“Obstruction is always a crime.” Verra took notes of her own and said, “You’d been shot. Why not go to the police? Or at least call? Why not go to the hospital?”

Cole rested his chin on my shoulder. “As you can see, I’m fine. I didn’t need to go to a hospital and spend thousands of dollars on a bandage and a couple Advil. And I didn’t call the police, because I didn’t know what had happened at first, didn’t know about the others. When I did, well, I didn’t know who I could trust.”

Honest and inarguable.

“Where’s your dad now?” Gautier asked.

“He’s a travel writer, and I’m not sure where he is most of the time. I’m staying with the Ankhs while he’s gone.”

Mr. Holland was a travel writer? Was that for real?

“Seems odd that he’d leave his son the day after he’d been shot,” Verra said.

Cole offered a small, pitying smile. “I’m a legal adult very capable of taking care of myself. He knows that.”

Gautier had another follow-up. “Do you have his flight info? We have a few questions for him.”

“I don’t,” Cole replied. “Last I’d heard, he was going to drive.”

“I see.” Verra turned her attention to me. “And your grandmother left, too?”

“Yes,” I said. “I’m staying with Mr. Ankh, as well.”

Now her attention shot to Mr. Ankh. “You’re responsible for a lot of kids.”

“Not all of them are kids. But, anyway, they’re safe here,” he said, hands forming a steeple on his desk. “I have security most people can only dream about.”

“And you need this security because...”

Wasn’t gonna let up, was she.

“I get that you’re doing your job,” Cole said before Mr. Ankh had time to answer. “That you want to find out who killed my friends and tried to kill me. I’m glad. I want you to find the people responsible, too. I want you to make them pay. But my dad wasn’t responsible, and neither was Ankh. Of course he needs security. Look at this house and all the valuables inside it.”

He didn’t give them time to respond, adding, “Also, River isn’t responsible for this. Yeah, I heard the news reports, too, so I was eager to chat with him. But he’s convinced me he didn’t do it, that he was set up, so I suggest you do a better job of detecting, before we beat you to the truth.”

Gautier straightened in the chair as if his spine had been pulled on by an invisible wire. “Don’t even think about seeking revenge, son. You get in the way of our investigation, and you’ll find yourself behind bars.”

None of us made any promises.

As if on cue, both detectives stood.

“I think that’s enough for now. Thank you for your time,” Verra said. “We’ll be in touch.”

I’m sure they would.

Footsteps echoed as they marched to the door. Clink. A minute later, their car’s engine purred to life. Only then did everyone breathe another sigh of relief.

Cole gave me a bear hug, whispering, “Do me a solid and get the girls out of here. I’m going to have River tell the slayers about Collins and Justin.”

Poor Cole. He’d have to relive the horror all over again.

I’d make up for it later. I kissed him and stood. “Kat, Reeve, why don’t you come with me? I’m starved, and while I’m devouring half the contents of the pantry, you can give me an update about everything that happened while I was gone. Or grill me with questions about what happened on my end.”

Both girls hopped to their feet, eager.

“First,” River said, his attention riveted on Kat, “introduce me. Please.”

Uh-oh. Someone was about to wake Papa Bear.

“All you need to know about this one—” Frosty said, proving Papa Bear had done been woken as he stomped over to Kat to clasp her by the back of the neck and pull her close for a swift, hard kiss “—is that she’s mine, and I don’t share.”

To Kat he said, “Miss me while you’re gone.”

“Never.”

“Harsh. I’ll miss you.”

“That’s because you love me more than I love you.”

He barked out a laugh and spanked her on the bottom. “Everyone knows you love me more than I love you. Now get out of here before I make you prove it.”

She was grinning as she skipped from the office.

“You don’t talk to or even look at the other one,” Bronx said, hitching his thumb in Reeve’s direction. “She happens to be mine.”

Reeve waved.

Mr. Ankh dropped his head into his upraised hands.

“Possessive little buggers, aren’t they?” River said to Camilla. “What happened to friends sharing with friends?”

She was too busy staring at Cole to answer.

I rolled my eyes. After hooking my arm through Reeve’s, I drew her out of the room. Kat was already in the kitchen, making me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Owed her big-time! I claimed a chair at the table.

“Thank you,” I said, beyond grateful as she set the plate in front of me. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” she said.

She looked it.

“So, where are Veronica and Juliana?” I asked.

“Holed up in their room,” Reeve said, taking the chair at my left. “My dad wanted them out of sight. He also told us not to mention them to the police.”