Page 56 of Burning Justice

“How’s she doing, Doc?” Brett asked, concern evident in his expression and the low timbre of his voice.

“I don’t think she has a concussion.” Tori applied a thin white bandage to Gemma’s forehead. “I can close off the gash on her forehead with Steri-Strips, but I need to do something else on her scalp.”

“Define ‘something else,’ please.” Stitches? Worse, staples. She’d heard about people having to get their scalps stapled back together. Yikes. There was a staple gun somewhere in the house.

“It’s called hair apposition.” Tori applied another Steri-Strip, then scooted closer on the sofa. “Tip your head down, toward me.” Her fingers were gentle as she began doing something with Gemma’s hair. “I’m going to use your own hair on either side of the wound. I’ll twist the hair together, then secure it with tissue glue. It’s a natural form of suture that has fewer cosmetic problems and complication rates than suturing or stapling.”

“Lucky me.” Gemma looked up at Brett, whose eyes were dark, his hands jammed into his pockets. There might as well be a storm cloud hovering over his head, shooting out lightning bolts. He was angry and still blaming himself for not being here to stop the attack.

She winced at the slight tugging on her scalp. Bonnie grabbed her hand, squeezing it for distraction. Not working. In a timely move, Blaze rested his head on her lap, presenting his ears and giving her something to do with her hands while Tori worked.

“Evan.” Brett pulled out his phone. “Can you do me a favor?”

“Name it,” the other man said firmly.

While Tori continued twisting Gemma’s hair into au naturel sutures and gluing them together, Gemma listened while Brett summarized what had gone down with Gavin Aldrich, starting with the warehouse fire, his arrest, and ending with Gavin’s last court appearance.

“I promised I’d help him,” Brett continued, emphasizing, “I want to help him. That’s where you come in. Finding missing kids is your expertise. I want you to try and find his sister, but it won’t be easy. Five years ago, Gavin burned down his house, killing his father. He helped his sister, Allison, get out, figuring they’d be taken in by relatives. They weren’t. They both went into the system. Allison was twelve at the time, and she was adopted. Gavin never was.”

With every bit more of Gavin’s story that Brett related, Evan made notes in his phone, and his eyes narrowed more, as did Deck’s.

Brett tapped his phone several times. “I’m sending you some files, including my report of investigation, arrest photos and identifiers, and Gavin’s history. The kid’s got issues, no doubt. I think it would go a long way if you could find his sister.”

“Sometimes kids can’t be found.” Evan’s brow furrowed. “No matter how deep I dig.”

“I know that,” Brett said.

Evan nodded. “I’ll do what I can.”

Brett rested a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I know that, too.”

Gemma flicked her gaze from Brett to Evan, then back again. Something passed between the two men. Something powerful and meaningful. For such a tough-looking guy, there was no missing the fleeting glimpse of sadness and grief in Evan’s eyes. Just as quickly, it was gone.

Evan drew in a deep breath, straightening. “I’ll get started on this first thing tomorrow.”

Brett nodded a silent thank-you.

“All done.” Tori tugged off her gloves and stuffed them in her bag. “If you need to, take over-the-counter pain meds for the headache. Don’t wash your hair for two days. Eventually, the glue will fall off or wash off on its own. I want to examine the wound again in a week.” Tori leaned in, glancing at Brett and whispering, “And remember what I said about tonight. You shouldn’t be alone.”

“Thank you, Tori.” Gemma smiled. “For everything, but I really don’t think that Brett—”

“But nothing.” Brett’s words held a note of annoyance. “If you insist on being so stubborn and staying here tonight, then I’m staying here with you.” Blaze barked. “Sorry.” He gestured to his dog. “We’re staying here with you.”

Leaning in more, Tori whispered, “Brett wouldn’t call me at close to midnight and ask me to drop everything for just anyone.” She winked, then clipped her medical bag closed and stood.

Clearly having overheard Tori’s suggestive words, Bonnie giggled.

To Brett, Tori added, “Give her some of that aloe vera I gave you. Once the sutures and Steri-Strips come off, it will help minimize scarring.”

“Will do, Doc, and thanks. I owe you one.”

Tori scoffed. “Don’t be silly. You saved my life. I can never repay that.” She stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek.

“Hey,” Deck interjected. “I helped save your life, too, and I want some of that kissing, so let’s get out of here.”

Tori blushed, then sent Deck a look filled with so much love, it took Gemma’s breath away. Deck reached for Tori, and they held hands as they walked to the door. Only then did she notice the glittering diamond ring on Tori’s left ring finger. They’re engaged.

Her belly flip-flopped. She could only dream of having something like they had.