In the living room, Aldrich sat on the couch dealing a hand of cards to Dr. Devins, who occupied the club chair. The pair looked up at Luc’s entrance.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Dr. Devins picked up his cards.
“Too much on my mind.” Luc sank onto the love seat. “Rummy?”
Aldrich grinned. “It’s the only game in town. We’ll deal you in next hand.”
“Thanks.” Luc stretched as the doctor discarded an eight of spades. “What kind of doctor are you?”
“He’s the kind that messes with your head.” Aldrich snapped up the eight of spades, then laid out a spread with three eights.
“Aldrich meant I’m a psychiatrist.”
“Are you messing with mine?” Luc watched a few more minutes of play in silence.
“Smoked you again.” Aldrich put down a run, then discarded his last card.
Dr. Devins threw down his hand in disgust. “How do you do that?”
“I was a card shark in another life.” Aldrich scooped up the cards and shuffled.
“That I believe.” Dr. Devins smiled. “Maybe with Luc playing, I’ll do better.”
“Wishful thinking.” Aldrich dealt Luc into the game.
As the trio gathered their cards, Dr. Devins said, “We were shamelessly listening in on your conversation with Priscilla. She didn’t remember many details about your wedding, did she?”
“Or about you.” Aldrich stacked the remaining cards and flipped the top one over.
Luc raised his eyebrows but didn’t comment. He arranged his cards as if the words hadn’t stung. No man liked to think he was forgettable.
Dr. Devins started the hand by drawing a card. “Confession. Besides wanting to spend time with my lovely wife, Mac asked me to come along because of my subspecialty.” He discarded a ten of hearts.
Just the card Luc wanted to go with the jack and nine of hearts. “What’s that?” He picked up the ten and laid down his spread, before adding a three of clubs to the discard pile.
“Hypnotherapy.” Dr. Devins regarded Luc over his cards. “I’ve had good success with helping people remember clearer details about events surrounding a traumatic episode in their lives, whether it’s the death of a loved one, an accident or, in a few cases, a violent crime.”
Luc ignored Aldrich’s play, his attention riveted on Dr. Devins. “You’re saying you can help Priscilla remember by hypnotizing her?”
“It’s possible.” Dr. Devins nodded to the cards on the table. “Your turn.”
Luc glanced at the discard pile, but didn’t need the top card. As he drew one from the deck, a loud popping noise erupted outside.
“Get down!” Aldrich dropped his cards on the coffee table and drew his gun in one smooth action.
“I’ve got the witness covered!” Laura yelled from the back of the house.
Dr. Devins and Luc hit the floor as a high-pitched whistling sound rent the air.
Luc hunkered behind the love seat, torn between not getting in the way of the marshals and wanting to crawl down the hallway to check on Priscilla. The last time he’d entrusted Priscilla’s safety to someone, it hadn’t turned out well. Just as he was about to make a dash for the hallway, another round of whistling exploded in the air.
A few feet away, Aldrich spoke into the microphone of his earpiece. “What’s going on?”
The agent huddled to the left of the front door, peering out one of the side windows. Another round of pops startled Luc, making the muscles in his body jump. Through the curtains, the darkness outside brightened with more explosions.
“It’s okay.” Aldrich stood and holstered his gun. “The sheriff’s department confirmed it’s fireworks. The local high school is celebrating a big football win against their crosstown rivals. The game had been delayed, and it ended later than usual.”
Luc scrambled to his feet. “You’re sure it was just fireworks and not a diversion?”
“Yes,” the agent said.
Luc’s heart rate slowed and his breathing returned to normal, but the incident had given him an inkling of what Priscilla must have gone through for years. To think that every unexpected pop and bang could be a threat and every person who looked at you twice had to be considered as a potential threat until ruled otherwise would make anyone leery of others.