Holiday Homecoming Secrets

by Lynette Eason

  The commander sat across from Dylan, hands clasped in front of him. The pictures Bryce and she had found in Frank’s file cabinet lay facedown in front of him. An open file folder lay next to the pictures.

  Dylan twitched nervously in his seat, popping his knuckles and rubbing his nose. “What’s this about, sir?”

  “Captain Colson is tied up for the moment, so I told him I’d take care of this. Officer Fitzgerald, from what I can see, you have an exemplary record.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “But, since there’s no report of you doing any undercover work, I need to ask you about these.” The commander flipped one of the pictures over and slid it across the table in front of Dylan. One by one, he did the same with the others. Jade knew each picture showed Dylan in some way interacting with known drug dealers.

  “Can you explain them?”

  Dylan leaned forward and frowned. Even from his vantage point, Bryce could see all of the color leech out of the man’s face. For a moment, he sat frozen, then sighed and dropped his head into his hands. When he looked up, the commander was waiting. “Looks bad, doesn’t it?” Dylan asked.

  “What would you think if you were sitting in my chair?”

  “Probably exactly what you’re thinking, sir.”

  “We’ve also run your financials.”

  “I want a lawyer.”

  “And that’s your right. I’ll let you make a phone call.” The commander stood.

  “Wait.” The commander paused while Dylan fidgeted a second longer. Finally, he raked a hand through his hair. “If I help you bring down the ring, will you put in a good word for me with the DA?”

  Commander Nelson settled back into his seat. “It depends on how helpful your information is and if it really does lead to the dissolution of the ring and the capture of the top people involved. You have no idea how bad I want to bring this ring down.” His hand curled into a fist on the table. “My best friend’s son is in the ICU thanks to an overdose of the stuff that’s being brought into this city.”

  “Well, that explains why he and Captain Colson are following this case so closely,” Jade said.

  “Will Dylan face charges of murder?”

  “I don’t know. I imagine that will be brought up as a possibility. Although if he helps as much as he says he can, then I would think he might get a much lighter sentence.”

  At the commander’s insistence, Dylan called his lawyer while the commander spoke to the district attorney. When Nelson returned, he said, “The DA’s willing to work with you and your lawyer if this leads to the arrest of those involved in the drug ring.”

  “All right,” Dylan said with a short nod, “let’s do this.” For the next hour, he spilled everything he knew about the people involved. Thankfully, he cleared Captain Colson in the process. “One last thing,” Dylan said. “There’s a big shipment coming in tomorrow night around ten o’clock. An eighteen-wheeler full of drugs at the old warehouse behind the bank.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Of course. I’m the one who set up the location since it’s part of my beat tomorrow night. I’m supposed to make sure it’s clear for the deal to go down.”

  Commander Nelson closed his notepad. “Why do this, Dylan? You have a spotless record. You have a beautiful family and, on the surface, this just doesn’t make sense.”

  Dylan closed his eyes. “My wife, Julie, has a gambling problem,” he said softly. His lids lifted, and the sheen of tears in his eyes flipped Jade’s heart sideways. “She got into debt with one of the guys in the drug ring. Drugs, gambling, and gun running are what these people do best. When this guy learned she was married to a cop, he came to me and told me Julie’s debt would be paid if I’d look the other way—and he’d let her and my kids live.”

  “I’m guessing things escalated from there to setting up the meetings?”

  “Yeah. Yes, sir.” He swallowed hard and ran a hand over his face. “I know you’re wondering why I didn’t ask for help.”

  “It crossed my mind.”

  “When I was approached, they already had someone on my kids’ school and someone outside Julie’s work, and they’d put ten grand in my bank account.

  “If I’d told a soul...” He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter now. I have to say I’m relieved—and terrified. Please, Commander, don’t let them hurt my kids.”

  The commander narrowed his eyes. “They won’t get to your family. As long as you and your family do what we ask. You have my word on that.”

  “He is something of a victim, isn’t he?” Bryce murmured.

  “Yeah. I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing in his shoes.”

  The commander stood and paced the room for a good five minutes before he took his seat and leaned forward to look Dylan in the eye. “Okay, here’s the plan. We’re going to put surveillance on your wife and kids, make sure they’re safe while not tipping off any of those involved in the ring. You’re going to be on duty tomorrow night to make sure this goes off without a hitch. Once the deal’s done, we’ll move in.”

  “Sir, I want to help, I do. But these people are more than just dangerous. They’re killers. They have no respect for life. If they think I’ve turned, my family—and possibly anyone around them—is dead. Regardless of protection.” He used his sleeve to swipe the sweat from his forehead. Jade noticed the fine tremor in his hands.

  “This isn’t my first time doing this, Fitzgerald. I know what I’m doing and I work with a good team. You’re absolutely positive none of my other officers are involved in this?”

  “I’m positive—or at least, I think I am. I can only tell you that I’ve never seen anyone else on the force at the meetings.”

  “All right then.” The commander swept the pictures and the file folder into his left hand and leaned in. “Now that we’ve got that settled, you said these guys were killers.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Then who killed Frank Shipman, and who’s trying to kill Jade Hollis?”

  “Frank?” Dylan spread his hands. “I don’t know. If I did, I’d tell you, but that one was a surprise.”

  “He was working on a story related to this drug ring. He’s the one who took those pictures of you. I’d say that gives you motive.”

  Dylan flinched. “Maybe so, but I didn’t know those pictures existed until you just showed them to me.” He shook his head. “I’ve given you everything on this drug ring, but there’s no way I’m going down for Shipman’s murder. I didn’t do it, and I don’t know who did.”

  “Then who wants Jade Hollis dead so bad?”

  “Again, I don’t know.” He paused. “Unless it’s the person who was in the mill when she found Frank’s jersey. Maybe they think she saw them.”

  “It’s a thought,” Bryce murmured to her.

  “It is, but I think it’s a long shot,” Jade said. “I was attacked from behind. I never saw a thing.”

  “Still, you never know.”

  “True.”

  The commander stood and shut off the recording device. “Someone will be here soon with a transcript of this conversation for you to sign. You can discuss this with your lawyer, and I’ll go fill the DA in on everything. I don’t want anyone to know about this meeting. You’re going to walk out of here like everything is just fine, you understand?”

  Dylan nodded, his eyes on the table. “Thank you, Commander.”

  “We’ll be monitoring everything you do. You wait two hours before you leave this building.”

  “Yes, sir.” Another swallow that sent his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Thank you, sir. I’m sorry...about everything.”

  “I’m risking a lot here, Dylan. I’m trusting that you want to make things right. This will go a long way towards doing that.”

  “I know. I won’t let you down.”

  Commander Harrison sta
red at his officer for a few more seconds before he gave a low grunt and stood. Then he walked out without another word.

  “He’s stepping out on a limb here,” Jade said. “If Dylan runs...”

  “He won’t. He did what he did out of love for his family. He won’t stop now.”

  When the door opened to the observation area, Bryce turned. Captain Colson nodded at Jade. “Looks like we’re going to be planning a sting for tomorrow night.”

  “Looks like,” she said. And while she was ready to bring down the drug ring, she couldn’t help feeling frustrated that they didn’t appear to be any closer to finding out who killed Frank—and who wanted her dead.

  * * *

  Jade picked up the picture of her and Mia from the mantel and couldn’t hold back the surge of love that swept over her.

  God, please, end this.

  Jade replaced the picture and stomped into the kitchen just as her cell phone chimed. She snagged it from her pocket. “Captain?”

  “Glad you answered. I’ve got some news on your little fire.”

  “You mean the one that’s destroyed my home?”

  “Yeah.” He ignored her sarcasm. “Looks like you were right. Arson investigators found evidence of explosive materials.”

  Even though his statement wasn’t unexpected, chills still danced up her arms. “What kind?”

  “The kind that turns household items into bombs.”

  “I see.”

  “They also found traces of rope fiber outside your door and on the railing. You said you couldn’t get out.”

  “The door opens inward. When I pulled, nothing happened.”

  “That’s because someone tied it shut,” he said. “Wrapped a loop with a knot around the knob, then around the stair railing, effectively trapping you inside. At least, that’s the deduction. There wasn’t a whole lot of rope left.”

  “It fits,” she said. While Jade knew someone had rigged her door, hearing it stated as fact turned her stomach.

  “The lab is working with the explosives, trying to get any prints off the remains, but don’t hold your breath.”

  A knock on the front door startled her and sent her heart racing. “Someone’s at the door, Captain. I’d better get it.”

  “You know who it is?”

  Jade peered out the window. “Yes. Bryce and his dog.”

  “Okay. He’s got clearance.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

  “Watch your back, Hollis. You’re one of my best detectives, and I don’t want to lose you.”

  The words settled in her heart, and gratitude filled her. “Appreciate that, sir.”

  “Answer the door. I’ll be in touch if I learn anything more.”

  Jade hung up and opened the door to find Bryce with his hands in his front pockets, head slightly lowered, and looking up at her through his upper lashes. “Hi.”

  “Hi.”

  He cleared his throat. “Could I come in?”

  She stepped back and led them into the den, where Sasha claimed her spot in front of the fireplace. Bryce chose the sofa. “I owe you an apology,” he said.

  “An apology?”

  “I wasn’t completely honest about everything.”

  Jade stilled. “Okay.”

  “I actually do have PTSD. And, as you’ve probably already figured out, Sasha’s a service dog.” He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The truth is, I’ve been in counseling for several years, learning to cope. One of the things I’ve discovered is that it doesn’t help to deny its existence—as much as I might like to.”

  Jade blinked, slightly stunned at the admission and almost at a loss for words. “I’m sorry,” she finally managed. “I know that’s a hard thing, but I’m glad you’re getting help.”

  “Losing part of my leg devastated me. It meant losing all of my hopes and dreams and facing a whole new reality. A new way of living, walking. Everything. I was very angry and bitter for a long time.”

  “I think that’s understandable.”

  He shot her a small smile. “I’ve finally allowed myself to agree to that, but old habits and feelings sometimes rear their heads. And...”

  “And?”

  “And having you witness one of my moments was humiliating.” He looked away, and Jade’s heart pounded. Never in a million years would she have thought they would have this kind of conversation. Guilt hit her hard. She’d judged him based on someone else’s issues. She’d automatically assumed he would be the same as Lee Simpson. He didn’t deserve that. What he did deserve was the truth. “Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Because I haven’t been completely honest with you, either.” She drew in a fortifying breath. “Bryce, I need to tell you something. About Mia.”

  * * *

  He froze for a brief second, and then his gaze met hers. “What?”

  “She’s...”

  “She’s what, Jade?” His pulse ratcheted up a few notches.

  “Yours, Bryce,” Jade whispered. “She’s yours.”

  The breath left him in a rush, and all he could do was sit frozen. When he finally found his voice, he said, “That’s why you wanted me to get in touch with you six years ago?”

  She nodded.

  “Frank didn’t give me the message,” he said. “I promise.”

  “I know that now.”

  “When did you find out?”

  She shrugged and rubbed a hand over her forehead. “Not too long after you left. For several months, I walked around in denial, but I really did intend to tell you after I got over the shock of it. When I asked Frank why you weren’t calling, he always had a legitimate-sounding excuse—like you were on a mission, and then it was that you were recovering from being injured. And then, after Kristy said she finally heard from you, but I didn’t, I thought you were ignoring me and... I was hurt. So eventually, I just quit trying.”

  Feelings he couldn’t identify warred within him. “Why did you wait so long to tell me now? We’ve been together nonstop for the past few days. Why haven’t you said anything?”

  “Why do you think?” she cried. “You really have to ask that?”

  Shame engulfed him, overpowering the initial anger at her delay in telling him. “No, I guess I don’t.”

  “In addition to your denial about your PTSD, you don’t want kids, remember? You like kids as long as they belong to someone else, remember?”

  Her agitation cut through to him and he nodded. “I remember.” He paused. “You’ve done a beautiful job with her,” he finally said softly. He had no right to be angry that she’d waited until now to tell him.

  She swallowed and shook her head. “I had a lot of help. I couldn’t have done it without my parents.”

  He sighed. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

  “I am, too, but it’s not your fault. You didn’t know, so no taking on undeserved blame, understand?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll do my best.” He shook his head. “I’m still very confused about Frank keeping this from me, though. I can’t think of any good reason he’d not pass on your messages.”

  “I don’t know, either.”

  “I think I’ll ask Lisa.”

  “Good idea. I don’t want to be mad at a dead man, but I’ll admit, I am.”

  “Yeah.” He drew in a breath. “I want to see her, Jade. I want to tell Mia I’m her father.” She bit her lip and he frowned. “What?”

  “If I...we...tell her,” Jade said, “she’s going to want to see you—on a regular basis. Probably more than that in the beginning as she’ll be totally obsessed with the whole idea. You don’t want to be a father, remember?”

  “You keep saying that, but it’s...” He swallowed and looked away. “It’s not that I don’t want to be a father. It’s j
ust that I’m not sure I’d be a very good one.”

  Jade stood and paced from one end of the room to the other. “Well, then that’s something that you need to decide, because once we tell her, there’s no going back.”

  “I know. I know.” He stood, too. “When you confirmed my suspicions that she was mine, my first reaction was joy. My second was absolute terror,” he said. “I might as well admit it since I’m coming clean on everything.”

  “Take some time and think about it,” Jade said. “A lot of time if necessary. It’s not a decision to be made lightly and not one that has to be made immediately.”

  Bryce walked across the room and took her into his arms, noting how right she felt there. He kissed the top of her head and stepped back. “Thank you for not hating me.”

  “I could never hate you, Bryce.” Her gaze clung to his, and he knew that she was worried. He also knew he’d take the time to think about what being Mia’s father would entail before jumping feetfirst into the deep end. Because Jade was right. Once they told Mia, there’d be no going back. He’d be a father—in every way that counted. Which meant he’d be seeing Jade a lot. The thought didn’t bother him. Not at all.

  THIRTEEN

  Bryce stood in front of the mantel, looking at the picture of Jade and Mia. Mia. His daughter. His daughter. A person, with thoughts and feelings and her whole life ahead of her. She was a part of him, and already he wanted to know everything about her. There was no way he could just walk away. From either of them.

  He raked a hand over his head, his decision made. Not that it had been much of a decision. The moment Jade had said Mia was his, he was already making plans to spend time with her. And Jade. Assuming tonight went like it was supposed to.

  Just letting you know that all is well right now, Jade texted. In position and waiting.

  While he appreciated the update, Bryce wasn’t happy that Jade planned to participate in the sting. Not because he thought she wasn’t capable, but because she’d been injured, and one day off wasn’t enough recovery time. If her job didn’t require her putting her life on the line, that would be one thing, but it did, and she needed to be alert and on top of things.