Page 159 of In the Air Tonight

“I never imagined there’d be so much trouble when I came back.” Blaise sounds exhausted. “I knew people would freak out about there being a witness, but not like this.”

“None of this is your fault, Blaise,” Houston says.

“Feels like it is.”

I reach up to put my hand on her shoulder. “It’snot. You haven’t done anything to deserve them lashing out at you this way. This is onhim. Not you.”

She has no reply to that. I’ll have to keep reminding her of who committed a crime and who didn’t.

The house in Cranston is on a nondescript street made up of neatly kept ranch homes. I expect to see State Police vehicles outside, but there’re only unmarked SUVs. I get out and run around the car to help Blaise. “Take it nice and easy.”

“That’s my only speed right now.”

Houston gets Fenway from the back seat and follows us into the house where four plain-clothes officers greet us.

Blaise leans on me as she takes small, delicate steps.

“Right this way.” One of the officers leads us to the primary bedroom at the end of the hallway.

They leave us alone as I help to get Blaise settled in bed, propping her up on numerous pillows.

“How’s that?”

Her complexion has been bleached of all its usual rosiness. “Okay.”

“What can I get you?”

“A glass of water would be great, and I’m supposed to pick up meds from the pharmacy.”

“I’ll ask Houston to do that.” I kiss the uninjured side of her face and go to speak to him. “We need to pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy.”

“I’ll do it.”

I give him the sheet of paper with the info about the prescriptions that’re waiting at a twenty-four-hour pharmacy and my credit card. “Thank you.”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Where can I find a glass?” I ask one of the officers.

He points me to the correct cabinet.

I return to the bedroom with a glass of ice water.

Her eyes are closed, so I put the glass on the bedside table.

“I’m not sleeping.”

“I wasn’t sure. Here’s the water.”

“Thank you for all you’re doing.”

“It’s no big deal.”

“Yes, it is. I’ve made a mess of your life.”

“My life was so boring until you came along.” I sit gingerly on the mattress next to her. “The only thing that matters is that you’re going to be okay.”

“That’s not the only thing that matters,” she says tearfully.

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