“Well, until you do,” her dad interjected, “she’s gonna stay with me.”
Rebecca shook her head. She had no plans to stay with her dad and his wife.
“That’s not a good idea,” Nick contradicted.
“What?”
“Moving into the same neighborhood as Robinson’s buddies is not a good idea.”
He was right, and she wasn’t about to leave her nice, comfortable loft to live in a tiny apartment in the projects.
“She can stay with me,” Jessica offered.
“No, Jess. I can’t,” Rebecca disputed.
Nick moved closer to her. She could see the worry in his oceanic blues.
“You don’t have to,” he said softly. “I’ll post up at your place until we find him.”
“No offense, Sergeant, but she barely knows you,” her dad pointed out.
“No offense, sir, but she barely knows you,” Paula countered.
Rebecca’s eyes flew to her friend. She had told her she’d just recently met her father, but she certainly hadn’t expected her to comment. But bold or not, she was right. She’d only been around her dad a couple of times. She barely knew him or his wife. And no matter how afraid she was that Boogie was free to finish what he’d started, she wouldn’t be comfortable staying with him.
“I think, the sergeant—”
“Rebecca, I was just—”
Everyone looked toward the door. All conversation ceased when Dr. Thantos entered the room. Rebecca immediately noticed the change in the sergeant’s demeanor. He stepped away from the bed, nodding at the doctor.
Dr. Thantos acknowledged his nod with one of his own. He seemed genuinely surprised he was at her bedside.
“I-I…I’ll be back,” the sergeant announced as he hurried out of the room.
With a question in his expression, Dr. Thantos turned to Rebecca and cleared his throat. “Hello, Rebecca. How are you feeling?”
9
King
“Where do you want this?” the sergeant asked, holding out the small duffle bag he refused to let her carry.
“Anywhere. Right there is fine.” Rebecca pointed to the floor next to the cream, antique settee. She sat her purse on a cocktail table and walked toward her wine rack.
“Red or white?” she asked.
Truthfully, she didn’t care which he chose. After an ass-whooping and a week in the hospital,shewas definitely the one who needed a drink.
“You got beer?”
“Is Blue Moon okay?”
“Is Blue Moonbeer?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then, it’s okay.”
