“I stopped by to see Coyote, and your friends wouldn’t let me in. What’s going on?”
“That’s my fault. I told them to keep everyone out but Toff and myself.”
“Why?”
“For his protection.”
“You think I’m a danger to Coyote? My brother?”
“No, but we don’t know who attacked him right now. Coyote knew his attacker. He turned his back on him. That means someone from the tribe. I told my brothers to keep everyone out.”
“That’s bullshit! He’s my brother!”
“Toff and I are headed to New Orleans. We’ll let you know when we leave, and you can meet us at the hospital. I can take you in to see Coyote.”
“Don’t do me any favors,” Crow snaps before leaving.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: OLIVIA
My heart breaks as I watch the news report. My friend is no longer missing. Now she’s gone. I cry as I remember the shifts we worked together and the patients we spent time with. I remember the crying sessions when the sweet little old ladies and the adorable older gentlemen we cared for passed during the night. After one too many deaths, she made a decision that would eventually result in her death. She switched hospitals and moved into obstetrics. She lasted one week before she disappeared. Now she’s dead.
“I’m so sorry, Olivia,” Cleo says, hugging me as I cry.
“I still hoped we’d find her.”
“We all did.”
“Was she one of the women who went missing?” Annette asks.
“Yes,” Delphine says.
“Give me a few minutes. We can eat and then head to the hospital,” I tell her.
“We don’t have to go today. I can go tomorrow,” Annette protests.
She thinks I’m putting her before myself, but she’s wrong. I’m being very selfish. I know someone at that hospital isworking with the men who kidnapped and killed my friend. They don’t know it yet, but I will figure out who and make them pay.
“I want to go. I want to look each coworker in the eye and see which one isn’t crying.”
“Is that safe?” Cleo asks.
“You won’t be going alone,” Dixie says. “Levi and Jack, you take them. One stays in the SUV while the other goes with you. Don’t you fucking dare let yourself be alone with any of the fuckers. Got it?”
I nod, grateful that Dixie understands how much I need to do this.
“Lunch is ready,” Nora calls out as she comes out of the kitchen carrying a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches. “Can you get the soup?” she asks Levi, who dashes into the kitchen. He brings it out and places it on the table. We all take our seats and dig in. Well, almost all of us.
I only manage a few bites as I pick at my sandwich. My thoughts are on Talia. Pirate places his hand on mine to get my attention.
“After lunch, I’ll access the police records and see what I can find out.”
“Thank you,” I tell him.
Looking around the table, I can see the men and women shooting me looks of concern. Not wanting them to worry, I force myself to join the conversation.
“Yesterday, we looked at several places for Nora’s restaurant,” Cleo tells Annette. “We found one with a strong possibility, but we’ll look some more after lunch. Did you want to come with us?”
“That sounds like fun,” Annette says, causing me to frown.