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Woozy and a little nauseated, I kept my eyes closed and tried to hold on to a dream I’d had about Gracie. Details were already fleeting, but I did remember that we’d been having a tea party on a grassy lawn. Even though she was a child in my dreams, her voice was older, and she told me, “You did good, Lise. Can you help me?” I woke before I could tell her I would.
I thought back to the night I’d almost died, the night Teague, Ortega, and Gabe did die. According to Baker’s wife, after I’d called Baker, he’d called Ortega first because he lived near Nick’s house and could get there the quickest. Then he called for backup as he ran to his car. Ortega got to Nick’s first, then Baker shortly after. The rest of the police didn’t arrive until after Michelangelo had already used his own blood and brain matter for his final piece.
I opened my eyes, and though the lights were off and the shades drawn, the room seemed awash in white. Licking dry lips, I craved water and tried to orient myself. I felt lingering pain where I’d been struck and knew I sported a black eye and swollen ear. My arm was tender where over a dozen stitches had repaired that damage. There were hushed sounds of hospital equipment monitoring vitals.
A nurse entered the room. “Ah, you’re awake.”
I nodded and felt a pain in my neck from sleeping awkwardly. “These chairs could double as torture devices,” I said, sitting straighter. “Any idea when Sleeping Beauty will wake up?” I nodded to Baker in the hospital bed.
“When he’s ready.” She smiled, got his chart, and checked his vitals before leaving.
That night, I had been admitted at the hospital as well but only spent one night there. After stitching me up, they’d kept me mainly for observation. They’d prescribed heavy-duty Tylenol and kicked me loose, but I was still hurting. With my left arm immobilized in a sling, I was currently a one-armed private investigator.
“Really?” a gruff voice said, and I saw Baker look at me through half-lidded eyes. “I wake up and find you in my room?”
“You’re just lucky, I guess,” I said, a grin in place.
“How long have I been out?”
“Three days,” I said. “Your wife has been here round the clock. I told her I’d sit with you so she could go home and rest and shower.”
“Thanks, Norwood.” Baker coughed. “Thanks for saving my life.” Then he was out again.
I called the nurse and told her he’d been awake for a minute, then I called his wife.
***
I RETURNED TO SAN MARCO General the next day. Baker’s wife and daughter were there. I told them to head down to the cafeteria, that I would keep Papa Bear company. Baker had the TV tuned to ESPN. I picked up the remote from a bedside table and switched it off.
After a few minutes of silence, I said, “I’m sorry about Ortega.”
“Me too. He was a damn fine partner.” Sorrow shadowed his eyes.
I nodded. “A fine person.”
Baker reached with a shaky hand for a Styrofoam cup on the tray by his bed. I got it first and held it so he could sip water through a straw. He looked up at me. “Been meaning to ask. How many bullets were really in the clip?”
I knew he meant the gun that Gabe had taken from Ortega. “After shooting himself? Two.”
Baker shook his head. “Why’d you work this so hard when it wasn’t your job? It almost killed you.”
I pictured Gracie in my mind. “I had a cousin. We were close as kids. She was murdered. Stabbed and left to die in a park in Panama City. This was a few years ago. The killer was never caught. I think it’s because of her that I wanted to stop Michelangelo.”
“Ah, shit, Lise. I’m really sorry.”
“I’ve been thinking that I might go to Panama City, see if I can find her murderer.”
“I’ll do what I can from this end to help you.”
I smiled at him. “I’ll hold you to that, Baker. You know, for all your attempts at coming across gruff and mean, you’re a sweet man.”
Baker snorted. “Now what?”
“What do you mean?”
“Back to being a private pain in the ass?”
“Best private pain in the ass in San Marco.”
From behind me, I heard, “Lise?”
I turned to find Nick. We were immediately in one another’s arms. I squeaked in pain when we crushed my injured arm between our bodies, after which we held each other a bit more gingerly. We kissed, he stroked my cheek, we kissed again, then we looked into one another’s eyes. In this quiet gaze, we shared our love, and when we both started to cry, we shared the shock, betrayal, grief, disbelief, and horror at learning Gabe’s true nature.
We stepped apart, and I wiped my eyes, noticing Adolph standing just outside the door in the hallway. I gave him a quick hug and pulled him into the room. “Thanks for picking Nick up at the airport.”
“My pleasure.” Adolph approached the bed and asked, “Detective Baker, how are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been shot in the gut and morphine is my new best friend.”
“Thanks for keeping an eye out for Lise,” Nick said to Baker.
“It’s the other way around. She saved my life,” Baker said. “So you two lovebirds flying to Vienna?”
Nick shook his head. “The fellowship ended before it even began. I’ve been recalled to San Marco University to step in for Gabe.”
“Tough break.”
I put my good arm around Nick’s waist. “We plan to go to Vienna during Christmas break and play tourist.”
“My almost-boss at the Academy of Fine Arts, Professor Gildersleeve, promised he’d show us around. Said Vienna is beautiful at Christmas.”
“That sounds nice,” Baker said. “And Lise deserves a good time.”
Nick smiled. “I’ll show her one.”
Baker yawned just as a nurse walked in, and she said, “Nice of everyone to come visit, but it’s looking like the detective could use a nap.”
“Nah, I’m good.”
The nurse’s eyebrows went up, and she stated matter-of-factly, “You’ll nap.”
“Then we’ll skedaddle,” I said. To Nick and Adolph, I added, “Meet me at the little chapel down past the nurses’ station. I want to say a prayer for Ortega and Teague.”
They left, followed by the nurse. I went over and kissed Baker’s cheek. “Get well, you ol’ bear.”
Baker got misty eyes and mumbled, “Your boyfriend, he’s a lucky man to have you.”
“Why, Detective Baker, is that a compliment?”
“Yeah, why not? You earned it.” He thought a second and added, “But don’t expect it to become a habit.”