Jessica Patch - Fatal Reunion

“Maybe. I think his name was... I don’t know. But Riff sounds right.”

It was a start. She may not know the friend’s name, but if someone recognized Christopher, they most likely would have a clue about whom he hung with.

“Have you spoken with a doctor yet?”

“He says I’ll need physical therapy but doesn’t see why I won’t make a full recovery. I’m optimistic.” She patted Piper’s cheek. “Look at you. A vision.”

Piper squeezed Mama Jean’s hand. “If I’d have been here, I would have pulverized him. Protected you.” Anger spiked through her blood, splashing over the guilt. Adrenaline raced. She had to find whoever had done this. No matter what the cost.

“You and the karate chops.” Mama Jean chuckled. “God protected me.”

“Your injuries state differently.” Piper gave her a pointed look.

Compassion filled Mama Jean’s eyes. “I’m alive. You have a lot to learn about the good Lord. I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.”

God could have spared her. But Mama Jean was right. She was alive, strong and a fighter. “I’m going to grab some water. Can I get you anything?”

“You being here is enough.”

If she could find who’d done this and bring him to justice, without getting killed in the process, then it would be almost enough. “Rest. I’ll be back.”

She closed the door, and leaning against the wall was Luke. “What now?” Piper gritted her teeth and strode down the hall to the drink machines.

Luke ambled along beside her. “I have a few more questions. And a cab is expensive.”

Piper sighed. “I’m planning on staying the night, so don’t bother with the offer to drive me home.” She shoved her dollar into the machine, punching the button for bottled water with more force than necessary. “I was hoping you were here to bring me answers, not questions. Mama Jean is so weak and pale.” Anger brewed fresh. “I’m gonna get whoever did this. So while you run me down, I’ll actually be finding who hurt my grandmother.” She snagged her bottle of water and challenged him with a glare.

His nostrils flared. She’d struck a nerve. “First off, going vigilante isn’t smart and will only cause more problems. Secondly, did you know Boone Wiley—that’s his last name—has a rap sheet and has done time? Armed robbery, larceny, and I saw my old partner in the theft division. He says he’s suspected of being involved in a hit on a jewelry store nine months ago. But they don’t have sufficient evidence.”

The cool water did nothing for Piper’s parched throat. Theft. “Why would I know that? I told you, I’d never seen him before he attacked me, and that he was trouble.”

Luke raked his hands through his thick hair, a habit when he was frustrated. Piper always found it endearing. She focused on his face instead. Mistake. Squared, strong jaw, well-sculpted cheek and jaw bones. The green stood out in his eyes today. Must be the chambray shirt with green flecks. Full lips pursed. “Don’t you think it’s odd that this guy is dating Harmony?”

“Was. Not is. And Harmony’s only downfall is her attraction to the wrong kind of men.” Piper could relate. Things would be so different now if she’d never met Chaz Michaels.

“I think all of you are connected. It’d be easier if you’d come clean.”

Piper waited for the two additional words: for once. They were getting nowhere going down this road. And whoever had hurt Mama Jean and killed Christopher Baxter could be long gone by now.

“Did you run down that boarder—Christopher Baxter?”

“No ties to Boone, if that’s what you mean. We’re looking into it. Running the drug angle in case he had a stash hidden. If he did, his killer found it because we sent dogs in. Nothing.”

“But you’d rather focus on me. A dead end.” In more ways than one.

Luke sighed. “I decided to talk to Harmony after all. I’d rather do it face-to-face, but I can’t wait until Monday evening. She’s not answering.”

“I don’t answer numbers I don’t know.” Piper ought to call her, too. How mad was she going to be hearing Piper hadn’t followed her wishes and told the police about Boone after all? “I’ve got to get back and see to Mama Jean.” Piper headed toward Mama Jean’s room. Luke stayed with her.

“Is she going to be okay?” he asked. Concern touched his voice.

“Yeah. Needs therapy. Probably have to stay in an assisted-living center while going through it. In the meantime, I’m going to try and talk her into moving into an apartment or something in a better neighborhood. Or maybe I can rope her into coming back to Jackson with me. I should have done that long ago.”

Luke shoved his hands in his jeans pockets and stopped outside Mama Jean’s room. “You—you doing okay in Jackson? Making a good life?”

The hesitation in his voice melted her. Her throat tightened. “Yeah. I’ve got a nice house with an extra bedroom for Mama Jean—if she’ll move. It’s a quiet life. Until now.”

Luke looked as if he wanted to ask something else, but he scuffed the toe of his shoe against the tiled floor. “Good. That’s...good.” He avoided eye contact, nodded and scratched the back of his head. “I’ll keep you posted. Be careful, Piper. You might be strong, but you’re not invincible.”

Piper stared at his back as he traipsed down the corridor, her insides exploding. No, she wasn’t invincible and everything told her to run, to hide. Chaz Michaels terrified her. Always had. But she couldn’t sit by while Mama Jean’s attacker ran scot-free, especially since it might be Piper’s fault. She entered the hospital room. Sterile. Lifeless. A lot like the way Piper felt.

Was her life good? On the surface, yes. But inside, Piper was never settled or at rest. Longing for a family of her own dogged her as the aging clock ticked by. Competing internationally had been a brief stint of contentment, keeping her focused and occupied, but when those karate competitions were over, Piper came home to an empty house with no one to love and no one to love her back.

“I thought I heard a man’s voice,” Mama Jean said as Piper neared her bed.

Should she tell her about Luke? He was going to ask her some questions anyway. Why hadn’t he done it just now? If Piper didn’t know any better, she’d think she’d run him off with something she’d said. But what?

“I was talking with Luke Ransom. He’s working Christopher’s case. He was here yesterday, actually. Checked in on you. He’ll want to ask you a few questions about the incident.”

“He’s a wonderful man. I always hoped you two would get married. I know how much you loved him.”

Piper wasn’t sure anyone could know how much she’d loved Luke. How much she still did. Even if she’d tried not to. It wouldn’t take. “So, what’s on TV?” Thinking of all she’d lost ached too much, and she needed Mama Jean engaged in a show. Piper had no choice but to hunt down the scumbag who had hurt her. Starting by sifting through the crowd at Riff’s.

* * *

Luke sat in his car gripping the steering wheel but going nowhere. He’d come to the hospital on his dinner break with every intent to talk with Mama Jean about the incident.

Then Piper went and talked about her good life—a life without him—and Luke wanted nothing more than to bolt.

Before he’d left the precinct, he’d received some information on Boone Wiley, sending Luke’s mind and heart into a game of tug-of-war, flustering him. His heart said Piper was innocent and would never do anything that might put Mama Jean in danger, while his mind continued to replay the night he’d shown up at Ellen Strosbergen’s house ten years ago.

Luke and his old partner, Kerr Robbins, had been staking out that bogus address Piper had given them. In the end, she’d been loyal to a criminal, and Luke had carried the guilt from the events that escalated that night. He still struggled with how it ended. How Piper flushed what they had down the toilet.