“Convenient indeed,” Gabriel mused under his breath.
“Isn’t it?” she asked, her eyes wide and clear and focused exclusively on Gabriel. “He insists he couldn’t bear my absence from Varanasi for more than a few days, so he’s flying out to meet me in San Francisco. I’ve promised him a trip down the coast after a few days in the city.”
“Sounds like a delightful trip,” Gabriel murmured, his gaze never leaving hers.
Shiva laughed, a pure, joyful sound. Was it Gabriel’s attentions that made her so happy? I couldn’t blame her for that. “Yes, it should be fun. But first things first. I’ll arrange a meeting with all of you and Rajiv and you’ll see that he’s innocent. Will next Saturday be soon enough?”
I looked up at Derek. “Is that soon enough?”
“It’s perfect,” Derek murmured as one eyebrow arched cynically. “Please convey our thanks to him for obliging us.”
Chapter 13
I wasn’t proud of it, but while cleaning up in the kitchen, I noticed Robin heading toward the bathroom. So I followed her. We met at the bathroom door. “I’m going in there with you.”
“That’s just weird, Brooklyn.”
“I want to talk to you.”
She tried to stare me down but finally gave up. “A girl can’t get any privacy around here.”
I closed the door and locked it. “We used to share this bathroom, remember?”
“Yeah. You, me, and your three sisters.”
“Crazy,” I admitted. “I don’t know how you survived.”
“It was cozy. I loved living here with you guys.”
I sat on the edge of the tub. “It was pretty much the best time ever for me.”
“Yeah.” Standing in front of the mirror, she brushed her hair with her fingers. “I don’t care what you think of me, Brooklyn. I’m just not ready to go back yet.”
“For goodness’ sake, Robin, you were attacked and terrorized. I don’t blame you for not wanting to go back. We only came up here because I needed your help and you weren’t answering the phone. We were worried.”
“Sorry. I didn’t think about you guys being worried. I was with Austin and . . .” She met my gaze in the mirror. “So, did you get all your questions answered?”
“I’ll probably have a million more by the time I get home, but Derek and I will work it out. I’m looking forward to grilling Rajiv. I hope he’ll provide more insights.”
“I hope so, too.”
I stretched my legs out and crossed my ankles. “So what do you think you’ll do next?”
“I’m staying up here for a few more days.”
“That’s a good idea,” I admitted. “I can tell you’re happier here than you were in the city.”
“I am. Austin is . . . awesome.” Her smile softened. “So fierce and protective. I love the way he . . .”
I squinched up my face and covered my ears. There are some things a sister should never find out about her brother. “I don’t want to hear the details.”
She laughed. “Fine. I’m not quite ready to share them anyway.”
“I appreciate that.” I scooted to the end of the tub and leaned back against the tile wall. “You still worry me, though.”
“Why? I’ll be fine.” She paused as if thinking about what she had just said, and then nodded decisively. Maybe she was finally coming back to herself. I was glad to see it. Still, teasing your best friend is practically in the job description.
“I’m just afraid you’ll start wearing overalls and, you know, flannel.”
She cringed. “Not while I have a breath left in me.”
“You say that now, Robin, but you went hiking and camping.”
“Yeah,” she said, smiling. “Weird.” As she spoke, she touched the skin around her eye experimentally.
“Does it still hurt?”
“It twinges every so often, but it feels much better. It’s just ugly.”
“Not so much anymore.” But I scowled at the memory of crazy Galina. “I can’t believe we took that lunatic woman down. I think she was on a mission to kill.”
Robin shuddered. “I hope she’s still in jail.”
“She’d better be. I’ll call to make sure when I get back to town.” I got up and studied her black eye more closely. “It definitely looks a lot better.”
“Austin got some concoction from your mom and it really helped.”
“Uh-oh. Was it green?”
“Yeah, why?”
I shivered. “Parsley.”
“Oh, right.” She pulled a tube of pink lip gloss from her purse and squeezed a small amount onto her lips. “Well, I hate to tell you, but it worked great.”
“Stranger than fiction,” I said, and held out my finger for a dab of her lip gloss. She complied, and I rubbed it on my lips as I returned to my perch on the tub’s edge. “So what are you going to do about your mother?”