Page 90 of Rough Fantasy
“What?”
“I said she’s staying with us,” Rory said, his voice turning dangerously soft.
“You didn’t do a great job watching her before. I think I would do a better job.”
“Quit talking about me as if I’m an idiot. I can take care of myself.”
“The hell you can,” both Rory and Conner said at the same time.
“I might want to remind you that the man was dragging me out of the mall and I got away. I didn’t need any help.”
“You were attacked. You should have been more aware of the situation.”
She opened her mouth but Carino stepped in. “Looking at the scene through pictures, I would say that Maura did everything she should have done. I doubt any of us would have been aware of what the guy was up to. He turned off the lights.”
“Yes, it was much darker when I stepped out of the bathroom.” Maura’s voice turned smug.
“That doesn’t mean that you should not be particularly careful. If this trial has something to do with it, you need more protection.”
Conner glanced at Zeke. “I think she should come home with us.”
“No bloody way,” Rory said, grounding out every word.
Conner looked from Rory to Zeke then back to Rory. Zeke knew the moment Conner realized what was going on. His eyes turned cold, colder than he had ever seen his friend turn.
“We will talk about this.”
Zeke nodded.
“I need to call a few friends of mine and my wife’s to see if she knows what’s going on with this Peterson thing,” the detective said.
Conner turned his attention away from Zeke to focus on Carino. “I’ll help. I have a few connections still and I’ll have Jennifer call around too. She just left and she had ties to the Secret Service through a family member. She might be able to find out just where they are in the negotiations. I know they were trying their best to get him to turn state’s evidence.”
Before anyone could say anything else, the doctor stepped in. “Well, this room is just a little too crowded. Everyone out.”
Conner opened his mouth at the same time that Rory and Zeke did, but Maura stopped them. “Do you mind if my friend Jillian stays here?”
The doctor smiled. “Of course not. That means all the men need to hit the road.”
Zeke wanted to kiss her but from the look on Conner’s face he thought it would be best that he didn’t. They filed out into the hall.
“As I said, we’ll talk about it,” Conner said.
Rory stepped in. “Not that it is any your blood fucking business, but if you discuss this, I want to be there when it happens.”
Conner’s phone rang. “Jennifer calling me back.”
Zeke watched him walk down the hall to speak.
“Do you think he’s going to cause us problems?” Rory asked.
“He’ll try. He’s always been too protective when it comes to Maura.”
“No more dizziness?” Doctor Akako asked.
“Nope, just tired. I know that’s from some of the pain meds.”
She nodded. “You won’t be alone tonight?”