Chapter Twenty-Four
Costa Mesa, California
“Pop.” Kit’s smile lit up the room and Sam’s heart lightened as he pushed her wheelchair close to Harlan’s bed.
Sam had finally gotten her to the same hospital where Harlan was recovering around three that morning. They’d had to stay in the warehouse, sitting with four dead bodies and one live prisoner, until the cops came.
The delay had arisen from an “officer down” call fifteen minutes away. Sullivan, Bob’s other guard, had been sent to kill Lennox, Burroughs, and Desoto, but he hadn’t counted on Ricky Nicchi being in the vehicle in front of them.
Sullivan had forced the LAPD SUV off the road, sending it down an embankment. He’d stepped out of his car and, after he’d gotten off a few shots at the cops in the SUV, he was run over by Ricky Nicchi in his own vehicle.
Lennox, Burroughs, and Desoto had been transported to the same hospital as Edwin Ito, in downtown LA about an hour away. Lennox and Burroughs had head injuries from the crash but would survive. The prognosis for Desoto, who had been shot, was grim.
Sullivan was dead, his neck broken.
Nicchi had been treated for a broken arm and then released. As far as Sam knew, Nicchi was sitting at Ito’s bedside. They hadn’t heard from the big man all day.
Sam and Kit still had so many questions. After Kit visited with her father, they were headed to see Ito in the hospital in LA to get answers to those questions. Nicchi and Ito would talk to them. Sam wouldn’t leave until they did.
But this moment was for Kit to spend with Harlan, who was sitting up in the hospital bed, being spoiled rotten by his family. As it should be.
They’d moved Harlan from the ICU into a regular room, so he’d had a constant stream of visitors—Kit, Akiko, Anson, the teenagers, and a host of former fosters who’d driven hours to see their dad. Betsy, of course, hadn’t left her husband’s side.
Harlan was clearly enjoying the attention. Sam thought that Harlan needed his kids as much as they needed him. He’d started to back away when Harlan shot him a wry look.
“Sam. Come here.”
“Sir,” Sam said, resting his hands on the bedrail. “You’re looking better than you were last night.” When he and Kit had stopped by after leaving the ER.
Kit had needed more stitches, but there was no long-term damage.
They had much to be grateful for. Last night could have ended so much worse.
Harlan lifted his hand and Sam took it. The big man just stared up at him for a long moment before clearing his throat. “Thank you. You brought my girls back to me.”
“Kit helped,” Sam said.
Harlan smiled for a moment before his expression hardened. “I want you to talk to Ito. I want to know why he kept secrets that nearly got my daughters killed.”
“Oh, trust me,” Sam said quietly. “I’m going to find out.”
“Thank you, son. Pass on my thanks to your parents and tell them I’m sorry we’ve been lousy hosts.”
“I think there were extenuating circumstances. But I’ll tell them. Rest if you can.” He squeezed Harlan’s hand. “I’m glad you’re all right.”
Sam leaned down to press a kiss to Kit’s cheek. “Take as long as you want. Text me when you’re ready to head out. I’ll come back and roll you to the car.”
Her cheeks had a pretty blush from his quick kiss. She slipped her hand around his neck and drew him down, giving his lips a kiss in return. “I won’t be long.”
Ignoring the pleased expressions on her parents’ faces, Sam backed out of the room, watching her until he was in the hallway.
Back in the waiting room, Sam found his mother. “I know you made arrangements for Siggy, but where is he?” He hadn’t seen his dog in days.
“We took Siggy, Snickerdoodle, and Petunia to Connor’s,” Ann said. “Connor says he’s bored and the dogs will keep him occupied. His mother says she’ll make sure the dogs are taken care of.”
“Since when do you know Connor’s mother?”
“Since she and I took Betsy out to lunch yesterday before everything hit the fan. We got mani-pedis and everything.”
Rita sat down beside Sam and his mother. “They had fun,” she said morosely. “Left us at home all alone.”
Ann’s lips twitched. “Baz was there.”
“He wouldn’t let us do his nails.” Rita pouted. “He said he was on guard duty and needed to be able to shoot any intruders.”
“He did offer to teach us to shoot, though,” Dawn said. “I’m starting lessons next week.”
“For when she becomes a cop,” Emma said loyally.
Dawn looked embarrassed. “Maybe.”
“Or maybe a psychologist,” Sam said. “You have a lot of empathy. Hey, you know who else was feeling sorry for Danny Takahashi last night?”
Dawn frowned. “Who?”
“Kit.”
Dawn shook her head. “No way.”
“Way. She saw the same thing you did. That Danny was just a kid who’d been manipulated his whole life. It doesn’t excuse any of the things he’s done, but we can feel sorrow for the child he was while still wanting him held accountable for his crimes.”
Dawn’s smile was shy. “That’s what I thought, too. You really think I could be a shrink like you?”
“I do indeed.”
“But that takes college. I can’t afford college.”
“I think you’ll be surprised what you can afford,” Ann said. “For one, foster kids can attend some colleges in California for free. And if you want a different school than is included on that list, your parents have set up a college fund for you guys.”
Sam was touched. “Can Harlan and Betsy afford that?” he asked his mother.
“They’ve got some help. A sponsor. Or two or three.”
Sam’s lips curved. “You and Dad. And Connor and his family.”
“I never said that,” Ann said lightly, but it was clear that Sam was right.
He kissed his mother’s cheek. “Love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, Sam. We’re proud of you, your father and I.”
He held on to her hand, content to simply sit by her side. He’d been lucky to have her and his father in his life since birth. Kit, Akiko, and the other McKittrick fosters had not been so fortunate. He was so glad they had people now.
He was glad he could be one of those people.
“A college fund?” Dawn said, wonder in her tone. “For us?”
“For you,” Ann said, putting her arm around the girl. “We believe in you. All of you.”
“I told you that everything would be all right, Dawn,” Rita said. “That you have a home and a family.”
Sam saw Akiko watching them, her expression melancholy. He told his mother he’d be back and went to sit with Akiko.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Not really. I mean, I’m alive. Kit’s okay.
Pop’s gonna be fine. But…dammit, Sam. This is hard.
I always wondered about my family. My bio family, I mean.
And now that I know, I wish I’d never found out.
I have a sensei who might still think he’s my grandfather.
I don’t know if anyone’s told him yet that his wife cheated with Joe.
He watched over me my whole life without telling me the truth as he knew it, and I don’t know how to handle that.
I have two legit grandfathers, both mobsters, both dead.
A mobster father, who’s also dead. And a half brother, who’ll spend most of his life in prison. ”
“Don’t forget the business empire,” Sam murmured. “With Danny going to prison, you’re the only Takahashi left.”
“I am not a Takahashi. I am a McKittrick.”
He smiled at her. “So you are.”
“I don’t want any of it. Not the company, not the blood money.
And maybe not even the pseudo-grandfather.
” Tears filled her eyes. “Hanshi was my person for so long. The only constant in my life until Mom, Pop, and Kit. But he lied to me. All these years, he’s honestly believed he was my grandfather, and he never told me.
He can say it was to keep me safe, but I’d rather he’d told me the truth. ”
Sam considered his words carefully. “Ito left the Takahashi organization. Joined the Army to get away—and at a time when very few people wanted to join. What he escaped was what he was trying to protect you from. Let’s let him explain first. And Kit and I will go with you to talk to him. You won’t be alone.”
Los Angeles, California
Thursday, February 2, 6:45 p.m.
Ito looked better, Kit thought as Sam wheeled him into his hospital room. Like her father, Ito had been moved from the ICU into a regular room, which allowed for more people to gather.
Ito was sitting up in bed, Ricky Nicchi in a chair at his side. Nicchi’s arm was in a sling, and he had some cuts and bruises on his face.
Navarro gave Kit a nod as she entered. He’d returned from interviewing Nancy Sayer in time to meet Kit in the ER as she was being treated.
He’d stood at her side as she gave her statement to the LAPD.
He’d been quietly supportive, listening as she’d recounted the night’s events and adding his own details—the murders of Minako and Ichiro thirty-two years ago and Joe Fujioka’s role in the events of the past and present.
His initiative in finding Nancy and getting those answers had gone a long way to smoothing his and Kit’s relationship, both personal and professional. Some of what he’d learned was relevant to the case. Some was relevant only to Akiko, and Kit appreciated it.
He hadn’t mentioned Kit’s suspension, not even once. Now that she’d had a few hours’ sleep, she was going to find out exactly what she needed to do to get her suspension either dropped or resolved.
She still needed to call her union rep—but she’d been a little busy the past week.
Kit took a moment to study Ito’s face. Both he and Nicchi looked so very sad.
They’d suffered a lot of loss this week.
Paolo and Mary and Joe. She didn’t think that Ito knew about Joe being Akiko’s bio grandfather, so Kit would tread lightly, but Ito deserved the truth.
There had been enough lies in Akiko’s biological family for a lifetime.
Lennox was already in the room, also in a wheelchair. She looked tired, her face drawn with pain. She had a bandage on her head and a splint on her leg, which was elevated. She gave Kit a nod when Sam parked her wheelchair next to Lennox’s.
“Meghan,” Kit said quietly. “You okay?”