The wheelchair rolled forward on a downward grade, indicating they were approaching the car. Captain Lee set the brakes, and his unexpected touch made her stiffen, but she quickly forced herself to relax.

Avery came up on her other side and tapped her arm gently, as Sally had taught her. Jordan took it.

Jordan relied on them both, her legs still weak after the bed rest that had been broken only by the short walks in the hallway with Sally.

As she lowered herself into the car, Captain Lee put his hand gently on her head and guided her inside the vehicle. He tugged at the seat belt, handed the buckle to her, and she fumbled with it until it clicked into place.

“See you soon, Poe,” he said.

“I’m planning on it.”

As he closed her door, Avery slid behind the wheel, started the engine, and cranked the air-conditioning. “That was quite the show.” The bracelets on her wrist rattled, clinking against each other. She was waving goodbye.

“Are you smiling?” Jordan asked.

“Like a crazed fool.” She put the car in gear and slowly began to drive. “You do the same and throw in a wave.”

Jordan did as she was told. More cheers from the crowd.

“There’re so many officers here,” Avery said.

“It’s a good group of folks,” she said.

“But it sucks to be you, right?”

“No truer words.” She flipped her sunglasses up, shoving her hair back.

“You’re supposed to be careful of light.”

The sun’s warmth spread across her face, easing the tension. “I’ve got my eyes closed.”

“Not good enough. Seriously. Cover your eyes. I don’t need a return trip to the emergency room.”

Jordan slipped the glasses back on because the goal was to regain her vision and to stay out of the hospital. “Ten-four.”

The bucket seat was not overly comfortable, and the car smelled of french fries and coffee. “Is there anything to eat at the house?”

“I ordered a pizza last night. There’re a couple of slices left.”

Normally that would have appealed to her frugal mind. “How about we stop for a burger?”

“You like fast food.”

“If what’s happened to me doesn’t earn me a burger, fries, and a vanilla shake, I’m not sure what does.”

Avery did not speak for several seconds. “You’re being very chill about this. I would be freaking out.”

Jordan ran her finger over a piece of duct tape covering the peeling vinyl on the passenger door. Her fingernail dug into the sticky edge. “I’m freaking out.”

“You don’t look like it.”

She could go into the regular nightmares featuring Casey Andrews’s panicked gaze or the sensation that someone was in her room, watching her. But upsetting Avery would not help either of them. “I’m going to stay focused on getting better.”