The River Girls

by Melinda Woodhall

  The empty feeling in his chest expanded, and for a minute he couldn’t catch his breath. Then he saw his reflection in the mirror above the fireplace, and a thought flashed through his mind.

  There stands a broken man.

  The idea irritated him. He didn’t have a right to feel broken. So, his wife hadn’t been able to handle being married to a cop. She had gotten lonely and sought comfort elsewhere. It happened all the time. He’d done nothing to prevent it. Now he had to live with it.

  Innocent people were out there now, at the mercy of criminals and killers. He didn’t have time to pity himself. No, he had a job to do, and feeling sorry for himself wasn’t in his job description. Besides, somewhere inside him he had known Gabby wasn’t a forever kind of woman. Maybe that’s why he’d resisted having kids. Maybe he’d known, deep down, that she wouldn’t stick around when the going got tough. Maybe now he could find a woman that understood the kind of world they lived in and would respect his need to make it better.

  A vision of Eden Winthrop’s blazing green eyes made him smile. Now that was a woman with a heart. Maybe, someday, he’d find someone like her.

  Sticking his phone back in his pocket, Jankowski walked back into the kitchen just as Eden was asking Nessa a question.

  “Why did no one find out Detective Reinhardt was involved with the crime ring?”

  “He was pretty good at hiding it,” Jankowski cut in, sitting down at the table. “He used a street name to hide who he was. Called himself Sig. He always bragged about carrying a Sig Sauer P226, so he must have picked the name because of his weapon.”

  Nessa rolled her eyes and shook her head. “The good news is that eight girls were rescued from the Old Canal Motel that night. Reinhardt was getting ready to ship them out to Miami. Your quick-thinking actions saved those girls from further exploitation and suffering.”

  Jankowski bit his lip, debating how much he should admit to Eden and Nessa. He knew Nessa would have a hard time trusting him after he’d kept the internal investigation from her. Could he afford to alienate her even more if the whole story came out?

  “Actually, Reinhardt had been suspended a few years back for a gambling addiction,” he blurted out. Nessa and Eden stared at him, and he cleared his throat, already regretting his words.

  “But Reinhardt said he’d gotten treatment and was no longer gambling, so Chief Kramer brought him back in as a detective in Vice. But we now know that Reinhardt never stopped gambling. He owed a bigshot criminal in Miami lots of money. We think that’s why he was helping these crooks to traffic drugs and girls. He kept the heat off them. Protected them. He was paying off a debt.”

  Nessa narrowed her eyes at Jankowski, and he knew she was restraining herself from lashing out at him for keeping her in the dark as to Reinhardt’s true character. Nessa might be fuming mad, but she was still a professional, and she wouldn’t allow herself to go off in front of a victim.

  “But why wouldn’t someone at the motel raise the alarm?” Eden asked, and Jankowski felt a bolt of admiration pass through him. She was sharp and persistent. Like him.”

  “Yeah, that was a big question in our minds as well,” Jankowski said. “We’ve since found out that the manager of the motel, Hiram Ewell, or Big Red as everyone calls him, was aware and in some ways involved. He’s been charged with aiding and abetting on a multitude of charges.”

  “And Sage?” Eden asked, her eyes dropping to focus on her hands. “What happens to Sage now?”

  Jankowski met Nessa’s eyes and shrugged. Her hard expression softened, and she nodded.

  “The D.A. is considering what charges, if any, to file against her,” Jankowski said. “He could charge her with making a false statement or impeding an investigation. But considering that she had been threatened and was under duress, he doesn’t think the charges would stick.”

  Eden nodded, but kept her eyes on her hands. “Will Sage be asked to testify? Will Hope and I have to testify?”

  “Vinny has confessed, and it’s likely he’ll agree to a plea deal if the DA offers him life without parole instead of the death penalty,” Nessa answered. “So, with luck, none of you will need to testify, and you can get back to normal.”

  Eden pulled Duke to her and hugged him. Her eyes misting over as she spoke. “I'm not sure what normal is anymore. But I’m so grateful to have Hope back with the family. I know that it could have ended differently, and that happy endings aren't guaranteed. After losing Mercy, I know that better than anyone."

  Jankowski felt a sudden urge to pull Eden to him, to comfort her. What would it feel like to have her arms around him? He knew it was a pathetic question. He stood and turned to Nessa, knowing her appraising eyes were still on him.

  “I think we’d better go,” Jankowski said, putting out a big hand to Eden.

  Her fingers were soft and warm as she took his hand and squeezed it, and he couldn’t resist looking into her green eyes one last time.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Pat Monahan stepped into Leo’s office and crossed her arms over her ample chest, the silent disapproval on her face impossible to ignore.

  “What have I done this time, Pat?” Leo asked, his dark eyes flicking to his phone. “Have I missed an appointment?”

  “No, but you missed a call from the public defender’s office. They say it’s regarding your work with Vincent Lorenzo.” She pronounced the name with exaggerated disdain.

  Everyone in Willow Bay who watched the news or read a newspaper now knew that Vinny Lorenzo had been arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Based on the grumblings he’d heard around town, Leo wouldn’t be surprised if a mob broke into the jail and lynched the accused serial killer. And if the look on Pat’s face was any indication, she would be holding the biggest pitchfork.

  “Thanks for the message, Pat.”

  Leo turned to his computer and began shutting down his files. He knew Pat wanted his assurance that he hadn’t agreed to represent Vinny Lorenzo, but he wasn’t in the mood to satisfy her curiosity. As fond as he was of the good-hearted woman, he had a mission in mind, and he didn’t want to get sidetracked or lose his nerve.

  As Pat remained standing in his doorway, Leo stood up and pulled on his suit jacket. “I’m leaving for the day. I have an errand to take care of.”

  Pat looked at her watch in surprise. “But it’s only four. You never leave before eight.”

  “Well, maybe I’m changing my ways, Pat,” Leo said, picking up his briefcase and sliding in his laptop and a few file folders. “Maybe I’ve finally realized some things are more important than work.”

  “About time,” Pat said, nodding in satisfaction. “And I hope she’s the right one this time.”

  “She?” Leo raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean I hope the woman you’re going to see is the right one for you. It’s about time you settle down.” She turned and walked back to her desk before Leo could think of a reply.

  He walked out to his BMW, welcoming the intense heat of the June sun after the chill of his air-conditioned office. As the car headed away from downtown, he selected a mellow playlist and opened the sunroof. He hoped the music would calm his nerves, but it was no use.

  He’d given himself two weeks to try to get past his infatuation with Eden Winthrop, and it hadn’t worked. Her green eyes and sad smile had stayed with him. He knew it was pathetic, but he had to see her. Had to know if she was okay.

  And he needed to know if she hated him again, now that Hope was safely home, and Stacey Moore had been found alive and well. Now that the trauma was over, would she regret the things she’d told him? Would she blame him again for defending Preston Lancaster? Or would she remember the connection they’d felt as they had searched for a killer together?

  He supposed that even the absence of hate would be enough to encourage him. One way or another he had to find out how she was. And he had to know how she felt about him.

  As Leo neared Eden�
�s street, the urge to turn around and drive home washed over him. This was crazy. He didn’t even really know the woman. What could he possibly say to her after two weeks of silence? But when he stood on her doorstep, and she opened the door to him, a warm smile lighting up her face, he knew it would have been even crazier to stay away.

  “I wondered where you’d gone,” Eden said, stepping back so he could enter. “I didn’t have your number. I wanted to call and thank you.”

  “I thought you’d need time to take care of Hope. Time to get her and Devon back to some sort of normal schedule. And, well, I didn’t have your number either,” Leo lied.

  He’d gotten her phone number by reviewing the police report she’d filed when Stacey Moore had gone missing. He’d looked at the number so many times in the last two weeks that he now knew it by heart, although he’d never actually dialed it.

  “Well, I’m glad you’ve stopped by.” Eden led him into the living room and motioned for him to sit next to her on the sofa.

  “I would have had to track you down eventually to thank you for everything you did. I know I was a mess, and you helped me hold it together long enough to find Hope.”

  “Don’t forget what you did for me. You helped catch Jessica’s killer,” Leo said, drinking in the sight of her next to him. How had he managed to stay away for two weeks?

  “Thanks to you I was able to tell Jessica’s mother what happened. At least now Beth knows her daughter’s killer will be brought to justice.”

  “I just hope it brings her some measure of peace,” Eden murmured, her smile dimming at the thought of Beth Carmichael’s grief.

  “After coming so close to losing Hope, I can’t imagine how she’s getting through it.”

  Leo wanted to take Eden’s hand, but he wasn’t sure how she’d react. So far, she’d been polite, even friendly, but that didn’t mean she was ready to start holding hands. Just seeing her again made him realize how much she’d been through, and how fragile she must still be emotionally.

  If he had any hope of winning her trust, he’d have to be patient. Have to take things slowly. That is, if she’d give him the chance.

  “And Hope is well?” Leo asked. “And Devon?”

  “Yes, it’s amazing how resilient they are. Reggie’s been meeting with them, counseling them I guess you could say. She thinks they’re doing really well. Although Hope does have nightmares sometimes.”

  Eden looked down at her hands and sighed. “We all do really. But that’s to be expected after…everything.”

  Leo’s phone rang in his pocket, but he ignored it. “That’s probably the public defender’s office again. I offer my services to them pro bono like most of the defense attorney’s in town. We’re all on rotation, and I guess my turn came up when it came time to assign a public defender to Vinny Lorenzo.”

  Eden’s eyes widened in horror. She stood up abruptly and walked to the window before turning to face Leo, her face drawn and pale. Leo hurried across the room and took her hand, forgetting his own advice to take things slowly.

  “Don’t worry, Eden,” he said, instantly regretting his choice of words. “I would never take the case. For one, it would be a conflict of interest, since he’s accused of killing my client’s daughter.”

  “And two?” Eden asked, a challenge in her voice. “What is the other reason you would never take the case?”

  “And two, is because I already hurt you once by defending someone that turned out to be a killer. I regret that, and I would never forgive myself if I hurt you again.”

  Eden swallowed hard, and Leo saw the glint of tears in her eyes as she turned her head away. Had he ruined his chance to win her trust already?

  “I’m sorry, Eden,” Leo said, knowing that his actions had played a part in her sister’s death, and hating himself for it.

  “So am I, Leo,” Eden said, squeezing his hand gently, then releasing it. “I know you didn’t want Preston to kill Mercy. And I know you just want to help people like your father. I understand how much it hurts not to be able to save someone you love. It eats away at you. So, I do forgive you, if that’s what you’re asking. But…”

  Leo’s heart dropped at the look in her eyes. “But you can’t forget that I was there helping Preston?”

  “I’m sorry, Leo,” Eden said again, finally raising her haunted eyes to meet his. “I want to forget about it. Hell, I’d like to forget everything about Preston and what he did, but I’m not sure I ever will.”

  Leo looked into her eyes and saw that she understood his pain. She felt it, too. Maybe she was the only one that could. And he could understand her pain as well. She wasn’t the only one who had a hard time forgetting the past. Perhaps they could help each other, if only she’d let him in.

  “You know, I’ve been thinking a lot these last two weeks,” Leo said, knowing he couldn’t tell her that most of his thoughts had been about her.

  “And one of the things I’ve been thinking about is how Natalie Lorenzo was murdered only a few weeks before my mother was killed. And neither murder has been solved, at least not to my satisfaction.”

  “What are you saying, Leo?” Eden asked, her brow furrowed. “Do you think the murders could be related? That the same person killed both your mother and Natalie Lorenzo?”

  “I don’t know,” Leo said, knowing he had no evidence to link the cases. “But I imagine the police will be delving into the Natalie Lorenzo case, trying to get answers, so I might reopen my own investigation into my mother’s murder. See if I can find a link.”

  Eden looked thoughtful, then nodded. “I think you should. I think you need to know. I’d want to know.”

  Later, as Leo stood in the hallway preparing to leave, he felt a soft nudge on his hand, and looked down to see Duke sitting beside him.

  “Hiya, Duke. You doing okay, big guy?” Leo said, ruffling the dog’s fur.

  “He’s been a lifesaver, as usual,” Eden answered, kneeling beside Duke and hugging him to her. “He’s always there to support me. And he’s been great with the kids. We’re lucky to have him.”

  “And Duke is lucky to have you.” Leo wondered if he was actually jealous of a dog. “Looks like he gets a lot of love around here. But you know…”

  Eden opened the door and looked over at him, eyebrows raised, waiting for him to finish his sentence. He stepped onto the front stoop and looked back, not wanting to leave.

  “Well, if you ever need emotional support from a human, I’d be happy to help out.”

  Leo handed her his business card and grinned, his heart beating like a caged bird in his chest.

  “In fact, if there’s ever anything you need, you have my number now. Feel free to use it anytime.”

  As he pulled out of the driveway, Leo looked in his rearview mirror and saw that Eden, outlined by the warm glow of the setting sun, was standing on the front steps, watching him drive away.

  Chapter Fifty

  Leo’s car had disappeared into the sunset, but Eden remained standing on the front steps, her eyes turned to the horizon, transfixed by the exquisite shades of blue and pink that painted the sky before her.

  She wondered where Leo would go. Did he have someone waiting at home for him? He had never mentioned a wife or girlfriend, but then, why would he? So far, they’d only shared stories of their tragic past. She knew in many ways they were both still trapped in that past, unable to find a way to live fully in the present.

  Eden pictured Leo’s dark eyes, so hard to read, and yet somehow vulnerable. She looked at his business card, still clutched in her hand. How long should she wait until she called him?

  Leo had opened his heart to her and she suspected, whether she liked it or not, a bond had formed between them. Life had damaged him, but she now knew what kind of man he really was, under his brooding exterior and smooth good looks. He was a man who was willing to risk everything to see justice done. That kind of passion could be dangerous, and it both scared and thrilled her.

  Eden doubted she c
ould ever forget how Leo had helped Mercy’s killer, but maybe she could learn to accept it someday. And maybe someday she would even be ready to share her deepest secret with him. She had a strong sense that, even though he’d just driven off into the sunset, their story wasn’t over. It was just beginning, and she had no idea how it would end.

  If she’d learned anything in life, it was that you can never be sure how anything will end. She thought of Nathan, and the red-eye flight he’d taken to get to her when he’d heard Hope had been abducted. She’d broken down in tears when he’d knocked on her door the morning after Hope had been rescued, his face pale and drawn with worry.

  She realized then that she could never give up Nathan, and she’d been foolish to think she could. He was her oldest and dearest friend, and while they were no longer a couple, Nathan had assured her that he would always be a part of her life. In his own gentle way, he’d set her free.

  The pink in the sky deepened into violet as Eden watched. Duke whined in his throat beside her, not liking the way she stood so still, staring into the distance. He nudged her hand and she looked down into his worried eyes.

  “You want to go for a walk, boy?”

  She heard a soft voice behind her.

  “Can I come, too?’”

  Hope stood in the doorway, her blue eyes shining like sapphires in the dusky light.

  “I’d like that,” Eden said, reaching for Hope’s hand.

  They led Duke down the familiar street, waving at neighbors and stopping here and there to let Duke sniff around or mark his territory.

  “You remember now, don’t you?” Hope asked, keeping her eyes on the horizon. “You remember what happened that day Mom died.”

  Eden’s heart began to thump in her chest, but she didn’t feel anxious. The panic and anxiety were behind her now. She’d been forced to face her demons when she picked up Leo’s gun, ready to kill a man if it meant saving her niece. And she had known then that it wasn’t the first time she’d held a gun.