„Is this my tea?“ she asked.
„Unless it tastes bad, then it’s mine.“
She sipped. „It’s fine. Can I get you something? You look worse than I do.“
He supposed he might at that. „Do you have anything stronger than tea?“
„I don’t drink, but I might have something.“ She searched a cupboard and brought out an unopened bottle of scotch, a really good brand. „I won the door prize at John’s office Christmas party last year. If it’s no good, blame him.“
He followed her to the kitchen table, taking the seat across from her. „It is good,“ he said after the first sip. Alden had good taste. „Why don’t you drink?“
She blinked at him over her teacup. „You are a nosy man.“
He sipped at the scotch, feeling it warm his belly, settling the residual nerves still buzzing from his stroll down memory lane. „It’s a job requirement.“
She acknowledged the point with a wry nod. „My sister was killed in a drunk-driving accident when I was sixteen. I’ve never touched the stuff.“
„I’m sorry.“
„Thanks.“
They said nothing more after that, just sat drinking then-beverage of choice. It was not an uncomfortable silence, Kristen thought, watching Reagan watch her from across the table. Actually she’d become accustomed to seeing him in her kitchen after the last few nights. It had an air of intimacy that she savored even though she knew it was a product of her own imagination. And fruitless wishing.
The front doorbell rang and Reagan stood up. „That’ll be Officer Mclntyre. He’ll want your statement.“
„Have him come in here if you don’t mind.“
Kristen heard him open the door, greet Mclntyre. Then curse loudly and she knew what he’d be holding before he came back into the kitchen, a plain brown box in his hands.
„Sonofabitch,“ Reagan snarled. „At least we’ll have him on tape this time.“
Kristen stared at the box, utter exhaustion making her limbs heavy. „We knew it would happen sooner or later. You want to open it here or down at the station?“
Reagan flipped out his phone. „I’ll let Spinnelli decide.“ He walked out of the kitchen, leaving her with the box and an agitated Officer Mclntyre.
„This is a really bad time, Miss Mayhew,“ Mclntyre said, and she couldn’t say why, but the young man’s earnest words struck her as incredibly funny and the laughter just rolled. She laughed and laughed, slumping down in the chair when her breath simply gave out. Mclntyre was eyeing her teacup suspiciously.
„It’s just old-fashioned Earl Grey, Officer,“ she said when her gasps had refilled her lungs. „The scotch is Reagan’s.“
„Yes, ma’am. Could I take your statement now?“
Kristen pulled out a chair and gestured him into it. „Go right ahead. I’m not under the influence, Officer Mclntyre, just damn tired and worried sick.“ She straightened in her chair. „You just delivered the punch line to a very bad day.“
He looked sympathetic as he took out his notepad. „I’ll make this quick.“
And he was true to his word, not asking stupid questions or making her repeat anything. He’d slipped his notepad back in his pocket when Reagan came back.
„Got everything you need, Mclntyre?“
„Yeah. I don’t know that we’ll catch anybody, but we’ll send some men into the neighborhood tomorrow. Maybe somebody heard somebody bragging. We’ll see.“
Reagan grimaced. „They’ll try again.“
Kristen’s stomach rolled over. „Wonderful.“
Reagan gently squeezed her uninjured shoulder. „Try not to worry.“ He removed his hand before she gave in to the temptation to lean into him. „Spinnelli and Jack are coming here. Mclntyre, you’ll need to confirm the location of the box on the front porch.“
Mclntyre snugged his hat on his head. „No problem, Detective. Miss Mayhew, I’ll call you if there’s anything more.“
Reagan walked him out, but she could hear him welcoming someone else and opened her eyes wide when a thirty-something woman with light brown hair and a black bag appeared at his side. Her house had seen more visitors in the last hour than in the last two years. Reagan shot her a cautious look. „This is my sister-in-law, Ruth.“
The pediatrician. Kristen pursed her lips. „I told you I wasn’t hurt.“
„And you’re probably right, Miss Mayhew,“ the woman said. „Let’s check it out, and we can both go to sleep.“
„Please call me Kristen.“ She glared at Reagan, who looked not a whit apologetic. „I’m sorry Reagan dragged you away from your house, but there’s nothing wrong with me.“
„It’s her shoulder and knee,“ Reagan said, ignoring her. Kristen exhaled in frustration, but Ruth just looked amused.
„Call me Ruth or Dr. Reagan, but don’t call me Dr. Ruth, that’s all I ask. Abe, scram.“ She waited until he’d obeyed, then smiled. „Slip off your jacket and your hose if you can.“
The jacket was painful enough, but manageable. The hose, however, were a different matter. Annoyed, Kristen acknowledged defeat. „It’s a good thing you came by, I guess. I can’t imagine sleeping in these things.“
Ruth grinned and knelt by her chair. „I can’t imagine wearing them at all. Like being stuffed into sausage casings. Let me help.“ A few tugs and Kristen sat bare-legged, her skirt hiked above her knees. Ruth poked gently for a few minutes, then sat back on her haunches. „You’ve probably twisted your knee and strained your shoulder socket. Neither one is life-threatening though you’ll feel really sore tomorrow.“
Kristen frowned. „Worse than now?“
„Oh, a lot worse,“ Ruth said cheerfully. „But considering the alternative I’d say you’re lucky.“ She rose and looked down, her expression shifting from cheerful to concerned.
„Abe’s a fine man. He was afraid you’d gone into shock. Don’t be too hard on him.“
Kristen tugged her skirt to her knees. „I’m just sorry you got dragged out here.“
„It’s okay. Have you eaten?“
Kristen frowned, trying to remember. „Yes, I did. I stopped at Owen’s for dinner. It was on my way home from the diner that those guys stopped me.“
„Well, then I’d say the best idea is to take some ibuprofen and a nice bath.“
Kristen snorted. „That’s what I told Reagan, but he’s too thickheaded to listen.“
Ruth laughed. „Runs in the family, honey. Wait till you meet his dad.“
Kristen shook her head, sincerely panicked that Ruth thought… „Oh, no. I don’t want… I mean…“ She gave up when Ruth just looked more amused. „Never mind.“
„It was nice to meet you, Kristen.“ Ruth’s smile faded and she glanced at the door. „He’ll need to take care of you. Please let him. It’s very important.“
Kristen remembered the look on his face when she’d entered the kitchen. Such desperate desolation. And he’d clutched her teacup so tightly that she’d thought it would shatter, right there in his hands. „Why?“
But she got no answer as Reagan picked that moment to return.
„She’s fine, Abe,“ Ruth said, patting him on the shoulder. „You, on the other hand, look like you could use a hot meal and a good night’s sleep.“
He smiled down at his sister-in-law with such genuine affection, Kristen’s heart ached a little at the sight. What it must be like to have a family so close that you could call and know they’d come at a moment’s notice. Wishes, once again.
„Don’t worry about me,“ he said.
Ruth sighed. „That’s what you always say, but I always do. You’re still coming on Saturday, right? A week from tomorrow, don’t forget.“
„Wild horses couldn’t keep me away from my newest niece’s christening.“
Ruth bit her lip. „I’m sorry about Debra’s parents, Abe. My mother invited them. I couldn’t un-invite them without causing a huge family row.“