Page 87 of Boxed In

Olivia handed over the box. Frank made an appreciative sound as he took it in his hands and turned it, looking at the carvings. She wished she knew as much about the object as he obviously did.

“Go take your shower.” He pointed to a ladies’ room down the hall. “And you’ll find some changes of clothing there.”

The “ladies’ room” was actually built like a luxury bathroom in a private residence—with a marble counter, an enormous shower, and a separate soaking tub. Not only were there a variety of toilet articles, she also saw several outfits in the walk-in closet. She would have liked to pamper herself. But she stayed only a minimal amount of time to make herself presentable.

When she stepped into the hall again, dressed in slacks and a comfortable knit top, Beth was sitting in a nearby chair.

“How did you get here?” she asked.

“The Decorah people brought me.”

“I’m glad.”

The two friends hugged.

“Frank was tracing your phone calls. He and Brand came to my house. We talked. . . about the warrior.”

“You told him?”

“Yes. I thought he needed to understand what was going on.”

“Right.”

Beth changed the subject. “How are you?”

“Pretty good—thanks to Frank.” She looked around. “Where is he—and the box?”

“Down the hall in the lounge with Luke.”

Beth gestured to the left, and they both hurried to a comfortable sitting room where Luke was lying on a hospital bed, although he’d dressed in a tee shirt and loose fitting sweatpants. The box was on the table beside him, and his hands were wrapped around a mug.

He looked up with a feeling of relief when he spotted her.

“I’m sorry I was gone so long,” she said.

“That’s fine.”

“What are you drinking?”

“Chicken soup,” the doctor explained. “It’s part of the healing process,” he added with a grin.

Frank was also eating—sandwiches from a plate on a side table.

Olivia’s stomach rumbled, and she flushed.

“Help yourself,” Frank said.

“Thanks.”

Olivia took a tuna salad sandwich and sat down next to Luke’s bed.

When Brand came in, she asked, “Where’s Carl Peterbalm?”

“In another part of this building—sleeping comfortably.”

Luke looked up from his meal and focused on Frank. To Olivia’s surprise, when he spoke, his voice was hard. “Something you haven’t explained. Why were you monitoring the shipment of antiques?”

“Because I know that what the Moon Priests do is vitally important.”

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