Beneath Broken (Imperfect Heroes #2)

by C. J. Pinard

  He stared at me, and then nodded ever so slightly.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself. Harper Mathis and her company have nothing but good intentions, and you perverted that with your twisted thinking and selfish attitude.”

  “I did not,” he started. “I just think companies should have to pay their fair share of taxes like the rest of us.”

  I snorted and stood up. “Rest of us? Well, lucky for you, they aren’t going to tax the 12 cents an hour you’ll make cleaning bathrooms in prison. So at least you have that going for you.”

  I almost called him a vulgar name, but I refrained, knowing we were being watched, filmed.

  “Fuck you, Detective Mason Oliver,” he said back to me.

  “I’m sure there will be plenty of men in prison who will take you up on that, Silas,” I said, smiling as I exited the room.

  I could hear Silas yelling from behind the door but I didn’t care. That guy needed a serious psych eval and an attitude adjustment, and I hoped for his sake, he got it while behind bars.

  Back at the station, I went to my desk, took off my jacket, laid it on the back of my chair, and booted up my computer.

  Hunter came over and stood next to my desk, his arms folded over his chest. “How did it go with Silas Short?”

  “Awesome,” I said. I then began to fill him in on the interview Hunter had missed out on because he’d had to take his wife to the doctor.

  “What a douche,” Hunter said after I’d finished telling him everything, along with the lame reason he’d done what he had.

  When Hunter didn’t leave and go back to his desk, I looked up at him again. “What?” I asked, looking up into his perfect, smug face.

  “Dax.”

  I looked up at him, confused. “Dax? What’s that?”

  “My kid’s name. Do you like it? Dax Hunter Jenkins.”

  I glanced at him, then to my computer. “No.”

  He chuckled. “Well too bad, because that’s going to be your godson’s name.”

  I jerked my gaze up to him, my eyes wide, I’m sure. “Seriously? You want me to be your kid’s godfather? What do I have to do?”

  He rolled a chair from a nearby desk over and sat down in it next to me. “Just be a super cool ‘uncle’ to him. Be there for his birthdays and baptism and shit.”

  “I had already planned on doing that, you asshole.”

  He smiled. “Good. It also means if Reece and I die, you have to raise him.”

  My fingers stopped typing and I looked into his light blue eyes, ones I suddenly realized were about the same color as Harper’s. “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  Knowing he had a sister and two very healthy, living parents in St. Pete that would most likely take the job, I casually said, “Well, okay.”

  “You and Harper, you’d make great parents anyway.”

  I moved away from the desk with my chair and rolled back so I could get a better look at my partner. “Are you on something? Why are you talking like this?”

  He laughed. “I’m not on anything. I’m just happy as fuck. I have a gorgeous wife, a son on the way, a best friend who’s so obviously in love, and we just wrapped up a case. Life is good.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not in love, you ass.”

  He stood up and wheeled the chair back to the desk he’d borrowed it from. As he passed me, he didn’t stop, but instead leaned down to the back of my head as he walked by and said with a laugh, “Yes, you are.”

  I shook my head and ignored him. I began typing up my report, glad I could close the case and pass it on to the feds. I knew I’d have to go to court in a few months to testify at his trial, but I didn’t care. I’d been to court a million times.

  Picking up the phone, I dialed my brother.

  He answered on the second ring. “Hawthorne.”

  “What’s up, dick?”

  He chuckled, and I heard his chair squeak. “That makes you little dick.”

  I ignored his comment. “We nailed him.”

  “Is that so? How’d you do it?”

  Biting back a smile, I replied, “We caught him in the act – about to break in to a previous vic’s business.”

  “That’s the brother I know and love,” he said.

  “Feds want the case. Since all the vics filed insurance claims, he’s looking at those charges, too. Gonna try to get some restitution out of him to pay back what insurance companies paid out.”

  “Nice,” Duke said. “What else is new?”

  I hesitated for a minute, then replied, “Things with the girl are going well.”

  “Yeah? Give me all the fuckin’ details.”

  I grinned and shook my head. “Actually, I think we should get together. I want to have an end of summer barbeque. You game?”

  “Yes, as long as my boss doesn’t stick me on any more damn WPD jobs.”

  I laughed. “I’m sure he won’t, as long as you stop abusing criminals. They have rights, you know.”

  I had to take in a deep breath in order to not snort at my own comment.

  “The only rights they have are to not break the damn law,” he replied in true Duke fashion.

  “Agreed. Now… Labor Day weekend, your house – since I live in an apartment, and my girl lives in a townhouse with no yard. You’ve got the house, the pool, and everything else.”

  I could hear him sigh. “Fine. Labor Day. You bring the meat, and I will supply the hot women.”

  “Oh really? I thought you only had one hot woman,” I said, baiting him.

  “I do, and if you so much as look at Rayanne’s tits in her swimsuit, I will fold your teeth back.”

  I smiled at my brother. Damn, I loved him. “Okay, Royal Dick, whatever you say. Labor Day it is.”

  I hung up before he could rib me for using his legal name and smiled to myself. There’s only one set of boobs I wanted to look at anyway.

  Chapter 25

  Harper

  This was going to be my last goodbye. The flowers lay on the passenger seat of my Honda where, so many times, I had looked over at him as we drove somewhere. Keith hadn’t been the type who’d insisted he, the man, drive us everywhere. I truly believed that sometimes, he enjoyed when I drove so he could relax and we could talk. He’d never insisted that he was my master and I was to obey him. He’d said we were partners – equals – and should treat each other as such. I missed that about him, and since his death, I’d been terrified I’d never find that again.

  Then I thought of Mason. Part of me hoped that I really had found that again – with him. He had the same easy-going temperament, but a mild level of aggression that seemed to be a fine balance. I pushed Mason’s beautiful face from my mind so I could come here to finish what I’d started.

  As I came to the windy road that led to the cemetery, and with a deep breath, I hit the gas and made my way up, telling myself to be strong.

  Today would have been Keith’s 29th birthday. I hadn’t told anyone, but Adria knew where I’d be today. I needed to come here and talk with him for a little bit. Parking my car in the lot, I grabbed the flowers and got out. Walking woodenly toward his headstone, I looked over and saw a very pregnant redhead sitting in front of a stone, pulling blades of grass from the lawn as she looked down at the ground. I couldn’t see her face, as her long curls were curtaining it on all sides. My imagination began to conjure up horrible thoughts of why she was sitting at a stone and hoping it wasn’t the worst.

  I kept walking once I reached Keith’s stone and stopped and stared at it.

  Keith Andrew Mathis

  July 13, 1987 – December 1, 2014

  Husband, Son, Brother, Marine, Warrior

  “Hi, babe,” I said like I usually did when I visited. “Happy birthday.” I laid the flowers beneath his headstone and began pulling the small weeds that always grew around it, tidying up the area.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been by to visit in a while,” I piled the weeds into a big mound to my left, “I’v
e been busy with the business. I also redid the bedroom. New sheets, bedspread, curtains… even new furniture and paint. Adria helped me.”

  Of course the cold, lifeless stone wasn’t going to respond, it never did. I was grateful for the shade of the numerous trees. I looked around and was happy I could have him buried here. The government had offered a military plot but both his parents and I agreed we’d rather have him here in the family cemetery. I looked around… this place was hauntingly beautiful. I knew I’d be buried here someday. I always thought it would be next to Keith, though. Now, I wasn’t so sure.

  “You want me to be happy, right? Isn’t that what you always told me?” I sucked in a breath and tried not cry like I always did when I was here. “I didn’t plan this but I met someone. He’s not you, but he’s a good guy, treats me with respect and listens to me. He’s a veteran, too, even though he was Army.” I laughed softly, thinking about all the times he’d tell me about the service jokes he would hear while serving alongside others from different branches.

  A very slight warm breeze blew, which I was grateful for as I was starting to sweat out here in this July heat, and I ran a hand over the top of my head where my hair was pulled back. “I finally cleaned out your closet and drawers when I did the room makeover. Only took 17 months, but who’s counting, right? I’m donating all your clothes to the Vets Helping Vets place downtown. I didn’t know what to do with your uniforms, because I was told I am not supposed to donate them to a thrift store, so I called Kenny and he is going to take them off my hands and do… whatever with them. I don’t know.”

  I sat quietly for a little bit, running my fingers over the soft petals of the flowers I’d brought.

  “It’s been hard, Keith, really hard. I broke down when I saw your uniforms.” I didn’t need to explain this to a piece of stone, and even if Keith could somehow hear me, I knew he’d understand that I had to move on and not keep his uniforms.

  “I found the savings bonds, thank you. I’m going to cash some of them in and do something nice to honor your memory. I know you’d love it. I’m heading to your parents’ house after this to give them a few things I found. They really miss you. So does Kenny. Your parents told me he hasn’t been the same.” I shook my head. “They’ve been begging Kenny to get out of the military. They said they can’t lose another son. I know you probably wouldn’t want Kenny to do that, though. That’s what he tells them, anyway.”

  I sat for a while longer and looked up when I saw the pregnant redhead struggle to get up from the plot and waddle away, going to her car in the lot and driving off. Poor girl. I hoped she wasn’t stuck raising that baby by herself.

  I looked at my watch and realized I told Keith’s parents I’d be there in five minutes and would probably be late now. I hated being late. I got up myself and brushed off the seat of my blue and yellow striped sundress and stretched my back and legs.

  I kissed my fingers and pressed them to the stone. “A part of me will always love you, Keith. I don’t know why you had to go, but I’ve accepted it. I hope I will see you again one day.”

  Turning to walk away, I glanced back one more time at the stone and the flowers, realizing those beautiful, fresh flowers would be long dead by the time someone came to visit next.

  Just like my poor husband.

  “Hi, Samantha,” I said as my mother-in-law opened the door.

  Her eyes filled with tears at the sight of me, and mine did the same. She stepped out on her wraparound porch and pulled me into a hug, then kissed my cheek.

  “Harper. I’m so happy to see you.”

  She pulled back and opened the screen door, ushering me inside.

  I had always loved his parents’ farmhouse. Keith and Kenny had grown up on three acres outside of town and his parents kept horses and cows. The house was huge and white and looked like an eclectic two story farmhouse, but the inside was decorated modernly. Beautiful earth tones combined with shiny wood and a classic kitchen greeted you as you came into the living room. Framed photos of Keith and Kenny dotted most surfaces of the living room and stairwell walls.

  “I’m sorry I’ve stayed away so long. Just so busy with the business, doing two jobs and all that.”

  Keith’s father came in through the back door of the kitchen and spotted me. A smile lit up his tanned face as he came toward me. He removed his work gloves and set them on the table before reaching me.

  “Hi, Mike,” I said, smiling.

  He wrapped me in a big bear hug. “Hi, girl. How have you been?”

  I nodded and put on my brave face. “Good, well, better, I should say.”

  He smiled sadly, looking down at me. “I’m glad. Us too.” Mike put an arm around his wife.

  “I hear there’s a beautiful woman in my living room.”

  The voice came from the top of the stairs, but before I could blink, Kenny was taking the steps down two at a time. He leapt off the last one and came bounding over to me like an overly excited dog. He picked me up and squeezed me a little too tightly.

  I laughed, wrapping my arms around him. “Hi, Kenny.”

  When he set me down I looked up at him. It hurt me to look into a face so identical to Keith’s, but thankfully, I got used to it a long time ago. Their personalities were night and day. He was even left-handed while Keith had been right-handed. They were true identical mirror-image twins.

  “Come, sit, everyone,” Samantha called out from the kitchen. I hadn’t realized she wasn’t standing next to me any longer.

  I walked with Keith’s brother and father to the kitchen. Samantha had fried chicken, made-from-scratch mashed potatoes, creamed corn, sweet rolls, and a pie set out on the table.

  My stomach turned over. I didn’t know if I was hungry or just nervous and sad, but I figured it was a combination of it all. Maybe some comfort food would help? My appetite had increased lately, and for that I was grateful. However, it also meant I needed to spend more time in the gym. As I eyed the spread of food laid out over the beautiful gold and blue tablecloth, I realized I’d definitely have to be hitting the elliptical in double time tomorrow.

  Look at me, caring about my appearance…

  Kenny pulled out my chair, and then took a seat next to me in the white-washed wooden chair as I smoothed my dress under my legs. I eyed the empty chair where Keith normally sat and tried to think of something else.

  After Mike said a prayer, the bowls of food began to get passed around and I spooned a small amount of mashed potatoes, one small fried chicken breast, and one biscuit on my plate. There was just no way I was contaminating my palate with creamed corn.

  As I forked a tiny bite of mashed potatoes into my mouth, I smiled at the familiar taste of my mother-in-law’s special recipe. White pepper, salt, fresh cream, and real butter combined to explode with the potatoes on my tongue. I began to peel the skin off my chicken when Kenny spoke.

  “So how is Mathis Associates doing?” he asked, wiping grease from his chin with a paper napkin.

  I looked up into his pale brown eyes, ones so much like Keith’s. “It’s coming along. I’ve hired two new employees in the past month. I think we are doing good things there.”

  He nodded, and I noticed Keith’s parents were eating, but watching our conversation with interest as they ate.

  “Do you need some help?” Kenny asked before biting into his chicken.

  I shook my head. “No, I think I’m doing okay.” I didn’t pause when I asked him, “Where are you stationed now?”

  “Connecticut,” he replied quickly. “Can you believe that?”

  I laughed and picked some meat from my now naked breast with my fingers. “Yes, I can. And hey… happy birthday, by the way.”

  He smiled. “Thanks, girl. What’s new with you, anyway?”

  I wanted to bite my lip and tell them about Mason but I somehow felt that would be in appropriate. So instead, I replied, “Same ol’.”

  Kenny smile. “I call bullshit.”

  Samantha set down her g
lass of sweet tea. “Kenny, language!”

  He bit back a smile and said, “Sorry, Ma. I’m a Marine. We swear a lot.”

  “Not in my house, you don’t,” she said back to him, seriousness coloring her face and tone.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He looked back to me. “You seem different. I can tell.”

  I waved a dismissive hand and smiled at him. “Nah, you’re imagining things.”

  “New dude in your life, Harper?” he asked.

  Crap. I knew this question would come up… well, I thought it might. I wasn’t one to lie, so I said, “Maybe.”

  His parents stopped eating, and I thought may I have heard their utensils drop to their plates. Kenny kept eating, though, stirring his mashed potatoes like he was six years old and they might taste better that way.

  “Not maybe,” he chuckled, pushing the potatoes past his lips but continued to speak. “A little birdie told me you and some guy were getting cozy at a Thai restaurant recently.”

  Mortified at both his table manners and his revelation, I smiled causally while picking at my chicken with my fingers. “What do mean, Kenny?”

  He had the decency to wipe his mouth off and then swallow before he said, “Andy Martinez saw you there. And hey, sis? I, for one, am happy for you. As long as this guy doesn’t do you wrong.”

  I almost choked on my chicken at his choice of words, but managed to maintain my composure.

  Andy, a childhood friend of the twins, was someone I had only met a couple of times at social situations. I barely knew the guy. I just knew the name, so it makes sense that I hadn’t recognized him at the restaurant. Not that I’d been looking at anyone but Mason…

  “Is that true?” Samantha asked, suddenly staring at me with wide, surprised eyes.

  I flicked my gaze to Kenny, then back at his mother. With a relaxed smile, I replied, “Yes. I’ve been on a few dates with Mason Oliver. He works for the Tampa Police Department. Our business had recently been vandalized, and he was investigating–”