Rafferty searched his face.
“You’re not here to arrest me, are you?”
“No.”
“Well then, why are you here?”
Harry smiled.
“Let’s call it a win-win situation.”
***
Mary stopped by Clay Richards’ home to offer condolences again and to see how he was doing. Brady was accompanying her, and when Clay Richards opened the door, Brady thought that the man’s grief was written all over his face.
When Eva emerged from the kitchen, she stopped walking when she spotted Brady, and both Clay and Mary saw that the two of them recognized each other.
“You’ve met Eva, Brady?” Mary asked.
“I sure did. I stopped in the diner yesterday for a late lunch.”
Eva had regained her composure and smiled.
“He’s a good tipper.”
Mary handed Eva the dish of lasagna she had brought with her and then asked about Bobby.
“He’s in his room,” Clay said. “And as you can guess, he’s taking the loss of his mother hard. He didn’t even want his supper.”
“I can imagine, but can I go see him?”
“Why would you want to see him?” Eva asked, and Mary heard a tone in her voice that told her Eva didn’t want her there.
“I have something for him,” Mary said and after reaching into her purse, her hand emerge with a little purple action figure that had a humorous looking face with bulging eyes.
Clay smiled slightly as he took it from her hand.
“Beano, a Beano action figure, where the devil did you find it? I’ve searched every toy store in the area for one.”
“I bought it off an online auction site the night Bobby told me that he didn’t have one, and it arrived today.”
“My God, Mary, that is so nice of you and I doubt that it came cheap.”
“The cost was nothing, Clay. I just want to see his face when I give it to him.”
Clay escorted Mary to Bobby’s room and that left Eva alone with Brady.
“You said you had a girl, but I didn’t know that it was Mary,” Eva said.
“And the chief there is he the guy you were talking about?”
“Yes, I know he’s grieving now, but he won’t always be.”
The sound of Mary’s laughter made Brady turn his head, and he saw her walking down the hallway with Bobby holding her hand. In Bobby’s other hand was the toy Mary had given him.
Clay smiled at Eva.
“Bobby says he’s hungry, why don’t we give him some of Mary’s lasagna?”
Eva gestured towards the kitchen.
“But I made fried chicken.”
“I want Mary’s food,” Bobby said.
Eva pasted on a plastic smile.
“Whatever you want, sweetie,”
And before she left the room, her eyes shot daggers at Mary.
***
Back in Boston, Selina opened her front door to find her Cousin Shay smiling at her.
“Hey, come on in, Jake and Lindy are here too.”
Shay pointed at the black Harley Davidson motorcycle parked on the side of the lawn.
“Who does that belong to?”
“That’s Avery’s, you heard us mention him; he’s the son of one of Craig’s old friends.”
“The hacker?”
“That’s him.”
Shay followed Selina inside and found everyone seated in the living room. When she was introduced to Avery, she saw that he was a few years younger than she was and took note that he was eyeing her back.
“Your friend is cute, Craig,” Shay said, and Avery smiled at her.
Avery Cooper was slim, but muscular, and wore a perpetual cocky expression. His hair was dark, worn down to his shoulders, and his green eyes promised danger.
Shay looked at him and thought that he was just the sort of man who might make Brady jealous.
“Hello, Avery, it’s good to meet you.”
CHAPTER 15
Chief Clay Richards’ wife Patricia was laid to rest on a Thursday afternoon in October, which let you know that winter was mere weeks away.
The sky was appropriately gray and matched the solemn mood of the mourners, while a cold wind whipped at them as sharply as their grief.
Clay cried quiet tears while holding his son and standing beside his mother, a young looking sixty-year-old who had flown in from Oklahoma.
After their visit to see Clay and Bobby three days earlier, Brady had told Mary about Eva’s offer of sex. She had been appalled.
“Right there in the diner?”
“That’s right.”
“Where, atop the counter?”
“She said that the couch in the office was big enough; I think she was speaking from experience.”
“And you never met her before? You just stopped in for a bite to eat and she was ready to sleep with you that quickly?”
Brady smiled.
“I would like to think it was because I’m irresistible, but I think it was mostly that I was male.”
Mary shuddered.
“Clay does not belong with that woman.”
“What, you’re thinking of saying something?”
“I don’t know. We’re friends, but we’ve haven’t known each other that long either.”
“Want some advice?”
“Okay.”
“Say nothing; the chief seemed pretty sharp to me and I’m sure he’ll figure her out on his own.”
Mary had agreed with Brady, but found herself biting her tongue when she saw that Eva had escorted Clay to the funeral.
When the sad ceremony ended, everyone left the cemetery and headed to Clay’s home for a gathering, where they would remember and celebrate his wife’s life.
***
Mary and Brady were met at the door by Clay’s mother, Madeline, and were escorted into the crowded living room.
Bobby was sitting beside his father on the sofa, and Mary thought that he looked miserable among all the grownups.
“Brady, would you mind if I offered to take Bobby out for a while? He looks like he could use some time away from all this.”
Brady stared over at the boy and saw that Mary was right.
“Is there a park nearby? We’ll take him there.”
Bobby spotted Mary and ran to her.
“Hello honey, how are you doing?”
“I miss Mommy and it’s crowded in here.”
Mary took Bobby’s hand, and then she and Brady navigated their way through the crowd of friends and family to where Clay sat.
After greeting him, Mary leaned over and whispered in his ear.
“I think this is all a bit much for Bobby. Would you like us to take him to the park for a little while? It’s not snowing yet.”
“No, I would be imposing on you.”
“Not at all, we’re friends.”
Clay gave her a weak smile and spoke to Bobby.
“Miss Carson and Mr. Ross are going to the park, sport. Would you like to go with them?”
Bobby smiled.
“Sure, but can I take my car?”
Clay looked up at the couple.
“He has a remote control car.”
“I love those,” Brady said. “Bring it along.”
As Bobby ran to his room, Clay called after him.
“Grab your jacket, and your hat too!”
“Okay, Daddy.”
Clay sighed.
“This is so nice of you two; the boy could use a break.”
“It’s our pleasure and we’ll bring him back in time for dinner,” Mary said.
Clay looked down the hallway towards Bobby’s room.
“He’s going to forget his hat, I just know it.”
Mary smiled.
“I’ll go give him a hand.”
Mary walked down the hall, and she was just about to enter Bobby’s room when she heard laughter coming from the kitchen, and when she looked that way; she could see a man and a wom
an kissing.
Mary didn’t recognize the man, but the woman was Eva.
She knew then that Brady was right and that Clay would realize what Eva was on his own.
The woman was too brazen in her actions to fool anyone for long. And besides, although Eva had designs on the man, Mary was certain that Clay only saw her as a friend. His love and grief for his wife, Patty, was still fresh, and a man like Clay would take time to heal, even if he did desire a mother for his son.
She gathered up Bobby, helped him into his jacket and hat, and then she and Brady headed for the park.
***
As he had three days earlier, Harry waited until Dr. Rafferty’s receptionist left for the day, before knocking on the office door.
The doctor let him inside and Harry thought the man looked nervous, but figured it was due to fear.
“Detective Drake, I was hoping that I wouldn’t see you again.”
“And I hope that’s not your way of saying that you don’t have my money ready.”
“The fifty-thousand dollars that we discussed, yes, I have it, but I want your assurance that I won’t be charged with Melissa’s murder.”
“Don’t worry, Doc, I got a patsy all picked out, but like I told you, I’ll need something of the lady’s to plant on the guy.”
The doctor reached into his pocket and brought out a silver hair clip.
“This belonged to Melissa, she left it behind after our first... well, date, and I’ve kept it ever since.”
Harry reached out to take it and Rafferty reluctantly let it go.
“This will work fine, now, where’s the money?”
“You mean the blackmail?”
“Call it what you want; I call it the first payment.”
A voice cried out, “That’s enough!” and Dr. Rafferty scurried away and into a treatment room.
That’s when the two detectives handling the case stood up from behind the reception desk and pointed their guns at Harry.
“Hands up, Drake; you’re under arrest.”
Harry broke out in a sweat as he felt his heart beat like mad.
“It was all a con, guys; I was just trying to get the doctor to confess.”
“Save it,” one of the cops said, and as he spoke, he placed a cuff on Harry’s wrist.
CHAPTER 16
The following morning, Shay rose from her bed naked, as Avery lay watching her every move.
“Damn, woman, but you are hot,” Avery said.
Shay smiled back at him over her shoulder before walking into the bathroom. When she returned, she snuggled against Avery.
“I’m glad that you stayed over.”
“Me too and we’re not done yet.”
Avery went to kiss her, but Shay pushed him away.
“I want to talk about something first.”
“What’s that?”
“Brady, he’ll be back soon and I want to warn you that he might be jealous that we’re together.”
“Brady Ross, I’ve only spoken to him on the phone.”
“He’s my ex-boyfriend and sometimes I think he wants me back, so just watch what you say around him.”
“Alright, but it doesn’t matter what he thinks, I’m in, Craig said so.”
“Oh, you’re not in yet, from what I hear, Brady wants you to prove yourself out on the streets.”
“Prove myself how? Do they want me to kill someone the way Brady killed that guard?”
“That was an accident, and I think that they’re talking about another armored car robbery.”
Avery shrugged with one shoulder.
“I’m not worried. I’ll pass Brady’s little test, but when will it be?”
“I think you’ve got time, everything goes quiet this time of year, it’s like our down time, but come spring, you’ll have to jump through Brady’s hoops.”
“Craig told me that Brady was cool, but you know, I’m not sure I’m going to like the guy.”
Shay smiled. That was exactly what she wanted to hear.
***
Harry had stumbled out of police headquarters that morning at 5:47. He was no longer a cop, was stripped of his pension, and aware that he was lucky not to be locked up in a cell.
He had a lawyer from the Boston Police Department Patrolmen’s Association to thank for his freedom, along with two cops who were even dirtier than he was, a pair of vice detectives who were arrested and charged with extorting dozens of small business owners, after it became known that they were running a protection racket.
That story had been in the news for over a week and was still going strong, and Harry’s lawyer asked the higher ups at police headquarters if they really wanted to hand the tabloids another story that would taint the department.
After sweating it out for several hours, the word came down that the brass were ready to offer Harry a deal, and so now he was no longer a cop, disgraced, but not legally so, and the pension he had been depending on was history.
Harry blamed Dr. Rafferty for his troubles. All the man had to do was to pay Harry fifty grand and he would have been in the clear.
But no, not the good doctor, for unlike Harry, Rafferty had a conscience, and after Harry’s visit on Tuesday night, Dr. Rafferty spoke to a lawyer and then called the detectives on the case to confess and work out a deal.
Harry had been part of that deal, and by giving him up, the doctor had earned points with the DA.
And so, Harry was back to being a civilian, and after entering his apartment, he had plopped down on his sofa, and wondered just what he was going to do with the rest of his life.
***
That afternoon, Steve and Toni lay naked together in a motel room while watching video of Kimberly on a laptop.
Toni pointed at the screen, where a live feed showed Steve’s stepdaughter having sex with her boyfriend in the shower.
“I see why she gets you hot, and she’s really only sixteen?”
“Yeah,” Steve answered, as his eyes stayed glued to the screen.
“You know, it’s a shame that there’s no camera in her bedroom,” Toni said.
“I know, but the other walls in the attic aren’t connected to it.”
“Who needs walls? I’ll hide a camera in the ceiling fixture and she’ll never know.”
Steve looked away from the scene at that news.
“You can do that?”
“It’s a piece of cake, but nobody can be home, so I’ll install the camera the next time your wife is out food shopping.”
Steve ran a hand over Toni’s breasts.
“Is that all you’ll do?”
Toni pointed at the laptop screen, where Kimberly had lowered herself to her knees in the shower.
“I’ll do that.”
Steve watched the screen and a small stream of drool flowed from the corner of his mouth.
CHAPTER 17
After Brady headed back to Boston, Mary had found herself missing him all day, as she worked a double shift at the hospital.
When she was leaving that night, she heard someone calling her name and turned to find the nursing supervisor walking towards her.
“Mary, I’m so glad I caught you. Do you have time to talk?”
“Sure,” Mary said, while wondering if there was a problem.
She followed the supervisor back to her office. The woman was named Jean, and she looked harried, she was also dressed casually, although the prim gray-haired woman normally dressed in professional attire.
It then occurred to Mary that she had never seen the woman at the hospital so late at night, and realized that there must be a problem.
Once settled on opposites sides of the desk, Jean gave Mary bad news.
“Lois’s son passed away.”
“Oh no, I feel so bad for her.”
Lois was one of the other nurses. Her thirty-seven-year-old son had been involved in a serious car accident in Florida on the day the funeral was held for Clay’s wife, and Lois had flown down there to be with him.
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“Yes, it’s a tragedy, and Lois has informed me that she won’t be returning to work. She’s going to stay in Florida to help look after her four grandchildren.”
“Wow, I’ll really miss her, but I understand the decision.”
“Yes, and as horrible as the situation is, it has opened up an opportunity for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lois had the first shift, six a.m. to two-thirty, and now that shift is open, and if you want it, it’s yours.”
Mary straightened in her seat, as the news surprised her.
“What about Linda, Sharon, and Brianna? They all have more seniority than I do.”
“That’s true, but none of them want it. Brianna loves working nights and Linda and Sharon are happy working the middle shift, so if you want it, it’s all yours. The girl we took on as a temp is working out nicely and she can take your place and work as a floater.”
Mary thought about working only days and smiled, because when Brady returned in the spring, it meant that they would be working similar hours and be able to spend more time together.
She smiled at the nurses’ supervisor.
“I would love to take that shift and thank you.”
***
Brady returned to Boston earlier that day and found that he missed Mary more than he thought he would.
They had grown closer on his visit, much closer, and after seeing her with Bobby Richards, he knew that she would be a good mother.
Brady had never wanted children before, but he could see himself as a father when he was around Mary, and pushed aside the problems that family life could cause concerning his real profession as a thief.
Being a family man worked for Craig and Jake because their wives knew what they were doing, but could it work just as well if the wife were kept in the dark? Brady didn’t know; he only knew that he wanted to continue seeing Mary.
After the drive home, he took a nap, and then went to Jake’s house. Jake and Lindy were throwing a get-together, and Brady would have the chance to meet Avery.
***
After meeting Avery, Brady found the kid to be a punk and thought that he had too much attitude for someone who had never proven himself on the streets.
Still, they needed him, or someone like him, because as Jake had said at the last get-together, the world was going all ones and zeros and they needed the skills of a hacker if they were going to keep pace with it.
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