Back at the office mail had gathered at the door and the handbills weren't distracting enough to avoid reading my bills. The answering machine light was blinking and true to his word, Meadows had called to let me know Alice could have visitors and that they had checked her mom and were doing frequent, random drive-bys.

I shaved and changed into fresh clothes . . . well cleaner clothes, and hit the road for the hospital. Meadow's comments about the call regarding a supposed relief agent bugged me and I couldn't get the suspicions about Jones out of my head. Was he actually working with the arms traffickers or was it a huge coincidence? If so, who made the call?

A friendly nurse in a pink cardigan over her white uniform directed me to the room where Alice was resting and I was surprised and pleased to see an officer seated in the hall down from her room. She was awake and gave a slight nod when I entered.

"Hi, how are you doing, Alice?" My eyes scanned the monitors and the intravenous bag. "I was told you just had some bumps and bruises."

"It's just a pain medication because of the cracked ribs and shock to my old heart."

I thought her old heart was working better than mine at the moment and I shook my head.

"I'm so sorry, I feel this was my fault somehow."

"Nonsense. I think it was as you said before, the bumbling federal agents."

"Do you have any idea why someone would attack you?

"Not really . . ."

I decided not to press that odd response in her condition."Do you remember anything about the attack, Alice?"

"Everything. I told it all to that Detective Meadows. He was very kind."

"Did you describe the man?"

"Oh yes, that was the easiest part . . . he wore a mask."

Was this humour or delirium?

I was getting light-headed as I listened. Meadows said the guy got away but her description helped a little and when I asked about Jones she said he immediately called for the paramedics then the police and then made her as comfortable as possible, waiting with her.

"Did he question you?"

"Yes, same questions as you just asked."

Hmm . . . "Oh, I wanted you to know I told Meadows about your mom and they are keeping a watch on her house. She's quite safe."

Her face paled and she clutched the side rail of the bed. "She's not in danger is she?"

"No! No, she's in good hands. It was just a precaution there was no other reason. Honestly."

Alice relaxed slightly and I offered her some water from her glass. "Did uh- did the police tell you about Harland?"

She nodded, sucking on the straw. "Yes. It seems I will miss a lifetime opportunity."

"So, I guess we are finished doing business." I felt my neck for sounding mercenary.

"I still have a bill to settle." Her eyes held a strange gleam and she managed a tiny smile.

"Don't give it a thought," I said magnanimously. "You just get better."

********

As I drove back to my office the fact that Jones had seemed to be on the up and up and nice to boot really got up my nose. It was jealousy and I knew it but that didn't make it any easier to handle. Verna was my girl and Jones was trespassing.

Mind you, that was just my understanding of our situation. If Jones took her turkey wrap . . . I couldn't bear to think of it. What I had to think of was the car I'd seen a few times on the way back from the hospital and again just now in my mirror.

Again! There was plenty of parking spaces so my previous trick was out. I slowed to see if it would pass thinking it might be the police keeping an eye on me. Right, it passed me. Wrong. Not police, they wouldn't shoot at me!

I braked hard and dove across the console, mashing my ribs painfully. The door window shattered and I heard thuds in the door itself. Horns blew and tires screeched as my car did a slow, lazy curve across the road and bumped to a stop against the curb.

When I sat up, shaking, I could see cars stopped in both directions and angry looking drivers closing in.

"What kinda stupid maniac driver are you, fella?"

I climbed out of the car holding up my hands in surrender.

"I was shot at. Look at my car. Didn't you see anything?"

"That just looks like you side-swiped somebody! You been drinkin'?"

I dropped my hands, leaned on the car and stared at the circle of blind eye witnesses.

********

Meadows sat with his hands clasped behind his head, eyes closed and waited until I had given my statement before heaving another of his trademark sighs and sitting up to consider me.

"What? Obviously I was being followed otherwise how did anybody know I went to the hospital? Now I don't have a car because you guys impounded it."

"Your insurance will cover it."

"Have you ever read what your policy doesn't cover unless you take out very expensive optional coverage? Bullet holes aren't included."

"So, you didn't get a description and all the witnesses scattered before my people arrived."

"Gee I'm sorry to be such a disappointment. I was lucky, they might have lynched me. What about my car?"

"I'll try and get it back as quickly as I can for you."

"I can't drive it like that anyway . . . you guys would just ticket me to death. And by the way, thanks for the promised surveillance."

"That was your Federal friend not us. I made the diner and the hospital our responsibility. And interestingly enough, he wants to take over Roe's killing."

Apparently I was chopped liver. "Are you going to let him?"

"If it comes down officially I won't have a choice . . . but I do have you, Hart."

"Huh?"

********

Meadows offered to take me to lunch, what he had to say required privacy so naturally I suggested Harry's. Verna's gorgeous eyes shot open when we walked in and she followed quickly as I led him to my booth.

"Hello, Miss Scott," he said pleasantly. "Hart suggested here for a private business meeting."

I looked up smugly, grinning.

"Certainly better than his office," she quipped. "Coffee?"

"Please and just a small Chef's salad for me thanks."

"You have to try the Thai Bites." I said.

"Uh, uh." He patted his stomach and indicated sensitivity with a tilt of his hand.

"Too bad. So, what did you mean, you had me?"

********

One Chef's salad, with extra bread sticks I noticed, a plate of Bites and several coffees for me (Meadows had switched to milk) we wound up an hour and a half talk. I learned that the prints from the ladder belonged to a known freelance enforcer also known to have been a CI for the Feds in the past.

A further look into the call that relieved the agent from duty at the King's Arms came from a public phone booth three blocks from the building housing the Crown Attorney's offices. The timeline removed Jones as a possible suspect; he was already at the hotel speaking to the manager.

"You think the guy I saw that wasted Harland attacked Alice?"

"We don't know he was the one that killed Harland."

"But I saw him come out of the apartment! You found his prints on the ladder!"

"Remember the gloves, Hart?" I just stared. "He claims Roe was dead when he got there."

"Then who else . . . the Street Riders?"

"Or someone they were doing business with."

"Reagan's target?"

"Lot of coincidences lining up that way."

"But the task force, he said it was a year old and ready to wrap until I showed up. What did anyone have to gain? It would just add to the charges - more serious charges I might add."

"Look, Hart I can't tell you everything I think I know but the Street Riders, I believe, were being financed by another group who decided they didn't need to be paying a bunch of ageing bikers to do what they could do themselves."

"This was a power shuffle?"

Meadows lifted his shoulders in a, there you have it, gesture.

"Okay then so what about me, you still haven't said?"

********

"Well that's a lucky turn of events, eh?"

"What do you mean lucky, I am now a CI for the police? I could get hurt here."

"I meant that Jones didn't turn out to be the bad guy."

I gawped at her then crossed my arms and pouted. "That's it? Jones isn't a bad guy? Is there something going on here, Verna because if there is I want to know before--"

"Before what?" She lifted up on one elbow and propped her head on her hand, looking at me.

"Before . . . before I spend any more on wraps . . . aw geez, Verna, I thought we had something you and I."

"Who says we don't?"

Her grin was wicked and I knew she knew I was seething about Jones.

"Maybe your new friend Jones might like to." The pout grew more pitiful.

"Is that your problem, Hart? Jones?"

"Yeah . . . well I've noticed you two together . . ."

"Oh for heaven's sake, you are such a jerk sometimes. Makes me question why I love you."

The room went dark then a brilliant blinding white light exploded behind my eyes. Love? She said love?

"You said love!"

"Did I? Huh."

"Huh now? What do you mean, huh? I heard you say it, Verna."

"Slip of the tongue . . ." The grin widened and the eyes - those eyes - I pounced on her laughing with joy.

"I'll show you a slip of the tongue you- you--" The words were smothered by her lips and together we giggled away the afternoon.