Heartbreaker Hero: Eddie's Story (Maine Justice Book 4)

by Susan Page Davis

  “I’m so proud of you.”

  He swallowed the lump. “Pray for us.”

  “I will. You be careful.”

  “Yeah. And I’ll have Harvey at my back, and Nate and Jimmy.”

  “And Tony?”

  “No, he can’t work tonight.”

  She didn’t ask why. “Well, I’ll be praying for all of you.”

  “Thanks.” His phone beeped.

  Leeanne said, “Is that on your phone or mine?”

  “Mine, I think.”

  “Someone’s trying to call you. You’d better take it.”

  He didn’t want to hang up on Leeanne for another Weepy Woman, but the thought that it might be Harvey made him say, “Okay. Je t’aime,” and click to the new caller.

  “Hello?”

  Without any preliminaries, his father said, “Where did you leave the shovel?”

  “I hung it up in the garage, Pop.”

  He swore, and Eddie could tell he’d been drinking.

  “Pop, you don’t have to shovel any today, do you?”

  His father hung up on him. Eddie sat down in his favorite chair and tried to string together a prayer for his pop.

  *****

  By five o’clock, Eddie was going crazy from the waiting and from Pop’s phone call. He decided to drive by his folks’ house and see what they were up to. It was raining hard. He put on all his gear in case he didn’t come home again and dashed out to his truck.

  He drove past their house slowly. Everything looked normal. Light spilled out the front windows. He pulled over and sat there trying to decide whether to go in. They were probably eating supper. He prayed for them. He’d been doing that for six months, but it was hard. He didn’t know what to ask for.

  Finally the rain slacked off, and he got out and walked to the door. He knocked, and after a minute, Maman opened it.

  “Why are you standing in the rain? Come in.”

  He walked in and wiped his feet on the rag rug inside the door.

  “Did you eat?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “We were just sitting down. Have some spaghetti.”

  “I just came by to see how you and Pop are doing.”

  “Bien. Now come eat.”

  “I really didn’t come looking for a meal.”

  She shook her head. “Boys.”

  He walked into the kitchen. Pop was sitting at the table, piling spaghetti on his plate. “I heard you were on TV this morning.”

  “Yeah.”

  “We didn’t see it,” Maman said bleakly. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

  Eddie shrugged.

  “Sit down,” she said.

  “You only come when you’re hungry,” Pop said, which wasn’t true.

  His mother went to get him a plate. “Mrs. Pelletier saw it.”

  “Yeah?”

  “She said you grew into the most handsome man in Cumberland County, and some girl cop said you made her cry.”

  Eddie sighed. “First of all, it was Sarah. You know Sarah.”

  Maman nodded, eyeing him curiously. “You’re dating Sarah again? What happened to Leeanne?”

  “No, I’m not dating Sarah again. She was just on the show. And second of all, she did not say I made her cry. She said she cried a little when we broke up. That’s all.”

  “It’s the same thing,” Pop said.

  “Didn’t Mrs. Pelletier say anything about the little boy?”

  “Yeah,” Maman said. “She told me you gave him a toy.”

  “I did. He’s a cute kid.” Eddie looked at Pop. He was shaking Parmesan cheese on his spaghetti. “Did you find the shovel, Pop?”

  “What do I need the shovel for? I just wanted to be sure you put it away.”

  “Four days later?”

  Pop forked a huge bite of spaghetti into his mouth and chewed.

  Maman held out the dish of meat sauce. “Eat.”

  The overhead lights flickered and went out, and the furnace fan stopped rumbling.

  Chapter 21

  At the police station, everything was running on generators—computers, minimal lights, the com switchboard, security monitors, everything. Harvey and Jimmy were already in the office when Eddie arrived.

  The office had big windows on two walls, but it was dark outside, and none of the streetlights were working, so they sat in eerie twilight.

  “Got power at your house?” Eddie asked.

  “Nope. It went out around six. I left Jennifer with a flashlight and a fire in the fireplace. Abby should be home in a couple of hours.” Harvey frowned. “But the alarm system went out.”

  “She’ll be okay,” Eddie said.

  “Yeah. But I don’t like leaving her alone in a blackout.”

  “Is the power out at your place?” Jimmy asked Eddie.

  “Yeah. I was over at my folks’ house, and theirs went off, too.”

  Nate came in.

  “Okay,” Harvey said. “I sure wish we had Tony tonight, but we don’t.”

  They went over the plan again. Harvey had picked up the warrants and set it up for them to get into the gated community.

  They trooped to the locker room to get their Kevlar vests. Harvey grabbed his and went out to his desk. Eddie followed him.

  “Time for a quick prayer?” Eddie asked.

  “Of course.” They stepped into the interview room and prayed for wisdom and safety.

  Harvey’s desk phone was ringing when they came out. He picked it up, and Eddie could tell it was Mike. Harvey told him briefly about their plans to find Hawkins through Cynthia Sheridan.

  “I’m going to have Sergeant Miles send two more patrolmen to your street.” Harvey paused. “I think it’s indicated with the power outage. Yes, really.” Mike must be giving him a hard time about extra security.

  “This will be a bad night for wrecks and burglaries,” Nate muttered.

  “Yeah.” Harvey was right, as far as Eddie was concerned. Someone might think it was the perfect time to get to the chief.

  When Harvey hung up, he called the night sergeant and requested another unit at Mike’s house, just to be on the safe side. When he signed off, he said, “Dan says they’re already spread too thin.”

  “But there are two uniforms over there now, right?” Eddie asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ll go over after we wrap this up, Captain,” Jimmy said.

  “We’ll see.”

  They went to the garage, and Eddie rode in Harvey’s SUV. Nate and Jimmy took Nate’s car. While Harvey drove, Eddie talked to the dispatcher on the radio and told him they were going out on a high-risk duty. The dispatchers would track them electronically, and if they didn’t check in after twenty minutes, they would call the men to check on them.

  “All set,” he told Harvey.

  Harvey grunted, his mind obviously elsewhere.

  “We’ll find him,” Eddie said.

  As they drove toward Bayside, they came into an area with streetlights blazing.

  “Hey! How come the ritzy neighborhood didn’t lose their power?” Eddie asked.

  Harvey looked in his mirror to make sure Nate had made the turn behind him. “Call your congressman and complain.”

  “I haven’t met the new one we got after we arrested Murphy,” Eddie said. “He probably wouldn’t listen to me.”

  “Especially not if you ever dated his daughter.”

  “Ha, ha. I am pretty sure I never dated any of his relatives.”

  Harvey chuckled. “Seriously, Eddie, you did a good job on the interview. I always sweat bullets when I have to do a press conference. That performance was above and beyond.”

  “Maybe I’ll get a medal or something.”

  They parked at the corner of the condo complex’s lot, pointing out. Cynthia’s unit had three levels. The units were staggered, which looked nice but made it easier for criminals to take cover. They had Cynthia’s license plate number, and Eddie spotted her white Lexus out front.

  He
and Harvey went up to the door while Jimmy and Nate went around to the back. When Nate radioed they were in place, Harvey rang the bell.

  Cynthia opened the door. Eddie recognized her from pictures they’d seen online and on her motor vehicle record. She had some crow’s feet but was still pretty. She looked appraisingly at Harvey.

  “I’m Captain Larson with the Portland P.D. This is Detective Thibodeau. May we come in?”

  As he said Eddie’s name, her eyes snapped over to his face. Eddie had his badge on his coat, but she wasn’t looking at that. Her gaze narrowed.

  “To what do I owe the honor?”

  “We’d like to ask you a few questions,” Harvey said.

  She lingered a second, watching Eddie. “I guess so.” She stepped aside.

  In her foyer, Eddie could see that this wasn’t just an upscale place, it was top of the line, millionaire swank.

  “We wondered if you’re acquainted with this man?” Harvey held out a photo of Alfred Hawkins.

  Her eyebrows arched delicately. She took the photo and studied it for a moment.

  “I don’t believe I am. Who is he?”

  “He’s a known drug dealer, and he was recently released from the Maine State Prison,” Harvey said.

  Her lips pressed together, and she passed it back to him. “Are you asking all the residents about him?”

  “We’ve asked some others. A few thought they’d seen him in the building.”

  “This building? My condo?”

  Harvey shrugged. “We’re just inquiring.”

  “The answer is no.”

  Harvey reached into his jacket and brought out the warrant. “We’d like to search your dwelling.”

  “You must be kidding.”

  “No, ma’am.”

  She spread her hands. “Well, you have a warrant, so I guess I can’t say no.”

  “That’s right.” Harvey nodded to Eddie. By their plan, he found the back door and let Nate and Jimmy in.

  “Nobody left here,” Nate whispered.

  “Okay. You two take the second floor,” Eddie told them.

  Harvey had asked Ms. Sheridan to sit on the sofa. He went into the kitchen while Eddie started combing over the foyer and living room.

  As he opened the drawer in an end table, she leaned toward him. “You’re as cute in person as you are on television.”

  Eddie swallowed hard and kept working.

  “I’m holding a party tomorrow night. Would you be interested in coming?”

  “No thank you, ma’am.”

  “Pity,” she said. “I’d love to show you off to some friends. We could have some fun.”

  The way she said it sent a shiver down his spine. He shook his head and moved to the entertainment center.

  They found a small amount of marijuana—small, but more than allowed for one person under the current law. She wouldn’t admit to sharing it with another person. Jimmy found about two thousand dollars in her bedroom, but Cynthia said there was nothing wrong with keeping a little cash on hand, was there?

  The biggest point against her was the male clothing and accessories in the bedroom. Someone besides Cynthia was using the closet and one of the walnut dressers.

  “Care to tell us who your housemate is?” Harvey asked.

  “Do I have to answer that question?”

  “No.”

  “If I don’t, what will happen?”

  “We’ll arrest you for obstructing an investigation.”

  She gave a scornful grunt. “My father would have me out within an hour.”

  “Fine, if that’s the way you want it.” Harvey turned to Eddie. “Arrest Ms. Sheridan and take her to the station and book her.”

  “Happy to,” Eddie said.

  She smiled at him. “I think I’ll almost enjoy this.”

  Eddie threw Harvey a glance that he must have interpreted as panic.

  “Detective Cook, you take over that detail,” Harvey said. “I need Detective Thibodeau for a minute.”

  Jimmy stepped forward, pulling his handcuffs out of the case. Harvey nodded to Nate, and he stayed with Jimmy while Harvey and Eddie slipped into the kitchen.

  “Okay, what was that about?” Harvey asked.

  “She, uh, made a pass at me before.”

  Harvey’s eyebrows morphed. “What, you can’t reject a woman’s advances? Not the Eddie Thibodeau I know.”

  “I’m sorry. She brought up the TV interview, and it distracted me.”

  “Distracted you?” Harvey looked toward the living room and back at Eddie. “I’m not even going to ask you what that means, but I’ll have Miller and Cook take her in.”

  “Thanks, boss.”

  “No thanks necessary. I don’t want her in my vehicle. It’s Nate’s, or ask for a transport unit, and I’m already taking flak about the extra hours for guarding Mike.”

  “Who’s giving you grief about that? Mike’s the only one above you now. Not Stewart?”

  “No, but don’t forget the city council.”

  “You can’t tell me they begrudge the chief a protection detail?”

  “It’s been almost two weeks. They hoped we’d settle it by now.”

  “The mayor too?”

  Harvey shrugged. Mayor Jill Weymouth was usually on their side. “She hasn’t weighed in, for which I’m grateful. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  On their way out, Harvey stopped for a chat with the gatekeeper. He admitted to seeing Hawkins go in and out several times over the past few weeks. Harvey emphasized the wisdom of calling him if Hawkins came back.

  The police station was still on generators. Nate booked Cynthia Sheridan and made sure every technicality was followed, but she still bailed out in two hours, almost unheard of at that time of night, with her father, the high-powered lawyer, at her side. She refused to talk to Harvey or Eddie, and she wouldn’t even look at more pictures of Al Hawkins.

  “Her father doesn’t look happy,” Eddie noted as he and Harvey watched the two of them leave the station.

  “His little girl is forty, and she’s still getting into scrapes,” Harvey said.

  “Yeah, and he’s still coming to her rescue.”

  Harvey led the way to the stairs. “Even when I told him she’s abetting Alfred Hawkins.”

  Eddie opened the door to the office, which was still dimly lit. “I’ll bet he’s got something to say to her in the car about letting an ex-con live with her.”

  They hashed over the evening with Nate and Jimmy.

  “Okay,” Harvey said. “Let’s all go home and get some rest. We’ll regroup tomorrow. Everybody drive carefully. I hope you have electricity at home.”

  Nate and Jimmy headed for the locker room. Harvey looked at Eddie.

  “You got heat at your place?”

  “I got a little kerosene heater after the big ice storm last year.”

  “If you get home and it’s freezing cold, come over to the house. We’ve got the fireplace in the living room and a little woodstove in the garage. I can set it up in the sunroom if we need it. There’s a chimney flue there.”

  “I’ll be okay.”

  “I’d worry about you dying of carbon monoxide poisoning.”

  “I can go to my folks’. They’ve got a woodstove.”

  “If you want,” Harvey said, “but we’d be happy if you came to our house.”

  “Thanks. To be honest, I don’t want to wake them up now.”

  Eddie drove home and took his flashlight out of the glove compartment. It seemed extra dark, without any street lamps or lights from any apartment windows. He trudged up to his apartment and went in. It was nearly as cold in there as it was outside.

  It took him a while to get the heater going. When it was burning in the kitchen, he used Poland Spring water from a jug and made himself a glass of Tang, then sat in front of the heater, warming his hands. When they were warm enough, he made a sandwich and ate it.

  He wanted to call Leeanne, but it was after two o’clock. He sen
t her a text. “We’re ok.” He hesitated, then sent a duplicate to his mother. The heater sputtered and went out.

  He double checked to make sure it was turned off and called Harvey.

  “Hi. Sorry. I’m out of fuel. Is it too late to come?”

  “Nope.”

  “Okay, ten minutes.”

  He grabbed his sleeping bag, pillow, and a few clothes and drove to Harvey’s house. The rain was freezing on the roads.

  The power was still out in the neighborhood. Harvey met him at the door and took him into the living room, where a couple of candles burned on the mantel.

  “You can sleep on the couch. You’ll be warmer down here by the fireplace than in the guest room upstairs.” Candles burned in the kitchen, sunroom, and living room. Harvey had the woodstove in the sunroom, and he had built the fires up.

  “Jennifer’s in bed, but I’ll get you some sheets.”

  “You don’t need to. I brought my sleeping bag.”

  “Okay.”

  “What about Abby?” Eddie asked.

  “She’s upstairs. She got home a couple of hours ago.”

  The living room was comfortably warm. Harvey went into the sunroom and checked the stove, then opened the door to their bedroom. Jennifer came out in sweatpants and a gray sweatshirt with “Maine Criminal Justice Academy” on the front.

  “Cold in there?” Eddie asked.

  “It will warm up soon if we leave the door open,” she said.

  “Well, I could have stayed home. I don’t think I’d freeze to death.”

  She looked embarrassed. “Eddie, we want you here.”

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  Harvey helped him open out the couch, and he laid out his sleeping bag and pillow. Harvey went around blowing out candles, and he and Jennifer went into their room.

  Eddie put his flashlight on the floor beside him and lay looking up at the ceiling, watching the flickering light of the fire. He wished it was his castle hall, and that the chatelaine was there to keep him warm. He thought about reading his Bible by flashlight, but he was so tired, he nodded off while he was thinking about it.

  He awoke to the house phone ringing. After two rings, it stopped. He heard Jennifer’s faint voice.

  The gray light of a rainy morning shone through the windows. The electronics had no blinking lights, so Eddie figured the power was still out.

  He got up and pulled on his jeans and rolled up the sleeping bag. His head ached slightly from lack of sleep. He went through the study to the bathroom near the entry. When he came out, he went to the kitchen.