Page 136 of Quarter to Midnight

“As a doornail,” Val said. “The courthouse is a media circus. I got close enough to hear the news from one of the reporters and gave up getting any closer and just headed back here. I passed Phin in the parking garage of the hotel. He gave me four vests and headed back to the office because Joy’s there by herself. He doesn’t want her to be alone.”

Patty was so pale that Gabe worried she’d pass out. “What is happening?” she whispered, horrified. “Gabe, what did your father stumble into?”

“Someone is snipping off loose ends,” Molly said flatly. “Which means we have to work faster. Val, what do you want me to do with Patty? Leave her here with you or take her to Burke’s?”

“Leave her here with me,” Val said wearily. “I need to sleep, but she’ll be safer with me than she will be with you.”

“What does that mean?” Patty insisted, the words coming out a terrified screech.

Molly crossed the room and laid her hand on Patty’s shoulder. “It means that whoever killed your uncle is trying to take out anyone who either witnessed him murdering a woman or who knows anything about it.”

“Which is us,” Gabe said, surprised that his voice was steady. “This is why I tried to keep it from you.”

Patty shuddered. “I’m kind of wishing I’d listened to you.”

Molly’s smile was rueful. “Will you stay with Val, Patty? I’ll take you wherever you want to go, but I think you’ll be safest here for now.”

Patty nodded. “I’ll stay. Gabe? Stay with me?”

Gabe shook his head. “I’ll text you every hour if you want me to, but I’m going.”

“Every hour,” Patty said fiercely. “Promise me.”

He hugged her hard. “I promise.”

“Be careful,” Val said, then went back to her room, pausing in the doorway to give Patty a meaningful leave-them-alone look. “I put your vest on your bed, Patty. Come on. I’ll show you how to put it on.”

Reluctantly his cousin followed the tall blonde to the adjoining room, shutting the door behind them. Leaving them all alone.

Alone, but unfortunately, with somewhere to go. Somewhere he had to wear bulletproof gear. He picked up his vest from the bed. “How does this fasten?”

“Under your shirt.”

He unbuttoned his shirt, noting the way Molly’s eyes followed his hands down. When he tugged his shirttail free, he heard her sigh.

A very nice sound indeed. Even if things were crazy all around them, she liked his body and he’d cling to that for a while. He tugged off his shirt and slipped his arms into the vest.

Molly stepped into his space, fastening the Velcro tabs at his sides before he had a chance to do it himself. “Like this.”

“I probably could have figured it out,” he said mildly.

She looked up at him, worry in her eyes. “I know. But now I know it’s on right. I’ve got a tactical helmet in the trunk of the rental car. If things go south, you’ll wear it, too.”

He vaguely remembered her transferring the equipment from her truck to the rental the night before. She’d scanned each item for tracking devices and bugs before storing it in the trunk. She was smart and she was careful.

The knowledge made him feel far safer than the Kevlar vest ever could.

She took her shirt off and pulled her vest on over the serviceable bra that he hoped he’d see again later. But now was not the time. Soberly, he followed her example, fastening her Velcro tabs. It was affirming. She’d keep him safe, and he’d do the same for her.

She buttoned up her shirt and shrugged into her gun-concealing jacket. “Ready?” she asked.

“Yep. Let’s go.”

Chalmette, New Orleans, Louisiana

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 9:50 A.M.

“What’s wrong?” Gabe demanded as Molly checked her phone for the hundredth time since they’d left the hotel.

---