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“Not me. Mom found one of those crime scene cleanup companies.”
Her frown deepened. “You have to pay for that out of your own pocket?”
“Yep. And they’re not cheap. They do appear to be discreet, at least. I feel incredibly lucky that none of my neighbors seem to know what happened. I don’t want that my apartment was a crime scene leaked all over the place.”
“I don’t blame you. What a nightmare.”
“I’ve had those, too,” he admitted. “I kept seeing Colton Driscoll hanging from a rope.”
Her eyes widened. “They showed you a photo? What’s wrong with those people?”
“No, they didn’t,” he said quickly. “But my imagination filled in the blanks.”
She leaned over and covered his hand with hers. “You did the right thing, Sam. You might have saved a young woman’s life.”
He swallowed hard. “No. I mean, not the girl he’s been talking about. She went missing eight months ago and is presumed dead.”
Vivian seemed to shrink in on herself. “Oh no.” A moment of silence hung between them before she cleared her throat. “Well, he would have done it again. You saved those future victims.”
He nodded unsteadily. “I keep telling myself that.”
“For what it’s worth, I’ve been a therapist for decades and I’ve never had a case like this one. You probably never will again.”
“I hope you’re right.”
She smiled at him kindly. “Take some time off, Sam. Take Siggy to the desert and camp for a day or two. You always come back rested and restored when you go there. I don’t understand why anyone would want to sleep in a tent to begin with, and in the desert, no less.” She mock shuddered. “But you do like it. So... take some time off.”
“You’re not.”
“I was in a car accident. We got off easily with only broken bones and some bruises. You were... well, arrested. Roughed up. Hauled downtown and subjected to interrogation.”
“Constantine threatened to shoot Siggy,” he murmured. That had also factored into his nightmares.
Vivian blanched. “What the hell is wrong with them? Did they apologize?”
“Not really. But McKittrick felt bad that Siggy was scared. I think she has a dog, too, because she had a treat in her pocket. Gave it to me for Siggy.”
“Well, at least there’s that,” she grumbled. “Under other circumstances I’d suggest legal action, but that would shine a spotlight on you and we don’t want that.”
“No, we don’t.” That would make things so much worse.
She glanced at the clock on the wall. “I hate to take your gift of coffee and tell you to hit the road, but I’ve got a client coming in fifteen minutes and I have to review my notes. Tell Angeline to reschedule your appointments for today, at least. You’re not in any frame of mind to listen to other people’s problems.”
He nodded woodenly. She was right. He knew that.
“Sam?” she prodded gently, and he realized that he’d just been staring off into space. “Where will you go with your day off?”
He gave his head a shake to clear it and considered the question. “Old folks’ home. I haven’t visited in a while.”
Her forehead crinkled. “Who do you know there?”
“Everyone. I play for them a few times a month. Piano,” he added when she looked confused. “All the old standards.”
Her eyes softened. “I learn something new about you all the time. That’s so sweet. I bet they enjoy that.”
“They do. Sometimes they dance.” He wrinkled his nose. “Sometimes they get handsy with each other while they’re dancing and that part’s not so sweet. But this time of the morning it’ll be time for arts and crafts, and they like to have background music.”
She smiled. “Good. Text me when you get there. I’m concerned about you.”
