“I’m bruised and battered, but nothing that some pain pills and a good night’s sleep won’t cure.” Mac grinned. “Besides, I told them how terrible a patient I’d be—they had to let me go.”
Adams placed boxes of pizza on the coffee table, then handed out paper plates and napkins. “I think what really happened is that he put up such a fuss about checking on Priscilla in person that they let him go to give the other patients peace and quiet.”
Priscilla gingerly touched Mac’s shoulder. “Are you really okay?”
“I will be, now that you’re safe.” Mac held out his plate as Adams began dishing out the slices.
Suddenly ravenous, Priscilla sat down beside Mac and bit into a slice.
The four of them ate silently for a few minutes. Luc wiped sauce from his mouth. “What’s going on with Culvert and the Devinses?”
“Culvert is singing like a canary, giving details about Dr. and Marshal Devins’s involvement with criminals.” Adams reached for another slice of pepperoni. “He’s not the only one talking a mile a minute. Both of the Devinses have confessed to their parts as well, with Dr. Devins pointing the finger at his wife and Laura Devins pointing it right back at him, especially related to everything that happened to Priscilla.”
“With their confessions, will there be a trial?” Priscilla set down her empty plate, her appetite sated.
“Don’t quote me on this, but I don’t think so,” Mac said. “With all the information Culvert is divulging, his lawyer is angling for a plea bargain. He’ll still do time—a nice long stretch—but he’s negotiating for life in a federal prison if he fully cooperates with the federal prosecutors.”
“Did Laura really murder Grammar and stage the explosion at the motel after killing Rachel?” Priscilla asked, her heart aching at all the needless deaths.
“The FBI found traces of the explosives used to make the motel bomb in Laura’s trunk, but she clammed up about the bombing itself. Rachel Whitehurst’s death appears to have been from a heart attack—we may never know if she died from natural causes or related to the bomb. Her medical records indicated she had a weak heart, but the medical examiner is running more tests to see if anything helped her to have a heart attack before the bomb went off.” Mac sighed. “The Devinses have lawyered up, but with their initial confessions, it’s likely their attorneys will seek a plea bargain as well.”
“What happens next?” Luc took a swig from his water bottle.
“We’ll find Priscilla another safe house while we sort through the paperwork and the federal prosecutors work out the deals.” Mac patted her hand. “But that shouldn’t take too long.”
Tears sprang to Priscilla’s eyes. “It’s really over? I’ll soon have my life back?”
“Yes.” Mac smiled at her. “You’ll soon be able to live wherever you want to.” He glanced at Luc. “And with whomever you want to.”
Priscilla could hardly believe that after seven years of running, she could finally put down roots and think about the future, a prospect made even more appealing since meeting Luc. But would he want to be part of her life after all that had happened?
TWENTY-FIVE
Two weeks later...
Standing before the full-length mirror in her bedroom, Priscilla swept her hair up into a loose topknot, securing it with a clip and allowing several tendrils to dangle around her face. She hummed along to a Christmas song on her phone’s playlist, as she smoothed a few wrinkles from her new red dress. A dab of lipstick and silver dangling earrings completed her outfit.
A knock on her apartment door startled her. Luc was early. When he’d asked to take her to dinner, she had been thrilled—and nervous. Now that they weren’t running for their lives, they would finally have time to discuss their impetuous wedding. Given his stated reason for finding her was to annul their marriage, she was trying not to read too much into his request.
She hurried to the door. But instead of Luc, Mac stood on her doorstep, a portfolio in one hand.
“Hi, Priscilla.” His eyes widened at her attire. Then his face relaxed. “You must have a date.”