The Dying Room (16 page)

“Now, untie Daddy and Mr. Taylor and get out of here.”

Jess scrambled to her feet. She grabbed a pair of scissors from the desk and rushed to the hostages.

“Get out of here,” the senator roared.

The sound of boots pounding in the entry hall warned that SWAT was in the house before Jess could get the senator free of his bindings. Dan rushed into the room, Buddy right behind him. What the hell?

“What’re you--?”

Dan pulled Jess into his arms before she could finish the question and hugged her. “Thank God,” he murmured.

“We’ll take it from here, Chief,” the SWAT commander declared.

Two techs were already on the floor next to Sylvia. Jess didn’t want to leave her but she knew she had to. Sylvia gave her a nod and Jess allowed Dan to pull her toward the door.

“I want everyone out who doesn’t need to be here,” the SWAT commander ordered.

Bodies started filing out—all but one. Buddy Corlew stood his ground. Jess could still hear him shouting at the SWAT commander when she and Dan exited the front door. He was not leaving Sylvia.

“You okay?” Dan asked as he ushered Jess farther from the house.

“I’m good. Sylvia scared the hell out of me but otherwise all went well.” She glanced over her shoulder.
She hoped
.

By the time they reached the end of the driveway, Sylvia, the senator, Buddy, and Taylor were coming out of the house. Paramedics rushed forward to assist.

Jess looked around. Half the department appeared to have descended on the scene.

She didn’t breathe easy until she heard the announcement that all was clear. Then she wilted against Dan. She tried to breathe but couldn’t seem to catch her breath.

Sylvia hurried over and hugged her. “You all right?”

Jess opened her mouth to answer but a strange shift in her pelvis region had her gasping. Water gushed down her thighs.

“Oh my God.” She turned to Dan. “I think my water just broke.”

St. Vincent’s East Hospital, Birmingham, 8:30 p.m.

Sylvia had long ago removed her shoes. Her feet were killing her. “This is taking forever.” She turned and paced the length of the waiting room for the two hundredth time.

“Now, now, Sylvia,” Katherine Burnett scolded, “these things take time. Why I was in labor for eighteen hours when I had Dan.”

Sylvia clamped her mouth shut. Part of her wanted to tell Katherine she, too, knew a little something about having babies but this was not the time. This was Jess’s time. Sylvia blinked back the tears that gathered in her eyes. Jess had saved her father’s life today while she had almost gotten them all killed. What had she been thinking when she’d hit that fool over the head?

Buddy touched Sylvia’s elbow. “Why don’t I get us all some coffee?”

Sylvia took a breath. “Coffee would be nice.”

Dan Senior stood. “Why don’t I give you a hand, Buddy?”

“I could help,” Chet Harper rushed to say.

Before Sylvia could blink Buddy, Dan Senior, Harper, Hayes and Chad had exited the waiting room. Sylvia turned to Lori. “Do you think they planned that?”

Lori laughed. “I’m thinking that’s exactly what they did.”

Katherine waved them off. “Men are not very good at this part. Come on over here and sit with me, sweetie.” Katherine urged Andrea Denton, Dan’s former stepdaughter with whom he remained close, into a chair. “You look exhausted.”

“I had a huge exam,” Andrea explained. “And then I drove straight here from Tuscaloosa.”

Andrea was a student at the University of Alabama. Dan was very proud of her. The young woman had grown close to Jess as well.

“Any news?” Lily, Jess’s sister, her husband Blake and their little girl, Maddie, along with Jess and Lily’s Aunt Wanda, piled into the room. They had taken Maddie for ice cream in the cafeteria.

“Not yet,” Lori said before Sylvia could.

Blake took a seat and Maddie curled up in his arms. She looked ready for bed. Wanda sat down next to Katherine. Katherine had decided to take Wanda under her wing by inviting her into several of her ladies’ clubs and civic organizations.

Lily checked her watch. “We should be hearing something soon.”

“I was just telling the girls,” Katherine said, “that I was in labor for eighteen hours with Dan.”

“I had my kids fast,” Lily said. “Blake Junior came in less than four hours. We barely reached the hospital before Alice made her appearance.”

Sylvia surrendered and dropped into a chair. “I’m exhausted.” She should check on her mother. Her flight back to Birmingham was supposed to have landed at seven. The paramedics had taken her father to UAB just to be sure he was okay. Once he was settled at Sylvia’s house, she’d come here. Her parents would stay with her for a few days since their house was a crime scene for now. Dan had assured her that nothing her father had done would incur criminal charges. For that she was immensely grateful. No matter, her father clearly felt a tremendous amount of guilt.

At some point, she had to tell them about Addison. It wasn’t fair to keep her parents in the dark about their granddaughter. However things turned out with Addison, Sylvia intended to do all within her power to make this right.

Plus, she had to tell her family about Buddy. Her father had shaken Buddy’s hand for staying at Sylvia’s side while the detonator and explosives were deactivated. There’d been no time for real introductions then. Sylvia’s heart fluttered with excitement. She wanted her family to know Buddy.

The men returned with coffee all the way around. Sylvia was glad Buddy remembered that she liked hers with two creams.

“Thank you.” She sipped the fragrant brew.

He sat down beside her. “You doing okay?”

She nodded. “I’m okay.” She turned to him, knowing full well his question was more about her daughter than today’s events. “I guess standing in Daddy’s study knowing that we could all die any second put things into perspective. I want to know her, Buddy. I do. But if she doesn’t want me in her life, I’ll understand.”

Buddy gave here one of his classic lopsided grins and her heart did a little flip-flop. “She’s going to see exactly what I see.”

“And just what is that, Mr. Corlew?” she asked quietly. With all the conversations going on in the room no one was paying attention to theirs.

“A smart, gorgeous, and courageous lady.”

Sylvia smiled. “I did take out the bad guy today.”

“You sure did.” He smiled, pride shining in his eyes.

The door opened again and, dressed in scrubs, Dan appeared. The room fell quiet. He grinned from ear to ear. “It’s a girl.”

Much cheering and hugging and plenty of happy tears took place before Dan made another announcement, “Five people at a time can come in to see Jess and the baby.” He beamed a smile at his parents. “Starting with the grandparents and the aunts and uncle.” He winked at Andrea as he ruffled Maddie’s hair. “I think we can sneak in a couple more.”

Maddie squealed with happiness.

Sylvia felt so warm inside. She couldn’t wait for her turn to see the baby. She couldn’t wait for whatever came next.

She was so glad to be alive. She glanced at Buddy. From this moment forward, she wanted more in her life. Starting with this man.

Jess stared at her sweet baby girl. She couldn’t believe it. All those years she’d been certain she didn’t have time for children. Her career had been top priority. She touched her baby’s nose and then opened the blanket swaddled around her to count those precious fingers and toes. Tears filled her eyes yet again.

“You are so beautiful, little one.” The baby had a tuft of golden hair. She weighed seven pounds and was twenty inches long. She was perfect. Absolutely perfect. The baby squirmed and stretched. Jess wrapped the blanket around her once more. “Mommy loves you so very much.”

Her heart full, she reached up and fingered the precious necklace Dan had given her. The blue agate mother-child cameo hanging from a delicate white gold chain was a gift she would treasure for the rest of her life. She smiled down at the precious bundle in her arms. How was it possible to love anyone else as much as she loved Dan? Yet, she did. The bond had started to form months ago.

A light rap on the door sounded before it opened. Dan stepped in, still grinning broadly and leading his parents as well as Lil and her family and Wanda. And Andrea! Jess’s tears started anew. She had never been so happy in her life—except for her wedding day—and she couldn’t stop crying.

“Hi, everyone.” Jess wished her lips would stop their foolish trembling.

Lil moved to her side. For a moment she couldn’t speak. She stood there, fingers pressed to her lips, staring down at the angel in Jess’s arms. “She’s beautiful.”

Her sister kissed Jess on the forehead and then lightly brushed her lips across the baby’s sweet little head. “You did good, sis.”

Jess tried to blink back the blasted tears but they refused to slow down.

“Oh my heavens,” Katherine leaned down and pressed a kiss to the baby’s forehead, “she’s perfect.” She turned a watery gaze to Jess. “Perfect and absolutely beautiful, Jess. I am so proud.”

Dan Senior stole a kiss next. “Too precious for words.”

Wanda and Andrea took their turns.

“Your mother would be so proud,” Wanda assured her.

“Thank you,” Jess managed to say.

Dan handed Jess another handful of tissues for the tears that just wouldn’t stop flowing. “Thank you. She is perfect, isn’t she?”

“What do you think of your little cousin, Maddie?” Blake hoisted the little girl up to have a look.

“I want to play with her,” Maddie said without hesitation.

“Soon, sweetie,” Jess promised.

Dan cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “I’d like all of you to meet Beatrice Irene Burnett.”

“Oh.” Katherine clutched her chest. “She’s named after my mother and yours, Jess. How thoughtful of you.”

Jess looked up at Dan, and he nodded for her to go ahead. “Dan told me your mother,” she said to Katherine, “was called Bea.”

“That’s right,” Katherine said, dabbing at her own new wave of tears.

“We’re going to call her Bea.”

Dan leaned down and kissed Jess on the cheek. “We’re very lucky to be able to share this wondrous event with all of you.”

Jess watched as her family exchanged hugs and cried more tears of joy. In her heart, she wished her parents were here as well. She smiled as she watched Dan’s father hug him and then shake his hand. But she was okay. She and Dan had their own family now.

Bea was a very lucky little girl.

When the first wave of visitors were out the door, she and Dan had a minute or two alone before the next group would arrive. Everyone wanted to see the baby. Jess was more than happy to show her off, but she would be very glad to have some quiet time alone with her husband and baby girl.

Dan sat down on the edge of the bed. “If you’re too tired, we can take a break from visitors for a bit.”

Jess shook her head. She didn’t want to make anyone wait. For now, she was enjoying watching Dan stare at his little girl. Jess lifted the baby toward him. “You want to hold her again?”

Dan had helped cut her cord, he’d washed and diapered her, but since they were settled in this room he hadn’t gotten to just sit down and hold the baby.

“If you don’t mind.”

Jess passed the soft bundle over to him. Seeing the way he looked at her took Jess’s breath. A year ago she wouldn’t have believed this moment would ever come. She was so grateful and so very happy that she and Dan had found each other again.

She looked around the room at the dozens of flower arrangements. There was one from Ralph Gant, her old boss at the Bureau. One from Wesley Duvall, her ex. He truly was happy for her. He’d just gotten engaged and would be married later this year. Jess was happy for him, too. Everyone deserved to find their true love. She hoped this one would be Wesley’s.

The sound of laughter in the corridor brought Dan’s head up. “Here we go.” He passed little Bea back to Jess. “I love you.”

Jess looked into those gorgeous blue eyes of his and smiled. “I love you.”

Lori was on cloud nine as she, Chet, Sylvia and Buddy were allowed their turn to see Jess and the baby. The moment they stepped into the room, Lori clamped her hand over her mouth. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

Jess smiled and motioned her on over.

“You look so beautiful.” Lori’s voice trembled.

“Thank you.”

Jess literally glowed. And the baby...

“She’s beautiful.” The child looked like an angel. All that pink skin made Lori want to scoop her up and hug her tight.

“Wow.” Chet shook his head. “She’s so tiny. Chester was eight and a half pounds.”

Corlew gave Jess a nod. “You did good, kid.”

Sylvia hugged Jess. “She really is beautiful, Jess, and so are you.”

“Thank you.”

Corlew shook Burnett’s hand. “Danny boy, you two sure did it up right. That’s one gorgeous little girl.”

The time they could visit passed far too quickly. Lori wished they had more time but Hayes, Cook, and Gina Coleman were still waiting.

Lori gave Jess a hug. Chet gave her a pat on the arm and then shook Burnett’s hand. Lori could hardly contain herself as they said their goodbyes.

In the corridor, she tugged Chet toward the nursery. “I want to see the babies before they turn out the lights.”

Corlew and Sylvia headed back to the waiting room. Lori was pretty sure those two were an item. “Did you see the way Corlew was holding Sylvia’s hand?” she asked in a whisper meant only for Chet.

He nodded. “Hey, I heard how he refused to leave her in there with that bomb. He’s got it bad.”

Lori moved up to the nursery window and gazed across that sea of babies. She felt giddy. She couldn’t wait to have this baby. She wrapped her arms around Chet’s. “Can you believe it? We’re going to have one of these this year?”

He kissed her on the temple. “It’s a dream come true.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I think we should go home and celebrate.”

Lori tiptoed and kissed him. “I’m ready.”

They had plenty to celebrate. They’d solved their case and no one on the team had been injured in the process.

Life was good.