Mollie did a double take. ‘Wow, that’s a lot of food.’ She smiled. ‘Maybe I can offer some of it to the other patients. There’ll be a lot left over.’

‘That would be very nice of you,’ Hunter replied with a smile. ‘Mollie, I wanted to ask you something,’ he said in a more serious tone. ‘The safety on my gun was on. I know it was on because I flicked it on.’

She nodded shyly. ‘I know. I flicked it off.’

‘How did you know?’

‘Mr. Higgins.’

Hunter frowned.

‘He and his wife own the diner I used to work at in Lynwood. They’d been robbed at gunpoint so many times they kept a pistol behind the counter and one in the kitchen. They made sure everyone who worked there knew how to use them just in case. I know how to reload, chamber and unchamber a round, cock the hammer and check the safety.’

Hunter chuckled. ‘I’ll be damned. Only in the United States of America you’d be able to get a job in a diner and be taught not only how to wait on tables but also how to use a firearm.’

A kind-looking nurse knocked gently at the door. ‘I’m sorry, detective, but she needs to rest now.’

‘It’s OK.’ Hunter grabbed his jacket. ‘I’ll check on you tomorrow, kiddo.’

‘Robert,’ Mollie called as Hunter reached the door. ‘Thank you for everything. For the present, for remembering, for believing in me, for being there and for saving my life.’

Hunter faced her and smiled. ‘Thank you for saving mine.’