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“We need to get a look at Pierre’s security videos.”

“To see if they revealed who they are even though we know them?” He took a drink of his wassail. “We should have looked at them while at the house.”

“Well, if we have to return there, we can do it. I had hoped the video would show how Pierre responded to them. Were they wearing ski masks? Were they already known to him? Did he greet them, or was he scared of them?”

“Was he in collusion with them?” Andy asked.

“Right.”

“Okay. The thought had briefly crossed my mind that they could be together in this because the men went to his house to get the money.”

She finished her wassail. “Yeah, well, I truly thought Helen was a kidnapped victim. So who knows what else is true in this whole mess?” The medicine was beginning to work, and she loved how it took the edge off the pain from her injuries. “But what if they told him where to pick up Helen, and that’s why he’s gone.”

“Okay, so if he’s not in collusion with the whole kidnapping scheme, that could be a possibility. Why would he give them all that money if he is in league with them?”

She pondered that while she drank her wassail. “He got the money from some source, and it’s insured somehow, and he gets a big share of it to keep?”

“Yeah, money makes the world of crime go around.”

“Show me the way to the most comfortable bed in the house. I’m ready to lie down.”

“Mine is the most comfortable mattress in the house.”

She laughed. “I’m too tired to try out beds so I’ll have to take your word for it.”

“Is the muscle relaxant kicking in?” He drank the rest of his wassail and helped her from the couch.

“Yeah. I will pass out on the couch if I don’t retire to bed soon.”

“Good. That means you’ll be able to sleep well.” He carried her bag down the hallway, and she followed him.

When she looked inside the bedroom, she saw it was all in aqua and beige. “Hmm, I love the color scheme.”

“Thanks. Some snow leopard friends flip houses, and they recommended their interior designer. She said it was perfect forcouples if I ever found a significant other.” He pulled down the covers for her.

“She has good taste.” Monica sat on the bed. “Wow, this feels good.”

He removed her socks. “I’ve got a long-sleeved T-shirt you can wear if you don’t have any sleepwear.”

“I’ve got some sleepwear in my backpack.” She pulled out pajama pants featuring sleeping polar bears. The top had two polar bears nuzzling each other.

“A fan of polar bears, I see.”

“Yeah. They are super lovable.”

“Some more than others. I will grab a couple of things and sleep in the guest bedroom. If you need anything from me, it’s the first one on the left on the other side of the house.”

“I wouldn’t think of chasing you out of your bedroom. We’ve already slept together on a couch at Denny’s friend’s cabin. So you can sleep in your own bed. I won’t even notice you’re here once I fall asleep. Which will happen soon.”

“If you’re sure?”

“Yeah. Besides, if someone really cut my brake lines, hoping I would have an accident, you can continue to be my backup.”

“You got it.” Andy quickly removed his clothes, threw them in a white wicker laundry basket, and entered the bathroom. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

“I would take a shower too, but I don’t want to fall asleep it.”

“You can join me, and I can hold you up.”