“You went to return her handbag,” Jeremiah’s voice breaks in from the doorway. “What was I supposed to think?”
In many ways, he looks like his normal self. Fine-tailored suit, hat slightly askew, a smile on his lips. But there are shadows under his eyes, and in general he seems rather . . . wilted.
He strolls into the room, hands in his pockets. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion. Your nurse told me you were off visiting. She asked me to bring you back upstairs, actually.” He nods at me. “Nice to see you awake, Miss Sail.” His gaze flits to Mariano. “Detective.”
“Mr. Crane.”
Jeremiah’s gaze settles on me again. “How are you feeling?”
“Like one big bandage.”
“You’re interrupting me, Jeremiah.” Emma’s tone is teasing. “And I can’t go back upstairs until I’ve told Piper the whole story.”
Jeremiah makes a sweeping motion with his hand, indicative of “go on,” and perches on the empty cot beside mine.
“So I told Jeremiah as much of what happened as I could, and then I must have blacked out or something. Because when I woke up, Jeremiah was in the house, calling for me.”
“Your dog is worthless, by the way,” Jeremiah says to me. “He just cowered behind a chair until Mariano showed up.”
I think of the surprise and pain on Alana’s face when Sidekick took hold of her ankle. “He’s not worthless.”
“We found Mariano’s card in your handbag and called him.” Emma leans her head against the edge of her wheelchair, her eyes noticeably heavier than they were twenty minutes ago, when the nurse brought her down. “And then we called Dr. LeVine over, since I was bleeding quite a bit. I feel terrible about your father’s rug.”
“Emma, I promise we do not care at all about the rug.”
“We’ll replace it.”
I roll my eyes. “My brother’s crazy girlfriend shot you. There is no need to replace the rug that you bled on in the process.”
She yawns. “I don’t remember much after Dr. LeVine came over.”
“He stopped the bleeding, and then we came into the hospital for surgery.” Jeremiah has his hat in his hands, and he rotates it clockwise. Then counterclockwise. “Mariano and his partner were at the house before we left, trying to get a hold of your brother or your housekeeper.”
“It was a very long hour before Nick finally came home.” Mariano’s eyes hold traces of remembered panic. “And an even longer few hours before Johnny called.”
Nick had hardly left the hospital these last few days. Guilt over letting Alana into our lives seems to be eating him up, no matter how many times I’ve told him he isn’t responsible for her actions.
“She deceived us all, Nick,” I had told him. “I had my doubts about her, sure, but I never thought she was this.”
“I’m your big brother.” Tears filled his eyes—so blue, like Father’s. “What more important job do I have than to protect you?”
No matter what I say, he seems unwilling to be comforted. Always so stubborn.
“So, she’s locked up now? Alana?” Jeremiah’s question draws me back to the conversation.
“She is.” Mariano’s voice is brusque—all business. “No bail.”
“What do you think will happen to her?”
Mariano smiles, allowing a beat of silence. “No comment, Mr. Crane.”
Jeremiah’s returned smile lacks its usual luster. “You can’t blame a newspaper man for trying.” He glances at Emma, whose eyes are closed. “I had better get her back upstairs in bed.”
“I’m only resting my eyes,” Emma says. “I don’t sleep well at night.”
I shudder. Do I ever understand that. “Neither do I.”
Mariano’s hand is warm on mine. “You’re safe, Piper. I promise.”
But it seems impossible that I’ll ever feel that way again.
“We’ll see you later.” Jeremiah grips the back of Emma’s wheelchair. “Any idea when you’ll be released?”
“Hopefully tomorrow. But even then, it sounds like I won’t be able to move from the couch.”
Mariano huffs. “Do you want your broken ribs to heal properly, or no?”
“Oh, did you see the article in the paper on Robbie?” Emma smiles drowsily. “Didn’t he look handsome?”
“I did. Very well written.” I look to Jeremiah. “It’s as if somebody had an in with Mr. Thomas.”
Jeremiah barely even smiles at the compliment.
“One of the largest raids ever.” Even in her sleepy state, Emma beams with pride. “I thought I would fall over from shock when I learned he had known Matthew in Kansas City. Or Jacob, I guess. What are we supposed to call him?”
My head had been spinning over that knowledge too. That Robbie had been the agent who infiltrated the Burk family. That his raid in Kansas City had set all this in motion. It’s dangerous for me to think on it too long. I like Robbie. I don’t want to feel resentful toward him.