Page 134 of Fire and Bones

“Why’s this old-timey murder your concern?”

“I’m a scientist. I’m looking for the truth.”

Shush.

“You’re full of crap.” One bony finger slid from the pistol’s handle to curl around the trigger.

“I’m not,” I said. “You despise the Foggy Bottom Gang for what they did to your mother. I despise them for what they did to that small, defenseless woman.”

Shush.

Lipsey caught it this time. Her gaze went over my shoulder.

A good moment to make a grab for the gun?

No, the neurons screamed. She’s nuts but alert. Ready to fire.

I heard a short high squeak behind me. A rubber sole scraping?

Lipsey’s chin jerked up. “Roy?”

“It’s Ronan.”

“What the hell are you doing here, boy?” Clearly, Lipsey was not a welcome-them-with-open-arms-any-time kind of granny. “I didn’t invite you today.”

“Why are you pointing a gun at that lady?” Ronan’s voice was quivery.

From where he stood, Ronan couldn’t see my face. Or the detective bleeding out at my feet.

“That’s none of your business,” Lipsey snapped.

“Are you having one of your spells, GrammaSue? Did you forget to take your meds?”

“Snake oil. I don’t need that crap.”

“Why are you agitated?”

“You know why. Those bloodsuckers struck again.”

“It’s all right. We’ll find another place to rent space.”

“You and Roy have put your hearts and souls into your business. You’ve worked out of that place for decades. That bastard bought the building just so he could evict you. So he could drive more nails into our coffins.”

“We don’t know that’s the case.”

I heard Ronan’s cautious footfalls as he circled the couch. His sharp gulp of air upon seeing Deery.

“Jesus Christ! GrammaSue. Did you shoot this guy?”

“No. The man from UNCLE showed up and capped him for me.”

Ronan stared at his grandmother, mind working through a labyrinth of twisted possibilities. A very long moment of shocked horror, then he stepped toward the old woman, one hand extended.

“Give me the gun, GrammaSue.”

“Why?”

“I’ll finish this for you.”