Heart Beats (Joker's Sin #3) - Davidson King Page 0,50

with Ziggy, and Riordan had a man by the ICU to make sure no one went in to try and get to him. So, as we sat in the café, waiting for Ciro, I people-watched. I realized I was scrutinizing each person who walked by. Man, woman, even a baby.

“Hey.” Shane reached across the table and tapped my finger. “The baby is innocent, maybe try not to blow it up with your mind.”

“Sorry,” I huffed. “I keep thinking I know this person, or I should. Everyone I see now, I’m wondering if I know.”

“Of course you are. They probably want you to be paranoid. I can’t even begin to fathom the thinking they have. How do they think this will end, with you being grateful they went to such lengths to make you love them?”

“Hell if I know.”

“Let’s just relax and drink our coffee. We have people here watching, let’s wait for Ciro and pretend we’re on a date.”

I chuckled and looked at Shane. “A date?”

“Yep. I once read an article about a soldier in World War Two who met a nurse when he was shot in the leg. In the middle of a war zone, he said they had a date in the tent where other guys lay bleeding. I figure if he can have a date in the middle of war, why can’t we?”

One of Riordan’s guys laughed, and I couldn’t help but echo the sentiment. “I suppose you’re right.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Shane

When Ciro arrived, it was a whirlwind of information dumped into our laps. He explained how Atlas had the place covered for the next few days at least and to not worry. He had plans, but I could tell from the expression on Ledger’s face that he wasn’t happy about any of this. He lived and breathed being a DJ, and being away from it for so long had to be eating at him.

“With all the changes to the club right now, this guy is going to know Ledger is no longer there. And with Ziggy at this hospital, there’s no way he’s not going to realize he’s here,” I argued when Ciro told Ledger to stay put.

“We have eyes here and—”

“You can have eyes there too,” I said.

“Shane, we can do a few more days here. But, Ciro, I agree with Shane. It’s only a matter of time until whoever is doing this shows up here. I can’t stay in Crestfox forever, and I have to get home to Lion. Three days, tops. Then I’m going home. Let’s see what happens in that time, deal?”

“Fine,” Ciro rose from his seat. “I got a room at the same hotel as you. I’ll be staying here with you. Riordan has guys at the club with my men, and the hospital and hotel will be covered as well.”

“Thank you.” Ledger breathed a sigh of relief.

We all drove to the hotel together, and Ledger said he was going to call Detective Glass about the news. With any luck what Ziggy said would cross Ledger off the suspect list.

I only hoped this would help the detective find the guy. Hiding out wouldn’t work, and I wasn’t sure what Ciro’s master plan was if no one knew who or where the guy was.

As I showered in the hotel while Ledger made his call, I wracked my brain for anything it could conjure. I wondered if this was someone who Ziggy and Ledger knew from another time. Maybe it wouldn’t be someone I knew. I had only met Ziggy at the con and then at Joker’s Sin when he and Trinity played. But it had to be from the con because…I quickly jumped out of the shower and raced out of the bathroom, dripping.

Ledger looked up, still on the phone, brows furrowed.

“What is it, Shane?”

“Is that the detective?”

“Yeah.”

“Put me on speakerphone.”

Ledger did as I asked, and I told them what had suddenly hit me while I was showering. “Whoever is doing this, they were at DJay Con. The first gift Ledger got was flowers, and they said it was great seeing him at the con. We all sort of thought maybe they weren’t linked to the other gifts. If you ask the other DJs, I’m sure they didn’t get flowers. He probably looked familiar because Ziggy saw him there. Which is likely where it all started.”

“I need to see those gifts,” the detective said.

“They’re all in Haven Hart. I’ll talk to Ciro and see if he can arrange to get them all together. Would