“Letdown? From the danger just past, sure. But what about my attacker? What about your constant watchfulness? What about Hammer?” She didn’t shout, but she wanted to. “It’s all piling up, getting worse and worse, one thing after another, more threats, more fears, more—”

Rune stepped into the bathroom holding two shirts and grumbling, “Safest place to be is in the bathroom so I’m rummaging in my closet.”

Elle took the T-shirt, rolled her trembling fingers in the material and remembered she had promised to buck up for Rune’s sake. “You’re very brave.”

“No, I’m not.” Rune helped Adam ease his arms into the sleeves.

Adam buttoned it from the top down. “You’re a good and true friend.”

“That I am,” Rune agreed.

Yes. For Rune’s sake. Because Rune made her smile. Elle held up the women’s size-small turquoise shirt: good material, expensive brand. She raised her eyebrows at Rune.

“It was my wife’s. I kept it as a souvenir. Put it on. This is a better use for it.” Rune said the right words, but she brooded as she watched Elle pull it over her head. “Now what? As far as I can tell, no one’s fired another shot.”

“That’s the good news.” Adam stood and extended his good hand to Elle.

With his help, Elle got to her feet. “Rune, let me clear the splinters from your face. Adam, assist me?”

Rune took Adam’s place, and while Rune grumbled and winced, Elle used tweezers to remove the glass shards from her cheek and forehead. As she did, Adam applied pressure, then while she bandaged the wounds, he handed her tissues, Band-Aids and gauze. In a conversational tone, he said, “While we wait, let’s talk about who the shooter was aiming at. Rune, what about the guy who cursed you with the seven plagues?”

“That was three years ago,” Rune said. “Took his time about coming back for vengeance.”

“He might be out of prison now.” Adam was nothing if not practical.

Elle pinched the lovely material of the T-shirt she wore. “What about your wife? Ex-spouses sometimes take the breakup badly.”

“Jessica?” Rune snorted. “She took everything. Why bother to kill me?”

“She was your wife, important because of you, wealthy because of you. If life hasn’t gone well, wouldn’t she blame you?” Elle gazed inquiringly at Rune.

“You, young woman, have a future writing screenplays.” But Rune had a pucker between her brows, and she stroked her bullet-sheered hair.

“Everything’s possible,” Adam agreed. “Of course, we know someone could be after Elle.”

Elle staggered as if the words were a bullet that could kill.