Page 54 of The Perfect Obsession
“Not great,” Jessie mumbled, though she was having trouble remembering the particulars.
Hannah took over for her.“She was at the hospital too.They were treating her for a concussion.They also stitched up the end of her nose, where Jessie bit it off.I heard someone say she might need reconstructive surgery.Not sure who’s paying for that.”
“Not me,” Jessie swore.
“No, not you,” Hannah said, stroking her hair.It tickled.
“So she’ll be booked after that?”Kat wanted to know.
“I spoke to Ryan on our drive over here,” Hannah told her.“He said that the woman—her name is Riley Sinclair—will be kept overnight for evaluation under armed guard.But once she’s discharged, it’s straight to Twin Towers until her arraignment.I don’t think she’ll be getting bail.”
“Four murders and an attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer?”Kat mused.“I should think not.”
“Feel bad for Krantz,” Jessie murmured softly.
“What’s that?”Kat asked.
“Krantz,” Jessie forced herself to speak clearly despite the marbles in her mouth.“Wife was killed.He was framed by a woman he barely remembered.Life is ruined.”
“Well, his life would be even worse if he were wrongly convicted,” Kat said.“Thanks to you, at least now he has a chance to pick up the pieces.And he’s still young enough to start over, maybe find love again, even have a family.”
“Not having a family,” Jessie objected.
“He’s not?”Kat asked.
“No,me,” Jessie corrected, trying her best to fight off the fuzziness.
“What do you mean?”Hannah asked.
“Ryan and I talked,” Jessie said forcefully.“No, baby.I don’t want to be pregnant.Maybe not adopting either.It’s sad for us, maybe.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted?”Kat asked.
“Not sure what I want anymore,” Jessie conceded.
“Give it time,” Hannah suggested.“Who knows what might happen in the future?”
Jessie nodded, trying to wipe away the small tear at the corner of her eye.But she was clumsy and missed it.Hannah did it for her.She looked sad, too.
“Didn’t mean to bring you down,” Jessie said suddenly.“Good stuff happening.Saved a woman from a stalker.Starting school again soon.”
“Assuming Ash Pierce is caught before then,” Hannah amended.“If she’s not, I may be taking all Zoom classes this quarter.”
“Shewillbe caught,” Jessie firmly assured her.
But even in her diminished mental state, she could tell that Hannah didn’t believe her.Who could blame her?Jessie wasn’t sure that she believed it herself.
She wanted to offer more support to her little sister.But the pillow under her head was so soft, and the pull-out bed was so warm.
She decided to close her eyes.But just for a moment.
EPILOGUE
Ash Pierce was enjoying the wait.
She knew that very soon, the waiting would be replaced by action.So she reminded herself to bask in this last little stretch of quiet and relaxation before she had to be “on.”
After her month living in the Airstream trailer in Big Sur, she’d been up here in Lake Tahoe for the last two days and would be staying through the end of the weekend.It was a bit of a working vacation for her.That’s because this was where Linda Crewes had come forhervacation.
