Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

actions?’
    Paige gave her an I’m-disappointed-in-you look. ‘I think “dictate my actions” is a slightly dressed up way of saying “you’re not the boss of me.” I also think you need to remember that Joseph already saved your life once today. Which I know he’d do again in a heartbeat. It just doesn’t seem fair to ask him to do so unnecessarily.’
    Daphne sighed. ‘Now you make me feel like I’m being childish.’
    ‘Because you are. Look, Daphne, I get that being angry with Joseph is taking your mind off the hell I know you’re going through right now. Joseph would be happy to have you be angry with him – as long as you’re safe. You ramping up all that energy, all that’s going to do is muddle your mind. And the minds of everyone around you. If someone shoots at you now, your reflexes are slowed. So are mine.’
    ‘Mine aren’t,’ Coppola said smugly and Paige snorted back a surprised laugh.
    ‘So hers aren’t, which is good, because she’s seriously exceeding the speed limit.’ Paige sobered. ‘Be angry with Joseph. He’s insensitive and drags his knuckles. But don’t lose your head or you’ll get yourself killed. That won’t bring Ford home.’
    Hector had been watching the entire exchange. ‘That makes more sense.’
    ‘Thank you,’ Paige told him.
    Now Daphne really felt childish. ‘You think I should have stayed home?’
    Paige shook her head. ‘No. But we’re headed back to the place where somebody tried to kill you today. Not ideal from a security standpoint. When we get there, you’d best be settled in your head. I mean it. No foot bobbing, prissy prancing, or hissy-fits.’
    Daphne lifted her chin. ‘I do not prance, prissily or not.’
    ‘But you’re not denying the hissy-fits,’ Coppola said. ‘Just for the record.’
    ‘On that I’m taking the fifth. Okay, Paige. I hear you. I will be settled in my head before we arrive at BPD. And I’ll take that brownie. Thank you.’
    Paige draped her arm over Daphne’s shoulders. ‘You’re welcome.’
    As Daphne nibbled, she thought of Joseph’s heroics, leaping through the air to shield her from Marina’s bullets. All of a sudden he’d been there, larger than life. And he’d taken care of her. Even my hair . He’d been terrified, but not for himself. He was terrified for me . ‘Not insensitive,’ she murmured.
    ‘Hm?’ Paige studied her face. ‘What did you say?’
    Daphne stared at the brownie, breaking off tiny pieces. ‘He’s not insensitive.’
    Paige squeezed her shoulders. ‘His knuckles do drag the ground sometimes, though. It’s just how he rolls. He has a deep need to take care of people. I think once there was a— Wait, that’s my phone.’ She listened for a long time, her expression too smoothly serene. ‘Okay. Thanks.’ She hung up, studied the two agents sitting up front. ‘Clay just saw Stevie’s parents,’ she said to Daphne, all the while typing a text message. ‘They said that the doctor sounded hopeful that she’d make a full recovery.’
    ‘That’s wonderful,’ Daphne said. Then her phone buzzed and she found herself reading the text Paige had just sent her from the other side of the back seat.
    Call was from Clay . Taser used at Z crime scene this morning . AFID tags trace to guns rept’d stolen from cop near Philly . 20 min from KMacG parents . C going to PA .
    This was progress, Daphne thought, so why the cloak and dagger? She waited, because Paige was still typing.
    ‘I’m searching for the ICU visiting hours,’ Paige lied. ‘Do any of you know how late Stevie can receive visitors?’
    ‘They close for a few hours around breakfast and dinnertime,’ Hector said.
    ‘Thanks,’ Paige said. ‘I don’t suppose you can send flowers.’
    Hector shook his head. ‘Not till she’s in a regular room.’
    Paige put her phone away. ‘Hopefully that’ll be tomorrow. Grayson will want me to send flowers as soon as she’s able to receive them.’
    Daphne read the second text. Don’t say where you got the taser–Philly link . C’ll get in trouble . Delete this message .
    Feeling like Jim Phelps, Daphne deleted the message before it could self-destruct.
    ‘How are we planning to get Daphne to the interview rooms?’ Paige asked Hector.
    Hector turned in the seat, his brows lifted. ‘I left instructions for our entry to the interview unit on a microfiche hidden in an envelope hidden under your seat. Better read it in a hurry, before the film goes up in