* *
PEYTON DIDN’T WANT to leave her mother, but the doctor assured her that she was stable. After she’d finished the coffee and muffin, she’d looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Not wanting to frighten her mother when she woke up, she needed to shower and camouflage her bruises.
Besides, she was so stiff and sore she could barely move without groaning. And she refused to be a weakling in front of the agent.
The sight of Liam talking to the deputy gave her a small measure of relief. With her mother under protective custody, she had to do everything in her power to help Liam find the person who’d hurt her.
She kissed her mother’s cheek. “Rest up, Mama. When you’re better, our life will be good again.” Hopefully, she could stop looking over her shoulder and living in fear.
She made the deputy promise not to leave her mother’s room, and he assured her he would watch over her as if she was his own mother. Liam placed his hand at the small of her back and walked her to the elevator. Peyton gritted her teeth to keep from wincing with every step she took.
“Are you sure you don’t need to stay in the hospital for observation for another day?”
“I’m sure.” She tugged her jacket around her as they exited the elevator. Before they passed the ER, Liam stopped and pulled her into the waiting room.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Do you remember a male PA named Miller Conrad? He worked at Whistler at the same time you did.” Liam removed his phone and showed her the man’s photograph.
Peyton’s heart stuttered. The man definitely looked familiar.
“He was working the night Gloria Inman died,” Liam explained.
She massaged her temple in thought. “I think he was there, but not in the room with Gloria.” If she had the hospital records, she’d know for sure. But the fire complicated everything.
“Why are you asking about him?” Peyton questioned.
Liam spoke in a whisper. “According to people he worked with, he has a soft spot for seniors. And he’s intensely critical of family members who he perceives aren’t taking care of their parents.”
Peyton narrowed her eyes. “I don’t understand. Where are you going with this?”
“Three patients died suspicious deaths at medical facilities where he worked. Did you know that?”
Peyton’s pulse jumped. “No.”
“His father was also a resident of Golden Gardens and died there.”
Cold fear washed over Peyton. “But he’s not employed at the Gardens.”
“No. But as a visitor, he probably learned his way in and out of the place, and how to avoid security.”
He was right. “I asked our security guard to pull the tapes around Mama’s the night that man broke in my place. Mama said she saw a man earlier.”
“Then she might be able to identify him,” Liam said.
“Oh, God,” Peyton whispered. “That’s why he tried to kill her.”
Footsteps sounded, then she saw Miller Conrad emerge through the double doors leading from the ER exam rooms to the waiting room.
“His mother is terminal,” Liam said. “He just brought her in.”
Judging from the way his shoulders were slumped, the news wasn’t good.
The man looked up and saw her and Liam, and his body tensed.
Liam crossed to him. “How’s your mother?”
Conrad shook his head. “She’s gone.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and rushed outside.
Liam motioned for Peyton to follow him to the nurse’s desk where he identified himself and asked to speak to the attending physician. A minute later, a tall woman in a white coat appeared and introduced herself.
Liam quickly explained that Miller Conrad was a person of interest in a possible homicide and that he wanted an autopsy performed on Conrad’s mother. “The formal request will be on your desk in an hour.”
She simply nodded, then disappeared back into the ER.
Peyton clutched Liam’s arm. “If you think he’s the man who threatened me and hurt my mother, he might come back here.”
Liam rubbed her back. “It’s possible, but he’s distraught, and he knows I’m here. He’d be stupid to try something else right now.” He offered her an encouraging look. “Besides, I showed the deputy Conrad’s photograph and gave him orders to call me if he shows up, and not to let him in to see your mother.”
Peyton’s pulse pounded. “I still don’t like leaving her.”
“She’s safe now. Let’s go look at that security footage. If Conrad is on them, I’ll have enough to bring him in for questioning.”
* * *
QUESTIONS STILL RATTLED around inside Liam’s brain. Conrad’s sympathy for seniors and his turmoil