LITMIR.BIZ

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an abusive home and boyfriend.”

      “Captain? We’ve got to find Richard. If nothing else, she needs him right now.”

      The other man eyed her speculatively. “At the moment it appears Mr. Herrick appears to know more about your ex-husband than anyone else.”

      Her eyes closed tightly. “I’m afraid you’re right. If you’ll drop me off at the hospital, I’ll try to find out what else he knows.”

      “While you do that, I’ll send some officers to the work site to make inquiries. Maybe one of his co-workers knows something of importance and isn’t aware of it.”

      “Before we go, I’d like to see Juanita for a minute.” She rummaged in her purse for her wallet. “I’ll be right back.”

      He looked like he was about to say something, then thought the better of it.

      She jumped out of the police car and hurried into the apartment building, tiptoeing past the same children who’d been playing on the stairs yesterday. The only cash she had on her was a hundred dollars, but it might help the pregnant woman get along for a few more days.

      This time when she knocked, the door opened a little wider because there was no chain guard.

      “Juanita?”

      “Si?” She sounded hurt as well as angry this time.

      “Captain Ortiz dice que Richard no esta aqui ahora.” Undoubtedly Terri was making every language error possible, but she had to try to communicate.

      The other woman glared at her.

      “Tengo dinero para usted.” Terri held out several bills.

      Juanita didn’t make a move to take them.

      “Por favor.”

      “Por que?” she bit out.

      Why? Because I know exactly how you feel to be abandoned at the last moment.

      Maybe if Terri said it was for the baby. “Es necessario para el nino, verdad?”

      Juanita’s face closed up. She had her pride. This had probably been the wrong thing to do, but if Richard didn’t come back…

      Unable to say the rest in Spanish she murmured, “In case you change your mind, I’ll leave the money here.”

      She put the bills on the ground and hurried away without looking back.

      The engine was idling when Terri returned to the car. Within seconds they were off.

      Captain Ortiz drove a few miles before he said, “You are a kind person, but I’m afraid it was a mistake to give her money.”

      “If I were in her shoes, I would hope someone would do it for me. It will buy her food for a few more days. Perhaps by then we’ll have found Richard.”

      “Let us hold that thought,” he muttered, but he didn’t sound as if he believed it any more than she did.

      CHAPTER THREE

      AS TERRI entered Mr. Herrick’s hospital room, she could smell flowers. Obviously the word had gone out he was here because a dozen fabulous arrangements had been brought in on carts. A huge fruit basket stood near his closet door.

      Which gift was from his wife? Had Martha Shaw sent one, too?

      Stop it, Terri. It’s nothing to do with you.

      She looked around. His room held wall-to-wall chairs. Someone had been to visit already. The clothes she’d bought him were no longer visible. As for the man in question, neither he nor the IV stand were anywhere in sight.

      The door to the bathroom had been left ajar. He wasn’t in there. Anxious to know if he was all right, she rushed out of the room and down the hall to the nursing station.

      But before she reached it, an animated group of people turned the corner in her direction. She would have walked right past them if she hadn’t caught sight of the dark-haired man in the center who was dressed in a navy robe and pajamas.

      As Terri’s gaze flew to his, she felt the impact of his piercing eyes and her feet came to a complete standstill.

      It didn’t matter that he had dressings at his hairline and beneath his strong chin. The ruggedly handsome face that went with those unforgettable gray eyes took her breath. No preconceived notion of the features she’d imagined hidden beneath the mask could live up to the vital, living presence of Benjamin Herrick.

      When she realized the group’s conversation had stopped and everyone was staring at her because Mr. Herrick had refused to move on, her cheeks went hot. She knew she had to say something.

      “I-I’m afraid we’re all at a disadvantage. I’m Terri Jeppson.”

      “You’re the woman Martha told us about,” the older man in the Stetson interjected in a Texas accent. “If it hadn’t been for you discovering the mix-up, our family wouldn’t have known Ben was even in here. We’re indebted to you, Mrs. Jeppson.

      “I’m Ben’s father, Dean.” He shook hands with her. “This is my wife, Blanche, our daughter Leah and our son Parker. Our other son Creighton and his wife are on vacation and Leah’s husband Grant couldn’t make it, otherwise they would have flown down with us.”

      Everyone said hello.

      Terri muttered an appropriate greeting, but relief that Leah wasn’t Ben Herrick’s wife dominated her chaotic emotions. Of course it didn’t mean he wasn’t married. Or engaged. Or living with a woman…

      “I’m pleased to meet you,” Parker said with a dashing smile. He let go of the IV stand to shake Terri’s hand. His charm reminded her a little of Richard who knew he was attractive to women.

      Like his father, he wore a Stetson. She thought he looked younger than his brother Ben who appeared to be in his mid-thirties. Both men bore a strong facial resemblance to their lovely mother, whereas sandy-haired Leah took after their father.

      “Is your husband all right?” Mrs. Herrick asked in a compassionate tone of voice.

      My ex-husband.

      “I think so, but I haven’t caught up with him yet.”

      Terri didn’t want to believe Richard would shirk his responsibility for his pregnant girlfriend at this late date. Hopefully he’d show up before too much longer.

      Refusing to look at the silent man for fear he’d read too much feeling in her eyes, Terri said, “It’s been very nice meeting all of you, but at this point I’m sure Mr. Herrick is tired after his walk. He probably wants to lie down. Now that I know he’s with his family, I’ll go.”

      “Don’t worry about Ben. He’s tough.” His father patted his son’s left shoulder. “But since the doctor said this is his first day out of bed, you may have a point.”

      As Terri started to walk toward the elevator around the corner, she heard a distinct groan of protest. It was a familiar sound. Loud enough to wake the dead, but she kept on going.

      Already emotionally involved in ways she wasn’t ready to examine, she knew any more time spent in his company could only backfire on her. The best thing to do was head for the hotel and stay put until she heard from Captain Ortiz.

      “Mrs. Jeppson? Wait up!”

      Terri had just emerged from the elevator on the main floor when Parker Herrick approached. He put a detaining hand on her arm. Then he grinned.

      “You move faster than a nervous filly trying to outrun a twister.” The analogy made her chuckle. “If there hadn’t been another elevator going down, I would have missed you. My brother wants you to come back upstairs.”

      “I’ll visit him again before I fly home to the States.”

      He shook his head. “Not good enough.

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