‘That’s all I’m asking, at least for the moment,’ she said, feeling a weight lifted now that she understood where her teammate’s head had been. She followed him out the door. ‘See you tomorrow.’

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Friday, October 11

Grace’s brushed and darkened brows rose into perfect arches when she answered the door to Alyssa and Cord Friday afternoon.

‘Addis is asleep upstairs, so if you need to speak with her again, it’ll have to wait,’ Grace said, inviting them inside.

‘We’re actually here to see you if you have a few minutes.’

Grace studied their faces. ‘Of course. Would either of you like some coffee?’ She smiled. ‘Never mind. I know you would, Alyssa. Cord, would you?’

‘No, thank you.’

‘Suit yourself.’ She set one mug in front of Alyssa before taking a seat at the kitchen table. ‘Sugar is on the counter behind you, and the creamer’s in the fridge – not that you need any of that, unless you’ve switched things up recently.’

‘If I remember correctly, you take yours the same way.’

Grace lifted her mug to ‘salute’ Alyssa. ‘So, what’s going on?’

‘We just finished visiting Elizabeth Monroe,’ Alyssa began. ‘Her status has been upgraded to stable and she’s been moved to a private room. When we left, the neighbor who’s been watching her son had just brought him in to visit.’ Alyssa smiled as she remembered how Brandon, his Superman cape flying out behind him, had raced into the room just as they were finishing up, scooting between Alyssa and Cord instead of around them before clamoring onto the bed amidst Tessa’s cries of, ‘Be careful.’

Unmindful of her stitches and bruises, Elizabeth had clasped her son to her chest, weeping into his hair as she stroked his back, rocking him back and forth. With watery eyes, she’d peered up at Alyssa and Cord, choking out, ‘I knew he wouldn’t abandon us.’

Alyssa had smiled softly. ‘Sometimes finding the truth takes a little more time, but I’m glad you were able to get your answers, that you never gave up on what you knew in your heart was the truth.’

It was then that Brandon had softly patted his mom’s cheek to turn her attention back to him. With his chest puffed out, he’d poked himself and said, ‘I let the police girl borrow my magnifying glass so she could catch the bad guy who hurt you.’

Love shimmering through her tears, Elizabeth had pulled her son down for another hug, whispering, ‘Thank you. That was very thoughtful of you, my brave boy.’ Though she still couldn’t recall meeting Sandra the night of her attack, she had a fuzzy recollection of Sandra calling to ask a few more questions. Even so, Elizabeth had been stunned when she’d learned the officer’s real identity was actually Hayden’s friend, Alexandra Greene.