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worrisome.”
    “No, oh . . . no.” Kristi’s eyes widened, the color draining from her face.
    “His vital signs are good,” Leigh assured her quickly. “But we won’t know for several days—perhaps weeks—if there will be any actual damage to his organs. In order to be safe, his treatment will need to be aggressive and start immediately. The specialist will explain his plans to you this afternoon.” She smiled. “He’s not only an excellent doctor; he’s very, very kind and caring. Your baby will be in good hands, Kristi.”
    “And Abby?” she asked, tears welling. “Is she okay?”
    “Yes. Both you and your daughter had normal carboxyhemoglobin levels and your chest X-rays are good.” Leigh’s heart tugged as a tear slid down Kristi’s face and splashed onto the stuffed pony in her daughter’s arms. “But we’ll want to keep you both in the hospital a day or two for observation.”
    Riley nodded. “We think we’ll be able to have you all in the same room. And I’d be happy to get you a phone or make some calls for you. Family, pastor?”
    “No. No family. And I’m new at my church.” Kristi lifted her chin as if willing them to understand. “I’ve been trying so hard to make a fresh start. To take care of my children. That’s why I took the extra job on nights; that’s why I wasn’t there last night when . . .” Her words dissolved into a painful moan. “Is Child Crisis going to take my children away?” She glanced toward the door, her body trembling. “Where’s Officer Nick? Maybe he’ll talk to her. He knows me; he knows how hard I’ve been trying. I haven’t seen my ex in months. There’s no drug deals going on in our apartment. Please get Officer Nick. He’s the only one I trust.” Tears gathered again. “This can’t be happening.”
    “I’ll get him,” Leigh said as Riley bent low to comfort the young mother. Leigh had trusted Nick too, but it hadn’t worked out. And if she hadn’t had the miscarriage, she could have been a single mother herself. Or would a baby have changed things? She’d never know now. “I’ll get him for you,” she said again over the lonely and heartbreaking sound of Kristi Johnson’s crying.
    +++
    “You mean someone broke in there?” Nick asked, leaning against the door of his car and holding the cell phone to his ear. “Did you check with the landlord? I wouldn’t put it past him to cause problems.”
    “Someone tossed it, big-time,” Colton said. “Busted the medicine cabinet clean off its hinges, cleaned it out, went through her closet and then threw her underwear all over the floor. Even emptied her refrigerator. Doubt the landlord would tear things up. He doesn’t want to spend a dime more than he has to on that building. The only thing keeping those moldy walls up is a million cockroaches holding hands.”
    “Was the door forced open?”
    “No. Landlord swears he locked it, but then he doesn’t look like Mr. Responsible to me. Anyway, that young lady’s not going to be happy when she goes back there. Her kids okay?”
    “I’m not sure yet,” Nick said, thinking that he’d bet the landlord wouldn’t object if he went into the apartment, put things back in order. He caught a glimpse of Leigh heading past the visitors’ gazebo and toward him. His throat tightened. “Doctor’s coming now. I’ll check with you later, Colton. Thanks for the heads-up.” He closed the phone and slid it into his pocket as she arrived beside him. She looked worn-out.
    “Cappy said you were out here,” she said, managing somehow not to look him directly in the eyes. “He was busy, so I thought I’d come out here myself.” She shook her head, and a strand of her hair snagged across her lips. He stopped himself from reaching out to brush it away. “My patient’s asking for you,” she said, swiping at the errant strands. “Kristi Johnson. Her baby’s blood shows the effects of the exposure, so we’re keeping him. She and her