Deadly Illusions(71)

Emma was a mess.

Finn was glued to her side, never moving his arms as he let her absorb his warmth, swaying from side to side to comfort her.

Mandy and Sophie immediately headed toward her, pulling her away from Finn so they could draw her inside. Her exposed skin was cold – colder than what either woman deemed safe. They loaded her into a warm shower, making her stay there until they were satisfied the scalding water had washed away the chill.

The water wasn’t strong enough to wash away the memories.

Mandy and Sophie helped Emma climb into warm, flannel sleeping pants and a fuzzy sweatshirt, her silence worrying them every step of the way. Even with the warm shower, she was still cold. They combed her hair out, pulled socks on her feet, and finally led her out of the bathroom.

The three Hardy brothers were sitting at the dining-room table drinking coffee and talking in low voices when they emerged.

Finn jumped to his feet. “How are you?”

“I’m okay,” Emma said. “I’m just … .”

“You need something to eat,” Mandy announced, moving to the kitchen. “Is there anything in here?”

“I went shopping the other day,” Finn said. “There’s not a lot, but you should be able to put something together for her.”

Mandy rummaged through the refrigerator, pulling out a bag of shredded potatoes, some milk, and a carton of eggs. She grabbed two pans, dumping the potatoes in one before turning back to the counter so she could whip the eggs into an omelet. She pulled a tomato, onions, and cheese out of the refrigerator a few minutes later, and immediately started dicing them.

Finn had forgotten that she could cook. Something about that knowledge made him feel better.

“The police said that they might have more questions tomorrow,” James said. “I think they’re done for today, which is something, I guess.”

Finn nodded, pulling Emma down onto his lap as he settled back into the chair. He needed her next to him and, he had a feeling, she needed the human contact, too. He needed to touch her. He was only hoping that his touches would break through her mute countenance. He brushed her damp hair away from her face and rested his forehead against her cheek. “I figured.”

“We’re giving them access to the boat show footage and the footage Mandy managed to dig up at the courthouse,” James said. “She already called the judge and he cut through the red tape, which makes it a lot easier for us. They should be picking it up there tomorrow.”

“I can’t believe you found it,” Finn said, glancing up at Mandy, who was busily mixing the onion and tomato with the eggs.

“Your brother says I’m like a dog with a bone when I get something in my head,” she said. “I knew I recognized him.”

“I didn’t recognize him,” Emma said, her voice hollow.

“No one blames you for that,” Mandy said, forcing her tone to remain even. “There were so many people going in and out of the courthouse for the trial – and he was older now. There was no way you could have recognized him.”

“Still … I should have remembered.”

“You remembered the story,” Finn said. “That’s what’s important.”

Sizzling noises emanated from the kitchen as Mandy folded the bowl of eggs into the second pan. “He was unbalanced, Emma,” she said, her back to them. “He didn’t know what he was doing.”

“He knew what he was doing,” Finn growled. “He might’ve been crazy, but he still knew what he was doing.”

“He was a victim,” Emma said. “What happened to him wasn’t his fault.”

“It wasn’t your fault either,” Sophie said, patting her on the arm. “Even if you’d known, there was no way you could have stopped it.”

Emma sighed. “I suppose you’ll be doing a story on this. I saw you taking notes and talking to the police officers outside.”

Sophie bit her lower lip. “I will be doing a story,” she said. “We won’t be releasing your name, though.”

Emma looked up, hope flitting across her face. “Your editor agreed to that?”

“Let’s just say I’ve built up some good will,” Sophie said. “We’ll be reporting on a man who attacked an unnamed woman and then started himself on fire. Nothing more.”

Finn sent Sophie a gracious smile. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For protecting Emma,” Finn replied. “That’s going above and beyond.”

“That’s nothing,” Sophie said. “Emma didn’t do anything wrong. If she doesn’t want to be in the newspaper, she doesn’t have to be. I’ll make sure no one gets her name. The police have already agreed not to release it.”