Part 13 (1/2)

”Bradford, shut up and listen to me. This is important.”

That certainly got his attention. ”What is it?”

”I'm at Hurley's with Bailey. He says someone's out to get him, and I believe him.”

Bradford's voice was calm as he asked, ”Is he armed? Is there anyone else around?”

”What?” The questions didn't make sense.

”Jennifer, listen to me. I think he may have had something to do with Eliza's murder. If you can get help without alarming him, do it. If not, find a way to mollify him until I get there.”

”Okay,” I said, trying not to give anything away.

”Don't hang up. I need you to stay on the line so I know you're okay.”

”We'll be waiting right here. I'll see you in a minute.” Despite my brother's protests, I hung up the phone. I couldn't believe Bailey had anything to do with the murder, so I didn't want to give Bradford the chance to hang him based on something Bailey said when he didn't know my brother was listening in on our conversation.

”What did he say?” Bailey asked as I closed my flip phone. ”Did he believe you? He didn't ask you any questions.”

I'd never seen him so agitated. ”Take it easy. He's coming here to help.”

”I don't know. I think this is a mistake.”

The next thing I heard was an explosion as a bullet ripped into the loading dock door behind us. The shot had gone between us, and I could swear I'd heard it whizzing through the air before I ever heard the gun's report. A second shot ripped the air above us, but by that time Bailey had tackled me to the dock and rolled us both off the platform onto the asphalt below. I was still trying to get my bearings when the restaurant door above me flew open.

My brother screamed, ”Jennifer! Are you all right?”

”Get down,” I shouted. ”Somebody's shooting at us.”

Bradford hopped down to the ground beside me and asked, ”Where's Bailey?”

It wasn't until then that I realized my brother-in-law was gone.

”I don't know,” I said. ”He was just here.”

”Take it easy. Were you hit?”

”I don't think so,” I said as I searched my body for pain. I'd twisted my wrist in the fall, ruined a pair of brand-new pantyhose and wrecked my dress beyond salvation, but other than that, I was fine. ”I'm okay.”

”Good,” he said as he patted my shoulder. Then he spoke into the mike hanging from his belt. ”We've got an active shooter in the back of Hurley's. I need everybody here in two minutes with your lights on, and your sirens blazing.”

”What happened to those fancy codes you always use?” I asked after he was finished.

I could see a slight grin on Bradford's face. ”I forgot to use them in all the excitement. That alone should get everybody's attention.”

I stared out into the night. My eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness, and I searched the shadows for the shooter or Bailey. I couldn't see any other signs of life, but that didn't mean n.o.body else was out there.

”Why doesn't Jack turn the outside light on?” I asked. ”Maybe we could see something then.”

”And so could the shooter,” Bradford said. ”I told him not to.”

I remembered the bullet hitting the door where Jack was waiting. ”Is he all right? That first shot didn't hit him, did it?”

”He's fine. The thick wood of the door stopped the shot.”

I was suddenly blinded as the first squad car pulled, into the alley behind the restaurant. I was still trying to get my vision back when I heard more cars join us along with the different squeal of an ambulance.

”Bradford, was someone hit? Why is an ambulance coming?”

”It's for you, Jennifer.”

I started to stand and felt my knees give out on me. Luckily my big brother was there to catch me. ”I don't need an ambulance,” I protested.

”Well, you're getting one, anyway. I'm not taking any chances with you.”

I started to protest when he held up a hand. ”Jennifer, there are a couple of reasons we're going to do this my way. I want to be sure you're all right, and I also want the shooter to think he hit one of you. If he's c.o.c.ky, maybe he'll slip up. So if you're not willing to ride in the ambulance for yourself, do it for Bailey.”

I wanted to argue with him, but I couldn't. I drew the line at allowing them to strap me to a gurney, though. Unfortunately, n.o.body listened to my protests, and I was strapped onto one like a lunatic, not able to move my arms or my legs. We were just about at the hospital when I remembered Greg. If n.o.body told him what had happened, I had a feeling he'd be under the impression I'd walked out on him. What a perfect ending to our long and troubled relations.h.i.+p.

Two hours later, I was back at the front door to my apartment. There was a wrap on my wrist, but other than that, I was as fit as I'd been before I'd taken that tumble. Thank goodness the loading dock was only a few feet above the pavement, or I might have been in some serious trouble. Bradford met me at the discharge desk and insisted on driving me home. My wrist was a little stiff, and I knew it would be even worse the next day.

To my surprise, Lillian was waiting for me inside my apartment.

”What are you doing here?” I asked her as Bradford led me in.

”Somebody had to feed your cats,” she said.

”Did they cadge another meal out of you? I fed them before I left.”

Lillian sputtered, ”But they acted so hungry when I came in, and this one kept mewing under the cabinet where you keep your cat food.”

I picked Oggie up gingerly and said, ”You should be in the movies, you're such a ham. I hope you're happy. You're getting fat, you know that, don't you?

He offered me a brief mew, but he was too stuffed to squirm out of my arms. ”Go on, you lunatic,” I said as I put him down.

As he walked slowly off, Lillian asked Bradford, ”Did she hit her head when she fell?”

”Not that the doctors could tell. Why?”

”I just don't think it's normal having a conversation with a cat. Of course she did the same thing before, tonight, but I was still hoping they'd be able to do something for her.”

”You're too funny,” I said. ”Thanks for coming, but I don't need a welcoming committee.” As I looked, around the apartment, I noticed that my neat piles; were gone, and in their places were boxes, all labeled and sealed. ”What happened here?”

Lillian looked sheepish. ”Sara Lynn and I packed for you tonight. It was supposed to be a surprise. Surprise.”

I'd deal with their invasion of my privacy later. ”Where is she?”

Lillian said, ”She's back at her place. After we heard what happened with Bailey, she insisted she had to go home in case he needed her. I tried to tell her that was the worst possible thing she could do, but she didn't listen to me. What a shocker.”

I grabbed Bradford's arm with my good hand ”You've got to get someone over there. She could be, in danger.”