„Yes, ma’am. Could I take your statement now?“

Kristen pulled out a chair and gestured him into it. „Go right ahead. I’m not under the influence, Officer Mclntyre, just damn tired and worried sick.“ She straightened in her chair. „You just delivered the punch line to a very bad day.“

He looked sympathetic as he took out his notepad. „I’ll make this quick.“

And he was true to his word, not asking stupid questions or making her repeat anything. He’d slipped his notepad back in his pocket when Reagan came back.

„Got everything you need, Mclntyre?“

„Yeah. I don’t know that we’ll catch anybody, but we’ll send some men into the neighborhood tomorrow. Maybe somebody heard somebody bragging. We’ll see.“

Reagan grimaced. „They’ll try again.“

Kristen’s stomach rolled over. „Wonderful.“

Reagan gently squeezed her uninjured shoulder. „Try not to worry.“ He removed his hand before she gave in to the temptation to lean into him. „Spinnelli and Jack are coming here. Mclntyre, you’ll need to confirm the location of the box on the front porch.“

Mclntyre snugged his hat on his head. „No problem, Detective. Miss Mayhew, I’ll call you if there’s anything more.“

Reagan walked him out, but she could hear him welcoming someone else and opened her eyes wide when a thirty-something woman with light brown hair and a black bag appeared at his side. Her house had seen more visitors in the last hour than in the last two years. Reagan shot her a cautious look. „This is my sister-in-law, Ruth.“

The pediatrician. Kristen pursed her lips. „I told you I wasn’t hurt.“

„And you’re probably right, Miss Mayhew,“ the woman said. „Let’s check it out, and we can both go to sleep.“

„Please call me Kristen.“ She glared at Reagan, who looked not a whit apologetic. „I’m sorry Reagan dragged you away from your house, but there’s nothing wrong with me.“

„It’s her shoulder and knee,“ Reagan said, ignoring her. Kristen exhaled in frustration, but Ruth just looked amused.

„Call me Ruth or Dr. Reagan, but don’t call me Dr. Ruth, that’s all I ask. Abe, scram.“ She waited until he’d obeyed, then smiled. „Slip off your jacket and your hose if you can.“

The jacket was painful enough, but manageable. The hose, however, were a different matter. Annoyed, Kristen acknowledged defeat. „It’s a good thing you came by, I guess. I can’t imagine sleeping in these things.“

Ruth grinned and knelt by her chair. „I can’t imagine wearing them at all. Like being stuffed into sausage casings. Let me help.“ A few tugs and Kristen sat bare-legged, her skirt hiked above her knees. Ruth poked gently for a few minutes, then sat back on her haunches. „You’ve probably twisted your knee and strained your shoulder socket. Neither one is life-threatening though you’ll feel really sore tomorrow.“

Kristen frowned. „Worse than now?“

„Oh, a lot worse,“ Ruth said cheerfully. „But considering the alternative I’d say you’re lucky.“ She rose and looked down, her expression shifting from cheerful to concerned.

„Abe’s a fine man. He was afraid you’d gone into shock. Don’t be too hard on him.“

Kristen tugged her skirt to her knees. „I’m just sorry you got dragged out here.“

„It’s okay. Have you eaten?“

Kristen frowned, trying to remember. „Yes, I did. I stopped at Owen’s for dinner. It was on my way home from the diner that those guys stopped me.“

„Well, then I’d say the best idea is to take some ibuprofen and a nice bath.“

Kristen snorted. „That’s what I told Reagan, but he’s too thickheaded to listen.“

Ruth laughed. „Runs in the family, honey. Wait till you meet his dad.“

Kristen shook her head, sincerely panicked that Ruth thought… „Oh, no. I don’t want… I mean…“ She gave up when Ruth just looked more amused. „Never mind.“

„It was nice to meet you, Kristen.“ Ruth’s smile faded and she glanced at the door. „He’ll need to take care of you. Please let him. It’s very important.“

Kristen remembered the look on his face when she’d entered the kitchen. Such desperate desolation. And he’d clutched her teacup so tightly that she’d thought it would shatter, right there in his hands. „Why?“

But she got no answer as Reagan picked that moment to return.

„She’s fine, Abe,“ Ruth said, patting him on the shoulder. „You, on the other hand, look like you could use a hot meal and a good night’s sleep.“

He smiled down at his sister-in-law with such genuine affection, Kristen’s heart ached a little at the sight. What it must be like to have a family so close that you could call and know they’d come at a moment’s notice. Wishes, once again.

„Don’t worry about me,“ he said.

Ruth sighed. „That’s what you always say, but I always do. You’re still coming on Saturday, right? A week from tomorrow, don’t forget.“

„Wild horses couldn’t keep me away from my newest niece’s christening.“

Ruth bit her lip. „I’m sorry about Debra’s parents, Abe. My mother invited them. I couldn’t un-invite them without causing a huge family row.“

Who was Debra? And why did the mention of her parents make his eyes harden?

„It’s okay, Ruth. I’m sure we can manage to coexist peacefully for one evening.“ He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, the movement practiced, as if he’d done it many times before. „If it looks like trouble is brewing, I’ll leave. I promise.“

„I don’t want you to do that, Abe.“ Ruth’s voice thickened and she closed her eyes. „I’m sorry. It’s just that you’ve missed so much. I don’t want you to miss this.“

He glanced over at Kristen, his expression slightly embarrassed. Good manners dictated she look away, but again she remembered the look of desolation on his face and gave him what she hoped was a supportive smile instead. He’d been good to her, this relative stranger. Caring for her when he hadn’t needed to. Ruth said that it was important he take care of her and whatever his reason, Kristen believed that was true.

„Now don’t go getting squishy on me,“ he said. „You know how much I hate that.“

Ruth grinned tearily. „It’s just the damn hormones. Kristen, it was so nice to meet you. Keep your foot elevated.“ She leaned up and kissed Reagan’s cheek. „Dinner on Sunday?“

Kristen watched in fascination as Reagan’s stubbled cheeks reddened at the little kiss. „Me miss ham? I don’t think so. Let me walk you to your car.“

Kristen gave Ruth a little wave. „Thank you.“ And she watched them leave, Reagan’s arm around Ruth’s shoulders, the sight making her eyes sting. Hating herself for wishing for things she could never have, she turned and stared at the box.

He was here because of the damn box. Because of all the damn boxes. And as soon as their humble servant was safely put away, he’d be gone. She drew in a deep breath and let it out. And focused on the damn box.

She wondered who the vigilante had targeted this time and tried to make herself care, but it was hard to care about the loss of such twisted, evil people. Harder still after tonight. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what those men would have done to her had she not gotten away. It didn’t take imagination to conjure the picture of herself at their mercy.

Memories sufficed.

„Spinnelli will be here soon,“ she murmured to herself, and it wouldn’t do to be sitting here bare-legged when he arrived. She needed to change her clothes. Summoning all her energy, she pushed herself to her feet.

Friday, February 20,

9:15 p.m.

He didn’t knock. He banged hard enough to wake the damn dead.

Zoe opened her door. „Do you have any concept of self-control?“ she snapped.

He pushed inside and slammed her front door so hard the building shook. „Obviously not, since I was stupid enough to get tangled up with you.“ His body shook with barely suppressed rage and for the first time, Zoe was afraid.