Jada ran to her mother. Karah winced as she drew her daughter to her breast. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.” Over the top of Jada’s head, Karah saw Coop, and her face collapsed. “I wrecked your car, Coop. After everything you’ve done for me.”

“Don’t worry about the car,” Coop said. “As long as you’re okay.”

Karah slipped her hand into Jada’s hair. “I should never have taken it. I thought I was being so careful.”

“Cars can be replaced,” Coop said. “You can’t.”

The officers were doing their best to keep their professional cool with Cooper Graham in the room. The taller of the two turned to him. “She said you gave her permission to take your car?”

Coop nodded. “Hers wouldn’t start, and I was going to be at my club all night, so I didn’t need it.”

“My professor invited some of us to her house up in Wadsworth,” Karah said, “and I really wanted to go. If only I’d stayed home.” She gazed at Coop again. “I’m sorry.”

“No more apologies. This is why I have insurance.”

“Tell us again what you remember,” the second officer said.

“The road was dark, and there wasn’t much traffic.” Karah looked over at Coop. “I wasn’t speeding. I swear.”

“I’ve seen you drive,” Coop said with a forced smile. “I believe you.”

“I saw headlights behind me, but I didn’t pay much attention. It happened so fast. The headlights came closer, and I slowed down so the driver could pass. He pulled out, and— He must have turned off his lights because everything went dark. His car swerved and hit the side of the Audi. Hit hard. I... I lost control. I skidded and hit something. What did I hit?”

“A utility pole,” the taller cop said.

Karah’s hand went to her cheek. “Whoever hit me didn’t even stop to see if I was okay.”

Piper and Coop exchanged glances, then Piper moved closer to the bed. “You said ‘he.’ Did you get a look at the driver?”

“No. I don’t know for sure it was a man. That’s a country road, and there aren’t any streetlights. It was too dark to see anything.”

Piper glanced over at Coop, who threw her a keep-your-mouth shut glare in return. The police needed to know about the attacks on him, but she was smarter now than she’d been a few days ago, and she’d talk to him first.

The police continued to question Karah, but other than a vague sense that the car was large—maybe even a truck—she didn’t know more.

She wouldn’t be released from the hospital until the next day, and Piper told her she’d sleep at their place tonight to be with Jada.