Courage Under Fire

by Sharon Dunn

  “Sure.”

  Shuffling sounds came from down below while Lani remained very still. To move toward the child might terrify him even more. She listened to her own heartbeat drumming in her ears. Oscar’s yipping grew louder. She turned to see Noah’s head as he placed the puppy on a pile of feed bags.

  Oscar made his way across the treacherous landscape while Noah remained at the top of the ladder. Oscar wagged his tail as he drew closer to Lani. She gathered the pup in her arms before setting him down, and Noah left to fetch the anxious mother. Judging from the position of the fingers, Brendan was lying on his belly peeking out from beneath the tarp.

  Oscar sniffed around, stepped over a pile of hoes and rakes and headed toward the tarps.

  The puppy sat down then looked over at Lani. Lani gave him the hand signal to lie down. Oscar complied.

  The seconds ticked by.

  Slowly, little fingers came out from underneath the tarp and touched Oscar’s belly. Dragging his belly, Oscar moved closer toward the tarps and stuck his head in.

  A giggle came out from beneath the tarp.

  Tension left Lani’s body like a hundred birds taking flight. Though Oscar had broken the ice, she doubted that Brendan would trust her, a stranger. And she didn’t know sign language. Hopefully, Noah would be back with Brendan’s mom soon.

  Oscar came back out from beneath the tarp. The tarp lifted. She saw fear in the boy’s expression and the round brown eyes. The boy remained very still as he pushed himself into a sitting position.

  Lani hoped her hand signal communicated that she wasn’t going to hurt him. She held a palm out toward him, indicating he could stay where he was.

  Oscar licked Brendan’s hand. The boy’s fear seemed to melt as he gathered the pup in his arms and let it kiss his face.

  Within minutes, Brendan’s mother arrived to coax him out of the loft, hold him and reassure him that he was not in trouble.

  While a crowd had gathered outside the storage barn, mother and son were left alone. Lani and Noah headed outside toward the patrol car with the two dogs in tow. Scotty heeled beside Noah while Oscar galloped ahead, heeled for a moment and then got distracted by a bug.

  Lani gave Noah a friendly punch in the shoulder. “See, even goofballs like Oscar can be helpful.”

  “I’m just glad this all ended on a positive note.”

  They arrived at the SUV. “I think the four of us make a pretty good team. Scotty knew that boy was in that barn. Oscar drew him out.”

  “And you knew enough to do a deeper search. And how to deal with the kid.” Noah’s hand brushed over her cheek. “Good job.”

  Her skin felt hot from his touch, though it was a gesture that he had done probably without thinking. Noah took a step back. The look of embarrassment on his face told her that he knew he’d stepped over a line.

  She shook herself free of the heat of the moment.

  Once her heart stopped fluttering from Noah’s touch, she focused her thoughts on her work. A sense of satisfaction filled Lani as she loaded Oscar into the back of the patrol car. They did make a good team. She swung open the door on the passenger side and stared out at the busy street. Her mood took a nosedive as tension threaded anew through her body.

  The dark sedan that had been following them earlier eased by on the street.

  FIVE

  As they drove back to headquarters, Noah knew Lani was upset. Not because her expression gave anything away, but because she was quiet. Lani had two speeds, fast and faster. If she was being silent, it meant something was wrong. He could understand her fear in seeing the sedan after the two attacks.

  Noah turned on his signal and slipped into traffic. “We did good work back there.” He’d already said as much at the stables but wanted to reiterate it. He checked the rearview mirror. No sign of the sedan.

  She stared down at her fingers which were laced together. “Thank you.” Her voice remained monotone.

  He drove for several blocks struggling to figure out what to say to her that might alleviate her fear. Dealing with a woman’s emotions had never been his strong suit. He’d grown up with brothers and his dating history was far from stellar. Most women told him he was too quiet and didn’t give anything to the relationship or they didn’t want to date a cop. Zach and Carter had both met wonderful women in the last few months. He was starting to feel like the odd man out.

  He cut a look at Lani and shook his head. Why was he thinking about dating at a time like this? He was Lani’s direct supervisor, so that wouldn’t even be an option.

  Lani turned to stare out the window. “So what if this guy is stalking me.” She shot him a quick glance. “I’m not quitting the force. I can handle this.”

  “No one says you have to quit, Lani.” She might need to be put on desk duty though. He turned and headed toward Jackson Heights where headquarters was. He slowed down. “Look, it’s past lunchtime. We can take a break, grab a bite at Griffin’s. Maybe we can figure out who might be targeting you.”

  She massaged her temple. “Guess you already figured out it was the same guy from the refuge and the abandoned building.”

  “That’s what you were thinking, right?”

  “I didn’t get a good look at the guy either time.” Her voice faltered. “But the way he fought me...he didn’t have any training, but he was really strong.”

  Without thinking, Noah reached over and patted Lani’s shoulder. He pulled away after the second pat. What was it with this compulsion he had to offer her a comforting touch? When he’d brushed her cheek back at the horse stables, he’d felt a spark between them. A spark he would have to throw cold water on. He was her supervisor. Their relationship had to remain professional.

  Lani stared out the windshield and let out a heavy sigh. “My stomach is growling. I could use a bite to eat.”

  Noah circled the block several times before a parking space opened up. With the dogs in tow they walked the few blocks to Griffin’s. They moved past the counter with its round stools and the booths with worn vinyl seats. Noah always felt like he was stepping back in time when he entered Griffin’s. It had been a cop hangout for as long as Noah could remember. With more boutique-type stores and luxury high-rises taking over the neighborhood, Griffin’s looked like a dinosaur.

  Customers who weren’t regulars at Griffin’s craned their necks at the dogs. Some of the women made ahh sounds as Oscar pranced through the establishment with his head up. The people who ate at Griffin’s all the time didn’t even look up from their food.

  Lani and Noah entered an area of the eatery set apart by a big sign that said The Dog House. The owners of Griffin’s, Lou and Barbara, had always been supportive of law enforcement and especially the K-9 unit. Even more so since their daughter Violet had married Zach, Noah’s younger brother and also a K-9 officer.

  They hit the diner after the lunch rush, so only one other K-9 officer sat at a table in the corner. Gavin Sutherland recently had put in for a transfer out of the unit after getting engaged to Brianne Hayes, another officer, and word was that he was slated for a promotion to chief of a new K-9 unit that would be starting up in Brooklyn. Gavin offered them a wave as he sipped his coffee. His springer spaniel Tommy sat at his feet.

  She glanced around the diner. Even for the off-hour between lunch and dinner, the number of customers seemed unusually low.

  Lou Griffin set two menus down for Lani and Noah. “No Cobb salad today. Delivery messed up on the blue cheese order. The Philly cheesesteak is to die for.”

  Noah pushed the menu across the table. “Sounds good to me. And one of your chocolate shakes.”

  Lani flipped through the menu. “I’ll have coffee, black, and the chicken sandwich.”

  “How’s everything, Lou?” Noah hadn’t had much of a chance to talk to Lou since Zach and Violet’s wedding.

  Lou shrugged his shoulders. H
e had dark circles under his eyes. “You know, the same old same old.”

  Lou and Barbara had been through a great deal in the last few months. A bomber had set up an explosive device in Griffin’s to harm K-9 officers, but the owners had done the repairs and reopened. Last month, they’d closed temporarily due to health issues for both Lou and Barbara. Lou still favored the arm that had previously been in a sling.

  Even if Griffin’s did look out of place with all the new development going on, Noah could not imagine the neighborhood without it.

  “You take care of yourself, Lou.” Noah’s heart went out to the man. “You look tired.”

  Lou waved his weariness away with his hand. “Ah, you Jameson boys. You are part of the family now.” He clamped a hand on Noah’s shoulder. “I suppose that means you can nag me about my health.”

  Noah nodded. “For sure.”

  Lou swiped the menus off the table. “Your order will be up in just a few.” The older man sauntered away and disappeared behind the counter into the kitchen.

  Lani took a sip of her water. “He seems really worn-out.”

  “Lotta pressure on him to sell this place,” Noah said.

  “Being a police officer in Queens wouldn’t be the same without Griffin’s,” she said.

  “I agree.” Noah watched as Lani took another sip of water and then played with her silverware.

  She sat back in her chair and stared at the ceiling for a moment before looking directly at Noah with her soft blue eyes. “I guess we have to talk about the attacks.”

  Noah nodded. “I know this is hard to think about, Lani, but is there someone who might have a vendetta against you, maybe someone you arrested?”

  * * *

  Lani tugged at her collar as a patina of sweat formed on her forehead. Thinking that the attacks might be personal quadrupled the fear that plagued her. Oscar, sensitive to the drop in mood, licked her hand.

  After stroking Oscar’s soft head, she cleared her throat. “I haven’t been on the force long enough or made that many arrests. Most of the arrests I made before getting into the K-9 unit haven’t even gone to trial yet.”

  “So you just can’t see anyone angry enough to attack and stalk you like that?” Noah ran his fingers through his brown hair. “And why is this happening now? Maybe one of the arrests you made is seeking revenge while he’s out on bail.”

  She shook her head. “There were some drug arrests, but they were all small-timers, not smart guys. Following us to the refuge and lying in wait, knowing my schedule of walking the dogs, all of that takes some planning and intelligence.”

  “So not a criminal that you dealt with. Maybe some other part of your life, huh?” Noah threw up his hands. “The boyfriend of a rival model.”

  His tone was half-joking, but the comment cut deep. “I used to be a trained actress and dancer.” She could not hide the hurt in her voice. “I was never a model.”

  Noah leaned toward her from the opposite side of the table where he sat. “I’m sorry. I was trying to be funny.” Regret clouded his expression. He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “I was totally out of line.”

  She pulled her hand away, still hurting from the remark. “You know what my nickname is, don’t you?”

  “Here we go.” Lou appeared holding two plates. He glanced at Lani who stared at the table and then at Noah whose gaze was downcast as well. “Looks like the food got here just in time.”

  They ate in silence for several minutes. Since the attack at the refuge, she had started to see a different side to Noah Jameson. He had seemed sensitive and caring. His hurtful comment blew all of that out of the water though. She salted her french fries and ate one in two bites.

  “I know that some of the other officers think I can’t cut it as a K-9 cop.”

  Noah put down his sandwich. “It’s not that, Lani.”

  “It is that.” She had started to think Noah had the same confidence in her abilities that she had. She knew she could be a great K-9 officer.

  “Look, every time we step out onto the streets, our lives are on the line. The joking and the nicknames happen because of fear.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t follow.”

  “Other cops just want to know you have the skills in a tight situation. Your résumé isn’t exactly the normal path a cop takes.” He took a sip of water.

  She nodded. Her irritation over his comment softened. “So the other officers wonder if I would have their backs in a tight situation or if I would just break into song and dance.” She smiled.

  Noah laughed, almost spitting his water out.

  Lani laughed too. All the tension she’d felt melted away.

  “What you did today in finding that kid, your tenacity in chasing the suspect at the refuge. And I know you shot a suspect in your own house when you were off duty. You are cop material, Lani.”

  Lani looked into Noah’s green eyes, feeling a connection to him. She’d waited to hear those words for months.

  Noah said, “I’m going to let it be known that the nickname is not funny.” He smiled. “I am the chief, you know. I do have some say over what kind of atmosphere is set for the unit.”

  “Thank you.” She took a bite of her sandwich. “Maybe we can speed up the process of assigning me a dog.”

  “Yeah, I just don’t think it’s going to be Oscar.”

  She laughed and petted the pup’s head. “How is your milkshake?”

  He sipped some through his straw. “Wonderful as usual.” He tilted the tall glass toward her. “It’s thick enough to eat with a spoon. Help yourself.”

  She scooped out a spoonful. She allowed the creamy sweetness of the ice cream to melt in her mouth.

  It was nice to be with Noah in an informal setting. Both of them seemed to relax as they finished their meal and talked about inconsequential things.

  As they left with their dogs, Lani caught a glimpse of Lou and Barbara in the kitchen. Both of them looked tired. They’d been through so much in the last few months. She’d heard that a real estate developer had offered them a great deal of money for Griffin’s. But it wasn’t Griffin’s he wanted, it was the lot. If Lou sold, Griffin’s would no doubt be torn down. And something more in line with the gentrification of the neighborhood would take its place. That possibility made her heart heavy.

  Noah kept pace beside her as they skirted around the clusters of people on the sidewalk. Both of them fell silent when they walked past the abandoned building where the air conditioner had been pushed out a window.

  Her gaze traveled upward as a shiver traveled down her spine. Oscar sat back on his haunches. Was the puppy remembering the trauma that had taken place? Lani tugged on Oscar’s leash.

  Noah edged a little closer to her, so their shoulders were nearly touching while Scotty remained on the other side of him, alert and standing. Unlike Oscar, Scotty was unfazed by the people swarming around them.

  Noah must have picked up on her fear. He was pretty adept at reading her even though they hadn’t spent that much time working together closely.

  “So what do you got on the agenda for the rest of your shift?”

  With Oscar still squirming at her feet, she turned to face him. “It’s a split shift. I’m going home to get some rest and then I will be riding with Brianne and Stella for the night patrol.”

  Noah’s expression changed. He wasn’t a man who showed much emotion. Maybe she was reading too much into the crease between his eyebrows and light dimming from his green eyes, but she thought she detected concern for her in his features.

  “You be safe out there,” he said. “I’ve got to get back to my desk. I’m sure things have been piling up.” He glanced around. “Why don’t you walk the rest of the way with me back to headquarters?”

  Her car was actually several blocks from headquarters, but she needed to see t
hat Oscar got back into his kennel. Even if she didn’t have a dog to return, she would have said yes. There was something nice about being with Noah Jameson.

  As they walked with the late-day sun warming her skin, she felt light-headed. Her heart fluttered a little when she cut a glance toward Noah, who offered her a smile. She shut down the feelings of attraction as quickly as they had risen to the surface. He was her supervisor and she was probably reading all kinds of things into his vague expressions that were her projection.

  As police officers, they’d had a good shift. Any day where a kid was returned safely to his mom was a good day. That’s all they were to each other. Two cops who wanted to keep the people of New York safe.

  Lani said goodbye to Noah, watching him head toward his office, before returning Oscar to the kennel. He’d go home to his foster family in the evening and be returned for testing the next day. Though Noah didn’t seem to have much confidence about his abilities.

  Traffic back home was a bear this time of day and she found the fatigue settling into her bones as she waited several cars back at a light. When she got home, there was a note from Reed saying he was having dinner with Abigail and then taking in a movie. Jessie was with Dominic so they could bond more. Dominic was the teenage boy who Abigail and Reed intended to adopt once they were married.

  The note said that he probably wouldn’t be home until after ten. Reed was spending more and more time with his fiancée, which was how it should be. Yet she felt the emptiness of the house with both Reed and Jessie gone. Just weeks ago, the house had seemed so full. Abigail and Dominic had stayed here for a bit because both had been in some danger. In addition to all the people, a female pup of Stella’s named Midnight had stayed with them. Now Abigail was fostering the puppy at her apartment. Lani stood at the kitchen sink staring out the window at the empty yard in a quiet house. The upstairs tenant wasn’t even walking around.

  Still full from the late lunch, she had a snack of almonds and blueberries and set her alarm. As was part of her routine, she made sure the doors were locked and latched before she lay down for a nap. Her last thought before she drifted off was of Noah’s quiet demeanor and soft smile. If today had proven anything, it was that her initial impression of him, that he was the cold one amongst the Jameson brothers, had been wrong. Noah was one of those men who warmed up to people slowly. He was slow to trust and open up, and maybe that was a good thing. Until their lunch together, she hadn’t realized that he had a sense of humor.