With One More Look At You

by Mary J. Williams

  "Shouldn't you observe everybody for yourself? Make your own unbiased decisions?"

  "Your loyalty is admirable, Ollie." A quality Forbes valued above almost anything else. In the field, it moved to number one. "This isn't about ratting out your fellow officers. I don't have the luxury of getting to know everybody in a leisurely manner. Your opinion will help guide me. However, it will be only a small part of my final decision. Every man and woman will be judged on their own merit and performance. That includes you."

  "Start with Eli Stover," Ollie said. He found an empty page in his notebook and began writing.

  Forbes wasn't surprised to hear the name. Stover had been acting chief after Didier stepped down. From all accounts, the man had spent his two months in office strutting around town showing off his shiny badge. Or filling up on free coffee and donuts. Though Stover hadn't come out and said so, it was clear he resented Forbes taking over as chief of police. His attitude came off a bit surly, but he did his job—with a minimal amount of effort.

  When Forbes looked at the list Ollie handed him, he nodded. Just as he suspected. Norm Freemont and Win Bodine. They always seemed to be in Stover's orbit. Slightly behind and to the side.

  "They'll claim I have it in for them," Ollie stayed on his feet, back ramrod straight. "Last year when I came out, Chief Didier didn't blink. Most of the department supported me. With a few exceptions."

  "Stover, Freemont, and Bodine?"

  Ollie's chin rose another inch. "Yes, sir. Not that they overtly made their feeling known. A few dirty looks. Some whispered comments."

  "Did you report their behavior to Chief Didier?"

  "I can handle their brand of intolerance. It's pretty mild compared to some of the things I'd dealt with before I moved to Cloverdale."

  In Forbes' experience, tolerance was an impossible concept to teach. Either one possessed the ability to accept the differences in others, no matter one's moral or religious beliefs, or not. The secret was finding a way to co-exist.

  "Any kind of harassment—verbal or physical—will not be tolerated in this department, Ollie. Do I need to assemble everybody and remind them?"

  "No," Ollie said emphatically. "Stover and his pals had their fun for a week or two. It died down quickly."

  "So, the problem isn't their bigotry. It's their incompetence as police officers."

  "As you said, that's for you to decide, Chief."

  "So it is." Forbes liked the man's style. Taking his gun from the desk drawer, he secured it in the holster at his waist. "I have a meeting with the mayor. As always, call if you need me."

  On the way out of his offices, Forbes stopped to give himself the once over. His new, dark-blue shirt—the one with the Cloverdale P.D. insignia and the shiny badge pinned perfectly straight—gave him a proper air of authority. Hanging neatly in his closet were five identical garments. When Forbes took one off after work, Maeve laundered it before expertly removing every crease and wrinkle with her trusty iron. His jeans received the same treatment.

  When Forbes told her it wasn't necessary, she scoffed. She may have no control over how his clothes looked when his shift ended, but she would make certain they started out clean and spiffy.

  Taking out his sunglasses, Forbes walked out of the police department, turning right toward the courthouse. He hadn't taken three steps when he was greeted by a passerby.

  "Morning, Chief," a woman he didn't recognize called out with a big smile as she pushed a stroller in the opposite direction.

  "Morning," Forbes called back, almost wishing he wore a hat—of the cowboy variety—so he could tip it in her direction.

  The same scenario played itself out as he walked four blocks and crossed the street. Some people he knew. Some he didn't. But all of them made him feel welcome. Like he was part of the community. That was something he hadn't felt for a long time.

  "Hello, Bree."

  "Morning, Forbes," Aaron's secretary's expression brightened.

  Bree Saunders was somebody Forbes remembered well from their high school days. She used to anchor the girls' basketball team with a mean hook shot that rarely missed its target. From what he understood, Bree's daughter was just as gifted.

  God, Forbes thought. How was it possible for one of his friends to have a kid on the cusp of junior high school? Before, he hadn't thought much about the passing years. Now that he was back in Cloverdale, he was reminded of it every time he turned a corner. Or ran into an old friend.

  "Is the mayor free?"

  Bree laughed. "As his secretary, I know I shouldn't admit this. But it still cracks me up. Aaron Greene. Mayor. And Forbes Branson. Chief of police. If we could go back and tell our teenage selves what was coming, do you think they would believe us?"

  "No," Forbes said without hesitation. "However, if you come across a time machine and decide to make the trip? Don't look me up. If I knew what was coming, I might hide in a dark room and never come out."

  There had been some major bumps along the way, but Forbes liked where the journey had taken him. Back to his hometown. And Sophie. He didn't know if she was his reward or his salvation. Maybe a little of each. One thing was certain. She was the best thing that ever happened to him.

  Forbes rapped his knuckles on the door of Aaron's office.

  "Come in."

  "Ready for me?" Forbes asked. Without waiting, he entered, strolling to the chair in front of Aaron's desk.

  "One second." Aaron signed an official-looking document. Setting it aside, he leaned back in his chair. "Done. What's new with the Cloverdale P.D.?"

  The weekly meeting had been Forbes' idea. First, it made sense. Keeping Aaron up to date meant there would be no surprises later on. If a member of the community came forward with a complaint about the police department, Aaron would already have the cases and the fa0cts at his disposal. An open-door policy was the best way to prevent accusations of corruption—on either side.

  Second, it gave them a chance to catch up. Their lives were busy and finding time to hang out like in the old days wasn't easy. An hour without interruptions was a good way to keep in touch.

  Forbes gave a concise rundown. There wasn't a lot new to tell, so it didn't take very long.

  "Sounds like you have things under control."

  "I'm settling in," Forbes said.

  "Good." Smiling, Aaron rested his elbows on his desk. "Now that we've covered all the official business, let's get personal. Dinner. Tuesday night. Cindy's mother is taking the kids. Grownups only. She's even breaking out the good china and silver."

  "Grownup indeed."

  "I need to warn you. Cindy has decided to try her hand at matchmaking. Her cousin Flora will be joining us."

  "Aaron—"

  "I know," Aaron held up a hand before Forbes could protest. "Blind dates suck. But you don't have to marry the woman. Think of it as dipping your toe in the Cloverdale dating pool."

  "I'm not looking for somebody to date." Talk about your understatements.

  Aaron sighed. "Are you still on that old kick? Casual sex and no commitments are fine when you're a kid, Forbes. Don't you want something more?"

  "Sure I do." Forbes hadn't planned on mentioning Sophie but now was as good a time as any. "In fact, I've already found it."

  "Really?" Aaron said, surprised. And pleased, if his smile was any indication. "I'll tell Cindy. Though her cousin will be disappointed—as will every single woman in the area. From what my wife tells me, quite a few of them have plans to lure you in."

  "That sounds disturbingly unpleasant." And potentially painful.

  "Probably." Aaron took a bottle of water from the mini-fridge by his desk, unscrewing the cap. "Want something? Coke? Root Beer? Juice?"

  "I'm good thanks."

  "Spill. Who is the woman?"

  "Sophie."

  Aaron spat his mouth full of water over the surface of his desk. The trajectory was impressive. Forbes didn't think a single piece of paper
avoided the deluge.

  "Sophie?" Aaron wiped his mouth. "Sophie Lipton?"

  "Of course, Sophie Lipton. I get the surprise. But your reaction is a bit over the top."

  "It's just that I didn't realize you… I mean," Aaron ran a hand over his head. "I don't know what I mean. You and Sophie Lipton. It's going to take me a minute to wrap my thoughts around the idea."

  "You don't like her?" Forbes had never considered the idea. If Aaron had a problem with Sophie, their friendship was in trouble.

  "What's not to like?"

  "My thoughts exactly," Forbes agreed. "So what's up?"

  "Shit." When Aaron looked at Forbes, his eyes were troubled. "It isn't Sophie. It's her mother."

  "Joy?" The answer confused Forbes even more. "Jesus, Aaron. Join the club. Half this town has reason to hate that woman. You can't hold what that woman did against Sophie."

  "I don't." Aaron surged to his feet, tipping over the bottle of water. Ignoring the mess, he turned his back on Forbes and took a deep breath. "Back in high school? When I cheated on Cindy?"

  Forbes was getting impatient. Then the truth hit him. Straight between the eyes. "You have to be kidding me. You fucked around with Joy?"

  "Yes."

  It was inconceivable. Yet, Aaron had no reason to lie about something so vile. Forbes had to swallow the bile, willing himself not to be sick all over the office floor.

  "My father's wife." It was all Forbes could think to say.

  "I know. I wish I could explain what would make me betray so many people. Newt was like a second father to me. You were—are—my brother. And Cindy. The fact that she eventually forgave me doesn't erase what I did."

  Aaron looked as sick as Forbes felt. A pasty yellow with a shimmer of green patina.

  "Sit down before you fall," Forbes told him.

  "You can hit me." Aaron collapsed into his chair. "I won't stop you."

  "If I wanted to hit you, you couldn't stop me." Sidestepping the pool of water that had formed beside the desk, Forbes took another bottle from the fridge. He tore off the cap, downing the contents in a series of deep gulps. With a surge of anger, he slung the empty container across the room. "Just when I think that woman's ghost has finally been exorcised, she finds a way to haunt us from the goddamned past."

  "I had to tell you, Forbes." Aaron's color had improved, but he still looked shaky. "If you're dating Sophie—"

  "We aren't dating," Forbes ground out. "It's more than that. A lot more."

  "Okay." Aaron wiped the sweat from his upper lip. "What about us?"

  "My father—man more than twenty years older than you—fell under that bitch's spell. What chance did you have?" Joy had screwed them all in one way or the other.

  "I can't explain how it happened."

  If Aaron was looking for some kind absolution—a way to get the last of the guilt off his chest—Forbes couldn't help.

  "Please, buddy. Spare me any of the details. I understand why you needed to tell me. And I'm fine with it."

  "Really?"

  Aaron sounded skeptical. Rightfully so. Forbes smiled, realizing he must be feeling better. The urge to toss his cookies had faded to a slight churning in his stomach.

  "Give me a day or two. By Tuesday night, we should be golden. That is if the invitation to dinner is still open. And I can bring Sophie."

  "Of course." Aaron groaned. "Christ. Sophie. Are you going to tell her?"

  "We've finally cleared away all the lies and misunderstandings. I won't keep anything from Sophie. Not now. Not ever again."

  "Smart way to start a relationship."

  "For us to work, it's the only way." Forbes wouldn't let anything ruin the best thing that had ever happened to him. Especially not Joy.

  "The trouble you've been having at the ranch." Aaron frowned with concern. "Do you think Sophie is in any real danger?"

  "I hope not." Forbes' eyes narrowed dangerously when he thought about anyone or anything hurting Sophie. "But you can sure as hell bet that I'm not taking any chances."

  FORBES STOPPED BY Rick's Diner on his way back to the station. The plan was to pick up something to go that he could eat at his desk while he took care of some paperwork.

  Nodding a hello to Ollie's boyfriend, Forbes grabbed a menu. Perusing the contents, he picked up the scent of a floral perfume just before he felt a hand slide up his back.

  "There you are. I've been trying to track you down all week." Daphne moved in for a hug.

  "I'm always around. Somewhere." Forbes returned the embrace, moving back when Daphne would have clung a little longer than he found comfortable.

  "I'll take your word for it. Now that I have you, I'm not letting you get away. Let me buy you lunch." Taking his hand, Daphne tugged him across the room.

  "I really don't have time, Daphne."

  "Don't be silly. You need to eat. And you did promise we would get together and catch up."

  Forbes let Daphne lead him to an empty booth. He could have stopped her, but he didn't want to make a scene in front of the packed diner. Besides, she was right. He had to eat. Why not do it in the company of an old friend? The paperwork on his desk wasn't going anywhere.

  They ordered. Forbes chose the today's special—chicken fried steak. Daphne decided on a small chef's salad. Thanking the waitress when she set down their drinks, he looked around the diner.

  "A lot of new faces in town. I guess that's a good thing."

  "I suppose," Daphne tapped one red nail on the table, flipping her hair over her shoulder. The color seemed lighter than Forbes remembered. More platinum than honey blond.

  "What are you up to these days, Daphne?" Other than Aaron and Cindy, Forbes hadn't kept up with his friends.

  "I work at Pollard's Realty. If you ever want to sell the ranch, I'm your girl." Daphne winked, letting Forbes know she was kidding.

  "Are you married? Kids?"

  "Divorced. My ex-husband was—is—an ass. Considering the way things turned out, it's best we didn't have children. He cheated. Practically from day one."

  "I'm sorry," Forbes said. He wondered if Daphne was as cool and emotionless about her ex-husband as she appeared.

  "Since I married him for his money, it doesn't matter. I received a decent settlement. Not huge." Daphne gave a philosophical shrug.

  What was he supposed to say to that? Luckily, Daphne continued. Apparently, Forbes' participation in the conversation wasn't necessary.

  "After Dad had his heart attack last year, I decided to move back home to make sure he slowed down. My brother and sister live within a five-minute drive, but Dad can't count on them. Worthless. They always were." Daphne sighed. "When I left, I never thought I'd see Cloverdale again. Especially after Mom ran off. The memories aren't the best."

  "No. I don't imagine they are." Memories could be a bitch. "Have your brother and sister been here the whole time?"

  "Unlike me, they all toughed it out." Taking a sip of her iced tea, Daphne stared out the window. "Mom was the one with money, you know."

  Forbes hadn't known.

  "She took it with her." Daphne continued, her tone bitter. "After that, all we had was Dad's income from his law practice. A country lawyer doesn't make a fortune. To say our lifestyle changed would be putting it mildly. I grew up rich and pampered. Able to buy anything I wanted without a second thought. Finding myself on a budget came as a shock. Worse than my mother running off with another woman. I suppose that makes me sound terribly shallow."

  Daphne said it with another sigh. Long and drawn out. This time when she flipped her hair, it was with disdain—and a bit of a sneer. For what? Her mother? Her family's lack of money? That anybody would dare consider her attitude shallow? Forbes had no idea.

  The entire conversation seemed bizarre and made Forbes uncomfortable. It was one thing to catch up. It was another to spill personal information to somebody you hadn't spoken to in over a decade.

  Surreptitiously, Fo
rbes glanced at his watch, wishing he had stuck with the original plan and gotten his food to go.

  "Enough about me." Daphne brightened. Smiling, she pulled her shoulders back. Leaning toward Forbes, she led with her chest. "I've heard all kinds of rumors about you. Were you really a spy? Or was it a mercenary for hire? Did you seduce a world leader then help overthrow her government? Somebody said you discovered the cure for a rare disease while in the jungles of South America. I thought that one sounded a bit farfetched."

  Forbes laughed. This was the Daphne he remembered. Bright and flirty. He didn't know which version was the real deal, but if she settled on this side of her emotional schism, he could enjoy her company—and his lunch.

  "Sorry to disappoint you. The truth isn't nearly as exciting."

  "Oh, I doubt that." Daphne smiled slowly, reaching for his hand. Her move was thwarted by the arrival of their food.

  "Here you go, Chief. Daphne."

  Their waitress, Paula Flagg was another graduate of Cloverdale High School. Same class, same social circle. She had put on a few pounds, and they looked good on her. Forbes thought Paula looked good period, with an air of happiness around her. The life of a married woman with three children seemed to suit her.

  "Thanks, Paula." Forbes smiled, picking up his fork. The smell of the gravy and mashed potatoes made his mouth water. "Looks good."

  "The special has been flying out the door. Or is that out of the kitchen?"

  Paula laughed at her own joke. Forbes joined in. Daphne looked impatient. The women exchanged looks that told him that the less-than-friendly rivalry that had existed between them in high school had morphed into outright dislike.

  "Enjoy," Paula said.

  "That woman has an awfully superior attitude for somebody who makes a living serving food." Daphne frowned, following Paula with a narrowed gaze.

  "It's honest work, Daphne. Paula is helping to provide for her family."

  Forbes tucked into his food, anxious to finish and get back to work. When they were growing up, there had been so much to like about Daphne. She had been fun and easy to be with. The sex had been satisfying and uncomplicated. Unfortunately—like now—she had the tendency to be a petty, stuck-up bitch.