Free Wicked Brew by Amanda M. Lee Page A

need to fix her up first.”
    “But … .”
    Marcus swooped in and gathered Annie up in his arms. “How about we go and check out the vending machine situation?” he offered. “I’m betting some candy will make you feel better.”
    “Will I be able to see my mommy when we come back?”
    “We’ll see,” Marcus said, leading Annie down the hallway. “We have to let the doctors do their work. They’re very good at what they do.”
    “Okay.”
    I watched them go, my heart filling with thanks that I’d found someone as wonderful as Marcus. The feeling didn’t last long.
    “Where is she?” I tilted my head as an older woman and man rounded the corner, their gazes landing on me first. “Are you the woman who has our granddaughter?”
    My heart started to hammer.
    “Who are you?” Chief Terry asked, stepping forward.
    “Officer,” the woman said, nodding to greet him. “I’m Arlene Denham, and this is my husband Tom. We’re here looking for our granddaughter.”
    “I’m the one you talked to on the phone, ma’am,” Chief Terry said.
    “Is my granddaughter okay? Why is she here?”
    Chief Terry narrowed his eyes. “How did you know we were here?”
    “We got into town early,” Arlene said. “The man answering the phone at your office told me you were here.”
    Chief Terry nodded. “I see.”
    “Why are you here? Is Annie okay?”
    “Annie is fine,” Chief Terry said. “She’s getting a treat with a friend.”
    “You just let her wander off with a stranger?” I didn’t like Arlene on sight. “Well, great, let’s send my grandchild off with a potential child molester.”
    “Hey,” I snapped.
    “He’s not a stranger,” Chief Terry said, raising a hand to still me. “He’s been helping to take care of Annie.”
    “Why did she need someone to take care of her?” Arlene asked. “Is it because her irresponsible mother abandoned her?”
    “Her mother is here, too,” Chief Terry said.
    Arlene jerked at the news. I couldn’t tell if it was surprise because she thought Belinda was dead, or surprise because she really thought Belinda had abandoned Annie. “Belinda is here? If Belinda is here, why did you call us?”
    “Belinda was hurt very badly in a car accident,” Chief Terry explained. “We believe Annie was hurt in that accident as well, but she has no memory of it. We discovered Belinda’s car this evening. She’s in pretty bad shape, but the doctors are working on her right now.”
    Arlene straightened. “Well, I hope she’ll be okay.”
    “We all do, ma’am,” Chief Terry said. “It might be a little while until we know something, though.”
    “Well, I still think it’s prudent that we take Annie,” Arlene said. “She shouldn’t be hanging around a hospital all night. We’ll get a hotel room and take her with us.”
    I balked. “She wants to be near her mother.”
    “She’s a child,” Arlene said. “She doesn’t know what she wants.”
    “Still, ma’am, I think it’s best to wait until we have more information about Belinda’s prognosis,” Chief Terry said. “We still don’t know what caused the accident, and Annie is already traumatized. I think she should remain here until we know more.”
    “Are you her parent?” Arlene challenged.
    “No, ma’am. You’re not either, though.”
    I didn’t notice the man sidling up behind the Denhams until he was almost on top of them. “No, she’s not Annie’s parent,” the man said. “I am, though, and I want my daughter.”
    I felt as if the floor was dropping out from beneath me. “Jonathan Denham.”

Nine
    “You’re Jonathan Denham?”
    The man was handsome – for a low-life pervert. His short brown hair was neat, with just a hint of gray at the temples. His brown eyes were dark and predatory, and his smile was pleasing – even though I wanted to kick his teeth in on sight. Actually, I wanted to kick his teeth in and then pour some lemon juice in there just for good measure. Oh, and then I wanted