Page 5

FIVE

T he alarm on the IV pump blared again. And again. Where was the nurse? The bag of saline solution was empty and Penny needed to leave.

Now.

The door opened, a rush of cooler air sweeping in. Final?—

Nope. Not the nurse. Penny was in for it now. Libby walked into the hospital room. She didn’t even have to say anything. She just had that look of someone who had life figured out, staring down at someone who couldn’t pull it together.

She stood by Penny’s bed and folded her arms. Her crisp blouse was tucked neatly into her navy slacks, and every strand of caramel-brown hair was pulled back into a sleek bun. Nothing was out of place.

“So, were you even going to tell me you were in town, or am I only an emergency contact now?”

Penny held back a groan as she sat up. “It’s about time you got here.”

“What else are sisters for?” Libby set a bag on the bed and pulled out a hairbrush, toothbrush, and toothpaste. She handed them all to Penny. “Before I take you anywhere, you might wanna take care of a few things. I don’t want you scaring the kids when they see you.”

“I look that bad?” Penny stood slowly and picked up the items.

“No comment.” Libby sniffed. “You sure smell like you were caught in a fire. But I suppose a shower will have to wait until we get you home.”

Home. What would that be like? Libby and Dan and their two kids had settled into a new house in Last Chance right before Penny had left. Penny only knew what it looked like from video chatting with the kids. Guess she would be seeing it firsthand now.

The nurse walked in. “Ready to go?”

For the love of all that is holy …“Yes!”

“Let me get this IV out of you and you can get dressed.” She made quick work of removing the cannula and bandaging the site. “I’ll be back later with discharge instructions.”

Free at last from the tubes and infernal beeping, Penny made her way to the bathroom. Yikes. Libby hadn’t been exaggerating. She looked awful. Felt worse. Her head screamed, her whole body was sore. No wonder Bryce hadn’t come to see her.

Not that she wanted him to. It would make it easier to pass this case off to Jude if she could avoid Bryce altogether.

After signing discharge papers and half listening to the nurse giving her instructions, Penny slid into Libby’s minivan.

“How are the kids?” Penny asked.

“How about we get down to the real issue.” Instead of starting the ignition, Libby turned to her. “I left California and moved here because you were here. And then you up and left. No rhyme or reason. Now, I don’t regret making that move, because it has been good for Dan and the kids and me. But you—I don’t hear from you for months, and then you wind up back in Last Chance without telling me, and it’s the hospital that I get a call from? What’s that about?”

“I missed you too.” Penny gave her a fake smile. “But you know my job takes me all over. Besides, I thought you and Dan weren’t doing so well. When you moved out here, you weren’t even sure if he was coming with you.”

“I’m serious.” The older-sister scowl grew.

Penny pulled down the visor mirror. This was worse in daylight. Penny pulled out the hairbrush again. “For the record, I never asked you to move here.”

“I thought you left the ATF because it was dangerous. You seriously could’ve died, Penny.”

That fact was well established by the pain that ricocheted through every part of her. But dwelling on it never got her anywhere. She could only rely on one person. Herself. “But I didn’t die. I’m fine.”

And Libby had no clue why Penny had left the ATF. No one did.

“Well, thank God for that! He must be watching out for you, but still?—”

Penny dropped the brush. “Whoa. Did you just mention God?” And watching out for her? Was she kidding?

“Just because Dad didn’t believe in anything doesn’t mean we have to follow his example. And what’s the big deal? The kids and I have started going to church. Dan and I are attending a Bible study.”

“Are you sure you’re not the one with a head injury? I can’t believe Dan is going along with this.”

“Well, he is. Even though at the moment he’s on a work trip in Germany. But if he was here, he’d be the first to tell you that he’s completely on board with it. And you know what? It’s good. There’s a lot of evidence that I wasn’t aware of. Christianity isn’t some social club of brainwashed people. There’s actually a lot of evidence about the Bible. About…well, everything.”

Yeah, and when Penny had been seven years old, she’d prayed at Vacation Bible School, but at some point, people had to grow up and stop believing in fairy tales.

“Good for you. But if you don’t mind, you can take me to my car and I’ll find a hotel. Hopefully I’ll be out of your hair by the end of the day.”

“Out of my hair? Have you heard anything I said?”

“Yup. You found religion. Whereas I, on the other hand, screwed up…again.”

Had gotten trapped. Again. Where was God then?

“That’s not what I’m saying, Pen. I mean…you didn’t call.”

“Because I’m on a job . I didn’t realize I was even heading in this direction until the person I was following exited the interstate late last night. I didn’t have a chance to call you. But I’m passing the case off to someone else and I’ll be out of your hair.”

“I don’t want you out of my hair!” Libby dropped a hand on Penny’s arm. Libby touching her? That was weird.

“Ugh. Can’t you see? I’m only upset because—” Libby looked away a moment. When her gaze met Penny’s, tears shimmered in her eyes. “I was really worried. I don’t want to lose you.”

Aw…“Lib…you’re not going to lose me.”

“Well, we miss you. The kids and I do. Even Dan has asked about when we’ll see you next. You’ve been gone for over a year.”

Seeing real emotion in her big sister brought a tightness in Penny’s own throat. “I’m sorry. I’ve been busy.”

“Too busy. You’re running from one case to the next. Have you stopped to even think about your family?”

“Of course I have. And I miss you guys too.” Especially the kids. But yes, her sister also. Maybe it wasn’t so bad to have someone with whom she could drop the professionalism, the masks she needed to wear to go undercover and get the job done.

“So you’ll stay?”

A day to recover and see the kids wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.

As long as she didn’t run into Bryce Crawford or fall back into his extremely capable and strong arms again, she’d be fine.

She hated to leave a job undone, but she could pass this off to Jude and see what other work was out there. That was the beauty of being her own boss. And, being licensed in multiple states, hopefully she wouldn’t have to try hard to find another case.

“Maybe I could crash on your couch for a day and see my favorite niece and nephew before I head out? I’m pretty sure Hazel owes me my own personal dance recital.”

“I’d like it if you’d stay longer. I’m not even sure you should be driving.”

And there she went, back into big-sister mode. At least this didn’t throw Penny off-kilter like the God-talk did. Or the lovey dovey stuff. She always left that to their younger sister Tori, who as a kid, used to switch from Penny’s to Libby’s bed any given night because she hated sleeping alone. Now she was out in Alaska wanting to jump out of planes and fight wildfires.

“We’ll see how it goes. But for tonight, I’ll stay with you.”

“Thank you.”

She almost looked like she wanted a hug or something, but eventually Libby just smiled and started the car. She drove them to where Penny’s SUV was still parked on the street. Only because she could follow her did Libby even allow Penny to drive her own vehicle to their house. But when they pulled up to the three-story family home in a cul-de-sac neighborhood, another car was waiting in the driveway. A man with dark hair, wearing a shirt and tie, leaned against it.

“Jude! What are you doing here? Bible study is next week, right?” Libby asked as they got out of the minivan.

“It is. I’m here to see Penny, actually.”

“Of course. Why don’t I run and get some coffee going. After that, I need to run to work, if you two are okay.”

“Do what you need to do, Lib. I can take care of myself.” Penny waved her on.

Her sister nodded and then walked inside the front door.

Jude took the weekend bag out of Penny’s hands and carried it for her.

“Always the gentleman, Book.”

“Looks like you had a rough night.”

“I’ve been through worse.” She led Jude to the living room. Sounds of cabinets opening and closing and the clink of dishes came from the kitchen. “So, what’s up?”

“Denver office looped me in after I called them this morning. Emma Kemper?”

“Yeah, so much for this being a ‘follow-and-report-in case.’ And I’m glad you’re here. I was hoping I could pass off what I’ve got so far and you could take over.” She sent him a bright smile.

Jude just looked at her for a moment. “You’re done?”

“If Emma was going to keep heading west, I’d follow, but knowing whatever she has going on is right here in Last Chance, I don’t want to intrude.”

“Penny, I’m swamped. You wouldn’t be intruding. In fact, I have to leave for work for a couple days. I won’t be here, so I couldn’t take the case on my own even if I wanted to.”

“Maybe Denver could send someone else to help you.”

“Who? They’re up to their eyeballs in caseloads too. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

She grew warm under his stare.

Why? Because the one person that was so good at blurring the lines between her professional life and personal life was here. Because she needed to be free, not tied down. Bryce was her kryptonite.

“Look, Jude, I have other cases too. I’m?—”

“Scared.”

“What? No. That’s not it. I’m busy. I have things to do.”

“I never pegged you for coward, Mitchell.” Jude smirked. He was totally egging her on.

“I’m not. I’m busy .”

Oooh. That did sound a little defensive.

“You take your job seriously. That’s why I brought you in on the Sosa case. So what’s going on now that’s changed that? I’ve never seen you leave something undone like this.”

She didn’t have a reply.

“The governor’s office created a task force this morning to get to the bottom of a series of explosions that have happened in the last month. And then last night’s fire, we almost lost you and another firefighter. We have no witnesses. No leads. Except you. You’ve researched Emma and have more information on this case than anyone else. You can help us ID some of the players. You should stay and finish it. I have to leave for Denver tonight. I was hoping you’d take my place on the task force.”

What was she supposed to say to that? She wasn’t the kind of person who could dump a burden on someone else. Jude knew that.

But she wasn’t going to cave so easily.

“I’ll think about it. I have other work as well.” She sat down. “But maybe I can help for a day or two. That’s all I can commit to.”

“I’ll take all the help I can get.”

Libby walked in with a tray full of two steaming mugs, creamer, and sugar. “Did I just hear you convince my sister to stay for a while?” She looked like she was holding back a grin, probably excited for a little free babysitting, especially if Dan was gone.

Penny grabbed her mug and poured creamer into it. “I said a day or two.”

“We’ll take it.” Libby let the grin loose.

Jude sipped his black coffee. “Thanks for the help. I’ll have Bryce contact you.”

Penny coughed as her own drink went down the wrong pipe. “Bryce?”

“He’s on the task force too.”

Of course he was.

She set her mug down and speared Jude with a weighty look of her own. “But if I do this, I need to be hired. No more favors. I want a contract.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem to hire you officially. We’re desperate for leads.”

“All right. Get me the paperwork and I’ll get started.”

“I know I’m leaving the task force in good hands if you take my place.”

If God wanted to shine on her, someone would say no to hiring her on. Then she’d be able to leave this town behind with a clear conscience and not look back.