Nothing to Fear by Karen Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

his voice rough. “Naomi and Ben?”
    He’d known them, too, Mia thought. And had cared. “In a safe house.” Mia crouched down, caught Dana’s chin. “If you want to see them, I’ll arrange it. But wait a day or two.”
    Dana nodded, dully, Mia’s words sinking in. Those babies were hiding yet again, with strangers this time. When they’d hidden at Hanover House it had been with her and Evie and, and their mother. Who was now dead. She could only imagine how scared they must be right now. But that day, Thursday . . . Finding her broken body . . . Dana didn’t have to imagine that. “When can I see them?”
    “I’d like you to wait until we have Mr. Goodman in custody.”
    David’s hands clenched on her shoulders. “You mean you don’t have him yet?” he hissed. “Dammit. Does he know about Dana? About this place?”
    Mia straightened. “I don’t know. I don’t think so, because I think if he had, he’d have been here already. Just be careful and keep your doors locked. I’ll call you when I have more information. If you hear something, I need to know about it.” Mia handed David one of her cards. “I know the way out.”
    “Mia.” Evie held up a hand to stop her. “When is the funeral?”
    Mia frowned. “Tomorrow. But I don’t want you there. If Goodman shows up he could follow you back here. Understood? I’ll let myself out. Dana, call me if you need me.”
    Evie waited until the front door closed behind Mia before turning to Dana with glittering eyes. “He wouldn’t have found her if she’d had papers.”
    Dana’s eyes widened, the words like a physical blow to her gut. “Evie, that’s not true.”
    Evie’s eyes hardened. “What’s true is that Lillian’s husband killed her like she was nothing.” Her hands clenched at her sides. “Nothing. If you hadn’t been so damned high and mighty and stubborn with all your damn policies, she might be alive today.”
    “Evie, that’s enough,” David bit out.
    “She wouldn’t leave Chicago, Evie. I begged her to leave, but she wouldn’t.”
    “She might have if she’d known she could really, truly disappear.” Evie turned on her heel, paused at the kitchen doorway to lob the final verbal grenade, tears coursing down her cheeks. “But now we’ll never know, will we?”
    There was silence in the kitchen, then David pulled up a chair next to her and sank into it heavily. “Dana—”
    “Don’t say it,” she interrupted him. “Don’t tell me this wasn’t my fault, David. Don’t tell me there wasn’t anything I could have done.”
    “Okay, I won’t. Seems to me you said it just fine yourself.”
    He put his arm around her and for just a moment she rested her head on his strong shoulder. For just a moment she allowed herself to wish she had someone of her own to hold her in the middle of the night when she was sure to wake with nightmares. Then shoved the self-pity aside to focus on the real issue. “Those poor children,” Dana murmured. “They’ll never be the same.”
    “I know.” He gave her a squeeze. “You want me to stay with you?”
    She shook her head. “No, you go on. I’ll be fine.”
    “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
    “David, Mia’s right. If Goodman knew about us, he’d have been here already. He’s probably hiding out with some of his friends, drunk. He’ll stagger out sooner or later and CPD will pick him up. I’m more worried about the kids. I don’t know who’ll take care of them now. Lillian didn’t have any family other than her mom. She stayed in Chicago to take care of her mother.” Dana swallowed hard. “That’s why she wouldn’t leave town.”
    “But you’ll wait until Goodman’s caught before you go see them, right?”
    Dana heard the warning in his voice and forced her lips to curve. “Of course. I’m not stupid, David.” Just high and mighty and stubborn. The words had hurt. A lot. As Evie had meant them to. Knowing that perhaps hurt more.
    David stood up, slid