have to come running immediately.”
“I know.”
Nora crossed her arms. “So what brought you here at such a run?”
“Didn’t Gerard tell you that too?”
Alec entered the room at last and reached for one of the cookies. “I don’t think we’ve heard the whole truth yet.”
“You try working in a mission clinic and see if you can last two years.”
“Try fighting in a war while your wife’s playing single back home,” Alec snapped.
“Well, why don’t we have a big ol’ knock-down-drag-out right here close to medical aid?” Nora said. “Mind your manners, kids. Kirstie does need help until we can get this thing worked out. I’ve promised her that if she would just move in with me for a few weeks I’d hire a housekeeper/bodyguard for daytime and chain her to me at night, but would she do it?” Nora shook her head. “Stubborn woman. Have you convinced her to see a neurologist, Megan?”
“Not yet.”
“Why on Earth won’t she go? I tell you, sometimes I want to smack her silly she’s so stinking bullheaded.”
Megan took another huge bite of the cookie and stepped to the window that overlooked the mill and the pond. She loved this view. She also loved having a full mouth so she couldn’t be expected to answer any more questions for a moment.
“Kirstie could afford to hire someone to watch over her at night so Lynley can at least get some sleep,” Nora said. “Alec wants to keep her and Lynley here at the clinic as long as they can stay. All the patients are comfortable with them, everyone knows them, and that means a lot, having a hometown entity caring for your medical needs. Besides, Kirstie’s my best friend, and I want to get to the bottom of this so she can get on with her life.”
“Do you think those two stubborn women would agree to accept some help?” Alec asked.
Megan swallowed and shrugged as she turned back to them. “They’ve both been knocked sideways by Barry’s abandonment. I think she’s more concerned about Lynley’s feelings than her own safety.”
“Then talk to Lynley,” Nora said.
“Gerard’s going to be around for a few days, and he’s already been offered the private guest suite upstairs at Kirstie’s.”
“Drat that woman,” Nora said with a grin. “I knew she’d snatch him right out from under my nose. When did she talk to him?”
“I believe they’ve been in contact by phone and email.”
“How did they meet?” Alec asked.
Megan squeezed her tongue between her teeth. What was this, an interrogation room? It was supposed to be a break room. She shot Alec a crooked scowl.
“Right,” he said. “I’ll ask Kirstie.”
“Thank you. I believe Gerard will watch over her while he’s in town, so maybe you could make him feel a little more welcome.”
“Excellent idea.” Nora picked up the platter, left some cookies behind and carried the rest from the room.
EIGHT
By the time Gerard pulled into Kirstie’s driveway she had given him a succinct rundown of this morning’s episode, her talk with Megan and her desire that only Gerard was to know anything about her suspicions.
He glanced at the interesting cat decorations in her three front windows. One of them moved and jumped to the ground. Feline voyeurs.
“I know something’s going on with that girl,” Kirstie continued in that mellow, soothing voice that, despite her circumstances, tended to make one think all would be well. “Listen to me, calling her a girl. She’s a grown woman.”
“I know, but she’s like a daughter to you.”
“And to you?” Kirstie asked, looking up at him. “What is she to you?”
He felt a smile grow across his face. “A dream come true.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” Kirstie unbuckled her seat belt. “She’d have already told me if not for these wicked blackouts.”
Gerard jerked when a white blur of cat jumped onto the hood of his car, then he looked at Kirstie in confusion. “Told you what?”
“Why she really left you. I’ll warn you right now, I’m an eavesdropper. I didn’t even have to try to overhear your conversation in the parking lot because you both have voices that carry well. She had good reason to leave that mission, and she hasn’t breathed a word to anyone about the reason. She seems to think she’s protecting me from the truth. She has a tendency to place her own needs last.”
“She seems to be following your example.”
“Care to tell me what’s up with her?”
“I’m sure when Megan is ready to tell you, she will. Until then I’ll respect her