Kimberley West and her standard poodle Rorschach thwart a knife-wielding robber in her grandfather’s Osprey Beach Jewelry Store – only to discover an injured Grandpa laying on the office floor.

Kim kneeled beside her grandfather. The t-shirt she’d pressed to his knife wound was solid red. His breath was ragged, but his eyes were open and alert.

She stroked Grandpa’s hand. “It’s going to be okay. Ambulance is coming.”

His skin was so gray, so cold. Maybe a blanket would help.

Grandpa grabbed her hand.

“Don’t leave.”

“But you need . . .”

“Need you here . . .”

Before she could protest, he reached into his suit coat pocket and pulled out a package of Swiss chocolate. He muttered something and passed the chocolate to Kim.

Where was that ambulance?

“Grandpa, lay still. You’re going to start bleeding again.”

But he ignored her, intent on extracting something from the inside pocket of his coat.

“Here. Let me get it.”

With a nod, he slumped back down to the floor. Kim opened his jacket, found the pocket and pulled out a small brown envelope. The kind jewelers used to carry gemstones.

“This it?” She held it up.

Grandpa nodded, pushed at her hand. “Hide.”

Huh?

He pushed again. “Hide!”

He watched as she tucked the envelope into her jeans pocket, then grabbed her hand.

“Jim . . .”

“Shhhh. You need to preserve your strength.”

Grandpa gripped her hand. Tight. “But . . .”

“Grandpa, please!”

Hearing the panic in her voice, he coughed and closed his eyes, murmuring “bossy . . .”

Were those sirens? Please, let those be sirens.

Grandpa’s grip loosened. His hand fell to the ground, limp. Rory licked her tears.

“Grandpa? Grandpa, don’t you dare die on me!”