He stared at the ceiling. What would he tell Ethel? What would he tell the police? Everything he’d done had backfired. Had his presence on the front porch signaled the rear entry was wide open? Instead of discouraging a break-in, had the loud music masked the sound of the shattering windowpane? Had the invader come in while he was so focused on Tracy that someone had roamed undetected through the first floor? It was clear to Jesse the person or persons unknown had come for the gym bag of money. He had the misfortune to be on the stairway blocking the path. He had the good fortune not to be killed.

Heavy footsteps came down the stairs. The EMTs stopped by his side. Each carried emergency packs.

“Your name?” asked the one nearer his face.

“Jesse John Cooper. I think I’m okay. Just a couple of bumps on the head.”

“But we don’t really know that, Mr. Cooper. Our job is to make sure it’s nothing more.”

Five minutes later, wearing a rigid neck brace and strapped to a portable gurney, Jesse was carried up the stairs. As the EMTs emerged into the hallway, he managed to angle his head toward the back door. The window was shattered. Glass shards sparkled on the floor. Jesse realized he’d been so focused on checking for the gym bag, he hadn’t noticed the damage. Maybe that’s what he’d heard through the air duct. And for all his caution, he’d been heard coming down in his socks.

“My shoes. I don’t have my shoes.”

“Don’t worry,” said the EMT at his stocking feet. “You won’t need them. Someone can bring your shoes later.”

“And the—” He stopped short of saying gun. He no longer felt it in his pocket. Was Ethel’s revolver, like the gym bag, now possessed by Jonathan’s killers? Would they come back with the gun once they found newspapers instead of currency?

Lisa Draper stood on the front porch as the EMTs transported Jesse to the ambulance.

He strained against the straps, trying to signal her. “Lisa, I have to talk to Ethel.”

The FBI agent smiled. “Don’t worry. I will let her know. You just do what the doctors tell you.”

She reentered the house, determined to delay the call until Ethel had ample time to be with Finch’s family and when Lisa could give her a more definitive report on Jesse’s condition. Who would care if a little time passed before Ethel and Jesse spoke? Everyone would understand Lisa was only doing what was best for both of them.

Chapter 13

Officer Tepper met Detective Mancini at the front door.

“Thanks for the heads-up,” Mancini said.

“No problem. As soon as we got the call I knew you’d want to know.”

“You pulling a double shift?”

“Yeah, the wife likes the OT.”

Tepper stepped back, clearing a path for the detective.