“Thanks.”
“What are the odds?” she asked him.
“Pretty much zilch, but you never know. Maybe it gets lodged in a little pocket, and just gets compressed instead of shredded.”
“Good luck with that.” She started back to the car.
“Ten minutes sooner, I could’ve jammed the sucker, and we’d have it whole.”
She nodded as she climbed into the car because that had already struck her as a very interesting point.
Heading toward the hospital, she used her wrist unit to shoot off a quick text to Roarke:
Got a little delayed. I’m heading toward the hospital to check on Daphne Strazza. Home after that. I’ve got a long night coming—sorry.
Even as she asked herself if she was taking time here better spent elsewhere, she navigated the now-familiar route to Daphne’s room. She found her—white pajamas and robe, hair groomed—standing with Del Nobel.
“Lieutenant. Jacko’s keeps sending food. I’m trying to convince Dr. Nobel to take a share of today’s chicken Alfredo. It’s wonderful.”
“You look good. Stronger.”
“The nurse—Rhoda—she convinced me to, well, clean up a little. I do feel better. They said I can leave tomorrow, but—” She pressed her lips together, looked pleadingly at Del.
“I can stretch it another day, but it’d be good for you to get out of here.”
“I just don’t know where … My husband’s lawyer came by to see me. He was very, very kind. He gave me a debit card, for expenses until … until everything’s settled. I just can’t go back to that house. I just can’t go back there.”
As if her legs had given out, she sat.
“I can sell the house whenever Mr. Wythe says I can do that, but I can’t go back there.”
“Do you remember anything else?”
Daphne shook her head, but her fingers twisted together, and her eyes cut away.
“Do you remember walking outside?”
The fingers untwisted. Daphne looked at Eve. “No. I don’t. Not even like a dream. Dr. Mira said she’d come here tomorrow. If I’m not here—”
“She’ll come wherever you are,” Eve told her. “Mr. Wythe told me you’re allowed to get a hotel, and whatever you need. I can get you a room at the Palace. I can make sure you’re safe and secure there.”
“But … will you come there?” she asked Del. “If I have to go, will you come there and talk to me?”
“I can do that.”
“I’m not sure. I just don’t know what … What should I do?”
Before he could answer, Eve caught the sound of raised voices outside the door. She stepped back, opened it to see the on-duty uniform blocking a furious woman in a long red coat with a huge bag slung over her shoulder.
“You are not going to stop me from seeing my sister. Nobody is going to—”
“Officer. She’s clear.”
Tish shoved past the uniform, shouldered by Eve, then stopped dead, dropped the bag on the floor with a thump.
“Daphne.”
Daphne pushed to her feet, froze. “Tish.”
“Daph.” Tish flew across the room, threw her arms around the pale, rigid Daphne. “Oh, Daph, Daph, Daph.”
“How did you— Why are you—”
“Why?” Tish pulled back an inch. “Don’t be an idiot. Daph,” she said more gently, cupping her sister’s face in her hands. “It’s going to be all right now.” When Daphne just shook her head, Tish gripped tighter. “Yes, it is. I swear, it is. Mom and Dad will be here tomorrow. They couldn’t get a flight out any sooner because of the blizzard, but—”
“No!” Daphne struggled free and looked, to Eve’s eyes, absolutely terrified. “They’re not supposed to come. You’re not supposed to be here.”
“Why the hell not?”
“He said. You need to go. You need to go now. He’ll be so angry. He’ll be furious if he knows you’re here.”
“He’s dead,” Tish said flatly, laying her hands on Daphne’s face again when Daphne flinched. “He’s dead, Daphne, so that’s done. It’s done, and you’re not pushing me away. You’re not pushing us away again. Daphne, we’re your family.”
Tears swirled into Daphne’s eyes, spilled over. And broke with sobs as she clung to Tish.
“It’s all going to be okay,” Tish murmured. “I promise. I’m here now. I’m here.”