Chapter Forty
C onner threw down his napkin and groaned. “Damn, Keira. That was the best meal I’ve had in years.”
“Thank you,” she said without looking up.
Daniel looked at the two. He noticed Conner kept trying to connect with Keira, but she kept pushing him away. He noticed she started to shut down when they talked about the night of the attack and Conner’s role in it.
The only part Conner had in this whole deal was helping her the night of the attack. It was Daniel she should feel angry toward. He should have been the one to protect her. If he had a chance, pretty soon, he’d ask her.
“Keira, how about you go into the den and watch some TV, while we guys clean the kitchen?” Daniel said.
Keira stood and gathered her dishes. “I can help.”
Conner came in behind her, reached around, and snatched the dishes from her hands. “No, you did all the cooking. Go relax.”
A flush crawled across her face. “Okay,” she said, turning and walking out the door.
Conner was washing the dishes while Daniel wiped and put them away. Conner looked toward Daniel. “She’s starting to forgive you, isn’t she?”
Daniel placed a plate in the cupboard and turned back. “Yes, I think she is.”
Conner looked out the window above the sink. “Do you think she’ll forgive me for not getting to her earlier?”
Daniel grabbed the plate Conner handed to him. “You got to her as soon as you heard her scream. But why do you think she hasn’t?”
“You and I both know she hasn’t forgiven me. She can hardly look at me, and when she talks to me, it’s in short sentences.”
Daniel sighed and nodded. “I’ve noticed, I just don’t understand why she’s mad at you when I’m the one that screwed up.”
“No, man, we both did. I feel like I didn’t do enough to catch this guy. Hell, I still don’t.”
“Give her time. She’s still recovering from her injuries.”
Conner and Blane watched Daniel walk away from the reflection in the window and thought about what he said.
“What are you watching, Honey?”
Keira pulled her unfocused gaze from the movie she couldn’t concentrate on. “I’m not sure.”
Daniel sat beside her on the sofa in his den/TV room. He lifted his arm around her and pulled her against his side. He waited for a moment to see if she would push him away, then relaxed.
“What did your sister have to say?”
“She’s worried about me.”
“That’s a given.”
“I know, but she wanted to come over today, and I said no, she needed to concentrate on Logan, and I had you and Conner with me, so I was safe.”
Daniel leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead above the bruise where the guy had hit her. “I’m glad you trust us to take care of you.”
They watched the movie for several minutes.
Keira looked up at him. “I think I’m going to head upstairs and take a bath and go to bed.”
Daniel brushed his thumb over her cheek. “Okay. Do you need me to carry you?”
Keira shook her head and then stood.
Daniel walked with her out of the room. “I’m going to talk to the guys some more, and then I’ll be up.”
She lifted her hand. “Good night.”
“Night, Honey.”
Daniel watched from the bottom of the stairs and waited until Keira had closed the door to the bedroom before heading into the living room, where Blane and Conner went over more papers. “Find anything else yet?”
Conner shook his head. “No. Have you thought of anyone else?”
“No, I keep wracking my brain.”
Blane looked up. “We’ve gone over all the names you’ve given us. We’re also compiling a list of people Tammy knew, who she worked with, or guys she dated. Keira hasn’t been in town long enough to meet anyone.”
“Has anyone been in contact with Vicki at the shop?” Daniel asked.
Blane nodded. “Yeah. I’ve talked to her once, and she couldn’t think of anyone who would want to hurt Keira. She only told me Scott Ridley had stopped in a few times to talk to her, but she didn’t think he was capable of this kind of violence. I asked her to think about it tonight, and we’d talk again in the morning.”
Daniel growled in frustration. “It feels like this won’t ever stop.”
“Has she gotten any more of her memory back?” Blane asked.
“Every time she tries to push it, she gets a headache, so I haven’t asked today. I figure if she does remember, she’ll come to us. She wants that guy arrested more than anyone.” Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. “Have Layla or Logan thought of anyone?”
Blane shook his head as he gathered some of the papers on the table in front of the sofa. “I’m going to head home. I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Conner, the captain wants you to go into the station for a while tomorrow.”
Conner cursed. “I know. I already talked to him. I told him I’d give him the morning.”
Blane chuckled. “You guys have always butted heads.”
“Yeah, well, I’m getting sick of it,” Conner growled.
Blane scowled at Daniel. “Dammit, don’t tell me you’re leaving me to work with Daniel, too?”
“Yes, I am. I’d make more money and not have to deal with red tape, Captain Riggens, or the rest of the bullshit.”
Daniel smirked. “Don’t get on his ass, Blane, I offered you a job, too, and you said you were thinking about it.”
Blane scowled, then sighed. “Yes, and I’m probably as close to leaving as Conner.”
“Conner, will you lock up and set the alarm after he leaves? I’m going up to bed with Keira, she seemed quieter than usual.”
“Yeah, man. I have to leave early in the morning, but I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. There will be a few guys watching the place in the morning.”
“Thank you, Conner. Night, guys.”
“Night,” Conner and Blane said.