Facade

“I know what you’re thinking,” he said.

“Not likely.”

“You’re thinking he was bashed from behind, which still incriminates Emma. But you don’t know that. Not yet.”

“I was actually thinking about where on Jacob’s head he was hit,” I said. “Depending on where and how hard, he could have difficulties communicating with us once he wakes up. That puts us at a great disadvantage.”

“Nice to know you’re worried about the man’s health.”

“That’s your job. He’s your friend. Right now, my job is to gather as much intel on this as I can so I can figure out who attacked Mr. Carl,” I said.

“Then go do whatever the hell it is you do,” he said.

He was angry, and I got it. He felt responsible, and now he couldn’t even see his friend. He had no one to take his anger out on since we had no idea who attacked him, and that probably made him feel like his world was closing in on him.

But all we could do was wait.

I sat by his side through the majority of the afternoon. People kept popping in to check on him, but no one stayed for any particular amount of time. Emma came and went, asking for updates and being her usual frantic self. She kept shooting me looks, and I kept ignoring them, and Derek kept staring off into space.

Getting inside his own head.

“Mr. Steele?” the doctor asked.

“Yes,” he said as he stood up. “Is it Jacob?”

“Your friend’s awake. We’re running some more thorough tests later, but for now, he seems coherent and able to talk. The police are interested in talking to him about what happened,” the doctor said.

“Tell the officers that won’t be necessary. I have my own private security team already investigating things,” he said.

“I figured as much. I’ll usher them out the long way, so you don’t have to be bothered with anything.”

“Thank you, Doctor Farlow. I appreciate it.”

I followed Derek back to Jacob’s room and then gave him some space. I wanted Jacob to wake up a bit before I started grilling him with questions. John was there, standing in the corner with his hands crossed in front of his body. I looked up at him, and I watched him sigh as he shook his head lightly.

Just as I suspected. John hadn’t been with Jacob when the attack occurred.

I watched the two of them talk, and I studied Jacob’s movements. Some of them were a little choppy, but he didn’t seem to have a concussion. He was focusing on Derek’s face well, and he wasn’t stuttering over his words. It didn’t look like Derek was struggling to understand him, and Jacob didn’t seem to be nauseous or anything like that. It was a good sign, despite the situation Jacob was in. Being bashed over the head and needing those kinds of stitches usually came hand-in-hand with a concussion.

It told me a lot about what he was struck with and who might have struck him.

I walked into the room and sat down on the other side of Jacob. He eyed me carefully as I crossed my legs, switching quickly into girlfriend mode. It was getting tough to keep up with who Derek was feeding what lie, but I went with it as Jacob grinned over at me.

“Such a pretty face for someone so bashed up,” Jacob said.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“Sorry I spoiled the weekend,” he said.

“You didn’t spoil anything,” Derek said. “But I need you to talk me through what happened. In the parking garage.”

“Oh, that isn’t conversation to have in front of such a beautiful woman,” Jacob said. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“I was actually hoping you would talk about it,” I said with a soft smile. “Please excuse the wrinkled outfit. I was worried about you the whole flight back and didn’t have another change of clothes.”

“Nonsense. You look spectacular,” Jacob said.

I could feel Derek’s eyes on me as John grinned in the corner. I softened my features even more to try and get Jacob talking while I was in the room. Derek was perched on the edge of his bed, and my eyes were studying Jacob’s body. The stitches were on the back of his head, which meant whoever attacked him had to have snuck up behind him.