I shake the thought away. For the most part, things are slowing down. That doesn’t mean we’re safe. I clasp Tess’s elbow. “Come on. I need to get you and Declan back to the office.”
I move them out and away, holding tight to Tess while keeping tabs on Declan. It’s not until we reach the DA’s office that she notices my shredded hands.
She screams, pointing at them. “Oh, God. You’re bleeding too!”
Before I can tell her I’m fine, she runs out like the building’s on fire. “I don’t think she’s good with blood,” I say to Declan.
“Not even a little bit.” He gives me a long, hard look. “How’d it go?” he asks.
I shrug. “Shitty. But trial’s over. Jury came back quick due to the preponderance of evidence. Sentencing was today, which is why everyone lost it. Judge Bronson’s all freed up to hear the Montenegro case. You should get your trial date soon.”
He ignores my last comment. “Was Joey there?”
Although I keep my face neutral, the muscles of my neck tighten like a noose. “Yup. All week. He was led out by his family when things got heated following the sentencing.”
“Did you talk to him?”
“No. Twice I tried to approach him. Both times he rolled away from me in his wheelchair.”
“He needs time, Curran.”
“Time won’t give him back the use of his legs.”
The door crashes open, and Tess stumbles into the room with a first aid kit clutched in her arms. “Declan, Detective Wendt needs to see you in the interrogation room. They arrested the gumad and are speaking to her now. They said they have enough for a search and seizure, but need to conference with you. I’ll get started on the paperwork as soon as I see to Officer O’Brien.”
For the first time since he started on this case, my brother hesitates. And it really pisses me off. “Go,” I snap. “This is the chance you’ve been waiting for.”
He snags his jacket and hurries out, but not before shooting me one last glance.
Tess cracks open the kit and immediately sprays my knuckles with white foam. It sizzles my raw flesh, burning its way down to the bone. I jump and shake out my hands. “What the hell is that?”
“Antiseptic.” She sprays me again, this time with more.
“Shit, are you sure?” My skin is on fire.
“Of course I’m sure,” she says. She glances at the bottle, her eyes widening. “Oh, no. No, no, no. Wash your hands—Jesus Christ, wash your hands now!”
“It’s not antiseptic?”
She falls all over herself, trying to lead me to the sink tucked in the corner of Declan’s office. The sink’s tiny; my scorching hands barely fit. In her haste, Tess blasts the water, soaking us both.
“Not hot—cold—cold, damnit!”
“I’m trying!” She fumbles with the faucets, completely flustered. “Is that better?” She reaches for the soap and lathers me up.
I yank my hands back. “It was until you added soap!”
She thrusts them back under the water. “Trust me, you need soap!” She reaches for more, her body trembling.
“What did you spray on my hands?” She doesn’t answer, continuing her task and averting her gaze. “Tess, what the hell did you spray me with?”
She drops her hands to her sides. “Something that shouldn’t have been in there. I borrowed the kit from one of the secretaries. Had I known she would fill it with random medication I never would have—”
“What did you spray me with?” I growl.
She sighs with defeat. “Wart remover.”
“Wart remover?”
She adjusts her spot-covered glasses. “Watch your tone, Officer.”
“Watch my tone? You sprayed me with wart remover!”
“I was trying to help—”
“I don’t have goddamn warts!”
She lifts her chin. “Well, I should hope not,” she says, her face heating.
Oh, I see….
I turn off the water and reach for the paper towels. My skin continues to throb, but I don’t let it show, my attention now solely on her.