"You were a lot of trouble when you were a baby." Inez smiled. "Nathan did everything for you and you were horrible to him."

"Talking of trouble," Elisa said, "and I think the words Nathan and trouble go together much too often, have you spoken to the police? Detective Foster nearly drove me mad trying to get in touch with you. I think he'd have followed me into the delivery suite if he'd thought you'd be in there."

"Detective Foster?" Nathan looked up.

Her shoulders slumped. "Oh God, Nathan, don't tell me you haven't called him?"

"Who is he?"

"A detective at West Central."

"In San Antonio?"

"Duh! We left messages on your cell," Elisa said.

"My phone was stolen. What did he want?"

"Something about a case you were working on. I've got his card."

"I did tell you the police were looking for you when I last spoke to you," his father said.

Nathan realized he'd misunderstood. He got up and handed the baby to Inez.

"She has your beautiful eyes, Mom."

Inez gave a little gasp and Nathan could feel his heart hammering. He knew he'd shocked her.

"Thank you, Nathan," she said.

"Dad, can I have a word?" Nathan asked. "I need your advice." His father paled. At this rate Nathan thought he'd given his whole family heart attacks.

When Nathan left the room, Kate's anxiety level rocketed.

"So where did you two meet?" Elisa asked, sitting next to her.

"In Colorado."

"Do you live there?" Elisa asked.

"No." Kate could see her looking at the wedding ring. Why hadn't she taken it off? She twisted it, but left it in place.

"So where are you from?"

Kate wanted Nathan back. "San Antonio."

"Great," Elisa said. "I can already tell you're a good influence on my brother.

He'd never have chosen the book. How did you meet?" Kate took a deep breath. "Nathan saved my life."

Three open mouths and Kate wished she'd kept hers shut.

"Wow-what did he do?" Elisa asked.

"He...rescued me from a burning house."

"My God, what happened?" Inez rocked the baby.

"I don't think we need to put Kate through the third degree the first time she meets us," Bob broke in.

"Bob! Shut up," Elisa said.

"Kate?"

She looked up to see Nathan at the door. He beckoned her over. "We have to go." When she reached his side, he wrapped his arms around her.

"Not fair," Elisa complained. "Can't you go and leave Kate here? I have such a lot I need to tell her."

"That's a good enough reason for you never to see each other again," Nathan said.

Will muttered something in his wife's ear and she glanced at Kate and nodded.

"What's happening?" Elisa asked. "Why does everyone but me know what's going on?"

"Elisa?" Will said.

"Yes, Dad?"

"Shut up."

Kate fastened her seat belt with trembling fingers.

"Are you okay?" Nathan asked as he pulled out on to the street.

"Yes."

He reached over and squeezed her knee. "I know you're not. But it's going to be fine. I gave Dad a quick summary of what's happened. He's going to follow us to the police station at West Central. I rang the detective that's been trying to contact me. It's you he's been looking for." Kate stared at him.

"He said you'd left a message in your apartment."

"The police were looking for me?" She felt a lump in her throat.

"They hadn't given up, Kate." Nathan glanced at her. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yes."

She felt sick.

"Try not to worry. We'll do this together." Kate turned to the window and acknowledged that the uncomfortable lump in her throat was the beginnings of hope.

"I asked my dad why they'd chosen the name Elisa. You were right. He said after Mom left, I used to go on and on about how if I couldn't have a Mommy called Elizabeth then I wanted a sister called Elizabeth. He couldn't quite persuade Inez. Calling her daughter after his ex-wife was a step too far. Elisa was the nearest he could get."

Kate listened to Nathan trying to fill the silence. She didn't want to talk.

"Afterwards, we'll go to the grocery store and I'll cook us supper," he said.

"Okay."

"Is that all you can say?" Nathan winked at her. "You should be breathless with anticipation at the thought of me cooking." Kate stared down at her lap. "Can I stay with you for a while?" She held her breath.

"For as long as you want."

And she let the breath out.

"Dad will be with you when you talk to the police. The sooner you tell them everything, the safer you'll be."

Chapter Thirty-Seven.

Kate lay wide awake in Nathan's arms. He was fast asleep. This had been the longest day of her life. Luke Foster, the detective looking for her, had beamed with delight when he shook her hand. The last smile she saw from him, quickly replaced by shock and pity. Kate had to turn the clock back to the time she'd come home from orchestra practice and run it forward to the moment she walked out of the hospital. They recorded everything. Nathan's father made notes, but said little. Kate wasn't upset. She just talked and talked, and three men and one policewoman sat and listened.

She thought Nathan's father wouldn't like her anymore, that he wouldn't want Nathan to like her but when she'd finished, Will reached across the table. Kate saw understanding in his eyes and let him take her hand.

Luke told her they'd print out the statement and she could go back to read and sign it the next day. They'd also said Hedley Moss wanted to speak to her. A photographer had taken pictures of her injuries. A doctor examined her. Kate knew she'd have to tell this story over and over.

When they finally let her go, Nathan had been waiting. He'd taken her into his arms and hugged her. He drove her back to his little house and showed her around. They lay on the bed and he fell asleep holding her. But Kate couldn't stop thinking about Jack. He was here in San Antonio and she wished she was somewhere else.

Jack heard the click as his door was unlocked.

Carl strolled in. "What have you been up to?"

"Nothing." Yet. Jack curled up tighter on the bed.

Carl picked up the pink sweater. "Why's the FBI coming to see you this afternoon?"

"I got confused about something." Jack snatched the sweater and held it to his chest. "Has my father phoned?"

"You've asked me that five times. The answer's the same. Not that I know of. I have to take you to a treatment room to get your arm checked. Can you walk or you going to put me to the trouble of finding a wheelchair?"

"I need a wheelchair."

Jack didn't trust his father. He wasn't going to phone. By the time Carl returned, Jack had put on another face. "She needs me. She's not well. Not strong."

"Who?"

Jack sat in the chair and clutched the sweater. "Kate, my wife. We're having a baby."

"Hey, man, congratulations. Save you having to steal one, won't it?" Jack wished he had a knife. "That was a mistake." Carl pressed the button for the elevator. "Last time you were in here, I seem to remember you said you didn't make mistakes."

"Guess I'm human after all," Jack said and Carl laughed.

He wheeled Jack into the treatment room. "Hi, Arlene."

"Hi, Carl."

Jack studied the nurse. She was new. Tall, blonde, and pretty. He put on his best smile.

"Could you wheel him through to Dr. Burroughs when you're done?" Carl asked.

"Sure."

And Jack was alone with Arlene. No camera in there. Patient privacy had its benefits.

"Did you drive to work in your car?" he asked.

"Yes, why?"

As she reached for his arm, Jack caught her wrist. "Don't scream. Don't go for your alarm. I'm not going to hurt you."

He stood and with his free hand pulled the gun out of the back of his pants.

Her mouth fell open and she began to tremble.

"Here's what you're going to do," Jack said.

Nathan squeezed Kate's fingers and knocked on the superintendent's door.

"Hey, you're back." Fryer looked her up and down.

"I've lost my keys. Can I borrow a spare? I want to move my stuff out."

"Sure."

Kate was certain he let his fingers slide along hers on purpose as he passed her the key. When his door was shut, she wiped her hand on her pants.

"He didn't even ask where you'd been," Nathan said.