Veil of Civility

Chapter Fifteen

The automatic doors opened with an electric hum and the sun temporarily blinded Declan as he walked out of the hospital with Constance at his side. She hadn't been happy about his private conversation with Osman and Nazari, but he had assured her everything would be okay. Wishing he could convince himself so easily, he shielded his eyes from the glare; it was four in the afternoon and the sun was low in the sky. It felt good to be outside after being held in the hospital all night and most of the day. A light breeze blew across the parking lot and the springtime humidity, aided by the seasonal rainfall from the night before, clung to everything.

As they arrived at Constance's car Declan stopped and said, "I had Regan bring me a company truck."

Constance turned suddenly and looked at him. "So I'm driving back to Roanoke with Regan?"

Declan chuckled. "No, I had Dex give him a ride. I wouldn't torture you like that, would I?"

"Oh, of course not," she said, rolling her eyes. "Where are you going?"

"Abe and Levi are being sent back to Israel in about an hour. I want to be there, for Abe's family."

Constance nodded with a grimace. "The doctor said you shouldn't be driving for a few days."

"I'm fine," he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Really, I am. I have a hard head."

He smiled briefly for her benefit and pulled her toward the driver's door of her car. Opening the door for her, he waited as she got in and placed her purse in the passenger seat.

"I'll be home later," he said. "Probably not until after dark, though. Call me when you get home to let me know you made it safely. I've got one of the company phones with me. Here's the number."

She looked up at him from the car seat as she took the slip of paper he held out. "Why wouldn't I make it home safely?"

She was clearly taken off guard by his statement. Although he doted on her like any loving husband would, he had never been the overprotective type.

Declan shrugged. "I didn't mean to — I don't know, just with everything that's happened and all."

She smiled again. "Keep your phone on."

He closed the door and watched as she started the engine and backed out of the parking space. As she shifted the car into gear, she gave him a small wave and drove off. He stood watching until the pearl white convertible made a right out of the lot and disappeared behind a building. Pulling his keys from his pocket, he walked towards the white utility truck Brendan Regan had parked in the lot beside the hospital. Unlocking the door and sliding up onto the vinyl bench seat, he tapped his hands on the steering wheel as he stared out the windshield. He hadn't seen or talked to Kafni's family in nearly ten years. Seeing them now, under these circumstances, wasn't going to be easy.