Come by after three.”
Lucy and Kate left the vet hospital. “I’m going straight to the lab-do you want me to drop you home?”
“Can you take me to the hospital? I want to make sure Ivy’s okay. Check on Mina and Genie.”
Kate and Noah had worked a miracle to get Ivy on a tracking bracelet and into a halfway house in one day. She couldn’t leave DC until the FBI was satisfied she’d shared all information she had.
“What’s the word on Brian Abernathy?” Lucy asked. “I don’t think he’s just going to give up.”
“Everyone is looking for him. His testimony could seal the indictment on his mother. But either he or his brother killed six people. We have plenty of evidence, so as soon as we get him in custody, we’ll know for certain. He was smart on one level, but trace evidence is aplenty.”
“Noah told me Devon Sullivan is not cooperating.”
“She doesn’t need to say a word-that’s her right. But Josh Stein has her solid on major financial irregularities. And because of her wealth we were able to freeze her assets. She’s sitting in jail all weekend.”
“She doesn’t deserve to walk free.”
“We’re working double-time to get hard evidence that she ordered the murder of Wendy James.”
“What about the others?”
“If we can prove Wendy, it’ll be much easier to connect the others. Without Wendy’s case being solid, the others fall apart. At least to nail Sullivan with. Conspiracy is extremely difficult to prove. The search warrants were a huge bonus, but she has the entire Acuna and Bigelow law firm fighting every warrant, every piece of evidence. Now,” Kate said, gesturing toward the chip in the evidence bag, “if that has anything of substance, we won’t have to worry. The AUSA said the warrant on this extraction is air-tight.”
Kate dropped Lucy off at the emergency room entrance. She went directly to ICU, where Mina was recovering from surgery. Ivy was there at her bedside; a DC uniformed officer was at her door. Lucy showed her identification to enter.
Lucy whispered, “How is she?”
“She woke up. That’s good, the doctors say.” Ivy glanced at Lucy. “I let her down. The night of the fire, I picked Sara over her and I can’t forgive myself.”
“You have to. It’s hard, but you have to.” Lucy paused, then said, “Seven years ago I was kidnapped and raped by a guy I met online. Long story-I thought he was someone else. But it was still stupid on my part. My brothers went looking for me, and one of them was nearly killed in an explosion. After surgery, he slipped into a coma and stayed that way for nearly two years. I’ve tried to forgive myself-and some days, I don’t think about it. But other times, I feel hot and cold at the same time, and I picture Patrick lying in a hospital bed unresponsive. His brain working, but not working. And the guilt just washes over me. But, it’s not every day. It’s sometimes not every week.”
Lucy knew remnants of that time would continue to haunt her. But she would survive and grow stronger because of her job, her family, and Sean. “The decision you made Tuesday morning, you made out of love. Love for your sister, love for the girls at Hawthorne Street. Mina knows that, in her heart.”
The nurse came in. “Your ten minutes are up.”
Ivy nodded and she and Lucy left.
“How’s Sara?”
Ivy smiled. “I don’t know what happened in the church, but she’s doing amazing. Come see her.”
Lucy pulled a box from her pocket. “This really helped. I know you want it back.”
Ivy squeezed the box. “Thank you.”
Sara was in the pediatric wing. She, too, had a guard on her door. Lucy was more concerned about Ivy-Brian Abernathy wanted to kill
Sean walked down the hall toward them. He was carrying a large bouquet of daisies. Lucy smiled.
Sean shook his head. “These are for Sara. But I got you your own daisies, plus…” He took his hand out from behind his back. “A white mocha.”
Lucy took the coffee drink from Sean happily and kissed him. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.”
They showed ID to the guard and went into Sara’s room. She was sitting cross-legged on the bed and playing games on an iPad.
“Where’d you get that?” Ivy asked.
“The hospital delivered it. Look at the card.”
Lucy read over Ivy’s shoulder. The card was generic. Inside, there was no message, just initials.
S.R.
Lucy looked at Sean. “That’s sweet.”
“What is?”
“The gift.”
Sean shook his head and took the card. He stared for a long time, so long that Lucy was worried. Then he grinned. “Hey, kid, can I see your toy? Can you believe I don’t have one of these?”
Sara handed it to him and he handed her the flowers.
Lucy watched Sean check all the settings and apps. Then he downloaded an app. It took Lucy a minute to realize it was an anti-tracking app; it blocked GPS signals.
“
“You can never be too safe.”
“I agree,” Ivy said. “I like your boyfriend, Lucy.”
“Me, too.” Lucy took Sean’s hand. “I’ll keep him around.”
“How’s Chip doing?” Sean asked.
“He’s recovering. We can pick him up in a few hours.”
“Good, I don’t want him spending the night in the hospital. If he’s anything like me, he’ll hate it.”
Lucy rolled her eyes, then laughed. “He’s going to be a spoiled cat.”
“I have to spoil someone while you’re at Quantico.” He kissed her forehead.
Ivy said, “Can I ask a favor?”
“Anything.”
“I’d like to meet Detective Reid.”
“We’d better do it now. I hear she’s going home today.”
“I’ll keep Sara company,” Sean said. “Any racing games on that thing?”
Sara giggled. Lucy and Ivy walked out. Lucy said, “She’s amazing.”
“I know.”
“And you get the credit.”
Ivy didn’t say anything.
“You okay?”
“I’m getting there.” She paused. “Is it wrong to not feel anything about him being dead?”
Lucy didn’t have to ask who she was talking about.
“No.”
She whispered, “Is it wrong to be glad?”
Lucy sighed. She shook her head. “You’re going to feel a lot of different emotions over the next few weeks. None of them are wrong. Just don’t linger in any one place, if you know what I mean.”
“I do. Thank you.”
Genie was in another building. They crossed the courtyard when Lucy saw a familiar figure walking briskly to catch up with them.
“Senator,” Lucy said, stunned.
“It took me forever to track you down, but Noah thought you might be here.” He smiled at Ivy. “Senator Jonathon Paxton.”
Ivy shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you.” She was skeptical, and looked to Lucy for direction.
“I interned for Senator Paxton years ago. He gave me a recommendation to get into the Bureau.”
“I just came from meeting with AD Rick Stockton and he filled me in on the case. I also talked to Cathy Hummel at MARC. I wanted you to know, Ivy, that Cathy and I are establishing a foundation in the name of Chris
