Page 35 of Silk and Steel

“I hope so.” Mom sighs, and wipes the corners of her eyes. “I mean, the doctor said the surgery went very well.”

“What happened?”

“His heart started beating irregularly. They had to install a pacemaker.”

I grimaced. They had been talking about putting one of those on Dad for a while, but I never thought I’d actually see the day. Dad always said he would be fine with diet and exercise.

“Are you sure it was just his heart?” I ask. “Have you seen any suspicious people around?”

Mom shakes her head.

“No, I haven’t seen anyone…wait, is this because that nasty Julian Jovejoy escaped from prison?”

I nod, and she grimaces.

“I never liked him much.”

“I know, I should have listened to you.”

She shakes her head. “Oh, honey. How could you know someone who’s so well revered, who supposedly helps so many people, could turn out to be such a monster?”

It feels good to hear her say that. We sit down together in the waiting lounge, holding hands and hoping for the best.

Eventually, I become aware of another presence in the room. Cole. Once more, he didn’t make a sound coming in, but I kind of felt it all the same. He looks like he’s afraid to intrude on us.

“Cole,” I say, motioning him over. “It’s okay, you can come and meet my mother. She doesn’t bite.”

Mom looks up in confusion as Cole approaches us.

“Who is this?”

“Mom, this is my bodyguard, Cole. Cole, this is my mother.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Thorne,” Cole says, offering his hand for a shake.

“Oh my, you’re a polite one, aren’t you? And a big one.”

“All the better to block bullets, Ma’am,” Cole says.

Mom turns to me and cocks an eyebrow.

“Is he for real?”

“He’s for real, Mom. Decorated former Navy SEAL, war hero, the whole bit.”

“Just doing my job,” Cole says, looking a little embarrassed.

“Mom, I’m going to talk with Cole for a second, okay? Do you want anything from the commissary?”

“Maybe a cup of tea.”

“One cup of tea, coming up,” I reply.

Once we’re out of earshot, I look over at Cole.

“How could I tell if my father has been poisoned?”

“I’m not sure. I would think that the doctors could figure that out, though.”

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