Ten Plagues

“Yeah, it was your fault. You were so cynical, and the cameras were rolling. You couldn’t be bothered to just listen to the kid. You never gave him five minutes of your precious time. Yeah, it was your fault.” She fell silent for a moment. “And Lucas is okay, and you’re okay, and I’m okay, and none of it matters anymore,

except your name is eternally linked in my mind with insufferable arrogance.”

“That’s all?”

“Yup, that’s all.”

Paul rested his face in his palms. “Sorry.” He peeked out between his fingers. “I’m really sorry.”

“Too late,” Keren said.

“I promise you I’ll call Lucas tomorrow and apologize.”

Keren arched an eyebrow at him. “Too late for that, too. He made it, in spite of you.”

“I’ll find those three cops and apologize personally, and allow the older one to beat on me awhile. The younger ones might hurt me.”

“This isn’t funny.”

“Okay, the young ones can hit me, too.”

“I can get you their names and addresses by nightfall.”

Paul was afraid she meant it, and if she did, he’d have to do it. He owed them all. He smiled at her. “The only bad part of hiding out here instead of working with you is that I’ve been worried. When you said I could be your bodyguard so you could be my bodyguard, I meant it. I need to know where you are. I’ve been imagining you in Caldwell’s hands. I’ve got to do something to make sure you’re safe. But I turn into a man I don’t like or respect when I’m doing police work. I’ve got an idea, but it might just be … that I’m not so much worried as I just … miss you.”

“I’ve missed you, too.” Keren set her coffee cup down with a thud and covered her mouth. From behind her hands, she said, “Forget I said that.”

Paul circled the table and pulled Keren up out of her chair. He looked into her eyes until he felt like he could see all the way to her heart, and he saw himself in her heart. “Uncover your mouth.”

Muffled, she said, “No way.”

“I really need to stay away from you,” he said as he got closer to her.

“Agreed,” Keren said between her fingers as she backed away.

Paul advanced. “Stand still and let me kiss you. You’re as hard on me as this whole cop mess.”

Keren retreated. “I’m hard on you?”

He gave her a wry look then snagged her by the arm and kissed her on the forehead. “Okay, that’s enough anyway.”

She nodded and stepped away. She tripped over her chair. She flung her arms out. Paul caught her, pulled her close, and kissed her. His mouth missed her forehead this time and landed square on her lips.

And her hands weren’t protecting her mouth at all when they wrapped around his neck.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Hello, Rosita.” Pravus was careful to be his usual polite self as he stepped into the hospital lounge.

Rosita took a quick nervous look at the door to the intensive care unit. He wondered who her sick friend was. She’d certainly been faithful to her this week.

“What brings you here?”

“Pastor P asked me to come over and bring you back to the mission.”

“He did?” Rosita relaxed.

“Yes, he even found someone to lend me a car.” Pravus had to be very careful not to smile.

“A car? Where’d he find a car in our neighborhood?”

“I don’t know.” Pravus shrugged.

“Well, whoever lent it to him, I’m grateful.”

“Pastor P doesn’t want you out alone.”

Rosita rolled her eyes. “He won’t even let me walk to the bus stop in the daylight.”

“Well, good for him.” Pravus knew just how thoroughly the reverend had warned everybody. He was sticking his neck way out to come into the hospital, with the plans he had for Rosita. And the hospital had security cameras, so he’d never be able to show his face again. That’s okay, it was worth it. Once he had little Rosie, they’d come to him.

“He’s right, you know. You have to be careful with this guy out there killing people.”

Rosita rose from the couch. “I know he’s right, and I’ve been doing as he says.”

“It makes life more difficult, but it’s a good idea to be careful.”

“And he said I should come back? Is he coming to take a turn sitting with …” Rosita fell silent and looked uncertainly at the ICU again.

Pravus picked up her jacket and helped the gullible little fool slip it on. “Yes, in fact, we may pass him on the way out.”

Pravus gestured toward the door politely, his heart thudding with excitement as sweet Rosita walked out of the hospital by his side. He wanted to take her arm, touch her in some way. He controlled himself. There would be time for that soon. Plenty of time. He led her to a dark green car parked near the entrance.

Rosita said, “What happened to this car? It looks like a bullet hole in the back window.”

Pravus shrugged. “I’m just borrowing it. It’s a tough neighborhood. I suppose that’s exactly what happened.”

Rosita, despite all the warnings she’d been given, accepted the easy lie. Pravus felt laughter welling up in his throat. He fought it down, his hands sweating until they left wet spots on the steering wheel. He drove away from the hospital.