Page 33 of Rules of Engagement

"Has there been any new development?" I asked quickly.

"Nothing special to report, but I want to be there in case something does come up. I can tell you that I just got a call from my guys. They looked into the motorcycle, which was reported stolen, so I think the rider had to be involved. It makes sense. Helmet covers most of the face, which is a great disguise. The motorcycle makes for a fast getaway. It's untraceable and easy to ditch."

"But you can find the rider? The shooter?" asked Anastasia.

"It makes it more difficult because it's stolen," said Garrett. "I put out a BOLO and every cop in the city is looking for it. When we find the motorcycle, we'll probably know more."

"We'll walk out with you," said Dad. He gave me a quick hug and kiss and said, "Stay positive."

"I should go too," said Anastasia.

"Anastasia is staying with us," said Mom. "I insisted."

"But I'll come back later. Is that okay?" asked Anastasia.

I said it was and she left with my parents and brother. Dad and Garrett walked ahead and I figured my dad wanted to pump Garrett for more information without upsetting me. I wondered what they would say if I told them I already had all of that motorcycle information. I shot off a text to Lucas, telling him about the BOLO.

Dropping into the chair, all the energy was suddenly drained out of me. I slowly sipped the tea Anastasia brought for me, and pondered my next steps. While my agency colleagues searched Solomon's past and looked for the shooter, Solomon had given me two pieces of information that I still didn't know what to do with. One was the letter with the enormous check. The other was his whispered message, something I pushed aside but couldn't ignore any longer. What did he want me to go to Maddox for? Did that mean Maddox knew something?

Did he think Maddox shot him?!

Before I could even begin to get my head around that, Lily burst into the room. "I couldn't stay away," she said. "I just ran into your parents and your mom offered to take Poppy so I'm all yours. I can do whatever you need. Fetch you tea... oh! You already got one. Well, I can pick up some more clothes... but you already have your bag. Why don't I..." She paused, her nose wrinkling in thought. Finally, when she exhausted whatever ran through her mind, she finished with " —I'm here for whatever you need."

"Read this," I said, handing her the letter that I'd stuck in my pocket.

"What is it? No, shush! Don't spoil the surprise." Lily read it quickly, her eyes moving from side-to-side like a typewriter resetting every line. "What the fudgsicle?" she asked.

"There's this too," I added, passing her the check.

"Fudging fudgsicles!" she whispered, her eyes widening. She pushed back her blonde curls and they escaped her hand and fell around her shoulders again. "I have so many questions."

"Me too."

"Solomon has a million bucks to spare? That's number one. Number two, what the fudgsicle?"

I held back a smile at her obvious surprise. "You asked that already."

"It's so important, it needs to be asked many times. Where did you get this?" she asked, flapping the letter.

"A lawyer approached me outside the hospital this morning."

"How did they know to do that?"

"I didn't ask. I suppose word must have gotten around."

"What are you going to do with this check?"

"Garrett said I should cash it."

"I agree. Solomon wanted you to have it. He wanted to make sure you were looked after. He says so, right here." She tapped the letter.

"I get that. I wish I knew why he thought he needed to prepare for something like this. He must have thought there was a realistic expectation of it actually happening."

Lily glanced to Solomon. "You were right," she said to him. Then to me, "He was right."

"I heard you the first time."

"You should listen to both of us. Plus, what if someone comes after you? You can use this money to get on a plane and go anywhere you like to stay safe."

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