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Bent walked in, Eric right behind him.

“Hey,” she said. “Looks like we got him.” But, dear God, the cost. Patricia Patton ... Mike Brown ... Deputy Riggs. Damn it. Her heart ached for their families.

Eric gave her a gentle hug. “Yougot him, Vera. Patrick Solomon is going away for the rest of his life.”

“Good.” She wished she could see the look on Palmer’s face when he heard the news.

“We think,” Bent said, “we have a deeper understanding of why Solomon was eager to work with you to stop his grandson.”

Vera scoffed. “I’m not sure I would give him any credit at all. That goat farm he told me about turned out to be a ruse.”

“True,” Bent admitted. He looked to Jones. “Why don’t you explain the rest?”

Jones gave Bent a nod. “Patrick killed his mother several weeks ago. We think just before he came here to start watching you. The consensus is that he had some sort of breakdown, and maybe Solomon was actually trying to stop Patrick, given he had murdered his daughter.”

She studied Eric a moment. Sounded reasonable anyway. “I suppose time will tell.” She made a sad face. “I guess this means you’ll be heading back.”

“I am. I have work to do, and Anna is anxious to have me back home.”

Vera hugged him. “I expect to be invited to the wedding.”

“Count on it.” He shook Bent’s hand. “Good working with you, Bent.”

“Thank you for the assist, Eric.”

Vera liked that her two favorite men seemed to have made friends.

When Eric was gone, Bent turned to her. “You wearing that home?”

Vera laughed. “No way. If you’ll get out of here, I’ll ...” She frowned. Where were her clothes?

Bent snapped his fingers. “Damn. I think they cut your clothes off when you first arrived.”

Vera groaned.

Another light knock on the door, and it opened. “Got those scrubs for you, Sheriff.” A nurse walked in holding a bag and smiling for Bent as if he were her idol.

“Thanks, Shelly.” He accepted the bag. “Much appreciated.”

She glanced at Vera and Eve, but her gaze lingered on Bent. “Let me know if you need anything else.” Then she was gone.

Vera resisted the urge to shake her head. The man could charm anyone. She held out her hand for the bag.

He handed it to her and stepped out of the room.

Eve helped her dress in the scrubs. It was a slow, uncomfortable process. Luckily she still had her sneakers.

“We match,” Vera said, only then realizing that Eve was wearing the same green scrubs. Well, of course she was. Her clothes had been missing or all bloody as well.

“Just like twins,” Eve teased.

Vera smiled at her. “We will always be more than sisters, Eve. Best friends. That’s what we are. Forever.”

“Damn straight.” Eve hugged her once more, making Vera wince.

Before walking out, Vera had a quick glance in the mirror. The reflection there was horrifying. She washed the remaining blood and dirt from her face while Eve finger combed her hair. Then they joined Bent in the corridor.

“Is it okay if Suri and I stay at the farm tonight?” Eve asked as they started along the wide corridor, with its white tile floors and shiny white walls.