Her Husband’s Partner

by Jeanie London

  But it didn’t explain why the house was wired. Jason could understand the PPD adding the precaution while investigating Mike’s death, but that had been over two years ago. Why now?

  Maybe he was just being paranoid or maybe someone was worried about Riley’s safety because she was investigating stories that put her at risk.

  “Yeah, I figured that part out for myself.” Tyrese sucked in a deep breath. “Listen, Chief. I’ve got a shot at a life here, a real one. I’m not going down for you.”

  “You got a shot because I gave it to you.”

  There was silence on the other end. Jason could practically hear Tyrese’s divinity warring with his worldly self. But Tyrese couldn’t hang up. Jason needed him. Tyrese was his. Not someone Agent Asshole could blackmail or buy off. It didn’t matter that he was one more on the growing list of people whose lives Jason was screwing up because he’d screwed up.

  Callie. The kids. His parents.

  So he said the only thing he could think of that might convince Tyrese not to hang up the phone.

  “I’m in trouble, Tyrese.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  RILEY HAD ALWAYS LOVED the chaos of Angelica family get-togethers. This Labor Day celebration was no different, if for an unexpected reason. Once upon a time, she’d enjoyed being with immediate and extended family because she’d loved the camaraderie, a welcome change from her solitary and mobile upbringing as an only child in a military family.

  And while she still enjoyed that camaraderie with people she’d come to love dearly, today she also appreciated how the chaos distracted her from thinking—about Jake’s difficult first week of kindergarten, about available career choices, about how different this gathering felt without Mike.

  Different yet somehow the same. As if she still belonged here. That was a good feeling, a hopeful feeling, as if the future would sort itself out as long as she kept putting one foot in front of the other.

  “Aunt Riley, I thought you said these kids went to school in Florida,” Brian called out from the pool.

  “They did.” She smiled as Brian hefted Jake into the air and flipped him head over heels into the water.

  Her son’s laughter rang out, ending as quickly as it began when he landed with a splash. Water exploded onto the deck. Groans and growls erupted from the group playing pinochle not far from the splash zone.

  Brian propped himself up on the side of the pool. “I don’t think these kids did anything but swim. They’re kicking our butts at water tag.”

  Riley laughed. “It’s summer all the time down there, Brian. They went to school and swam pretty much every day.”

  “Oh, man. That’s just wrong.”

  “My turn.” Camille launched herself onto her cousin’s back and tried to drag him underwater. “Throw me.”

  Brian good-naturedly went under, coming up with dramatic sputters that made Camille squeal.

  Riley covered her ears. “Dunk her, Brian. Before she does permanent damage.”

  Brian obliged, and they got a split second of blessed silence before one of the cousins, who’d been congregating at the opposite end of the pool, declared the break over.

  “Jake and Camille are it.” The cry rang out as energetic swimmers propelled themselves into the water, starting the mayhem again.

  Riley plunked down into an Adirondack chair to watch the carnage, hanging on to a glass of water she wasn’t drinking.

  Camille and Jake had the obvious advantage. They dove in and around their older cousins like little piranhas, delighting everyone—particularly themselves—with their speed and prowess.

  “You can’t catch me,” Camille shrieked when her head broke the surface, clearly wanting her big cousins to do exactly that.

  Jake was so much more subtle. He was on the warpath and out for blood.

  “Don’t you know how to swim, dude?” he taunted Brian, then dove underwater, only coming up for air when he was clear on the opposite end of the pool.

  Her kids got their time to shine, their time to connect with cousins they couldn’t remember and, in the process, earn a place for themselves. They had a big Italian family to love them. And Joe and Rosie’s family was definitely big. They’d had five kids total. Mike and his twin, Lily Susan, had been surprise blessings, as Rosie always referred to them, twins who were eight years behind the pack. Everyone lived close by with the exception of Lily Susan, whose destination-wedding business was based out of Manhattan.

  “Mind if I join you?” Caroline appeared at her side, collapsed into a nearby chair.

  “Game over?”

  Caroline scowled. “So it would seem.”

  Riley glanced up in time to see Caroline’s husband, Alex, storming into the house, leaving behind a picnic table with various in-laws staring after him, still holding cards.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Fine, thanks. But I would caution your kids about choosing their life mates at the tender young age of sixteen.”

  Riley only gave a slow nod, knowing better than to comment. Caroline had met Alex Bosse during her sophomore year in high school. Alex had been a junior at the time, and they’d gotten married not long after Caroline’s graduation, so she could go off to college to live with him.

  “Then may I say thanks again for lending me Brian?” Riley said to break the silence and distract her sister-in-law from what appeared to have been an unpleasant scene. “He’s been a treasure. I couldn’t have done the past two years without him.”

  “He feels the same about you, Riley. Taking care of the horses is a small price to pay for his independence, don’t kid yourself. He has a sweet deal and he knows it.”

  Riley smiled. “A mutually beneficial arrangement. Can’t ask for more than that.”

  “No, I suppose not.”

  “Do you see him much?”

  Caroline scowled harder. “Sunday dinners here unless he needs something. I should be grateful. I’d barely see him at all if he’d have gone away to college.”

  Which Riley could see invited mixed emotions, and she could certainly understand. Her kids weren’t close to college yet, but she filed the information away and hoped to remember a few years from now. Enjoy the moment. It would all too soon be over.

  Or all too unexpectedly.

  That was a lesson she’d learned well.

  “It’s good that he’s keeping close with Rosie and Joe.”

  “Yeah. But I wish he would spend more time with us.” Caroline shifted her gaze to the patio doors where her husband had disappeared. “Then again, I guess I can’t really blame him. No one wants to be home much anymore.”

  There was so much in that statement. Riley eyed her sister-in-law closely, wishing she could read her mind. “Want to talk?”

  “Thanks, but no thanks.” Caroline’s golden-brown eyes narrowed. “Same shit, different day.”

  She reached out and grabbed Caroline’s well-manicured hand and gave a squeeze. “Well, I’m around if you change your mind.”

  But Riley knew Caroline wouldn’t call. They were fond of each other and had been close before Mike’s death. Maybe the years of distance had taken their toll. Maybe Caroline thought Riley had her hands too full to add anything else to the mix. She was thoughtful that way. Or maybe Caroline simply didn’t want to talk. Whatever the reason, it served as another reminder of how quickly life marched on. The twins weren’t the only ones who needed to reestablish places within the family.

  “I’ll sit in with pinochle,” Riley said lightly. “If you’ll teach me how to play.”

  That got a better response. Caroline’s warm eyes crinkled around the edges in real amusement. “I can’t teach you during a game. We’ll be too busy playing.”

  An old problem. “What about Max or Rosie?”

  “Max isn’t coming because Madeleine has a tummy bug,” she replied, referring to Max’s young daughter. “And forget about Mom. She won’t leave the kitchen until dinner is on the table. Speaking of…” Caroline glanced at her watch
. “She’s running late. She’s probably stalling because of Scott. He’s late.”

  “Scott’s coming for dinner?”

  “Yeah. He usually calls if he’s not going to make it, but I don’t think he called.”

  “How’d you all manage to get him here?”

  “Dad caught him helping Brian out at your place one Sunday. You know Dad.” She rolled her eyes. “He made Scott come with Brian under threat of death. Scott humored him, but he’s been coming around more and more. Dad’s pretty pleased with himself.”

  No doubt. Riley had tried for years to get Scott to feel as welcome in her home was Mike’s other friends. But Scott had never dropped by without a formal invitation. He’d been prone to waiting in the cruiser outside rather than coming in to pick up Mike before a shift no matter how often Riley invited him in for coffee.

  Water sluiced over the side of the pool followed by gales of laughter, and both Riley and Caroline lifted their feet to avoid the flood streaming beneath their chairs.

  “Leave some water in the pool, guys,” Caroline told them.

  Riley only smiled, mulling what her sister-in-law had said about Scott. Was that what she’d noticed the night they’d eaten tacos after the Hazard Creek debacle? That sense of Scott being comfortable in the house, familiar with the dinner routine. She’d been right.

  “Exactly how much has he been helping Brian out around the farm?” Riley asked. “I’m getting the sense it’s a lot more than I realized.”

  Caroline met her gaze with that honest stare that reminded Riley so much of Mike. Like her brother, Caroline didn’t pull any punches. “Nothing ridiculous or I’d have stepped in. Trust me. But the bottom line…well, Brian’s a kid. There’s a lot of stuff he doesn’t know even though he’d never admit that.”

  “Oh, Caroline, I knew he was taking on a lot. If it was too much I’d have made other arrangements. You’ve been telling me everything is fine.”

  “I’ve been telling you everything’s been fine because everything has been fine.” Caroline leaned forward with a conspiratorial glance at the pool. “My son wants to be independent. He was leaving the day he turned eighteen no matter what. That left him with taking care of the farm or moving out with one of his buddies and killing himself to pay rent.”

  She shrugged. “At least when he’s working for you, he’s got boundaries. You flat-out told him he has to stay in school or the deal was off. Every last person in this family will narc on him if he screws up, and he won’t get any mercy if he kills one of Uncle Mike’s horses because he’s lazy.”

  “That’s awfully heavy for a kid….” Riley let her words trail off when Caroline shook her head.

  “He’s learning responsibility. That’s a good thing. One of his parents spoiled him.” She had the grace to look abashed but quickly added. “Cut me a break. He was my first. Besides, when he gets stuck, he calls Scott. At least he’s calling someone to help and not toughing it out on his own. We really would end up with dead horses then.”

  “Remind me when my time comes, okay?”

  “I will. Though I might not get the chance to boss you around.” Caroline smiled. “Well, to be honest, I hoped you’d never come back so I wouldn’t have to tell you that Hershel and Oodles Marie are mine now. We’ve bonded. You’ll scar them for life if you take them away.”

  Riley sighed. “I made peace with your betrayal a while ago. But for the record you were only supposed to be babysitting while I got settled at my mother’s. It was only a few weeks.”

  “What can I say? I’m hard to resist.”

  “You are that, which must be why I’m here now. I do appreciate everything you and your son have done for us. And Scott’s really good with young people, so I’m not surprised Brian likes him so much. The feeling seemed mutual.”

  Caroline sank back in the chair and tipped her face toward the sun. “No question. That’s all he has—work and those kids.”

  Riley shouldn’t ask. From the depths of her soul, she knew she shouldn’t ask. But she couldn’t resist. She wanted to know, plain and simple. “Not involved with anyone at the moment?”

  Caroline waved an impatient hand. “Not that I’ve heard, and I’d have heard.”

  “Can’t say I’m surprised. He was always a dating junkie. Never knew who he’d bring to police events. Hard to keep up.”

  “I have no clue what his deal is,” Caroline admitted. “He’s dated some nice women, but I don’t think he’s been doing much lately. Not since Mike…”

  “It’s been rough on him?”

  “He’s on his second partner.”

  “Oh” was all Riley could think to say. She’d asked Scott how he was doing, of course. Every time they’d spoken on the telephone for the past two years, but he always said he was okay, never went into any specifics. She’d let it go at that. It just wasn’t that way between them. He’d been Mike’s friend.

  Now she wanted to know why he dated but never seemed to have relationships.

  “I really wish he’d get more balance in his life,” Caroline said thoughtfully. “And that’s not gossip, by the way. I’ve said as much to him.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Come on, Riley. He’s a good-looking guy. Hardworking. He’s a volunteer, for God’s sake. A guy with a social conscience. But he’s never been married. Doesn’t have kids. We’re the only family he has, and we only see him on Sundays. Doesn’t that make you wonder?”

  “When you put it like that.”

  “Commitment issues, do you think?”

  “I don’t see it. He’s committed to so many things—the department, Renaissance, his friendships. Doesn’t seem to have trouble to me.” So what, then? Riley was surprised by how much she wanted to know. “But what do you mean he doesn’t have any family? I knew he didn’t have anyone around here. Mike said as much, but he doesn’t have any family anywhere?”

  “That’s what he said. His mom died when he was five, and he lived with his grandmother until she passed away. Then he came to Poughkeepsie. Been with the department ever since.”

  Wow. “I’ve known Scott since I met Mike, and I’ve never heard one word of that. He told you?”

  “Heck no. But you know Mom. When she wants to know how smother someone, she’s relentless.”

  “You mean mother someone, don’t you?”

  “Oh, yeah, right.” Caroline cracked a grin, and Riley was about to ask for more details, unable to resist the temptation of getting to know more about this man she was befriending, but the patio door slid open and the man himself came through as if on cue, wielding a bouquet of summer flowers.

  “Hey, everyone. Sorry I’m late.”

  “Should have brought flowers for us, detective,” Joey, Rosie and Joe’s eldest son, said. “Mama’s starving us so we can wait on you.”

  “That’s why she’s waiting on him.” Caroline smirked. “Because he brings her flowers. You’re an ungrateful mooch. You should at least bring a bottle of wine or something.”

  “What in hell are you talking about?” Joey scowled. “I brought the sausage. Freaking ten pounds of it. From Bastian’s Road House no less.”

  “Be patient, Joey,” Rosie told her son. “You won’t starve.”

  Joey’s wife made a show of patting his stomach, which was hanging somewhat over his belt. “No, he won’t starve.”

  Laughter tittered around the table, and Joey scowled. Scott, Riley noticed, had the good sense to keep his mouth shut. Instead, he gave Rosie a hug and presented her the flowers.

  “Sorry I’m late. You should eat and not worry about me.”

  Rosie accepted the bouquet and gazed up at him fondly. “But I do worry. Everything all right?”

  “One of the kids let his pride get in the way of his good sense. Now he’s in trouble with the law.” Scott shook his head. “Needed a character reference.”

  Rosie reached up and patted his cheek. “You’re a good boy.”

  “And you’re turning my stomach here, Ma,�
� Joey complained.

  More laughter. Then Rosie asked, “Any hope for this one?”

  Scott shrugged. “Maybe. He’s got a shot, but you know how it goes. You can lead a horse to water…”

  “Good luck with that,” Joey said.

  Rosie nodded. “I’ll hold a good thought.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Well, come on, then.” Cradling the bouquet in her arms, Rosie headed back toward the patio doors. “Get the kids out of the pool and washed up. Everything’s ready, but I could use some help getting it out on the table. We’re going buffet today.”

  “I’ll help, Mom.” Caroline pushed herself up out of the chair with effort.

  “Want some—”

  “Don’t worry about it, Riley. You take care of the twins.”

  Caroline sidestepped the patio, reaching up on tiptoe to kiss Scott’s cheek. “Glad you made it. You’ll sit in for pinochle after dinner?”

  “Didn’t see Alex inside. He being…difficult?”

  “Got your gun?”

  Scott laughed. “Locked in the car. And, no, you can’t have my keys.”

  “Not helpful, Scott. Not helpful.” Caroline gave a laugh and headed inside.

  Riley got to her feet, dragging the beach towels from the back of the chair so she could corral her kids.

  Catching Scott’s gaze as she turned, she smiled a greeting. “Nice to see you.”

  “You, too,” he said.

  Then silence engulfed them, the rowdy laughter from the pool fading from her awareness. It was a striking moment, a weird moment, filled with the past and the present. Scott must have been as struck by the weirdness as she was because they just stood there staring at each other. He seemed equally at a loss for words.

  Riley wasn’t sure why, but all the easy chitchat that had carried them through the years didn’t seem to be working now. Not with a man who knew more about what was happening in Caroline and Alex’s marriage than Riley did. Not with a man who’d stood in her bedroom and let her share her worries.

  Not with this man who stared down at her with eyes so dark and serious that she barely recognized him. Definitely didn’t recognize how he’d opened up to the family in the years she’d been away. He seemed comfortable around everyone, well liked and respected.