“Are you feeling sick?”
“Yes.”
He went to the kitchen and returned with a bowl, which he handed to her. Dan then pulled out his phone and made a call to Dr. Hannah, saying he was bringing Blue to the clinic.
“It’s the middle of the night. Shouldn’t we go to?—”
“No. Now you want me to carry you, or can you walk?” He looked like the hard-ass cop he was in that moment.
“I can walk.”
It was slow, but soon they were in his cruiser after he’d locked up Jay’s house.
“I know you’re hurting, Blue, but can you tell me what happened?”
She did, slowly, trying to find the details in her foggy brain.
“Why would someone break in to steal your sketch pad?”
Blue knew then who had done it. “My old boss.”
He shot her a look as they parked outside Dr. Hannah’s place. Blue waited for him to come around and help her out, feeling too weak to do it herself.
Only when they were inside did she hand Dan her cell phone, open to the messages she’d received from Sebastian Cavanagh.
“Well now, you young ones sure keep me on my toes,” Dr. Hannah said. She was wearing her red dressing gown that had white square-dance tassels on it. On her feet were furry slippers.
“Nice outfit, Doc.”
“You’d be so lucky to have this much style, boy,” she said to Dan with a cheeky smile.
Blue was then examined thoroughly. Thankfully, Dr. Hannah nor Dan mentioned Jay. Like everyone in this town, they no doubt knew he was away working, but they didn’t know that he was angry with Blue.
“Well, you’re okay, and no harm done that I can see other than a nasty concussion. You need to rest up now, Blue. There will be fatigue and headaches. A dark room, rest, and no loudnoises are the best things for you. You need to be under constant surveillance also for the next four hours.”
“Thanks, Dr. Hannah, I’ll do that,” Blue said, feeling like she was at least seventy years old.
Dan was where she’d left him, but talking on his phone. He smiled when she approached. After thanking the doctor, they left.
“Right, Birdie is on her way, and she’s going to look after you at Jay’s,” Dan said.
“Thanks.” She didn’t argue because right then, she wanted her sister.
“Jay will be back, Blue.”
“He thinks I betrayed him by telling you.”
Dan sighed. “That man is a closed book, but I angered him into opening up, and then I mentioned the half sister. Sorry that caused trouble for you two.”
“It’s not your fault. You were just worried about him like I am.”
Blue looked out the windshield at the sleeping street. Porch lights and curtains were drawn tight, blinds shut against the dark. Most would be slumbering, either tucked into warm beds in the arms of those they loved or alone.
She saw light filtering through the cracks in the curtains and imagined the others who would be awake like her. The insomniacs staring at the ceiling and parents rocking babies.
She saw the letterboxes slide past, the names familiar. Everything exactly where it should be.
And yet nothing felt the same.
