They drove back to the office in contented, and complete, silence.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Friday morning after a lovely,quietThursday night spentalonein her apartment, trying not to dwell on Phillip Keiser’s final words, Jane took the ferry back to Bainbridge Island.
She had promised to spend the weekend with family at the ranch, and she was way overdue for a visit with Jenn Sullivan.
Fortunately, Jenn had only stayed a few days in the hospital before being released into her aunt’s care. Like Jane, Jenn had spent her time sleeping and recovering. Now, it sounded as if she’d turned into a huge pain in the butt.
At the door, Jane was met by an older version of Jenn. It still felt odd to think of Sullivan as aJenn,but Jane was starting to get used to it. The more she used it, the more natural it would become.
“How wonderful. You must be Jane. Jenn’s been talking about you.” The older woman yanked Jane in for a hug. “You saved her life. Thank you so much.” She pulled back, tears in her eyes.
Jane felt awkward. “Yeah, well. It seemed like the thing to do.”
The woman laughed and wiped her eyes. “Oh, and I’m Susan. Come on in.” Susan closed and locked the door. “Jenn’s in thefar room in the back. I’ll be there in a minute. I’ve just got some cookies in the oven.”
“I came at the perfect time then.” Jane smiled, immediately thinking back to Lena Keiser, who would never bake another batch again, and Maria Lito.
For all that Phillip had done bad things in search of righting a great wrong, he’d lost so much more than his way. From all accounts, the Keisers had been admirable people who helped many. The loss from their passing, along with Phillip and his victims, would be felt for a very long time.
She found Jenn’s room easily enough, with sunlight streaming through the blinds, flowers everywhere, and a large sleigh bed with a scowling woman in the center of it. Jenn’s hair stood on end, and her robe looked soft but threadbare in spots.
“Dressed up just for me, eh?” Jane asked with a smile.
“Screw you. Took you long enough to come visit.” The smile that blossomed on Jenn’s face made the bright room even brighter. “So what’s the scoop?”
“I’ll tell you, but first, what’s with the garden in here?”
Jenn blushed. “Turns out Dash is a terrific guy after all. He keeps saying I saved him. I didn’t.”
“I think you did. You kept a cool head and Rob’s attention on you and not him. I also read in the report that you talked him and his mob guys out of killing Dash outright. Not sure how you did it, but kudos.”
“Thanks.” Jenn’s smile faded. “I still can’t believe Rob was selling out. It hurts, you know?” She patted her chest. “You think you know someone. But I guess you don’t.”
Jane sighed and sat on the edge of her bed. “I know. I don’t know how I never saw it. I’m usually a pretty good judge of people.” The knowledge Williams had been guilty and right in front of her would bother her for a very long time.
She’d suspected something wasn’t right with the Mazzuca investigation for a while. Perhaps if Williams hadn’t set her up to get suspended, she’d have figured him out. She hoped.
“Are you feeling okay?” Jenn asked.
“I should be asking you that.”
“Oh, I’m good. They sewed up all the holes, so I’m told. The angle of the wound was such that it went through fatty tissue and lodged in my hip. It did bleed a lot, and it hurts, but I’m thankful every day he didn’t shoot me in the stomach.” She nodded to a bullet on her side table. “That’s the little bugger they dug out.”
Jane stared, aware Jenn’s life could have turned in a much different direction. “Do you think Williams pulled his shot? Or that you just got lucky.”
Jenn teared up. “I’d like to think both.”
“Oy. Don’t cry. Your aunt will kick me out for disturbing you. And I’m really here for the cookies.”
Jenn laughed and wiped her eyes. “So what’s the scoop? And hey, I didn’t get to sign the cast!” she added as Jane pulled out of her jacket, feeling overly warm. “Pink. Really? Although with all that writing, it’s more like pink and black and blue. And green? Who used a green marker?”
“My idiot cousin.” Jane smiled as she said it, pride in her family and herself filling her with joy. “We got the bad guys in the end on this one. And don’t tell anyone, but I don’t think Matthew Scott is as bad as we thought.” Jane filled Jenn in on her conversation with their boss and on all she’d learned about the case. Including the death of the rest of the Mazzucas.
“Wow. Code Blue cleaned up one case for us, didn’t he?” She groaned as she tried to sit up.
“Cookies,” Aunt Susan announced and scowled at Jenn. “Hey. Quit moving around so much.”
