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“A snitch?”
“Face it, that’s what you are, Hailey. A snitch and a do-gooder.”
“Someone else I know calls me a do-gooder.”
“Smart man.”
“How do you know it’s a man?” Hailey met Joe’s questioning blue eyes with a smile.
“You think I’m a fool? You think I don’t know you? Dr. Owens also informed me that you have some military guy keeping watch over you there like some kind of damn bodyguard. If you’re letting some man that close to you, it means something.”
“It does, Dad.”
“Good. Then get that door repaired once the cops let you back in and keep this military guy close.”
“Oh, I will.” She ended the call and pressed the phone against her heart.
Joe propped on the frame of her bed. “You blew the whistle on your dad’s company?”
“One of them. He was engaging in unfair business practices, bordering on the criminal.”
“Sounds like he still wants you back.”
“I guess things aren’t working out with Win, but what he wants first is for me to repair his house.” She handed the phone back to Joe. “I didn’t even see it. How bad was the damage? I know there was a fire.”
“Your father’s extensive sprinkler system put that out quickly. Like I said, Ayala flunked bomb making. The door landed on the sidewalk, the foyer is scorched, and you and I pretty much destroyed that front garden.”
Hailey snapped her fingers. “All fixable.”
“But not livable. You won’t be able to stay there until the police and the FBI finish their investigation. You’re welcome to stay with me at my hotel in Fisherman’s Wharf. I’ll even buy you another chowder bread bowl.”
“Better yet, you’re welcome to stay with me at my hotel.”
“Your hotel?”
“The Pacific Rim.”
“You mean that place where the forces of evil are converging?”
“That’s the one.”
“I’d be honored.”
* * *
AFTER SHE WAS discharged from the hospital, Hailey used Joe’s cell phone to place a few calls while a car took them to Joe’s hotel to pick up his things.
When they finished at Joe’s hotel, Hailey braced herself to face her father’s house and the damage there. What she faced was yellow police tape ringing the property and a patrol car stationed out front.
The officer got out of his car when she and Joe stepped onto the sidewalk. “Can I help you?”
“I’m Hailey Duvall.” She waved her hand at the house behind her. “This is my father’s house, and I’m just here to pack a bag and take a look at the damage.”
“Just be careful on the porch. The investigators are almost done.”
“Will do.” She kicked Joe’s suitcase on the sidewalk. “Put these in the garage by the Jag. We’ll take the car over to the Pacific Rim.”
Joe wheeled his bag into the garage and parked it at the rear of the Jag. “Ready?”
On shaky legs, Hailey climbed the steps. Joe must’ve sensed her trepidation, as he kept a firm hand at her back.
He pointed into the foliage to the right. “That’s where we landed.”
“Looks painful.”
“It was.” He picked up a chunk of cement on the top step. “Part of the porch.”
“Nice of them to return the door.” Hailey nodded at the scorched and splintered door leaning to the right of the gaping entrance to the house.
Black burn marks smudged the doorjamb and the porch. Evidence of water damage from the sprinkler system and the fire hoses stained the wood floor in the foyer, and a scorched tapestry decorated the wall.
“I hope that wasn’t expensive.”
“It’s all expensive, but my father has insurance.” Hailey sniffed the air and swallowed. Smell more than anything triggered her memories. She covered her nose and mouth.
“You doing okay?” Joe rubbed a circle on her back.
“Yeah. Let’s get this over with. Can you take some pictures of the damage? I’m going to send them to my dad, and he can forward everything to his insurance company.”
While Joe took out his phone, Hailey glanced around the living room to make sure Ayala hadn’t helped herself to some valuables on her way out.
