He grimaced. “Don’t even go there. Anyway, Detective Portia Laurent put two and two together and found Vlad, er, Preston’s lair under an old hotel. Ariel’s body was there, on ice, as was another woman, a stripper from New Orleans by the name of Karen Lee Williams, whose stage name was Bodiluscious.”

“Does everyone have an aka?”

“At least one,” Jay said with a smile, then explained to her about Mai Kwan and the FBI, and the camera in her apartment. It was Mai they’d chased that night because she hadn’t wanted to reveal her true identity.

Kristi absorbed this with disbelief. “I knew that Hiram was a first-class creep, but Mai…FBI…” She shook her head and started to smile, but then saw Jay’s taut expression. “What aren’t you telling me?” she asked, her smile disappearing. When he didn’t immediately respond, she urged, “Jay?”

“It’s your dad.”

Her heart froze.

“He’s in a hospital in New Orleans. Back injury.”

“Back injury?” she repeated slowly, remembering how many times she’s seen his face turn from color to black and white.

“He’s going to be okay.”

“You’re sure?” Dear God, no…she couldn’t imagine life without her father. She held Jay’s hand in a death grip.

“I think so.” But he was hedging; she saw it in his amber eyes.

“Damn it, Jay, tell me!”

He sighed. “Okay, here’s the deal,” he said. “Your father’s spine is bruised—”

“What?” Oh, God, no! Her father could never stand not being able to get around on his own.

“Hey, slow down. I said ‘bruised,’ not severed, so he’ll be okay eventually.”

“Eventually?” she asked.

“The paralysis will be temporary.”

“Oh, God.”

He held her hand a little more tightly. “The doctors feel confident that he will walk again, but it’ll take some time.”

Kristi couldn’t believe her ears. Had her father survived death only to be paralyzed? “But…he will walk on his own again,” she said anxiously.

“That’s the prognosis.”

“Then I want to see him. Now.” She looked up, trying to find a nurse. “I need to be released.”

“Kris, you’ll have to wait until you’re better.”

“Like hell! This is my dad we’re talking about. He was there, right? He came to save me! And…and what, he gets shot and…” Her voice failed her. “Oh, God…there was a storm that night.” She saw the image as clearly as if she’d witnessed it herself. “A tree was struck by lightning, that’s what happened, right?”

Jay just stared at her.

“Right?”

“Yes, but—”

“And a limb hit him?”

“I said he’s going to be all right.”

“I know what you said,” she admitted. “Now do what you can to get me out of the damned hospital. I need to see my father.”

“Okay, okay…hold your horses. I’ll come with you.”