Page 51 of Shadow of Death
“Go home,” he told them.
“Home?” Hunter said.
“Sorry, go to your hotel! That’s an order. Not just from me, from your boss, Hunter, from Garza. And since Amy is on loan to him, he doesn’t want her worn to a frazzle. This isn’t going to go away. There are still several people you might want to talk to—”
“Not to worry, we’re both exhausted,” Hunter told him. “But I want to check on Bret Johnston. And what about Hayden Harper?”
“Did you find her?” Amy asked anxiously.
“No, she wasn’t at her house,” Andy said. “She did leave the hospital and get into her car and drive out of the parking lot. But—”
“What? She was going to stop off at the grocery store at one in the morning?” Amy asked. She winced. She hadn’t meant to speak that way to Andy.
“I know you’re worried,” Andy said. “But you have to let it go for tonight. Have faith in my people. We’re pulling traffic cams. We’ll find something. Amy, I promise you, we are doing everything humanly possible.”
“I know,” Amy said quietly. “But has anyone gone in to see Carey? To let her know we really are searching for Hayden?”
“Yes, Amy, you know I have several people at the hospital. And she’s been assured we won’t stop.”
“And we really won’t stop, right?” Hunter asked.
“You know my word is good,” Andy said.
“I do,” Hunter agreed.
“And I am ready to keel over,” Amy murmured.
“I just want to see Johnston and if Violet and Brian haven’t left yet—” Hunter began.
“Now there’s a place where we’ve had a win,” Andy said. “Brian, Violet, and Belinda talked a while, and...with Violet’s and Belinda’s blessing, Brian is saying goodbye to his father.”
“Oh!” Amy said, as she walked down the hall, then stopped.
“Room three!” Andy said.
She smiled, and Hunter was beside her, anxious as they pushed open the door.
Bret Johnston was seated and Brian was at his side. His father’s arm was around him as he spoke. Belinda stood near the door and Violet was in a chair across from Bret.
Hearing them enter, Bret quickly looked their way. “This is true goodness,” he said softly. “Violet is going to watch Brian as long as we need her to do so.” He looked over at Violet. “I can’t believe how close we came to losing her.”
Violet glanced their way and shrugged. “They weren’t losing me. They were throwing me away.”
“Oh, God, Violet—” Bret began.
“Hey, it’s all right. I’m going to be happy if you and Peggy have snapped out of it,” Violet said. “The kid is my nephew and Peggy is my sister, and well, you’re okay when you’re not all crazed in the head.” She smiled at Amy and Hunter and winked. “I do believe we’re going to be all right.”
“I think we will do prison time,” Bret Johnston said quietly. “And that’s as it should be, Brian. You were the smartest of us. Thank God we have you!”
“We’ll leave you all, then,” Hunter said. “You have our cards—if any one of you need us for anything, call us.”
“And seriously,” Belinda said, “we’reallhere, if and when you need us or just to make sure you’re doing okay!”
Amy looked at Belinda and smiled. Whatever happened anywhere else, Belinda would make Brian a priority in her work and life.
“Good night, then,” Hunter said.
They waved to the group, let the door close, and headed toward the reception area where there was a fair amount of commotion going on.
