“If I gain any more weight, you won’t be able to do this,” she said.
He smiled and pulled her closer. He’d been that way since they got married. Rather cuddle with Jennifer than eat. After a few seconds, she wised up, though, and stood.
“Eat the oatmeal,” she said.
“You better eat some, too,” he told her. “Feed that baby.”
She got herself a dish and sat down with them.
“So, how was the hospital?” Eddie asked.
“I didn’t pass out.”
Jennifer laughed. “We saw Abby, and we saw the delivery rooms and labor rooms, and the newborn nursery.”
Harvey sipped his coffee. “They’ve got three sets of twins in there right now.”
“Think you might have twins?” Eddie asked Jennifer.
“Me? No. We’ve got movies of the baby, and there’s only one.”
“You want to see it?” Harvey had an eager look.
“No, thanks. I might pass out.”
“Oh, Eddie, it’s just a baby. And it’s in black and white,” Harvey said.
“I think I’ll wait until it’s my own progeny.”
Eddie spent most of the morning at the courthouse on a previous case, taking Tony with him. When they got back to the office, Harvey told him Rooster Bentley’s lawyer had contacted him. Rooster would talk to the district attorney the next day, and Harvey was welcome to sit in.
Jennifer called and asked Harvey to bring Eddie home with him for lunch, so Eddie went. Jennifer and Abby had the food ready, knowing the men had a limited amount of time.
“Can I talk to you, Eddie?” Abby asked, as they were finishing their chocolate pudding.
“Sure. You mean now?”
She looked around the table. “Actually, I should probably talk to all of you. It concerns you all. I know I’ve been acting rather adolescent, and you’ve all been praying for me.”
“Does this have anything to do with the phone call last night after you got home?” Jennifer asked.
“Yes.” Abby scraped the bottom of her pudding dish. “It was Greg.”
“Surprise, surprise,” Eddie said.
“Yes, well, he’s going to California.”
They all just sat there, waiting for the rest of it. After a few seconds, Harvey said, “When will he be back?”
“He won’t.”
“What?” cried Jennifer. “You mean he’s moving?”
“Yes. He’s switching to Western Airlines. He’s going to fly out of SFO, starting in two weeks.”
“San Francisco?” Eddie said. “How come?”
“They offered it to him, and he accepted.”
“But why?” asked Jennifer. “And did you know about the offer, and will he come back to see you, and what does it mean?”
“One question at a time, gorgeous,” Harvey said. Jennifer reached for his hand.
Abby said, “Well, it’s more money, for one thing.”
“That’s not important, or it shouldn’t be,” said Jennifer. “He makes plenty now, doesn’t he?”
Abby shrugged. “I did know about it. He told me last weekend he was thinking about it.” Two bright red spots had formed high on her cheeks. “He wanted me to go with him.”
“As in marriage, I hope?” Harvey asked.
“Yes. He—proposed Saturday night. I guess I should have told you all, but I was pretty mixed up. It was kind of a funny proposal, I thought.”
“In what way?” Harvey sounded like an irate father who didn’t want his baby girl hurt.
“He wanted to get married right away if he went to California. Before he left.”
“And if he stayed?” asked Harvey.
“Then I could pick the date.”
Jennifer shook her head. “Just like that? Get married and move to San Francisco? That’s like jumping off the edge of the world.”
“Not for Greg. He doesn’t have a tight family, and he’s used to flying all over.”
“So, what did you tell him?” Eddie asked.
“I hadn’t told him anything until last night.” She looked into her coffee cup, but it was empty.
“But he accepted the position before you accepted his proposal?” Jennifer asked. “Unbelievable!”
Abby shook her head. “I don’t completely understand it, either. I thought he would give me a few days to think about it.”
“Sort of an ultimatum?” Eddie asked.
“I didn’t think it was. I thought he was open to staying here. In New York, I mean. But I told him Saturday I wasn’t sure I’d want to move so far away from everyone I love.”
“Except him,” said Jennifer.
“Well, yeah. But then I got to thinking maybe even Brooklyn was too far.” Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked pleadingly at her sister. “It’s not like I can’t cut the apron strings, but to move to a strange city where I don’t know anyone, and my husband would be away for days at a time. . . I kept thinking about friends of mine whose marriages didn’t last. I think airline personnel have a poor track record.”
“Every profession has its drawbacks,” Jennifer said.
“I know.” Abby’s smile quavered. “Your husband has an easy eight-to-five office job, and he comes home for lunch. Ha, ha.”
Harvey reached out and squeezed her hand. “Abby, it’s okay to say no to a guy when you’re not sure. That’s the only safe thing to say.”
“I think he was worried about Peter,” she said. “San Francisco was like a test. If I said I’d marry him in a week and leave Maine and all of you behind, it would mean leaving Peter and the boys behind, too. He wanted to make a clean, three-thousand-mile break.”
“Can’t blame him,” Eddie said.
“You can’t?” she faltered.
“No. I mean, if Leeanne had an old boyfriend hanging around, I’d want to get her as far away from him as I could. Right, Harv?”
Harvey said gravely, “I guess you’re right, Ed. I didn’t want a certain man to even look at Jennifer’s picture.”
Jennifer ignored that and focused on Abby. “So, you turned him down.”
“Yes. I told him I couldn’t do that. I prayed about it. I really did. In some ways, it seemed exciting and—and—I do feel strongly for him. I’m not saying he should be willing to come live in Maine and change careers or anything. I just think it’s too drastic a change for me. But I thought he’d wait to give them an answer until I gave him one.”
“He took the job for sure?” Eddie asked.
She nodded miserably. “He’s going.”
“Did he say he loves you?” Jennifer asked. Eddie thought that was a little personal, but Abby nodded and sobbed.
“He said he loves me, and if I really loved him I’d go.”
“Hoo, boy,” Harvey said. “I thought Greg was more mature than that.”
“I think—” Jennifer handed Abby a tissue, and she paused to wipe her face with it. “I think maybe I just pushed him too far with noncommitment. Is that a word? I mean, I had told him way back that I was seeing Peter, and I never told either of them I wouldn’t see anyone else. But Greg wanted an exclusive relationship. Right away.”
“But you do want to get married?” Eddie asked, trying to grasp what she really felt.
“Yes, someday, but not next week. And maybe not to him.”
“I guess the courtship period was too protracted for him,” Harvey said. “I can sort of understand it. He’s thirty-six years old. He didn’t want to dangle after you for two or three years and then have you break up with him. He wants a family.”
“I know.” Abby sobbed, and reached for another tissue. “I feel like I’ve done something awful, to him and Peter.”
“Peter doesn’t know about this, does he?” Jennifer asked.
“No, not yet. Do you think I should tell him?”
“When the opportunity arises,” said Harvey.
“I think I need to apologize to him and tell him to start looking for someone who knows what she wants.
” Abby wiped her eyes.
Harvey sneaked a look at his watch, which made Eddie look at his.
“We’re going to be late getting back,” Eddie said.
“Right.” Harvey eyed Abby. “Let’s take a minute to pray about this and let God handle it.”
They all held hands, and Harvey asked the Lord to help Abby and Greg. Then Harvey and Eddie both hugged Abby.
“We support you, Gabby Sis,” Eddie said.
“Thanks, guys.”
In the truck, Harvey said, “I hope she learns something from this and just stays out of circulation for a while.”
“You think that’s what she needs?” Eddie asked.
“I don’t know what she needs. Thank God, I’m not the one who has to know that.”
Eddie nodded, aching for Abby.
Chapter 26
They hadn’t been back in the office long before Mike called Harvey upstairs. Eddie figured he wanted an update on Hawkins. While Harvey was gone, he did some computer checks on everyone involved in the case, from Kyle Quinlan to Rooster Bentley. He even checked on Misty Carney, hoping for something. Anything. And got nothing.
When Harvey came back, Nate and Jimmy were out of the office. Harvey said, “Eddie, Tony, come here a second,” and sat down heavily in his desk chair.
Tony and Eddie walked over to his desk.
“Sit down.”
Eddie’s inner radar blipped. He took his desk chair over, and Tony sat in Harvey’s visitor chair.
“Chief Leavitt died.” Harvey looked a little gray.
“That’s too bad,” Eddie said. “You okay, Harv?”
“Yeah, it’s just … I wasn’t expecting it.” Dwight Leavitt was the previous police chief, and he had been critically injured in a car accident the summer before. Mike had been promoted as a result. Leavitt had been in the hospital for three months, then transferred to an intensive nursing facility.
Eddie said, “I knew he wasn’t recovering well, but I didn’t think he was going to die.”
“His heart finally gave out, I guess,” Harvey said. “The funeral will be at two o’clock Saturday.”
“And we’ll all be there,” Eddie added.
“Us and every other cop in Portland who’s not on duty. Lots of dignitaries, too.” Harvey smiled faintly at Tony. “Including your uncle.”
“Where is it?” asked Tony.
“Don’t know yet. They’ve got to have a pretty big hall. Other police departments will send contingents.”
“It’s not like he died in the line of duty,” Eddie said. “He was trying to miss a raccoon.”
Harvey frowned. “It’s a show of respect for his position.”
“I know.” Eddie felt guilty because he had been selfishly thinking it would ruin his Saturday with Leeanne. He sent up a silent prayer of confession for that. Maybe Leeanne would see it as a unique date.
“Mike will be expected to show support to Patsy Leavitt at the funeral,” Harvey said. “He and Sharon, and Jack and Rachel Stewart, will go to the visiting hours at the funeral home Thursday evening, and probably Friday as well. Mike will introduce all the officers that go to Mrs. Leavitt and her children.”
“That will be a huge security risk for Mike,” Eddie said.
“Yeah. I’m going to work on the schedule. It’ll be rough, but we need to be extra vigilant.”
Eddie worked all afternoon with nothing to show for it on the Quinlan case. At ten to five, Harvey told him, “Don’t forget your security detail tonight.”
“Yeah, I thought I’d get something to eat. I go on at six, right?”
“That’s right. The two patrolmen can keep an eye on the house while you and Nate escort the chief to the city council meeting.”
Eddie had just time to grab a burger and call Leeanne. He and Nate were at the chief’s house on Bingley Lane right on schedule.
“You want one of us to play chauffeur, Chief?” Eddie asked, since downtown parking was at a premium.
“No, I’ll drive,” Mike said.
He and Sharon got in Sharon’s car, and Eddie’s pickup led the way, with Nate bringing up the rear in his Stratus.
Eddie drove into the parking lot beside city hall, and a patrol officer directed him to two vacant spots they’d kept for him and the chief. Nate parked on the street.
Eddie got out and walked over to the Brownings’ car. Mike didn’t climb out until he got close and took a good look around. Eddie was glad he wasn’t showing his impetuous side tonight. Maybe the note on Sharon’s car, or the somber mood since Chief Leavitt died, had something to do with it. Nate came jogging up the sidewalk, and he nodded at Eddie.
“All set, Chief.” Eddie said.
Mike walked around the car and opened Sharon’s door. Man, they were beautiful. Eddie couldn’t help a quick comparison to his folks, who were about the same age. It wasn’t that Mike and Sharon were extraordinarily good-looking, either one of them, though both were attractive and had taken care of themselves. It was more that they were a happy couple who enjoyed being together and performing a service for others. Next to Harvey, Mike was Eddie’s hero. Okay, so he asked nutty questions and drank Moxie all the time. Everyone had their quirks.
They had decided Nate would go into the council chambers with them, and Eddie would patrol the lobby and check the parking lot now and then. If the meeting lasted more than an hour, they would swap off.
About a hundred people went in, and Jack Stewart and his wife paused to say hello to Eddie. He saw a few other people he knew—Ryan Toothaker from the Press Herald, a councilwoman he’d met in an official capacity, and the owner of a bakery downtown who had been a witness in one of his cases.
Once the chairman called order, the meeting got quiet. Eddie did a thorough check of the lobby for loiterers, located every exit just for drill, and had a look in the men’s room.
He went outside and did a survey of the parking area and street, then went back into the lobby. Repeat. After an hour, the council showed no sign of winding down. Nate sneaked out to trade with him.
“Grizzly’s fine,” Nate said. It was their illogical code name for the chief.
Eddie went in and located Mike and Sharon. Jack and Rachel were sitting next to the them in the second row. He did a quick visual sweep of the crowd. Nothing odd there. He stood against the wall in the back, where he had a clear view of Mike.
Ten minutes later, Mike was asked to say a few words. The chairman remarked that he was glad to see the chief in good health. Mike told them that he and Sharon were very thankful for the security detail, and he hoped they wouldn’t need it much longer. Jack got up and gave the council a very persuasive talk on why they needed to hire several new patrolmen and send them to the next class at the Academy. He was starting a plug for refresher training for all the officers who hadn’t had a first aid course within the last five years when Charlie Doran contacted him on his earpiece.
“Heads-up, Eddie. Miller asked me to tell you he’s got a situation in the parking lot.”
Eddie took one step outside the chamber, into the foyer. “What’s up?”
“A loiterer who might be watching the grizzly’s car. Miller’s handling it. Just stay alert.”
“Copy.”
Eddie went back in and took up a post where he could see both doors and Mike clearly. He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, with the fingers of his right hand inside his jacket, touching the butt of his service revolver.
He prayed Jack Stewart wouldn’t talk too long. When the deputy chief wound down his spiel, a couple of council members asked questions. The chairman thanked Jack, and finally the meeting closed.
Eddie strode to the front as Mike and Sharon were putting on their coats.
“I need you to stay in this room for a minute, while Miller checks out something.”
Mike raised his eyebrows. “Okay. All right if I have a word with the mayor?”
“Yes, but it would be good if you and Sharon stay close together.”
/> Less than a minute later, Nate assured him that all was well outside. Eddie informed Mike.
“Stay close to me when we go out,” he told the chief. Eddie walked out just ahead of the Brownings, on high alert.
Nate waited for them beside Mike’s car.
“Everything okay?” Eddie asked.
“Yeah, there was a guy sitting in his car with the engine running, just across from the chief’s car. I asked what he was doing, and he said he was waiting for someone in the meeting. I asked him to leave, and then I ran the plate and checked out the Browning’s vehicle, to make sure there wasn’t any funny business. Seems all right.”
“Okay. Best to be careful.” Eddie turned to Mike and Sharon. “Sounds like it’s okay to get in the car and go home.”
They did the mini motorcade in reverse, with Nate leading, Mike in the middle, and Eddie trailing.
When they got to the Brownings’ house, they checked with the patrol officers who had stayed to watch the house. Nothing odd had occurred while they were gone. Just to be sure, Eddie went inside and searched every room before Mike and Sharon went in. Then he and Nate headed home.
*****
Harvey met with Rooster Bentley, his lawyer, and the assistant district attorney Thursday morning. Rooster didn’t give them the definitive information they’d hoped for, but he told Harvey three places he’d gone to meet with Hawkins in the last month, one of them being Melanie Tucker’s apartment. The others were a bar and a pub with pool tables.
Harvey split up the unit to check out the three locations. He sent Eddie and Tony to the pub. Eddie put on his wool buffalo plaid, and Tony produced a camouflage jacket that looked like it came from army surplus. They parked Eddie’s truck a block away and walked to the pub.
Tony went to watch the pool players while casing the place for Hawkins, and Eddie sidled up to the bar. The bartender lifted his chin in Eddie’s direction.
“Hey, I’m looking for Al Hawkins,” Eddie said.
The bartender looked hard at him, and Eddie wished he’d let Tony do the asking. Maybe his undercover days really were over.
The bartender leaned toward him and said in a low tone, “You’re a cop.”
“So?”
Heartbreaker Hero: Eddie's Story (Maine Justice Book 4) Page 27
