Know Me Well (Wishful 3)

“Even if she’s not, I think she’s demonstrated she could kick your ass, so I’d do whatever she wants.”

Liam shot Judd a Look. “Don’t encourage her.”

“Too soon,” Judd decided.

Never would be too soon to joke about that.

“Can I get you a cup of coffee?” Molly lifted the half-full pot.

“Don’t mind if I do.” He hitched himself up on one of the barstools. “I just came by to give y’all the update. Most importantly, we found the son of a bitch.”

Liam felt the tension drain from his shoulders. “Where?”

“Got picked up at the hospital in Lawley. He’d been admitted for a heart attack, just like Riley said. Thanks, Molly.” He took the coffee, blew on it. “Also, the assailant who was shot made it out of surgery. He’s gonna be fine thanks to Riley’s quick action.”

To keep his hands busy, Liam poured coffee for Riley, began to doctor it. “He better be thanking God she’s got a humanitarian streak.”

“I wasn’t going to let him die. He didn’t want to involve me from the get-go and kept insisting that they not hurt me.”

“If that really mattered to him, he would’ve intervened to stop the robbery from going down as soon as they realized you were there.”

“He wasn’t the one with the gun and was clearly not the brains of the operation. Thanks, Boy Scout.” Riley sipped at the coffee, made a low hum of appreciation.

“That might mitigate his sentence some, but it’ll be up to the judge. Both are going to make full recoveries in time for prosecution.”

“What about the drugs?” Molly asked.

“Shooter stashed them before he went to the hospital. There’s a team of deputies searching now, but it shouldn’t take long to unearth them.”

“Good. That’s good.” Liam rubbed the back of his neck. “Does that mean y’all are done with the pharmacy?”

“We are. Gotta check with the Bureau of Narcotics, but I don’t expect they’ll be far behind. I’ll confirm and let you know. Thanks for the coffee.”

“I’m about to make French toast. You’re welcome to join.”

Judd rinsed his mug out and set it in the sink. “Thanks, but I’m about to head home and crash. I’m officially off-shift and I have a date with my pillow for at least the next eight straight.”

“Thanks for coming by to give us the update, man.” Liam bumped fists with Judd, then pulled him in for a thumping hug.

He shot Liam a knowing look. “Figured you’d rest easier knowing the threat is contained.”

“He will.” Riley gave her own hug. “So will I. Thanks, Judd.”

After he’d left, Molly cranked up the heat under the griddle. “Well, I’d say this is excellent news. Things are moving apace. And crime scene or not, we’ve got the controlled substances inventory, and we can go ahead and get in touch with the insurance company, get the ball rolling there.”

Riley froze with the mug halfway to her lips, all the blood draining out of her cheeks.

Liam automatically braced a hand at her back, ready to catch her. “What’s wrong?”

“I forgot,” she whispered. “How the hell did I forget?”

He eased the coffee out of her hands and set it on the counter, turning her to face him. “Forget what?”

“The insurance.” She pressed her face into his throat and whimpered.

A flood, a theft, and a near hostage situation, and it was the insurance that was sending her over the edge? Liam stroked her back and met his mother’s baffled gaze over the counter.

“I know it’s a pain in the ass after the flood already, but it will be fine,” Molly said.