CHAPTER FORTY
Jessie was glad for the Vicodin.
The surgeon at the hospital had given her a local anesthetic while he sutured her shoulder, but he’d warned her that it would wear off after about an hour.
Once it did, she was allowed to take one Vicodin every four hours.
She’d taken the first one fifteen minutes ago, and it had just started to kick in. She almost felt good.
She was at Kat’s apartment, where Hannah had driven her after picking her up at the hospital. Ryan planned to come by as soon as he could, but with her out of commission, he had to wrap up the Riley Sinclair case solo.
Because her left arm was in a sling, her little sister eased her down onto the pullout couch. Jessie noted that it was the same one that Hannah had been sleeping on for the last month.
“Looks like we’re going to be bed buddies tonight,” Jessie said, immediately realizing that the medication was impacting more than just the pain in her shoulder. She was a little loopy.
”Looks like it,” Hannah said, stifling a giggle. “Let’s ease you back.”
“How are you doing?” Kat asked, emerging from the kitchen. She had a slight limp in her left leg, but otherwise, no one would know that she fended off a knife-wielding stalker this afternoon.
“And we’re stitch buddies,” Jessie pointed out to her.
“Indeed, we are,” Kat agreed, smiling but managing not to laugh. “You seem a little out of it, so maybe I’ll ask your sister how you are instead.”
“Yeah, sister, you tell her,” Jessie said.
Hannah had been there when the doctor reviewed everything, so she was able to handle the heavy explanatory lifting.
“The doctor said there was no permanent damage,” she said.
“Obviously, the muscle where the letter opener punctured her was a little torn up. But it missed any significant veins or arteries. She only required six stitches after all was said and done. The doctor said she can take off the sling by the end of the weekend if she feels well enough. He recommended physical therapy to prevent shoulder weakness. But he thought she’d be moderately functional again by Monday.
He didn’t even think she would need to miss work beyond tomorrow and this weekend. She was very lucky.”
“I don’t feel lucky,” Jessie muttered. But she knew the doctor was right. If the letter opener had entered her body three inches to the right, she probably wouldn’t be here right now.
“And what about the woman who did this to you?” Kat asked. “How did she fare?”
“Not great,” Jessie mumbled, though she was having trouble remembering the particulars.
Hannah took over for her. “She was at the hospital too. They were treating her for a concussion. They also stitched up the end of her nose, where Jessie bit it off. I heard someone say she might need reconstructive surgery. Not sure who’s paying for that.”
“Not me,” Jessie swore.
“No, not you,” Hannah said, stroking her hair. It tickled.
“So she’ll be booked after that?” Kat wanted to know.
“I spoke to Ryan on our drive over here,” Hannah told her. “He said that the woman—her name is Riley Sinclair—will be kept overnight for evaluation under armed guard. But once she’s discharged, it’s straight to Twin Towers until her arraignment. I don’t think she’ll be getting bail.”
“Four murders and an attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer?” Kat mused. “I should think not.”
“Feel bad for Krantz,” Jessie murmured softly.
“What’s that?” Kat asked.
“Krantz,” Jessie forced herself to speak clearly despite the marbles in her mouth. “Wife was killed. He was framed by a woman he barely remembered. Life is ruined.”
“Well, his life would be even worse if he were wrongly convicted,” Kat said. “Thanks to you, at least now he has a chance to pick up the pieces. And he’s still young enough to start over, maybe find love again, even have a family.”
“Not having a family,” Jessie objected.
“He’s not?” Kat asked.
“No, me,” Jessie corrected, trying her best to fight off the fuzziness.
“What do you mean?” Hannah asked.
“Ryan and I talked,” Jessie said forcefully. “No, baby. I don’t want to be pregnant. Maybe not adopting either. It’s sad for us, maybe.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted?” Kat asked.
“Not sure what I want anymore,” Jessie conceded.
“Give it time,” Hannah suggested. “Who knows what might happen in the future?”
Jessie nodded, trying to wipe away the small tear at the corner of her eye. But she was clumsy and missed it. Hannah did it for her. She looked sad, too.
“Didn’t mean to bring you down,” Jessie said suddenly. “Good stuff happening. Saved a woman from a stalker. Starting school again soon.”
“Assuming Ash Pierce is caught before then,” Hannah amended. “If she’s not, I may be taking all Zoom classes this quarter.”
“She will be caught,” Jessie firmly assured her.
But even in her diminished mental state, she could tell that Hannah didn’t believe her. Who could blame her? Jessie wasn’t sure that she believed it herself.
She wanted to offer more support to her little sister. But the pillow under her head was so soft, and the pull-out bed was so warm.
She decided to close her eyes. But just for a moment.