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“What’s with you?” Julie asked when there was a quiet moment. Meg had been counting boxes of gloves and syringes. Her colleague’s question threw her off.
“Just trying to make myself useful.”
“Well stop it! You’re putting me to shame.”
Meg was still down on her haunches. “Sorry, I hadn’t realized.”
“Hey— I was only teasing. What’s wrong? You don’t seem yourself.”
“Let me get you something for it.”
“I took some tablets while I was hanging up my coat, but thanks anyway.”
“Sure. Did you know Baby Doe was transferred to the nursery?”
“Yes, I heard. I-it’s wonderful.”
“Lucky, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“The police were here a few minutes ago looking for that gorgeous grouch who brought the baby in. At least now they can’t pin a murder charge on him.”
Upon that revelation, Meg dropped the clipboard. After grabbing for it, she got to her feet. “Surely they weren’t here to arrest him!”
“I don’t know. Dr. Parker sent them to the nursery.”
Adrenaline surged through Meg’s body. “Julie— It’s quiet right now. Would you cover for me? I’ll be back inside of ten minutes.”
“Of course. You spelled me off last night when I missed all the action. Give me the clipboard.”
“Thanks.”
She dashed out of the cubicle and ran down two corridors in search of the stairs. Once she’d reached the next floor, she headed straight for the sick baby nursery.
Through the glass of one of the partitioned rooms, she could see Zane Broderick talking to the policemen who’d come to the ER last night. Two other men as tall and attractive as he was stood close by, their expressions equally solemn.
If those officers were reading him his rights…
Heedless of the consequences, Meg marched into the nursery, swept past the staff and opened the door where Mr. Broderick was being interrogated. All eyes swerved in her direction.
“Excuse me for interrupting,” she began, “but if you’re still thinking this man had any knowledge of Baby Doe’s situation prior to his finding the baby and bringing him to the ER, then you’re way off base, gentlemen.
“He’s the engineer who built that track where the baby was found. If he’d had anything to hide, he would never have admitted to finding the child there of all places.”
She struggled for breath. “I was here all night to observe him. He never went home. In fact I had to get him a cot because he was dead on his feet, but that didn’t matter to him. He hovered over that baby, talked to it, touched it— He willed it to live, officers.
“I haven’t seen most fathers show that kind of love or concern or devotion for their own offspring, let alone for a nameless baby someone had left out to die!”
By now she was trembling. “Why don’t you gentlemen get out there and beat the bushes to find the birthparents of that adorable little baby? You’ll probably discover it was a couple of terrified fifteen-year-olds who don’t have a clue about the sanctity of life!
“I’m telling you right now that if you charge this man with the crime, I’ll fight you every step of the way. When you hear what Dr. Tingey, the head of the ER, and one of the most powerful figures in this community, has to say about this matter, he’ll make mincemeat of you in court!”
Silence filled the room.
“Are you quite through?” one of the officers inquired in such a mild-mannered voice she wanted to scratch his eyes out.
“For now.” She was still bristling with rage.
His eyes held a mysterious twinkle. “That’s good, because we came to bring Mr. Broderick his jacket and let him know he’s no longer under suspicion. For one thing, his blood type isn’t the same as the blood type on the blanket.
“For another, fresh horse manure droppings along with the bloody droplets matching that on the blanket, were found in the snow at the end of the track where Mr. Broderick rescued the infant from certain death.
“We’re now looking for someone who rode a horse to that spot. Someone who couldn’t have ridden very far considering the baby had been born within the same hour of his being placed there.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Richins. We’ve been beating the bushes for the last twenty-four hours. Hopefully we’ll discover the person who did this and learn the identity of the mother before too much more time passes.
“Your breathtaking defense of Mr. Broderick has been duly noted and will go in the record.” He cocked his head. “If I’m ever in need of someone to stand up for me, I’ll know exactly where to come.
“Goodnight, Ms. Richins. Gentlemen.” He nodded to the others before he and his partner left the room. The door closed behind them with a click.
Meg wasn’t a person who blushed easily. But she felt heat sweep up her body into her face and hair.
Talk about resembling a red light globe—
The two dark-haired men stood there openly smiling down at her with their eyes as well as their mouths. She didn’t dare look at Mr. Broderick, but she could feel his intense gaze scrutinizing her.
“Ms. Richins.” He broke the silence with his deep voice. “I’d like to introduce you to my best friends, Dominic Giraud and Alik Jarman.”
They shook hands with her.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said the one with the French accent.
“I wouldn’t have missed this,” the other man teased gently. “We flew out from Denver to offer our support.”
Denver? She’d thought these men were part of his crew!
“But obviously none was needed,” the Frenchman added silkily.
She tried looking anywhere else, but ended up meeting Zane Broderick’s penetrating regard. He wasn’t smiling.
“If the officers had come here to arrest me,” he began in a husky voice, “I’m not sure they would have carried out their objective after hearing your testimonial.”
He folded his arms. “You risked having to pay a fine, or worse, for harassing a police officer in the line of duty. A mere thank-you for your sacrifice doesn’t quite cover what you did for me just now.”
“I would have done it for anyone I felt was innocent,” she defended, hoping lightning wouldn’t strike her for that particular white lie. “I’m very glad you’re no longer under suspicion.”
His eyes darkened to an inky blue. “So am I. But until the baby is completely out of the woods, it’s a little too soon for the celebration I have in mind.”
Her heart wouldn’t stop hammering.
“He is improved though. Otherwise Dr. Parker wouldn’t have upgraded his condition. We can be thankful for that much.”
“I’m thankful you were there when the baby needed you most.”
The fervency in his tone caused her to avert her eyes. “Then we’re both thankful, because you’re the one who found him in time.” Feeling out of breath, she backed away from him. “If you will excuse me, I’m supposed to be on duty in the ER. I-it was very nice meeting all of you.”
Needing to be strong right now, she purposely refused to look at the baby as she hurried through the nursery. Midway across the room, Shelby stopped her flight.
“Wait up! I found out who those men in the other room really are. Donna was wrong about them being movie stars.”
“I know. They’re Mr. Broderick’s friends from Denver.”
“They’re a lot more than that!”
“I’d like to hear it, but I’ve got to get back to the ER.”
“I’ll walk you to the door. Get this— Dr. Silvano recognized them from a television appearance. The three of them are these fabulously weal—”
“Shelby?” Meg interrupted. “You’ll have to tell me later. Otherwise I won’t have a job.”
For many reasons, including a decent recommendation when she left the clinic in two weeks, Meg needed to get out of there and back to her own floor.
CHAPTER THREE
“ARE there any more barbecued ribs?”
“Sorry, Dom. We ate all seven pounds of them.”
Dominic shook his head. “You know something, mon ami? You missed your calling as a master chef.”
“Coming from an exacting connoisseur, that’s a real compliment.”
“It’s true, Zane,” Alik concurred. “Blaire’s a great cook, but nobody does ribs and baked beans like you.”
“Since you guys flew through sleet and storm to bail me out, I thought the least I could do was make it worth your while.”
“I’d say a certain beautiful nurse already did that.” Dominic grinned.
Alik grinned back. “Here I was feeling sorry for you having to be stuck out here in the back of beyond. How long have you been holding out on us, you sly old fox?”
Zane pulled the warm, store-bought blueberry pie from the oven and set it on the table with a pitcher of cream.
“I swear I never saw her before last night.”
Dominic served everyone a large piece. “It appears the ravissante Jeanne D’Arc is very much alive.”
A chuckle escaped Alik. “Did you see the fire in her eyes? She was amazing! Those police officers are never going to forget it.”
“None of us will,” Dominic murmured.
Reaching for the pitcher, Zane poured cream over his pie. “She’s crazy about the baby. I know for a fact she would have championed anyone who’d found him.”
“He’s an awfully cute little tyke. It’s hard for me to believe our baby was ever that small,” Alik said.
Dominic swallowed another bite. “Hannah’s going to be giving birth to our child next year. Looking at that baby tonight made me realize all the things that can go wrong. I confess I’m getting nervous.”
Zane studied his friend. Dominic had two vulnerable spots. His wife and adopted daughter, Elizabeth. “Your baby is going to be born in a hospital with the best medical care there is. The situations aren’t comparable.”
“He’s right, Dom,” Alik cut in. “But since I didn’t know about Nicky until after he was born, I can only imagine the fears you must experience once in a while.
“Speaking of fears—” Alik eyed Zane. “Dom and I are aware of your concern for the baby. Why don’t you go over to the hospital and check on him while we clean up? When you get back, we’ll talk about the test run.”
“I don’t have to go.”
“Yes, you do,” Dominic insisted. “All evening we’ve sensed your preoccupation.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was that obvious.”
Alik frowned. “Don’t apologize. We understand. Once you’ve ascertained he’s holding his own, you’ll be able to think about something else.”
“That’s the problem. He’s going to be sick for a while.”
“All the more reason to reassure yourself he’s okay tonight.”
They understood him too well. “You’re right. I’ll leave now and be home before you know it.”
Five minutes later Zane pulled into the parking lot of the hospital. Though he hadn’t expected to remain under police suspicion too much longer, it was a relief to walk through the main entrance knowing they’d crossed him off their list.
There were three babies in the sick nursery. Two sets of exhausted-looking parents who’d been in there earlier were still doting on their offspring.
When Zane’s gaze flicked to the other side of the semidark room and fell on one lone crib, it felt like a giant hand had just squeezed out his heart’s blood. He rushed over to the baby.
“I’m here, Johnny. I’m here.”
He threw off his jacket and helped himself to a pair of gloves from a nearby cart. Snagging a rolling stool with his boot, he planted himself at the side of the crib.
“I came as soon as I could.” Carefully he put his hands through the holes and caught the baby’s tiny fingers. They curled around his with astonishing strength and his little legs kicked harder.
“It looks like you’ve missed me, too.” The thought that the baby recognized him thrilled him to the core of his being. “Remember those men you met? They’re home doing the dishes so I could come and be with you.
“No man ever had better friends. I’ll bring them over tomorrow so the three of you can get well acquainted. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
He molded his palm to the baby’s chest. “It’s warm and snug in there, but I bet it’s boring.”
As if the baby understood, he suddenly yawned, endearing himself to Zane that much more.
An hour passed before he was even aware of it. When he happened to look up and saw that it was after eleven, he realized that if he didn’t leave now, the guys would probably turn in.
“I have to go, Johnny, but I’ll come back in the morning.” It was a wrench to tear himself away. “Be a good boy and get well for me while I’m gone.”
After discarding the gloves, he grabbed his jacket. With a nod for the nurse on duty, he exited the room only to collide with a woman intent on entering the nursery.
His hands automatically went out to steady her. She must have washed her hair with some kind of peach shampoo. The scent was intoxicating.
“I’m sorry!” she cried. “It’s my fault for bumping into you.”
When she lifted her head, he discovered it was Ms. Richins who’d been in too big a hurry to watch where she was going. Since he’d planned to talk to her in the ER before going out to the parking lot, nothing could have pleased him more.
He stared into her dark-fringed eyes, fascinated by their velvety brown color. “I’m glad you did. I think little Johnny’s lonely for company.”
After a pause, “I’m still on duty in the ER, but thought I’d dash up here for a minute and check on him. Does he seem improved to you?”
Considering she was a nurse, her hopeful question was one for the books. But from the moment he’d met her, he’d also been aware that she was a warm, caring woman. Evidently he wasn’t the only person who’d fallen under the baby’s spell.
“It’s probably my imagination, but I thought he was a little more active tonight.”
“That’s a good sign.”
“Is it?” His heart lurched.
“I’ll know better when I look at him.”
“Let’s do it together.”
She lowered her eyes. “I thought you were leaving.”
He wasn’t sure how to take her remark. “Actually I was on my way downstairs to talk to you about his condition.”
By tacit agreement they entered the nursery. She made a beeline for the crib.
“Hello, little sweetheart.” She tapped a knuckle against the transparent top. “What have you been doing tonight?”
At the sound of her voice, Zane noticed how Johnny turned his head toward her. His arms and legs wiggled. Anyone watching her smile at the baby could be forgiven for thinking she was the mother.
“My goodness—you are more animated! That’s wonderful! I wish I could stay with you.”
Zane knew exactly how she felt.
“Keep fighting, sweetheart.”
“Hi,” a female voice spoke behind them. Zane turned his head. It was one of the other mothers. She was alone and looked washed-out. Apparently her husband had left. “The waiting gets hard, doesn’t it.”
“Very,” Zane murmured.
“You two surely have a cute baby there. He looks perfect. Sam and I were wondering what was wrong with him?”
In the next instant Ms. Richins had backed away from the crib. Maybe it was a trick of light, but he thought there was more color in her face than before.
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