Second Chances: A PAVAD Duet

by Calle J. Brookes

  The destruction was copied throughout the house, with only the children's rooms being left relatively untouched. She was marginally thankful that the monsters who'd done it had had the grace to not violate her children's places.

  Ally was crying by the time she reached Kelly's. Their rooms were across the hall from each other, with Aislin's beside Kelly's and Ryan's beside hers.

  Kelly's bed had been sliced, deep gouges with a very large knife. Probably serrated. Ally's mind filed that away even as she carefully stepped over the broken remains of Kelly's guitar. Thank God they weren't home.

  She wasn't aware she'd spoken it aloud until Dan echoed it. “Honey, come on. Let's go back into the living room.”

  “There's still one more room to see,” Ally said, voice grim. “Mine.”

  Ally’s room was destroyed on a much grander scale than any other room in the house. Ally had processed enough crime scenes to recognize that. She turned away for the moment and crossed the hall.

  Dan hesitated. “Are you sure you want to see it? We can always come back in the morning.”

  “No. He...they...they are not going to run me out of my home. Not tonight.” Ally took a deep breath, released it on a shaky exhale. “Not tonight. And I...have...to clean this up. I can't let my children see this. How can they feel safe here, with it like this? No. I have to stay.”

  Her room was in even worse shape than Kelly's. The word bitch had been painted on her mattress in Aislin's purple finger paint.

  “Tomorrow is Saturday; why don't you and the kids come stay with me?” Dan said. “Kelly will be getting out of the hospital tomorrow afternoon. You can stay with me until we catch the bastards that did this.”

  Dennis stepped into the living room in time to hear the last. “And Allison…we will catch them. There is nothing that says you will be weak if you chose not to stay here tonight. No one will think any less of you if you chose to deal with this in the light of day instead of now.”

  “My children...”

  “Will understand that you are staying with Aunt Kelly's dad and her sisters to help out Aunt Kelly. We don't even have to mention this to them if you would prefer it,” Dan said.

  Ally looked around and the destruction that was her living room and nodded slowly. She couldn’t deal with this tonight. She just couldn’t. She’d almost lost her best friend, and now this…“Ok. But...but...only for a few days.”

  “Good, I think the locals have a few more questions for you then you can leave. Salvage some sleep. It's been a traumatic night,” Dennis said.

  Ally swallowed back more tears as she looked around the living room one more time. A local police officer came over, his notepad at the ready. Dan checked the man’s identification, then the officer turned to Ally. “Ma'am, if you're ready, I have a few questions.”

  Ally nodded; Dan's hand wrapped around hers and squeezed reassuringly.

  “I understand you recently moved here? I'm sorry this hasn't been a great welcome,” the officer said. He eyed the blood stains on both Ally and Dan’s clothing. She knew his questions were going to end up there, eventually. “Can you get me a list of things that were stolen some time tomorrow?”

  Ally nodded. “Although...from what I can tell, nothing is missing. I had some jewelry, but I found it all. My tenant, Kelly, she may have some things but...it doesn't look like it. At least, not to me.”

  “And where is Kelly? Her last name?”

  “Reynolds. She's my daughter,” Dan said. “She's currently at the hospital. She was shot this evening.”

  The officer straightened, his eyes focusing on the stains. “Is it possible there’s a connection?”

  “If there is, the PAVAD division of the FBI will be handling it,” Director Dennis said. No one argued. “Allison, can you think of any reason why someone would target either you or Kelly? Or both of you? Someone who may have a grudge?”

  Ally chewed her bottom lip. “Well...no...”

  “Doc? It may be important.” Dan's fingers ghosted up her arm softly. “Anything you can think of.”

  “Well...there's Jack.”

  “Go on. Jack?” The director prompted when she paused.

  “My ex-husband.” Ally rushed to continue. “But he's not a violent man, not really. He wouldn't do this. Not like this.”

  “And he has a grudge against Kelly?” Dan frowned. Ally looked away. She really didn't want to tell him this. Not Dan.

  “There was the small matter of his tooth and it having to be capped.” She blew the rest out in a rush. “She was baby-sitting one night. And he came to the house, we’d just separated, and he was drunk. He surprised her, made a really awkward pass. She may have also broken his nose in two places. But that was a one-time thing. Jack was apathetic, most of the time. He would not have done this.”

  “Are you sure?” Dan asked. Ally resisted the urge to flinch, seeing the angry expression on his face.

  “Positive. Jack never would have done this, he fights with words. And he definitely wouldn't be the type to shoot someone in a dark alley. And he would never be able to actually break in a door. Jack's not like that. At all.”

  Chapter 32

  Did she still love the bastard? Dan read her face for some sign of how she felt. She seemed emphatic that the ex wouldn’t do this, but Dan had seen domestic disputes go this direction before. “Doc, it may take a several days for this place to be put to rights, why don’t you pack a bag for your kids? Enough to get them through the weekend? Kelly, too.”

  Dan wanted to speak to Dennis alone. Every instinct he possessed was telling him this wasn’t some random burglary. He waited until the little blonde was in her son’s room before turning toward the other man. “This wasn’t random.”

  “No.” Dennis’s eyes held the same predatory gleam that Dan knew was most likely in his own. Dan knew the other man was as hungry to catch the culprits as he was. Neither could stand to see a frightened woman. “It wasn’t. You think it was the ex-husband?”

  “Don’t know. But if it was–I’d feel better if we had someone watching her kids at all times.” Dan didn’t wanted what had happened to him and his girls to be repeated with the doc.

  “Where are they?” Dennis pulled out his phone, no doubt to order a protective detail on the children.

  “Dr. Glendower’s.” Dan bent down to pick up the broken pieces of a child’s art project, that had the words I love you, Mommy written on them in bright orange paint. He’d make a point to glue the pieces together later.

  Dennis closed his phone. “I’ll go over there myself.”

  “You will?” That was surprising.

  “Yes. Dr. Glendower will not be comfortable with a strange agent in her home. Neither will her children. Especially this late at night.”

  “And she’ll be comfortable with you there?” Dan searched his friend’s face for any tell-tale hints of what the man was thinking.

  “Maybe not, but her children will.” Ed shrugged. “And I’ll be more comfortable with me there.”

  So Ed’s wind was blowing in the beautiful scientist’s direction. Dan understood now. “I see.”

  “I’m sure you do,” was all Ed said as the little doc returned, clutching two child-sized suitcases and a battered black backpack.

  “You ready to get out of here for a while?” Dan took the suitcases from her unresisting hands. “Dennis here thinks it would be a good idea to have someone stay with your kids–just as a precaution, and I agree.”

  “Do you think someone might go after them?” Her eyes filled with horror and fear and Dan quickly wrapped an arm around her. “Should we go get them?”

  Both men answered on the negative, Ed adding, “It’s just a precaution. I’m also having Dr. Compton stay at the hospital with Dr. Reynolds. But I do think you should call Marianna, let her know what’s happened and that I will be at her house shortly. Then you go to Dan’s and get some rest. We will take care of this.”

  It took her ten minutes to explain the night’
s events to her friend over the phone, and another five before she passed the phone to Ed’s waiting hand. He spoke firmly to the other woman and then snapped the phone shut. “It’s settled then.”

  Ed hustled them to the front porch and Dan smirked. He had a hunch the other man was in a hurry to get to his night’s new accommodations. Ed told them he’d contacted the on-call forensics team and they were on the way. The doc nodded, subdued, then thanked him for his help.

  It wasn’t until he pulled into his drive and shut off the engine that she spoke again. “Dan, thank you. I know you must be exhausted and worried about Kelly. I appreciate you staying with me.”

  “Of course I wasn’t going to leave you to deal with that alone!” He opened his door and climbed out, then removed the suitcases from the back seat before saying anything more. “Kelly considers you family–so even if I didn’t care for you...you would still be family. That makes you my responsibility.”

  “No. I’m not your responsibility. But I do appreciate your help and letting me stay.” She waited until they were just inside his house before she spoke. She passed him, entering the foyer.

  “Anytime you need anything, Doc, don’t hesitate to ask.” Dan wrapped a hand around her elbow. “Ever. I'm going to call the hospital, check in with Josh. Why don't you head into the living room? I'll join you in about ten minutes.”

  She nodded, her cheeks tinged just a bit pink. His phone calls took longer than he expected—simply to get a call through the hospital's security measures took nearly ten minutes. But he wouldn't complain about protocols set in place to keep his daughter safe. It was closer to twenty minutes before he joined the doc.

  He found her snuggled up in the corner of his couch. She was sound asleep, curled into a small ball in the corner of the dark leather. Tear tracks still glistened on her cheeks. It filled him with a hot rush of anger at the bastards who’d done this to her. And it filled him with a hot rush of tenderness for this woman.

  He quietly covered her with the afghan his sister had knit for him years ago, then brushed a soft kiss over her forehead before moving into the kitchen for a soda and something to eat. The beer and nachos he’d had at Smokey’s so many hours ago hadn’t exactly lasted long. A note rested on the counter, written in Emma’s loopy handwriting. Apparently, Agent Tompkins had accompanied her and Gracie to the hospital where they’d spend the night with Kelly. He was not to worry about them, just concentrate on catching the monster that shot their sister.

  Her underlying faith in him was staggering. But in this, he knew he wouldn’t fail. He would catch the bastard who’d hurt his little girl–and the one who’d hurt the doc.

  The little doc hadn’t moved in the entire time he’d been in the kitchen and Dan sank to the cushion beside her. “Doc? Ally, sweetheart...come on, girl, you can’t sleep on my couch all night. Come on...”

  “Oh.” Her confusion was evident and Dan had to laugh.

  “Dan? Oh...” Her eyes went from sleepy-soft to clouded with worry in an instant and Dan’s laughter faded. She’d remembered the circumstances that led to her being on his couch. And they made her sad. He hated that sadness. He didn’t think, just leaned in and covered her trembling mouth with his own.

  Chapter 33

  Oh God! That was all Ally could think as her mouth opened under Dan’s. She lifted one hand—to push him away, to stop him—she wasn’t sure of her true intent. She didn’t intend to wrap it around his neck and pull him closer. He was warm and strong and steady; more importantly, he was there and safe. He cared for her and she cared for him; she needed him.

  He pulled back, “Doc...I didn’t...I...mean...damn.”

  Ally took the initiative, covering his lips with hers. She shifted closer, the blanket he’d draped over her earlier falling to bunch between them. She needed him, needed to not feel alone—just for a little while. She’d felt alone for so long—even with the kids and Kelly surrounding her. She just wanted to forget that fact for just a little while. She wrapped both arms behind his neck, pulling him closer still.

  He pulled back one more time. “Doc? It’s up to you...how far do you want to take this?”

  She answered him with another kiss. Apparently, that was answer enough.

  ***

  Ally woke with a man’s arm around her waist, holding her firmly in place, in an unfamiliar bedroom. She wasn’t certain how they’d ended up in the bed. Dan slept behind her, holding her as if he’d never let her go.

  That was a tempting thought. Having him to lean on last night had been a true godsend. Without him, she probably would have fallen apart even more than she had. It would be tempting to lean on him completely. And if she was ready for a relationship, Dan would be the exact kind of man she’s want to be with.

  But she knew she wasn’t ready, and she doubted Dan was, either. More importantly, neither were her children or Dan’s daughters.

  What would it do to Kelly to know Ally had slept with Dan? It would hurt the younger woman; Ally knew it instinctively. And Kelly had been hurt so much already. And Ryan...he was still half-convinced his father would be coming to St. Louis to take them all home, to be a family again. He definitely wouldn’t accept a man in Ally’s life easily. No matter how much Ally would have liked it.

  “Heavy thoughts for so early.” His voice startled her. His gaze was trained on her face, the expression letting her know he had a good idea of what she was thinking. “Anything you would like to say to me that might help this go away?”

  He touched the frown lines on her brow, ran a light finger down her cheek, touched her lips lightly.

  “Just that we shouldn’t do this again—and Kelly definitely shouldn’t know.” Ally felt heat hit her face as he shifted and his naked thigh pressed against her intimately. Dan may have been battle-scarred, but he was in wonderful physical shape for a man in his early fifties. Ally was honest enough to admit that she’d enjoyed and eagerly participated—both times.

  “I think I understand your reasoning.” Was all he said before he shifted and tucked the blankets tighter around them both. “It would be awkward for all of our kids. I don’t want to put that strain on my girls, not after just getting them back.”

  “So this morning stays between us?” Ally nodded, glad he’d not wanted to argue. She had to admit, she wasn’t well versed in morning after etiquette.

  “But Doc...” He grinned, a sudden wicked smile that backed her breath up in her throat. He rose on one arm, the move putting him looming over her. “The morning’s not over yet, and none of the kids are anywhere near this bedroom. What do you say we...”

  Ally wrapped both arms around his neck as he leaned closer.

  ***

  He took her with him to the hospital. Kelly was pale and in pain, but the bullet had done minimal damage, thank God. Her sisters sat by her bed, laughing and joking with Agent Tompkins. Dr. Compton sat on the wide window sill, quiet and subdued.

  He stood when Dan nodded. Neither man spoke and Ally realized the depth of their relationship. It had been clear to Ally that Dr. Compton wasn’t fond of Kelly, yet he’d stayed with her. Been kind and gentle with her while she’d clung to him. Ally wondered if it was because of his friendship with Dan or if it was because the younger man was just that compassionate.

  “Thanks, son,” Dan said. “Go home and get some sleep. I spoke with Hellbrook, Brockman’s taking point so he’ll need you in a few hours, J.T. Josh, we’re on stand-down this week.”

  Dr. Compton nodded and said his goodbyes. Tompkins stayed behind.

  The blond man flushed slightly when he looked at Dan’s middle daughter. Emma shot him a wicked little wink that Ally doubted anyone else saw.

  They visited with Kelly and her sisters for nearly two hours before the attending physician arrived to release her. He and Ally spoke about her follow-up care and they finally were released to take her home. Dan went for his SUV, having arranged for his sedan to be cleaned of the blood in the backseat before his daughters rode in it aga
in.

  Agent Tompkins was put in charge of pushing Kelly’s chair to the entrance while they waited for Dan’s SUV to pull up out front.

  They didn’t make it. A thin blonde woman shrieked at them the instant they approached the nurses’ station. Ally saw all three of Dan’s daughters flinch and she figured it out in one guess. This was their mother. Dammit, of all times for her to arrive, why now?

  “Kelly, my God, Kelly!” The woman shrieked again in a strident voice. Emma stepped in front of the wheelchair, her stance defensive and protective. Ally moved to her side, blocking the woman from Kelly or Gracie. This was the woman who’d hurt Kelly, who’d hurt Gracie and Emma—who’d hurt Dan.

  “Mother. Why are you here?” It was Gracie who spoke, moving around Ally, her voice that of an adult instead of a child. Devoid of emotion. Ally’s eyes darted to the glass door as Dan’s SUV finally moved into view. He’d be back inside within moments.

  “You’re school called about transferring your records to here; I knew Kelly had something to do with it! Joe made a few phone calls and got Kelly’s address. A neighbor suggested we check with the police about a break-in...so Joe made a few calls.” She tried to skirt around Emma, not even giving Ally or Agent Tompkins a thought. “He also said he hadn’t known of any plans to visit him. Obviously, Kelly, you lied to me!”

  “No shit,” Emma said, practically snarling at her mother. “Took you long enough to realize Gracie was missing. Some mother you are.”

  The venom in Emma’s voice had Tompkins’ eyes widening and had the lead multiplying in Ally’s stomach. It wasn’t going to be pretty in a moment, and she didn’t know if it would be best if Dan missed this little scene all together.

  The woman wrapped her hand around Gracie’s arm, her nails biting into the girl’s skin. Gracie tried to jerk free. “Let me go! I’m not going anywhere with you!”