by PJ Fernor
“What do we do here, Chaz?” I asked.
“I shoot you,” he said. “Then I handle the rest of my business.”
“You know what happens if you kill someone in my position, right?”
“Big deal,” he said. “You’ll get your honors. I’ll keep my freedom. That sounds like a fair thing to me.”
I saw movement behind Chaz.
Johnny.
He snuck up on Chaz like a ninja.
I saw from my peripheral vision because I didn’t dare take my eyes off of Chaz’s.
“If that’s what you need to do, then do it,” I said.
“Killing a woman though,” Chaz said.
“Oh, you have standards? The big shot drug dealer can’t handle a woman?”
Chaz lowered his gun a few inches to smile.
That’s when Johnny made his move.
He stripped Chaz of his own weapon and then put his left arm to Chaz’s throat.
Chaz threw an elbow, kicked, and spun out of the move in a second.
Before Johnny could make another move, Chaz scooped up his gun.
I had my gun pointed at Chaz… but I couldn’t pull the trigger.
I was suddenly a block of ice, like a complete fool. All I could think about was my life and what would happen if-
A gunshot exploded into the night.
Chaz let out a yell and fell to the ground.
Johnny jumped into action as Reed suddenly ran by me.
“You shot him?” Reed yelled.
“I got him in the shoulder,” Johnny said. “He’s fine. He was going to shoot Allie.”
I heard more footsteps.
Ben.
He came running up to me while Johnny and Reed handled Chaz.
I looked at Ben and finally managed to take a breath.
My dumb distraction and even dumber hesitation almost cost me my life.
Chapter Two
I knocked twice on the bedroom door and then waited two seconds before opening it.
This was a routine Lo and I agreed upon a few months ago.
She begged for me to trust her and not just barge into her room.
She feared that she would be getting changed or something and was worried.
The balance of aunt, mother, and raising a teenager was still as tricky as ever.
Lo pulled earbuds out of her ears and smiled at me.
“I know, it’s late,” she said.
“I just wanted to see you. Say goodnight.”
I walked to the bed and kissed the top of her head.
On her laptop screen was a paused show.
Two guys ready to throw punches.
“Good show?” I asked.
“Kind of,” Lo said. “Everyone is watching it and talking about it. Teenagers are annoying.”
I laughed. “Are they really?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Lo said.
I hugged her again and swallowed hard.
When I started to pull away Lo touched my arm. “Bad night?”
“What?”
“You only do this extra attention thing when you have a bad night.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do, Allie. It’s okay. I know you love me and all that. So what happened?”
I sighed. “Fine. Bad night.”
“With Ben?”
“No. Ben and I are fine. Work stuff. We caught a bad guy.”
“That should make you feel good though.”
“It should. It will. I just sometimes don’t like the reminder of how dangerous the world is. Especially with you just a couple years away from getting into the mix of it.”
“You’re going to worry about me forever, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am, Lo. Yes, I am.”
I smiled at her and left the bedroom.
In the kitchen, I met Ben.
Our nightly routine…
I would check on Lo. He would check on his father. Then we’d meet in the kitchen.
“How’s he doing?” I asked.
“Finally got him to sleep,” Ben said. “He was talking about a parts order that was delayed.” Ben shook his head. “When he gets into it like that, he knows every detail. I just don’t get it. I don’t get this disease. How could he remember the part number for a carburetor from thirty years ago but he can’t remember my name?”
Ben made fists and looked away.
Sometimes I took for granted just how strong Ben was. How much he dealt with on a daily basis. And the fact that he was watching his father slip away. There would come a day when Ben Sr. would either need to be put somewhere for around the clock care, or he would just succumb to the disease.
I went to Ben and slipped my arms around him.
“Sorry about that, Allie Down,” he said.
I still loved when he said my full name. It had started as a sign of respect, then it moved into a joke, and now I expected it.
“You can always talk to me, Ben. I know I’m always a mess with my life, but I see and hear you too.”
I looked up at him and he smiled. “That’s all I need to hear.” Then after a few seconds pause, he said, “Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“I hesitated, Ben. And it could have cost me my life.”
“We did what we said we were going to do,” Ben said. “We helped. The bad guy was caught.”
“That was luck. If Johnny hadn’t been there and acted fast…”
“There’s always the other side of things. You know that. Sometimes things go right. Sometimes they don’t. What you did though was stop him. Chaz had inside intel that Reed was undercover.”
“He did?” I asked, stepping back.
Ben nodded. “You were in the car and Reed filled us in from his contacts. Someone gave up Reed. Chaz was going to make a run for the airport and get out of the country. He had everything set up to take Reed out too. Chaz saw you and stopped. It was just enough of a distraction to end it all. You did your job.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I shouldn’t have helped Johnny.”
“You can tell me I’m right all you want,” Ben said with a smile.
“I can’t find who killed my sister,” I said, getting to the truth. “It’s distracting me. I thought taking over the department would give me something. Give me an edge. It hasn’t helped at all, Ben.”
“I know. And I’m sorry. I hate the idea that you may never find out the truth.”
“I’m going through so many files, Ben. After what happened with Laura, it’s a lot to carry.”
“It is. But you’re strong enough. You know that.”
“I know. What I won’t do is just swipe the desk clean and start over. Maybe that’s the smart thing to do, but I can’t. I have to see everything she did. To know where she went right and where she went wrong. Because of her…”
Ben touched my shoulders.
I stopped myself.
I knew the drill.
There was no possibility of going back in time.
The One was dead.
Laura had been exposed for who she really was.
And I was put in charge of everything.
“It’s all going to work out,” Ben said. “I know you hate when I say that.”
“I really hate when you say that, Ben.”
“But it’s true.”
“I’m trying to find the person who killed my sister. I’m going through files from Laura. And now our lovely mayor has taken a liking to me. He’s the nosiest person I ever met. He stinks of a politician.”
“He is a politician,” Ben said. “He’s only around to make sure things are okay.”
“Don’t stick up for him.”
“I’m not,” Ben said.
“And on top of that… Lo. In a car. Driving.”
Ben laughed. “It scares me too. But she’s smart and strong, just like you.”
“Sometimes I wish you wouldn’t work so hard to make everything perfect.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“
I know,” I said. “I’m in a mood. And I’m tired.”
“You sound like you need a drink, Allie Down,” Ben said.
“Ben, that’s exactly what I need right now.”
Chapter Three
Before I could take the first sip of my morning coffee, Lo popped into the kitchen, biting her bottom lip.
“That’s not a good sign,” I said.
“I want to drive,” she said.
“Drive…?”
“You know, the car? Vroom-vroom. Beep-beep.”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Allie, please…”
I turned away from Lo and shut my eyes.
I hurried to take that first sip of coffee, which was normally a welcomed event in my life.
The coffee was good, but my nerves were already jittery.
Lo. Driving a car.
I didn’t like the idea of Lo driving in an empty parking lot, let alone getting behind the wheel of a vehicle on a road.
“It’s not time yet,” I whispered.
“When is it going to be time?” Lo asked.
“When I say.”
I cringed at that response.
Such a parent thing to say.
I held my composure strong and walked to the breakfast table.
“Eat something before you leave,” I said to Lo.
“I’ll get something on the way,” she said.
With that, she stormed out of the kitchen.
Ben had been walking into the kitchen as Lo ran out.
Ben threw himself against the wall and looked at me, eyes wide.
“Do I want to know?” Ben asked.
“She asked to drive again.”
“Ah.”
“Don’t make that ah sound.”
“What?”
“I know that sound. That’s the sound you make when you think I’m wrong but you don’t want to tell me I’m wrong.”
“I’m going to get some coffee,” Ben said.
“Ben, you have to be on my side here,” I said.
“There are no sides, Allie Down. It’s just…”
“What?”
Ben looked at me. “She’s growing up. I’m as scared as you are of her driving. I know you think about her mother and what happened. I get it. You’re a good person for wanting to protect her.”
“But I can’t protect her forever.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to hand her the keys to the car,” Ben said.
“Good. You’re on my side.”
“No sides,” Ben reminded me. “There needs to be a conversation and a plan.”
I heard the front door open and slam shut.
I thought back to Alex and myself as teenagers.
If Alex was told no, she’d find a way to do it anyway.
I pictured Lo with the car keys, rushing to take the car.
After handing Ben my coffee, I ran toward the door.
When I opened it, I saw Lo running toward Trevor’s car.
That made me shudder too.
I opened my mouth but knew yelling for her wasn’t going to help the situation.
Lo opened the passenger door and looked back at me.
I waved.
She waved back to me, which I took as a sign of peace and luck.
Music blared from inside Trevor’s car.
The moment Trevor saw me on the porch he turned the music down.
In my mind I was taken back to myself and Tommy. All those years ago, me running to his car the same way Lo just ran to Trevor’s car. I loved when Tommy drove too fast and we listened to music too loud. And any time he sensed me getting nervous, he’d hold my hand.
The problem there was that Tommy wasn’t the right person for me.
That was a road I had to find out for myself.
Just like Lo would have to do with Trevor. If Trevor wasn’t the right person for her.
Behind me I heard Ben’s father let out a yell.
“I said to get out of here, buddy! Don’t make me put you on the wrong end of a five-knuckle sandwich!”
I hurried back into the house to find Ben Sr. squaring up with Ben.
Ben’s father had his fists locked tight and lifted.
“Dad, it’s me,” Ben said. “It’s Ben. I’m your son.”
“My son is at the shop!” Ben Sr. yelled.
“Ben, is that you?” I called out.
Ben’s father turned his head and looked at me. He lowered his fists and smiled. “Hey. Hey there. Hey… you…”
“It’s Allie,” I said.
“Allie, of course,” Ben’s father said. “I knew that.”
“How’s the weather looking today?”
Ben’s father waved a hand. “These fools. They had a frost advisory two nights ago and it was almost fifty that night. Nonsense.”
I almost felt Ben sighing.
I kept his father distracted while we waited for the nurse to show up.
Once she did, I was able to get Ben alone in the kitchen.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“It happens,” Ben said. “I didn’t want him to hurt himself.”
“Or you,” I said.
“Yeah. That too.”
We sighed at the same time.
“Another exciting morning,” I said.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. As long as you’re with me.”
“We should get going,” I said. “I have a feeling the rest of the day will be just as crazy.”
“Oh, I’m sure of it,” Ben said. “But, again…”
“I know. You wouldn’t have it any other way. That was romantic the first fifty times you said it.”
“Are you suggesting I need more romantic things to say?”
“Big time,” I said.
“Ouch,” Ben said.
I smiled and winked.
I made it two steps before my phone started to ring.
When I saw the name on the screen, I put my head back and groaned.
“Let me guess,” Ben said. “Your new best friend?”
“This guy just doesn’t let up,” I said.
It was the mayor of Sandemor… ready to drive me absolutely crazy.
Chapter Four
My office now sat empty. I had it on my list to check the budget and possibly bring in some new hires to fill the people we had lost. Garrison was obviously gone, as he had been undercover, putting the pieces of who Laura was together. And Laura was long gone.
That left me in Laura’s office.
The big office.
The main office.
I still entered through the front of the station.
It meant something to have everyone see me.
As I walked past the front desk, Muldavey came charging my way.
I stopped and pointed at him. “Want an office?”
“What…?”
“You should take my old office, Muldavey. I was just thinking about it. About my office. It’s just sitting there, empty.”
“That’s for a detective though.”
“So become a detective.”
“I don’t know if…”
“Muldavey,” I said. “If it wasn’t for your intuitive thinking - more than once - I don’t know where any of us would be right now. Get things in order. I’ll help in any way I can.”
“Okay then. Thank you. Wow.”
“There’s my good deed for the day,” I said. “So when I throw the mayor out the window, it won’t count against me, right?”
Muldavey smiled.
I went to the stairs and climbed to the second floor.
I already knew he was in my office.
He tried to claim it was nothing, but it was a power move.
Mayor Jim Dieders was one of a kind. I had only heard a few stories about him here and there. He never bothered with us before everything came crashing down with Laura. Since then - and since I took over - he was forever bothering me. My guess was that he had to answer a lot of questions he had no answers for when
it came to Laura.
The thing was… I wasn’t Laura and never would be.
I opened my office door and Mayor Jim popped up out of a chair.
He smoothed his tie, reached for my desk, and picked up a box.
“Good morning,” he belted out in his deep voice.
“Mayor.”
“What did I tell you about that?”
“Right. If I make you call me Allie, I have to call you Jim.”
He opened the lid of the box. “Have a croissant. They’re fresh. Smell them. Aren’t they fantastic?”
“I’m not hungry right now.”
“Would you have preferred something else to eat?” Mayor Jim asked. “You know me. I like to keep everyone happy.”
I moved behind my desk. “I would be happiest to be left alone. I have a lot of paperwork here, Jim.”
“I know. And you’re doing a stellar job. I wanted to tell you that.”
“And that’s the only reason you’re here?”
“I have a big idea, Allie,” Mayor Jim said as he waved his hands in front of his face.
He looked like a magician, but instead of a rabbit appearing, it was just his big, politician’s grin.
“What now?” I asked.
“We’ve had a tough year here. I don’t need to tell you that. I think we owe it to ourselves and the fine people of this town to do something.”
“What exactly is that something going to be?”
“A parade,” Mayor Jim said. He knocked on my desk hard. “The biggest Halloween parade we’ve ever seen.”
“A parade?”
“Sure!” He waved his hands again. “We let people make their own floats. Bring out the ambulances and firetrucks. I’m talking tractors and motorcycles. Big trucks too. The kids standing there waving, dressed up in their costumes. And candy! Lots of candy, Allie! People can throw the candy to the kids. From the parade route.”
“That sounds like a nightmare.”
“What’s wrong? Afraid of a spooky Halloween?” Mayor Jim wiggled his fingers at me, grinning ear to ear.
I curled my lip. “A parade.”
“The biggest ever. We all deserve it. We need it. I’ll even get you up on a float. You can ride around, waving to everyone. Show the people you know what you’re doing. You’re the one in charge here.”
“If I’m charge, then there’s no parade.”
“Ah, don’t be like that, Allie. You’re going to ruin my buzz right now.”