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Panting now, Caroline pressed the tip in deeper, drawing a bead of blood. The sharp prick surprised Jane. A warm droplet trickled down her neck. “I’m leaving with her. I’ll drop her off somewhere once I’m safe.”
“No, ma’am, you are not leaving here. There is no scenario where I will allow you to harm her and live, either,” Conrad stated calmly. “Letting her go is your only chance of walking away.”
Still fighting. At last, the rest of Jane’s muscles revived, tingling back to life. What’s more, the drugs were wearing off. She could move with a bit more ease, but she didn’t. Not yet.
“Conrad,” she breathed, and his gaze darted to her. There and back, then there again. Because she smiled, her fear fading as strength returned to her limbs. “I’ve got this. Trust me.”
Remembering everything he’d taught her, she slammed the back of her head into the PA’s face while latching onto her wrist and pushing. Caroline stumbled, losing her balance and dropping the scissors.
And in a snap, the day was saved. Conrad raced over to subdue and cuff the woman, right next to a twitching Beau. His gaze returned to her and narrowed. Relief waged war with fury in their depths.
“Radio for an ambulance,” he told the other agent.
“Already done,” was the reply. “They’ll be here in less than five.”
“You and Beau will be checked out without argument,” he told Jane. “When the other agents arrive, I’ll pass off the PA and find you. Tonight we talk.”
Chapter Fifteen
Vincent Hernandez
I Give This Place Zero Stars.
Plot 2300, Garden of Memories
“Oh my goodness, look at you.” Fiona rushed over to hug Jane as she and Beau trudged inside the cottage. “A torn, dirt-streaked dress. Missing beadwork. Dried blood on the material. No hat?”
Oh no! She’d lost the hat without even realizing it?
Jane hugged her right back, clinging. “I’m fine. I promise.”
Fiona hugged Beau next. “And you, young man? How are you?”
“Despite my stinging pride, I’m all good,” he told her with the first hint of a bemused smile. Not used to having someone fuss over him?
“So. Jane’s fine, and you’re good. Neither one of you have an excuse for not telling me everything that happened the second you entered this house.” The best pancake maker in the world glanced between them. “Well? Let’s hear it.”
Despite the obscenely early morning hour, her friend hadn’t slept a wink, had she? “I will, promise.” She hooked an arm through Fiona’s and Beau’s and led them to the kitchen. “After you feed me.”
“How about you tell me while I cook? But only because Conrad has kept me mostly up to date.” The other woman offered the information casually, as if she hadn’t just rocked Jane’s world.
“He has? How? When? You tell me everything,” she insisted.
Fiona fluffed her hair, clearly thrilled to know more than anyone else. “Well, he told me about the fight and your quote unquote secret wish to spend the rest of your life in personal lockup and total lack of personal safety awareness.” After Jane and Beau plopped into chairs at the table, Fiona poured them a glass of sweet tea. “He mentioned Caroline Whittington’s involvement and subsequent confession. Emma’s confession. The Order of Seven. Your trip to the hospital. And finally, how you both got the all clear from the doctor.”
Caroline hadn’t lied about the drug she had used. A neuromuscular blocking agent for general anesthesia, with no lasting side effects.
Rolex came prancing around a corner and hopped onto the table. He sat in the empty bowl centerpiece Jane kept just for him. She scratched behind his ears.
“Here I am cooking,” Fiona said, puttering around. “Tell me your side of the story. Conrad, as helpful as he’s been, left out the most critical details.” A teasing sparkle entered her dark eyes. “I’m wondering how the nurses at the hospital reacted to your shorts, Beau. Jane’s grandpa never looked so…tightly packed.”
Pink stained his cheeks, and Jane pressed a hand over her mouth to silence what would no doubt be a ridiculous giggle.
“I tried not to notice what anyone thought of my shorts,” he grumbled.
The giggle escaped, despite her best efforts, and there was no stopping it. Soon, Fiona and Beau joined in the laughter as well. When Jane’s gaze connected with Beau’s, he stopped laughing. His eyes blazed.
She gulped. He, um, really valued their friendship, huh?
“The nurses were overjoyed with Beau. Fussed over him as if he were a delicate baby bird,” Jane said, missing Conrad. “Now tell me everything else Conrad told you.” Even though she was an official, nonofficial crime-solving genius detective, Jane wasn’t above bribery. “Take your own advice and leave nothing out.”
In her element—gossip—Fiona dropped a stick of butter on the counter and rubbed her hands together. “Well. Caroline fancies herself a modern-day gold hunter. Apparently, the Order of Seven brought her to town. She deciphered some codes in the journals at the museum and learned of the second set of hidden cemetery gold. She also fell in love with Dr. Hots. He pursued her, hoping to use her for the gold.”
