Putting the Band Back Together
Chapter 3
"Lizzie, what's wrong? What's taking so long?"
Gun in hand, Reddington stumbled into the room.
Mr. Kaplan's gaze went to Reddington. Her lips pursed. "I thought you were dead."
Lowering his gun, a stunned Reddington said it back to her. "I thought you were dead. I thought I killed you."
Liz waited for Reddington to ask Mr. Kaplan the same question Liz had asked – was she the one responsible for the attempts on Reddington's life and business.
He didn't. Instead, stumbling forward, he just put his arms around her. Holding her tightly, he buried his face in the crook of her neck.
Looking like she was still trying to make up her mind about the situation, Mr. Kaplan didn't pull away, but nor did she embrace him back. Not until his legs started to collapse under him and she found herself holding him up. Liz rushed to help her get him to the couch and into a reclining position.
Reddington grabbed hold of Mr. Kaplan's hand. "Dembe is missing. I don't know where he is and ... someone is trying to kill me, Kate."
He said the two things in the order in which they were important to him. He said them almost as if the two things were coincidental – as if they couldn't possibly be related. In his mind, the idea that Dembe was missing because he had tried to kill Reddington still wasn't even a possibility.
Mr. Kaplan did the same. Seemingly having made up her mind, she brushed her free hand across his temple. "Well, we can't have that, dearie. We'll find Dembe and then we'll find who ever it is that's out to get you."
Liz couldn't believe it. Just like that, Mr. Kaplan was back in the band.
tbc