Heart of a Hero (New Beginnings Book 4)

by Margaret Daley

  Doubt flitted in and out of her dark blue eyes. Finally resignation won. “Fine.” Lisa hooked her short, white blond hair behind her ear, her movements jerky as though she were trying to hide her agitation but not succeeding. “If you’re sure about going out to the ranch.”

  “I am. Have you decided if Andy can do the tae kwon do class?”

  “I asked him. He told me he wasn’t interested.”

  “Then give me a chance to talk him into taking the class. That is, if it’s okay he learns tae kwon do. I still think it would make him feel more confident in himself.”

  “Fine and bring him by The Ultimate Pizzeria. He can have dinner there. I’m not sure how late I’ll be at work tonight.”

  “You got it.” David tipped an imaginary hat and started for the entrance into the gym, feeling like whistling after a difficult day on the job.

  “Wait.”

  He turned, facing Lisa. “Yeah?”

  “Thanks, I appreciate you taking Andy out to the refuge. I know you didn’t have to. That you’re helping me.” Her generous mouth lifted slowly in a smile.

  He grinned. “You’re welcome.”

  He did whistle a catchy tune he’d heard on the radio on the way to practice. When he walked into the gym, he went into the storage room to retrieve the cart of basketballs. By the time he came back, the twelve boys had all arrived, each faction on different sides of the cavernous room. Determination to meld the players into a true team fueled him through the practice. He firmed his resolve to get to the bottom of what was happening between Joey and Andy, and his best chance, even with the hostile vibes he felt pouring off Andy, was with him.

  An hour and a half later on the ride to Stone’s Refuge, he began his campaign to win the boy over so he would open up about what was going on. “Who should I talk to about taking tae kwon do? Any suggestions?” David glanced toward Andy who kept his face turned, his gaze glued to the side window by him.

  While the child shrugged, he curled his hands into fists. “I guess the older guys.”

  “How about your friend Gabe?”

  “Maybe.”

  “How about you?” David asked while he waited at a stoplight.

  Andy swung around and looked at him, his tense body screaming his angst. “I don’t think Mom wants me to.”

  “She told me today you could if you want. There are exhibitions and tournaments where you can show off your skills. It teaches you discipline, to focus your mind.”

  “I like basketball.” Andy uncurled his hands, but he still sat ramrod straight.

  “It’ll help you to be a better basketball player. It did for me. I played college ball, and when I began taking tae kwon do, my game improved a lot. I even had a chance to go to the pros, but I didn’t want to.”

  “You didn’t want to be a pro basketball player?”

  The incredulous tone in the boy’s question made David chuckle. “I know, but I wanted to make a difference. I’d wanted to be a police officer since I was ten.” He’d become the police officer, but he didn’t know about making a difference.

  “Do you ever regret not being a pro player?” Some of the tension eased from Andy’s shoulders.

  There was a time he’d been naive enough to think he was doing some good, but now he knew better. The first time he was spat on, he shook it off. He was there to help. The people would see that. But after a while and he was still being spat on and called all kinds of names, he couldn’t shake it off any longer. “No, I really didn’t have the desire needed to be a successful player in the NBA.”

  “Well, I do. Then I can be rich enough to take care of Mom, so she doesn’t have to work so hard.” Andy angled more toward him.

  “She works all the time?” He’d had a hard time shaking her from his mind, to the point he went to bed thinking about her and woke up in the morning with her in his thoughts. He shouldn’t have a thing to do with her because she was the marrying kind and was responsible for a kid. If he were sensible, he’d stay away from her in the future.

  “Yes. She wants to buy a house one day for us. She’s been saving, but things are always happening. Last month she needed a new tire because of a blowout that couldn’t be fixed. When Jacob checked all her other tires, it ended up she needed all four. She’d been driving around on bald ones.”

  “Hannah Hartman’s husband?”

  “Yeah, he helps us when he can. Jacob’s cool.” Andy’s face relaxed into a half grin.

  “I’ve heard good things about him. He’s the pediatrician for my sister’s two kids.” David pulled into the long drive at the ranch that led to the barn, its large structure in the distance announcing the conversation was about to come to an end. “Will you think about taking tae kwon do?”

  “Why do you want me to?” Suspicion sounded in his question, the tension returning to the boy’s face.

  “When I saw you Saturday at the refuge, I noticed the kids look up to you. If you do, others will.” David paused, trying to decide how to phrase the other reason. He always wanted to be truthful and up front with Andy. “And I think it will help you build confidence in yourself. If you try it and don’t like it, you can always quit.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  David parked in front of the barn. “I’ll come with you, then we can go over to the recreation center. Okay?”

  “Sure.” Andy hopped from the car and rushed toward the entrance.

  David gripped the steering wheel and watched the boy almost flee from him. For a few minutes, Andy had relaxed while talking with him about basketball, then at the end his suspicion had leaked back into his voice. Andy didn’t trust him. When Coach Parson had let it slip during the second practice he’d been assisting that he was a police detective, he’d noticed some of the boys’ reactions. It didn’t bother most, but Andy and Joey had tensed. Joey had even taken a step back. His own suspicion heightened. Why were the two boys wary of the police? Did they have something to hide?

  * * *

  Lisa gave change to the man who had ordered two large pizzas, then handed him his glasses to fill at the drink fountain. Nathan returned from taking his break.

  “It’s busy tonight,” the young man said as he stepped in to run the cash register.

  “How are your classes going at the university?” Lisa asked, scanning the restaurant to make sure everything was running smoothly.

  “Hard, especially physics. I see the new employee is doing a good job.”

  “Yeah. Mitch seems like a good worker, so it would be nice to train him in the game room to fill in when someone’s gone. That’s the job he wanted. We just don’t have any openings at the moment.”

  “This is the place to work,” Nathan said, grinning at the new customer approaching. “I hear the owner’s building another restaurant in Cimarron City and making the game room bigger to include even more rides like a go cart race track and a miniature golf course.”

  Lisa waited until the father of three rambunctious kids ordered and left before answering. “Yeah. I think it’s a smart move, and I told him I hope I’ll be considered for the manager position. I could see Andy living at a place like that. I’d have to drag him home. Noah’s even talking about having an indoor basketball court. He wants it to be the place the kids come to play and hang out.”

  “The bad comes with the good.”

  Lisa chuckled. “My, you’re getting cynical. You remind me of my son’s basketball coach.” As she spoke, she glimpsed the object of her statement and Andy entering The Ultimate Pizzeria and stepped from behind the counter as Andy strode toward her. “How did it go?”

  “Tiger drank the whole bottle. Roman said he’s a little chowhound.”

  “Go give Nathan your order.” As her son moved to the counter, Lisa linked her gaze to David’s. His intensity arrested the flow of her breathing. For a few seconds she forgot to fill her lungs. Finally, she managed to inhale a deep breath and smile at David. “Thanks for bringing him here.”

  She started to tu
rn away when he said, “I thought I would eat dinner, too. No reason to go home to my apartment and eat alone. Have you eaten yet?”

  Before she could give David an answer, Andy came up to her frowning.

  “Mom, do you know who that new guy is?” Andy gestured toward Mitch clearing off a table. “That’s Joey’s older brother.” With an eye toward David, her son leaned close to her ear and whispered, “He’s bad news like Joey.”

  Chapter Four

  “Mitch Blackburn is Joey’s brother?” Lisa’s gaze fastened onto the teenager under discussion.

  “Yes, Joey’s always bragging about how Mitch would skip school and cheat on tests when he was in high school and how last year he dropped out.” Andy’s voice was so low she could hardly hear him. He didn’t look at Mitch but at David a few feet away.

  “Thanks for telling me, hon. I’ll keep an eye on him, but you don’t need to worry about anything while you’re here.” She gave Andy a reassuring smile. “I got the feeling Mitch really needed this job, so I think he’ll be all right here.”

  “Sure, Mom. I’m eating in your office if that’s okay. I have homework to do.” He shuffled toward the back.

  She faced the man, quickly closing the space between them. “I’m due for a break so, yeah, I’ll have dinner with you but it’s my treat.” The least she could do was treat him to dinner for taking care of Andy this evening.

  “But I—”

  She held up her hand to stop his words. “You helped me tonight. Dinner is my thank you.”

  “The words are enough.”

  “What would you like?”

  He looked at her for a long moment, then switched his attention to the menu on the wall behind the counter. “I’d like a small pizza with everything on it and coffee.”

  “Grab a table. I’ll put our orders in and be there in a minute.” How long could she delay sitting down to eat with him? She saw the questions in his eyes. He was curious about what Andy had told her.

  After giving the cook the order, Lisa checked on Andy in her office. “What did you tell Coach Russell about the tae kwon do lessons on Saturday?”

  Her son glanced up from his history book. “I haven’t made up my mind.”

  “Do you want to do it?”

  “He said it would help my game. I should try it. Gabe is gonna do it. Are you really okay about it?”

  “Yeah,” she murmured, thinking about the times she wished she could have defended herself. Maybe she could get Andy to show her what he learned because she wouldn’t have lost Andy to the state if she had been able to protect him from her boyfriend. Or she could find an adult class to take or David could show her. She gulped at the thought. “If you need me, I’ll be out front at a table eating with Coach Russell.”

  His face blank, Andy buried his head in his book. She stayed by the door for a few extra seconds, trying to gauge his reaction to her eating with David. Andy’s narrowed gaze and rigid stance proclaimed he was still leery of the police. Her son’s attention remained glued to the page.

  Shrugging, Lisa turned away and made her way toward the front, stopping briefly to get a cup of black coffee for David and a glass of ice water for herself. She slipped into the chair across from him and slid the mug toward him. “How did practice go today?”

  David cradled the coffee between his large hands and stared at the black liquid. “Okay. There’s still tension on the team but nothing overt. The parents I talked to concerning the fight followed up at home with their children. Joey’s the only one whose parents I couldn’t get in contact with. I’ve left several messages.”

  “Joey’s father hasn’t returned them?”

  “No, but Andy said something about Joey’s brother being here. I’ll say something to him before I leave to have his father call me. It’s likely Joey is erasing the messages. Hopefully his brother will deliver it.”

  “That might work,” Lisa said, but doubt laced her words. Remembering what Andy told her about Mitch made her question her newest employee. Had Joey learned everything from his older brother?

  David’s gaze drifted toward the counter, then back to her. “Andy seemed upset when he was talking about Joey’s brother.”

  “He doesn’t think Mitch is the right kind of employee for the restaurant. I told Andy I would keep an eye on Joey’s brother.”

  “Do you think your son is right?”

  “Mitch hasn’t given me any reason to question him as an employee. He’s worked here a week and done a good job.”

  “I wonder if that’s the same guy who’s been picking Joey up at practice when he doesn’t get a ride with one of his friends.”

  Lisa scanned the restaurant, leaned across the table and said, “Mitch just walked back behind the counter and is talking to Nathan at the cash register.”

  “That could be the same guy. It was hard to see him clearly. When I tried to catch him, he would leave in a hurry. The car was full of other teens.”

  “Mitch’s friends, probably.”

  “Two of the three other teens were young, not much older than Joey. That seems odd to me.”

  She cocked her head to the side. “Do you question everyone’s actions?”

  “You’ve accused me of being too suspicious, and I guess I am. I have a hard time turning off the cop when I clock off the job. Mitch looks to be about eighteen. Most that age don’t hang out with thirteen-or fourteen-year-olds.”

  “Mitch is nineteen. So, you think I should fire him because he has younger kids in his car? Maybe they’re cousins, neighbors or even a brother of the other older teen in the car.”

  “I’m not saying that. But your son might be right. At least keep a close eye on Mitch.”

  “I will, but I can’t fire someone for no reason.”

  “No, but be careful. Joey learned his behavior from someone.” David stared at Mitch for a moment, then returned his gaze to Lisa, concern in his eyes. “I didn’t say anything to the guys today, but Vic Parson called me earlier to tell me he can’t continue coaching for health reasons.”

  “So you’re it.”

  “Yeah, unless you want to help out.”

  She laughed. “I can blow a whistle, but that’s the extent of my expertise as a basketball coach.”

  His mouth tilted up in a grin. “I figured that. Any suggestions for someone to help me?”

  “I know I’ve seen Jacob and Roman playing basketball with some of the foster kids on the outside court at the refuge. Maybe one of them would help you.”

  “When I’m at Stone’s Refuge this weekend, I’ll check with both of them. With my job, there may be times I won’t be able to make practice or for that matter a game, so I’ll need at least one assistant.”

  “Maybe both of them will do it.”

  “That would be even better.” David took a long sip of his drink. “Did Andy tell you if he would be joining the class? After talking with him on the ride, I didn’t say anything else to him about it. I don’t want him to feel pressured.”

  “I think he’s gonna do it, especially because Gabe is.”

  “Yeah, I talked with Gabe today, and he was excited about the class. He immediately got Terry signed up and a few others. It should be a nice size class.”

  “Terry is Andy’s other best friend at the refuge. They all stick together.”

  Nathan approached the table with two pizzas, steam wafting off them. The delicious aroma reminded her how hungry she was. After thanking him, she bowed her head and said a blessing, then scooped up her first slice of black olives, feta cheese, tomatoes, peppers and bacon.

  “I didn’t realize how hungry I was until now.” Lisa washed her bite down with a swallow of water.

  “I skipped lunch, so this is welcomed.”

  “What? Working too hard you can’t take some time for something to eat?”

  “Actually, I’ve been working on a case involving a new gang that hits an area—homes and businesses—then moves on to another part of town just as we close in on them.” />
  “Where have they robbed?”

  “The last area is northeast, not far from the interstate.”

  “There are some nice homes in that part of town.”

  “Yeah, and there are some homeowners who are upset, not to mention the owners of a hair salon and coffee shop.”

  “No leads?”

  “A few.” David popped the last part of his slice into his mouth.

  “Should I be concerned?” Lisa waved her hand to indicate the restaurant.

  His gaze swept the dining room. “So far with this gang they’ve struck only small businesses when things have been slow—few people around, and from what I’ve heard and seen, this place is busy. I doubt you have much downtime. With the homes, they strike during the day when the people are gone. Thankfully no one has been hurt, but that could always change.” He caught her look, a fervor in his eyes. “But you should always be concerned and alert.”

  “How many?”

  “Three. They wear ski masks, so we don’t have a description.”

  She nodded her head toward him. “Consider me warned.” Listening to him talk about the robbery gang underlined the type of people he had to deal with day in and day out. Getting him involved in the refuge would be a good thing to give him a balance in what he saw of life. He needed that.

  * * *

  Lisa parked her Chevy in front of the recreational center at Stone’s Refuge on Saturday morning. “I’m going to see Hannah, but I’ll try to get back here to see the end of your class.”

  “Ah, Mom, you don’t have to. I’m not even sure I’ll stay.”

  “I thought you were going to try it.”

  Andy thrust his shoulders back. “I’m only doing it because Gabe and Terry are. I don’t need it to make my basketball game better.” He pushed open his door and hopped from the car.

  Lisa watched him hurry into the rec hall. Lately she’d been seeing a lot of his back as he rushed from her. As though he were hiding something from her. That thought brought a frown to her face. She remembered David’s words about why Andy would be hiding what was really going on between him and Joey. Was it more than Joey bullying her son because Andy was doing well in class?