. Chase?” Allie looked up to find a woman in pale blue hospital scrubs standing just inside the door. Her delicate features were drawn with exhaustion. “I’m Doctor Katz. Why don’t we find some place private where we can talk?”