Esther walked back to where Craig met her. “How are you doing?”
“Not great, but I’ll be okay. Thank you for being here.”
“I’m glad you called.” Craig returned her phone. “Talmadge left while you were with the detective. His hip was bothering him. He asked you to call as soon as you were free.”
“Can you tell him I’m okay and that I’ll connect up with him tomorrow?”
“I already did. He wanted to tell you—”
“Later. Please. All right?”
“Sure thing.” He pointed to where Patricia and Lacy Saunders were stepping from their car. “I called them. I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s better than that.” Esther stepped forward to accept their embraces. “Thank you so much for coming.”
Patricia held up a thermos. “I’ve always found hot cocoa to be a soothing balm to every calamity.”
“That sounds nice.”
Patricia unscrewed the cap and poured. The fragrance of steaming chocolate filled the night’s empty spaces. Lacy looked around, asked, “All these police came for an attempted break-in?”
“Must be a slow night,” Craig agreed.
Esther realized they did not know any details. She asked Craig, “What did Talmadge tell you?”
“That there’d been an attack on your home,” Craig said.
She sipped from the cup and felt the warmth spread through her. “This is great.”
“See?” Patricia studied the two men talking with the detective. “Is that Councilman Edwards?”
“Talmadge called him,” Craig said. “He thought having an attorney here might help.”
“And he did,” Esther replied. “A lot.”
Detective Sanchez walked over, declined the offer of chocolate, and said, “It’s okay for you to enter your home.”
“She won’t be staying here,” Patricia declared. “She’s going home with us.”
Lacy said, “Mom, maybe Esther would rather be alone.”
“She’s had a shock. The last thing she needs tonight is to stay here by herself.”
Esther hated the necessity of correcting either of them. And the truth was, she dreaded stepping inside her house just now. But she could not accept their invitation without first clearing up the situation. “Actually, that’s not entirely correct.” She handed back the cup. “They invaded my property. But it appears they did not enter my home.”
She found it interesting that only Lacy seemed to understand. Craig and Patricia both stared at her in confusion. Patricia said, “You caught them before they broke in?”
“Mom . . .”
“What?”
Esther said softly, “It was a hit squad.”
Craig swung toward the detective. When Sanchez did not respond, he turned back, now reflecting Patricia’s confused expression. “How . . . ?”
“I spotted them because I parked down the street a ways to take a phone call. Otherwise I’d be . . .”
Lacy said, “Oh. Wow.”
Esther nodded.
“We’ll assign a patrol car to stay near your home and keep watch,” Sanchez said. When the three people remained frozen from the shock of what they were hearing, she went on, “Another will be serving as your personal escort. You shouldn’t drive anywhere.”
Esther asked, “Is that really necessary?”
Sanchez nodded. “Your would-be assailants are still out there. Maybe you should think about having us move you into a hotel.”
“No,” Patricia said, more quietly now. “She’s coming home with us.”
For the third time, Lacy said, “Mom . . .”
“What?”
“Don’t you think you should talk this over with Dad?”
“Your father is in surgery until who knows how late. He’ll sleep at the hospital. He has rounds tomorrow morning. He’ll come home and find Esther in our guest room and a cop car on our doorstep. Isn’t that right, Officer?”
“Detective,” Sanchez corrected. “Long as Ms. Larsen is in residence.”
Craig said, “Talmadge has also arranged for private security.” All eyes turned his way. He shrugged an apology at Esther. “Talmadge wanted to be the one to tell you, but you said to put him off. I thought you should know that it’s happening.”
“There, you see?” Patricia said. “Craig, go home and get some rest. Esther, come with us.”
Esther started, “I’m not sure . . .”
“Well, I am. Good night, Detective.”
Craig embraced her once more and said, “The girls are going to be furious they missed all this.”
“All right, you two can hug on each other tomorrow.” Patricia made a shooing gesture. “It’s like herding cats.”