“What about the EMTs?”

“They suited up before they went in.”

“So, it’s gotten to the point where they have hazmat protection in the buses?” she asked, using law enforcement slang for ambulances.

“I think it got to that point quite some time ago.”

Sam jumped up and grabbed her coat. “Did they call in a team to deal with the drugs?”

“They’re on their way along with the ME, who’ll go in after HazMat clears the scene.”

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“GW to talk to the guy who survived.”

Gigi woke from a nap late on Sunday morning, feeling slightly better than she had earlier. The events with Jaycee ran through her mind on repeat. She expected to feel regret, but she didn’t. All she felt was relief that she’d survived the encounter with someone who’d come to kill her.

Did feeling no regret make her heartless? Maybe so, but gratitude outweighed the regret.

“How long have you been awake?” Cam asked.

“Not long.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m wondering if it makes me heartless to have no regrets about shooting her.”

“Why should you have regrets? She came into your home intending to kill you and then assaulted you. She got what she deserved.”

“Did she deserve to die, though?”

“Let’s turn that around to ask if, God forbid, she’d succeeded in killing you, do you think she’d be asking that question?”

“No. She’d be glad I was out of her way so she could get you back.”

“Which was never going to happen. She wouldn’t have given you another thought, which means you shouldn’t give her one either.”

“I wish it was that simple.”

“She forced the standoff. You defended yourself. End of story.”

“Is it, though? Are we naïve enough to think it’s going to be that simple?”

“That’s the truth of what happened, Gigi. That’s what you have to cling to.”

Their phones chimed with a text.

“It’s from Sam,” Cam said after he grabbed his phone and read the text to her. “Jeannie is going to talk to Mrs. Patrick about her outrageous accusations. I think it’ll mean a lot that the deputy chief is representing us there. Gigi, we need you to file your report on the incident first thing this morning so the internal investigation can get started.”

“Tell her thank you from both of us, and I’ll get the report done right away.”

Cameron typed the message and put the phone on the bedside table before turning toward her. “I’ll help you write it.”

“She offered OT today. You ought to go grab a few hours.”

“I’m not going anywhere, babe. I’m staying right here with you.”

“Are we still going to the wake for Sam’s brother-in-law today?”

“I think we should.”

“Yes, I agree.”

He leaned in to kiss her. “Let’s get that report done so we can move on to other things.”

“You really don’t have to help me.”

“Yes, I really do.”

“Are you still blaming yourself?”

“Not like I was, but I feel responsible for the fact that she came for you in the first place. I can’t believe I spent so much time with her and never knew she was a psycho.”