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Flora stalked the Everett home. The babies were both fast asleep. Scout had a tiny trail of spittle dripping onto her teething bib. It had been forty-seven minutes since she’d heard from either Ivy or Lydia.
The police scanner had grown strangely quiet. Flora’s mind tuned out the white noise long ago. No crackles or calls interrupted the peaceful air of the house. She wished it would. Flora longed to know what was happening out there. She hoped everyone was safe.
Finally, her phone jangled in her pocket. She yanked it free and swiped at the screen. It was a text from Kat.
Power back on. Phone’s charging. I will call soon. Need grown-up talk. What’s happening in HP?
Flora laughed. Kat was going to be livid. She missed all the activity of the last few days. Not to exclude her, but Flora hoped Della’s killer would be caught before Friday. Kat would have missed the entire ordeal but the town would be safer once again. Flora replied with a noncommittal emoji.
✽✽✽
Lydia’s phone jangled. She locked eyes with Ivy, who leaned against the opposite wall. They stood just outside the exam room, as Dr. Lawrence inspected Grant’s nose. No sounds came from the room. Both Ivy and Lydia found themselves relieved when the combo text from Kat came through.
Lydia sighed. She hadn’t realized she’d been grinding her teeth. She shot a quick answer to Kat and then she called Flora.
✽✽✽
The door to the examination room opened and Devon rushed down the hall. Ivy could see inside the room from her place against the wall. Grant sat on the exam table beside his Aunt. Ines had her arm around his shoulder. She cried so softly the noise didn’t leave the room. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she maintained a confident smile at her nephew. Grant held her other hand. It was impossible to tell who was comforting who. Grant looked up in time to catch Ivy’s glancing inspection before Devon hurried back into the room and shut the door.
It wasn’t long before the doctor and the nurse invited the hallway guards to enter. “They say you can come in if you’d like. Ines’ has more to tell you.” Devon returned to her work and Dr. Lawrence exited toward the break room.
Lydia entered first. Ivy slunk in behind her, trying to bleed into the wallpaper. “So?” Lydia inquired as she looked Grant up and down.
Ines spoke. “Broken, but not too bad. He just shouldn’t talk for a bit.” Ines slid from the table, protective paper sticking to her pants. “In fact, you should be reclining. Just keep your head upright.” She instructed and settled Grant in her place and took the plastic waiting chair beside the table. “They’ve given him something for the pain and an ice pack for the swelling.”
“Did Parker take a report?”
Ines shook her head. “He said he’d wait until we’re both cleared to leave. I can’t believe Bill did this! It’s overwhelming.” Lydia noticed Ines was trembling but not from tears. Her fists were clenched and her jaw tight. Ines was livid. “What am I going to tell my sister-in-law? She’ll never forgive me for allowing Grant to be attacked.”
“You didn’t do it,” Grant said, his voice was muffled by the ice pack. He winced as he spoke. His adrenaline was fading and the pain was stealing center stage.
“No, my fiancé did.”
In unison, Lydia and Ivy reported. “That man is not your fiancé.”