He accepted the appeal to loyalty.
He allowed the conversation to end.
And the next morning, when Naomi requested additional information about the fundraiser, Hammer failed to tell her about the suspicion he'd begun carrying.
After Lucy identified Rook in the courtyard, Hammer didn't run toward the older man.
He wanted to.
Every instinct in his body demanded movement.
He wanted to grab Rook's vest, drag him across the courtyard, and demand that he explain why a seven-year-old child was pointing at him with such terror.
But Lucy was watching.
The hospital was full of children.
And Hammer had spent nearly three hours showing her that enormous tattooed hands could remain still.
He wasn't going to destroy that lesson by using them to frighten her.
So he turned toward Mara.
“Can you take her somewhere quiet?”
Mara stared.
For a moment, her eyes were full of anger.
“You know him?”
Hammer swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Who is he?”
His throat tightened.
“Raymond Voss.”
Mara's face changed.
The name was familiar.
She'd seen it in the hospital correspondence.
Then she looked toward Rook.
“That's the treasurer.”
Hammer nodded.
“Yes.”
For a moment, she seemed unable to breathe.
Lucy pressed against her side.
“Aunt Mara?”
Mara looked down immediately.
“I'm here, sweetheart.”
The little girl was trembling.
Mara crouched beside her.
“We're going to see Dr. Shah, all right?”
Lucy looked toward Hammer.
For a moment, she seemed uncertain.
Then she held up the yellow paper crane.
“Can I keep it?”
Hammer's eyes filled.
“It's yours.”
Lucy clutched it.
Then looked toward Rook.
Her face tightened.
“Don't let him take Mama.”
Mara began crying.
Hammer felt something collapse inside him.
He lowered himself carefully until his eyes were closer to the child's level.
“I hear you, Lucy.”
He didn't promise that he could personally control Rook.
Didn't tell her nothing bad would ever happen again.
He simply looked toward her.
“You've told us something important. There are adults here whose job is to help keep people safe.”
Lucy studied him.
Then nodded faintly.
Mara took her toward the hospital doors.
Dr. Shah and a child-life specialist were already approaching.
Hammer watched until they disappeared inside.
Only then did he turn.
Rook stood beside the motorcycles.
His expression was furious.
“You going to let a frightened kid accuse me of something like that in front of everybody?”