by Kathryn Shay
“I didn’t tell you because I rejected her suggestion outright, told her we were through and not to come home.”
“She didn’t get the message, then.”
“No.”
“Where’s she living?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “She stayed in a hotel for a few nights. Then Cassie wanted her to come home, but I was damned if I’d let her take over the house. The kids. Two days ago, though, she showed up with all her stuff. I put her in the bedroom in the basement with a private entrance.”
“Sounds like you’re poised for a little hanky-panky.”
He slapped his hand on the table. “Don’t do that. Make light of this. I’m struggling for equilibrium. At home and at work. Cory’s ignoring Lisa but I can tell he’s hurt, Cassie’s delighted to have her back, but Carina’s a mess and I’m afraid this will push her over the edge.”
He didn’t expect the moisture in Anabelle’s eyes. She took his hand. “I’m sorry. I’m losing it today.”
Squeezing her fingers across the table, he said, “I am, too. But you and I have to stick together through all this.”
* * *
Two days later. Anabelle had gotten her shit together some, had one counseling session with Jack, which was brutal, and tried to help her team pick up the pieces.
However, right now, she had a meeting at police headquarters with the task force and the brass. When she walked into the Chief’s conference room with her group, she found Chief Jaspers, Deputy Chief Jamie Landers and Mayor Daniels in attendance. They sat at an oval table.
Jaspers said, “Good morning everyone.” Anabelle noticed his face was lined with fatigue and worry. It hit her how hard this was for him, too.
“We have a plan ready to present to you. We think it addresses all the issues. Chief Landers is point person on this, so I’ll turn it over to her.”
Jamie was a great cop. Now forty-five, she’d soared in every job she had. She’d made it to her position with hard work. She was also a nice person and had asked them to call her by her first name.
“Hi, all. I’ll get right to it. You said you needed more woman or man power. We’re providing it.” She turned her gaze on Anabelle. “Your team will double its members, but all the new additions need to be trained.”
“How will they train?”
“I need suggestions from you all.” Jamie continued. “We’ll work on increasing SWAT, too, so there’s less lag time. But not until the new budget passes this spring. We’ll also shore up Social Services then.”
Gideon sat back. “Isn’t this a lot of manpower for a small town?”
“Do you think it is?”
“Actually, no, but the taxpayers might.”
“If they do, we’ll deal with it at budget time. We lost a comrade. Mayor Daniels, Chief Jaspers and I aren’t going to drag our feet on what we need.”
Brolin blew out a breath. “That’s a relief.”
Chief Jaspers added, “I want opinions on our plan to prevent what happened to TJ.” His voice got hoarse when he said her name.
Anabelle nodded. “First, let me say thank you for taking our problems seriously. We appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome.” Jamie smiled. “Now let’s brainstorm how all this will be set up and what we’ll need for training.”
Chapter 8
* * *
“So, Gideon, how are you feeling today?” Jack Harrison had asked the same thing the last two times he’d seen the psychologist in his airy, upstairs office at the Fire and Police Academy. Jack was a good-looking guy with dark hair and blue eyes, but it was his demeanor that appealed to everybody.
“Still sick about TJ. But it’s almost a week and I’m getting better.”
“Glad to hear that.”
“My family life’s a different story. Can we talk about that? Some of it relates to TJ’s death.”
“Whatever you want.”
“My kids have been tolerant of my job, and my ex, to give her credit, took care of them when they worried.” He explained how they’d divorced and how Lisa had gone on to abandon them.
“Whew, a big kick in the gut for you all.”
“We were just finding our footing when TJ got killed. My youngest asked me if I was going to die, too. The middle one wanted to know who would take care of them if I was gone. But it’s the oldest, Carina, I’m most worried about. She’s been having trouble with abandonment issues and acting out or getting so depressed I can’t reach her.”
“Many firefighters and police officers have issues with their kids over safety.” Jack frowned. “Yours is complicated by your ex’s exit.”
“And she’s back now.”
“Carina’s feeling of abandonment won’t disappear.”
“She’s getting therapy, too. And lets me get reports. I’m seeing her counselor right after this.”
“It sounds like you’re handling that well. Now, back to you and TJ.”
The rest of the session was a kick in the gut too, but when he finished, he was glad he’d come. As he headed to another block in town, he wondered how Anabelle was doing. He hadn’t seen her at all. But they’d go back to policing tonight.
Carolyn Fox was a likable therapist, with keen insight. And she didn’t pull any punches. “I can’t tell you any details, but the broad strokes are that Carina is not doing well. I’ve seen her twice. She’s depressed. And anxious.”
“Anxious about me?”
“What do you think?”
“I know she is. I don’t know how to reassure her I’m going to be safe.”
“You can’t reassure her because you may not be safe. And Carina is old enough and intuitive enough to know that.”
“What do other cops and firefighters do to carry on a normal life, then?”
“Actually, Detective, they don’t. He or she continues to go to work, the family worries. What I think every family member of a first responder should do is hire a counselor to figure out how to handle the stress. Now, that’s not always possible, but the department should at least set up a support group for them.”
“Will you work with Carina on her fears?”
“Yes. Now, that’s all I can say.”
“All right. Thanks for meeting me.”
Gideon went home after the appointment. The kids were in school but he found Lisa sitting in the kitchen making notes. She wore lounging pajamas and her light brown hair was swept up. “Hey.”
“Goddamn it, Lisa. Don’t act like things are back to normal. They aren’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“You sitting here, like you belong. You don’t, not anymore.”
She raised her chin. “I think I do. So does my lawyer.”
Another kick in the gut. “You got a lawyer?”
“Yes.” Her voice rose a notch. “I want my house and my kids back. Even if I can’t have you.”
“You not only can’t have me, but you signed papers stating that the kids and house are mine. What does your lawyer think about your abandonment of them?”
“It was an error in judgement that I’m correcting.”
“An error in judgment? Seriously? You hurt the kids to the point where they’ll never get over it.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. I wasn’t gone that long and it can be fixed.”
“Your daughter’s a mess!”
Lisa stood and plopped her hands on her waist. She’d gained some weight since the divorce, he noticed. “She needs her mother. I can say that’s why I came back.”
“To fix the problem you caused? It won’t work. I have rights.”
“Your job erases those rights. You could die any day like TJ. You’ll never keep custody.”
“We’ll see. Meanwhile, stay downstairs. I don’t want you up here.”
“Afraid I’ll tempt you?”
“No fucking way, Lisa. No fucking way.”
* * *
“Hi, everybody. Welcome back.”
Greetings from Brolin and Radford. The
y were less tense, probably less haunted than they had been last week. Gideon, though, seemed wound up. She had to ignore that something more might be wrong in his life.
She gestured to the man to her right. “This is Jonas Anthony. He’s retired and lives in Hidden Cove, but he worked in NYC in the gang unit and is filling in until we get a permanent person who’s trained.”
“Hey, man.” Brolin.
Radford raised his chin.
Gideon mumbled a greeting.
“Thanks. Let me say I’m not here to replace TJ. I won’t be on this task force forever, but I’m willing to fill in until your others can be trained.”
The day after meeting with Chief Landers, they’d started interviewing candidates for the task force. Anabelle put in, “Now that the new members have been chosen, it’s taking them some time to finish up whatever work they were doing in the precinct. Then they have to be trained.”
“Who’s going to train them?” Gideon asked.
This was going to be tricky. “We’re going to take turns. Each of us will have a section.”
“What about our calls?” Gideon asked.
“The training will take place opposite our shifts and our calls will be covered by specific areas in the HCPD in the same way they are when we’re off duty.”
“Oh, great.” This from Radford.
“I know it’s going to eat away at your family time, but you’ll only have three sessions each. We want this done in two weeks.”
Gideon agreed, but she could tell by his furrowed brow and his stiff shoulders he was distressed by the new assignment. When the meeting broke up, Anabelle asked him to stay back.
“Problems at home?” she asked.
“Yeah, but I can’t go into it.”
“If the problems affect work, you have to.”
“I’ll handle things.”
“How’s the counseling going?”
“Okay enough. As I said, Jack is a great guy. Carina’s getting it, too, from a private therapist.”
“I know you’ve been worried about her. If you need time off, I can make it happen.”
“We’ll see. Meanwhile Lisa’s gotten a lawyer, so now I have to get one.”
“Can Seth or Hayley or Paul help?”
“My mind’s been so muddled, I didn’t think of who to hire. I’ll call them today. Thanks, Anabelle.”
“I want you to be happy.”
He gave her a long, sexy perusal. “Not gonna happen without you, Sarge.” And he walked out.
Anabelle sunk into her chair and forced back the spurt of desire and, okay, it was probably love for this man. She put her head in her hands to banish it. And was glad when the phone rang. “Hi, Sergeant. Phillip Grayson here. I need to see you.”
“What about your cover? You’re not even supposed to be calling the police department.”
“Not needed anymore.” His tone was clipped. “I’ll drop by at lunchtime.” Then his phone went dead. He hadn’t even asked if she was free. Again, his snooty nature maddened her. She opened a drawer to get a pad and while rummaging for it, she found a Tootsie Roll pop. She put her head back in her hands.
* * *
His cousin Hayley sat across from him. Wearing a deep pink suit, her face glowed with her pregnancy. And her office smelled flowery and feminine. “How are you feeling?” he asked, managing a smile.
She rolled her eyes. “No more morning sickness. I’m human again.”
“That took a long time.”
“Yeah, five months instead of three. Now what can I help you with?”
Seth had agreed Hayley was probably best poised to take on the case because she’d done a lot of custody battles pro bono. She’d also have Paul’s help if needed.
“Lisa showed up in town.”
“Your ex?” He nodded. “Yikes.”
“She wants everything back the way it was. My house, the kids. Even me, which isn’t gonna happen.” He handed her papers. “This is the contract I insisted we draw up when she left for France. I want it made permanent.”
“Give me fifteen minutes to read it. Go get coffee, or make calls or take a walk while we go over it. I want Paul’s opinion, so I’ll get him in here.”
Twenty minutes later, Hayley came out to find him in the reception area on his phone. “We’re ready.”
They gathered at her small conference table. He noticed how close she and Paul sat, elbows touching. A pang of longing for that in his life shot through him. “She gave you the house and kids for two years, which was how long she originally planned to stay in France.”
“Yes. But I always thought she planned to stay there. Is the agreement breakable?”
“I don’t think so. Not without cause.”
“At least you have a reprieve.” This from Paul.
“She might have cause,” Gideon added with a shake of his head. “She threatened to use my job against me. TJ’s death. Incredible how vicious she can be.”
“I doubt a court would decide that in her favor.” Paul cocked his head. “Did she ever have the house in her name?”
“No. Half and half ownership.”
“Great.”
Hayley asked, “Is this enough for you? Two years?”
“It’s a start.”
His cousin smiled. “And we haven’t even addressed her abandonment of the kids. Something you never did.”
“I’m afraid I did, emotionally. After the first few years, I left most of the child rearing up to her.”
“Did she work outside the home?”
“No, she quit her job to be with the kids. She wanted to.”
“She can’t prove emotional neglect unless she makes her own children testify against you. Which in itself will only hurt her case. I think we can make it clear to her if she does that, it’ll only reinforce how reckless she’s been with them.”
The lump in his throat diminished. His shoulders relaxed. “I’m relieved to hear you say that. Where do we start?”
“We’ll set up a meeting with her lawyer.” Paul glanced at the contract. “I know the guy. Let us contact him.”
“Keep me updated.”
Hayley stood when he did. “Gid, as your cousin I need to ask you something. You’re devastated and your kids have to be crazy with worry. This reprieve is only two years. Have you ever considered another job in the department where you don’t risk your life every day?”
“Like the move Derek made, you mean?”
“Yeah, I guess. Interesting how similar your positions are.”
“In the back of my mind, I’ve considered it. But A, I don’t have any idea what I would do and B, the task force needs me. TJ’s dead. They can’t afford to lose me, too.”
“No, Gid,” Hayley said softly. “A should be your family. If you can get another job that you wouldn’t feel trapped in, consider it.”
He kissed her cheek. “Good advice. Thank you for this, honey. I expect a bill.”
“Not in this lifetime,” Hayley retorted.
Putting up a brave front, he walked out the door smiling, trying not to show how torn he was. Leave the task force? Could he do that?
He had no idea.
* * *
“There’s no embezzlement happening at Computek.” Phillip stated the information as if this was a done deal. “I found nothing amiss.”
She stared back at him. Gideon’s jaw was agape.
“That’s a shock.” Anabelle held up a binder. “This information from the FBI strongly indicates there is.”
“I’m the VP of finance now. I would know after a month if there was anybody stealing money.”
Anabelle scowled. “I thought you-”
“I’m not here to argue, Sergeant. The FBI called you in for a consult and also to have a contact in Hidden Cove in case we needed police support. If I’d found anything, which I expected to do, we’d use your investigative skills. Or when we arrested a perpetrator. But I didn’t find anything.” He stood. “Thank you both for the contacts but we’r
e done.” He strode out of the office.
He’d dismissed them like they were his employees.
“What was that?” Gideon asked. “Was our role in this to standby in case he needed us? Why didn’t they tell us that at first?”
“I agree with you. That would have been fine with us if we knew that ahead of time. White collar crime is part of our jurisdiction and I thought we’d be helping him determine if someone had his hand in the till.”
Gideon sat back in his chair in the way men do, legs spread, arms on the chair. He looked so sexy in his open-necked blue shirt and dress pants. “I didn’t like his demeanor, either, Anabelle, but we don’t have the energy or manpower to go further with this.”
“Further?” She shrugged. “Do you think he’s…dirty?”
“Maybe. But truthfully, I don’t much care right now.”
“I guess I don’t, either.” She let out a heavy sigh. “We have so much on our plates now. Let’s get the team in, brief them, and put the whole issue on the back burner.”
“Before you do that, we need to talk.”
Anabelle frowned. “I thought we weren’t sharing our personal lives, if that’s what you mean.”
“No. If we’re done with each other for good, and not just taking a hiatus, I want to hear you say it out loud.”
“Gid, I appreciate you being there for me when TJ died. More than I can say. But we can’t be together. We just can’t.”
He stood now, too. Without saying any more, he left.
The expression of deep hurt in his eyes stayed behind to haunt her.
* * *
Carina called out from the foyer, “My ride’s here. See you later, Nana.”
Her grandmother yelled down from upstairs, “Have a nice day, sweetie.”
Carina absconded out the door, glad she didn’t have to face Nana. That woman was a master at reading kids. Shivering from the cold, she hurried to the car, and hopped in.
Brandon turned to her. “You sure you want to do this?”
“I’m sure. It’s the day before spring break. And the day of the student/faculty basketball games.” Every year on this day, the students and teachers played friendly matches both in the morning and afternoon to raise scholarship money. She used to love going to them. “We’ll sneak out on the way to the gym and no one will even notice. Teachers don’t usually take attendance in between the morning and afternoon games.”
