Alexa handed Damian back to Hawk. He looked scared and unsure as he took the baby back and cradled him against his chest.

 

“Do you have any baby medicine to give him?” she asked.

 

“I have something, but I think it’s only for adults. I can’t give him that, right?” He looked into the baby’s eyes, then back at her. “Should I call a doctor or something? I don’t really know too much about babies, honestly.”

 

“I can take a look for you. I’m no doctor myself, but I’ve been around kids plenty.”

 

He nodded and she followed him into the house. This was perfect. He was distracted and wouldn’t be paying much attention to what she was doing. She could get a look around inside and maybe get a bit of information. And if nothing else, she was earning his trust and helping him out.

 

He took her to the bathroom down the hall and pointed to the medicine cabinet. She checked through it, looking at every bottle carefully. He had some Tylenol, but it wasn’t the kind made for babies so young. Nothing else in there would work.

 

“I don’t see anything that you can give him,” she told him. “I can run out and get something if you like.”

 

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”

 

“Well, you can’t take him out like that. Either let me go get something for him, or I’ll watch him while you go get some medicine.”

 

He seemed to consider for a moment. “I don’t think I’d even know what to get.”

 

“That settles it, then. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll be right back.”

 

“Hang on.” He reached back to pull out his wallet and opened it with one hand. Then he pulled out a ten-dollar bill. “Would that be enough?”

 

“Plenty.” She folded the bill into her pocket. “Do you need anything else while I’m at the store?”

 

“Just whatever he’ll need.”

 

“Okay. I’ll be back soon.”

 

Damian was still crying and rubbing his eyes as she walked out back and returned to her house. She found her purse and got in her car, then drove to the closest store. She found the baby Tylenol and drove straight back to his house.

 

She knocked and heard Damian crying before he even opened the door.

 

“Thank you,” he said. “I think he’s getting worse.”

 

Alexa dropped her purse by the front door and followed Hawk to where Damian was lying on the floor on a blanket. A toy was by his head, but he paid it no attention.

 

She took out the package and opened it, then poured the dose. “Want to sit him up and we can give it to him?”

 

Hawk picked Damian up and held his hands as Alexa slowly poured the medicine into his mouth. Damian made a face and spit some out, but swallowed most of it. He licked his lips a few times and blinked up at Alexa, a look of curiosity on his face – but at least he’d stopped crying.

 

“I think he likes it,” she said.

 

Hawk picked up the bottle and looked at it. “I’m sure the grape flavoring helped. Hopefully that means I’ll be able to give it to him myself later. I don’t think I could have managed this time alone.”

 

“Well…” She thought quickly. This couldn’t sound like she was too eager, but like she was the best new neighbor ever. “I can stay and help you. I have a lot of experience with sick babies.”

 

“You do?”

 

She nodded. “I was homeschooled. I told you that I babysat a lot of the kids in my neighborhood. Well, since I was home all day, many times when a parent had to work, they would leave the sick kid with me.”

 

He raised an eyebrow. “Why would a parent do that?”

 

“I didn’t grow up in the best neighborhood. For some people, missing a day of work could mean losing their job or not being able to pay the bills. Having me around, who they knew and trusted… made sense I guess. And they usually paid me a little something, so I didn’t mind.”

 

“I appreciate your offer, but I can’t let you do that.”

 

“I only live next door. It’s not like I’m far from home, and it’s no bother at all. I work from home. And, I don’t mean to sound mean or anything, but you don’t seem like the most confident person when it comes to sick babies.”

 

He looked down and closed his eyes. “I’m not,” he said softly. “I hoped it wasn’t that obvious. He’s not my kid. He’s my nephew. I guess I didn’t have the time to get used to a baby or read all the books or take classes or whatever new parents do to prepare. I woke up one day and boom, there he was.”

 

He hadn’t specifically said his brother was dead, and this was no time to try to get him talking. He had to trust her first. Maybe her not asking would help secure that trust. She put her hand on his shoulder.

 

“It’s okay. Even new parents are often not well prepared. And all parents feel like they don’t have a clue sometimes. It’s normal. I’m going to spend the night and help you. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

 

He gave her a crooked, humorless smile. “Thanks. If you want to sell your house immediately to get away from the loud baby and clueless bachelor, I understand.”

 

She forced a laugh. “I don’t have a problem with either of those.”

 

“You should also know I have a motorcycle. It’s loud. Might wake you up in the middle of the night sometimes. Just warning you.” He gave her a wink.

 

She leaned in and said conspiratorially, “I kinda have a thing for bikes and for bikers.”

 

He looked her over, then bounced Damian twice. He’d been quiet for several minutes now. “What should we do with this little devil?”

 

She ran her fingers over Damian’s forehead and he closed his eyes in contentment. “I’d say maybe a warm bath, then off to bed.”

 

She followed him back to the bathroom and they bathed the baby together. Damian had periods of being fussy on and off, but seemed to be feeling better overall. His fever had come down some by the time they got him into bed. He did wake up several times in the night, just wanting to be held. Alexa fell asleep in the glider in Damian’s room, cradling Damian to her chest while Hawk slept in his bed.

 

When the baby stirred and woke her up, she smelled eggs and bacon cooking.

 

“Good morning, Damian,” she said.

 

She stood with him to stretch, then smelled what he’d been cooking in his diaper. She laid him on the changing table and got him cleaned up and into a fresh diaper before finding a clean outfit. When she brought the baby out to the kitchen, Hawk was there and Damian let out a squeal when he saw him.

 

Hawk turned and smiled. “I guess he’s feeling better?”

 

“I’d say so. He doesn’t feel as warm. I’d maybe give him more baby Tylenol just to be sure, though.”

 

He handed her a warm bottle. “Would you mind?”

 

“Of course not.” Alexa sat and fed Damian while Hawk finished up their breakfast. He set a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast in front of her, then sat across from her at the table.

 

“You are a godsend,” he said. “You weren’t kidding about being good with kids.”

 

“It’s in my nature to care for people, I guess.” And to hunt down their murderers until they’re brought to justice, she resisted adding. Caring for Damian felt like doing something for Hugh, for the man she had failed to find proper closure. It couldn’t really make up for him being gone, but it made her feel good doing it. And it brought her closer to Hawk, and hopefully, to more answers.

 

“I do have a really huge favor to ask of you. And if you can’t, that’s okay.”

 

“Sure thing.”

 

“I can’t send him to his babysitters today,” he said. “She watches other kids in a daycare in her house and she has this rule about fevers. But I have a lot of cars to repo today. Is there any way you could stay with him?”

 

“I’d be happy to. Like I said, I work from home, so I’ll just grab my laptop from next door and work when he naps.”

 

“Are you sure that won’t mess up your day or keep you from working?”

 

“I’m my own boss. And I give myself permission.”

 

“You might just be the best neighbor on the planet,” he said. “I will absolutely give you proper compensation.”

 

“Oh no.” She waved him off. “You made me breakfast and got me out of the house. That’s more than I could have asked for.”

 

He chuckled. “Okay. I’m paying you something, though. Won’t take no for an answer.”

 

She smiled. She’d never planned on getting this close to Hawk, but it could help her find what she was looking for. Although now she wondered just how much she would find. She couldn’t ignore the little flutter in her chest when he looked at her. But if he was the criminal his record said he was, she had to keep her distance. Focus on Hugh’s murder and the baby, and that was it. Ignore the way his voice sent chills through her or the way watching him with his nephew warmed her heart. If she ignored all that until she knew for sure, then she’d be fine.