by Lori Leger
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Nash.” She turned toward Mike Harper. “Good to see you again, Detective.”
He nodded. “Sarah, Nash is about the best body guard in the state of Texas, and he’s offered to take over watching out for you once you’re released from the hospital.”
“Oh … ” Sarah raised deep brown eyes to Liam’s again. “But, I can’t pay!”
He shook his head. “No charge, ma’am. It would be my pleasure to keep you and your beautiful daughters safe. Detective Harper has already apprised me of the situation with your husb … uh … your ex.”
Sarah pulled her daughter closer with her one good arm. “But, why would you do this for a stranger?”
Nash gave her a sad smile. “Because it’s the right thing to do, ma’am; and since I work for myself, I can tell the boss to kiss my ass anytime I like,” he said, giving her a wink. When her frown didn’t dissipate, he turned serious. “Look Sarah, I do work for myself and I didn’t have anything on the books right now. I just spent two months babysitting a spoiled little rich girl for a major amount of money. Because of that, I can afford to do a pro bono case right now. It would be a real treat for me to do something that’ll make me feel good about myself.”
Sarah looked to Mike for an answer.
Mike nodded. “He’s a good man, Sarah. I’ve known him for a long time. And you were right about us not being able to watch you all the time once you get out of here. This is the perfect solution.”
Sarah closed her eyes and dropped her head forward. “I don’t even have a place to stay,” she whispered. “My girls and I were staying at the women’s shelter.”
“I’m working on that,” Mike said. “I’ve still got a few calls to make.” He seated himself next to the young mother on the couch. “Sarah, I know you might have trouble trusting after all you’ve been through, but between Nash and me, we’ll take good care of you and the girls. I know good people in Lake Coburn…people who are in the position to help you.”
Officer Finley stepped up. “I’ve already asked the captain to let me work your case if he can spare me.”
Sarah looked up at the other three adults in the room. “I haven’t felt this—cared for—in a long time.” She wiped the tears from her eyes and released a long sigh. “Thank you … Thank all of you.” She looked at Liam Nash and nodded. “We’re in your hands.”
By the time Liam stepped back out to the hallway, he thought he had a better grip on the situation. He’d asked Sarah dozens of questions and gleaned as much information about her and her ex as he thought was significant. Mike followed him out, closing the door behind him.
“What do you think, Nash?”
“I think I’ll kill the bastard if he tries to get to her.”
The door opened once more and Mel Finley stepped out to join them in the hallway. “Harper, do you really have some leads on a place for her and the girls to stay?”
Mike nodded. “I have an idea. Like I said, I need to make some calls first.” He watched the officer throw a furtive glance toward Nash. “I’m sorry, I forgot to introduce you two, didn’t I? Mel, this is Liam Nash, an old friend of mine and an excellent private investigator and bodyguard. Nash, this is one of the department’s best officers, Mel Finley.”
Nash’s gaze landed on those beautiful eyes again, this time long enough to study the color. Her irises weren’t green at all but a bluish-green, lined with a ring of dark blue, and flecked with gold throughout. He nodded. “Good to meet you, Officer Finley.”
Melanie gazed into the face of Liam Nash. “Same here,” she said, extending her hand to one of the handsomest men she’d ever seen.
“Your eyes,” he murmured, “the color is extraordinary.”
She laughed nervously. “Thank you.” She fidgeted with her belt buckle. “I think I’ve seen you before,” she commented, knowing that was an out and out lie. She knew she’d seen him before. She’d lusted after the man from afar at Annie McAllister’s wedding, but he’d been too wrapped up in a tall brunette to notice her. “I believe it was at a wedding last year.”
He nodded. “That would have been Annie and Drake’s wedding.” He cocked his head to the side marveling that he hadn’t noticed her there. “Were you at the reception too?”
She nodded. “I was in the wedding party.” She laughed at his frown of concentration. “Relax Mr. Nash, you probably wouldn’t recognize me as the same person in that dress she picked out for me.”
Nash smiled. “You live here in Lafayette?”
“A little south, in a suburb called Maurice. You’ve probably never even heard of it.”
Nash gave her a crooked grin. “South on one sixty-seven, home of the World Famous City Bar, not to mention Hebert’s Specialty Meats, where they sell the best stuffed chickens I’ve ever tasted.” His deep chuckle resonated throughout the hallway. “Oh yeah, I’ve heard of, as well as have been to Maurice, Officer Finley. Passed through it on the way over here. It’s grown a lot even in the year I’ve been gone.”
“We can thank urban sprawl.” She turned her attention back to Mike. “So who are you making those phone calls to, Harper? Is it anyone I know?”
“You know Annie’s brother, Red McAllister?” he asked.
“Sure, I know Red. I don’t know Tiffany that well, but she seems sweet,” she said.
“I’m going to ask Red and Tiffany to let them stay in their home, at least until her ex is behind bars. They have a whole wing not being used in their place out in the country.”
Melanie nodded her approval. “The McAllister’s are good people, and I imagine Red will help any way he can.”
Mike nodded. “Glad you approve.”
Melanie started at the sound of Nash clearing his throat and addressing her.
“Excuse me Officer Finley, but you seem to be particularly interested in this case. Is the vic also someone you knew previously?”
“No, sir, it’s just that I was there when we got the call from the neighbors about Sarah and the babies. I saw what kind of shape she was in. You can probably tell from the still visible cuts and bruises that her husband worked her over pretty good.” She paused to get a grip on the too vivid memories that came flooding back. “I know Sarah still seems thin, but, believe me, you’re seeing the fattened up version of her.”
Mike grunted in agreement. “She’s right, Nash. That poor girl had easily dropped ten pounds because she nursed her two babies until her body shut down on her.”
Nash nodded. “Now that I see that little lady and her two daughters—” He also paused, seeming to have to deal with the image, “I can well understand that the sight of those three in that situation would have tugged at even the most hardened officer’s heart strings.” To Melanie’s shock, he sent her a direct gaze. “And although you seem well-trained and thorough, you don’t seem all that hardened.”
“I was raised in an abusive household, Mr. Nash. It’s made me harder than you might think. Regardless, once they leave here, if there’s anything at all I can do, or i-if you need any help,” she stammered. “I guess what I’m saying is, I’m available. To assist you in any way. With Sarah and the girls, I mean,” she finished in a flustered voice. She shifted her gaze up to Mike’s curious expression. “I mean on my days off, Harper.”
Mike’s expression was smug. “Didn’t doubt it for a moment.”
She nodded. “You’re not relieving me early, are you?”
“No, I’ll be back at six in the morning to take over,” he said.
Melanie pointed to the door. “Then I’ll go back inside with them.” She ducked quickly back into the room, thankful to escape the presence of the two men, and mortified at her school girl crush behavior.
She locked the door from the inside and turned to lean against it, fanning her face. When she noticed Sarah eyeing her warily, she pulled herself together.
“Okay, it’s Sammi’s turn now, right?” she said, as Sarah agreed. Melanie had just settled herself beside her to get the ba
by placement situation under control when she realized Sarah was crying. “Oh God, are you in pain? Do you need me to call the nurse?”
Sarah sniffed noisily and grabbed for a tissue. “I’m just so relieved.” She lowered her face into her daughter’s golden curls and sobbed. “I didn’t know what we were going to do, Mel. People at the shelter are very nice, but it’s hard not having any family or friends around, you know?”
Melanie placed a gentle hand on her arm. “I know you didn’t want to contact your brother, but maybe it’s time.”
Sarah closed her eyes and shook her head. “No! I don’t want Mitch bothered with this.”
Melanie sighed and passed her fingers through Sammi’s curls. “Even if you don’t tell him what’s going on? Maybe it’ll make you feel better to hear his voice.”
“If I hear his voice, I’ll break down. I know I will.” Sarah wiped her eyes and lifted her chin. “Besides, I’m over it, and I want a change of subject,” she said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. “What’s the deal with that Liam Nash guy? You’re obviously attracted to him.”
Melanie stared, dumbfound at the other woman. “Of course I’m attracted to him. You saw him! Who wouldn’t be?”
Sarah raised her shoulders in a shrug. “I’m not.”
“Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. He does nothing for me.”
“Yeah, but you’re medicated, and probably leery of all men right now, which is totally understandable.”
“Well, yeah,” Sarah admitted. “I can’t deny any of that, but when I look at him … Nothing. Now when you look at him, I can almost feel the air crackle with electricity,” she said.
Melanie rolled her eyes. “Oh please.”
Liam held the door opened to the elevator so an older woman could exit before he stepped inside. He pushed the button that said LOBBY, and stepped back with his arms crossed. “You know, every time you spoke about Officer Finley, I pictured a guy.”
Mike’s head jerked in mild surprise. “Really? Why would you think that?”
Nash looked over at the other man. “You never mentioned anything other than the name Mel, and I took it to be a man’s name. I was shocked as hell when I met her.”
“Why wouldn’t you take it to be short for Melanie, or Melody? You know, like that actress, Mel Harris,” Mike suggested.
“Or it could have been a guy’s name; you know, like Mel Gibson, Mel Torme, Mel Brooks, or Mel’s Diner,” Nash added. “It may have even helped if you had uttered, even once, the words her or she.”
“I guess you’re right,” Mike snorted. “Huh, all of those sexism and sexual harassment classes paid off. I don’t even think of Mel as a woman; I think of her as a damn good cop.”
“You’re joking, right?” Nash exclaimed.
Mike shrugged. “Mel came to the department as a rookie five years ago and proved early on to be an asset. She’s a hell of a shot, a master at hand to hand, and a magician with a computer.”
Nash nodded as he mentally filed away that information. In his job, it was beneficial to have friends with abilities.
Troy pulled his baseball cap lower on his head and stood staring at the closed hospital door. He’d seen the female cop come out of the room and slide her security card in the automatic locking mechanism. After hearing the tell-tale click of the lock, she’d walked away. He watched as she spoke quietly to the nurse, who then escorted her toward the centralized station at the intersection of hallways.
Knowing she wouldn’t be gone long enough for him to attempt to disengage the lock, he satisfied himself with staring at the door that kept the room’s occupants away from him. When he heard the sharp clip of the lady cop’s footsteps just moments later, he walked to the supply closet he’d hidden in for the past two hours and stepped inside.
Once it was safe, he left the closet and slipped out of the hospital the same way he’d slipped inside earlier, completely unobserved. He’d hoped to get his hands on her … Force her to leave town with him. He could see now that was impossible. He’d have to disappear for a while; possibly a long while, until he could relocate and get on his feet again.
He walked back to the truck he’d borrowed, smiling smugly to himself. He had friends who could help him disappear; the kind of friends who would make that wife of his wish she’d never been born—if he asked them to.
CHAPTER 12
“Hold on, Mom,” Angelique said, as the distinctive beep signaled an incoming call. Checking her caller ID, she smiled. “I’m gonna let you go now, Mama. I love you.” She took a deep breath and accepted the call. “Hey, Mike.”
“Hey Angel, how was the shopping?”
“I hit some great sales on accessories and business clothes. I had a good day, and met some rather interesting people.” Bypassing the sour disappointment of meeting Tanner’s parents, she got up to pour herself a cup of freshly steeped tea before pushing on. “How was your day, and how are the young mother and her daughters?”
Mike gave a grunt of satisfaction as he recalled today’s events. “Things are finally looking up for her, thanks to Liam and some good friends of ours,” he boasted. “Liam has volunteered to give her and the girls free bodyguard protection.”
She settled herself comfortably on the couch. “That’s fabulous! He certainly seems to have the free time on his hands.”
“He also has the funds, thanks to his wealthy clients.”
His prolonged pause followed by a loud sigh caught her attention. “What’s wrong?”
“Aw, hell…maybe I should leave the department to do something more lucrative.”
“But, I thought you loved your job,” she said.
“I do, and the majority of us are like family. But I see myself in another thirty, or forty years with the same pitiful amount in my personal savings account, a pension plan that won’t provide, and relying on some form of crappy government health care.” He passed a hand over his face. “It doesn’t seem like it’s enough … ”
“Enough for what, Mike?”
“For anyone else. I can’t imagine my salary being enough to take care of a family.”
Angelique sensed the hesitation in his reply and wished she could give this wonderful man the answer he wanted. “It’ll be more than enough for the lucky woman who ends up with you, Michael Harper, whoever that may be.” She changed the subject quickly. “Now which good friends of ours, other than Liam, are helping Sarah and her girls?”
“Red and Tiffany McAllister offered to let her and the girls stay at their place for as long as she needed.”
Angelique laughed. “That should be an interesting household for a while with three infants under the same roof.”
“It would be, but Red’s father-in-law came up with an even better suggestion. Sarah and her daughters will be staying with them. They live just down the road from Red and Tiff’s place.”
“I’ve been there! That’s where Tiffany’s baby shower was held. They even have a nursery set up already with two cribs…one for Briana and one for Annie and Drake’s baby when it comes.”
“That’s what Daniel said. They have plenty of room for them and Liam, too. Plus, he’s retired, so he’s home more to help keep watch over them. His wife, Leah, trains horses on the ranch, and she claims horses make excellent burglar alarms.”
“The two of them are going to adore having those babies underfoot. They’re already doting grandparents to Briana.” Angelique placed her cup on the end table then sat back to put her feet up. “I’m glad things are working out for her. Do her spirits seem to be up?”
“She’s so grateful, Angel. I don’t think Sarah’s the type of person who’s ever relied on others for help. Can you imagine how difficult it must be for her to trust virtual strangers, especially considering what she’s been through? Mel Finley wants to stick particularly close to this case.”
“It’s a woman thing,” she replied. “We can’t look at another woman in that horrible situation and resist the urge to give some
kind of comfort.”
“Hey, did you always know that Mel was a woman?”
Angelique tapped her teeth with her fingernail. “Maybe not the first couple of times, but I figured it out eventually.”
“Can you tell me what gave it away?” he asked her.
Angelique concentrated, trying to remember the situation. “You must have finally let a ‘her’ or ‘she’ slip, somewhere in there. You’re not much for using pronouns, though. You generally just say Mel, which I assume is short for Melanie. Why?” she asked, as his deep rumble of laughter carried over the phone.
“After Nash met her today, he said he’d been surprised, because he assumed Mel was a guy from what I’d told him.”
“That really doesn’t surprise me, because when you talk about Mel, she’s just another cop.” She smiled at his grunt of acceptance. “Well, I sure hope things work out for them. Please tell her I’d like to help in any way I can.”
“She needs to relocate and she’ll need a job once she’s recovered and we’ve caught her ex. She’s trained in office administration and worked three years previously at a hospital. Think you could keep your eyes and ears open for leads?”
“I may be able to do better than that,” she said. “I’ll get back to you.” Mike couldn’t possibly know that the previous call from her mother already had her considering taking the job in Lafayette her boss had offered. Her mom would need hip surgery and her dad needed a knee replacement. Angelique had pictured the endless driving back and forth from Lake Coburn to Lafayette while looking for someone to take her place. She was dreading it with a passion.
“I’m going to see my parents tomorrow. You want to come for lunch?” she asked.
“Can I bring something?”
“Mama said just yourself, but daddy said if you had any of that homemade blackberry wine of yours, he’d sure like a bottle.”
The next afternoon, Mike, Angelique, and her parents all sat inside the old couple’s glassed in back porch, enjoying the bright sunshine of the clear, cloudless sky—a rarity for a late winter afternoon in south Louisiana.
Angelique watched as a pair of squirrels frolicked on the branch of the old oak tree in the back yard. She smiled at the memory of her father climbing that tree to attach a rope for the tire swing she’d spent countless hours on. She shifted her gaze to him, thinking it was difficult to imagine, knowing the trouble his knees gave him these days.
