“My darling.”
“How are you?” I asked.
“Tired. The coroner came and took her this afternoon. It’s what they do.”
“I understand.” We embraced for several seconds, then I pulled away. “Anna, is it all right if Bishop and I don’t come todinner tonight?”
“Of course, Katarina.”
“Thank you.”
She turned from the window and took both of my hands in hers. Her eyes went to my right hand. “Polina’s ring. She wanted you to have it.”
“I know.”
She put a hand on my cheek. “Go rest, Katarina.”
Bishop litthe fire in the hearth, then helped with my jacket.
“Come here, kitten.”
I went to him.
He walked me into the bedroom and sat me on the edge of the bed. He knelt and took off my boots, then removed my clothes, and put one of the sweatshirts over my head. We crawled in bed, and he spooned me from behind and stroked my hair.
“Sleep, kitten,” he whispered.
I did.
18
BLACKJACK
Katarina was sound asleep beside me. She had been for hours. I’d lain awake the whole time.
My mobile lit on the nightstand. I picked it up and read the message from Dagger. Update. Urgent.
I moved her hand from my chest to the pillow and got out of bed. I waited when she made a sound. When she didn’t wake, I pulled the quilt up over her shoulder.
I dressed in the dark, picked up my boots, and eased the bedroom door shut behind me. I didn’t bother with coffee and headed straight to the boathouse.
Julian was on the dock when I came down the steps from the main camp. He was facing away from me, watching the lake.
“You’re up early,” I said.
“I have been.”
“Something wrong?”
“The loons are off.” He didn’t turn around. “They called at dusk, the way they always do. They haven’t since.”
“What does it mean?” I asked.
“They’re unsettled.”
I couldn’t explain why the birds’ behavior made me anxious, except it appeared to have the same effect on Julian.
Doc,Dagger, Givre, Kingston, Hornet, and Gunner were seated at a table on the second level when I walked in.
