“They’re going to get you help. You will go to—” Angela began.
“A facility for the criminally mentally impaired,” Elizabeth said.
“And learn to be grateful and know that people can love people when they’re just friends. Did you ever realize that bothSean and Colleen had cared deeply for you?” Angela asked. “And despite this, well . . . you wanted to create something horrible for St. Patrick’s Day. Instead, they’re going to truly honor the saint, the man who lived his life giving to others. They are going to forgive you,” Angela said softly.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and sat back, looking across the table at Conor.
“I’m sorry, I was . . .”
“Desperate. I understand. And I forgive you,” Conor said.
“How did you manage it all?” Angela asked her.
Elizabeth shrugged. “Well, I was already playing a leprechaun in my off hours. And I worked out! Pilates, weights, you name it. I’m very strong. And I knew all the timing—when no one was in the stupid haunted house thingy. In truth . . . it was all too easy!” she said on a breath.
“The drugs—”
“Even with cameras, it’s pretty easy to get a conversation going and slip a few things out of pharmacy without being seen,” she said softly. “A few I had left over from places I lived through the years—some foster parents are just like good old St. Pat. Some need a great deal of help themselves. I . . .” She broke off, crying again. “I am sorry. Now . . . now, I am so sorry. I didn’t think that anyone would ever . . .”
“Care for you. But they do care for you. And you will see Sean and Colleen again, I’m certain of it,” Angela said.
“And we need to get some of this started,” Conor said, looking at his phone. He glanced over at Elizabeth. “Sean has arranged an attorney for you. Let’s go meet him and let these folks go for the afternoon.”
They were able to leave. Outside the station, they opted for a good Irish pub that was near them for dinner.
They needed dinner by then, Jackson thought. It had been a long day.
Luckily, a long day with an amazing ending.
“I take it our banshee Deidre stayed with Colleen and Sean,” Jackson said, smiling at Angela.
“But of course,” Angela told him. She smiled, looking over at Skye and Zach. “You know, Jackson and I are good at what we do, but on this . . . well! We’re grateful for your abilities, and . . . well, you know. Ready to send you onward again.”
“Of course,” Zach assured her, glancing at Skye. “We’re ready for what we’re called upon to do.”
Jackson laughed. “Hey, and we’re proud of ourselves for knowing you.”
Angela sighed and gave him a little tap on the arm. “Behave! And now, Guinness all around and shepherd’s pie all around. I mean, if that works for all!”
It did. Dinner was fun. While they went over cases, they also allowed themselves to talk, to have fun, and to grow serious at times. Tomorrow was St. Patrick’s Day. For Jackson and Angela, it was great—they would get home in time after their morning plane to spend the evening with their children, Corby and Victoria.
It was while they were heading into dessert that Angela got a call from Sean Donegal, begging them to stop by before leaving town. He’d have a breakfast for eight A.M. and see to it that they were to the airport. Would they make their plane?
Angela had the phone on speaker, with Sean’s knowledge, of course. She smiled at Jackson and then told Sean, “Eight will be lovely and we’ll be fine. Adam has seen to it that we have our own plane; we’ll just give our pilot a call when we’re on our way!”
“Wonderful!” Sean told them.
And so, they finished dinner and headed to the hotel for a night’s sleep. And as they prepared for bed, Jackson looked questioningly at his wife. “You know we’ve been at this for over fifteen years, I believe. All the cases . . . and our kids!”
“Are you telling me I’m old?” Angela asked him.
“Never. And I will never fall out of love with you!” he assured her.
“Then I’m really, really, really not that old!” she teased. She patted the bed.
Later, quite a while later, he found himself thinking about Elizabeth. And despite what she’d done, he felt sorry for her.
Everyone needed love. Love was the one thing that could combat violence, anger, and hatred.
