was definitely okay.”
Ellery snorted, some of his own tension fading. “You couldn’t have thrown down a shirt or something? God, Jackson, it’s like Sean ended up in the hospital and you were trying to keep up!”
“Oh hell no! I need to call K-Ski and then talk to his partner.” Jackson let out a sigh. “By the way, poor Sean. I knew that conversation with the fireman didn’t look good, but getting dumped on your ass in the hospital? That’s not friendly.”
“Yeah, you so expected me to do that the first time you ended up there,” Ellery recalled fondly, remembering Jackson coming out of the anesthesia, wondering what Ellery was doing there and why he hadn’t left yet. The panic, the worry; that had been new, but still, Ellery had known he couldn’t desert Jackson then.
He’d never been able to leave. Not where Jackson was concerned.
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Jackson murmured. “I… I’m not sure if I tell you that enough. You had every reason to walk away back then, and only a few more reasons to stay now, honestly.”
Ellery let out a short bark of laughter and reached over the center console to capture Jackson’s hand. Just as their fingers brushed, Henry opened the back door in a huff, letting the soggy scorching air of August into the car.
“God, that took forever,” Henry muttered. “I can’t even believe how hard it was to order three simple sandwiches.” He rooted through the bag and handed Jackson a paper-wrapped packet. “Here. Eat now. Your complexion is making me itchy.”
Jackson took the sandwich from between the seats and did a double take. “Wait. Three sandwiches? Didn’t I just feed you?”
Henry shrugged. “Yes. It was great. I think you should do it again. Sorry, Ellery, no change. Can I eat back here?”
“No!” Ellery said at the same time Jackson said, “Sure, knock yourself out, but be prepared to detail the car on the company dime if you spill.”
Ellery backed out of the parking lot, huffing out in exasperation. “Jackson, it’s not even your car!”
“And why is that?” Jackson asked bitterly. “You have bought me my last three SUVs. I have money. Maybe, before we go get a kitten together, we should get a car, don’t you think?”
“No,” Ellery and Henry said at the same time. Ellery let out a disgruntled breath and realized Henry was an ally. “Henry, you may eat back there, but please clean up any spills.”
“Will do, chief. I’ve got a bottle of magic stuff back at John and….” He deflated a little. “Goddammit. I’m pissed. Shooting up John and Galen’s car. There was no need for that!”
“I don’t think it was on purpose,” Jackson mused, nibbling on his sandwich in an experimental way, like a rabbit with a new strain of lettuce. “I think those were the shots that went through the entire room. There were only a couple. Unfortunately one of them went into the radiator and another went through the windshield.”
“Well, I’m glad they didn’t go into the kids on the practice field,” Henry muttered. “But other than that, it still pisses me off. John and Galen didn’t deserve this.”
“Neither did poor Mrs. Eccleston,” Jackson said glumly. “I swear, that woman was so happy to have someone bring her lunch, it made me want to start a movement or something.”
“We’ll check on her when the case is over,” Henry told him, sounding bored. But Ellery recognized the words for what they really were, an unconscious way to soothe Jackson and keep him from fretting over how frightened the poor woman must be after the shooting, to keep him from feeling like he’d brought too much trouble to her door.
“Why did someone shoot at us while we were there?” Jackson asked. “That there is the big question. I mean, we assume it’s to stop you and me, but why when we were in there with a civilian? What were they trying to stop us from learning?”
“Well, Sparky,” Henry snarked, “that’s what we’re going to have to discuss. After you eat.” He paused. “You made sure she was being watched over, right? In case whoever it was tries again?”
“Yes,” Ellery interjected before Jackson could say anything. “I texted the DA, and she made sure there was a police presence at Mrs. Eccleston’s home and an escort to work until the shooter is apprehended.”
“Good,” Jackson and Henry said at the same time.
“You know,” Henry said into the silence afterward, “I was in the middle of a war, and I get why