Archie sat back in the rose plastic chair and folded his hands over his chest. He looked better than he had in days—like he’d actually gotten some sleep. “They cried,” he said. “They came right to the park, before we even got him out of there. They held on to him. I’m not sure they’ll ever let him go.”

“What about Carey? Are you sure he’s dead?”

“Yes,” Archie said.

“I was right about McBee.”

“You and Gloria Larson.”

“Do you think she’ll ever be able to tell us the whole story?”

“Maybe. On a lucid day.” He stood up, one hand pressed against his chest, like it hurt. “There’s still a lot to do,” he said. “I’ll come by later.” He looked around the room, at the roses and lilies that sat on every surface. “Leo Reynolds?” he asked.

Susan glanced over at the small bouquet that Archie had brought, clearly purchased in the hospital gift store. Dyed-pink carnations and baby’s breath in a weird little plastic vase.

“I like yours more,” she said.

Archie did an awkward shuffle with his feet. Then he took a step toward the door, paused, coughed once, and turned back.

“Do you want me to go by and check on the goat?” he asked.

*   *   *

Archie had left Susan’s room and was headed down the hall to make his way up to the ICU when who should appear but Leo Reynolds himself. He was wearing a dark suit, perfectly pressed and clearly not off-the-rack. Archie had never had anything tailored to his specifications in his life. But he appreciated it when he saw it—the cut of the shoulders, the length of the arms. Archie had first met Leo when Leo was in college, and Archie was investigating his sister’s murder. He’d dressed like that even then.

Leo could afford it. His father had made a fortune importing massive amounts of heroin and coke.

Leo walked over to Archie, carrying a bouquet of plump pink roses. Archie wondered where the hell he was getting all these fancy flowers in the middle of a natural disaster.

“How did you know she was here?” Archie asked him.

“She called me,” Leo said.

Archie hadn’t considered that.

Leo looked around, and then took a small step closer to Archie. “You haven’t told her,” he said. “About me?”

“No.”