The Marshal's Justice (Appaloosa Pass Ranch 4) by Delores Fossen Page B

answering in the MRI room,” the nurse finally said. “But that’s where they took the patient and it’s just at the end of the hall on the right.”
    That caused April’s fear and adrenaline to soar, but she tried not to think the worst. Maybe the nurse and her brother had taken cover when they heard the shots.
    Chase got them moving again. Kept looking around as well, and they made their way farther down the hall. When they reached the door for radiology, Chase eased it open.
    And then he cursed.
    April’s heart went to her knees. Her brother wasn’t there. The room was empty, but there were definite signs of a struggle. Equipment and a wheelchair had been toppled over.
    “They took them,” someone said.
    With his gun ready, Chase pivoted in the direction of the voice. It was the nurse, Kitty Gagnon, and she was crying and hiding behind an examination curtain.
    “They took the patient, Mr. Taylor,” Kitty added.
    “Who took them?” Chase snapped.
    But she only shook her head. “Two armed men.” A hoarse sob tore from her throat. “God, I think they killed him.”
    * * *
    C HASE LOOKED OVER his notes from the phone calls he’d just made. Notes that he’d need to file an official report, but he didn’t like much of what he’d jotted down. Quentin was missing.
    Maybe dead.
    And Renée was nowhere to be found. She’d managed to escape during all the gunfire.
    He figured it wasn’t a coincidence that Renée and those gunmen had been at the hospital at the same time. In fact he hoped it wasn’t a coincidence. Because if Renée and her hired guns had kidnapped Quentin, then it likely meant the man was still alive. Renée hadn’t seemed interested in killing Quentin, only renewing a romantic relationship with him. Of course, if Quentin wasn’t willing to pretend he would do that, Renée might kill him anyway.
    Chase made his way from the deputy’s desk he’d been using and went to Jericho’s office. April was there, right where he’d left her nearly an hour earlier. However, her expression had changed considerably. She no longer looked shell-shocked and ready to fall apart. She was smiling. And it took Chase a moment to realize she was smiling at something on the computer screen.
    Bailey.
    “Levi set up the computer so we’d be able to see Bailey at the safe house,” April explained, turning the screen so Chase could see. “He said it was okay to do this, that no one could hack into the feed.”
    “Levi’s right,” Chase assured her, and it didn’t take long before he, too, was smiling. Bailey was in her carry seat and she was grabbing her toes while making babbling sounds.
    “I was just telling April that the baby’s doing great,” Levi said. “Big appetite, lots of diapers.”
    “Are you sure you know how to change a diaper?” Chase asked. It was a valid question since Levi was the only one of his siblings who didn’t have a child.
    “You’re kidding, right? I got plenty of practice with Matthew,” Levi reminded him.
    Jax’s son. Yeah, they’d all gotten plenty of practice with him since Jax was a widower, and they’d all pitched in to help from time to time.
    “Gotta say, though,” Levi went on, “I’m glad to have a niece even if she is outnumbered by her nephews. I’ll bet Mom can’t wait to get her hands on her only granddaughter.”
    Levi no doubt hadn’t meant that to be anything other than lighthearted, but it caused April’s smile to fade some. Probably because it was a reminder that there might not be any opportunities for Bailey to get to know her grandmother or the rest of the family. Of course, April’s look could also have something to do with that visit Chase had made to the lawyer.
    Or that kiss.
    There’d been nothing to smile about in that particular department. It’d broken down walls between them that were best left standing. Chase didn’t consider himself an emotional sort, but he wasn’t sure he could handle another heart-stomping from April.