“They weren’t after me. They were trying to hit you,” she said. “If you hadn’t jumped, they would have hit you and knocked you into next week.”

“Maybe,” he said after a too-long pause. It occurred to him that he had now twice taken a lesser beating. Were these messages? Was his proximity to Lester and Kenzie putting them in greater danger? No, he decided, this wasn’t about him. The threat had been immediate, targeted, and directly in response to her standing up to the man in the restaurant. “No, I think the fat man sent them. To get you.”

“Right. Like I’m a big threat to any of them. They don’t need to kill me; they can just ignore me.”

“I want the cops to keep watch on you.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “Doctor’s orders.”

“You know what I mean.”

“You need protection more than I do. And you need a place to stay. A hideout. Talk to my friend the Preacher. He’ll know someone who can help.”

“Already on my agenda.” He was less afraid for himself than for her. He needed to think, to plan. And he couldn’t do either while he worried about her.

“You know, you have pissed off all the right people. I’m proud of you. If I could move, I’d give you a kiss.”

“Don’t move,” Ted said. “Let me.” He bent over and lightly kissed her on the lips. He liked kissing her. “I had this wild fantasy that we were dashing out of the restaurant to go have mad, passionate sex.”

“That’s sweet. Give me another kiss.”

He did, less gently this time. She returned it.

“And don’t think you’re getting off that easy, bud.”

“Is that a promise?” he asked.

“I’ll collect on that when I’m out of here.”

-45-

-45-

Loud voices from the corridor interrupted them. The police must have worked up the courage to face down the head nurse and were forging into the inner sanctum.

“They’re not going to let me stay,” Ted said. “I’ll call in the morning.”

“Or I’ll call you.”

He leaned over for another kiss but stopped before their lips met as the door swooshed open.

“Well, you do get around.” The voice was unpleasantly familiar.

Ted looked up. Detective Duran and his less agreeable number two. Kasabian. Ted was proud of himself for finally remembering the other cop’s name.

“Detectives,” Ted greeted them.

Duran stepped into the room. “Sorry to break this up, Ms. Zielinski. There are some detectives out here who want to speak with you. And I need to talk with this guy.”

“I was just leaving,” Ted said.

Duran tried out a grim smile. “Then we can walk out together.”

“I’ll talk to you in the morning,” Ted said to Kenzie.