“I can take care of myself. I’m not some … ”
Danny interrupted. “Margo, remember the waiting room at Emanuel?”
Margo remembered. “Okay, Tony can drive me home.”
She was almost out the door when Sam said, “Counselor? Nice work today.”
Afraid if she said anything her voice would crack, she nodded acknowledgement of the compliment.
As he merged onto the freeway toward Margo’s home, Tony said. “Sam’s right. You were terrific.” He hesitated for a moment before adding, “I was proud of you.”
She gulped down a lump in her throat. “Thanks, that means a lot.”
After a few minutes of embarrassed silence he said, “Can I ask? What did Danny mean about the waiting room?”
“It’s kind of a long story but, short version, about a year ago, Sam got shot by a guy who’d killed two people and been stalking Amanda. Amanda, Danny and I spent a long time in the hospital waiting room while they put Sam back together. Amanda was like a balloon with the air let out. We wouldn’t let her drive home by herself.”
“Jesus, no wonder you’re all friends. That’s a hell of an experience to go through together.”
“Yeah, I’m not likely to forget it.”
“Was he was shot in the left shoulder?”
“How’d you know?”
“He rubs his left shoulder, moves it sometimes, like it bothers him. I wondered if he’d been injured.” He shook his head. “I’ve seen marriages break up when something like that happens to a cop. Amanda must be pretty strong to have her husband … ”
“They weren’t married when it happened. Got married not too long after.”
“Now I admire her even more.”
“Sam says if they could cut through the brush and find their way to the altar, anyone can.”
“Do you think he’s right?”
Luckily, they were at her parking lot and she didn’t have to respond. She started to get her key card out of her shoulder bag so he could open the gate but Tony pulled the extra one she had given him from the side pocket in the door. After he used it, he dropped it back into the door pocket. She knew she should ask him to return it to her but couldn’t bring herself to do it.
He parked and she opened the door. “Thanks for the ride. I appreciate it.”
“Wait. I’m walking you to the door. Don’t want you to collapse on the dock for Mr. Todd to find.”
At her front door, she fumbled with the key, eventually getting it in the lock. But she didn’t turn it; she was hyperventilating.
“Margo? What’s wrong?”
“It’s silly but I have this feeling there’s something bad on the other side of the door.”
He removed her hand from the key and unlocked the door. “Want some company for a while?”
“Would you mind?” He shook his head and she was relieved he understood.