Page 49 of 3rd Tango
While my sister and mom are tended to, I take Matt into the hallway. Two of the people I love most just survived a murder attempt.
And I’m pissed.
Whoever it was, I want their head on a stake.
Right.
Now.
I drag Matt to a quiet corner—if there is such a thing—of the ER. “I hate to ask—”
“Say it. I love them, too. Whatever we have to do, we’ll do.”
His crystal blue eyes possess a fierce determination that makes me thankful we have such a good friend. Total team player ready to protect us.
“Thank you,” I reply. “You’ll always have a place in our family. I hope you know that.”
From now on, I’ll tell him more often. He truly is the brother we never had.
“I know. Now what do you need?”
“Can you ask Taylor to pull whatever she has on this Chris Svenson guy? Maybe there’s something in his file regarding Evelyn Jacoby. It’s no coincidence Marie’s work is titledEvelyn. I’d also like a photo of her. We’ll see if the painting is even a close resemblance.”
He’s already pulling out his cell. “Of course. We can check online for photos.”
“I did that. The ones that came up weren’t a match or the dates were wrong.”
Matt holds up his phone. “Give me a couple minutes.”
“Thank you.”
Without warning the day’s events sneak up on me. My head begins to throb and the stiffness in my neck might be the cause. So damned tired.
“Meg?”
I draw a breath and meet his gaze. Then his arms are around me, wrapping me up tight and I’m so damned grateful tears flood my eyes.
“They could’ve died.”
My voice is rough, battered by my messy emotions.
“But they didn’t,” he murmurs. “They’re fine and we’ll find whoever caused this. Okay?” He backs away and meets my eye, making sure he has my complete focus. “Trust me. We will.”
I nod, happily taking refuge in his confidence. My world, despite the day, isn’t shattered.
I settle into the thought, let my body absorb the fact. A sense of calm neutralizes my headache and I grip his arms. “Thank you. For everything.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Meg!”
At the sound of my father’s panicked voice, I spin away from Matt. Dad is charging toward me in his cargo pants and lucky fishing T-shirt. He must’ve broken speed records.
I rush to him, my arms extended. “They’re fine,” I say as he crashes into me, nearly crushing me with his hug. “They’re both good,” I whisper, knowing full well what he’s feeling right now. “We’re okay. I promise you, we all are.”
Twenty minutes later, after leaving him in charge of Mom and Charlie, Matt and I hop into the Buick. I hate leaving my family, but Charlie has made the case that JJ is on his way and it was more important that we figure out who tried to commit murder.
Can’t say I disagree.
