“What, Mommy?” Mikeyla sensed her mother’s unhappiness and wanted to do anything she could to make her smile again.
“I want you to remember every day that I love you very much and know that I’m going to be thinking about you. Can you do that?”
“Yep!” Mikeyla exclaimed, her voice so full of zest that Midnight had to smile. She looked up at Anabelle, her eyes so sad Anabelle wanted to cry.
“You take good care of my baby,” she told the older woman.
“We will,” Anabelle said, feeling terrible for what Midnight was going through but honestly believing it was for the best. She and Robert had discussed it, and they both knew that Midnight, too, needed some time to sort things through. They weren’t pleased with Rick for his decision to go so far away to sort out his feelings, but they were his parents and they felt it was their responsibility to help him through this time in his life, even if they didn’t agree with his methods.
As they prepared to leave the room, Robert assured Midnight that Rick taking Mikeyla to England didn’t in any way indicate permanent custody. Midnight nodded slowly, still not swayed. Her eyes were already taking on a haunted look. Robert Debenshire left the hospital determined to talk sense into Rick, to make sure his son was very aware that Mikeyla was returning to America, even if Rick himself didn’t. Robert would not allow his son’s mistakes to ruin two other lives. If Rick decided to stay in England, the consequence would be losing his daughter, even if Robert himself had to draw up the custody papers.
Rick, Mikeyla, and his parents boarded the plane later that evening. Mikeyla was excited and chattered happily for part of the flight, then fell asleep on her father’s lap. Rick had been very quiet all day, and now sat staring out at the night sky as the plane grew ever closer to his homeland and ever farther away from the woman he loved. It was clear that he was in great turmoil over his actions and their repercussions.
****
Four days later, Midnight was released from the hospital. Instead of going back to the home she and Rick owned, she went to her own house. She’d never given it up; Rick had told her she should just sell it, but she hadn’t wanted to. Selling the house that was her own would be like getting rid of the last of her independence, and she couldn’t do it.
She walked in and keyed the code into the alarm system. Carrie looked around the house that Midnight had owned by herself since she was twenty-four. Midnight looked around too, remembering everything that had happened in this house. She remembered the times with Joe; she also remembered the times with Rick. The memory of the night Rick had come home from the hospital, after Daniel Robbins’ bullet had felled him. Midnight clamped down viciously on that thought; it had been the night she had told Rick that she loved him, and the memory served as a burning reminder.
Carrie looked over at her daughter and saw the pain flash in her eyes. “What is it, Midnight?” she asked softly.
Midnight shook her head, blinking, as if coming out of a trance. “Memories,” she said simply.
They spent the rest of the day moving about the house, uncovering things and just looking around. Midnight’s eyes remained haunted. Carrie tried not to bother her too much; she could only imagine what she was remembering. She had no idea that it was in this house that her daughter had been accosted by Daniel Robbins, and that the memory of that experience had triggered a much more painful one of the rape. Everything was so connected in Midnight’s life that even the simplest memory led to something about Rick or Joe, and right now both subjects were difficult to think about.
Joe called that evening. Carrie answered the phone; Midnight was sitting out at the edge of the hill in her backyard, looking down at the ocean.
“Hi, Carrie,” Joe said. “How’s Night doing?”
“Actually,” Carrie said hesitantly, “I’m not really sure. I don’t know her like you do…” She trailed off as she felt a stab of guilt.
“How’s she acting?” Joe asked. He felt bad for not having visited her as much the last few days, but FORS had been taking up a lot of his time, especially with Randy riding along with him—plus having Jessica there at the house and trying to get time to take her over to the range. He felt like he was running on both engines and the tanks were getting low.
“Well,” Carrie said, “she’s been very quiet, and she goes outside and sits on the hill a lot.”
Joe was nodding. “Has she talked about FORS?”
“Actually, no.”
“That’s not a good sign,” Joe said quietly.
“What should I do?” Carrie asked, worried now. She didn’t know how to deal with this.
“I’ll be there in half an hour.”
Twenty-eight minutes later, Joe and Randy stood at the door. Carrie welcomed them in happily.
“Where is she?” Joe asked.
Carrie gestured in the direction of the backyard. Midnight hadn’t moved from her spot. Joe leaned over, kissing Randy on the top of the head, and walked outside.
Randy looked at Carrie and realized she hadn’t formally met Midnight’s mother. She extended her hand to the other woman.
“Hi, I’m Joe’s wife, Randy.”
Carrie smiled and took her hand. “Would you like to sit down?”
“Sure.” Randy glanced around the living room. Her gaze rested on the sliding glass door. “You know, I remember being here so long ago. Everything was so different then.”
“Different?”
“Yes. That was when I was new to the group. Joe was always so worried about Midnight. Of course, that was before …” Randy trailed off—as if Carrie would know what she was talking about.
“Before what?” Carrie asked, curious about anything related to her daughter. Her expression grew serious when Randy looked surprised that Carrie seemed to know nothing about Midnight and subsequently Joe. “Randy, you have to understand,” Carrie said, chagrined, “I don’t know my daughter at all, and she’s not someone that shares things about herself readily.”
Randy nodded, knowing exactly what Carrie meant. “Well, that was a long story, but if you want to know about your daughter, Joe’s the one to talk to. They’ve been so close for so long, I think he knows everything there is to know about her.”
Carrie looked surprised. “Are you saying that they…” She gestured toward the two figures out in the backyard. Randy nodded, the look on her face not changing at all.
“And now you and Joe are married?” Carrie was very surprised, especially since Randy didn’t seem to mind.
“We’ve been married for over three years. In fact, we were married in the same ceremony that Rick and Midnight were.”
“And Joe and Midnight being together before didn’t bother Rick?”
Randy hesitated. “You know, I think it did sometimes. I think women are just better able to understand friendships like Midnight and Joe’s.” But she looked a little abashed. “Well, usually, I guess.” Randy looked out at Midnight and Joe, hoping Joe was making some progress. She could see that Midnight was leaning against him.
Joe walked over to Midnight and sat down next to her. She glanced at him, only a little surprised by his appearance. She’d known her silence and uncommunicative demeanor would eventually make it to Joe’s ears. But she hadn’t had the strength to fake it. She had hoped that since Carrie really didn’t know her, she wouldn’t know that anything was different. But she had underestimated her mother and her partner again.
“How’re you doin’?” Joe asked.
“Great,” Midnight said tonelessly. “How ’bout you?”
Joe shrugged. “Don’t you want to know what’s goin’ on at the office?” he asked when she didn’t say anything else.
Midnight looked at him for a long minute, then nodded.
Joe launched into a lengthy explanation of the current cases, and halfway through he could see she wasn’t even listening. It confirmed that there was indeed a problem.
“And then there was this spaceship, and it came down…” When Midnight continu
ed to nod, he stopped talking altogether, his eyes on her. It took Midnight a few minutes to even realize he wasn’t speaking anymore.
“Was that it?” she asked, looking over at him.
“It what?”
“I…” Midnight began, but she realized she’d been caught. She just shook her head, averting her eyes.
Joe reached out, touching her under the chin and turning her back to face him.
Midnight looked so devastated that Joe sucked in his breath sharply, his own eyes filling with such pain that Midnight started to cry, shaking her head.
“He’s gone, Joe,” she said, moving into his embrace.
“I know, Night. I know.” He stroked her hair, silently cursing Rick for his cowardice.
He held her for a long time, but he couldn’t think of a damn thing to tell her that would help. He glanced back toward the house at one point and saw Randy watching him. The look on her face was one of concern, and he took heart in the fact that she seemed to understand he needed to be here for Midnight right now. It was as if all of the doubt and trouble between him and his wife of the weeks before had never existed, and it buoyed his spirits.
“What do you want to do, Night?” he asked softly.
“Kill him,” she said, and Joe couldn’t help but smile.
“Now that sounds a little more like the partner I know and love.”
She looked up at him, her face tear-streaked. He wiped the tears away gently with his thumb. “What can I do?” she said, shaking her head miserably.
“I wish I knew, babe. I really do.” He shrugged, grinning roguishly. “You could go out and get laid—that might help.”
Midnight couldn’t hold back a small laugh, but then she looked back up at him and her eyes became shadowed again. “Except my favorite person for doing that has his dance card full now.” She regretted saying it a second later, when she saw the desolate look cross Joe’s face. She had just indirectly accused him of not being there for her, and she knew it wasn’t fair. “God, Joe, I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant.” But she knew she couldn’t take it back now, and she watched as his lips twisted in a self-effacing grimace. “Please, Joe,” she begged. “Forget I just said that. You and Randy are finally getting back on track, and I want you to, really.” She put every ounce of sincerity she had into her voice, praying it would be enough. She held her breath as she watched him work through the guilt she had caused.
She was thinking she’d pass out when he finally smiled and said, “You had your chance, babe.” He sounded his usual jovial self, and she was relieved.
“Yeah, I’m a real idiot, I know. I guess I just picked the wrong Englishman, huh?” Her voice broke on the last word, and Joe pulled her back into his embrace.
“If I could, I’d go over to England right now and kick his ass for you.” Joe heard her chuckle.
“Can’t you rent a private jet or something?” Her voice was muffled, because her face was buried in his shirt.
“I’ll look into it,” he said seriously.
Midnight raised her face to his again and smiled. It almost reached her eyes this time, and Joe had a small hope that she was snapping out of her reverie.
Joe ended up staying a few more hours, eventually leading Midnight back into the house. Randy and Carrie just watched, not wanting to get in the way. It did occur to Randy that Midnight might in her upset mention something about how she had gotten injured in the first place, but she told herself she was going to have to face the music at some point, and if this was it, so be it.
Later, though, on their way home, Joe said nothing about it. He was visibly upset about Midnight’s condition.
“I think I might have been wrong, Randy.”
Randy wasn’t sure what he was referring to, but she felt her heart skip a beat as she wondered if he had decided he needed to be with Midnight now. “About what?” she asked, trying to keep her voice as normal as possible.
“About not letting Midnight have any stuff from the office,” he said, with no inkling of the direction her thoughts had been heading.
“Why?” Randy said, still recovering her composure.
“I think she needs the distraction right now.” He shrugged. “It’s like FORS is her family, and being part of it again would be like having her family to comfort her, you know?” He glanced over at Randy and saw a look he didn’t understand cross her face, but it was gone a moment later.
“You’re probably right,” she said, smiling.
“Yeah,” Joe said distractedly.
Randy was silent the rest of the ride home, and so was Joe. When they walked in the front door, they were surprised to see Tiny and Jessica sitting on the couch. Tiny stood up, looking almost like a guilty school boy. Joe grinned at him.
“How’s Midnight?” Tiny asked.
Joe shrugged. “You know her—it’s hard to tell sometimes. She’s depressed, but I think she’ll snap out of it. I think I’m gonna send her over some of the reports on the current cases.”
“But Joe, you told us…”
“I know what I told you!” Joe said sharply. “But I was wrong, okay? This isn’t exactly old hat to me, ya know. It ain’t every day that my partner’s husband takes a powder, leaving me holding the bag.” Tiny just stared back at him, not saying anything. “Look,” Joe said, sighing. “I’m sorry. I’m just on edge right now, okay?”
“Yeah, man, no problem,” Tiny said, still a little hesitant.
“So, just what are you doing here, anyway?” Joe asked, purposely light this time.
“Oh, yeah! I came to tell ya, we got a call in the office tonight.”
“About what?” Joe prompted tiredly as he walked over to the bar and poured a shot of tequila. Randy watched him from the entryway.
“Well, it seems that the chief had a heart attack tonight,” Tiny said, just as Joe knocked back the shot and subsequently almost choked.
He coughed viciously for a minute. Randy went to his side, but he held out his hand to halt her. He picked up the bottle of tequila and took a long swig. He looked over at Tiny again. “Is he dead?”
“No! Jesus, don’t you think I would have called you if that was the case?”
“Well…” Joe started, holding his hands out in a “Who knows?” gesture.
“Your confidence in me is touching,” Tiny said, grinning.
“Sorry,” Joe said blandly, but a slow grin was starting on his face as well. “So, do they know how he is yet?”
“Nope, not yet.”
Joe nodded, looking very tired suddenly.
“I think you need to head for bed, Joseph,” Randy said, eyeing him critically.
Joe looked at her for a long moment, then nodded. “Thanks for comin’ to tell me,” he said to Tiny, and then with a nod and a short “Night, Jess,” he was off down the hall.
Randy looked over at Tiny and then at Jessica, and decided she should take her leave as well. She wished them both goodnight and followed Joe down the hallway.
Tiny looked over at Jessica. “He looks like hell all of a sudden.”
“I know,” Jessica said, concerned. “I think all of this is starting to get to him.”
Tiny nodded. They had spent the evening talking, and he felt that he knew her a little bit better. He had shown up an hour after Joe and Randy had left, and Jessica had told him she didn’t know when they were going to be back and politely invited him in to wait. Tiny had accepted after a long moment’s hesitation.
Tiny had looked around the living room, once again admiring Joe’s house. “Wish I had a place like this.”
“Don’t we all!” Jessica had replied.
“Where do you live up in Sacramento?” Tiny had asked, surprising himself with his nerve. He usually grew even quieter around beautiful women.
“Still with my parents, I’m afraid.” Jessica had looked embarrassed.
Tiny had grinned at her sheepishly. “I’d still live at home if my mom would let me, but she still has three little ones to take care of
, so…” He had trailed off as he wondered if he was telling her more than she’d want to know.
“How many brothers and sisters do you have?”
“Two older sisters, two older brothers, and three younger sisters.”
“Eight kids?” Jessica had replied, shocked. “And I thought my parents were bad!”
“Why? How many brothers and sisters do you have?”
“Only brothers, I’m afraid—three, all older.”
“Must be a rough gig.” Tiny had grinned, as if he thought it was anything but. “Being the baby and the only girl.”
“Hey!” Jessica had said, laughing. “I came by my own room, my own phone line, stereo, TV, VCR, and computer honestly!” By this time Tiny had been laughing too.
“I’ll just bet you did. The closest thing I ever got to my own TV was the time I got real sick and one of my aunts lent me her little itty-bitty black-and-white TV.” He held up two fingers about an inch apart to indicate how small it was.
Jessica laughed uproariously, then looked chagrined. “I guess the last thing you want to hear was that my TV was a nineteen-inch color with cable, huh?” She pressed her lips together, trying to suppress the grin.
“You spoiled brat!” Tiny had raged, laughing all the while.
“You’re just jealous!” Jessica wagged a finger at him.
“Damn straight!” Tiny had said, and looked immediately apologetic, his face a mask of embarrassment. “Oh, I’m sorry, ma’am,” he said, his eyes downcast.
Jessica was taken aback by his sudden change in mannerism. She tilted her head to the side, trying to catch his gaze. “Hey! My mother’s said worse than that on a good day. I come from a law enforcement family, Tiny. The last thing you can have in a family like that is a prude’s sensibility.”
Tiny looked up at her when she said his name, realizing that he liked the sound of her voice when she said it. In fact, he liked her a lot. She seemed really nice, and God knew she was pretty.
They had sat and talked for the rest of the time it had taken Joe and Randy to return home. Now, looking over at Jessica, Tiny wanted desperately to ask her out, but he just didn’t know how. He had been so shy for so long, it was nearly impossible for him. He had no idea that Jessica was hoping that he’d ask her. When he said, “I better get going,” Jessica felt crestfallen but managed to school her face to keep him from seeing.
Betrayals Stand (MidKnight Blue Book 5) Page 5
