Hidden Riches

her for a while?” Mary Pat ran a soothing hand up and down his back. “It’ll make you feel better.”
    “Thanks.”
    “I go off duty in an hour. I’ll check back.”
    But when she did, one look had her stepping back and leaving them alone.
    He was still there in the morning.
     
    She awakened slowly, as if swimming toward the surface of still, dark water. The air seemed too thick to breathe, and there was a whooshing sound in her head like waves lapping gently on the shore.
    He watched her break through, every flicker of the eyelid. Her hand flexed once in his, then lay still again.
    “Come on, Dora, don’t go back yet.” He brushed his fingers over her hair, over her cheek. She was still too pale, he thought, much too pale. But her lashes fluttered again, then her eyes opened. He waited for them to focus.
    “Jed?” Her voice sounded hollow, lifeless, and the sound of it almost broke him.
    “Yeah, baby. Right here.”
    “I had a nightmare.” He pressed a kiss to her hand, fighting the need to simply lay his head on the bed and let go.
    “It’s all right now.”
    “It seemed awfully real. I—Oh God!” She shifted, sending an arrow of pain radiating through her arm.
    “You’ve got to lie still.”
    Like the pain, memory burst back. “He shot me. Jesus.” She started to move her hand to the fire blooming in her shoulder, but he clamped his fingers on hers. “It was Finley.”
    “It’s all over now. You’re going to be fine.”
    “I’m in the hospital.” The panic came quickly, surging along with the pain. “How—how bad?”
    “They fixed you all up. You just need to rest now.” None of his fourteen years on the force had prepared him to deal with the terrified pain clouding her eyes. “I’m going to get a nurse.”
    “I remember.” Her fingers trembled as she groped to hang onto his. “He was in the apartment, waiting for me. He wanted the painting back. I told him I didn’t know where it was, and he shot me.”
    “He won’t ever hurt you again. I swear it.” He pressed his brow against their joined hands and felt himself crack. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”
    But she was swimming down through the dark water again, away from the pain. “Don’t leave me alone here.”
    “I won’t.”
     
    The next time he saw her conscious, she was surrounded by flowers, banks and bouquets of them from sweet little nosegays to towering exotic blooms. Rather than the drab hospital gown, she was wearing something frilly and pink. Her hair was washed and she was wearing makeup.
    But to Jed she looked horribly frail.
    “How you doing, Conroy?”
    “Hi.” She smiled and held out a hand. “How’d you break in? They’re vicious about proper visiting hours around here.”
    “I pulled rank.” He hesitated. The hand in his felt as fragile as bird wings. “If you’re too tired, I can stop back by later.”
    “No, if you stay you can chase them away when they come in with their needles.”
    “Sure, my pleasure.” Miserably awkward, he turned away to study the forest of flowers. “Looks like you ought to go into a different business.”
    “Great, isn’t it? I love being fawned over.” She shifted, winced and was grateful his back was to her. “You ratted on me, Skimmerhorn.”
    “What?”
    “You told my family.”
    “I figured it was better than having them read it in the papers.”
    “You’re probably right. So what’s happening in your world? Mary Pat tells me you kicked Goldman out early and went back to work.”
    “Yeah.” He’d had to have something filling his days, or go quietly mad.
    “Can I see your badge?”
    “What?”
    “Really.” She smiled again. “Can I see it?”
    “Sure.” He pulled out his shield as he crossed to the bed. She took it, studied it, opened and closed it a couple of times.
    “Pretty cool. How does it feel?”
    “Right,” he told her as he slipped it back into his pocket. There was no possible way he could stand there and make small talk when he kept seeing the stark white bandage peeking out beneath that frilly pink nightgown. “Listen, I just stopped by to see how you were doing. I’ve got to go.”
    “Before you give me my present?” When he said nothing, she drummed up another smile, though it was becoming harder as her medication wore off. “That box you’re holding? Isn’t it for me?”
    “Yeah, it’s for you.” He set it on her lap. “I’ve been by a couple of times when you were zonked out. After I saw the