by Kathryn Shay
He ripped open the envelope she left. On a sheet of paper was scrawled, $100,000.
* * *
After the girls went to bed, he called Melinda and when she arrived, she hugged him tight. She said quietly, “Something’s wrong.”
“Very. Let’s go into my den.”
They moved to the back of the house and into his office. He didn’t know what he would do without his sister. She was there for him always, but especially when Scott had died and the girls came to live with him. They sat on the couch.
“Tell me.”
“When you were here, a woman named Nancy came to the house.”
“Yeah, with a big bruiser of a guy. I felt a little intimidated. I kept the chain on the door and talked to them through the opening.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“Who are they? All she said was to tell you Nancy stopped by.”
He sighed, feeling his pulse rate spike. “Kassie and Colette’s mother.”
“Holy shit. I met her over a decade ago, but I didn’t recognize her. I do remember the grief she gave Scott. And the drugs.” She reached out and took his hand. “Chase, this is awful.”
“It gets worse.”
Her blue eyes widened. “Does she want them back?”
“No.” He handed her the envelope.
She looked at the paper inside. “What does this mean?”
“It means she’s extorting me. I didn’t tell you before, but she came to my office a couple of weeks ago.” He managed to get the story out. “I made a big mistake.”
“You gave her money.”
“I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Call your lawyer.”
“I’ve got an appointment with her tomorrow. Nancy gave up her parental rights a decade ago, so we should be okay. But she could get visiting privileges or I don’t know, maybe turn them against me. I can’t lose them, Mel. They’re...mine! Damn it.”
“Keep calm. Let’s go over this step-by-step.”
* * *
To make things more casual, Vanessa sat at the conference table in her office with the three officers she’d asked to attend. “Captain Green, Lt. Santori, Lt. Amati, thanks for coming in.”
Green spoke. Since he was the captain, he’d take the lead on this. “Of course, Madame Mayor. Is this about your parents’ fire?”
“Yes.”
Amati’s brow rose. “I thought Captain Zeleny said the cause was inconclusive.” He looked around. “If it isn’t, where is he?”
She sat up straighter, irritated by his tone. “What I have to tell you is between your housemates and me. If I need Captain Zeleny, or anyone else, I’ll call on them.”
Joe’s expression turned dark. He looked tired this morning. “What do you need from us?”
“I’d like you to help me set the tone for what I’m going to do.”
“What’s that?” Amati asked.
She took a deep breath. “I’m planning to interview the firefighters in your house.”
“For what?” This from Green.
“This is the private part. You’re not to reveal what I’m about to say to anyone. I need your word on this.”
Green nodded. Amati and Joe followed suit.
“Some of your colleagues might be involved in the fire at my parents’ house. I believe it was purposely set.”
“Are you kidding me?” This from Amati.
Green said, “Abe, your tone.”
“Sorry, Pat, but how would you know they’re involved, Ms. Jordan?”
“I had background checks done.”
“You had us investigated?” Abe’s voice had risen.
Green recoiled. “I have to add my disbelief to Amati’s. This is very serious, Madame Mayor.”
“I know it is. Which is why I want to do this quietly. Covertly.”
“Everybody in the house is suspect?” Joe asked.
“Suspect is too harsh a word to use at this early date. And I don’t want to interview everybody. None of you. But I need to talk to some of the others.”
“Who?”
She picked up the notes she’d brought to the table. “George Macon, John Jolson, Bull Warren, Liam Murray, Hildy Grant and Norm Preston.”
“That’s my whole group, except for the rookie.” Joe’s slumped posture went pole-straight. “Why them?”
Amati said, “Why any of us?”
Time to get tough. She angled her chin and set her palms on her tabletop. “I’m not revealing why just yet. I’m only alerting you out of courtesy so you’ll know what’s going on and not find out from them.”
“So...are we supposed to tell them you want these interviews?”
“No. I’ll contact them. As I said, this meeting is a professional courtesy.”
Joe stood. “Excuse me, Madame Mayor, but I can’t listen to any more of this. If you go through with the interviews, as soon as the people get called, we’ll go straight to our union reps. I stand by my team.” He turned and walked out.
Amati wasn’t so polite. “Why in hell would you treat our guys like this?”
Green didn’t shush him.
She stood. “This meeting is over. Thank you for coming.”
Amati stormed out.
Green stood. “You have a big mess on your hands now, Madam Mayor. Obviously,” he looked at the door “we won’t take this lying down.”
“You do what you have to do. But remember, Pat, my parents almost died in that fire. I’m heading down this path for them and for the fire department in general!”
* * *
Chase walked into Laura Littman’s office. She was behind the desk and rose to greet him. “Hello, Chase.”
“Sorry for the short notice, Laura.”
“I only had to juggle a few things around. You said it was an emergency.”
“Thanks.”
“Let’s sit.” She gestured to the computer. “I’ve called up your files.”
“Kassie and Colette are in danger. Their mother’s in town.”
She wheeled her chair closer to the screen. Clicked a few keys. “Nancy Hanson Talbot. You had our California office work on the divorce for Scott. We terminated her parental rights.”
“She came to see me two weeks ago.”
“Chase, you should have contacted me then.”
“I know. I panicked. She wanted money. And I gave it to her.”
“How much?”
He told her.
“Now she’s back for more?”
“Of course she is. She wants ten times that.”
“Let me check something.” She clicked more keys. Read for a few minutes. “The parental rights decree is rock-solid.”
“That’s not the only concern. She said if she doesn’t get money, she’ll contact my grandkids. That can’t happen.”
“You can’t give her more money.”
“I know. But the girls just settled into my life. Kassie, especially.”
“We’ll get a restraining order.”
“They can’t know she’s back. They can’t know she wants money in exchange for them.”
“Let me see what I can do.”
“I’m planning to have her investigated.”
“Let me run point on that. We have good people working for us.”
He sighed. “Please do something right away. And keep me in the loop.”
“Of course.”
* * *
Usually, when Vanessa had a hard meeting, she rose to the occasion. She was able to tell herself she was strong and up to the challenge of being mayor. Not this time. After the session with the officers of House 8, she’d flitted from one thing to another, and hadn’t done the work she’d planned to. Time to center. She’d called up the contact information on six firefighters when her phone buzzed.
“Yes, Betsy?”
“I know you told me no visitors, but the fire chief is here. He said you’d want to see him.”
Oh, no, did Green contact him? Well, i
t had to be hashed out sometime. And they’d made promises to each other.
“Send him in.”
Chase walked into the office. Big...but this time, breakable. He must know! “Want to go for a walk?” His tone wasn’t angry.
“A walk?”
“There’s sunshine and a cool breeze for June. I need some air. And I need to talk to you.”
“Air would be good.”
On the way out, she stopped at Betsy’s desk. “I’m going out for a bit. I don’t have any meetings scheduled.”
Betsy’s eyebrows rose. She’d been chilly since yesterday when Vanessa cut her out of the meeting with the officers this morning. But leaving the office in the middle of the day for anything but a working lunch or a meeting was uncharacteristic for her.
City Hall was in downtown Rockford on Main Street. Outside, the sounds of beeping horns, idling trucks at lights and the buzz of people returning from lunch surrounded them. But a few blocks over was a small park. Chase led her there.
“This is lovely,” Vanessa said when they sat on a bench. The trees here had gotten their leaves and the last of the daffodils bloomed on the edge of the landscaping.
“Yeah. I like coming here. It soothes me.”
“We probably shouldn’t be out together.”
“I need to be with you.”
“So you said.” She squeezed his arm. “Why? What happened?”
He told her about Nancy.
“I’m so sorry. What did your lawyer say?”
“First off, the parental rights document is air-tight. Laura’s suggested a restraining order. I’d have to tell the girls to get that.”
She waited. “Maybe they should know Nancy’s here.”
“I might be able to see around that. But the problem is, Kassie will find out what she wants. She’ll see it as Nancy selling them to me.”
“If she’s in town, Chase, I don’t see you have any choice.”
“Why didn’t she come back to see them, to find out how they are? I might have let them see her, then.”
“Life is messy. Hers sounds like a nightmare.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I’m afraid she’s going to make theirs the same.”
“What can I do?”
“Nothing. Being with you helps. Knowing you’re there for me.”
Guilt wended its way into her heart. What she’d done this morning was going to kick him when he was down. But she couldn’t tell him about the interviews now. He couldn’t handle anything more. She’d sit with him and silently pray things worked out.
Chapter 19
* * *
Holly smiled. She figured the fake it till you make it philosophy might actually work if she pretended she was glad to be here at Taylor’s, a local bar with a huge dance floor and subtle lighting. Yesterday, she decided she had to stop wallowing about what happened with Joe. So she went to the end-of-the-year party and now the group headed out to the dance floor. She remembered her grandparents swirling around the living room together then teaching her steps—and yearned for the days when her family was whole.
Sidling up to the bar, she took out some money and ordered her favorite wine.
Greg slipped in next to her. “Hey, I would have gotten that for you.”
“No need. Let me buy you one.”
He ordered a gin and tonic. They made small talk about school. He was nice-looking with his blondish hair a little long and his blue eyes alight. He was happy to be here with her. And he’d never uttered an unkind word to her. Guilt surfaced from her soul. She knew in her heart that she’d rather be with Joe, and that wasn’t fair to Greg. But she was doubting things would work for them if they couldn’t even handle some scrapes between them.
“Do I have something on my face?” he asked.
“No, I was thinking what an attractive man you are.”
“I like hearing that. You look particularly lovely tonight.”
“Thanks. I don’t wear this very often.” She’d changed into jeans, like most of the teachers, but wore a long, off-the-shoulder pink tunic. Daring for her. But her mother always said, dress up when you feel rotten.
You don’t feel rotten. You feel longing.
They sipped their drinks, listened to the band and watched the dancers. The band was playing a fast-paced song and the floor was crowded. People were doing all kinds of movements from jumping up and down to complicated steps together as a couple. One duo caught her eye. “Oh, my God.”
“What is it, Holly?” Greg sounded alarmed.
“Um, I was thinking how everybody’s better than me.”
He gave her an askance look.
“Look at them.”
“You’re a great dancer.” He took the wine from her hand, set down their glasses and led her to the floor. “Let’s join them.”
They started out close together and picked up the rhythm easily. Greg spun her out and she returned with her back to him. They did a few moves with her facing outward.
That’s when Joe saw her. He was in a clinch with his date, and when he glanced over the woman’s shoulder, he got a glimpse of Holly. His eyes narrowed on her. It was a searing look.
That’s it. She spun back around and let go.
Joe thought, Of all the gin joints! She was here, with her boyfriend. He’d come to Taylor’s to escape thoughts of her and treat the guys to some brews. Then some of his friends he used to hang out with showed up and Sheila had asked him to dance. He was on the floor with her now.
Holly looked...absolutely beautiful. Creamy shoulders peeked from the top in her favorite color which cloaked her body every time she moved. And she was moving, all right. He had no idea she could dance like that. It was sexy as hell.
Well, he could match that. He took Sheila’s hand and did a tango-like move: bodies touching, arms outstretched, stepping forward into the crowd. Others sidled out of the way— sorry guys but this is important. They stopped dramatically, pivoted fast and paced back. He could feel Holly’s eyes on him. Then he pulled Sheila to him, and dipped her almost to the floor.
The next song was slow. It was one of his favorites, the theme from The Bodyguard with the lead singer of the band doing a great imitation of Whitney Houston. He moved with Sheila, trying not to think of how the words of the song could have easily apply to his relationship with Holly. But they’d had a stupid fight, then she’d come over at the wrong time. She obviously wanted to make up, but he’d spurned her because he’d been pouting about Francey. Hadn’t he learned anything in the last few years?
At one point, they faced each other over their dates’ shoulders. The poignant look they shared devastated them both.
* * *
Holly got ready for bed slowly. She was exhausted from trying to keep up a front all night, two glasses of wine and all that dancing.
Liar. My fatigue is because of Joe.
She knew that, but she didn’t know what to do from here.
Berating her obsession, she brushed her teeth, turned off the lights and climbed into bed.
Had he gone to his date’s house? His car wasn’t in his driveway when she got home. At least she wouldn’t have to sleep on one side of a wall where he was having sex with another woman.
When a few tears escaped her eyes, she turned into the pillow.
* * *
Goddamn son-of-a-bitch. Other more colorful words left Joe’s mouth as he drove away from Sheila’s house. He’d followed her home with thoughts of going to bed with her, but when she’d asked him inside, he couldn’t go with her.
He berated himself all the way home for being such a shit to Holly. When he pulled into her driveway, the clock on his dash told him it was one a.m. Her place was dark. Was she there or at Rossi’s? Damn it, he couldn’t stand the thought.
Whipping the door open and bolting out of the car, he marched to her porch. He didn’t care if Rossi was with her and if Joe interrupted something. He hoped he did. He lifted his hand to bang on the wood, but the door opened before
he could.
He recoiled in response and she gasped.
Very carefully, he said, “Where were you going?”
She said simply, “To see if you were home yet.”
He stepped inside and she inched back, never unlocking their gaze. They stared at each other. Then she threw herself into his arms and he hiked her up so he could hug her tight.
* * *
The kiss they shared was hot and deep, full of residual anger, frustration, gratefulness and sexual intent. Joe took her mouth, bathed the inside with his tongue, nipped her lip and pressed his body into hers. She arched into him to get closer, ground her pelvis into his. His hands tensed on her bottom.
At some point, he leaned back. “We’re alone, right?”
“Yes.” She was already working the buttons of his shirt, her shaky hands fumbling with the buttons.
“Not here.” He headed to the master suite and when he carried her inside, he grinned when he saw her bed was nestled up to his, with the wall between them.
Letting her slide to the floor, he cupped her face. “Ah, Holly.”
Leaning into his hands, she closed her eyes and savored the sensation of his callused fingers against her skin. He reached for the hem of her gown and slipped it over her head. The light from the moon slivered through the slats of the blinds, and it wasn’t enough. Leaning over and around her, he switched on the bedside light. The bulb must have been set on low, but he could see her high, full breasts, the indentation at her waist. Curvy hips; even lovelier, what was between her legs. He cupped her there. “I’ve got to have you.”
She giggled. “I’m not very experienced, but I think we have to take our pants off first.”
He kissed her smart-mouth and tore at the rest of his clothes. When he was naked, he went for her again. She said, “Wait.”
His forehead met his. “If you want to stop, it’s okay. But you’re killin’ me here.”
“I don’t want to stop. But I have to tell you something first.”
“Okay.”
“I’ve done this before, but not in five years.”
His jaw dropped. “Oh, Holly. Why?”
