Truth & Tenderness

by Tere Michaels

  “You need to get cars on the LIE—they need to find the limo right now. Jim isn’t answering his phone,” Matt said, breathless and frantic. “They’re here—Tracey and Tripp—out on the Island.”

  Already out of bed, Evan grabbed clothes out of his closet one-handed. “Are you sure?”

  “Parking ticket outside Bennett’s apartment, parking ticket in Hampton Bay. Dark sedan rental. They’ve been watching Jim.”

  “Shit.” Evan pulled on jeans and slipped into his sneakers. “I’m hanging up now. I’ll call you back when I get cars on the road.”

  “I’ll be in the car. I’m going to see if I can catch up.”

  “No—Matt. Just sit tight.”

  He’d already hung up.

  MATT GRABBED his phone and his flashlight as he raced out of the house.

  “GRIFFIN, WAKE up,” Jim said gently but with urgency. “Griffin, baby. I need you right now.”

  Griffin came around slowly, blinking and shaking his head. “Are we there?”

  “No, but there’s a problem.” Jim kept his voice low and even. He didn’t want Daisy and Sadie to wake up. He didn’t want anyone to panic. “I’m not getting any reception on my cell. I need you to check yours.” Outside he could make out nothing but trees and empty roadways speeding by.

  That seemed to move Griffin into wakefulness a bit quicker. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know, but I need you awake, okay? I need to know you’re aware—”

  The limo swerved violently. Jim caught Griffin before he could hit the door, and then threw himself across the small space to grab Daisy as she woke in a panic, clutching a screaming Sadie.

  “Hold on,” Jim shouted, bracing himself against the floor and ceiling, shielding Daisy and the baby as best he could.

  They shifted again, a complete turn this time that spun the limo violently. The car collided with something. They heard the crush, felt the crazy vibrations as they spun one more time.

  Then the limo came to rest.

  Chapter 31

  “EVERYONE OKAY back there?” came the driver’s voice over the intercom.

  Jim dropped to his knees on the seat and pressed the button. “We’re okay,” he said, looking at a shaken Griffin and Daisy as they tried to calm Sadie between them. “What happened?”

  “Sedan tried to run us off the road. I got us onto the side of the road, though. Wait.” The driver paused. “I see cops coming from both ends. Jesus.”

  “Don’t get out of the car,” Jim snapped. “Just stay where you are.” He scrambled for the door even as Griffin grabbed at him.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Stay here. No one moves.”

  Heart beating frantically, Jim pushed the door open. He nearly fell from the limo, adrenaline pumping as he ran toward the road. At least twenty cars had screeched to a halt, all surrounding a dark sedan with heavily tinted windows. He walked toward it, fingers itching like he was a gunfighter at the O.K. Corral as he unbuttoned his jacket to have access to the shoulder holster.

  The officers surrounding the sedan had their guns drawn. Someone with a megaphone insisted its occupants exit the vehicle with their hands up.

  The passenger door opened a second later. Tracey Baldwin Ingersoll—faithful girlfriend, alibi, and accomplice—came out screaming, hands in the air, crying hysterically as she ran toward the cars.

  She babbled to the officers who grabbed her, thanking them in the split second before they pushed her to the ground and handcuffed her.

  Jim stood on the edge of the highway where grass met pavement. He couldn’t take his eyes off the sedan even as the cops yelled for him to get back.

  Then it happened: the driver’s door opened and Tripp Ingersoll slid out.

  It looked like a peaceful surrender until Tripp looked over and saw Jim.

  A sense of serenity fell over Jim in that second. He didn’t even reach for his gun. There were cops everywhere, and Jim? Jim was a civilian. A private citizen that Tripp had just tried to run off the road.

  “You fucking sonofabitch!” Tripp screamed. He made a move like he was going after Jim, and the moment of distraction allowed the cops to grab him and wrestle him to the ground.

  “I’m going to kill you! You think I’m going to stop! I’m going to fucking murder you and your fag boyfriend and that baby! You hear me, you fucking piece of shit? I’m going to cut your throat.”

  Jim kept smiling. The more he struggled and swung at cops, the more he threatened Jim’s life, the deeper he dug his own grave.

  Jim waited until they wrestled Tripp into the backseat of the cop car—and then, finally, he turned around and spotted Griffin standing in the tall grass, looking bewildered and lost.

  Smile in place, Jim walked over to Griffin and pulled him into his arms.

  It was done.

  EVAN DROVE with his light flashing on the dashboard, heart in his throat. He listened to the scanner, hearing the entire incident without a visual he so dearly needed. Matt didn’t answer his phone, so when Evan braked to a halt at the scene—a chaotic mess of vehicles—he got out and ran into the middle of it.

  He found Jim and Griffin first, wrapped in a blanket and leaning against a cop car. Behind them, Evan could see Daisy and Sadie in the backseat.

  Phone in hand, he dialed Matt again, hearing each ring like a punch in the stomach.

  “Evan? Is everyone all right?”

  Blowing out a breath, Evan laughed weakly. “Yeah, everyone’s all right.”

  THE SCENE was chaos until they moved everything off to the side and the traffic was able to pass again. Evan spent thirty minutes on the phone with various officials from the state and the FBI, updating them and pacing up and down the side of the road. Finally, it was done.

  They stood on the side of the road for almost thirty minutes, catching each other up, until adrenaline ran out and everyone just wanted to go to bed. There were hugs and tears as they said their good-byes, Jim hovering protectively around Griffin, Daisy, and Sadie, who calmly sucked on a lollipop thanks to a uniform with a sweet tooth.

  Evan watched Jim and Matt share a tight hug. Matt whispered, “It’s over” and Jim only nodded.

  “We’ll come out tomorrow at some point, bring you some food,” Evan said, lightly pinching Sadie’s cheek. “You need anything….”

  Another round of hugs and murmured words of concern, and then they were moving in separate directions.

  THEY GOT home at sunrise.

  Evan and Matt walked through the front door, holding hands as they had been since they drove away from the scene on the expressway. They had been the last to leave, pulling away in Evan’s car as Griffin and Jim took off in the opposite direction in Matt’s SUV.

  “Thank God we’re done,” Matt sighed as he stripped out of his shoes.

  “Done for now. I have to go in in about four hours to explain what happened over the past few days and how it doesn’t mean I’m incompetent,” Evan said lightly, throwing his suit jacket on the couch as he walked by.

  “You just helped catch two serial killers—that’s not going to divert this into something positive?” Matt followed him into the kitchen.

  “Bad publicity is not why they hired me.” Evan pulled open the fridge to stare at the inside. Maybe the answer was sitting there amongst the milk and leftover pasta.

  “Fuck ’em.”

  Evan laughed tiredly as he reached for a bottle of water. “Matt….”

  “You did your job. Two murderers are going to jail.”

  “You and Jim did my job.”

  Matt made a face as he walked to Evan’s side. “You used the resources you had. He’s going to jail and so is she. In a few hours, Helena will be in front of the cameras telling everyone two less pieces of shit are walking the streets. And you get to stand there looking….”

  “Asleep.” Evan shut the door and stepped into Matt’s personal space. “I was so fucking scared when you took off.”

  Matt wrapped his
arms around Evan’s waist, drawing them together those last few inches. “Pft. I can hold my own. Actually I’m a little sad I got there late. I would have loved to punch that prick in the face.”

  Evan dropped his head against Matt’s shoulder. He still felt faintly sick from that gap of time before he knew where Matt was and what was happening. Losing Matt… the mere thought of it made him breathless with fear. “Stick with security for rich people, please.”

  Strong hands rubbed down Evan’s back. Matt seemed to realize that jokes weren’t going to soothe Evan right now. “Okay,” he said softly. “I’ll take meetings and have to jog off too many lunches and you—you go to the precinct in a few hours and show those assholes that you are the kind of captain they should promote, not hide.”

  “I don’t know if it’s worth it.”

  “Mmm. Okay, no one knows better than me what absolute dickbags they can be,” Matt whispered. “But if every good cop walks away for that reason, then they win based on sheer numbers. Don’t stay because you want to show them how great a gay captain you can be. Stay and show them what a fucking amazing cop you are.”

  Evan pressed his face into the curve of Matt’s neck. They both needed showers, and more than anything, Evan wanted to say fuck it and hand in his resignation. “I haven’t been a great cop lately—too much bitching and moaning about paperwork.” Evan pulled away so he could look into Matt’s eyes. “I think I lost sight of some stuff.”

  His work.

  Matt.

  “It’s probably because you’re old and need glasses,” Matt said solemnly before leaning forward and pressing a kiss against Evan’s mouth.

  THEY SHOWERED together, leaning against the wall because the steamy heat took the last tiny licks of energy from their system. By the time Matt was turning off the bathroom light, he heard doors opening in the hallway—the kids were getting up, getting ready for school.

  “You wanna catch them up?” he asked as Evan stumbled past.

  “I left a note for Miranda.” He beelined for the bed and barely made it under the covers when he got there.

  Matt shut off all the lights, then joined him, sinking into the mattress with a noisy exhale. “Let’s never do anything like this ever again. My body can’t take the strain,” he muttered.

  “How long before I retire?”

  Matt opened his mouth to answer but fell asleep before he could.

  WHEN HE woke up, Evan wasn’t next to him. The sheets were cool and sunlight streamed through the windows where they’d forgotten to pull the curtains shut.

  It was one in the afternoon, according to the clock on the nightstand next to him.

  “Shit,” Matt muttered. That meant Evan was long gone, and Matt wanted to check on Jim and Griffin.

  Downstairs, he found his phone neatly plugged in to the charger by the front door. The house was quiet and neat, and Matt swallowed the urge to hug every piece of furniture. All the chaos of the past few weeks seemed to have been exorcised from their world.

  A few texts—Jim told him they were fine and not to bother coming out. He and Griffin were headed home, and Daisy was off to the penthouse. Another from Evan, asking him to come down to the precinct when he woke up.

  Matt frowned.

  Was he really going to do it? Quit the force? Matt couldn’t blame him, but Christ, Evan was supposed to be the Eliot Ness of the NYPD. A straight arrow who rose above the rest of the assholes. Not the guy who said fuck it and mic dropped out.

  With a heavy heart, Matt went upstairs to get dressed.

  Chapter 32

  HELENA, IN a sassy black suit and heels that made her taller than Evan, read through the statement and took press questions with a vaguely superior expression. Evan watched the reporters riveted to her performance as she assured the assembled that Tripp and Tracey were being held until their extradition to Oregon to face first-degree murder charges. She reminded everyone that Captain Cerelli was directly involved in the case, coordinating the efforts to bring the Ingersolls to justice.

  “Their reign of unimpeded violence is at an end,” she said coolly, then shut the conference down. She gestured for Evan to go first as they stepped off the small stage and then left the room.

  In the hallway, after the door slammed closed, Helena did a little touchdown dance. “Oh my God, I’m a natural!”

  Evan raised his hand for a high five. “You really are.”

  She smacked her palm against his. “So does this mean I got the job?”

  As he straightened his tie, Evan flashed her a smile. “If I have anything to do with it….”

  Helena bounced on her heels. “Fabulous. You need anything else?”

  “No, I’m good. You taking off?”

  “Shane and I are going over to the penthouse to hang out with Daisy. Then I think we’re driving up to see Griffin and Jim.”

  “Give everyone my love, okay?” He squeezed her arm, already excited to imagine seeing her on a daily basis again. “Hopefully we can head up there over the weekend.”

  “Shane’s out buying a toy store for Sadie.” Helena pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Call me if you need anything.”

  “Thanks again.”

  Helena gave him a salute. “My pleasure, Captain Cerelli. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  EVAN FOUND his office occupied by Mr. Higgins and Mr. Alsta. He didn’t even blink or acknowledge them until he was sitting at his desk.

  “Come to congratulate me?” he asked dryly as the two men exchanged unreadable looks.

  “You managed to contain the situation,” Mr. Higgins said reluctantly.

  “I’m delivering a pair of dangerous serial killers to the Oregon authorities and helping to close several cold-case murders.”

  Mr. Alsta sighed as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Fine. The press is excellent and just salacious enough for them to keep coming back. That woman—”

  “Helena Abbott.”

  “Decorated police officer and quite adept at dealing with the mess. You want to keep her around?”

  Evan couldn’t contain the smile entirely as he steepled his fingers under his chin. “She’s going to have to be wooed.”

  Alsta looked at Higgins, who rolled his eyes. “We’ll get her a good package.”

  “Great.” Evan regarded them both for a moment. “I guess we’re done for now.”

  Mr. Higgins scowled as he stood. “No more scandals like this, Cerelli. That’s not why….” He shut his mouth tightly as he walked to the door.

  “Whatever reason you hired me,” Evan said slowly, “you ended up with a good cop. And I’m going to show you both how little I need your interference.” He grinned widely. “How much you should be afraid if I decide I want your jobs next.”

  WHEN MATT arrived, the precinct was abuzz and Evan’s door was open. A few detectives lingered, and Matt recognized Jesse from GOAL leaning against the doorframe.

  “Hey, Matt!” Jesse moved quickly to extend his hand. “Great work.”

  Matt shrugged, demurely batting his eyelashes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m retired.”

  Jesse gave him a light punch in the arm. “Of course, my mistake. But I’m taking my detective’s exam soon—any pointers you want to give, I’m here to listen.”

  Matt’s ego did a little stretch and preen. “You got my cell number, right? Gimme a call and we’ll have a sit-down.”

  They chatted a bit more before Jesse had to leave for patrol. The rest of the detectives crowded around Evan’s desk took their leave one by one, all giving Matt a friendly greeting before the place emptied out.

  “You’re a folk hero. If you and Jim want free beers, I suggest you start showing up every Friday night,” Evan said with a smirk as he leaned back in his chair.

  “That sounds like something I can get behind.” Matt dropped into the chair across from Evan. “You didn’t quit.”

  “Nope. I got Helena the PR job, though.” He looked pleased as punch.

  “
Nice. Sounds like a full day.”

  Evan gestured around his office with open arms. “It’s not much, but I’m willing to keep it warm for the next captain.”

  Matt raised his eyebrows. “So not quitting but looking at your next promotion?”

  “I got this really amazing pep talk and it made me realize that my job is only worth doing if I believe it is.”

  “I said that?”

  Evan threw a paperclip at him. “If I want to make a difference, I have to take advantage of my position.” Evan raised a finger. “No dirty jokes.”

  Matt did a quick lip zip.

  “And that means putting up with the bullshit until I’m in charge and I can make changes.”

  Matt unzipped. “So are you saying I’m eventually going to be the first lady of New York City?”

  “Maybe you start practicing telling people what you’re wearing, just in case.”

  Looking down at his hastily chosen outfit of jeans, a T-shirt, and a sweat jacket, Matt shrugged. “Sears?”

  MATT HAD taken the subway to the city, so he and Evan walked to his car shoulder to shoulder. The kids were waiting; dinner had to be eaten. They had plans for the weekend to check on their friends and plans for the summer when all the family could arrange a week or two to be together.

  Evan felt the pieces falling slowly into place: another year, another lesson, another way to make things easier. Maybe they’d never find the perfect solution to everything. Maybe it would never be easy.

  “I love you,” Evan said when they reached the car.

  Matt paused at the passenger’s side, his expression pleased. He leaned his arms against the roof of the car. “I love you too.”

  “You know this is it, right?” Evan matched his position from the driver’s side, the rush-hour traffic buzzing behind them. “Us.”