Wait, you’re not staying?” Napoleon eased to the edge of the recliner the next night. “Might as well have a game of chess while you’re here.”

“It’s late.” Scott set the book on Napoleon’s coffee table beside Lita’s glass of iced tea. “I just came to bring you the book you ordered from the library.”

“You can’t just leave,” Lita said from the couch. “Sit and hang for a while.”

Napoleon set the TV remote on his lap. “Is something wrong, Scott?”

Scott glanced at Lita, and then lowered his head.

“I can take a hint.” She got her ice tea and stood. “I have to make a call anyway.” She left the living room.

“Sit.” Napoleon sat up straight in the recliner as Scott grabbed a seat on the couch. “Would this have something to do with my robbery and that Rachel knew about it?”

“What?” Scott did a double take. “Bobby told you?”

“Course he told me. It’s my case, remember?” Napoleon hooked his wrinkled hands. “He told me when he brought my coin collection back.”

“I broke it off with Rachel.”

“Why?”

“You have to ask? You were attacked because of her.”

“No, I wasn’t.”

“She knew, Napoleon.” Scott laid his feet on the coffee table. “What if you’d been killed?”

“She claims she didn’t know it was me who the guys planned to rob and I believe her.” He snapped his fingers. “And, get your feet off my table.”

“What difference does it make?” Scott yanked his feet down, holding out his arms. “She knew her brother and Greer planned to rob someone, that’s bad enough.”

“She talked her brother out of it. That’s all she could do.”

“Why are you being so understanding?”

“Rachel’s a sweet girl, and she wouldn’t hurt anyone on purpose. You’re not mad because of what happened. You’re mad because you realized she’s human and makes mistakes like everyone else.”

Scott wiggled his nose. “What?”

“You had this idea that Rachel was some angel.” Napoleon waved his hands. “You propped her up to be this entity that could do no wrong and that’s not Rachel’s fault.”

“She keeps silent about you being hurt even after the fact and it’s not her fault? Why didn’t she say something after it happened?”

“Simple.” Napoleon shrugged. “She loves you, didn’t want to lose you, and she’s scared.” He leaned forward. “It was a mistake. Yes, Scott. Rachel makes mistakes like we all do.”

“How can you forgive her?”

Napoleon sat back, sighing. “When you almost lose your life, the small shit doesn’t matter anymore.”

“I can’t be with someone who keeps secrets from me. How can I ever be sure she’s telling me everything? Trust is the important thing.”

“What’s in your heart is the important thing.” Napoleon smiled.

Lita returned and took her place on the couch.

“Made your call, sweetie?” Napoleon asked.

“Yeah, everything’s straight.” She glared at Scott as if she expected him to explain his aloof behavior.

“Excuse me.” Napoleon moved the blanket aside and got off the recliner. “Had pinto beans for dinner and my stomach’s rolling like a hurricane.”

“Good Lord,” Scott said.

“Uncle.” Lita burst out laughing. “That’s disgusting.”

“Ooh, damn.” Napoleon hobbled to the door as if he had a brick in his ass. “Hope I can make it to the bathroom.” He stumbled out.

“He’s something else.” Scott grinned, shaking his head.

Lita scooted closer to him. “But, you love him a lot and I appreciate that.”

“He’s family and so are you. I’d better go.”

“Wait.” She touched his hand. “Don’t run away yet. You’re always so busy, and I wanted to see how you’ve been.”

He situated himself. “I’m okay.”

“I know Rachel knew about the robbery.” She slipped her warm, thin fingers in his hand. “What kind of a person does what she did? How can she sit there and pretend she didn’t know? Act all concerned?”

“She was concerned.”

“Concerned that we would find out she knew.” She rubbed his arm. “I can’t imagine how betrayed you feel. You put your life on the line for her and she could do this?”

“Lita—”

“She doesn’t deserve anything from you. Especially not your kindness and your heart.” She touched his cheek. “In fact, she doesn’t deserve that from anyone—”

“Stop.” He grabbed her hand. “What Rachel did was terrible but don’t attack her character.” He shoved her hand away. “You don’t know what she’s been through and what she’s going through now.”

“Napoleon could’ve been killed, and Rachel had the power to stop it.”

“She couldn’t have stopped it.”

“You can’t be this crazy over her that you’re ignoring reason. And, why?” She rolled her eyes. “I saw her and I don’t see what’s so special.”

He stood, fixing his pants. “At least she’s special.”

She batted her eyes, mouth open. “What does that mean?”

“Goodnight, Lita.”