‘Whoa.’ Hunter jumped back pointing at Garcia’s sweater. ‘Does that thing bite?’
‘I know, I know.’ Garcia put on a face. ‘My mother knitted it for me. She brought it over this morning. I have to wear it or else she’ll be upset.’
‘She’s punishing you, that’s what she’s doing.’
‘Yeah, probably. Come in,’ Garcia said, showing him into the apartment. The Christmas tree in the far corner of the room was alive with flickering lights and decorations. Soft, old-fashioned seasonal music and a rainbow of mouth-watering smells warmed the room.
‘How’s the arm?’ Garcia asked.
‘Still hurts, but nothing I can’t handle. I have to give the gym a miss for a few months, though.’
‘And that’s what worries you the most, isn’t it?’
Hunter shrugged. ‘How’s the nose?’
‘Broken. I’ll have to give up head-butting for a few months,’ he teased. ‘I heard you got a call from the mayor, and it wasn’t to talk about his wife.’
An indifferent shrug this time.
‘You’re flavor of the month, Robert. You’re in everyone’s good books, including Captain Blake and Chief Collins. Two serial killers in one night? That’s gotta be a new record. Did you hear they finally found James Reed?’
Hunter nodded.
‘We were right; he never left Los Angeles County. His lover lives in Ranchos Palos Verdes. We couldn’t find the car because it was in her garage. How’s Mollie?’
‘She’s OK, considering. She’s been sedated for the past two days.’
‘What’s gonna happen to her?’
A subtle shake of the head. ‘She will decide. She’s eighteen today, legally an adult. But I’ve already talked to a very good friend of mine who happens to be one of the best psychiatrists in Los Angeles. She agreed to see Mollie free of charge for as long as it takes. Mollie’s been through a hell of a lot and she’ll need a lot of help. I’ll do my best to be there for her.’
‘I know you will.’ Garcia smiled. ‘She can also count on me.’
‘I’m dropping by later this afternoon to wish her happy birthday and merry Christmas.’
‘Great. We’ll sort her out a huge plate with a bit of everything. Hospitals’ Christmas meal must suck. Besides, when Anna and my mom get together in the kitchen, they cook enough food to feed a platoon.’
‘I can see.’ Hunter nodded towards the table overcrowded with colorful dishes.
‘And there’s still more to come.’ Anna came out of the kitchen wearing a blue and white apron with the words ‘Kiss the chef’ across the front of it.
‘Don’t mind if I do,’ Hunter said with a smile and kissed her on both cheeks. He was introduced to Garcia’s mother, Janet, a tall and authoritative woman with perfectly styled short blond hair, dazzling blue eyes and the sweetest, most calming voice Hunter had ever heard.
During lunch, Hunter was amused by Janet’s stories of a young Garcia in Brazil.
‘So you used to be good at soccer?’ Hunter asked as he and Garcia did the dishes.
‘I still am,’ Garcia shot back proudly.
‘I’ll take your word for it.’
A few silent seconds went by.
‘There’s something I wanted to ask you, Robert.’
‘Shoot.’
‘I was handcuffed to the chair when I came to. It’s logical to assume Tyler cuffed you as well.’
‘He did.’ Hunter nodded.
‘How the hell did you get out of those handcuffs?’
Hunter smiled. ‘A trick I learned a long time ago.’
‘Care to share?’
‘I always keep two sets of cuff keys with me.’
‘Huh?’
‘I keep a set where everyone expects to find one – together with my handcuffs on my holster. That’s how I could throw Dan the keys when he asked for them. But here’s my magic trick.’ Hunter undid his belt.
‘Hey, hey. If Anna or my mom walks into the kitchen right now, this ain’t gonna look good.’
‘Relax.’ Hunter showed Garcia the secret pocket in the back of his belt. A set of handcuff keys safely tucked inside. ‘It happened to me once before a long time ago. So I decided it’d never happen again. If you ever get caught off guard and you end up handcuffed, nine out of ten times your hands will be cuffed behind your back.’
‘Clever sonofabitch.’ Garcia chuckled. ‘I’m definitely stealing that idea.’
Mollie was standing by the window, silently watching the drizzling rain, when Hunter poked his head through the door.
‘May I come in?’
She turned around and forced a thin smile. ‘What’s the secret password?’
Hunter thought about it for a second. ‘Now, let me see . . . It’s either
happy birthday
—’ his right hand appeared holding a birthday cake ‘—or
merry Christmas
.’ He pushed the door open, revealing a nicely wrapped box under his injured left arm.
Her eyes widened. ‘Oh my God. That’s all for me?’
‘Uh-huh.’ Hunter stepped into the room and placed the cake on the small table by the bed. ‘Here, merry Christmas and happy birthday.’ He handed her the present. ‘I hope you like it.’
Mollie sat on the bed and unwrapped it eagerly, her jaw dropping as she stared at the box.
‘It’s a laptop,’ Hunter said.
‘I can see that.’ Tears flooded her eyes.
‘A word processor and several other applications are already preinstalled. You said you wanted to be a writer. I hope this will help.’
‘Oh my God. I can’t believe you remembered.’ The joy in her voice was contagious. She leaned forward and kissed Hunter’s right cheek, and for a brief moment he looked embarrassed.
‘I hope you’re hungry,’ he said with a wait gesture before stepping out of the room again. Two seconds later he reappeared holding two massive food dishes wrapped in cling film. ‘Compliments of Carlos and his wife.’
Mollie did a double take. ‘Wow, that’s a lot of food.’ She smiled. ‘Maybe I can offer some of it to the other patients. There’ll be a lot left over.’
‘That would be very nice of you,’ Hunter replied with a smile. ‘Mollie, I wanted to ask you something,’ he said in a more serious tone. ‘The safety on my gun was on. I know it was on because I flicked it on.’
She nodded shyly. ‘I know. I flicked it off.’
‘How did you know?’
‘Mr. Higgins.’
Hunter frowned.
‘He and his wife own the diner I used to work at in Lynwood. They’d been robbed at gunpoint so many times they kept a pistol behind the counter and one in the kitchen. They made sure everyone who worked there knew how to use them just in case. I know how to reload, chamber and unchamber a round, cock the hammer and check the safety.’
Hunter chuckled. ‘I’ll be damned. Only in the United States of America you’d be able to get a job in a diner and be taught not only how to wait on tables but also how to use a firearm.’
A kind-looking nurse knocked gently at the door. ‘I’m sorry, detective, but she needs to rest now.’
‘It’s OK.’ Hunter grabbed his jacket. ‘I’ll check on you tomorrow, kiddo.’
‘Robert,’ Mollie called as Hunter reached the door. ‘Thank you for everything. For the present, for remembering, for believing in me, for being there and for saving my life.’
Hunter faced her and smiled. ‘Thank you for saving mine.’