Before You

CHAPTER SEVEN



The following morning, Roth went out to pick up breakfast. When he returned, Jason sat on the bed’s edge, close to Ridge, asking, “What does this mean for us? Will they still be after our family?”



Keith answered, “The responsibility to get that contract and protect their interests was firmly on Cambridge.”



Roth picked right up on the discussion. “What about the dead men and Ridge’s gunshot wounds?”



Keith’s superior replied, “We’re using this for all it’s worth, making the best of a bad situation to gain intel. Local law enforcement has kindly agreed to assist us with making the process smooth. Barring some unknown element, this conversation should be the last you ever hear about it.”



That pleased Roth. “Naturally, our family in is your debt. We’ll expect you to call in that favor, sir. May we agree upon that as gentlemen?” He sat down the many bags on the rolling table made to fit over the bed, and held out his hand to his friend’s boss.



The older man grasped it. “Naturally, the gratitude of a family like yours is an honor and an asset.”



Ridge said, “Special Agent Dyer, I wanted to thank you for your help.”



“Call me, Keith.”



“Okay. Thank you, Keith.”



Dr. Farentina stopped in first thing in the morning. After taking vitals herself, and then examining his stitches, she exhaled. “I’m willing to sign release under your brother’s recognizance. If he will hang on a few more days to stay with you, and you promise not to play tough guy and stop taking the antibiotics and other prescriptions I intend to write, I can sleep at night.”



Ridge caught her face in his hands and kissed her on the cheek. Drawing back, as she blinked and blushed like a girl, he murmured, “Thank you for saving my finger. I’d accepted the loss. You made a gift of it.”



Fearful of upsetting Jenny, a close friend, Jason had not called her until that first hopeful verdict. When he had called, she’d volunteered at once to check in on Jason’s cat, Elizabeth.



As the three of them pulled into the drive of the cabin in Roth’s rental, his brother admitted, “Had a few moments when I didn’t think I’d see the place again.”



Roth and Jason climbed out of the car and their gazes met over the top of it. Unspoken communication between them happened very naturally. They’d both feared the same thing.







For a few days, he fretted constantly over his brother’s finger even more than the bullet wounds. It did not lose swelling and pinkness fast enough for Roth’s comfort. Ridge had some trouble sleeping. Having a wound near both his sides made most any position uncomfortable.



Night four, Ridge fell into a deep untroubled slumber. Jason walked to the kitchen in the dark. Roth watched as he got himself a glass of water from the filtered pitcher and stood gazing out the window.



Roth spoke in the darkness. “I can’t have you wearing yourself down caring for the patient.”



Jason turned. “I get to return your words. Don’t try mothering me. Ridge needs you more.”



In a few strides, Roth plucked the glass from his grasp, set it upon the table and embraced him. “You’re unbelievably precious, Jason. I can’t talk about it yet, but I met someone. What you risked to save my brother has made me humble. Maybe that’ll help. You’ve my complete loyalty and love.”







They booked a commercial flight and Roth remained to travel with them to Savannah for Christmas. Despite what Jason considered exorbitant fees, they took Elizabeth as a carryon.



It seemed Ridge mended by the moment. It became increasingly difficult to manage him. He made Roth and Jason both nervous. Halfway through the flight, when a lady stood to take down her carryon and it began to tumble, Ridge rose, plucked her from harm’s way and caught the piece of luggage with one hand. Jason looked like he might faint.



Roth grabbed the bag from him and snarled, “When I’m satisfied you’re one hundred percent, I’m gonna kick your ass.”







Ridge and Jason went on to the Garrett homestead. Roth took a cab home and the door had hardly closed behind him when his private cell rang. Seeing Nelson on the screen, he flipped it open and answered, “Hey, you find something about Adam?”



“Yeah, Roth. I did. A few credit cards, all paid on time and billed to an UPS store, not a residence. Lease on a small apartment. No voters’ registration or even a membership to a gym or movie rental store. The most telling thing is that all information on him is only four years old.”



“What does that mean?” He carried his luggage into his bedroom.



“It could mean he’s in the witness protection program. If you want my honest opinion, I’d give that less than a two percent chance. But, whoever he is to you, he’s hiding.”



Roth replied, “Thanks, Nelson. Listen, I need one more favor. Can you get me a Kevlar vest for Ridge in time for Christmas? Make sure it’ll fit him.”



“No problem. I’ll leave it at your parents’ and let you know the damage so you can reimburse me.”



Roth showered and dressed. He sat down and wrote a check out to the shelter. He always made a donation to charity as his Christmas gift to Katherine. This year, it became even more personal to him.



Roth drew back his hair, and before he realized what he meant to do, he walked to his safe and took out Katherine’s necklace. The chaplain who married them just before she died, had done so in answer to a frail, suffering woman’s final wish, not as a binding ceremony. Katherine’s family had taken everything else he had of her. He’d had no way to fight them aside from a prolonged court battle. He knew his love would not have wanted that. As Roth opened the bleached wood box, his hands shook a little. She’d worn the necklace until drawing her last breath.



He couldn’t hang onto it forever, and he couldn’t give it up completely.



Putting it away, he grabbed the check he’d written to the shelter, slid it into an envelope before tucking it into his wallet and leaving in hopes of catching Adam as he delivered it.