Page 65 of Her Only Hero

“Thank you,” I said, feeling like I was out of my body.

Soon he returned holding a mug. “There’s no milk. Is black okay, or do you have some powdered creamer?”

“Black is fine,” I said.

More emergency vehicles arrived and flashed outside the front window. Paramedics wheeled the stretcher with Dave on it into the ambulance. I shuddered.

“I bet the neighbors are wondering what happened,” I said.

“Don’t worry about the neighbors. June, was that the man who assaulted you?”

“Yes.”

“Well, he is in custody now. And you are safe.”

“Safe.” I took a deep breath. “Am I really?”

“Come here.” He put his arms around me.

“I don’t know why he was here. And why he sent me that box, though he denied it.”

“What box?”

I pointed to the cardboard box on the coffee table.

He looked at the mirror inside but didn’t touch it. “He sent you this?”

“I’m assuming,” I said.

“I’ll submit it for prints,” Patrick said.

A police officer came into the living room. “We removed a few personal items before they took the victim to the hospital.” He glanced at me and then at Patrick.

“It’s okay. She’s helping with the investigation,” Patrick said.

The officer handed Patrick a plastic ziplock bag. Patrick emptied the contents onto the coffee table. A wallet, pill vial, lighter, and my long-lost work ID. My stomach constricted.

“My badge. He had it the whole time. But why was he after me? I never saw him kill anyone.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know that. It’ll be in his best interest to cooperate and explain why he did what he did.” Patrick opened the suspect’s wallet and removed his driver’s license. “His name is David Moreno.”

My stomach churned, and bile rose. I bolted for the bathroom and expelled the scant contents of my stomach. I hunched over the sink and splashed cold water on my face. I stopped dousing and froze. Water dripped off my skin, and a paralyzing realization seeped through me.

I may have fired a lethal shot.

Chapter Thirty-One

“June?” Patrick’s reflection frowned in the bathroom mirror.

I grabbed a towel and dabbed my face.

“How about we go to my place?” he said.

“Have you heard anything about David’s condition?”

“No, but they’re taking him to St. Eugene’s Hospital. There will be an armed guard at his door.”

“That’s good,” I said.

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