Jill occupied the seat next to Audrey, but it was Keith’s leg on which she rested her head. Her eyes were closed, but tears were seeping out, wetting the knee of Keith’s trousers. Jeremy’s husband had an uncharacteristically gentle expression on his face as he stroked the hair off Jill’s forehead. Once again Scarlett was reminded of how young the girl was. And how prescient. This was exactly what Jill had feared – her aunt getting hurt because of the risks Marcus and his team had taken.
Lisette and Diesel shared a sofa, looking shell-shocked and numb and alone. Everyone, with the exception of Scarlett’s parents, looked shell-shocked.
Everyone, including her parents, wore body armor – heavy vests that looked sadly out of place. Marcus had taken his helmet off once he’d gotten to the safety of the waiting room, but he’d worn it just as he’d promised.
Scarlett went straight to Marcus and kissed his forehead. ‘Nothing,’ she murmured in his ear. ‘I’m sorry. DJ is one of the coolest customers I’ve seen in years. He wouldn’t give me a thing. Even Alice gave us more.’
Marcus’s shoulders sagged. ‘I didn’t think he would, but I’d hoped.’
‘I left Kate with him, hoping she’d have better luck. Any news on Stone?’
‘In surgery. Deacon came with him in the ambulance but left to go back to the . . .’ He swallowed. ‘Back to the crime scene. Stone stayed conscious all the way to the hospital. Long enough for us to see him before they took him to the OR.’ He opened his mouth, then closed it after looking at his mother.
Scarlett nodded, understanding that they’d debrief more privately. She noted Della Yarborough’s curious, yet muted, glance. Marcus’s mother wasn’t blitzed out, but she had definitely taken something. Maybe a lot of somethings.
Scarlett leaned down and kissed her own mother on the cheek. ‘Hi, Mom. I didn’t expect to see you here.’
‘Your father called to say he wouldn’t be home for dinner – and he told me about Marcus. If he’s important to you, he’s important to us. So we’re here.’
Scarlett’s heart swelled. ‘Thank you.’ She turned to Marcus’s mother, half kneeling so that the older woman didn’t have to look up. ‘Mrs Yarborough. I . . . I wish we weren’t seeing each other again under these circumstances.’
‘Just Della is fine.’ Della’s mouth curved, but she didn’t hold the smile, as if it took too much energy. ‘So you and my Marcus . . . ?’
Scarlett’s cheeks heated. ‘Yes, ma’am. I hope you’re okay with that.’
‘And if I’m not?’
‘I would respectfully keep him anyway.’
Della’s smile lasted a little longer this time before dimming. ‘You came to Mikhail’s funeral. You didn’t have to.’
‘I did have to.’ She hesitated, then shrugged. ‘I go to all the funerals. For all of the victims. It seems like the right thing to do.’
A slow-motion nod. ‘You’ll be perfect for Marcus. So yes, Scarlett, I’m okay with it.’
‘Whew.’ Scarlett smiled up at her. ‘I was worried there for a second or two.’ She looked over at her own mother and saw approval. Jackie gave her a nod and it felt good.
Abruptly Della skewered Scarlett with a look. ‘Do you know where Gayle is yet?’
‘No, ma’am, not yet. But we’re looking.’ A rustling behind Scarlett had her turning to see Jill coming to her feet, her expression grim, her eyes red from crying.
‘Not hard enough,’ Jill said coldly. ‘You have suspects in custody. You’re the super-cop. Make them tell you where that bastard took my aunt.’
Scarlett rose slowly, suddenly bone-tired. ‘I’m no super-cop, Jill, and this is real life. The suspects don’t always talk. A lot of times they don’t. Sometimes – a lot of times – I want to strangle the truth out of them, but I can’t do that.’
‘Trick them into confessing.’
God, she’s young. ‘If they’re dumb enough to be tricked, they’re probably so dumb that I don’t need a confession. They leave evidence all over the place. Unfortunately the people who took your aunt aren’t dumb.’
Jill wasn’t convinced. ‘Then make a deal, dammit.’
‘That’s not going to happen. These people have killed too many people, have bought and sold families and made them slaves. They’ve trafficked children, Jill. Innocent children. We don’t even know what the children suffered. Do you think your aunt would really want these criminals walking free, victimizing even more people?’
Jill’s face crumpled, her shoulders sagging as she hugged herself, her sobs starting anew. ‘They have my aunt. They’ve killed all those people and they have my aunt.’
Sighing wearily, Scarlett gathered the girl in her arms. For a moment they just stood there, then Jill balled her hands into fists and pounded them into Scarlett’s collarbones, so hard that Scarlett found herself knocked back a step and sucking in a lungful of air.
Fury in her eyes, the girls fists came up like she was considering throwing a real punch. ‘No,’ Jill fumed. ‘You don’t get to act like you care. Not until you bring her home.’
Scarlett heard both her father and Marcus come to their feet behind her. She lifted her hand, staying them, and took Jill’s arm in a firm grip. ‘Come on. Let’s take a walk.’
‘Scarlett?’ Faith murmured, looking concerned. ‘Remember, she’s just a kid.’
Scarlett rolled her eyes. ‘Finally somebody sees my mean streak. I thought I’d gone soft.’ She heard a few chuckles as the tension in the room went down a notch. Even Jill smiled, and that pissed Scarlett off all over again. ‘But you know what? She isn’t just a kid. She’s nineteen and old enough to take a swing at a cop. So she can damn well listen to what I have to say. Don’t worry, Faith. We’re just going to take a walk.’ She tightened her grip a little when Jill tried to pull free. ‘Don’t make me worry Faith any more than I already have, kid.’
Jill stopped fighting and allowed herself to be led to another, smaller waiting room which was unoccupied. She yanked her arm free, rubbing her wrist. ‘You hurt me.’
‘That hurt you? Fuck that. You’re lucky I didn’t break both of your arms.’
The curse got Jill’s attention, and the threat made her seethe. ‘You wouldn’t.’
‘You’re right. I wouldn’t, because I can control myself. If I’d let my reflexes rule me, you would have carpet burns on your face right now. I’m going to say this only once. Grow the hell up. You’re scared and pissed off. I get that. But you’re not the only one who loves Gayle or who’s worried about her. You’re just the only one throwing a temper tantrum over it. That one hit was your freebie, kid. You touch me again and I will not control myself. Understood?’
‘Yes,’ Jill said sullenly.
‘All right. If you want to be a temperamental brat, stay here alone. If you want to help your aunt, then settle down.’
Jill sat down. ‘I’ll stay here.’
‘Fine.’ Scarlett started to leave, but her adrenaline abruptly crashed, along with her blood sugar. Exhaustion hit her almost as hard as Jill had, and the chair next to the kid suddenly looked damn inviting. She dropped into it and let her head fall back.
Jill gave her a snotty look. ‘It’s only staying here alone if I am alone.’
Scarlett threw the look right back. ‘Don’t you ever shut up, kid?’
‘You sound like Stone,’ Jill grumbled.
Scarlett snorted. ‘Now you’re just being mean.’
Jill chuckled, then sighed. ‘I’m sorry I hit you. I’m not sure why I did that.’
‘I imagine it was because you’re scared and upset and I was handy. Don’t do it again.’
‘Got it. Are you okay?’ Jill asked. ‘You look a little pale.’
‘Long day. I probably should eat. But I don’t have the energy to get up and get something. I think I used up the last of my reserves dragging you down here.’