Garnet (Gems of Wolfe Island)

“It’s not what you think,” she hiccups.

“That assumes you know what I’m thinking, Gloria.”

“Of course I know what you’re thinking. You think I’m behind all of this. Just to get your spot on that stupid team that I couldn’t care less about anymore.”

I open my mouth to reply when someone walks through the door. She goes to a stall, does her business, returns to the sink, and washes her hands.

Gloria and I say nothing until the woman leaves the bathroom.

“You certainly had the most to gain,” I say, keeping my voice low and robotic.

“I know that. I know how this must look. But I swear to God, Aspen, it wasn’t me.”

“Did you take my spot on the team?”

“Of course I did. That was my job. I was your backup.”

“Who else could’ve gained from you taking my place on the team?”

“Why? Why are you so sure it was a teammate?”

“Because of the timing, Gloria. Even you have to admit that the timing makes sense.”

“You got sick.”

“Yes, I got sick. I started feeling sick after we landed at LaGuardia. And I was sick enough that I didn’t go to dinner. Remember?”

She nods, biting her lower lip.

“Of course you remember,” I say. “Because when you got back from dinner, I wasn’t there.”

“I feel terrible about it. I just thought… I thought you were feeling better and had gone out. I never expected that you wouldn’t come back.”

“Gloria…”

“How can you even think this of me? I prayed for you at dinner.”

“Out loud?”

“No, of course not out loud. I say my prayers silently before I eat. I always thank the Lord for my food. I always ask Him to be there for people who I think need a little help. You weren’t feeling well, so I included you in my prayers that evening before I ate.”

“And you consciously remember doing that?”

“I don’t know. Consciously? Maybe. It’s what I do. It’s what I always do.”

“So you can’t say you consciously remember.”

“Maybe not specifically. But it’s what I do, Aspen. You were ill, so I would’ve included you in my dinner prayer.”

I sigh. She believes what she says. I see it in the sincerity in her eyes.

“Even if you had nothing to do with any of it, I still need to know what you know.”

“Please. Just let me go.”

“You’re not here against your will. You came with me voluntarily.”

“I did, but I… I don’t know this guy you’re with.”

“He’s my bodyguard. He’s paid to keep me safe. You have nothing to fear from him.”

“But I—”

“Listen. If you truly had nothing to do with any of this, then you have nothing to fear. Not from Buck and not from me.”

She’s still quivering, and her jaw is set, as if she’s grinding her teeth.

And I know.

God, I know.

Gloria does have information for me. I honestly don’t believe she was behind it, but she knows who was.

And damn, she’s going to tell me.

“I don’t want to harm you, Gloria. But you obviously know something, and I will do whatever I have to do to get that information.”

39

BUCK

Ten minutes pass.

Then fifteen.

When it gets to twenty, I rise.

This has gone on long enough.

I’m not the kind of perv who goes into women’s restrooms, but I have a duty to Aspen. I’m here to protect her, and though I don’t think she has anything to fear from Gloria Delgado, Gloria could have called someone.

I make my way to the area where the bathrooms are, and I knock on the door to the ladies room. “Aspen? Are you in there?”

A few seconds later a woman comes out. “There’s no one else in there, sir.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

Once the woman is out of my sight, I peek inside the bathroom myself. She wasn’t lying. All the stalls are empty, and no one is standing at the sink.

“Damn,” I say aloud. I race out of the bathroom and then out of the restaurant. “Aspen!”

Where the hell—

Then I see her. She’s on the ground, holding Gloria down. Two cops stand in front of them.

“Fuck,” I mutter as I race toward them.

“Ma’am,” one of the cops says. “Get up.”

“Not until she tells me what I need to know.” From Aspen.

“It’s okay,” Gloria says. “We’re friends. I’m not going to file any charges.”

“You’ve got a woman holding you down, miss. Not filing charges is your choice, of course, but we’re in the middle of a busy street. You both need to get up.”

Aspen finally rises, brushes off her jeans. “I’m sorry.” Then she holds out a hand to Gloria, who takes it.

“Are you okay, ma’am?” the other cop asks Gloria.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“You sure you didn’t hit your head when you went down?”

“No. I’m absolutely fine. See for yourself.” She turns, and though her hair is a bit mussed, there’s no evidence of any head trauma.

Thank God.

“I was just scared. Aspen ran after me because she’s a friend of mine.”