Free Hostage Midwife by Cassie Miles

call,” Nick said. “I’ll bet Julia will be glad to have something to do.”
    “Perfect,” Lauren repeated. She whipped aroundto face Marian. “Why didn’t you think of that?”
    “Come with me, Lauren.” Nick ushered his sister-in-law away from the accountant, which seemed like a really good idea. If Marian ever lost control, it might be terrifying. “You can thank Kelly by giving her a ride back to Serena’s place. Then you go home, put your feet up and wait for Julia.”
    On the elevator to the ground floor, Kelly focusedon Lauren’s health. “This is an important time in your pregnancy. You need to remember to eat, drink plenty of water and not get overtired. Put your needs first.”
    “I’m so glad I ran into you.” She gave her a clumsy hug. “Nick, aren’t you glad?”
    “Blissful.”
    “I’m parked in front,” Lauren said. “That means we’re going to have to walk past a bunch of media people.”
    Kelly’s stomachtwisted. Her ex-husband had been expert at courting the media and giving them opportunities to capture his gorgeous face in video or in photos. She had despised the attention. Society-page photos had provided Ted with another opportunity to critique her wardrobe. Once she’d tripped and fallen in front of a television camera. It hadn’t been pretty.
    She glanced at Nick. “Is there another wayout?”
    “It’s no big deal,” Lauren assured her. “Give them a ‘no comment’ and move on.”
    Before she could voice another objection, Kelly was out of the building. Leading with her pregnant belly, Lauren plowed through the reporters. In contrast, Kelly tried to be invisible. She hunched her shoulders and leaned close to Nick, instinctively seeking his protection as the light from a TV cameraflared. A couple of reporters with microphones came at them, repeating Nick’s name over and over to get him to look at them.
    The most persistent reporter got close enough to ask a question. “Was it murder or suicide? Hey, Nick, can we get a quote?”
    As Nick pushed past them, the reporter stared at Kelly. For a moment their eyes met.
    “I know you,” said the man with the microphone.“I’ve seen you before.”
    She avoided his gaze as she reached out and touched the door of Lauren’s SUV. She had almost escaped...almost.
    The reporter crowed, “You’re Ted Maxwell’s ex-wife.”
    Busted.

Chapter Eight
    Tuesday, 1:15 p.m.
    Rather than spending her entire day hiding at Serena’s farm, Kelly had decided to take action. In addition to the five women in her Lamaze class, Serena’s client list included eight other expectant mothers and four who had given birth in the past couple of months. Kelly’s plan was to introduce herself while at the same time getting more familiarwith the area. With her van loaded and ready to roll, she set out on her quest.
    The morning had been mostly uneventful. She’d taken four calls from Nick giving her updates, none of which were particularly earthshaking. Otherwise, she was removed from the Spencer Building and all the troubles associated with the investigation that the media had reduced to a simple headline: Murder or Suicide?
    On the evening and morning news, one of the television channels had run the video showing her and Nick rushing from the Spencer Building. She looked like a frightened rabbit, but she hadn’t been identified as the ex-wife of Ted Maxwell, which meant this wasn’t the most embarrassing thing that had ever happened to her.
    Using her GPS map, she found the secluded mountain cabin of a clientwho had given birth two months ago. The woman was ecstatic to have company. Her health and that of her infant son were good, but she was concerned about the possibility of postpartum depression. Kelly listened carefully to her symptoms and referred her to a therapist that Serena had on a list of recommended professionals. At the same time, she strongly suggested that the new mother and baby spendmore time outside, getting involved with