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“But who are they?”
“I don’t have the time to go into details, but you can trust them.” I wasn’t certain how much conviction was in my voice.
Her grip was firmer than I’d expected it would be. “What about you? You look gaunt.”
“I’m just tired. A very nice man is protecting me.”
“Against what?” When I didn’t answer right away, her eyes grew open wide. “This is all about your father. Isn’t it?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, I can’t stay long, Mama, but I will be back.”
“Why?”
“There are some very bad men who are after me. I’m being taken to a safe place.”
“Your protection has nothing to do with law enforcement. Does it?”
I smiled, rubbing her forehead as I stared at the equipment in the room. She was in the middle of a chemo treatment. At least she hadn’t been moved to hospice status yet. That meant there was hope. “No, but you don’t have to worry.”
“Who’s after you, baby girl? Does this have anything to do with the last undercover operation your father was on?” She remained angry with him, the look in her eyes full of the same fury that I’d seen in mine.
“Yes, and because of something Daddy left for me. I wish I could explain all the details.”
“I knew you’d come looking for his note and the box he left.”
“A box? You have it?”
She looked away, obviously uncertain she wanted to tell me its location.
“Mama, I never wanted anything to do with his note or his past, but this is very important. Whatever he left is worth not only my life but significant power. I can’t allow it to get into the wrong hands. Can you understand that?”
“Yes. I called him a horrible fool the last time I talked to him. I’d wanted to tell him how much I loved him.” It was the first time she’d expressed sorrow or regret. The pain in her eyes was gut-wrenching. “Do you remember the jewelry box your daddy gave you when you were little?”
“The one with the ballerina on it? I remember. He was certain I’d become a famous dancer.”
“He replaced it with a different one. The new one has a false bottom.”
My throat tightened hearing the news.
“Do you know what’s inside?” I asked gently.
She shook her head. “No. I told him I didn’t want to know and that you’d have to come to me to know what he’d left you. Not the other goddamn way around.”
“At the house?”
“On your old dresser.”
A small sense of relief rushed through me, enough so I pushed the subject aside. “Did Eddie put you up to asking me to return to New York?”
When she lowered her eyes, I knew the answer. “He was insistent. He said your father had contacted him before his death. I was scared.”
“You should have told me.”
“Maybe. I just… I wasn’t doing well and thought maybe having you near would help. I didn’t mean to lie to you.”
I thought about everything we’d both been through and sighed. “It’s okay. None of that matters now. I’m here. How are you feeling?”
“I have good days and bad days, honey. I’m dying. It’s okay.” She squeezed my hand with enough strength I was able to take a deep breath. “You don’t have to be sad. Things always happen for a reason. That’s one thing your daddy told me after our first date. He said sometimes people meet at the wrong time for the right reasons.”
