“What?” asked Celia, who was a nurse.

“It’s nothing,” Skip said, his annoyance clear. “Just a weird ripple of some sort.”

“A weird ripple that you can feel?” Celia asked.

“I don’t know if I’m feeling it or dreaming it or what.”

“And when were you going to tell me this?” his wife asked, hands on hips.

“Soon.”

Celia scowled at him, but Sam knew she had to be as excited as Sam was. No one was more devoted to her dad than Celia.

“Will you call the doctor?” Sam asked her.

“Right away.”

“Let me know what they say.”

“Of course.”

Sam leaned over to give her dad another kiss. “Do what Celia tells you to, got me?”

“Yeah, yeah. Go to work and catch me a killer.”

Sam squeezed Celia’s arm on the way by. Wouldn’t it be something if, after all this time, her dad regained some feeling in his paralyzed limbs? The idea of it was too tantalizing to entertain. Sam forced herself to put it aside until they knew more so she could focus on all the other more pressing matters at hand.

Anxious to hear how Scotty had fared at school, Sam took a call from Shelby. “How’d it go?”

“Perfectly fine. He ran into Jonah going in and was smiling by the time he got to the door.”

“Oh, good. That’s a relief. Thanks for taking him.”

“No problem. I’ll be there when he gets out.”

“Thanks a million.”

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. It’s going to be a paperwork headache more than anything. Like I didn’t already have enough to do today.”

“Hang in there. Call if you need anything.”

“Hey, Tinker Bell?”

“Yes?”

“It’s really great having you around, except for the folding issue, that is.”

Shelby’s delicate laughter brought a smile to Sam’s face. “Gee, thanks, boss. I’m enjoying the job very much. Thank you for trusting me with your home and your darling son.”

“I’m glad it’s working out. I’m at HQ.” Sam’s gaze landed on Avery Hill, dapper as always as he got out of his car and waited for her to park. “I’ll talk at you later.”

“Have a good day.”

“You too.” Sam got out of the car and approached Hill. “You’re back.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth Sam felt like an idiot for stating the obvious.

“So I am.”

“And?”

“Marco’s not our guy. He’s been in the hospital for the last week with an emergency appendectomy gone bad.”

“Why didn’t Carmen tell us that?”

“She probably didn’t know. His name was mud in her house, and Marco said he asked his parents not to further upset her by telling her he’s been ill.”

“I’m sorry you wasted your time going there.”