Where Loyalties Lie (MidKnight Blue Book 3)

by Sherryl Hancock

  Midnight had listened to the whole thing, and couldn’t put it together either. She knew Randy had been upset about what Midnight had told her the day before, but she didn’t see how that related to what Joe was saying had happened. She told him about the conversation between her and Randy, even what she had said about losing him. Joe nodded sadly when she said she’d had to give him up too, but he told her he couldn’t see what that had to do with Randy leaving. Obviously, they were missing a few pieces of the puzzle. What bothered Midnight was that they weren’t likely to get those pieces if Randy wasn’t willing to talk. Both she and Joe were at a loss.

  “What are we?” Midnight asked, bewildered and forlorn. “Defective, or something? We can hold together the biggest bunch of misfits and rebels, but we can’t seem to hold on to our relationships.”

  Joe looked at her for a long moment, nodding in agreement. “Maybe we should just stick to what we know,” he added, and Midnight agreed.

  ****

  Later that week, Midnight received a phone call from Griff. She hadn’t heard from him since the night he brought her home.

  “How are you?” he asked, concern tingeing his voice.

  “I’m still alive,” Midnight answered drily.

  “Good to know,” Griff said humorously. “Look, believe it or not, this is a business phone call.”

  “Or not,” Midnight interjected.

  “Funny. Seriously though, I got a call from the Sacramento Police Department chief. He was wondering if you’d be interested in doing some training for them at their academy in Sacramento.”

  Midnight was silent for a moment, then asked, “How long are we talking?”

  “Maybe a week. But they didn’t give me much notice.”

  “How much notice?”

  “A week,” he said meekly.

  “Gimme a break!” Midnight retorted. “Don’t these people plan ahead?”

  “Obviously not. Look, if you can’t do it, you can’t do it.”

  “Well, wait a minute. Did they say it had to be me?”

  “Why?”

  “Well, maybe I could send Joe. He’s having a rough time right now, and it might be good for him to get out of here for a little while.”

  “What’s wrong with you people?” Griff said, unwittingly echoing Midnight’s earlier words.

  “You tell me, and we’ll both know,” Midnight said. “Well, whatddya say—should I give Joe the heads-up?”

  “I don’t see why not. Maybe he could even do a little range work for them—I hear he’s the best shot in the department. Their range master had an accident a couple of weeks back, and he’s out of commission for at least this academy class. Think you’d be willing to part with Joe for, say, a couple of months?”

  Midnight hesitated, her desire to get Joe away from San Diego and her need for her second-in-command at the office warring with each other. “Maybe, with a little bit of telecommuting and a lot of long-distance phone calls.”

  “Great!” Griff said. “I’ll call the chief back. My chief was hoping you’d be able to help out. He’s really interested in your unit, and would like to see your expertise utilized.”

  “I hope that was a quote,” Midnight said, laughing.

  “You know I don’t use big words like ‘utilize’ and ‘expertise’ if I don’t have to,” Griff joked.

  “Tell me,” Midnight said. “Well, call me when you have the details, okay?”

  “Hey, hey. Don’t run off so quick. Have you worked things out with shithead?” He was obviously referring to her errant husband.

  “No, we’re getting a divorce,” she stated blandly.

  “Whoa!” Griff was unable to contain his surprise. “You don’t screw around, do you?”

  “Problem is,” Midnight said seriously, “he does.”

  “Ouch!” Griff sounded as if he’d been burned by her words. “Well, then, does that mean your evenings are free to have dinner with old friends?”

  “You mean old friends who never call?”

  “No, I mean old friends who have a phone phobia, but would really like to take you to dinner sometime.”

  Midnight laughed, enjoying the banter. “Okay,” she acquiesced, “but I have to warn you, I’m real gun shy right now, so don’t expect a lot.”

  “I won’t even bring my gun,” Griff replied, understanding her meaning fully.

  Midnight laughed again. “Call me sometime next week, okay?”

  “How about I fax you?” Griff said, grinning at his end.

  “Too technical. How about you pick me up at my place at seven thirty on Friday next week?”

  “You got it, I’ll see you then.”

  “Okay, bye.” Midnight hung up the phone, her spirits a little brighter, then picked it up again to call Joe.

  “Academy training?” he repeated after she had explained the idea, not sure he had heard her right. “In Sacramento?”

  “Yes, in Sacramento,” Midnight said.

  “Isn’t it cold up there?”

  “Wear a coat.”

  “Great,” he replied. But he knew she was right. He needed to get away for a while, so he could avoid going stir-crazy alone in his house, without his wife.

  ****

  A week later, Joe stayed at home, planning on a raid that evening. He was lying on the couch when Randy walked in. It was obvious she hadn’t expected him to be there. Joe sat up slowly, watching her warily.

  “I just came to get some of my stuff,” Randy said, trying to sound casual. In truth she was a little bit affected by him. She hadn’t seen him for a week, and the sight of him now made her realize that she missed him. As if to make things worse, Joe was wearing his favorite faded jeans, and had removed his shirt due to the unseasonably warm, humid weather. Randy had never thought of herself as being attracted to a man’s physique, but her heart fluttered a bit at the sight of her husband’s bare chest.

  “Okay,” Joe said, obviously wanting to say more. He still didn’t understand what had made her mad enough to leave.

  He, in turn, was affected by Randy’s unexpected appearance. He reflected that she looked good, dressed much more casually than was her usual style. She was wearing faded jeans that were threadbare at the knees, white canvas shoes, and a turquoise tank top. Her hair was pulled back in a very loose ponytail, and she wore just enough makeup to make her eyes seem to glow.

  Randy moved toward their bedroom, wanting to get away from Joe’s presence. To her dismay he followed, wanting the exact opposite. He sat casually on the bed with one leg out in front of him, the other stretched down to the floor. Against the cream bedspread, his tan seemed to make him gleam. Randy tried to keep her eyes off of him. She went into their walk-in closet and pulled a suitcase out of one corner, trying to figure out where she could set it in the closet without it being in her way. Finally she decided she didn’t have a choice—she had to take it out into the bedroom.

  Steeling herself, she walked out and, trying not to look at Joe, who was watching her from the second she reappeared, set the suitcase on the settee in front of the bed. She proceeded to walk back and forth from the closet, finding things she needed. She had been borrowing clothes from Sarah, and had had to buy some pants since Sarah was a size nine and she was only a five. When she was done, having taken very few items that Joe had bought her, she went to get some things from the bathroom. She was relieved to be out of his line of site for a moment. Right up until Joe walked in and stood leaning against the doorjamb.

  “Are you planning to speak to me ever again?” he asked lightly.

  Randy shrugged, glancing up at him. “Not much left to say, is there?”

  “I’d say there’s a lot left to say.” Joe moved to stand right behind her, staring over her head at her eyes in the mirror.

  Randy tensed immediately, but Joe didn’t take it as an aggressive movement, more a nervous one. He knew his wife well, even if she wished that he didn’t. He raised his hands, placing them on her shoulders. Randy watched him i
n the mirror; she looked almost afraid. She reminded him of the young, naive woman she had been when they met. Without a word he pulled her back against him. The sensation made Randy’s breath come faster. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed his touch until that moment.

  She knew, when she looked at Joe, that he was feeling the same thing. His eyes were closed, as if he was trying to memorize the feel of her. The idea of Joe wanting her as much as she did him only served to send another jolt of electricity through her body. Wanting to hold on to this moment, Randy closed her eyes as well, allowing her full weight to lean against him.

  She felt Joe’s hand move to her hair, pulling the ponytail holder out, allowing her hair to fall against his chest. He buried his hands in it, grasping the golden strands and using them to pull her head back far enough for his lips to meet hers. Randy’s self-control left her as she returned his ardent kisses with equal passion. She felt his hands at her waist, and he turned her around to face him, his lips never leaving hers. He lifted her easily and set her on the counter, their lips never losing contact.

  Randy reached her hands up, entwining them in his hair and pulling him even closer, eventually encircling his waist with her legs. Joe pulled her tank top from the waist of her jeans. Randy moaned as his hands touched the bare skin of her back, and she tightened her hold on his waist. She touched his bare chest, her nails sliding down to his waist, then to his back. Randy was satisfied to feel him shudder in response.

  Joe lifted her, and with her legs still around his waist he carried her to the bed and sat down with her on his lap. He moved his lips to her neck, still caressing her back. When his hands made their way to her breasts, Randy gave up any hope of resisting him. Using her slight weight, she pushed him back on the bed and, watching him as he watched her, she removed her shirt. Then she kissed him again. Time was lost to them as they made love born of passion and longing.

  The shadows were lengthening as Joe and Randy lay together on the bed. They were both exhausted, but fulfilled. Joe resisted the urge to ask her the questions that burned in his mind, not wanting to spoil their companionable silence. It occurred to him that he needed to start thinking about getting ready for the raid planned that night. He glanced at the clock. It was 4:30; he had told Midnight he’d meet her at the office at 6:00.

  “Shit,” he said, the word slipping out before he could stop it.

  “What?” Randy asked, sounding tired, but with just a hint of irritation. Joe was amazed at the change in her. She had rarely been irritated with him in the over three years they’d been married, and all of a sudden she seemed annoyed more often than not.

  When Joe didn’t respond, she sat up and looked at him. Understanding dawned on her. “You have somewhere to be.” It was more of a statement than a question.

  Joe looked at her for a moment, then nodded. Randy started to move off the bed. Joe reached out, grabbing her hand. “Randy,” he started, but she turned on him.

  “It’s fine, Joe,” she said, pulling her hand from his grasp. She reached for her clothes and began putting them on. “You have somewhere to be, and so do I.” Her voice was cold and businesslike. Joe didn’t like it.

  “Oh, Christ, we’re back to that, are we?” he asked, angry now too.

  “Back to what, Joe?” Randy turned on him, her eyes narrowed. “Back to me packing my things? Well, I guess you could say we are.”

  “So that’s it?” Joe said, incredulous and angry at the same time. “Now you can just make love with me and then walk out?”

  “Well, you certainly seem capable of it,” Randy shot back. At his stunned expression, she said, “It’s just physical, Joe. You should know all about that.” She walked into the bathroom, trying desperately not to think of what had happened there only a couple of hours before. Randy was fighting to keep the tears from her eyes. She knew she had been weak in letting herself get carried away with him, and she hated herself for it. “I’ll take the stuff I have packed and come get the rest later,” she said, managing to keep her voice level.

  “Fine,” Joe said tonelessly. “I’m leaving town next week for a couple of months. You’ll have plenty of time then.” His voice didn’t express the emotions that were screaming at him to take her in his arms and make her stay. Randy had no idea.

  “Two months?” she repeated as she walked back into the room, the smile on her face as wintery as her words. “I’m surprised Midnight would let you go for so long. What ever will she do without you?”

  Joe had his jeans on and was buttoning his shirt, but he turned to look at her, his face indicating his confusion. “What the fuck does Midnight have to do with this?”

  Randy shrugged. “I just thought she’d need you to run to every time her and Rick have a fight. I mean, who’ll hold her hand or do any other service she requires while you’re gone?”

  Joe was sitting on the bed, pulling on his boots. “What the hell do you have against Midnight now?” he all but yelled.

  “Well, nothing, if you don’t consider the fact that while she’s running her husband off, she’s running to mine every other day, crying on his shoulder, needing him, needing God knows what else!”

  Joe had to swallow the urge to slap her. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, but whatever you’re on, you better get off it before it eats you alive.” He grabbed his jacket off the back of the armchair, picked up his holstered gun, and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

  That night, during the raid, Joe was particularly brutal with a gang member who made the mistake of taking a swing at him. Midnight questioned him about the incident later.

  “What’s gotten into you?” she asked.

  Joe shook his head. “I was just pissed and he swung at me. I swung back.” He shrugged, downplaying the incident.

  “Knocked him clean out is more like it,” Midnight joked, but Joe didn’t even smile. “Okay, spill it.” Midnight knew something was way wrong.

  Joe sighed, leaning back in his chair. They were doing the follow-up paperwork on the busts. “Randy came to the house today.”

  “Yeah?” Midnight prompted when he didn’t continue.

  “I don’t know what to think anymore,” Joe said, rubbing his eyes. “One minute she’s cold as ice, the next we’re making love, and right after that she was back to making nasty comments and being an out and out bitch.”

  Midnight held up a hand. “Back up! You two, uh…”

  “Yeah, don’t start with me,” Joe said, looking at her darkly when he saw her start to smile.

  “I wasn’t, I was just surprised. I mean—”

  “Yeah, I was surprised myself, but she turned again just as fast.”

  “Turned how?” Midnight was getting the idea that he was avoiding specifics for a reason.

  “She was just being a bitch, Night. It’s not her—I don’t know what’s goin’ on with her.”

  Midnight told Griff about it a couple of days later, on their date.

  “So what do you think Randy was doing?” Griff asked, used to the fact that Midnight and Joe were very close and that what affected one of them affected them both.

  “I don’t know,” Midnight said, shaking her head. “I’m beginning to wonder what Randy’s real reason for leaving is.”

  “What did she say?”

  “Well, that’s the thing—she really didn’t. Joe said she wasn’t making a lot of sense when she walked out on him. But he said she got really pissed when he asked if I’d called…” She trailed off as she thought about that.

  “And?”

  “And,” Midnight said, sighing, “and… I don’t know. We thought she left because she was pissed about him not wanting her to be a cop, but now I just don’t know.”

  They spent the rest of dinner trying to talk about other things, but Griff could see she was still too caught up in her partner’s problems. So on the drive home, he asked her about Rick. She got very quiet. He knew he’d run into another roadblock.

  Once at her front do
or, he tilted her chin up to get her to look at him. He searched her blue eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked, knowing that she was under a lot of stress but sensing that something else had happened with Rick.

  Midnight nodded, not willing to explain everything that was going on. Rick had been hassling her about some visitation time with Mikeyla and had just been generally difficult at the office, and she was tired of it. And here Joe was getting ready to leave for Sacramento, and she had realized that his being gone was going to be very difficult. “I’m as okay as I can be right now,” she said, then reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks for dinner, Griff. I’m sorry I’m such lousy company right now.”

  “Nonsense!” Griff said, grinning. “I’ll call you sometime this week to check on you, okay?”

  “Oh, sure you will,” Midnight chided. Griff laughed, then leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. He turned and walked back to his car. Midnight went inside, and after checking on Mikeyla, went to bed. She spent the next few hours tossing and turning, wanting to call Joe, but aware she would have to get used to him not being only a moment away for the next two months.

  Chapter 9

  Jessica Harland smoothed back her deep auburn hair as she waited patiently for Sergeant Sinclair’s plane to arrive. She checked the arrivals screen once again to be sure that the plane was still on time. Walking up the stairs to the gates, she pretended not to notice the looks she received. It’s the uniform, she thought. Her Sacramento Police Department uniform, a color called PD blue—an official-sounding name for dark blue—with the seven-pointed silver star pinned over her heart did tend to make her stand out. With her emerald-green eyes, she was striking, but she never really bothered to accentuate her looks.

  She’d grown up in a family of men; her mother had taken care of all of them. Her father had been a cop, her brothers—all three older than her—were cops or detectives, and now she was a cop too. It had been a long, hard battle, harder than she’d expected. There had been many times when she wanted to quit, when her arms were aching from the pushups or her wrists were bruised from the hand-to-hand combat training as well as the handcuffing practice. But she hadn’t quit, and her graduation two full months before had been an event in her household. Her mother had been proud of her, although she hadn’t really understood why her only girl wanted to get into “the family business.” Her father had just about busted a gut when she dropped the bomb that she was using her associate’s degree in general education to get into the Sacramento Police Department, and that she was going to the next academy. Her father had had other plans for her; he had sent her to college to become a doctor, or a teacher. But Jessica had her own ideas, and she thought she could do just as good a job as a cop as her brothers.