“You sure?” The wheels were rolling, and she could tell by the change in sound that they were in the hallway.

“Very.”

The elevator doors dinged open, Sally asked a nurse to hold them, and the wheelchair rumbled over the ridge. When the doors closed, she sat straighter, finding low vision had not cured her agitation in confined spaces.

When the doors opened again, the air pressure shifted, and the room felt taller. “We’re in the lobby?”

“That’s exactly right. You’re starting to be aware of echolocation.”

“Sound waves are my new friend.” Doors slid open, and the hot spring air rushed toward her. She inhaled. It was her first lungful of fresh air in a week. Sally tapped Jordan on the shoulder. “I have sunglasses for you.”

“Why?” The last thing she wanted was to look as if she could not see well.

“Your eyes could still be sensitive to the light, and it’s a bright day.”

She fumbled with the glasses, which felt clunky and orthopedic, but she dutifully slipped them on, knowing she would do what she needed to get out of the hospital. At home, she would not follow any rules.

Savoring the heat soaking into her bones, she tipped her face toward the sky, imagining the vivid blue that came with low-humidity days.

Suddenly, loud clapping erupted. Several folks shouted, “Detective Poe,” and she realized she had an audience.

“There’re about two dozen officers here,” Sally said softly. “A few have balloons.”

“Balloons?” Jesus, she had wanted to slip out of the hospital, get home, and regroup.

“Smile,” Sally said.

Jordan twisted her lips into a grin, shifting toward the sound of the revelers. She could make out faint outlines of people but could not see any faces.

“Detective Poe.”

The spicy aftershave was a dead giveaway. “Captain Lee.”

“I’m changing my aftershave next time,” he said easily. He came up behind her wheelchair and asked Sally if he could drive.

It was a thing they did in their department. When an officer was injured, the guys and gals showed up to wish them well as they left the hospital. She had participated in her share but never once pictured herself on the receiving end.

“Captain, tell me there’re no reporters here.”

“A couple from the television station.”

“I’m the feel-good story of the hour.”

“Roll with it, Detective Poe.” He sounded like he was grinning, but his smiles always looked a little forced.

Greasy hair and the Darth Vader shades must have made quite the sight. Normally, she was not vain, but she also did not go out of her way to look goofy.

Someone approached her and in a loud voice said, “Detective Poe, it’s Detective Leo Santiago.”

“I’m good.”

“Glad to hear it.” Again, the loud voice.

“My sight is compromised,” she said. “I can hear fine.”

“Right,” he said quickly. “Sorry about that.”