Page 238 of Hidden Nature

“I—”

“Charges and rights. You know the drill.”

“Clara Burch.”

Clara cast her eyes up, raised her voice. “I call on the Almighty to strike you down.”

“I don’t think he’s listening. Clara Burch, you’re under arrest for the assault, abductions, forced imprisonments, and murders of Alyce Otterman, Wayne Carson, Celia Russell, Janet Anderson, Arthur Rigsby, Zach Tarrington, and Lori Preston.”

“We let them go. We sent them home, and all of them glory in their homecoming.”

“The assault, abduction, and false imprisonment of Terrance Brown. You have the right to remain silent,” she continued, and read Clara her rights.

“Your time will come, and there will be no mercy.”

“Loonies,” O’Hara said with a hard smile. “Did I call it? Do you want to sit in on the interview, Sergeant?”

“No. No, thanks. I’ve had enough.”

“You change your mind, you know how to reach me. Family?”

“Yes, my family.”

“You got one tough woman here, one solid cop. She saved lives today. Come on, Clara, time to go.”

“In His time,” Clara shouted as O’Hara marched her away. “In His time the Almighty will strike you down. He does not suffer a witch to live!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” O’Hara muttered, and loaded her in the back of a car.

Sloan stopped herself from rubbing a hand over the scar on her chest.

“I need to go back in for now. It’s going to take a while. I’ll have the next few days off. I’ll come over, Mom, Dad, I’ll come over tomorrow, tell you everything. Cap’s here, so please don’t worry.”

“Why should we?” Dean countered. “You’re one tough woman, one solid cop. And you’re still my little girl.”

He grabbed her, held her, then let her go.

“Day off all around tomorrow. I’m making pancakes. Ten o’clock.”

“I’m going to take Tic.” Theo glanced at his brother, sent a message without words. “We’re staying at Drea’s tonight. Closer to pancakes.”

Drea leaned in, whispered in Sloan’s ear, “Call if you need me.”

As they left, Sloan turned to Nash. “It’ll take a little while yet.”

“I’ll wait.”

She shut her eyes, then held up a hand when she opened them. “I can’t… Not yet. Just thanks.”

She went back in, and he settled in to wait.

EPILOGUE

She said nothing when she came out again, looked back at the team still processing.

“I walked over. If I’d driven… Well, I didn’t. We’ll need to take your car or walk.”

“Walk. Oh God, yes, walk.”

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