There would be no lost evidence, no missing data, no damaged files this time around.
And they had him cold.
She told herself it was enough, would have to be enough, then had tumbled into bed. She switched off like a frayed circuit, then came awake with a jolt when Roarke put a hand on her shoulder and said her name.
“What.” Instinctively, she reached down where her weapon would have been had she not been naked.
“Easy, Lieutenant. I’m unarmed. And so are you.”
“I was . . . whoa.” She shook her head to clear it. “Out.”
“I noticed. I’m sorry to wake you.”
“Why are you up? Why are you dressed? What time is it?”
“A bit past seven. I had some early calls to take. And while I was at it, one came in. From the hospital.”
“Webster,” she whispered. She hadn’t checked on him the night before after the operation was complete. And now . . . too late, she thought.
“He’s awake,” Roarke continued, “and it seems he’d like to see you.”
“Awake? Alive and awake?”
“Apparently both. He improved last night. He’s still in serious condition, but stable. They’re cautiously hopeful. I’ll take you.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I’d like to. Besides, if he thinks I’m guarding my territory . . .” He lifted her hand, nipped the knuckle. “It might cheer him up.”
“Territory, my ass.”
“Your ass is, I’ll point out, my exclu
sive territory.”
She tossed the cover aside, and gave him a good view of that territory as she dashed toward the shower. “I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
“Take your time. I don’t believe he’s going anywhere.”
She took twenty, because he bribed her with coffee. And she indulged in a second cup as he got behind the wheel. “Do we take him flowers or something?”
“I think not. If you did that, the shock would likely put him back in a coma.”
“You’re such a funny guy, and so early in the morning, too.” She sipped her coffee, bided her time. “That, um, phrase—feed you your own eyes? Is that some kind of Irish curse?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“So you just made it up on the spot last night? I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: You’re scary.”
“I’d have killed him for striking you if you hadn’t been in the way.”
“I know it.” So she’d made certain she’d stayed in the way. “You had no business bringing that handgun. Carrying a banned weapon into a public place. You know how much dancing I’m going to have to do on that one?”
“Who says it was loaded?”
“Was it?”
“Of course, but who’s to say? Relax, Lieutenant. You brought him down.”