by Galli, Lynn
“That’s not fair.” Her brow pinched. “I was miserable without her. I love her so much.”
I should shut up. This wasn’t going to make the situation better, but damn, I hated that she was going to be taken advantage of. “Did she admit to seeing other women?”
Tessa’s chin tucked against her chest. She didn’t need to say anything. I already knew about two of Kathleen’s hookups. They were tourists who looked me up every time they visited. When I declined because I wasn’t into that anymore, they found Kathleen available.
“Did she, at least, tell you she loved you?”
Blue eyes rounded at me. “She isn’t like that. She doesn’t even tell her parents she loves them.”
I took a gulp of the mojito I’d ordered. The cool liquid slid down to my belly and helped numb my thoughts. “And that means she loves you? She doesn’t tell her parents, so she doesn’t need to tell the woman she shares her life with? It’s all the same to you?”
“Why are you being like this?” Hurt flashed on her face.
“I want you to be happy, and she hurt you so much.”
“I have to forgive her, Mol. I have to. She’s been my life for three years. I want her back.”
Breath pushed out from my chest. I’d said what I needed to say. I no longer felt locked up around her, like I was keeping my feelings or thoughts from her. We could be friends without anything secretly bothering me.
“I hope she makes you happy, Tess.”
Her face brightened. She flung her arms out and pulled me in for a hug. She felt curvy and pliable and she smelled flowery. All the things I’d always been attracted to. Not one of them affected me tonight. Vivian was right. My type had changed.
Part III
Falyn
25
Someone was watching me. I shivered in the evening air, sure of it. The sense was something I’d sharpened in prison. Needed to in order to watch my back. It settled over me like someone standing too close in a pitch black room. I glanced around as I loaded my groceries into my backpack. Nobody turned away from me in a rush. No one seemed to be looking at me either. I shook off the sensation, figuring I must have lost the power sometime over the last two years.
The bike ride home helped to subdue my unease. I was probably just being paranoid. Either way, it was nice to store the bike in the garage and not feel like someone was right behind me. Now I just had to figure out what to do tonight. The guys had dates and Natalie was busy with her nephew. I could see if Lena wanted to go for a ride or maybe Ramón was up for some darts at the bar.
I wanted to call Molly. Had wanted to every day since she walked off my porch, but the chances were great that I’d never get to call her again. Seeing her last night on the street was startling. That Molly stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me wasn’t the greatest feeling in the world. I did the only thing I could think of to make it easier for her. I fled, crisscrossing streets all the way home.
I wish I could put myself in her shoes, but mostly I wish she could put herself in mine. When would it have been all right to tell her? Before we became friends? That would be inappropriate. The moment we became friends? That would have made her rethink a new friendship. After I’d grown to deeply care for her? That would have put us in the exact spot we were in. I could have said something after the police first came. Anything. I was a wreck, nervous, sick to my stomach, afraid that I was headed back to prison even if I was innocent this time. I might not have been able to get all the words out, but I should have said something. She might have walked away, especially if I couldn’t get everything out. She might have stayed and grilled me with questions, which probably would have triggered a claustrophobic feeling for me at the time. Hoping it never came out was stupid. I get that now. But no other option worked either.
I shook my head, thinking about our miserable situation. All I could do was hope that Molly would decide to forgive me. I couldn’t change what I’d done years ago any more than I could change not telling her about it.
Walking out of the garage, I glanced over at the street when I heard a car approaching. I’d been doing that every night, hoping it might be Molly’s pickup. It wasn’t Molly. It was the police, two cars worth. Again. What now? Honestly, this was hardly better than those assholes in Denver who knocked on my door every week.
The cop from the supermarket encounter hopped out of the first cruiser. The smirk on her face showed delight. “Shaw, long time, no see.”
The police van emptied out. Suddenly there were six cops in my driveway. I didn’t go through this the first time. Two officers had arrested me, and I’d made bail by the end of the day. They’d searched my place while I was being arraigned. I’d never faced a wall of cops led by someone who appeared happy to ruin my life.
“Last week you worked on a house on Red Mountain Road.” She threw the smirk over to her colleagues before looking back at me. “What? Cat got your tongue?”
“That wasn’t a question,” I retorted, dread filling my stomach.
“Were you working at a home on Red Mountain Road last week?” she sassed back.
“Yes.” For one of Dwight’s clients. A small electrical job that took one evening. What happened now? Something got misplaced, and the police think they have the case solved because I’d worked there?
“What’s the address?”
“Don’t remember. My employer has records.” I’d learned never to offer anything without a lawyer present, and my dry mouth wouldn’t allow it anyway.
“Oh, we’ve double-checked those records.”
I waited, the dread twisting into a tight ball in my stomach. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the neighbor who lived across from Spencer and Mei step out onto her porch to stare at our little impromptu police party. Just what I needed, another person to judge me.
“You need to respond,” she insisted.
“Actually, I don’t, or are you not familiar with Miranda?” Being cornered always made me lash out. It was definitely the wrong tack to take with police, but this woman seemed to delight in spoiling my relationship with Molly. I couldn’t help the sass. “And you keep stating things, not questioning.”
“You bit—”
“Cherise,” another cop cut her off then addressed me. “We’re here to search your place.”
My knees felt weak, but I stepped over to block their path. “Not without a warrant, you’re not.”
“Have something to hide?” Cherise sneered.
I bit back a reply that would anger them more. Soon, I’d need to hire an attorney. This was obviously going to keep happening, and not every cop was as stupid as Cherise.
“Warrant,” I turned and started up the front steps.
“You sure you don’t want to cooperate?” the other cop took over.
“You’re going to search my place whether I cooperate or not. I’d rather make it all legal.”
“Stay where we can see you,” Cherise told me.
“Unless you’re arresting me, you can’t keep me here.” I’d had a lot of time to read legal books in prison.
“Warrant is on its way,” the other cop told her.
I shook my head. They’d gotten a warrant before they questioned me. I felt like I might throw up. Would this ever stop? I made a foolish move eight years ago, gave up five years of my life and endured two years in near squalid conditions. I’d lost my friends, the respect of my family, and dealt with humiliation on a daily basis. I paid for that mistake. Over and over, but it looked like I would continue paying for it.
Another cruiser slowed to a stop in front of the house before I made it inside. They really worked fast here.
“Hold it, right there, Shaw,” Cherise called out. “Your warrant.” She thrust it into my hands and brushed past me to the door. When she found it locked, she glared at me. “Open it or we kick it in, and I don’t want to do that to Glory’s house.”
I pushed out a calming breath. I didn’t want to do that to Glory’s house either. I unlocked the
door for her, very happy the guys were on dates tonight. “Will you let me get my cats into their carrier before you begin, please?” They’d gotten a little spooked last time.
Her head jerked back, surprised at my more cooperative tone. Her eyes softened for a split second. She must be a cat person. “Yes. Kevin, you’re with me,” she said to another officer. “We’ll secure her pets then begin.”
As soon as I had Dancer and Tusk in their carrier, which Cherise searched first, I was escorted back out to the front porch. They wanted me in sight of at least one officer at all times.
I left a message for Natalie to call me. She hadn’t been with me on this job either. I’d been there with Owen and Cole for one day. I wondered what had gone missing this time. But mostly, I wondered how this happened at another house I’d worked. Were burglaries the norm for this idyllic little town? I thought it was a pretty sheltered place, but with all these rich homes, it might be a mecca for thieves.
Speaking of Owen, he appeared on the street past the cluster of trees lining Glory’s property. Lena’s dogs were pulling him along. He studied the police cars blocking my driveway and the officer standing next to me with the same patient eyes he used on the jobsite. “Everything all right, Falyn?”
“Fine,” I responded because I was embarrassed that this was happening again. He’d asked me about it the first time, but to witness it live now, well, just sucked.
“Would you like me to sit with you?”
Kind man. I’d gotten to know him a lot better each week, on the job, as my neighbor, and on occasional excursions where he’d join Lena or Natalie in something we’d do together. I wanted to say yes, but I couldn’t. My tongue felt leaden and heat burned my face. I didn’t want this to be happening, but I was powerless once again.
Spencer came out of his house to survey the scene. I wanted the porch to open up and swallow me whole. His gaze took everything in before he strode toward the street, stopping beside Owen. He looked completely different from the casual guy who’d hosted a cookout last night. Tonight he looked professional and serious. Even his greeting was serious. “Hello, Falyn.”
“Spence,” I responded, feeling the burn turn up another ten degrees. I’d spontaneously combust from embarrassment soon.
“Mr. Mayor.” The officer standing with me almost saluted Spencer.
“Hello, Brent. What seems to be going on here?”
“Um, you should talk to my incident commander, sir.”
“Yes, I should.” Spencer advanced toward us.
What the hell? I liked Spence and he seemed to like me, but what was he doing getting involved here? Did he think that because I lived in his friend’s house he needed to get mixed up in this? What could he really do?
The officer with me ducked into the house and brought Cherise and Kevin back with him. They both stood ramrod straight in Spencer’s presence. I knew he was the mayor, but he seemed kinda casual about it. It was such a small town I assumed it was more of a figurehead position.
“Mr. Mayor,” Cherise addressed him as he stepped up onto the porch.
“Why are you conducting a search of my neighbor’s home?”
“Sir, with all due respect, we have a warrant.”
His eyes narrowed. “Does this relate to the burglary last evening?”
“Yes, sir,” Kevin inserted.
Spencer took another step until he was right in front of them. Jeez, he could be intimidating if he wanted to be. “Did you question Ms. Shaw before getting the judge to sign off on a warrant?”
“If you knew about this case, you’d know we have very good reason to be here right now,” Cherise told him.
“I do know about this case. I was briefed on it this morning by your boss’s boss. If you’d bothered to question Ms. Shaw, you’d know she has an alibi for the time of the incident.”
Cherise went pale, but she bucked up quickly. “Alibi’s aren’t always reliable, sir. Friends are willing to lie at first.”
Spencer shook his head, his mouth a grim line. “Falyn was at my house at the time. She and Owen, here, were helping me grill most of the night.”
Holy hell. The mayor just alibied me out. When Cherise brought up the address, I assumed the burglary happened while I was there or shortly thereafter. If they’d asked me where I’d been last night, I would have told them.
“Pull your people out of her home now.”
“But, sir,” Cherise started. “She might have been working with someone.”
“Do I need to get your chief and the judge on the phone?”
I swallowed hard, tears of relief springing to my eyes. I knew the relief would be short-lived because they’d find some reason to come back, but it felt so good having someone stick up for me.
Cherise called everyone off the search. She brushed past me, bumping my shoulder on the way. Juvenile and as bad as some of the antics I had to endure in prison. I didn’t care, though. She was leaving, and I had a legitimate alibi for one of the two burglaries they wanted to pin on me.
“Spence,” I started but didn’t know how to finish.
Owen joined us and settled an arm around my shoulders. “Being prejudged doesn’t feel any good. I put up with it in the military for years. No matter what the police think, I know you wouldn’t do these things. You are in a good place here with good people, and you’d never betray your friendship with Natalie.”
Tears filled my eyes as this man I didn’t really know somehow seemed more sure of my actions than I was. I turned and hugged him fully, thanking him first then Spencer. For a night, I could relax. I wished it could be with my closest friend, but having these guys for support would suffice.
26
Things were tense on the jobsite. Natalie was stressed for me, Vivian fed off her stress, and the rest of the crew kept throwing glances my way. After last night’s search, I had to tell Curtis and Cole about prison when I saw them at breakfast. They reacted casually but were curious. Like all guys, they wanted to know the nitty-gritty of prison life. I cut the discussion off after a half hour and offered to move out. I had enough saved to swing something on my own until Vivian’s house was done, but I was relieved when they backed off and told me to stay. The rest of the crew found out by morning break as I secretly hoped they would. At least I didn’t have to tell anyone else.
Luis came into the master bedroom with a light fixture. He passed it up to me on the top step of the ladder. “Did Harp know before you got here?”
“Yes.” I was keeping to one word answers so as not to encourage those other questions. Did you have to beat anyone up in there? Ever run into trouble in the shower? Was it easier since you’re a lesbian? Did you join a gang inside?
“You cased the houses you worked then ripped them off later, and Natalie still hired you? Did you have dirt on her or something?” He wasn’t being an asshole. He was asking the same questions all the contractors asked when I applied for jobs after prison. You stole from the homes you worked on. What makes you think I’d ever hire someone like that?
“Natalie has a way of seeing the good in everyone.”
“Verdad, chica.” He snickered and gripped the ladder I was on. “We used to work for a real dick. Harp could always make him be more reasonable. After we left, the guy was stupid enough to vandalize the first house we worked on. She didn’t even get mad. Can you believe that?”
Thankful we were off the prison topic, I grabbed onto this one. “Yeah, actually. Nat tends to internalize. She probably thought her actions brought on the vandalism somehow. Plus, she doesn’t waste energy getting angry about things she can’t change.”
“Wish I was like that,” Luis said. “I punched the dude as soon as he made bail.”
I gave a short laugh then sobered up. Not a wise move on his part, but I could see it wasn’t just a reaction to the vandalism. He’d probably wanted to punch his old boss many times.
“Listen, Fos,” he said as I secured the wiring to the new fixture. “I like you. Like having you
on the crew because we’re bringing in more money with you being an electrician and all. More money means bonus pay for us.”
“But?” I offered for him.
“If this goes wrong for Harper—”
“I’m gone,” I cut him off. “She’s my friend first and has been for twenty years.”
He glanced up at me with earnest brown eyes. Luis was maybe five-seven but hauled more than Tyler at two inches over six feet. “Bueno.”
Vivian came in to check on our progress. She took a long look at the height of the fixture before nodding. “Looks good.”
“Thanks, Viv, I’ve been working out,” Luis joked, flexing the bicep on his free arm.
She tried not to smile, but it was pretty difficult. “Natalie wants a word when you’re done, Falyn.”
I finished securing the faceplate and came down the ladder. “Will you take the sconces out of their boxes, Luis?”
“Copy that,” he acknowledged.
I followed Vivian outside to the project tent. Natalie was sorting through the plumbing fixtures, checking them off the list. She smiled at us when she looked up.
“How’re you doing?” She wasn’t asking about my progress on hanging the lighting fixtures.
“Okay.” It was an automatic response. I was still upset about the coincidence of a burglary occurring at two homes I’d been in, pissed that the cops were trying to convict me without any evidence, and heartbroken that my now closest friend in town was disappointed in me.
“I want you on this crew.”
My mouth nudged open. This was an unexpected discussion.
“Permanently, in case you were thinking otherwise.”
Had Molly told Vivian that I was worried about the burden I posed to Natalie’s company? If these accusations kept happening, her reputation was at stake. She already had to carry a bigger insurance bond because she’d hired an ex-felon. I really didn’t want to jeopardize her business.
“I appreciate that, Nat, but we’ll have to reevaluate when the house is done.”
“Vivian just picked up another major renovation starting in October. It’ll take six months, then we’ll be back to smaller jobs. With an electrician, we’ll be able to pick up more work. You’re part of this team, and I would like you to stay.”
