killed me, I’d keep that promise. I’d protect Daphne and our child, no matter what I had to do.
Even if I had to become my father. I winced at the thought, but it was no less true. I’d do whatever was necessary.
I held her for a few more minutes, soaking in her love and warmth. Then I sighed and pulled back. “I have to go talk to the officers, baby.”
She sniffled once more and nodded.
“You okay here?”
“Now that you’re home I am.”
“I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll come to bed when I can.” I stood and left the room.
Mom had made the officers a pot of coffee. “I sent Belinda home,” she told me. “She’d stayed past her normal hours to talk to the police, and she wanted to stay longer because she felt so bad about not remembering much about the kid who brought the note.”
“She’s better off at home,” I said. “Though does it strike you as odd that she couldn’t remember any characteristics of the kid?”
“Not really. Do you remember everyone who comes to the door with a package?”
“I suppose not.”
I had no reason to suspect Belinda had anything to do with this. She’d been in my family’s employ for over ten years.
The events beginning with Murph’s death had me on edge. I looked at everyone with skepticism and doubt.
In my head, everyone was a suspect.
I’d quickly learned to trust no one.
I poured myself a cup of Mom’s coffee and walked to the living room.
“Mr. Steel.” One of the officers stood and held out his hand. “I’m Officer Will Grant. We spoke on the phone.”
I nodded.
The other officer stood. “And I’m Fred Ericson.”
I shook both of their hands.
“How is your wife?” Ericson asked.
“She’s doing as well as can be expected. Please, sit back down. We have a lot to talk about.” I turned to my mother-in-law. “If you don’t mind, Lucy, I need to speak to the policemen alone.”
She stood, looking visibly relieved. “I think I’ll go to bed. This has all been a bit…much.”
“I want some privacy,” I said to the officers. “Please follow me.”
I led them to my father’s office. No, my office. For the last month, it had been my office. I was the Steel in charge now.
I knew it. I just didn’t always feel it.
I took a seat behind my father’s desk and directed the officers to sit down across from me.
“I have a lot to tell you,” I said. “So let’s start at the beginning.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Daphne
“Daphne”—Mazie peeked into the bedroom—“phone call. It’s Patty. She wants to make sure you’re okay.”
I nodded. “I’ll take it in here.”
I hadn’t heard the phone ring. I’d turned off the ringer once Joe drifted off to sleep. Now, I rolled over to Brad’s side of the bed, where the phone was, and picked up the receiver.
“Hi, Pat.”
“Daph, Ennis and I have been so worried.”
“Brad came home.”
“Thank God! What does he think?”
“I don’t know. He’s talking to the police now.”
“Keep us posted, okay?”
“I will.”
“And if you want to cancel the dinner tomorrow night, we understand. You have a lot going on.”
“Are you kidding? Having dinner with my only two friends in the world is the one normal thing in my life. Don’t you dare not come.”
“All right. We won’t miss it. Love you.”
“Love you too. Bye.”
I hung up the phone and leaned back over to check on the baby. He was so beautiful. He didn’t have that wrinkled newborn look. No. My little dove was perfection personified.
“I’ll protect you,” I said out loud as I lightly laid my hand on his sleeping body. The movement of his little chest as he breathed comforted me. “I’ll always pro—”
Crash!
A scream lodged in my throat. Something had come through the window, and shattered glass lay everywhere. I scanned the room wildly. A rock lay on the floor.
A piece of glass nearly the size of my hand had landed on Jonah’s back.
So close to his little neck.
My heart raced wildly, and my skin prickled with fear.
This time I screamed.
The crash hadn’t woken the baby, but my scream did.
I froze. I had to hold my baby. But glass. Glass everywhere. Shards. Big shards and tiny shards.
“Daphne!” Mazie came running in. “What was that?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Nothing except another blood-curdling scream.
Mazie snatched Jonah out of his cradle, the large piece of glass falling onto his small mattress.
“What in the world? Brad! Brad! Come quick!”
“Where is he?” I finally squeaked out.
“In the office with the door