“We don’t even know what happened yet,” I offered.
“The police report is in the back. I have a contact at the police department that owed me a favor,” Campbell said with a lift of his chin.
Grant moved the pictures and went straight to the report. His gaze scanned every word. I didn’t need to look over his shoulder to read it, not when he was reading it in his head. His anger was rooted in concern for Stella. I knew the feeling well.
Stella Michaels reported someone had broken in, and it appeared she’d kept it from own her big brother.
“Why isn’t she here for your party?” I asked Grant as he handed me the report.
“She has an exhibit coming up and won’t leave until it’s done,” Grant said.
I lifted my gaze to Campbell. “Is that true?”
“Yeah. I mean she spends most of her time at the art gallery, and when she’s not there, she’s in her brownstone painting. A couple of those college kids she teaches visit a few times a week.”
“A few times a week. How long have you been spying on her?” My eye twitched. Why was this sleaze bag watching her to begin with? I handed the documents back to Grant. “Why did you send Campbell to check in on Stella?”
There had to have been a reason. Something he wasn’t telling me, and I couldn’t just blurt it out that I’d read his mind. If Stella was sick, or worse, I needed to know.
Oh crap, this could get awkward real fast. Bennett is a Fed and the last person I need looking harder in my direction.“I’m just going to see myself out.”
Campbell stepped backward like he was about to make a run for the door. I pointed at him. “Not another step. We’re not done with you.”
Campbell stopped in place. His eyes widened, and he visibly swallowed.
Grant opened a drawer and pulled out an envelope, handing it to me. The letter inside was written on a doctor’s stationery. “Because of this.”
I scanned the notes, trying to make sense of what I was reading. The doctor wanted to schedule more tests. They hadn’t figured out what was wrong with her.
The air escaped my lungs. “When did she tell you that she was sick?”
And why in the hell didn’t you tell me?
And here we go,Campbell said in his mind.
I lifted my gaze to Campbell. “You have a contact at the doctor’s office too?”
“He doesn’t, but I do,” Grant said as he stood from his seat. “One of Stella’s doctors was at a fundraiser that I was throwing for the hospital. Six months ago, he approached me and started discussing Stella’s condition. He wanted to know more of our family history to help with a diagnosis.”
“He thought you knew?”
“Yes. He thought I knew, but she never, not once, brought it up. I’d even called her the next day after the party just to see if she’d tell me. And she didn’t.”
I swallowed. “She knew you’d drop everything to help her.”
“Of course, I would. I’d move mountains for her. She’s my baby sister.”
“And when I arrived to do the monthly check on her. I’d planned to keep my distance and just take some pictures for Grant’s peace of mind. Everything seemed okay until the last day I was there. She’d spent most of the day at the gallery, and I’d left for a bite to eat. When I got back, she’d left, so I headed for her brownstone. Police cars were parked outside with flashing lights. Stella was standing on the sidewalk, visibly shaken, so I called in my favors to get the police report and came back as soon as I could. I thought you needed to know.”
“She’s sick, damn it, and now someone broke into her house, Ashton. I don’t know why she won’t confide in me and let me help her.”
Because they were apples from the same tree. Both were born with stubborn moxie. Grant had a head for money and business, and Stella’s focus was more on the creative side.
“I’m sure she thinks that you’ll show up and take over. It’s kind of what you do.” I tried my best to soften the blow.
“I do no such...” He started to deny and then stopped. “I would. I will. I need to.”
I handed back the pictures and report to Grant, and he shoved everything back into the folder and shut it. He rested his elbows on the desk, clasped his fingers together, and rested his chin on them.
