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That evening Noelle kept her eyes focused on the far wall in her hospital room. Forget reading or looking at her phone. Other than closing her eyes, only distance viewing didn’t make her head hurt.

Well, hurt more than it already does.

She’d knocked it hard. They’d done every scan possible of her head, and the good news was there wasn’t a fracture, but the doctors had insisted she stay overnight because of her past head injury.

Eve’s fall had been cushioned by her bag, which had been stuffed with a towel and an extra sweatshirt. Her knees had been patched up, and there were no broken bones, but she would be uncomfortable until the swelling subsided.

Lucia’s head scans were clear, and they’d taken several X-rays of her spine after she complained about low back pain. Nothing was broken, but soft-tissue injuries had occurred when she landed on her backside. She’d been the farthest from the blast and the luckiest.

Noelle’s sisters had been released but refused to leave the hospital. Instead, they’d camped out in Noelle’s room. A deputy had been stationed outside the door while the FBI and Deschutes County sheriff handled the investigation.

“Maybe this blow to my head will correct my memory lapses,” Noelle joked as her sisters gasped.

“That’s not funny!” said Eve, getting to her feet, wincing, then immediately sitting back down in a chair. “Don’t joke about that.”

Lucia sniffled. “What if it makes it worse?”

Then I’m out of a job.

Noelle had tried to avoid that particular thought, but her brain had other ideas.

It’d brought the job loss to the forefront and waved it around every few minutes.

She silently recited state capitals, trying to prove to herself that nothing had changed.

She got to West Virginia and panicked, no city coming to mind.

“What’s the capital of West Virginia?” she blurted.

Eve and Lucia stared at her, and then Lucia burst into sobs.

She thinks I’m nuts.

“Why?” asked Eve.

“Because I can’t remember it.”

Lucia wiped her face, understanding dawning. “I don’t know it either.” She looked at Eve. “You’re the schoolteacher.”

“Charleston,” said Eve. “I only know it because my fifth graders covered it last month.” She looked at Noelle. “You’ve always lived on the West Coast. That’s a hard one.”

“What if I’m losing it?” Noelle whispered, fear strangling her lungs.

Eve sat on the side of her bed and took her hand, sympathy in her eyes. “I don’t think the capital of West Virginia is an accurate way to test your memory.”

“Then what is?”

“What’d you have for breakfast today?” asked Eve.

“Almond croissant. Coffee.” Noelle’s stomach churned. She’d lost her breakfast in the ambulance and wouldn’t be ordering a croissant for a while. It was past dinnertime, and she still had no interest in food.

“Your short-term is good.”

There was a knock at the door. It opened a little and the deputy appeared. “Got an Adam Langton out here.”

“That’s my husband.” Eve’s voice shook as she carefully stood.

Adam came in, holding a shopping bag and pizza box in one hand. He hugged and kissed his wife, the concern on his face making Noelle’s heart melt. “You okay?” he whispered to Eve, touching her cheek.

She nodded, holding his gaze.

Noelle had thought she’d gotten over her envy of their marriage, but the green jealousy monster reared its head for a quick second, then vanished.

She was pleased her sister had found someone kind who watched over her so carefully, to the point that Noelle often forgot how ridiculous their names were together.

Adam turned his attention to Lucia, studying her from head to toe as he set down the pizza. “Your head all right?” he asked, holding out the shopping bag as she nodded. “I brought you and Eve some clean clothes. She said neither of you are going home tonight.”

“Thanks.” Lucia took the bag and examined the contents.

The same scrutiny he’d used on Lucia focused on Noelle as he came to her bed and squeezed her upper arm. “How are you doing?” he asked softly. “Do the nurses have your pain under control?”

“I’m good. Thanks for bringing some food.” The smell had stimulated her appetite a bit but not enough for her to consider a slice.

“The deputy made me open the pizza box, and then he went through the bag of clothes.”

“They’re being careful.”

He grimaced. “I don’t like seeing you in a hospital bed again,” he said, referring to the time thirteen years ago.

“That makes two of us.” Making eye contact was painful, and she directed her gaze over his shoulder. “Sorry. Hurts to focus on things that are close up.”

“Not a problem.” He gave her arm another squeeze and returned to his wife. Eve had sat down in a chair by Lucia, and she shook her head as he gestured at the pizza. Lucia did the same.

No one has any appetite.

Another knock. “Savannah Price?” asked the deputy as he stuck his head in.

“Savannah!” Lucia rose to her feet as Noelle’s best friend swept in, her ebullient aura immediately filling the room.

“My favorite girl!” said Savannah as she enveloped Lucia in a hug. Her gaze met Noelle’s over Lucia’s shoulder, and she blew a kiss.

I can’t believe she came all the way from Sacramento.

Tears burned, and Noelle wiped her eyes.

Savannah quickly greeted Eve and Adam and then perched on the side of Noelle’s bed, her serious brown eyes missing nothing. “You need lipstick.”

Noelle jerked with laughter and then moaned at the pain in her head. “Don’t make me laugh!” Tears ran down her cheeks as Savannah carefully hugged her. “How did you know?” she whispered as the light, familiar scent of Savannah’s perfume reached her.

“Alice called me.”

“ How did Alice find out? ” Noelle was confused.

“She said the FBI notified her, and she thought I should know.”

Agent Rhodes knows how close I am to Alice. And no doubt she made him promise to keep her in the loop.

“Thank you for coming,” said Noelle. “It means a lot.”

“What the fuck is going on?” Savannah whispered, concern in her eyes. “The FBI spoke to me recently, but they made it sound like they were just doing due diligence, updating files on Derrick’s murder.”

“Essentially they were,” said Noelle. “They were doing the same thing up here, and then this happened.” She closed her eyes, pain spiking through her head, unable to focus. “Eyes hurt.”

“Jesus. Are you okay?”

“I will be.”

“They think this is related?” Savannah said in a low voice.

“They’re considering it. And until they figure it out, they’re not taking any chances.”

“Is the deputy at the door single? I didn’t see a wedding ring.”

Noelle’s eyes flew open as she snorted and then slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God. I’ve missed you.”

Savannah kissed her on the forehead. “I’ve missed you too.”

“And he looks like he’s barely twenty-five,” added Noelle.

“Perfect.” She swung up her legs and snuggled into the bed next to Noelle. “Move over.”

Noelle did and rested her head against Savannah’s, comfort flowing through her.

Everything will be okay.