Page 104 of Hell Hath No Fury

Emma shined her phone’s flashlight on the inside of the band again. “Not that I can see.”

Matthias nodded. This ring inscribed,From Sonny with love, could have been gifted to Nell before Zeke was in the picture. Or it might have nothing to do with her. It was a question for Emma’s sister once she was settled at Washington Hospital. “We’re both too tired to think clearly,” he said. “Let’s put all of this aside for now. We’ll go back to the hotel, get a few hours of sleep, and then come up with a plan.”

Emma leaned down to place the treasures on the floor at her feet… except for the ring, which she tucked into her jeans’ pocket. “As long as the plan involves a visit to Fran.”

“Count on it.”

* * *

They managed a few hours of slumber, although, for Matthias, sleep was fitful at best. Emma’s phone woke them at eleven a.m. with news that Nell was scheduled for surgery at noon. Too late for the hotel’s complimentary breakfast, they made do with crappy coffee from the room’s machine before heading to the hospital. Matthias settled Emma in the waiting room and made a run to the cafeteria for bagels, cream cheese, and more coffee. When he returned, she was on her phone. She gave him a pained expression. Not worry. Discomfort.

“Matthias just got back,” she said as he placed their food on the table between them. “Let me ask.” She tapped the mute icon before facing him. “It’s Eric. He wants to be here for Nell, but…”

“But you wrecked his car.”

She huffed indignantly. “I did not. The idiot who hit us wrecked his car.”

Matthias had a feeling she’d had this same debate with Eric. “You want me to bring him here.”

“That’s whathewants.” Her lips curled into a devious grin. “Iwant you to take him to the car rental place. Otherwise we might have him tagging along when we go see Fran.”

“Good thinking.” Matthias sipped from the hospital coffee, which was no better than the hotel room stuff. “Tell him I’ll be there as soon as I finish my breakfast.”

Eric must not have argued, and Emma ended the call.

As Matthias peeled the lid from a tub of cream cheese, he said, “Why don’t you run down to the emergency department and see if Fran’s there? I’ll stay here in case the doctor comes out.”

Emma sipped her own coffee, then shook her head. “I called her before Eric. She’s off today and plans to be home. She said we could come by anytime.”

“Good.” Matthias was eager to see how Fran reacted to the ring.

“Are you going to call Fergusson?”

He paused, bagel halfway to his mouth, then took a big bite. Chewing gave him time to consider a reply. It did not, however, provide enough time for Emma to change the subject. She continued to wait. He wiped his mouth before answering. “No. I’d rather stay off his radar right now.”

“He can’t possibly suspect you had anything to do with Winslow’s death or the fire.”

Except Fergusson absolutely could. Would any of his accusations stick? Of course not. But Matthias didn’t have the time or patience to face him this morning. “Let’s give him time to get reports back from the coroner and the fire marshal.”

“No use bothering him unless he has real information.”

“Exactly.”

* * *

With a plate and pins now stabilizing her tibia, Nell came through surgery with flying colors. The doctor told Emma they planned to keep her overnight and get her started on physical therapy in the morning. If all went according to expectations, she would be discharged tomorrow afternoon.

Leaving Eric, now in possession of a rental car, to wait for Nell to be transferred from post-op to a room, Emma and Matthias left to visit Fran.

Once again, Emma acted as navigator, watching the GPS on her phone and directing Matthias to the address near Cross Creek Village.

“This is it.” Emma pointed to a gray vinyl-sided house that felt shoehorned between two other small houses on each side. With its substantial timber deck, the structure looked more suited for a larger, more rural lot.

Matthias parked in front of a single-car block garage painted the same shade of gray as the house.

Fran stepped onto the deck as they climbed out of the Jeep. “I’m so glad you could come.”

Emma scooped Fran’s metal detecting finds from the floor, sans the ring, which remained in her pocket. She led the way up the wooden steps where Fran waved them inside.