Heat funneled to his gut and burned. He poured the next round.
“Slainte chuig na fir, agus go mairfidh na mna go deo.”
Patrick slammed it back and let the fire roll its way to his belly. He father sat the glass down with a small snap and chuckled.
“I haven’t heard that for a bit. ‘Health to the men and may the women live forever.’ This is about a woman then?”
“No.” He shot to his feet, had to stand for a bit and get his bearings. He took the two steps to the railing and held on for a moment. “Yes.”
He swung back ran a hand through his hair, “Sort of. Oh hell, I don’t know what it’s about.”
“A woman. You’re mom had me tied up in so many knots I’m not sure how I took a shit.”
“Kendal!” Aw the voice of his childhood. Only it wasn’t directed at him. It also proved she still eavesdropped. She may pretend to give the men their space, but she had to know what was going on.
“Caroline shut the door.” And so it went as it always did. And his mother never shut the door.
“Finn is involved…”
“What? Finn has a woman?”
Before he had time to answer the screen blew open and his mother stood over him like an avenging angel.
“Who is she? I will go have a little talk with her.”
“Jeez guys, if you’d let me finish. It’s not about Finn and a woman. It’s about a case that Finn wants to be involved in…” He inhaled and let his breath trickle out before he finished. “And a woman.”
This time his mother took up the third seat on the porch. “If it involves my boy Finn, I’m staying.”
Patrick sighed. He really needed his dad’s advice about Glenna. After all he’d found the perfect woman, and that’s what Patrick wanted. His mother, as mother’s can do, patted his hand and smiled then said the words that proved she’d read his mind or sigh.
“After, you can talk to your da about the woman part. Now what’s going on with Finn?”
“It’s not that easy to separate the two.”
“So it is about Finn and a woman?” His mother demanded.
“No. Well yes. No.” He shook his head. It was the whiskey on an empty stomach. “It’s about a case that Finn wants to help with, and the case involves the woman.”
His father poured another round and they did the required toasts and then he looked at Patrick. “Son are you ever going to tell us what’s going on?”
“If you’d stop liquoring me up, I might be able to.”
He sighed. “Sorry, that was uncalled for. I just don’t want Finn to be involved.”
“Why does he need to be?” His mother asked.
“I did something I promised myself I never would. I brought my work home with me. Now, though I don’t like it, Finn feels he needs to be in the middle of things so he’s prepared. And dammit I think he’s right.”
His da regarded him a moment. “You’re taking us around the bush here, you better start at the beginning.”
For the next several minutes his parents let him talk and listened intently. They were good at that. It was why he always came to them. He’d always been close to his parents, even during his rebellious teen years, which was a totally different story.
“Dear, I don’t want to worry you, but that black van just a little down the road has been there since you came. They pulled over the minute you stopped at the gate. I didn’t think much about it. And I haven’t seen anyone get out of it, and with the tinted windows I can’t see anyone in it.”
“I noticed it too, but like your mum I didn’t give it a second thought.”
Patrick resisted the urge to turn. “If they’re here that means, they’re not at the house with Glenna and Finn.”
“Your case is right about one thing. Finn needs to be informed. I also think you need to take the boy with you to this Soiree thing.” His father didn’t so-much as look in the direction of the van either. His mother was facing it.
“Maybe I better go.”
His mother placed a hand on his thigh before he stood. “They may follow you home. Wouldn’t it be prudent to let them think you’ve just gone in the house? Maybe go out the back door?”
He raised a brow at his mother, she’d been watching too much television.
“Or I’m sure your mother wouldn’t mind going back in the house and calling Finn and your case…”
“Exactly what do you mean my case? You’ve said that twice now. My case isn’t a person.”
“Yes it is. It’s this Beckett woman who owns that vintage shop in Calistoga.”
“Oh, it’s that Glenna? I didn’t put two and two together because you never said the name of the shop.” His mother said this as if he’d purposely misled her. “You need to take care of Glenna, she’s a sweetheart.”
He thought she was done, but then he saw a gleam appear in her eye and he really didn’t think he was going to like what she said.
“Dear, she’s a good girl, she’d be good for you.” Then she gasped as if, he didn’t want to think about what he was about to compare it to. “She is the WOMAN you’re in knots about, oh I love a good romance.”
“Mum.”
“Caroline, man talk! Go make that call.”
They waited until his mother disappeared into the house. They could vaguely hear her on the phone. Patrick was hard put not to turn and take a good look at the black van. But they’d know they had been spotted. He took a deep breath and resisted the urge to take another shot of his favorite whiskey. His dad didn’t offer either, he must have come to the same conclusion.
Things just got a little dicey and he would need a clear head. He just hoped it wasn’t too late for that.
“Your mother is right? Is it because of Finn? Son, the boy needs a mum. And not because you’re a single da but because the boy needs a woman to learn the softer side of life. You know? So he knows that’s it’s not all farting and scratching.”
Before Patrick could chuckle, his mother again proved she’d been listening by bellowing his father’s name.
“Quit being so nosy woman.”
“I don’t know what I feel, Da. I know that if I’m to keep my boy safe and Glenna, who I care too much for already, I have to keep my head in the game. And that means unemotional.”
“Aye, I understand where you’re coming from then.” He scratched his chin looking out over the field across the street and Patrick was proud of his will power not to turn and look to see if the vehicle was still in the same spot.
“How does she feel about you?”
Patrick grinned for the first time. “I think she has the same knots.”
“Then what the ifreann is the problem?”
“I got off on the wrong foot. I was a little cool toward her at first. She reminded me of Joyce. I thought she was going to be a spoiled, self-centered soith, and would cry over a chipped nail.”
“Nothing worse than a woman being a self-centered bitch. You were wrong?”
“Yes. They’re different as night and day.”
“And what is the problem? Did you apologize?”
“Yes. But I don’t think she wants to get involved with law enforcement and I’ve got baggage. Hell, I’m not sure I’d want me.”
“Finn is not baggage.” Now his father sound indignant instead of amused as he had been.
“Not Finn. My baggage is the fact I have an ex-wife who I initially compared her to, and not in a good way. Wasn’t the smartest thing I’d ever done.”
“What wasn’t the smartest thing, was to tell her.” He lowered his head and gave him a look that clearly made Patrick feel like he was ten again. “Does Finn like her?”
“Horace already loves her and Agnes, and I’m pretty sure Finn adores her, especially her cooking.”
“She cooks?” This with a shaggy raised brow. “Who’s Agnes?”
“She’s a great cook. Agnes is her very uppity cat who seems to tolerate Horace.”
“A new case, a new gal, and a cat.
Seems like I might as well stick a fork in you because you’re done my boy.”
“Da. I came for advice not a glib observation. I need to get going so I can get home before the van notices I’m gone.”
“I’ll be quick then. Let things work themselves out. And since I love you and Finn, I want you safe. Keep your head on the case until after, then if it’s right you’ll see things will fall into place.”
The door swung open. “That’s what happened to us dear, we were both stewing about our feelings and over thinking every little thing and it was causing all kinds of problems.”
“Knots in the gut. As soon as I threw up my hands and walked away and gave us both some space. The kinks worked themselves out.”
“Hun, I walked away.”
“No, I did. I remember I thought, this is just too much. Then I walked away and two days later I couldn’t eat or drink…” His da had a pained expression. “Son, no man should have trouble drinking. So I went back with flowers and that was all it took.”
Patrick looked at his mother who winked and shook her head a little. Apparently, there were two sides to this story. But he’d think about it later. He really needed to get home.
“I love you both, thank you.” He held the screen open a moment looking at his mum. “Call my cell if it leaves.”
Over his mother’s shoulder he’d been able to get a good look at the vehicle. It was too far to read the plates, but he knew he’d seen it a few times driving past the shop in Calistoga.
He went through the back door and raced to the end of the yard. As he leaped over the fence, memories raced through him of many a night sneaking out and even though the situation didn’t warrant the smile, he felt better for it.
*****
The walls were closing in, Glenna walked from one kitchen wall to the other. If she didn’t know better, she was positive the walls were moving in. Where the hell had Patrick gone? She’d been right, he’d felt trapped. She needed to talk to him. Make sure they devised a plan that didn’t include Finn, if that was what he wanted.
She closed her eyes a moment then when she opened them again, she started to pace again. Her stomach rolled and she resisted the urge to slap a hand over her mouth, bend at the waist, and give a silent scream.
“You can stop pacing. Nanna just called to let me know dad is over there talking to Móraí.”
Glenna turned toward the boy. “Does he always just take off like this?”
Finn grinned like it was all a joke. Kids.
“Nope. You’ve got my dad wound up like a top. He doesn’t know if he’s coming or going.” He nodded as if he had found the secret to the Holy Grail. “This is going to be fun to watch.”
A vise settled around her throat and gave a squeeze. The air left her lungs, her knees buckled and only through Finn’s fast reflexes did her butt meet a chair instead of the hard wood of the kitchen floor. Her stomach rolled and pitched. She closed her eyes and willed it to stop.
Somehow she managed to drag some air into her lungs. “What exactly do you mean wound up?”
Finn pulled a chair over so they were knee to knee and bent over until they were almost nose to nose.
“You’re not going to faint on me now are you Glenna?”
Glenna let her eyes focus on Finn and realized she loved him. Who knew you could fall in love with a child at first sight. He was a great kid. Horace picked that moment to leap with as much grace as a cannon ball into her lap causing Finn to slide his chair back in a rush.
“Horace!” Finn yelped and gently disengaged the dog from her lap.
Glenna watched all this in a numb haze. She loved the damn dog too. She wanted them for her family.
Patrick.
He was law enforcement. She swore that would never happen.
He had an ex, true she was out of the picture permanently. She’d sworn she would never do baggage.
What was she going to do?
“Damn. You’re wound up like a top too.” He chuckled.
Glenna focused in on the boy again.
“What do you mean wound up?” She repeated.
“Glenna do you love my dad?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know. I can’t love him. I’ve only known him for a heartbeat.” She felt the first drip slide down her cheek. “I love you and Horace though. But… I just can’t.”
Finn regarded her for a moment. “You can’t or won’t? You said it was a heartbeat. The heart doesn’t know time. It could take a second or years. He’s a good man Glenna and he deserves a good woman and…” He slid his chair in again. “…you both deserve to be happy.”
Glenna thought about it. She couldn’t let anything happen until after they found the murderers. Alex deserved to have justice brought against her killers. Her parents needed closure.
“I know my dad well enough that I can tell you he won’t let himself or you get emotional while we’re on Operation Find Lance.” He’d been tuned into her thoughts. He patted her knee. “You have time to mull this over, Glenna.”
She felt herself melt a little more this amazing and wise boy. “How old are you, again?”
He drew away a bit. “Sixteen, why?”
“You’re pretty wise for a sixteen year old. How did that happen?”
“I don’t know, maybe it’s because dad treats me like an equal, most of the time, instead of a kid. But I’m not wise, I just know my dad. He won’t let anything get to him when he’s on a case.”
“Well, good to know.”
Finn’s cell rang, he pulled it out of his pocket, “Nanna, what’s up?”
He listened for a moment and then said good bye. He drew in a breath, stood and walked to the window.
“We need to watch for dad, and make sure he wasn’t followed.”
Glenna stood from her chair so fast her head swam, her vision blurred. She stilled for a moment then went to stand next to her Finn.
“Why are we looking this way?” The view was over the back yard and not the street.
“He’s coming the back way, he went through their back door so the black van doesn’t realize he’s gone.”
“What black van? What’s going on?”
“Nanna said that they noticed a van when Dad got there and it stayed so Dad went through the house and out the back.”
“Finn, this isn’t good. That means they found where I’m at, you’re in danger. Maybe it would be better to have you stay with your grandparents.”
“Not a chance.”
Before she could argue, his phone rang again.
“What’s wrong? Was that your dad on the phone?”
“It was nanna again. The van left.”
“That’s good?” Dread ran over her. “No, they’re coming here.”
“I think so.”
“Did your nanna let him know?”
“I’m sure she did. As soon as I see the van though, I’ll let him know.”
Glenna ran to the front to watch for the van while Finn kept watch over the back yard. Five minutes went by, then ten and neither the van nor Patrick appeared.
“This is not good,” Finn called from the other room.
She couldn’t speak, she swallowed and finally managed a weak, “I know.”
Chapter Twelve
Patrick bent, placed hands on knees and took a deep breath. Well, tried to anyway. He wasn’t sure how he’d managed to get so out of shape. True, they’d pulled him off any interesting cases because he’d taken charge in the last investigation and hadn’t followed protocol. The victim came out with hardly a scratch, he wasn’t sure the woman would be alive if he followed protocol, so yeah he got his ass chewed and put on frou-frou duty for six months, he’d do it again. If it meant he saved a life.
He couldn’t think about that now, he had to get home to Finn and Glenna. They were vulnerable. At least they knew what was going on. Dammit everyone was right, Finn had to be informed.
Never again would he bring a case home with him. Even if that case was a beautiful brunett
e with…
He stilled. There was someone coming. He was in the middle of a damn field, the grass was high, but not that high. He was bent, and but not out of sight, but if he straightened they see him like a Jack-in-box pop up.
This is what happens when you’re distracted dumb ass.
Blowing the air out of his lungs he made the decision to stay as he was. Keeping his head as still as possible he tried to look around. With his line of vision there wasn’t much he could see, but he could hear.
They were coming up behind him. He’d been wrong, he’d been the vulnerable one and he’d let the bastards get the upper hand. His muscles bunched without any instructions from his brain. He drew in a breath and straightened. And began to walk in the way he had been headed.
He would let them think he was clueless of their presence, when every instinct told him to run or confront. He continued one foot in front of the other.
Closer. They were gaining on him, he could tell there were at least two. The crunch of grass was too loud for just one.
“We’re a coward then?” English accent.
Sucking air into his lungs he controlled his turn slow and measured. There were four.
Four.
Big was the first word that came to mind. Not that Patrick was small, since he was from good highland stock on his mum’s side and Irish rugby stock on his da’s, but his six foot three inches, and what he liked to think full of solid muscle, wouldn’t be a match to four of the same.
He would not show fear.
“Coward?” he hoped he growled.
He stood his ground, let them take the lead. He refused to lose control and rush in halfcocked. Patrick took stock of each of them. One lanky, most likely a runner, fast. One solid muscle, body builder slow. One running a little chunky around the middle, probably the brains, again slow. The last one was a combination of lanky with muscle, he would be the toughest one.
Finn… He purposely cleared his mind. People were depending on him to stay calm, clear, and stay alive. Think.
He hadn’t moved and neither had they. Staring contest then. It had probably only been a few seconds, but time seemed to be running in slow motion. His mind wasn’t though, and they were at least giving him time to run through all the scenarios the four of them presented. He didn’t have any form physical weapon, his brain would be the weapon at hand.
Abandoned (The Beckett Series Book 6) Page 12
