by Diane Kelly
“Not yet,” Jackson said. “Given the unusual circumstances, the court will likely require them to take a blood test to prove they’re the baby’s parents before Child Protective Services relinquishes custody.”
“They will?” Juliette bit her lip. “How long will that take?”
Jackson rested a comforting hand on the young mother’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll move things along as quickly as they can.” She removed her hand and addressed the young couple jointly. “Do y’all know anyone outside the compound you can stay with? A friend from before, or maybe a relative in the area?”
Juliette swept her tears away with her fingers and shook her head. “No. The last time I saw any of my friends, I was only ten years old. I don’t remember any of their phone numbers or addresses. There’s no telling where they might be today. Some of them are probably away at college.”
Juliette had missed out on the chance to go to college herself. Heck, in the last ten years, she’d missed out on all kinds of things. The inauguration of the first black president. Twerking. The short-lived Pokemon Go craze. Nearly a dozen iterations of the iPhone. Brexit. The return of straight-leg jeans.
“I might be able to track down a relative,” she added, “but last I knew, none of them lived in town. The closest one back then was my aunt in Lampasas.”
Lampasas was a two-hour drive to the southwest. Nowhere the young couple could get to tonight, nor a convenient location for them to be able to see their baby until she was released to them.
Luke said, “My mother burned all our bridges before she joined the People of Peace.” Unfortunately, that wasn’t unusual for someone with a bad drug habit.
Juliette clutched her baby tighter. “I suppose we can go to a shelter until we figure things out.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Mrs. O’Neill said sweetly. “Our couch folds out into a bed. It might not be the most comfortable thing to sleep on, but it’ll do for now. You can stay with us until you sort things out. That will give my husband and me time to adjust, too.” She reached out and ran a finger along Skye’s cheek. “We’re going to miss your little girl. We’ve grown quite attached to her.”
With any luck, another child would become available for the O’Neills soon. They’d certainly make loving parents.
Juliette gave Mrs. O’Neill a soft smile. “Thanks for taking such good care of her.”
“It was nothing.” Mrs. O’Neill waved a dismissive hand, but the tear in her eye said taking care of Skye had in reality meant everything to her. She opened the door. “Come on in. Let’s get y’all settled.”
Jackson gestured to her car. “We’ll grab their things.”
While the two couples took the baby back inside, the detective and I retrieved Juliette and Luke’s things from the car. Each of them had a small stack of well-worn clothing. No bag or suitcase. Not a surprise given that they were not allowed to travel outside the compound and would have had no need for luggage once they’d been taken in by the cult. They each had a few toiletries wrapped up in a bath towel. That was it. No electronics. No books. No silly knickknacks or mementos. None of the things people their age normally owned.
Jackson and I carried the things inside and found Luke and Juliette side by side on the couch. Skye was cuddled up against Luke’s chest, snoozing away, not a care in the world. The little baby had no inkling of the trauma her parents had gone through. Maybe that’s a good thing.
After depositing their things on the coffee table, Jackson said, “We’ll head out now. Let us know if we can help with anything.”
The O’Neills walked us out onto the porch. There, the woman whispered, “I’ll admit I’m sad the baby won’t be ours now. But I can’t even imagine what those two have gone through. I’m glad they’ll get to be a family.”
Mr. O’Neill issued an mm-hm in agreement and pointed to me. “You come across any more babies that need a mom and dad, you let us know.”
I gave him a smile. “I sure will.”
* * *
The department gave me the next few days off so I could be with Brigit at the vet’s until she was released and then nurse her back to health at home. I bought her another noisy rubber pig to replace the toy she’d destroyed earlier. The oinking would drive me crazy, but if it made Brigit happy, I’d suck it up. I gave it to her when she was released from the veterinary hospital. She wagged her tail, took the pig in her teeth, and chomped down tight. Oink!
Back at home, Brigit recovered quickly and, before we knew it, she was back to harassing squirrels in the backyard as if nothing had ever happened, her shaved chest and the round scar the only signs she’d taken a bullet. But while my partner might be the same, I wasn’t sure I ever would be. Seeing Brigit so close to death that night had caused me a raw, helpless heartache like nothing I’d ever experienced. I understood how Juliette must have felt when she’d been told her child had passed away. Knowing Father Emmanuel had put the young mother through that unnecessary agony on purpose, for nothing more than spite, made me want to take my baton to every inch of him.
Once Father Emmanuel was released from the hospital, he was taken directly to the county lockup and charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, resisting arrest, assault on a police officer, and attempted murder. He wouldn’t be getting out of prison any time soon. I hoped he thought of Brigit every time he looked in the mirror and saw her fang scars on his neck. I also hoped he thought of me any time he suffered a headache.
Zeke was also charged for aiding and abetting the kidnapping of Skye. He worked out a plea deal and would serve two years in the state lockup.
Given that it was his first and only charge, Jeb got off relatively lightly, sentenced only to probation and community service for his role in Luke’s assault.
With more than enough evidence to convict Father Emmanuel, I was able to convince Detective Jackson and the district attorney to release the bluebonnet baby blanket from the police department’s evidence warehouse and return it to its rightful owner—Skye. Luke and Juliette were tested, and proved to be the baby’s biological parents. The state’s custody of their baby ended, and she was theirs once again, to have and to hold.
Mr. O’Neill landed Luke a job in the warehouse of a discount furniture company, where he worked as a manager. Knowing Beverly was looking for help in her sewing business, I introduced her to Juliette. Beverly was impressed with Juliette’s technique and hired her on the spot as her new assistant. It turned out to be the perfect arrangement for both of them. Beverly allowed Juliette to bring Skye with her to work, and fell in love with the adorable baby, acting as a surrogate grandmother and spoiling Skye rotten with toys and clothes. When Beverly learned that the O’Neills hoped to adopt and would need their nursery on short notice if a baby became available, she invited Luke and Juliette to live with her until they could save up enough funds for an apartment and furnishings of their own. A vacant bedroom was put into use, and the crib Beverly’s grandchildren had slept in came out of its retirement in the garage and was put back in service. In addition to helping Beverly with the alterations and custom clothing orders, Juliette continued to make her beautiful bluebonnet quilts and sell them at the country store. Now, though, rather than being forced to turn over the financial fruits of her labor to Father Emmanuel, she got to keep the share she earned.
Because the assets of the People of Peace sanctuary had been used in crimes, they were forfeited to the government. The vehicles were seized and sold, and the city took over the compound to expand the lakeside park and facilities. The adjacent farmland was purchased by a cattle rancher who promptly tore down the leaning silo rather than risk the structure falling over on his land and livestock.
The members of the People of Peace scattered to the wind, some of them moving on together to another secluded sanctuary in New Mexico, while others reconnected with family and friends and decided to rejoin the society they’d once shunned. Juliette’s parents and Luke’s mother were among the latter. The
y found a more mainstream church that offered them the spiritual support system they needed, as well as some financial assistance to help get them on their feet. The social worker who’d picked up Skye from the fire station gave Juliette’s father some leads on worker training programs. He’d signed up for classes and was working hard to gain some new marketable job skills. Frankie put in a good word for Juliette’s mother at the grocery store where she once worked, and the woman was given a job as a cashier.
Though their relationship would be recognized as a valid common-law marriage under Texas law, Juliette and Luke nevertheless wanted to hold the formal ceremony and celebration they’d been denied when living in the compound. Juliette spent a week sewing her own wedding gown, with Beverly giving her expert advice on the beading. She also made a beautiful ruffled dress in bluebonnet blue for her daughter for the event. The pastor of their new church agreed to perform the ceremony in the city’s botanical gardens, by the turtle pond. It was a beautiful spot.
I’d introduced Seth to Juliette and Luke shortly after their rescue from the compound. They were glad to meet the man who’d been the first on the outside to see their daughter and ensure she was safe and protected. He’d been invited to the wedding, as had the paramedic Doug Harrison, Detective Jackson, the social worker, the O’Neills, Beverly, and, of course, Juliette’s parents and Luke’s mother. Brigit had been invited, too, her plus-one being Blast. Seth had brought Ollie along simply so he could get some fresh air and enjoy the crisp autumn day. The wedding was the perfect occasion for me to wear the pretty coral dress and purple jewelry I’d bought from Felicia.
Luke made a handsome groom in a dark gray suit with a light gray shirt and white tie. As he took his place next to the pastor under a sprawling live oak, the rest of us took seats in the lawn chairs we’d brought to sit in.
The procession began with Beverly carrying Skye up the short aisle. Skye was too young and lacked the motor control to actually toss flower petals, but Beverly improvised, taking the baby’s hand in her own, plucking pink petals from the basket, and tossing them into the air. Once Beverly had taken a seat on the front row next to Juliette’s mother, a flautist from their church launched into a high-pitched rendition of “Here Comes the Bride.” We stood as Juliette’s father walked her the seven steps up the short aisle, their procession ending long before the song.
We retook our seats as Juliette took her place next to Luke, a bouquet of artificial bluebonnets in her hand. She gazed up at him, and he looked down at her, their love and devotion written clearly on their happy faces.
“Dearly beloved,” began the officiate, “we gather here today to celebrate the marriage of Luke and Juliette…” The ceremony continued on until they were pronounced husband and wife, gave each other a warm kiss, and the pastor said, “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”
Amen to that.
The flautist launched into a short recessional as the newly married couple turned to us, both of them beaming.
Given that Luke and Juliette were not quite twenty-one yet, we toasted their nuptials with plastic glasses of sparkling grape juice kept cold in a rolling cooler. Brigit and Blast served themselves mouthfuls of water lapped up from the turtle pond. After the couple cut their cake, Juliette’s mother and I finished the job, handing pieces to each of the guests along with a napkin and fork.
As the celebration wound down, Seth pulled a tennis ball from his pocket, cocked his arm back, and sent it sailing across the long stretch of grass. Blast and Brigit took off after it. My furry, four-legged partner might have recently taken a bullet to the chest, but you’d never know it to watch her now. She easily bested Blast, snatching his ball up in her teeth on the fly, and banking until she headed back in our direction. When she ran past us, Seth and I turned to see where she’d gone. She’d carried the ball to Ollie. Beverly had pulled her lawn chair up next to his. The two looked down and laughed when Brigit dropped the ball at their feet and issued an insistent arf, demanding they throw the ball for her.
I nudged Seth in the ribs and whispered. “You seeing what I’m seeing? Looks like your grandfather and Beverly are hitting it off.”
“Ugh,” Seth said. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
He was only teasing, of course. Frankly, it was high time Ollie got back in the romance game, and we both knew it. He’d pined for his dead wife and retreated from the world long enough. Just like the cult members, it was time he was liberated.
Seth’s focus moved from his grandfather to the newlyweds. His eyes narrowed as he watched them. “You ever think about it?” he asked. “Getting married?”
“To Chris Hemsworth?” I said. “All the time.”
He cut me an intent look, arching an inquisitive brow. “Anyone else?”
I gave him a sly smile. “Never. You?”
He gave me a sly smile right back. “Not even once.”
We were both lying, of course, and we both knew that, too.
When Juliette and Luke were ready to go, the rest of us formed two lines and sent them off amid a colorful shower of dried-flower confetti. Those of us in attendance had pooled our resources and paid for the newlyweds to enjoy a couple of nights at a quaint bed-and-breakfast in Granbury. They’d have fun exploring the historic square, enjoying good food at the town’s restaurants, and attending a live show at the theater. I hoped it would mark the beginning of a long and happy marriage for the two of them. They certainly deserved it.
* * *
Brigit and I were back at work on Monday, patrolling the streets. The cult case was certainly one of the strangest and most challenging we’d worked so far, and I could only wonder what else lay ahead for my furry partner and me.
I eyed her in the rearview mirror. “Hey, Brig. What do you think our next big case will be? Drugs? Armed robbery? A murder?”
She gave a single wag of her tail as if to say, Who knows?
Whatever it might be, we were ready to take it on together.
Look for these other tails of romance and K-9 suspense from Diane Kelly
PAW ENFORCEMENT
PAW AND ORDER
UPHOLDING THE PAW
(an e-original novella)
LAYING DOWN THE PAW
AGAINST THE PAW
ABOVE THE PAW
ENFORCING THE PAW
From St. Martin’s Paperbacks
ST. MARTIN’S PAPERBACKS TITLES BY DIANE KELLY
THE PAW ENFORCEMENT NOVELS
Paw Enforcement
Paw and Order
Upholding the Paw
(an e-original novella)
Laying Down the Paw
Against the Paw
Above the Paw
Enforcing the Paw
The Long Paw of the Law
THE TARA HOLLOWAY NOVELS
Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure
Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No-Whip Latte
Death, Taxes, and Extra-Hold Hairspray
Death, Taxes, and a Sequined Clutch
(an e-original novella)
Death, Taxes, and Peach Sangria
Death, Taxes, and Hot-Pink Leg Warmers
Death, Taxes, and Green Tea Ice Cream
Death, Taxes, and Mistletoe Mayhem
(an e-original novella)
Death, Taxes, and Silver Spurs
Death, Taxes, and Cheap Sunglasses
Death, Taxes, and a Chocolate Cannoli
Death, Taxes, and a Satin Garter
Death, Taxes, and Sweet Potato Fries
Death, Taxes, and a Shotgun Wedding
PRAISE FOR DIANE KELLY’S PAW ENFORCEMENT SERIES
“Kelly’s writing is smart and laugh-out-loud funny.”
—Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
“Funny and acerbic, the perfect read for lovers of Janet Evanovich.”
—Librarian and Reviewer
“Humor, romance, and surprising LOL moments. What more can you ask for?”
—Romance an
d Beyond
“Fabulously fun and funny!”
—Book Babe
“An engaging read that I could not put down. I look forward to the next adventure of Megan and Brigit!”
—SOS Aloha on Paw Enforcement
“Sparkling with surprises. Just like a tequila sunrise. You never know which way is up or out!”
—Romance Junkies on Paw and Order
“A completely satisfying and delightful read. By being neither too ‘cute’ with its police dog lead, nor too dark with its serious topic, the author delivers a mystery that is a masterful blend of police detective and cozy fiction.”
—Kings River Life on Enforcing the Paw
“Oh, how I love this series! Officer Megan Luz has an LOL dry humor and wit rivaling that of Kinsey Millhone. Her K-9 partner, Officer Brigit, is smarter and more protective than any three men on the force put together. Add some of the more bizarre cases in the whole Fort Worth Police Department, and handsome firefighter Seth and his bomb-sniffing dog, Blast, and the reader is treated with a deliciously intense novel.”
—Open Book Society on Enforcing the Paw
“Four Paws Up! This is a fabulous series that is sure to win the hearts of mystery fans and dog lovers alike!”
—Books and Trouble
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DIANE KELLY is a former state assistant attorney general and tax adviser who spent much of her career fighting, or inadvertently working for, white-collar criminals. She is also a proud graduate of the Mansfield, Texas Citizens Police Academy. The first book in Diane’s IRS Special Agent Tara Holloway series, Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure, received a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. Book #2, Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No-Whip Latte, won a Reviewers Choice Award. Diane has combined her fascination with law enforcement and her love of animals in her K-9 cop Paw Enforcement series. Find Diane online at www.dianekelly.com, or sign up for email updates here.
