Scream for Me by Karen Rose

Author:Karen Rose [Rose, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Suspense, Romance, Crime
ISBN: 9780446616928
Publisher: Vision
Published: 2008-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Dutton, Wednesday, January 31, 6:15 a.m.

Can I get you some more coffee, Agent Hatton?” Alex asked. He sat at her table, calm and unrushed. His partner was gone, giving backup to Daniel.

Hatton shook his head. “No, ma’am. My wife only lets me have a cup a day.”

Alex lifted her brows. “You listen to your wife? Really? Very few men that come through the ER listen to their wives, which is why most of them end up in the ER.”

He nodded solemnly. “I listen to every word she says.”

Meredith scoffed from the kitchen. “But do you obey her?”

Hatton grinned. “I listen to every word she says.”

“I thought so,” Meredith said and filled his cup anyway.

Hatton saluted Meredith with his cup, then put it down on the table. “Hello there.”

Hope stood in the doorway of her bedroom staring at Hatton.

“This is Agent Hatton.” Alex took Hope by the hand. “Agent Hatton, my niece Hope.” Then Alex stared as Hope touched Hatton’s face where a soft gray beard grew.

Hatton leaned forward in his chair so Hope could reach him more easily. “Everyone says my beard makes me look like Santa,” he said. He opened his arms, and to Alex’s shock, Hope climbed into his lap. She stroked his beard with the flat of her palms.

Meredith uttered a small groan. “Not again.”

Alex looked at Hatton helplessly. “Hope’s had a tendency to fixate on things.”

“Well, she’s not hurtin’ a thing, so leave her alone for now,” Hatton said, forever endearing him to Alex.

Alex sat down at the table with them. “You have kids, Agent Hatton?”

“Six. All girls. Eighteen all the way down to eight.”

Meredith looked at the organ, then at Alex. “Maybe he knows what the song is.”

“I don’t want to get her started again,” Alex said, then sighed. “We have to try.”

“What song?” Hatton asked.

Meredith hummed it and Hatton frowned. “Sorry, ladies. I can’t help you.” He checked his watch. “Vartanian said you were meeting Dr. McCrady and the forensic artists this morning at eight. We should be getting a move on.”

Disappointed that he hadn’t recognized the song either, Alex stood up, her knees still stiff from her concrete slide the day before. “I have to walk Daniel’s dog.”

Hatton shook his head. “I’ll take the dog outside, Miss Fallon.” To Hope he said, “You’ve got to get ready. Little girls need time to primp.”

“He does have six daughters,” Meredith said wryly.

Hope pressed her hands to Hatton’s soft beard, her little face suddenly intense. “Pa-paw.” It was the first word she’d spoken, her voice small and sweet.

Hatton blinked once, then smiled at Hope. “Your pa-paw has a beard like mine?”

“Does he?” Meredith asked, and Alex tried to bring Craig Crighton’s face to mind.

Quiet. Close the door. When she could think, she shook her head. “He never had a beard that I remember.” She cupped Hope’s cheek. “Did you see your pa-paw?”

Hope nodded, her big gray eyes so sad Alex wanted to cry. But Alex made her mouth smile. “When, honey? When did you see

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