Page 34 of Stella's Christmas Rescue
“Jordan isn’t even on your payroll!” The agents near us stare, and Jordan and the doctor give us a fast glance, before they go back to what they were doing. Okay, maybe I should have been quieter when I pointed that out, but the point still stands.
He says, “Which means they don’t know who or where or what he is. Jordan is our secret weapon against Riker. We need to keep it that way.”
I take a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I guess.”
“And I hear Sugar did her job, too.” Wes pets her.
I nod and proudly say, “She did. From what Jordan says, she went after the one who threw Max.”
“I understand, he’s okay, too?”
I nod. “Jordan says he landed on the couch and he’s fine.”
“That’s a relief. Max is a great dog.”
“And it’s my fault he could have been hurt, Wes. I hate this.” I slump at my dining table. My heart aches with the thought of any harm coming to them. It’s too much. All of it.
“None of this is your doing, Stella. You’re trying to do the right thing. No one can blame you for that,” he says and shakes his head.
“I can,” I admit. “I’ve been faulting myself for that for three years.”
He sighs. “I can’t change your mind on that. But what I can do is tell you that none of this is your fault. Since you decided to enter the program and testify against Riker, you have been a good guy fighting against the bad guys. It’s not an easy path, certainly, but it’s the right path. And every day you don’t give up on doing the right thing is another day you’re a hero.”
“How many times have you given that speech?”
He grins. “Unsure. But it usually works. Is it working now?”
“Maybe,” I begrudgingly admit. Then, I smile at him. “Wes, thank you for coming. I know I’m not your easiest case. Youshouldn’t have to deal with all of this. I wish I could make things easier for you. I just?—"
“Stella, you aren’t easy. But that’s why you’re on my caseload. I like the challenging ones. You make my job interesting.”
I laugh. “I doubt you want your job to be this interesting.”
“You’re sure you told me everything?”
I nod. “I’ve told you everything that I remember. But I wasn’t the one dealing with them. Hell, I didn’t even see these guys. That was all Jordan.”
Wes says, “I’ve already taken his statement. I just wanted to make sure everything was covered, no stone left unturned.” Then his voice quiets down again, “So, you and Jordan?”
I am a grown ass woman, I should not be blushing about this. But Wes’ tone makes me think of every schoolyard taunt about sex, and somehow, I’m a teenager again, giggling about boys. I roll my eyes. “Yes, what about it?”
“Seems you two have gotten close.”
I shrug and nonchalantly say, “Some.”
“Alright, be coy. Whatever it is, I’m glad he’s nearby.”
I nod. “Same here.” Whatever it is.
What is it? What are we? After such a strange night, my head is a mess. I shouldn’t be thinking about this sort of thing, too. But then I look at Jordan, and my heart jumps in my chest. I shake my head. Probably just the craziness of the night. I feel closer to him than I have to anyone in a long time. But considering my situation, that’s not saying a lot. Stress can bond people in weird ways, so I shouldn’t read too much into it all. I’m sure this is all just a fun, if not adventurous, hook up for him.
He’s talking to that doctor agent too long. She’s looking at his feet, but does she need to look for four whole minutes? He said it was nothing. And why is she laughing at something he said? He’s not particularly funny. I mean, kind of, but in his own way, and it takes time to appreciate his sense of humor, so why isshe laughing? I should say hi. Interrupt them. In case she’s just laughing to be polite. I can be nice and give her an out. That’s something girls should do for each other. Girl code. Right?
“Hi,” I jump in.
The doctor is startled, but smiles. She says, “Ms. Collins, are you injured?”
“No. Just, um, wanted to see how the patient is doing.”
