Cato’s Heart
Phoenix Daniels
Jessica Watkins Presents
Copyright © 2019 by Phoenix Daniels
Published by Jessica Watkins Presents
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Without limiting the right under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form by means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
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Contents
Synopsis
CATO’S HEART
Chapter 1
KING
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
CATO
Chapter 5
6. Cato
7. King
8. Cato
KING
9. King
CATO
10. Cato
KING
11. Cato
12. King
CATO
KING
13. Cato
KING
Chapter 14
KING
Chapter 15
CATO
16. CATO
KING
Chapter 17
Three days later…
CATO
18. KING
Chapter 19
CATO
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue
THE END
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Synopsis
How do you live when you know you’re going to die?
Rebecca King had a broken heart—literally. Congenital heart disease has limited her to less than a year to live. Hopefully, that’ll be enough time to complete every task on her bucket list. However difficult, she finally comes to terms with her imminent demise. Then fate delivers an unexpected distraction.
Due to a horrific accident that left his wife on life support, Nick Cato, narcotics investigator, is trapped behind a wall of loneliness and grief. However, he had no way of knowing that destiny would deliver a gift strong enough to quell the sadness. But will he allow guilt to keep him from embracing his happy ending?
CATO’S HEART
1
CATO
Nicholas ‘Nick’ Cato sealed the evidence bag that contained three large bricks of heroin from a search warrant, conducted by he and his team. Though the team hadn’t come up empty-handed, Nick was pissed at his snitch. Three bricks equaled a good bust, but not nearly as good as the twenty bricks his informant had assured him.
He didn't like taking his team into situations without the proper intel. The snitch had also told him there were only four offenders inside the west sidewalk up. Again, his information had been inaccurate. When the team hit the door and entered the house, they encountered eight armed men, most of whom placed their weapons on the floor when instructed.
But there was always one.
The homeowner and main target, Raphael Mendoza, decided to shoot it out. Most gang-banging drug dealers had guns, but very few knew how to shoot. Raphael was easily neutralized after a bullet hit his shoulder.
“Yo, Sarge, Cap wants to see you!” Dave, one of his team members, shouted from down the hall.
“Yeah, okay!”
Nick dropped the bag on a table with the rest of the evidence and headed down the hall to the captain’s office.
Captain Elizabeth Curry, Nick’s friend and supervisor, sat at her cluttered desk, staring at what looked like a scheduling sheet. She was an attractive black woman in her mid-forties. Nick had met her fifteen years ago when he’d entered the police academy.
At the time, she was Officer Curry, and one of the academy’s instructors. She taught Police Procedures. Nick had shamelessly flirted with her, but she’d constantly shut him down. Elizabeth was happily married and had paid his flirtations no attention.
Eventually, Nick graduated and was sent out to work the streets while Elizabeth remained at the academy. Years later, after she was promoted to sergeant, they crossed paths again. She had been reassigned to the 11th district where Nick was working as a beat officer. There, they became good friends. Nick had also developed a friendship with Keith, Elizabeth’s husband, who subsequently introduced Nick to Vera, who eventually became his wife.
Nick tapped on her open door, prompting the captain to look up.
“You rang?” he asked as he entered her office.
“Yeah. I see your entire team dropped slips for Saturday night.”
“Yes, ma’am. We need the night off for Barry’s bachelor party.”
Elizabeth peered at Nick over her reading glasses. “That creates a manpower issue for my unit.”
Nick walked over to the chair in front of her desk and sat down. He leaned in, linking his hands in a prayer-like gesture.
“Come on, Cap. The man’s gettin’ married.”
She leaned back in her chair and slid her reading glasses off her nose. She tossed them on the desk and narrowed her eyes at Nick. “Don't you flash those baby blues at me, Nicholas Cato. They don't move me like they do them other women. When you want something from me, you expect me to comply. But when I ask you to do something that’s not a direct order, you basically ignore me.”
“Cap, that’s not true,” Nick argued with a grin. “I’d do anything for you.”
“You want Saturday off? You gotta give me something in return.”
“Done. What you need?”
When she opened her desk drawer and pulled out a slip of paper, Nick feared he’d agreed too soon. She hesitated for a few seconds before sliding it over. Nick took the sheet. With hesitation, he looked down at the paper.
Sheol Clinic
Dr. S. Thantos, Ph. D
Clinical Psychologist
Nick looked up at his friend, ready to dispute, but she cut him off.
“You want your team to get Saturday off? You got it. This is my condition. Take it or leave it, Sergeant Cato.”
Nick exhaled a frustrated breath and stood. He stuffed the paper in his pocket and turned to leave. Over and over again, he’d told the captain he was fine and he didn't need help dealing with his personal issues, but she wouldn't listen.
“This is blackmail,” he muttered.
“You're dismissed, Sergeant.”
Nick left her office, tempted to say fuck the bachelor party. Shit, he wasn't the one getting married, but he was their leader. So, he was prepared to take one for his team.
KING
Rebecca King sat across from Dr. Thantos, listening intently as he read off a list of tasks for her to complete.
For a shrink, he wasn't what she’d expected. When Dr. Bettis, her cardiologist, recommended that she speak with a psychologist and handed her Dr. Thantos’ card, Rebecca pictured a wrinkled old fart that couldn't begin to understand what she was going through. But Dr. Thantos was anything but what she’d imagined. He was a middle-aged, distinguished-looking man with a shaved head and a dark goatee that alluded to a hint of “bad-boy.”
Rebecca found herself looking into his blue eyes, wondering if he was married. If so, what kind of husband was he? Was he a passionate man or was he the type to overwork and ignore his wife?
“Miss King, I know I’m a hunk, but you gotta pay attention. Try to contain yourself,” he said in a deep baritone.
Rebecca blinked, surprised by the rep
rimand. “Huh? What?”
His sly grin hinted that he was joking. Although the doctor was handsome, she wasn't sexually attracted to him in the least. She laughed, appreciating the light-natured ribbing.
“I’ll do my best,” she joked.
“Okay. Done. Here you go,” he said, handing her the sheet of paper he’d been working on. “This is your to-do list.”
Rebecca took the sheet and read it over. “Who would give a dying woman homework?” she muttered.
“I would,” Dr. Thantos confirmed. “Especially if that dying woman was an artist who’s never been to Paris, never met her father, and has never been in love. You have a lot of work to do, young lady.”
She smiled at the good doctor. His laid-back manner was refreshing. When most people found out she didn't have long to live, their demeanor changed immediately. The air became heavy, and their mood would turn dismal like a storm cloud obstructing the sun.
Rebecca suffered from congenital heart disease, having been diagnosed when she was an infant. Because of a less than nurturing upbringing, she’d never received the proper care. Now at thirty-five, her condition had deteriorated to the point where she needed a new heart. But because of her rare AB- blood type, a viable donor was next to impossible. So, she had no choice but to resign herself to an inevitable death.
She stuffed the list inside her purse and stood to leave. “Doc, I’ve only got a few months left, a year at the most. You really think I’m gonna be able to accomplish all that?”
“I expect you to die trying,” he said with an easygoing grin.
Rebecca shook her head and smiled. “Real funny, Doc,” she muttered as she left the office.
She entered the waiting room. The doctor’s receptionist and one other person were in the outer office.
“Mr. Cato, you can go in now,” the receptionist announced.
The man stood, stopping Rebecca in her tracks. He was a giant of a man with short, sandy-brown hair and the iciest blue eyes. Dr. Thantos’ vivid blues had nothing on the man standing in front of her. She let her eyes roam his massive shoulders just as she heard, “Excuse me.”
The deep masculinity of his voice did nothing to curb the lust bubbling inside.
“Miss King, if you’ll step over here, I’ll schedule your next appointment,” urged the receptionist.
Whereas the man’s voice warmed her all over, the receptionist’s voice was like a splash of cold water, hitting Rebecca right in the face. She became suddenly aware that while she was standing there like an idiot, ogling the super-fine white dude, she was also blocking the doorway.
She hurried out of his path. “Oh… yeah… Uh... right, I-I need to schedule another appointment,” she stuttered. She turned, surprised to see the man was still watching her. “Sorry,” she muttered.
He smiled, and his smile stopped time. Beautiful white teeth, framed by full sexy lips greeted Rebecca, making her weak in the knees.
“It’s perfectly fine, Miss King,” he said as he entered the office.
“Oh, God,” Rebecca breathed when the office door closed.
“Yes, indeed. God is very good to that man,” the receptionist agreed.
2
KING
Rebecca pulled the folded sheet of paper from her purse and climbed out of her Audi SUV. She unfolded the paper and found herself squinting, trying the read her friend, Paula’s, horrendous handwriting.
Paula was Rebecca’s childhood friend. They’d know each other for twenty-five years. She was a dispatcher for the Chicago Police and Fire Department, but she had the handwriting of a doctor.
After reading the to-do list Dr. Thantos had given her, Paula insisted on helping her cross off a few items. She had used her resources at the department to look for Rebecca’s father.
Finding her dad was easy once Paula got involved. She was able to get his personal information within minutes.
Rebecca was mentally preparing herself for meeting with her father as she walked the short walkway, looking for the address Paula had given her. She entered Racine Courts, a low-income housing project. As she walked through the maze of crack heads and corner boys, it was clear that Henry Patrick Norris wasn’t the wealthiest member of society. But she hadn’t expected him to be. So, she tried not to judge.
She walked along the rowhouses until she arrived at the correct address. She stepped up onto the stoop and took a deep breath before knocking. As if already expecting someone, the door flew open.
“Go around back!” a young black man ordered before slamming the door in her face.
Completely dumbfounded, Rebecca stood in front of the door, debating on whether or not to knock again. Since she sure as hell wasn’t going to the back of anything, she tapped on the door. When the door flew open again, the man’s brow wrinkled as he glared at Rebecca.
“Bitch, didn’t I say go to the back?” His tone was supposed to have been menacing.
Rebecca recoiled, but not out of fear. She felt utterly disrespected. There he stood in front of her in the stereotypical dope-boy uniform of the day; white T-shirt, blue jeans, and doo rag. The man-child couldn't have been more than twenty. Evidently, life had hardened him, but Rebecca wasn't about to be anymore “bitches.”
She folded her arms over her chest and locked eyes with the thug. “Listen, boy, the last I checked, I wasn't yo’ bitch. Now, I was told Henry Norris lived here.”
“You da police?”
“I was told Henry Norris lived here,” Rebecca repeated.
“Who is that at the do’, Boogie?” a woman called out from inside the apartment.
“Some lady looking for Henry.”
Rebecca stood out on the porch, feeling awkward and a bit nervous as the two carried on a conversation. She was seriously thinking about leaving when a thin white woman appeared behind the young man.
“Why you lookin’ for my husband? she asked suspiciously.
“You're married to Henry?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Henry Norris?”
“Yes! Now, what do you want?!” she shouted bravely behind her ghetto bodyguard.
Rebecca smiled. She was actually amused by the blaxploitation scene playing out in front of her.
“Something funny?” the young man asked.
“Yes, this shit goin’ on in my head is hilarious,” Rebecca mumbled.
“Are you da police or not?” he asked as if losing his patience.
“I’m Rebecca King. I’m Henry’s daughter.”
“Ohhh, shoot!” the lady gasped. She pulled the boy away from the door and urged Rebecca inside.
With some reluctance, she entered the home. Wanting to be prepared for any surprises, she was sure to keep an eye on every doorway.
Rebecca noticed the woman was quite tall as she followed her to the back of the house. She wasn’t old, maybe mid-fifties, but she was wearing a gray caftan that made her appear older. She led Rebecca into the living room and offered her a seat. She sat and looked around. The place was clean and there were family pictures displayed about the room.
“So, you’re Rebecca. Your dad has told me so much about you. You are just as pretty as your father said you was.”
“Really?” Rebecca was astonished he’d spoken of her at all.
“Yes. Henry thought you were the most beautiful child in the world. He wanted to be a part of your life, but your mother refused to let him see you. He tried being nice, negotiating and even going to court. But because of Henry’s criminal record, which by the way was initiated by your mother’s false claims of domestic abuse, he wasn't awarded custody or visitation. It broke his heart. Karena did everything she could to keep the two of you apart.
Why?” Rebecca asked.
“Me. It was because of me. She said as long as Henry was married to my white ass, he would never see you.”
That news didn’t surprise Rebecca in the least. Her mom never had anything good to say about white folks.
“Where is he?” Rebecca asked.
“He’s in the bedroom. He’s not doing too good these days. He recently suffered a heart attack, but the doctor says he should make a full recovery.”
“Oh, wow.”
She was not at all surprised that he suffered from heart disease as well.
“I’m Sarah, by the way. I've been married to your dad for thirty-seven years.”
Rebecca wrinkled her brow while calculating, but it didn't take long to do the math. Sarah was married to her dad when she was born.
“I see,” Rebecca acknowledged.
“Yes, I was pissed. But I eventually got over it. And after a while, I was even looking forward to having a baby around. See, I couldn’t have children of my own. So, the thought of you excited me. But Karena would have none of that.”
Rebecca shook her head. She’d never heard one story of her conception. Surely, her mom wasn’t eager to explain her affair with a married man.
“Wow.” She sighed. “I just thought he didn't want anything to do with me.”
“That’s just not true. He’s always wanted you in his life. You were going to be the princess we couldn't have.”
“Well, who is the guy that answered the door?”
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