Vanish: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel

didn’t need the cavalry.”
    Gabriel pulled into his parking space behind their apartment building and shut off the engine. “We didn’t know what was happening. We saw you running after that man, and then it looked like he was taking a swing at you.”
    “He was just trying to get away.”
    “I didn’t know that. All I thought was—” He stopped and looked at her. “I just reacted. That’s all.”
    “We’ve probably lost her, you know.”
    “Then we’ve lost her.”
    “You sound like you don’t even care.”
    “You know what I care about? That you don’t get hurt. That’s more important than anything else.” He got out of the car; so did she.
    “Do you happen to remember what I do for a living?” she asked.
    “I’m trying not to.”
    “Suddenly my job is not okay.”
    He shut his car door and met her gaze over the roof. “I admit it. I’m having trouble right now, dealing with it.”
    “You’re asking me to quit?”
    “If I thought I could get away with it.”
    “What am I supposed to do instead?”
    “Here’s a novel idea. You could stay home with Regina.”
    “When did you go all retro on me? I can’t believe you’re saying this.”
    He sighed and shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m saying it, either.”
    “You knew who I was when you married me, Gabriel.” She turned and walked into the building, and was already climbing to the second floor when she heard him say, from the bottom of the stairs: “But maybe I didn’t know who
I
was.”
    She glanced back at him. “What does that mean?”
    “You and Regina are all I have.” Slowly he came up the stairs, until they were face-to-face on the landing. “I never had to worry about anyone else before, about what I could lose. I didn’t know it would scare me so much. Now I’ve got this big exposed Achilles heel, and all I can think about is how to protect it.”
    “You can’t protect it,” she said. “It’s just something you have to live with. It’s what happens when you have a family.”
    “It’s too much to lose.”
    Their apartment door suddenly opened, and Angela poked her head into the hallway. “I thought I heard you two out here.”
    Jane turned. “Hi, Mom.”
    “I just put her down for the night, so keep your voices quiet.”
    “How was she?”
    “Exactly like you were at her age.”
    “That bad, huh?” Stepping into the apartment, Jane was taken aback by how neat everything looked. The dishes were washed and put away, the countertops wiped clean. A lace doily graced the dining table. When had she ever owned a lace doily?
    “You two had a fight, didn’t you?” said Angela. “I can tell just by looking at you.”
    “We had a disappointing night, that’s all.” Jane took off her jacket and hung it in the closet. When she turned back to look at her mother, she saw that Angela’s gaze had focused on Jane’s weapon.
    “You’re going to lock that thing up, aren’t you?”
    “I always do.”
    “Because babies and guns—”
    “Okay, okay.” Jane took off her weapon and slid it into a drawer. “You know, she’s not even a month old.”
    “She’s precocious, just like you were.” Angela looked at Gabriel. “Did I ever tell you what Jane did when she was three?”
    “Mom, he doesn’t want to hear that story.”
    “Yes I do,” said Gabriel.
    Jane sighed. “It involves a cigarette lighter and the living room curtains. And the Revere Fire Department.”
    “Oh, that,” said Angela. “I forgot all about
that
story.”
    “Mrs. Rizzoli, why don’t you tell me about it while I drive you home?” said Gabriel, reaching into the closet to retrieve Angela’s sweater.
    In the other room, Regina suddenly let out a howl to announce that she was not, in fact, down for the night. Jane went into the nursery and lifted her daughter out of the crib. When she came back into the living room, Gabriel and her mother had already left the apartment. Rocking Regina in one arm, she stood at the kitchen sink, running warm water into a pan to heat the milk bottle. The apartment’s front door buzzer sounded.
    “Janie?” Angela’s voice crackled over the speaker. “Can you let me back in? I forgot my glasses.”
    “Come on up, Mom.” Jane pressed the lock release and was waiting at the door to hand over the glasses when her mother came up the stairs.
    “Can’t read without these,” said Angela. She paused to give her fussing granddaughter one last kiss. “Better go. He’s got the car