Abandoned (The Beckett Series Book 6)

by Mary Martinez

  He took a few steps to where they both seemed rooted to the spot and threw an arm around both of them and pulled in. “Group hug.”

  Glenna stepped into the hug and put her arms around her two men. That was the moment that no matter what the next week brought, she knew she’d spend her life with Patrick and Finn.

  “Dinner?” Finn asked.

  “Your dad said you carbed up with the team. We were going to meet you at the café.”

  Glenna went to the fridge to check the ingredients, she could throw together a descent pasta dish. When she straightened she realized two things, Patrick hadn’t moved and he looked as if he been poleaxed.

  “You okay, Dad?” Finn beat her to asking.

  Only then did he seem to take in what was going on around him.

  “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a family.”

  “What? I’m your family.” Finn ruffled the dog’s hair. “Come on Horace, let’s get you fed.”

  Patrick still didn’t move, but watched his son leave the room. Then his eyes followed Glenna’s movements as she tossed a salad. Patrick had talked about her and his heart and the big fiancée plan and making it real. She had an idea the full impact of the change in his life had just hit him.

  Glenna divided her attention between the man who seemed to be running over the meaning of his life and throwing together a nutritious meal for an active growing boy. And then it struck her. She was a Mom. Her life was forever changed.

  In a good way. She grinned. Life was good. She let Patrick have his space. Set the table even though she needed to walk around him, in the process. By the time Finn returned, dropped his bag next the kitchen door dinner was ready. She placed the salad in the middle of the table and Finn grabbed the bowl of pasta and placed it next to it.

  “Dinner’s ready dad. Dad? You alright? You haven’t moved, you turn into a statue or something?”

  Patrick blinked looked around as if being in a daze for a month. He finally moved, but it wasn’t to take a seat as Glenna expected. He took two steps until he was between the two of them. As Finn had earlier he placed an arm around both of them and pulled in.

  “You two are the most important people in my life. I promise that I will keep you both safe.” He dropped a kiss on both of their foreheads. “Thank you. Now let’s eat.”

  And he let them go and took his seat.

  “Jeez Dad, I’m too old to be kissed by my dad.” He wiped his forehead off, but Glenna could tell, the boy was touched by his dad’s gesture.

  “You eat up, Finn. You need your energy for the big game tonight.” Glenna settled into her chair and dished up a portion of salad and passed the bowl to Patrick. “Patrick you’ll have to give me a brush up on the game, I haven’t been to one since high school.”

  “You went to the games?” Finn asked.

  “Don’t talk with your mouth full, Son.”

  “I was a cheerleader. Mostly I had my back to the game. But I remember a thing or two.”

  “Rebekah is a cheerleader also. She said we have the game in the bag.”

  Patrick chuckled. “She have a crystal ball or something?”

  “No, her friend goes to the other school and she said their team sucks.”

  Glenna grinned and then realized both the guys had on a red tee with black lettering an A and C interlaced for American Canyon High School. She looked down at her green blouse.

  “Either of you have a school shirt I can borrow?”

  Patrick was about to say something, but Finn jumped up, two moments later he came in and handed her a black tee with the lettering in red.

  “Dad shrunk it and I can’t wear it anymore.”

  Patrick just grinned and shrugged as if to say what can you do?

  And so the meal went until they’d cleaned up. Before long, the animals were kenneled and they were in the car on the way to the big game. All in team colors and flying high on team spirit. As they passed Fortworth lane, she glanced over and sure enough the same van was parked where it had been earlier.

  “Oh, I forgot.” Glenna said.

  “What?” Patrick didn’t take his eyes off the road.

  “I was going to call Beckworth and let him know about the van, and ask him to check on the house.”

  “What van?” Finn wanted to know.

  Silence followed his question for so long, Glenna didn’t think Patrick was going to answer. But then he frowned and tossed a look in the rearview mirror to see Finn.

  “Glenna noticed there was a van similar to the one those guys had the other day. They were just down the road this morning when she took you to school.”

  “They were still there when I went to the store and though they’d moved by the time I returned they were still watching.”

  “Glenna has the art in her bag.”

  “What? Is that safe?”

  “Safer than leaving it at the house while we’re gone.”

  “That’s why you kenneled the animals.”

  Patrick nodded. “Don’t worry about Beckworth and Jones, I called while you were changing earlier to let them know we’d had company all afternoon. They’re going to send a few patrols throughout the night.”

  “They’re not going to break in the front.”

  “Yeah, Dad. I would bet they go the back way.” Finn lifted a shoulder. Placed a hand on the front seat to lean forward as best he could in a seat belt. “I told Rebekah to try and be positioned in front of you guys. You both better cheer loud.”

  Subject officially changed, Glenna felt a wave of relief. Tonight she’d think about the game and be a part of the family. She knew that Patrick’s parents would be there, she imagined they would all sit together in a show of support.

  Several minutes later, her hunch was proved right. The McGinnis’ had saved their seats. It seemed they’d been running later than she thought because Finn barely had time to run off and change to be on the field and the game was underway. Game Time!

  Memories of another time in Brooklyn washed over her. She hadn’t realized how much she missed home. Oh, she was going to enjoy this.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Patrick kept his attention divided between the game and scanning the area for something out of place, like four men in black. Though he knew they’d have no reason to confront him or Glenna in such a public and crowded area. Didn’t mean there weren’t there. He wouldn’t know them if he saw them without their ski masks. Jostled out of his thoughts, he grinned.

  Glenna jumped to her feet, cupped her hands like a cone around her mouth to help the sound carry and yelled at the top of her lungs. “Are you freakin’ blind? 57 grabbed his facemask!”

  His mother leaned back and smiled at him. “I like her.”

  At least his parents seemed to be taking their coupleness at face value.

  “It’s a good thing you do,” he said.

  Before his mother could reply, Glenna had plopped into her seat with a disgruntled, “Dumb officials.”

  “I say that every game, dear.” Kendal leaned forward to answer.

  Patrick smiled, Glenna was thoroughly engrossed in the game. That warmed his heart. He wished he didn’t have to keep on the alert for anyone suspicious.

  “Don’t let them ruin the game. This is Finn’s night.” Glenna had placed a hand on his leg. “Don’t…”

  Glenna jumped to her feet again. “Go American Canyon!”

  Patrick saw the rest of the play. A touchdown. AC seventeen, the opponent six. The rest of the game went by fast. Glenna made sure he kept his attention where it should be.

  His mother grabbed Patrick’s arm as she stood. “Come on.”

  The four of them started toward the field looking for Finn in the melee of American Canyon students who’d stormed the field after the game. They were also currently trying to pull the goal posts down in a victory celebration. There was his boy, pride rushed over him. So tall and handsome in his dirty uniform. He’d played hard.

  “Dad, Glenna, Nanna,
Móraí,” Finn called out.

  He rushed toward them. He launched himself at Patrick, knocking him a step back.

  “We’re going to the championships.”

  He hugged his grandparents, then turned to Glenna. “I’m so glad you were able to come tonight. Especially now.”

  “Why now?” Caroline asked but his mom had a smile as if she knew what was coming next.

  “Because Glenna is going to be my mom!” As he said it he drew Glenna in for a one armed hug. “Isn’t that awesome.”

  “I’m so psyched about winning, I just have something to say. Dad you know I love you, you’ve been both mother and father to me, and Nanna and Móraí have always been there for me. I have always had food on the table, a roof over my head. I’m getting a great education at American Canyon High, they have wonderful instructors. And if that isn’t enough, now I’m blessed to have the best woman stepping in to be my mom. I’ve had a good life.”

  Patrick thought his chest was going to burst with pride. Glenna’s and his mother’s eyes, glistened, and his dad was about to pop with the same pride.

  Finn had kept his arm around Glenna’s shoulder and took the opportunity to turn her and begin to lead the way to the parking lot. Patrick took a step to follow and froze. To the side of the vehicles stood four men, though it was still a good distance away, even without the masks, he’d known their body types and builds. After all he’d spent some quality time having the shit beat out of him by them.

  After a moment Glenna halted their progress and looked over her shoulder at him.

  “Patrick, are you coming?”

  He glanced at her, seeing that she was watching him in puzzlement. Then he looked past her and realized his parents were almost to the vehicles and thank God the four men had disappeared. They’d made sure he’d seen them though.

  He managed a small smile for Glenna. He took two steps to her threw an arm around her so she was sandwiched between him and his son. “Let’s go home and celebrate young Finn’s win.”

  “Your parents said they’re tired so they’re going on home. Though they did make me promise to drop by before we leave.”

  “Okay,” Patrick answered absently.

  “What?”

  As much as he wanted to keep her in the dark, he’d promised not to, and Finn needed to know. In fact, maybe he could miss one extra day of school and not go back until they were back from New York, the plan was to have everything resolved and he’d be safe.

  “What are you thinking about so keenly?”

  He sighed. “We’ll talk at home and I’ll explain.”

  She was plainly puzzled. After all, in her mind nothing had happened on the case since they’d left the van watching the house.

  The drive home was a jumble of noise from Finn, as much as Patrick tried to pay attention, his mind kept going back to the four.

  He’d most likely be making a call to Glenna’s brother and or sister.

  “Dad, look the van is gone.”

  Finally something that Finn said startled him out of his musings.

  “I hope we don’t find a mess at home.” Glenna kept looking down each street or into each field as if they’d be parked in the middle of one.

  “No, Beckworth would have called us.”

  “If they actually did their job.” Glenna turned in her seat to look at him. “They’re not the brightest stars, you know.”

  “Yeah.” Finn agreed from the back.

  Patrick told the two to wait in the car a moment. He walked around the house to make sure nothing was out of place. He checked the ground under all the windows. Nothing disturbed. He held up a hand to intake they needed to wait a bit longer while he checked the interior, though he didn’t expect to find anything.

  When they entered, Glenna went straight to the table to pull her laptop out without damaging the frame and art that she didn’t want to remove.

  “Where’s Finn going?” He asked as the boy rushed by him.

  “He’s letting the kids out of their kennels.”

  A bark and a loud hiss followed Glenna’s words. Louder was the crash and then Horace shot into the kitchen faster than she’d ever seen him move, Agnes hot on his tail.

  Finn wandered in a second later. “I think they had words. They were staring daggers at each other when I went in to let them out. Man, they’re just like siblings.”

  He shook his head in wonder. Then pinned his dad with a stare, the likes of many Glenna had seen from his father.

  “You didn’t hear a word I said about the game.”

  Glenna glanced between the two men. “I think your dad has something to tell us.”

  She stood and went to the coffee pot, seemed like they were going to need something with caffeine.

  “Glenna is correct, have a seat and I’ll tell you what I have learned.”

  “When?” Glenna and Finn chorused.

  “From the game.”

  “What?” Again the question was chorused.

  “I saw the four in the parking lot after the game. They were gone by the time we got to the cars.”

  “What?” another chorus.

  He frowned at her as she placed the cup of coffee in front of him. “If you two would stop interrupting me, I’ll explain.”

  Glenna patted Finn’s shoulder as she passed behind him to her chair. She sipped, not saying a word. Finn sipped his hot chocolate, which he’d made himself in the microwave.

  “Anyway, since they were there, they weren’t here, which is why the place hasn’t been ransacked.” He turned to Finn and the love that shown warmed her heart. “And I have a dad thing going on, meaning I’ve learned over the years to hear the important things my son has to say, even if I’m also mulling over a case.”

  Finn gave him a skeptical look, then grinned. “If you say so, Dad.”

  “Really? You regaled us on how your catch was the pivotal moment of the game.” He held up his hand to interrupt whatever his son was about to say. “To which, I full heartedly agree. I’m very proud of you son.”

  Patrick paused a moment to beam at his son, Glenna’s heart melted a little more.

  “As I was saying, there was something about the four. It was obvious they were watching us. In plain sight. Safe in the thought that they were wearing masks I wouldn’t recognize them. But I memorized everything I could about them as the four of them were beating me to a pulp.”

  Glenna shuddered at the image his words brought to her mind. She reached for her phone. “I’m calling Reagan.”

  Patrick hissed out his breath. “Good, I thought you were going to call Beckworth and Jones.”

  “I’m pretty sure we’ve established the pair of them are rather worthless, Dad.”

  Patrick laughed.

  “It’s on speaker.”

  “Do you fucking know what time it is?”

  Glenna, winced. She’d forgotten. “Sorry, Reagan, I didn’t think. We have a break in the case. Oh, and Finn’s here.”

  “Glenna, I’ve heard the F word before.” Amusement laced Finn’s words.

  “Sorry Finn. So what is up?” The next words were muffled as her sister apparently told her husband who’d been rude enough to call in the middle of the night. “It’s Glenna.”

  “I believe, and it’s not just a hunch, I’m all but ninety-nine percent sure we saw the ring of art thieves or gang whatever they call themselves.”

  “You believe, not just a hunch? Did you see them or not. I thought they all had ski masks on.”

  “They did, but they couldn’t mask their body builds, height weight all that, if you know what I mean. When someone is coming at you with the intent to kill or maim…” Glenna heard his indrawn breath. “…you remember the every detail about your attackers.”

  “Agreed. Where did you see them?”

  “Finn’s regional final football game.”

  “What? Why would they be there? They just showed up out of the blue?”

  Patrick waved her to let him speak, he ran t
hrough the events since the hospital, or rather the van’s close proximity to everywhere they went.

  “At first I didn’t notice them. As we walked toward our cars I noticed these four guys were just standing there staring at us. So I stared back and took in their stances, builds, etc. The fact activity played out all around them, yet they were focused on our small little group as we neared. I felt fear in my gut that my family was going to be hurt. I glanced to Finn to answer a question when I looked back to where they’d been seconds before, they were gone. For a moment I thought I’d imagined seeing them. Until I saw the ever present van peeling out of the parking lot.”

  “Oh, I saw that. I meant to mention it,” Finn said. “By the time we got to the car though, I had already forgotten—lost in the moment of winning I guess.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Finn, it sounds like the vehicle has turned into a fixture, which is what they want. They want all of you to know they’re watching and become so blasé about them, so it’s no longer a distraction. They want to throw you off then they can sneak in and snatch the painting.”

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  “Now if we could put names to their builds.”

  And then sounding like he was moving around as he spoke, Paco said, “there were four of them when you were jumped the other day?”

  Glenna felt bad, it was so late, or early in the morning in D.C. where Reagan and Paco lived most of the time. He was probably making coffee.

  “Yet there were only three during the break in.”

  A pause. Reagan must be thinking. That always boded ill for the bad guys. Glenna grinned. Patrick gave her a curious look but didn’t comment. Instead he answered Reagan, though it was more a statement.

  “Yes, one of the four that day was short, a little chubbier and definitely not an exercise buff of any kind. I think he was probably the driver the night of the break in. He was also the coward who held my arms.”

  “He held your arms, Dad? What a bas…” Finn chanced a look at Glenna. “What scum. You could have been killed.”

  “I have two strong legs, and I used them to my advantage, with him as leverage.” He had been staring at the phone as if he could see Reagan and Paco. Now he looked his son in the eyes. “I’m fine.”