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“Yes!” The paramedic closest to the door held out a hand, and pulled her in.

“He’s shouting about his pieces, I think it’s his jewelry pieces. He’s worried about them.” She stepped up to the raised stretcher. “The police have secured your jewelry,” she told him in Italian. “They will keep them safe for you until you can return and fix the shop door and window.”

“Really?” he asked.

“Really.”

He flopped back down, and closed his eyes.

“You aren’t able to come with us to the hospital, are you? In case we need you again?” the paramedic asked.

“Which hospital?” she asked.

“St. Stephen’s,” he said.

That wasn’t out of her way. “All right.”

“I’m Gary, by the way.” The paramedic gave her a nod. “How are you involved in all this, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“I was supposed to meet DS Archer at the shop, and more or less as soon as I got there, shots were fired and windows exploded.” She shrugged.

“I just put it together. You’re with the traffic warden services, aren’t you?” the other paramedic said as Gary closed the doors. “I’m Geoffrey.”

“I thought I recognized you.” Now she had a chance to study him properly, Gabriella remembered him from a few weeks ago. “The dog bite incident.”

Geoffrey made a face as the ambulance began backing up into the road. “Nasty business. Seven stitches, the little boy got in the end.”

They chatted amiably all the way to St. Stephens, while the jewelry shop manager lay out for the count.

“Do you mind waiting until we try to admit him?” Gary asked. “Just in case he’s able to speak and can tell us who he is for the admission records.”

“That’s fine.” She followed them in but the patient did not come to, so eventually they told her she could go.

She was just walking out the main entrance when James strode toward her.

“There you are.” He looked like he wanted to sweep her into an embrace, but instead he glanced over his shoulder and she saw Hartridge and another man climbing out of a police car.

“Are you all right?” she asked. “Did they patch you up?”

“That’s partly why I’m here. I have to get a few stitches where one or two shards cut through my jacket. But it’s nothing serious.” As if he couldn’t help himself, he reached for her hand. “Are you all right? Why are you here?”

“I’m here because the man in the back room keeps speaking Italian and the medics needed a translator.” She drew him toward the entrance. “Let’s get you seen to.”

They were directed to a room off the casualty department to wait for a doctor as soon as the staff were told James was a policeman, and Gabriella was glad of the special treatment.

Hartridge and the other officer hadn’t followed them in, and Gabriella guessed they had gone to speak with the man from the jewelry shop.

“Where—” she barely got the word out when she was pulled toward him and kissed.

She remember his back was cut up in time, so didn’t put her arms around him. Instead she slid her hands up his chest.

“Thank you for protecting me from the glass,” she murmured into his mouth. “I’m sorry you got hurt doing it.”

His gaze went to the door and he stepped back just as it started to open.

Gabriella stepped to the side, facing the door herself as a young woman wearing a sari beneath her doctor’s coat stepped in.

“I’m Dr. Singh. What do we have here?” she asked, stuffing a stethoscope into the top pocket of her white coat.