“There, there, you’ve had quite a fright,” Birdie soothed as she rubbed her hand up and down Regina’s back. “You should be at home, resting, not here.”
Regina drew back and smiled. “I had to see you and make sure you were doing okay.”
“Oh yes, dear, I’m fine. The policeman whisked me straight here. Wouldn’t even let me go inside the house.” Her eyes grew troubled. “Is it bad?”
Regina guided her to the side, back into the hallway leading to the door. The guys frowned at her, but she waved them back. They’d demand answers, but she wasn’t going to hash this out in front of them right now.
“How much have they told you?” Regina asked in a low voice.
“Nothing yet.” Birdie stared anxiously back at Regina. “What is it, Regina? What has happened?”
“The only room in your house that was disturbed was one of the bedrooms. Hutch’s old room.”
“But why on earth would someone want to mess up a bedroom? Was nothing stolen?”
Regina shook her head. “Not that I saw right off, but later you’ll need to do a full inventory for the police report. For now I think you should come back to the house with me and the guys. You shouldn’t stay there alone.”
“It’s sweet of you to offer, but my friend Virginia is here with me. You saw her. She was in the waiting area with me.”
Actually Regina hadn’t noticed her. Her attention had been focused on Cam and then on Birdie.
“She’s offered to let me stay with her for as long as I need.”
Regina chewed the inside of her cheek and wondered how best to broach the subject with Birdie. She didn’t want to jump the gun and confide her own suspicions. It would be irresponsible, not to mention premature, given that she hadn’t even discussed them with the chief yet.
“I would feel better if you had more protection, Birdie. We don’t know yet who broke into your house or why. I’m sure Cam, Sawyer and Hutch would feel much better as well if you came home with us.”
“Oh you don’t have to worry. Virginia and I have already been over that. She has a shotgun. Plus her son, who is a county sheriff’s deputy, has promised to stay until the person responsible for breaking into my home is apprehended.”
A smile twitched at the corners of Regina’s lips. “Birdie, promise me you won’t mess with Virginia’s shotgun.”
“Oh, she won’t.”
Regina swung around to see Virginia standing a few feet away. Her purse dangled on her wrist by a gold chain. Regina’s brow came up as she took in the rest of Virginia’s getup. White gloves adorned her hands. She wore a flowered dress and a wide straw hat at an angle, with a large red bow tied above the brim. And fuchsia lipstick.Brightfuchsia lipstick. It hurt Regina’s eyes to stare at those lips for too long.
“You see, Miss Fallon, the shotgun is my area of expertise. I’m quite adept with it, if I do say so myself.”
“Ah . . . okaaay,” Regina said. “Still, Virginia, I would feel much better if you didn’t go around wielding a shotgun. If your son is going to stay with you, perhaps you should leave the weapons to him since he’s a trained police officer.”
Virginia looked down her nose and narrowed her eyes. “Hmmph, and who do you think taught Kyle his way around a gun?”
Regina pursed her lips and tried to stifle her laughter.
Birdie laid a hand on Regina’s arm. “Virginia really is responsible with firearms, and she was such a dear to come down and stay with me at the station.”
Regina shook her head, unsure of what one had to do with the other, but then her brain was a complete muddle.
“Birdie, if you like we can go now. I left our ladies’ tea, but it lasts another hour if you’d like to join me.”
Birdie glanced worriedly at Regina. “Oh, I don’t know, Virginia. Regina might need me here. She’s had such a trying day. I want to be able to help her any way I can.”
Birdie patted Regina’s arm then squeezed gently.
Regina smiled at her then gave her a quick hug. “You go on, Birdie. Be sure and leave your contact information with Greta so one of our officers can call you. He’ll need to ask questions, and he’ll want to take you over to the house so you can make a list of any missing items.”
“You take care, dear. And call me if you need anything.”
Regina watched as Birdie went back into the waiting room, spoke with Greta for a moment and then went over to where the guys were standing, so she could to hug each one of them.
