Page 21 of Resolution

“It was a ricochet of exploding bricks, Raven,” Miguel said quietly. “I wasn’t shot.”

“You very well could have been killed if that asshole had better aim,” Mike growled.

“Go on. We’ll call you in the morning to fill in any blanks after we read over our notes and listen to this again,” Cassidy said. He stood abruptly, and we followed suit.

We hugged our friends goodbye. All I wanted was a bath, and I was going to make Miguel get in with me so I could simply wash off this awful day.

Chapter Six

RAVEN

I’d completely forgotten that my truck was now sitting in the LAPD impound lot and since it was considered part of an ongoing investigation into the incident at the grocery store, we couldn’t drive it home. We ended up calling an Uber and getting home well after ten. Dolly greeted us in her pajamas, robe, and curlers as soon as we walked through the door. Guilt threatened to swamp me on top of every other emotion I was feeling. Since we hadn’t called, she’d obviously taken it upon herself to plan to stay overnight. I felt awful about it.

“Oh, my God!” she cried, moving a sleeping Stanley from her lap and running toward us the moment she saw Miguel’s gauze eyepatch. “What on earth happened? All the police detective would say was that you were at the station and that you’d be home as soon as they were through with you.” She stood in front of Miguel, looking up at his poor face which was a little swollen and had begun to bruise.

“We got into a little trouble, Dolly,” Miguel replied. There was no way we were going to tell her how we’d both nearly died.

“What happened to your beautiful face?” she asked, tears filling her eyes.

I reached out and took her hand, leading her to the couch.

“We had a little trouble but I’m going to be fine,” Miguel said, following us. I pulled her down on the couch, and Miguel sat in a nearby chair, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped as he faced her.

“What happened to your eye? Will it be okay?”

Miguel nodded. “Yes. I got some brick dust in it, that’s all.”

Dolly frowned, looking him over, shook her head, and sighed loudly. “You’re not telling me the whole truth. I see bruises and cuts all over your face. You don’t get those from a little brick dust.” When Miguel opened his mouth to reply, she held up her hand, stopping his words. She turned to me. “He’s lying. Tell me what happened, Raven.”

I snorted, exchanging a glance with Miguel, watching him nod. “Fine, I’ll tell you, but I don’t want you to worry. He really is going to be fine.”

“Mm hmm…go on then…spill the whole story.”

“We were coming out of Trader Joe’s after work and someone shot at us. When Miguel went after the guy, the man shot the side of the building, missing Miguel, but hitting the bricks. Some small shards hit him in the face…like a ricochet but with bricks, not bullets.” I watched the tears well up and slide down her face now.

“The paramedics checked my eye, Dolly. There’s nothing in it. It’s just swollen,” Miguel reassured her. “I’m going to be fine,really.”

She reached out, and he took her hand. “Who shot at you two?”

I looked at Miguel as his expression saddened. “I’m not sure. We’re still working on the recovery of that ruby. You know what I’m talking about, right?”

She nodded. The night we’d gone after Rosina Cassanova, Lance Bishop, and John Mendez, ATF SAC Sarah Connor had sent members of her team to our house to guard our little family. When we’d gotten home that night, we’d told Dolly as much as we could. She was a formidable woman who was fiercely protective of my nana, acting as not only a nurse, but a friend. Miguel and I considered her to be one of the family.

“I remember, Miguel, but I thought the bad guys were behind bars.”

“Three people were taken into custody that night, but we think there’s at least one more out there.” Miguel shot me a look before glancing back at her. “We can’t be sure, but we’re going to try to arrange for someone to come and guard you and Nana until this is all over.”

She shook her head. “No,” she said. “No more police. You need to let me take her home with me. I’ll keep her safe, Miguel.” She looked over at me. “I don’t want you to worry, Raven.”

I’d worry anyway. Not only did I like knowing that Nana was in a safe, familiar place, but expecting Dolly to be on duty twenty-four hours a day wasn’t fair. I was hoping we could get Cassidy and Mike to arrange for a patrol car to park on the street outside after the incident at Trader Joe’s.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Dolly,” I said. “Nana’s familiar with the layout of our house. Trying to get a blind, old lady used to a new environment won’t be easy.”

“She is really good about staying in her recliner until I get her up for the bathroom and to bathe, Raven. She enjoys my cooking, my house is big and clean, and my next-door neighbor is a wonderful lady. If I have to run out to the store or pharmacy to pick something up for her, Claudia will stay with her. She’ll never be left alone.” She smiled. “And I think she’ll enjoy my grandchildren when they come home from school. Really, I wouldn’t suggest it if I weren’t serious.”

I nodded. I didn’t like Dolly’s neighborhood, but my nana wouldn’t be going out anyway. She’d miss her garden and her roses, but it would only be a temporary solution. I supposed it was a good idea, better than leaving them both here where I knew Alex Filmore or a hired goon could get to them. I raised an eyebrow at Miguel. “What do you think?”

“I think Dolly’s right, Raven,” Miguel said. “Anyone looking for us at home wouldn’t think to look at her place, and Cassidy and Mike might not be able to assign officers to watch the house. I know I’d feel better if I knew your nana and Dolly were safe at her place.”

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