The Homecoming

by Jordan Silver

  Shania was sitting in the jeep with a blanket wrapped around her. No matter how tough you were, or how many times you might've seen it, finding a body like that was never easy. It shouldn't be. If you ever became that hardened, it was time to walk away.

  I wanted to be with her, so much, but I had a job to do. I knew she understood, but as a man, my first instinct is to protect my woman from everything, real or imagined.

  The fact that this shit happened on our first date wasn’t lost on me either. I’ll have to make it up to her somehow.

  We combed the area around the water meticulously, looking for any evidence that might've been left behind. Hopefully we wouldn't have to drag the cove, but we'll know more after we ID the vic.

  The coroner pulled up to retrieve the body as CSI was just about done with it. I still hadn’t been able to go see about my girl and it was killing me. My guts were tied up in knots at the thought of what she may be going through.

  This wasn’t some story her brother was telling me, about one of her exploits, or one of the many times I’d read about her in the national paper. Those times I could hide and worry in secret, hoping that she’d be careful on her next assignment.

  But today was real, and I know that if the thought of her being near this shit had this effect on me, where there was no longer a danger, there was no way I was going to be fine with her going back out there, doing what she did.

  I watched the coroner as she walked over to my jeep first, and started talking to my girl. I'd almost forgotten how tight those two were. When she gave her a hug, it eased my worry just a little, though I would prefer to be the one doing the hugging.

  "Hey Lieu we're just a bout done here."

  Scott offered up that information while his eyes were looking in the direction of the two women. I knew he wouldn't say anything now, not here while standing over some poor sap's remains, but later, I could expect some good natured ribbing.

  Seems our little secret romance was outed in a big way.

  Oh well, that works for me.

  "Tell the guys to wrap it up and head out, take whatever we've got back to the station."

  "Yes sir." He looked at me a little sheepishly before sauntering off.

  "Hey Donovan."

  "Doc, how's my girl doing over there?"

  "She's holding up best as she can, as is to be expected. Now's not the time I know, but it sure took you long enough, please heaven don't let the wedding take another ten years."

  "You're a real riot doc you know that, and what do you know about it anyway?"

  "Oh please, she was my best friend in high school remember? Us females, we talk; unlike asshole men who think their words are gold and should be handed out sparingly."

  "Why Angie Carney, does your husband know you talk like that?"

  "Do fish swim in the ocean?"

  We both laughed, before she sobered up and walked over to the body.

  One other thing was certain, cause of death should be very easy to ascertain; there was a gunshot wound dead center of the vic’s forehead. Whatever had gone down here was going to be a big mess to clean up that’s for sure.

  The Cove doesn't see many homicides; in fact, the last one was before my time, a domestic dispute gone wrong.

  We might not be inundated with murders, but we were up on our game, we knew how to work the case.

  That might be a moot point when all was said and done though. If he was who I was beginning to suspect he is, the FEDs will be descending on us before the day was out, or however long it took for the results on the prints to come back.

  I was finally able to get back to my girl after the body had been cleared and the area sealed off. I was torn in two, the need to do my job and wanting to be with her.

  As I turned once more from work mode, to lover, my protective instinct kicked in. I still had to get to the station to write this shit up, but I was taking thirty to reconnect with my baby.

  The bond we had begun to form was as yet too new, before we’d been sideswiped by this out of the blue. I had to get back in there.

  "Hey baby, how you holding up?"

  I took her hand as we drove off.

  "I've been better, is it someone we know? I didn’t really get too good of a look."

  "I don't think so hon." I kissed her fingers and left it at that. I wanted to tell her to put it away, but that was stupid, she wouldn't be able to put it away for a long time, if ever.

  We drove in relative silence back to her house, holding hands all the way. I had a pain in my gut, thinking that this was going to be a setback. She was still a little pale, and her hand trembled slightly in mine.

  We were parked in the driveway outside her family home when I finally turned to her. I didn't see anyone hanging around, so I drew her across the console to me.

  The kiss was light, nothing like the hot and heavy ones we'd shared earlier, but what was needed now.

  "I'm picking you up at seven this evening."

  "You are?"

  She felt so fucking good with her head on my chest like that, it was so easy, so natural. Maybe I'd take Doc's advice and move things along at a faster clip, heaven knows we've waited long enough.

  " Yep, I'm taking you out to dinner, wear something fancy, I want to see you in candle light."

  I played with the hair over her ear as I kissed her again, seems I can't get enough of Miss. Shania.

  "I'm going to love loving you."

  "What!"

  Shit I said that out loud? So much for giving her time to get on board, I didn’t even last a damn day. She was looking up at me expectantly and again I found myself at that precipice. Man up Chase, this is what you want, it's better that she knows anyway, no games.

  "I guess the cat's out of the bag huh, never mind that now, we'll talk later."

  "You can't just say something like that and then leave me hanging."

  She was so cute when she pouted, of course I had to take that bottom lip between my teeth and bite down just enough to make her squirm. The little sexy groan was almost more than I could handle though, looks like I bit off more than I could chew.

  "Damn we can't do this here, I'm expecting your dad to come charging out here any minute with a gun."

  She started laughing her ass off.

  "You better run along then scaredy cat."

  "You always did have a sassy mouth, come ‘ere." I stole one more kiss, this one longer, deeper more fulfilling. It was hell letting her go but I had to.

  I stared down into her shining eyes and was happy to see that they had cleared up a little after her ordeal. “You’re unbelievably beautiful did you know that?”

  She blushed like I knew she would before hiding her face in my chest. In all the time I’ve imagined her, I never could’ve imagined the way it would feel, it would’ve been impossible since I’d never felt anything like it before.

  “I have to go baby, you sure you’re okay?” She squeezed my middle and sat back nodding her head. I brushed the hair back from her face and kissed her forehead before getting out of the jeep.

  I walked around to her door to help her out. She was such a tiny little thing, too little to be dealing with this shit, which I’m sure she would think about for the rest of the day.

  "I'll see you later Princess." She smiled and I took her mouth again. It was almost my undoing, the way she melted into me, like she was made to be just where she was. I took a few soft nibbles out of her lip before releasing her.

  "Later." I had to go before I couldn't go. If walking away from her was this hard now, how much harder would it be after I finally took her?

  We'll just have to wait and see, at least I left her with memories of kisses and not floating bodies. Now I had to go figure out if the missing government agent APB that came across my desk this morning was my floater.

  Chapter 10

  DONOVAN

  Back at the station house, things were hectic. The guys were just a little excited about working their first homicide. It was a
ll anybody could talk about.

  I didn't have the heart to tell them we might soon be turning the case over to the Feds. I figured let them have their little dream for a bit longer.

  I'd rechecked the missing person's APB in my office, trying to connect any identifying marks to our Vic, but no such luck. For now it was just my gut telling me that it was him.

  Prints and DNA should answer the question soon enough, if they were rushed. Until then, I won’t say anything about my suspicions. No sense in stirring up that pot unless I absolutely had to.

  I gave it until tomorrow or the next day before we were taken over, if it proved to be true. I could only imagine what the publicity was going to do to our little out of the way haven. The feds will be crawling all over the place looking for answers if it turned out he was one of their own.

  I had no problem with that. I'm not a glory hound, and besides, if it had been one of my guys, I would want it too. It didn't much matter to me about ego and grand standing, that's never been my style.

  All I'm interested in is finding justice for the poor soul we'd dragged from the drink, regardless of who he was and who got it for him.

  I'm thinking my magnanimous attitude might also have something to do with the fact that my woman was home, and progress had been made in my plan to finally tie her to me.

  Not even this, I'm sorry to say, was going to deter me from my course. It might also open a dialogue that we needed to have before long.

  I’m not exactly a caveman per- se, but I have certain beliefs and ideals when it comes to the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. To say Shania’s lifestyle was the complete opposite, was putting it mildly.

  I filed my report to hand off to the captain and was ready to go by five. That gave me two hours to get myself presentable for my girl.

  I'm taking her to the best restaurant in town, not only was it the best, it was also owned by one of the two biggest gossips in the Cove, with the owner of the flower shop being the other. So I was pretty sure that within ten minutes of us being seated, the phones in the Cove would be going crazy.

  Knowing my men's penchant for gossip, they probably started the ball rolling already anyway.

  I knew exactly what I was doing of course; I'm staking my claim loud and clear. Until I put a ring on her finger, I'm going to be trotting her out to be seen together every chance I get. Let any asshole out there who thought he had a shot know that there was no way in hell.

  I was early picking her up, because I knew although I'd lucked out this afternoon by avoiding her brothers, there was no way my luck was gonna hold that long.

  It was as if they were waiting for me when I showed up. If they’d wanted to play the intimidating big brothers, they fell a little short of the mark; between the lot of them, they couldn’t keep the stupid grins off their faces.

  "Well if it isn't Casanova."

  "Shut up Jus."

  "You bring my chocolate?"

  I held the box of Godiva I had behind my back out of reach.

  "Get your own damn chocolates boy, let the man in the door."

  "Yeah right dad, you just wanna get your hands on them first."

  "Come on in here son. Let's have a little chat."

  Oh shit!

  "Go easy on him dad, he's looking a little yellow already."

  "Thanks Matt, appreciate it." I sneered at him sarcastically as I tried to fight him off of the chocolate next.

  I walked into the den where the guys had been watching some sports show on TV. Betty wasn't here, probably upstairs with my girl.

  "Chief."

  "Chase."

  He tried giving me a stern, raised brow look. I knew he was only half joking though, this guy would do me some serious damage if I messed with his little girl. Too bad they’d already let it slip that they were in my corner.

  "So, where ya going tonight?"

  "Martha's." This wasn't so bad; I felt my shoulders relax a little.

  "Staking your claim are you?" He laughed at the look of surprise on my face.

  "Boy, everybody who's anybody heads to that place if they want to be seen. It doesn't hurt that Martha and her sister Ava are the two biggest gossips in this town. I'd already heard all about you buying out the flower shop within five minutes of you placing the order.

  But listen here boy, could you tune it down a little? I don't have time to be running around buying flowers and candy and shit, I did that mess over thirty years ago. Now my wife is all dreamy eyed and eyeballing me like I'm not doing my part."

  "Sir, sorry to hear that sir." Of course his idiot sons were snickering, jerks.

  "Well then, no need to be sorry, just for the love of Pete take it easy on the rest of us poor saps. I know she's my baby girl and all, but you don't want to go spoiling her now do you? Because the first time you slack off, she'll let you have it with both barrels, they're contrary that way."

  "If you say so, but I'm not making any promises." He was so full of shit, if I treated his daughter anything less than perfect, him and his idiot sons would have my balls.

  "What you got there son?"

  Uh huh, he was eyeing the candy.

  "Just some chocolate for Shania."

  "Lemme see. What kind did you get? You know coconut is her favorite right? No sense in bringing her any other kind cause she won't enjoy it as much."

  "Uh huh, nice try chief, but I happen to know you're full of shit, she likes anything with fruit and nuts."

  "Damn; well boys, I gave it my best shot."

  He reclined back in his chair while I kept my eyes on his sons. I guess the interrogation was over.

  I felt her behind me and turned around. Wow...she looked...amazing. Did she ever look anything but?

  She wore a blue silk sheath that left her shoulders bare. Her hair was up in some sort of bun, but no bun like I'd ever seen. It was soft and full, and was held together by a diamond clip.

  She'd left a few tendrils on either side of her face loose. Her makeup was light so that her natural peaches and cream glow shone through, and her lips, damn those lips of hers were killer, just glossy and full.

  I stood and walked towards her, reminding myself every step of the way, that there were five men in this room who would take me down If I did half of what I was thinking of doing in that moment.

  "You're beautiful." I handed off the chocolates as I kissed her temple.

  "Thank you; let me go put these away and I’ll be right back."

  She went to put her candy away while I waited.

  "Okay you, home by ten and not a minute later."

  "Kiss my ass Matt."

  "Okay then ten thirty, but that's my final answer."

  I gave them the finger and left the room to their chuckles, these guys were a riot.

  ***

  I led her out and sat her in the Bugatti, making sure she was strapped in. She gave me one of her million dollar smiles, before I kissed the gloss off her lips.

  "I've wanted to do that ever since you walked in the room." I nuzzled her amazing smelling neck, just long enough to get me hot and bothered, before closing her door and going around to my side.

  "So, how're you doing sweetie?"

  "I'm hanging in there, any word yet on who it is we found?"

  "Not yet, a few days at the most I'm thinking." My answer was less than enthusiastic.

  "You don't want to talk about this do you?"

  "Nope."

  I had to think long and hard about what I was feeling. I understood and respected her career choice, but as a man, especially one in law enforcement, I can't say I was too happy about my woman having to see and deal with shit like that. But how did I tell her, a strong willed, independent woman, some shit like that? She'd probably tell me to go fuck myself.

  "Okay, we don't have to discuss it if you don't want to, but you're not fooling anyone you know, least of all me."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean I've been watching you for a very long time, some might eve
n say studying you."

  "You have, have you?"

  I took her hand, kissing her fingers.

  "Yes I have, and I'm not ashamed to admit it; but you're not fooling me, because I know how you are. You're one of those throw backs who believe a woman should have her place and a man should have his."

  "I plead the fifth." Of course she was one hundred percent right, and I liked the fact that she knew me so well, even if the subject matter might not be agreeable.

  "Oho, too late, I'm on to you, you do know what I do for a living right?"

  "Is that going to be a problem?"

  "I don't see why it should be, we're both adults, besides, I think I might be ready for a change. I think I want to concentrate more on my writing for a while, who knows when I'll go back into the field."

  "What about kids?"

  "Why Donovan Chase! Are you asking me to be your baby mama?" She batted her lashes at me.

  Still a smart ass!

  "What if I am?"

  She got really quiet there, and I was kicking myself for pushing too hard too fast.

  "Then I'd have to give the offer lots of serious consideration."

  "Oh yeah?"

  "Yeah."

  That got her another kiss to the fingers, since I had to concentrate on the road, but later I'll show her what those words meant to me.

  The place was packed just as I expected and was hoping for. Of course all eyes turned our way as we were led to our table, next to the windows.

  The hostess Helen Sterling was a transplant, from somewhere back east I think; she was a nice enough girl, if a little aggressive for my taste. She was giving my girl some not so kind looks that made me want to put her in her place.

  "Hello Donovan, how are you, it's been a while hasn't it?"

  Her syrupy sweet tone suggested something entirely different to the reality of our acquaintance. I'm not new to the games some women played, not by a long shot, and if she thought I was going to let her hurt my girls' feelings with her bullshit she was sorely mistaken.