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“Yes.” Swallowing hard, Olivia blinked against the tears burning in her eyes. “She’s my best friend.”
“Do you know if she’d been taking any precautions since the first murder?”
Murder.Olivia couldn’t quite stop the soft whimper from escaping, prompting James to drape an arm around her shoulders and squeeze. “Um. She stayed with us for a couple nights. Her agency didn’t seem too concerned, but I do know she was able to get some of her coworkers to go to a few showings with her.”
“That’s very helpful, Mrs. Monroe. Did you speak to her at all this weekend? Did she mention anything about who she might have been meeting last night?”
“No. I didn’t call her Friday to let her know I was leaving town. She’d decided to go back to her place, so I didn’t even think to call her.” Each breath required her to focus. “I didn’t think of her at all this weekend.”
Beside her, James shook his head. “Livvy, baby, we didn’t know.”
“We didn’t know because we didn’t call her. I was so wrapped up in the house and the surprise vacation, I never thought to check in. I should have.” Hysteria bubbled up inside of her and no amount of breathing techniques could keep it at bay. “If I’d called last night, I would have known something was wrong and we could have helped her.”
“Look at me.”
The snapped order from Detective Rogers shocked her into obedience. “This was not your fault. This happened because some asshole has it in their head that they have the right to come after you and your friends. Everything that has happened, every second of pain and misery you all have experienced is his fault. Not yours. Understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.” The lecture and instinctive response helped to push the panic back, at least enough so she didn’t feel so wildly out of control. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to me. Or anybody else for that matter. Not a goddamn bit of this is your fault, so don’t you dare apologize.” The detective rose and tugged forcefully at her shirt sleeves, as if the fabric had somehow offended her. “If you think of anything else, you know how to contact me.”
“I like her,” James said when the door shut behind her.
Olivia stared at him for a moment before snorting out a disbelieving laugh. “She’s a real peach.”
“Well, she could certainly work on her customer service skills, but she wasn’t wrong. And you don’t look like you’re about to go into a full-blown meltdown anymore.”
“No, I’m better.” She was surprised to realize she meant it. Though she was still sad, and scared, she no longer felt like she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “We should go back to Shannon’s room.”
“You sure? You can have a few more minutes if you need it.”
“I love that you want to protect me, but I’m good. Pinkie promise, Daddy.”
Hooking his pinkie with hers, he leaned down to press a kiss to her lips. “All right. Let’s go.”
They returned to the hospital room where Bryant had been joined by a stunning older version of Shannon. “Mary.” Taking the last few steps at a run, Olivia threw her arms around the older woman’s neck. “I’m so, so sorry.”
“She’ll be fine.” Mary Wright’s voice held the strength Olivia couldn’t seem to find in herself. “My baby is strong. She’s a fighter.”
“I know.” Olivia stepped back, allowing James to move in for a hug. Bryant hung back, slowly moving toward the door.
But Olivia wasn’t about to let him get away that easily. Linking arms with him, she anchored him in place. “Mary, have you met my brother-in-law, Bryant? He and Shannon are… friends.”
Mary’s eyebrow quirked up, and despite the circumstances, her green eyes danced with mischief. “We’ve been introduced, but I was under the impression he was here with you.”
“Don’t let him fool you. He’s been working up the nerve to ask Shannon on a date since he laid eyes on her.”
The look Bryant sent her told her she’d regret that bold statement eventually. But she was enjoying herself too much to stop, and her teasing had chased some of the pain from his eyes.
Worth it.
“So, Bryant. Now that I know you have designs on my Shannon, might I ask what you do for a living?”
The look Bryant sent James was clearly a silent plea for help but James simply shrugged, amusement dancing in his eyes. Apparently realizing he was on his own, Bryant forced a smile in Mary’s direction. “I’m a lawyer, ma’am.”
“What kind of law?”
“Criminal, but nothing as glamorous as you might see on television.”
