I grumped out, “You've made your point Smarty Pants Kenobi. God, I wish we could just take them both home with us then neither of them would get hurt.”
She was oddly silent at that, as she seemed to study me intently, her brow slightly furrowed. Then she started tickling me. I squealed and rolled to get away and promptly remembered how gravity works when I thudded onto the floor. “Time to get up and get ready, pipsqueak. Just drop me at police headquarters, then pick me up after your visit is over with the girls.”
I mumbled into the carpet as I held a hand up in the air while Calvin snuffled the side of my face and gave it a wet slurp like the opportunistic boy he is, “Oh no, I'm not driving in bass ackward cars on bass ackward roads. I've got a good walking and public transit itinerary. Just drop me off at the home and get me when you are done doing all that coppish stuff.”
She snorted as she grabbed my hand while she walked past and hauled me to my feet without any effort... damn do I loves me her muscles. “Of course you do. Fine, I won't force you outside your comfort zone... this time.”
Then she smiled back over her shoulder as she headed to the bathroom. “This is better anyway, I can say hi to the girls before I go make nice with local law enforcement. And did you almost cuss earlier?”
I groused out, “Fuck you,” to her amusement. Then she shrugged, smiled, and lowered her eyes almost coyly as she slid her robe off to expose a bare shoulder before letting the robe drop to the floor to reveal she was sublimely naked under it.
Momma didn't raise her a stupid child. The next moment I was almost running to the bathroom stripping out of my nightclothes as I heard the shower start. This woman was going to be the death of me... but what a way to go.
I was feeling all sorts of refreshed, satisfied, and giggly a bit later when we were in the car, heading to the orphanage. When we arrived, we parked next to a new green SUV we hadn't seen there before.
I knew they said that the girls from the dorm rooms who wanted to, were escorted to a church a block away on Sundays. But we arrived into chaos. Everyone was crowding the main corridor, palpable excitement in the air after the eight-year-old from Luce's room opened the door for us when we rang before she disappeared into the mass of girls all talking over each other.
Mrs. Johnston went scurrying out of the office and down the hall, catching sight of us and smiling and holding up a finger as she mouthed that she'd be with us in a moment. Bri materialized out of the crowd and stepped up to us, her smile huge.
I asked as Calvin greeted her with tail swishing enthusiasm, “What's going on here?”
She beamed at us. “The wee one that was taken in the day you arrived? The emergency intake?” We nodded and she blurted, “They've found an aunt!”
I looked around at all the excited faces, all these girls were celebrating that the two-year-old had a real home, a real family, and again I found my heart aching for all of them. The mass of girls and staff started parting as I saw Mrs. Johnston's head bobbing toward the main office.
Bri grabbed our hands and dragged us behind her to the office door, just as Mrs. Johnston stepped in with Luce right behind her, a toddler on her hip with dark curls and active brown eyes. Luce hadn't even noticed us as she kept talking to the little girl. “It'll be an adjustment, without yer ma and pa, but these people are family. It'll all be ok, you'll see.”
We watched as Luce stepped up to the middle-aged woman and well-groomed man standing there in nervous anticipation beside Mrs. Doyle, who was holding a boatload of paperwork and documents. Luce kissed the top of the toddler's head as she handed her off to the woman, saying, “This is Bridget, she doesn't talk much and you'll have to teach her things. The little ones need you to explain the rules, but they don't listen well so you might have to tell her repeatedly.”
The woman was looking at Luce oddly but turned her attention to the little girl and a sad smile bloomed as she told Mrs. Johnston, “She looks just like Emma, my little sis, her mum.” I could hear the sob she cut off for the loss of her sister. She hugged the girl to her and kissed the top of her head.
The man said, “We can't thank you enough. Kira here was frantic when we got word in Dublin, worried about Bridget.”
Then he stood taller and took in a deep breath and offered his hand to Mrs. Doyle then Mrs. Johnston. “We're going to have to get going if we're to get back to Dublin before noon. Again we appreciate everything you've done for our niece.”
Mrs. Doyle waved that off with a sad smile and handed him a folder of papers. And tugged out a pink one a bit, “This is the temporary guardianship form that the judge will need to see to grant you permanent guardianship. And these,” she pointed at a stapled group of papers beside it, “Are for familial adoption if you decide to go that way.”
The man nodded as they were led to the corridor where the girls all parted to let them to the main doors. Luce looked so proud then blinked when she realized we were there. She glommed onto Calvin's neck for a hug as she said to us with urgency, “Hurry, it's tradition.”
We turned as she ran to the door ahead of the couple and heaved it open for them. All the girls were all saying goodbye, reaching out to touch the toddler as the couple left. Luce told the child as the people passed outside, “Sometimes the world can get too big but don't be scared, it'll all be ok, I promise.”
All the girls streamed outside to stand on the steps and watched as the girl was placed in a child seat in the back, the woman joining her. Then they all waved at the couple as they drove off with their precious cargo. Then the girls all cheered.
Mrs. Johnston clapped loudly three times. “Ok, ladies, anyone going to church, line up, the rest get back inside.” Everyone went into motion as Luce said to us with wide eyes as she leaned in close, “You came!” It hurt every time she thought we wouldn't.
I inhaled sharply and exhaled slowly as I offered a pinky and a grin. “Of course we came, goose.” Then I reached out and took Bri's hand to give it a welcoming squeeze while Jane did an exploding fist bump with both girls.
I looked around and said, “Looks like you girls have already had an exciting morning.”
Luce nodded with enthusiasm, “Last night they located Bridget's aunt and uncle. This has only happened one other time since I can remember things here. It's terribly exciting, she has a family!”
I beamed at her and shared, “That's wonderful. It truly is.” Jane just nodded her agreement. Then I said as I swished my skirt back and forth with a mischievous smile, “Are you ready for adventure girls? It's just the three of us today.”
They nodded and Bri tapped the back of Luce's knee as she moved past her toward the stairs, making her stumble. “We'll just get our jackets. Come on, Luce-Goose.”
We chuckled as the little redhead chased after the older girl, informing her, “You're just a big brute, I thought I taught ya more sense. Hey, stop runnin', it isn't safe.”
I snorted when we heard Bri calling back, “Make me, ya wee little runt.”
I glanced up and did a double-take at the wistful smile on my wife's face. I bumped her hip and gave a questioning look. She shrugged. “It's nothing. It's just... she's going to be our daughter.” I nodded and followed her gaze to the stairs.
My smile was deafening. What? Oh shush.
When they came back down Jane said her goodbyes, giving Bri a silly side to side hug and fist-exploding Luce. She nudged her chin at me. “See you back here at five, love.”
I nodded then felt my cheeks burning when she stole a quick kiss and Bri said, “Daww.” Jane pointed an accusing finger at the auburn-haired teen and winked before she walked off.
Brianne whispered to Luce, “Jaysus, yer future mother is hot.”
Luce furrowed her brow and said, “But, you're always goin' on about the boys in the school next to the girl's school.”
Bri nodded and said, “Doesn't mean I don't know what's hot.”
Luce shook her head and told me, “I don't think I'll ever understand sex.” As I
just stared wide-eyed at the two of them at the topic. Were young girls supposed to be... well I guess Bri was old enough but... did I need to have the sex talk with Luce? It was the most awkward talk I ever had in my life when my mother brought it up in high school.
I squeaked out, “That's my wife you're talking about.”
Bri said with an unapologetic grin, “Ya did good Finnegan.”
I 'fish out of water' lipped and was saved by Mrs. Doyle stepping up to me. “Sign, here, and here, and here. Blah blah blah... speech about unsupervised visit, blah blah back before five on Sundays.”
After signing on autopilot my mind caught up with me and I looked at the woman and said, “Of course.” Then I looked at the girls and beamed at them as I prompted, “Phones off, ladies.” I made a show of turning mine off. “And let's go on an adventure, shall we?”
I rocked side to side, my hands behind my back as my skirt swished. Luce stole the leash from me and Calvin fell back to her side as I winked at Mrs. Doyle and marched after the girls when Luce said, “Come along Sir Calvin.”
Bri looked around in curiosity as we moved down the steps. “Where's yer car?”
Grinning I snapped out a bus schedule that unfolded in front of me. “We'll be bussing and walking today.”
Luce sighed heavily and asked her pseudo-sister, “Did you even look at today's itinerary? I printed it up for you when I got the email from Finnegan.”
“That was tha laminated thing ya gave me? I used it as a bookmark in my geometry book. Seriously, Luce-Goose, who laminates a schedule?” I slowly raised my hand as I felt another burn on my cheeks. Bri gave us a sideways smirky smile and said, “Ah.”
I grumped, “Ah, yourself you surly leprechaun.” I grinned at her explosive burst of laughter. Luce was just looking back and forth at us as we bantered and she looked somehow smug even though her face was emotionless. I squinted an eye at her and was amused when she did the same right back at me. I was getting more positive by the day that the cute redhead was emulating me.
When we reached the main road a block down, I was a little excited to see the bus heading down the road toward the bus stop was a double-decker! I told them, “This is going to be the best day ever!”
Luce spoke behind her hand as she leaned into Bri's personal space, “You'd think she's never seen a bus before.” I poked her rib and she squeaked and hid behind her enforcer as Cal barked and spun in a circle, his tail whipping us all.
Chapter 11 – Oh Fin
I arrived at the Belfast police headquarters, wondering what fun things Finnegan had lined up for the girls as I parked. I really wish I could have been with them today, but I had this fucking liaison duty to perform. How did I get blackmailed into doing this again?
God, I loved Luce already. If you would have told me two years ago that I'd be married now and adopting an amazing little Irish tween, I'd have had you committed to the psych ward for observation. But I really stood no chance against that argumentative dog walker, Finnegan May. She stole my heart and I don't want it back for as long as she'll hold it for me.
I never thought I'd want children, my childhood wasn't the best. Fine, whatever, that's a lie. It was pretty good up until the day I came out, my father pretty much shut down and refused to let me in anymore after that. And I'd never want to raise a child in a hostile environment like that.
But Fin?
The little pipsqueak has this way of making you feel... safe... emotionally. And she has built this little umbrella of those she views as family that makes you feel that way. I'm supposed to be the one protecting her. Maybe I contribute to physical safety and she handles the emotional, like an annoying conscience chirping in your ear and looking sinfully good in those dresses of hers.
I've never been into girly girls but the moment I saw her, I said mentally, “Damn. Too bad she's a suspect in this murder.” And then she opened her mouth, she was so... odd. And everything she said was contrary, and she called me on my bullshit and wasn't intimidated even though she seemed terrified of being held at the precinct.
I knew after about ten seconds that she had nothing to do with the murder, and had actually been thinking about her all day after we released her. Imagine my surprise when I answered a room for rent ad, and when the door to the apartment opened, she was there in all her snarky glory... and her little dog too.
I had just gone through a painful breakup with my ex, Jessie. I was trying to tell myself my attraction to this cartoon character with birds chirping and mice swarming around to sew up her dresses was just because of the hole in my heart from losing the woman I thought I was going to marry.
But before I knew it, Finnegan had gotten her claws deep into my heart, and I was almost in shock when I realized I had fallen hard for the irascible girl. She constantly challenges me and we argue all the time, and it is so refreshing to find she won't let me take myself so seriously.
I admit that before we were officially a couple, I would invade her personal space frequently to catch her scent of gladiolas and honey. Well that and the humorous way she reacted when I did.
Imagine my surprise, coming back to the apartment one day, to find that not only were Fin and Jess not mortal enemies, at each other's throats, but Finnegan had somehow gotten through Jessie's own armor and the two of them became the best of friends. I don't know how she does it, it has to be one of her superpowers. But Jess is more like a sister to her, to us, now.
Now we're about to grow our family once more, and I find myself thrilled about it. I just wish, like Fin, that we wouldn't be the instrument of the inevitable heartbreak of splitting up two girls as close as sisters. I know I try to act like the calm, cool and collected version of myself I have to project in my job, but it does make my heart ache a bit for not only Luce but Bri too. That girl has been dealt a raw deal and has come out the other end a badass who reminds me a lot of Ker and Jess. I like her. A lot.
As I was getting out of the rental, a short but somehow still gangly young man in uniform, with fine, flyaway reddish-orange hair under his uniform cap, came jogging up. He held up a finger as he bent, placing his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. “Detective, McLeary? From tha New York Police?” He panted as I inclined my head. I noted his eyes were on the shoulder holster with my service weapon and the shiny detective's badge on my belt.
Once he finally caught his breath, he said with his voice squeaking, but somehow sounding more regal than his appearance, in his Irish lilt, “The watch commander sent me ta escort ya ta his office.”
I made an ushering motion as I looked at the name-tag above the badge on his uniform. “Officer Foley?”
He nodded and looked down at his chest. “Rodney. My, you've long legs now don't'cha?”
I noted he was almost jogging beside me and I slowed for the man.
“Sorry, Rodney.”
He just beamed at me.
I think he found it amusing which just made me like the man if he didn't take himself seriously.
We went into the nondescript one-story building which looked like nineteen sixties or seventies architecture. It wasn't really laid out like the stations back home, and seemed, I don't know cleaner? Then I got it. It was quieter and spotless, and even the officers working at their desks when I was brought past the intake lobby and the Sergeant at the desk, were more... sedate? No... professional? I smirked to myself picturing the chaos of our squad-room and bullpen and settled on 'civilized' as the descriptor.
I heard someone whisper my name, and 'New York' as Rodney asked while he led me to an office, “Is it true you've tha record for closing cases in yer precinct?”
I nodded, and stated facts, hoping it didn't sound like bragging, “Ninety-seven percent.”
He whistled, nodding in appreciation as he poked his head into the door and knocked on the glass with 'Commander Murphy' stenciled on it. “Sir, tha American is here. Detective McLeary.”
The slightly heavyset man with the bushy mustache behind the outdated desk stoo
d and motored around to us as he offered a hand. He had to have been six foot four or five. “Of course, come in, come in, detective. I trust your flight was uneventful?”
I shook his hand and was happy it was firm and he didn't try to give me the 'girl shake' that some did. I inclined my head. “Jane, please. The flight was fine, but I had to stop my wife from permanently embedding her fingers in her seat armrests.”
He chuckled. “Commander Ian Murphy. Ian. Not a flier is she?”
I noted he wasn't phased by my casual mention of a wife, though Rodney's eyes widened for the barest of instants. But I was sure neither had a problem with it.
One of my shortcomings is that I have a tendency of judging a person's character based on their reactions to learning my sexuality, and I was sure neither of these men had a problem with it. So... I liked them. I know Fin would call me out on that character flaw of mine, and I am working on it.
I sat in the offered chair as I said, “Not in the least, she even seemed surprised that we arrived and were still alive.”
We talked a bit about this and that before we got into the reason for my visit. The commander started with a tour of their station, introducing me to just about everyone, and I knew I wouldn't be able to keep all the names and faces straight. To my surprise, they didn't have the disparity in numbers of male and female officers and inspectors that we had in the states. If anything, I think there were more women than men in their ranks.
Then we sat and discussed the differences between law enforcement in Northern Ireland and the States. In general, there were a lot more similarities than differences. Though I noted that they didn't have that same feeling of being prepared for all-out war at any moment that we had in the NYPD. But the disparity between our violent crime rates would account for that.
We had a small army, over thirty thousand officers in the NYPD which was more than the total officers in all of Northern Ireland to address the number of violent crimes in one of the biggest cities in the world. I would use some of these as speaking points later when they had me do my talk this afternoon.
Unleashed- Case of the Hound About Town Page 10
