Ripped From the Pages

“He wishes to protect you from yourself.”

 

 

“Yes. Even though he’s perfectly happy putting himself in danger to find the answers.”

 

“In truth, he does this best when you are by his side.”

 

I had to smile. Returning to the city right now had never really been an option anyway, I told myself. And to tell the truth, I wouldn’t have wanted to leave until Dharma was once again its peaceful, normal self. But having Robson call it a personal favor pretty much sealed my decision.

 

“I’ll stay,” I said. “But I’m afraid you might have to answer to Derek if anything happens.”

 

He pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Perhaps we ought to keep this between ourselves for now.”

 

“Good idea,” I said with a laugh.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Thirteen

 

 

 

 

Despite my gauze-enshrouded head, I felt well enough the next morning to shower carefully and dress for the day. Over orange juice, a soft-boiled egg, and toast, Derek broke the news that Trudy remained in a coma. “But the doctors are hopeful she’ll emerge within the next twenty-four hours.”

 

“I pray they’re right.” I needed to ask a totally dumb question that had kept me awake for at least an hour in the middle of the night. “Did the vase break when the killer hit my head?”

 

Derek smiled in sympathy. “No. Whoever swung it wasn’t able to do permanent damage to either your head or the vase itself.”

 

“Small favors,” I whispered. I would take them wherever I could find them. “I imagined I’d broken a Ming vase with my head.”

 

“If it had been a Ming, you probably would’ve broken it. But sadly, it was harder than your delicate little head.”

 

I chuckled. I finished my egg and toast, but lingered over my juice. “I feel like I’ve been out of it for a week. Is there any news? Was someone arrested? Have you seen Elizabeth? How’s Trudy doing? Is Amelia being autopsied?”

 

“It all happened yesterday, so you haven’t missed much.” Derek smiled but turned somber as he began to answer my questions. “Amelia’s autopsy is being performed today. I don’t expect any grand revelations. And no one’s been arrested. The detectives are questioning everyone they can find.”

 

“Do they want to talk to me?”

 

“I called Detective Parrish to relate everything you told me yesterday, but they’ll want to hear it from you eventually. I assured her that we would contact them as soon as you’re up to it.”

 

“Any other updates on Trudy’s condition?”

 

“As of last night at eight o’clock, there was no change. I’ll call Robson after breakfast and find out how she’s coming along.”

 

There was no more news to report, so we read the paper and finished the last bits of breakfast in amiable silence. Afterward, I stayed seated at the table while Derek washed the dishes, dried them, and put them away. I knew he had to leave in a little while to chaperone the odious Noland Garrity into the caves in order to view the artwork once again.

 

“I’m not completely incapacitated,” I insisted, trying not to sound too whiny. “I could go with you.”

 

He gave me a look over his shoulder, then shut off the water and returned to the table. “Darling, less than twenty-four hours ago you were coshed in the head and came away with a bloody bad gash and a concussion. One woman is dead and the other is in a coma. The only reason you escaped a hospital stay is because I swore I would wake you up every two hours to make sure you weren’t seeing double and slurring your words. So, while the doctor has given you a clean bill of health, I think you should stay close to home today. Rest. Take a nap, read a book.”

 

“Sounds so boring.”

 

“You’d honestly rather spend the day with Noland Garrity?”

 

“Ugh. Maybe you’re right. But I hate knowing you’ll have to deal with him alone.”

 

“So do I.”

 

“Can’t we make him go away?”

 

He laughed and folded the dish towel, hanging it on the small rack under the sink. “It won’t be a pleasant day, but I’ll survive him.”

 

“I hope so. I’ll miss you if you go to jail for throttling him.”

 

He chuckled. “I won’t throttle him, I promise.”

 

I felt a sudden throbbing and rubbed my head. “I was thinking I might have lunch with China, but I’d better not push it yet.” Saying it out loud reminded me of my last lunch in town. “And you didn’t say whether anyone’s heard from Elizabeth yet.”

 

Derek scowled. “I don’t know. I’ll give Detective Parrish a call to see if she’s heard anything.”

 

“You don’t think she could’ve . . .”

 

He gazed at me for a long moment. “I don’t, no. But it’s suspicious, her being gone like this.”

 

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