“Somebody said you were hurt,” Mom cried and grabbed me in her arms.
“Not me,” I whispered. “Gabriel.”
“Gabriel?” Robin asked. “The same Gabriel from-”
“Yeah,” I said quickly, stopping her. She’d been in Edinburgh and knew the whole story.
“That nice young man who works for Robson?” Mom said, baffled. “What happened?”
“I don’t know for sure. I thought I heard a car backfire, but when I turned, Gabriel was on the ground. It was a gunshot. His head is all bloody. There’s so much blood.”
“Okay, sweetie, calm down.”
Robin walked around, looked at the ground. “If a bullet grazed his head, I bet we can find it.”
“Good idea.” I started to jump up, but Mom held me down by my shoulders.
“No. Just wait until your equilibrium returns. You’ve had a shock and your dosha balance is skewed.”
“But if there’s evidence, we should-”
“No,” she said fiercely.
“Mom?”
Her whole body shuddered and she squeezed me tight again. “Maybe it’s my own balance that’s skewed, but I need you to just sit still for a minute, please, sweetie?”
“Sure,” I said, holding on to her. “Mom, you’re shaking.”
“They said you were hurt,” she whispered.
“I’m fine,” I said, resting my head against her shoulder. “It’s okay.”
“You may be fine, but I just aged ten years.”
We stood on the walkway, holding each other and watching as the paramedics worked on Gabriel.
“Don’t let him die, Mama,” I whispered.
Mom began to rock slightly and I knew she was chanting. She tended to blend Buddhist chants with Grateful Dead lyrics when she prayed. Maybe she was adding a little witchcraft this time. Whatever worked. I just wanted Gabriel to stand up, dust himself off, and flash me a wink and a grin.
It was wrong, seeing him laid out on the ground like that. He was too big, too strong. Too invincible. I began making deals with the gods, if only they would keep him alive.
Two paramedics wheeled a collapsible gurney over, and four men lifted Gabriel onto the pad. They’d attached a thick brace to his neck and wrapped a bunch of gauze around his head.
All good, right? It meant they were taking him to a hospital, not a morgue.
“Come on,” I said, pulling Mom with me. “I want to make sure he’s going to be okay.”
A female EMT turned and looked at me. “Are you a relative?”
“Yes,” I said immediately. Lying for a good cause didn’t count against karma, did it? And even if it did, I was beyond caring. “He’s my brother.”
She nodded. “He’s unconscious. We’ll know more when we get him to the hospital.”
“His head…”
“Yeah, he took a blow, but he’s alive, and he’s strong.”
“Right,” I said, nodding. “Yes, he is.”
As they rolled Gabriel to the truck, Dad ran up to us, followed by Annie, Savannah, China, and Alice.
Dad grabbed me in a hug. “You’re all right?”
“I’m fine, Dad. It’s Gabriel.”
He looked at me, stroked my head as if to make sure it was all in one piece, then turned and jogged over to talk to the paramedics and check on Gabriel.
“What happened?” Annie asked.
“Who was hurt?” Savannah demanded.
“Are you okay?”Alice asked, taking my hand and squeezing it.
“Thanks,” I said, answering Alice first. “I’m fine.”
Mom pulled Annie and Savannah aside to explain what had happened while I talked to Alice.
“Did you have a good massage?” I asked, to distract myself.
“Oh, my goodness,” she said, her eyes staring off at the horizon. “It was like no other massage I’ve ever had.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet.”
“But I feel so… clean.” She sounded dazed, but happy.
“Really? Wow. That’s great.” Unbelievable, but great. It took a small load of guilt off me to know that she’d survived the panchakarma treatment so well. I searched around for the EMTs and saw that they had Gabriel in the ambulance now.
Alice continued to squeeze my hand as she stared at the ambulance. “Is your friend going to be okay?”
“He’s alive but unconscious.” It felt good to say it aloud. I couldn’t begin to think how relieved I was that they hadn’t zipped him into a body bag.
China clutched my arm. “Honey, you have blood on your hands.”
I gasped.
Alice released my hand and stared at her own, which was now spotted with blood. She wobbled and her head began to lob.
“Grab her,” I said.
China reached under Alice’s arms and hoisted her up before she could collapse.
“Jeez, I thought you were the wimp,” China said to me.
I grabbed Alice’s left arm. “Oh, this one is light-years beyond me in wimpiness.”
China grimaced as we both struggled to keep Alice standing. “Lucky for me, she weighs a lot less than you.”
“Thanks for that.”
Savannah helped us move Alice to the same ledge by the fish shop that I’d sat on minutes ago. China pulled a packet of moist towelettes from her pocket and handed me some. “Here, I carry these around in case Hannah gets messy. You need to get rid of that blood.”
“Oh, God, thanks,” I said, still in a daze. It took me four wipes to clean the blood off my hands.
My sisters agreed to watch Alice while I ran back to talk to the paramedic. She told us they were taking Gabriel down to Sonoma Valley Hospital, less than ten miles away.
“I’m going by Robson’s to tell him what happened,” Mom said. “I know he’ll want to drive over there with me. Do you want to come with us?”
“I’ll go with you,” Annie said instantly. She had tears in her eyes and her breathing was shallow. Was she going to pass out, too?
“Annie, honey,” Mom said gently. “You have a new store to run.”
“But I want to be there.”
Mom rubbed her shoulder. “I promise we’ll call you as soon as we hear anything.”
Mom gave me a pointed look, so I grabbed Annie’s other arm and we led her back to where Savannah was still standing with Alice.
Clearly, Gabriel had managed to worm his way into the hearts and minds of the good citizens of Dharma. Well, Annie’s heart and mind anyway. I couldn’t blame her. The man was a walking, talking bad boy heartthrob.
Mom and I jogged back to the ambulance. The EMT said they were ready to go.
“Your father’s going to take care of Annie and the shop,” Mom said. “Do you want to ride with Robson and me?”
“No, I’ll get my car and meet you there.” Turning to Savannah, I shouted, “Keep Alice with you, okay?”
“No problem. Go.”
Whether you’re sick or healthy, hospitals are horrible places to be. This one was only a few years old, so the walls were still clean and white. Cheerful paintings and colorful chairs brightened the waiting area. The large-screen television actually worked, although the volume was kept down. Picture windows revealed views of the parklike grounds and a rushing creek and the nearby Sonoma Mountains. But it still sucked to be here.
Guru Bob, Mom, and I alternately paced, sat, drank coffee, laughed nervously, or teared up, depending on the moment and the mood.
Once we got to the hospital, I was really glad Guru Bob had come along. He took care of filling out Gabriel’s admittance forms, a good thing since I didn’t even know the man’s last name. The first time we’d spoken after the Fillmore Street noodle shop fiasco, Gabriel had given me his business card. It read, simply, “Gabriel.”
If Guru Bob knew Gabriel’s last name, more power to him. He did have a way of knowing things about people. He also seemed to have a direct line to heaven. For that reason and others, I was glad he was here. Gabriel would need all the hel
p he could get.
The double glass doors of the waiting room opened and Alice and China walked in. I felt immediately guilt-ridden for leaving Alice on her own, so I was glad to see her.
She ran over and gave me a hug.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I figured you could use some support while your friend is being looked at.”
“Thanks. I guess you’re right.”
“Any word on how he’s doing?” China asked.
“Not yet,” I said listlessly. I’d had a tough week and the body count was rising. I wanted to sleep for two days straight.
Alice patted my back and walked away. A few minutes later, she handed me a foam cup. “It’s hot tea with sugar. You need to keep up your strength.”
“Thanks.”
“Let’s sit for a minute,” she said, pulling me toward a row of chairs.
“I’m so sorry I dragged you into this,” I said, blowing on my tea. “I can try to find you a ride back to the city.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said. “My life is so much more exciting when you’re around. Besides, I already feel so close to everyone here. I want to stay, if it’s okay.”
“Absolutely. I appreciate it.”
I watched Guru Bob put his arm around Mom. She leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed.
Alice turned to me, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “How wonderful to live in a place where everyone cares for each other so much.”
“It’s a good place to live,” I said.
“Gabriel’s lucky to have such great old friends,” she said wistfully.
I smiled. “I’ve only known him a month or so, but Robson has known him a lot longer.”
“Well, he’s a lucky guy to have friends in Dharma. It’s a wonderful place.”
“It really is.”
Heavy footsteps echoed in the hall and a shiver tickled my shoulders and spine.
Derek Stone walked into the waiting room.
It took me a few seconds to register that it wasn’t a mirage. Then I set my cup of tea on the floor and rushed to greet him. “What are you doing here?”
He hugged me tight enough to cut off my breathing.
“I’ve been trying to track you down all day,” he said in a furious whisper. “Finally made it to Annie’s store and she told me where you were.”
I eased back to catch my breath. He put his arm around my shoulder to keep me close as we walked down the hall, away from the group.
“Were you already in Dharma when all this happened?”
“I have to assume so.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I dropped Gunther and one of my men off at the tasting room around two fifteen, then drove back toward Glen Ellen to fill the gas tank. By the time I got back to Annie’s shop and spent almost fifteen minutes trying to find you, you must’ve already been on your way to the hospital.”
“Gunther came up with you?”
“Yes, he got wind that I was driving up here and insisted on tagging along to go wine tasting.”
“Why were you coming to Dharma?”
“For Annie’s grand opening. Your mother e-mailed me with the news.”
My mother e-mailed him? He corresponded with my mother but not me? Okay, I needed to let that go.
“I’m just glad you’re here,” I said.
He gritted his teeth, then said, “Yes, well, I must say, it gave me a bit of a shock.”
“What?”
He shook his head. I’d never seen him look quite so nonplussed.
“You see,” he began, “I spoke to Annie, asking where you were. She seemed rather distraught and said there had been a shooting and you were on your way to the hospital.” He chuckled without humor. “Naturally, I thought she meant you were the one… well, I can see plain as day that you’re fine.”
“You thought it was me who’d been…”
“Yes.” He smiled, or tried to, then had to clear his throat before adding, “I believe I broke the land-speed record getting here.”
“I’m so sorry.” I wrapped my arms around him. He buried his face in my hair.
“Scared the living daylights out of me.” He gave me one last squeeze, then pulled away. “I’m sorry for your friend, but I can’t tell you how happy I am that it’s not you.”
“Thank you, Derek.” I felt my eyes water as I took hold of both his hands. “I’m so sorry you had to worry.”
“Worry? Oh, I wouldn’t call it that,” he said ruefully. “Anguish, perhaps. Or torture. Don’t ever do that to me again.”
I stretched up to kiss him lightly on the lips. “I promise.”
“Good.” We turned and walked back down the hall.
“Oh, Derek,” Mom said, running over. “It’s good of you to have come.”
He and I broke apart and Mom moved in for a hug. She and Derek had bonded awhile back when a gun-toting killer invaded my home and tried to make me the next victim.
“Hello, Rebecca,” he said. Then he shook hands with Guru Bob.
Somehow it was right that Derek had shown up. Maybe I’d wished for it. I seemed to draw strength from his presence. Warm happiness flowed from my heart into every part of me.
Could I be more sappy? I didn’t see how. But it didn’t matter. I was all bubbly inside and felt destined to live sappily ever after.
“Now, how do you know Gabriel?” Derek asked.
I blinked. Oh, dear. I wasn’t about to bring up a certain kiss in a certain hotel room in Edinburgh. And why was I even thinking about that when Derek was this close?
“Gabriel works with Guru Bob,” I said carefully. “He knows books and so do I. So we’ve had a few business dealings together.”
If you called Gabriel sneaking into my house and stealing a priceless fifteenth-century edition of Plutarch “business dealings.” But at least he’d done it for Guru Bob. The Plutarch theft was one reason why I didn’t trust Gabriel. But he clearly had Guru Bob’s seal of approval. And my father’s, I guessed. I was anxious to look more deeply into the whole Gabriel connection, but that would have to wait until he was out of the hospital.
“And what happened today?” Derek asked.
“It’s still not clear,” I said, and explained what I thought had happened.
“And you were first on the scene?”
“Yes.” I looked at him. “Again.”
Sensing my unease, he gripped my hand. “And the blood?”
“Was really bad,” I said, then added quickly, “But I didn’t pass out.”
“Good girl,” he said, and kissed my cheek.
He knew me too well. I’d passed out the first time I met him, when he found me kneeling over Abraham’s body, my hands covered in blood. It was sweet of him to be concerned.
“Do we know if Gabriel is out of danger?” Derek asked.
I waved my hand toward the nurses’ station. “They won’t tell us anything.”
He flashed the nurses a determined look. “Why don’t you go sit and let me give it a try.”
I frowned. “Sure.”
Derek walked over to the nurses’ station and struck up a conversation with the big scary nurse supervisor. Within seconds, she was giggling and touching Derek’s arm. He leaned in and whispered conspiratorially and she laughed out loud. Good grief.
He turned and walked back to me, smirking all the way.
I smirked, too, as I watched Nurse Ratched staring fondly at his ass the whole way.
“They’re getting him settled in a room,” he reported as we all gathered around him. “He’s had a CT scan. There’s no brain damage, but he’s been slipping in and out of consciousness for the last hour, so they’re keeping him overnight, at least. He may have a concussion, so they’ve given him a very light painkiller and are monitoring him constantly. Depending on how he does overnight, they’ll probably discharge him in the morning.”
“Oh, Derek, thank you,” Mom said.
“There’s more,” he said. “Apparently, he wrenched his neck
when he fell. When he leaves the hospital, he’s to remain in bed, keeping very still for several days. He’ll need a caregiver. Is there someone in Dharma who can stay with him?”
“Mom will find someone,” I said.
“He’ll stay with us,” Mom said immediately. She glanced at Guru Bob, who nodded in agreement.
“I’d like to see him before we leave,” Guru Bob declared.
Derek nodded. “Let me speak with Sandy.”
Sandy. Didn’t it just figure that he and Nurse Ratched were on a first-name basis. But I couldn’t blame the poor woman for rolling over in the face of all that British hot-ness.
Guru Bob tapped his fingers on the side table, making me realize how upset he was. He rarely expended useless energy like that, rarely showed so much emotion. He always said that negative emotions pulled us out of the moment. Gabriel’s injury had shaken him badly. I wondered if he knew something we didn’t know.
Well, of course he knew things. He was all-knowing. But my mind immediately went to some worst-case scenarios. What if Gabriel was more badly injured than we were being told? Or what if he was hiding out in Dharma? Maybe killers were after him. He wasn’t exactly a paragon of virtue, after all. Let’s face it, he stole things from people. Had he taken the wrong possession from the wrong person?
Was Guru Bob in danger as well? Were we all in danger? Was my imagination running wild?
Derek jogged back from the nurses’ station less than a minute later. “They’ll allow two of you in to see Gabriel today, and for a very brief time. Sandy will let us know when he’s settled.”
Once again, Derek Stone had worked his magic.
The group decided that Guru Bob and I should be the two people to visit with Gabriel. Guru Bob went in first, and after three minutes he came out and it was my turn.
I walked into the room and saw Gabriel in bed, hooked up to an IV. His eyes were closed, his head heavily bandaged, and his skin more pale than I’d ever seen it. I almost whimpered. I didn’t even know the man that well, but I knew that he was too strong, too full of life to be brought down like this.
I wanted to know what he was doing in Dharma. Why was he seeking sanctuary? Who was after him? But I knew this wasn’t the time or place to ask.
I approached, took his hand in mine and whispered, “Gabriel.”
The Lies That Bind Page 13
