Read Online Forgotten Memories (SWAT: Top Cops Book 4) by Laura Scott - Free Book Online
Authors: Laura Scott
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stepfather.
* * *
Gabby disconnected her call, somewhat reassured that Bill would be waiting at Trinity Medical Center for Richard to arrive.
If anyone could save her stepfather, it was world-renowned neurosurgeon Bill Mullen. Richard would be in good hands, but a heavy dose of guilt still gnawed at her.
Gabby closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to soothe the pounding in her head. She’d purposefully used her career to avoid her stepfather, mostly because she hadn’t been able to forgive him for sending her to boarding school on her ninth birthday. Oh, he claimed it was for her own good, to allow her keen intelligence to flourish, but she knew the real truth.
Richard had wanted her mother all to himself.
And her mother hadn’t seemed to want to keep Gabby home with them, either.
Tears burned behind her eyelids and she fought them back with an effort. Crying wasn’t going to change the past. Tears wouldn’t bring her mother back or help Richard now. She needed to take action. She had to get to the hospital as soon as possible.
She wiped her damp eyes and turned to look for Shane. He wasn’t in the living room or kitchen, so she headed down the hall to Richard’s office.
“Oh, no,” she whispered when she saw the mess. “Here, too?”
Shane turned and offered a lopsided smile. “Yeah, but we need to dust for prints before we can see if there’s anything missing.”
She shook her head and folded her arms across her chest. “I won’t be any help here,” she told him in a plaintive voice. “I’ve never lived in this house, and haven’t been here in years, either.”
Shane gestured to the papers lying on top of the desk. “So you didn’t know your stepfather was in financial trouble?”
He was? Her stomach churned and Gabby thrust an impatient hand through her hair. “No, how would I know that? I pay his mortgage and that’s all. We...haven’t spoken to each other in two years. Since the day of my mother’s funeral.”
Shane’s gaze filled with compassion and she turned away, uncomfortable with his scrutiny. “I need a ride back to the hospital. Are you willing to take me—or should I call a cab?”
“I’ll take you,” he said. “But sometime this afternoon, we’ll need you to come down to the station to give a statement. Both on the break-in at your house and for what transpired here.”
“Okay, but I don’t know much. And I’d like to stop back by my house to pack an overnight bag, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, that’s no problem.” Shane held out his hand and she surprised herself by accepting it.
His hand was warm and strong, his fingers gently cradling hers. Gabby sucked in a quick breath. She shouldn’t be this affected by a simple touch...maybe her long shift was still impacting her ability to think clearly.
Although the usual anxiety she experienced around men wasn’t as noticeable with Shane, she was different from the naive resident she was back when she’d gone out with Damon. She was strong and independent. She took pride in what she’d accomplished so far in her career. And she had more milestones to achieve.
Letting down her guard to become close to a man again
wasn’t
one of them.
Besides, she told herself that Shane was just being a gentleman, that she shouldn’t take his protectiveness as an indication that he thought she was weak. It occurred to her that dealing with violence and crime was Shane’s world, far different from working in the hospital where she had everything she needed at her fingertips.
Gabby stole a glance at him, then quickly looked away. She was just another civilian Shane wanted to keep safe, nothing more. Their paths had only crossed in the first place because he needed medical care. And then because she’d needed to be rescued.
Pure circumstance.
She walked with Shane outside, inwardly sighing when she noticed several neighbors standing outside on their porches blatantly watching. Shane informed
* * *
Gabby disconnected her call, somewhat reassured that Bill would be waiting at Trinity Medical Center for Richard to arrive.
If anyone could save her stepfather, it was world-renowned neurosurgeon Bill Mullen. Richard would be in good hands, but a heavy dose of guilt still gnawed at her.
Gabby closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to soothe the pounding in her head. She’d purposefully used her career to avoid her stepfather, mostly because she hadn’t been able to forgive him for sending her to boarding school on her ninth birthday. Oh, he claimed it was for her own good, to allow her keen intelligence to flourish, but she knew the real truth.
Richard had wanted her mother all to himself.
And her mother hadn’t seemed to want to keep Gabby home with them, either.
Tears burned behind her eyelids and she fought them back with an effort. Crying wasn’t going to change the past. Tears wouldn’t bring her mother back or help Richard now. She needed to take action. She had to get to the hospital as soon as possible.
She wiped her damp eyes and turned to look for Shane. He wasn’t in the living room or kitchen, so she headed down the hall to Richard’s office.
“Oh, no,” she whispered when she saw the mess. “Here, too?”
Shane turned and offered a lopsided smile. “Yeah, but we need to dust for prints before we can see if there’s anything missing.”
She shook her head and folded her arms across her chest. “I won’t be any help here,” she told him in a plaintive voice. “I’ve never lived in this house, and haven’t been here in years, either.”
Shane gestured to the papers lying on top of the desk. “So you didn’t know your stepfather was in financial trouble?”
He was? Her stomach churned and Gabby thrust an impatient hand through her hair. “No, how would I know that? I pay his mortgage and that’s all. We...haven’t spoken to each other in two years. Since the day of my mother’s funeral.”
Shane’s gaze filled with compassion and she turned away, uncomfortable with his scrutiny. “I need a ride back to the hospital. Are you willing to take me—or should I call a cab?”
“I’ll take you,” he said. “But sometime this afternoon, we’ll need you to come down to the station to give a statement. Both on the break-in at your house and for what transpired here.”
“Okay, but I don’t know much. And I’d like to stop back by my house to pack an overnight bag, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, that’s no problem.” Shane held out his hand and she surprised herself by accepting it.
His hand was warm and strong, his fingers gently cradling hers. Gabby sucked in a quick breath. She shouldn’t be this affected by a simple touch...maybe her long shift was still impacting her ability to think clearly.
Although the usual anxiety she experienced around men wasn’t as noticeable with Shane, she was different from the naive resident she was back when she’d gone out with Damon. She was strong and independent. She took pride in what she’d accomplished so far in her career. And she had more milestones to achieve.
Letting down her guard to become close to a man again
wasn’t
one of them.
Besides, she told herself that Shane was just being a gentleman, that she shouldn’t take his protectiveness as an indication that he thought she was weak. It occurred to her that dealing with violence and crime was Shane’s world, far different from working in the hospital where she had everything she needed at her fingertips.
Gabby stole a glance at him, then quickly looked away. She was just another civilian Shane wanted to keep safe, nothing more. Their paths had only crossed in the first place because he needed medical care. And then because she’d needed to be rescued.
Pure circumstance.
She walked with Shane outside, inwardly sighing when she noticed several neighbors standing outside on their porches blatantly watching. Shane informed
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