Torin (Hope City #9) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,86

but came up empty, not recognizing him. Offering a small smile, “Yes?”

He opened his mouth then snapped it shut, scrunching his face into a grimace. Looking down toward his feet, he continued to shuffle back and forth.

“Do you need some help?” she prodded.

His head shot back up, his eyes moving between her face and Torin’s then back again. With his face still scrunched into an expression of agony, he said, “I didn’t mean for nothing to happen.”

She glanced over her shoulder toward Torin, but a quick shake of his head indicated he didn’t recognize the man or know what he was talking about, either. Turning back, she said, “I’m sorry, I think you must have us mistaken for someone else.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be like that. We didn’t plan on anyone getting hurt. Nothing bad should happen to anybody.”

We didn’t plan on anyone getting hurt. With those simple words, her blood turned ice cold. Her hand was still in her purse where she’d been searching for the keys, but now her fingers slid around her phone and pressed speed dial number three. It was an easy system to memorize when she’d loaded her family on to speed dial. Starting with her mom at number one, then her dad, she filled in with the rest of her siblings in birth order, making Sean number three. She could tell when he answered, and she shifted her hand slightly so her phone was near the top of her purse but still unseen.

“I’m sorry, mister, but you’ve approached us right outside the Celtic Cock Pub to tell us that you’re sorry that things happened the way they did, and you didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt. What exactly are you talking about?”

“The race. We just wanted it to end but didn’t want anybody to get hurt. I didn’t mean for this to happen.” He inclined his head toward Torin, his eyes looking down at his booted leg. “I just wanted to have a chance to say I’m real sorry.”

Still unsure of the situation, she inched closer to Torin, feeling steadier with him next to her even though he was unsteady on his own foot while balancing with crutches. Keeping her gaze on the man, she said, “Well, it’s very nice of you to express your concern for those of us who were hurt. I’m Erin, by the way.”

The man’s head jerked up and down. “Yeah, I know. I heard it on the news. They were showing that picture of you.” His gaze darted toward Torin, and he added, “I saw you, too. The news said you worked here.” He jerked his head toward the pub.

The squeak of the wooden Celtic Cock sign swinging gently overhead was barely heard over the sound of her heart pounding.

Torin spoke, his voice low and calm. “I think I remember you coming in.”

The man nodded. “Yeah. Me, my brother, and Pop would come in a couple of times.” He pulled his hands out of his front pockets but clasped them together in front of him as though he couldn’t figure out what to do with them.

Erin’s gaze scoured over him but could see no evidence of a weapon, and he certainly didn’t have a backpack. Still praying that Sean was picking up on everything, she racked her brain to think of a way to keep the man with them until someone could arrive. She had no idea if he was involved with the bombing, but his behavior had her senses firing. “I didn’t catch your name,” she prodded.

“I’m Bob… um… well, my name don’t really matter. I don’t have anything else to say, except I just wanted you to know I was sorry.” He turned to go, his face once again hound-dog.

She glanced behind him, observing an older vehicle parked nearby. Desperate to keep him nearby long enough for Sean to act, she blurted, “Are you sure we can’t help you with anything?”

He looked up at her in surprise but shook his head. “It’s real kind of you to ask, but I’m not sure anyone can help me now.”

Suddenly, movement in her peripheral vision caught her eye at the same time shouts were heard from both corners of the street on either side of the pub. Erin jerked her head from side to side, the air rushing from her lungs as she spied uniformed officers coming into sight, weapons raised.

“Robert Tucker, put your hands in the air!” came a shout from somewhere to the left.

Erin jumped, her head