“Who would do something like that to her?” Ryan asked.
“I don’t know, but I will. Annabelle is putting her in one of the beds for now to monitor her. Dark room, no stimulation. Jake’s running more tests. Apparently, it’s a really bad concussion. Jake explained that it’s actually a brain injury and needs to be treated with care.”
“Christ.” The breath left Ryan’s lungs. He wanted to see her.
“No visitors. Just silence and darkness for a while, they told me.”
“They give her something for the pain?”
“They have, but she’ll need to be watched closely, so Annabelle will do that here.”
“So what now? Cubby?” Ryan asked.
“Yes. Annabelle promised to call me if she wants me.”
Shay, Noah, and Ryan headed to the Lair.
“More animal names.” Shay shook his head as they entered. “What color is this? No police station I’ve ever visited, and there have been a few, was pink.”
“It’s cantaloupe,” Noah and Ryan said together.
“Cubby in, Maureen?” Noah asked the woman Ryan had known as a child, who was still manning the reception in the sheriff’s office.
“Sure is. Go on through. He has that friend of his with him.”
“Friend?” Noah raised a brow.
“The Ryker Falls boy. The handsome park ranger.”
“Findlay Hudson?”
“That’s it,” Maureen said, smiling proudly that Noah had remembered the name.
They trooped through the office, nodding to a deputy who was seated doing paperwork. The other one was playing on his phone.
“Hard at it, Tank?” Ryan said, recognizing the face.
“Oh, hey there, Ryan.” His eyes passed Ryan to settle on Shay. “Are you that bass guitarist from Talon? I love the bit in ‘History’ that you do.”
Ryan shook his head and followed Noah, leaving Shay talking. This town, he thought. Everyone was determined to keep him grounded.
Noah tapped on the doorframe. “Cub, you got a minute?”
“Sure, come in. I was just correcting Fin on his misbelief that Ryker Falls is a better town than Lake Howling.”
“Fin.” Ryan nodded, as did Noah.
“Hell of a voice you got there, Ryan.”
“We don’t say things like that to him; we keep him grounded,” Cubby said. “It’s best for him and us, or he’ll start expecting those selfies and autographs.”
“What he said.” Noah fell into a seat, looking a little less fierce now he knew Faith was safe. Ryan’s insides felt like a washing machine.
“What’s up?”
“Need me to go?” Fin pointed to the door.
Cubby looked at Noah and Ryan.