“Are you from Houston, too? Did you come down with her boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend?” Julie broke into a fit of laughter. “She and Craig may be best friends, but I can assure you, the only woman he goes home with is me.”
So what was the display of affection he’d just seen on the grass? “But they were just hugging...”
“Oh, that scamp.” She stomped her foot. “I knew better than to leave him alone. Craig probably spilled the beans.” She rubbed her tummy. “After seven years of trying, we’re finally having a baby. I knew Craig couldn’t keep it a secret.”
Tony felt a little numb. Now what was he supposed to think?
Julie linked her arm through his. “I’m afraid I’ll get lost. Walk me back and I’ll tell you all kinds of juicy secrets about our Sabrina.”
* * *
THE SHAKINESS SHE’D felt when she first saw Tony was replaced with numbness. Then anger. How dare he accuse her of something? Who did he think he was?
Craig stood up. “You look like you’re about to fall down. You okay?”
She sank onto the blanket they’d spread on the grass. “I’m just glad y’all are here.”
His eyes tightened. “You just saw him, didn’t you?”
Biting her bottom lip, she nodded.
“Where is he?” He tried to stand up, but she caught him.
“No. Please. Don’t make a scene.”
“There is something you aren’t telling me,” he finally said. “What is it?’
Sabrina laughed nervously. “You know me too well.”
“Years of practice,” he said. “Now, what is it? Get it off your chest.”
She buried her face in her hands while the erratic beat of her heart spoke the truth. She took a deep breath and looked Craig straight in the eye. “I still love him.”
Saying the words out loud released the weight from her chest and she was able to breathe in deeply. “I know it sounds crazy, but you don’t know what he’s been through in his life. By all accounts, he should be jail. Anyone else who’d been in his shoes would’ve been. The fact that he’s here now...”
She stopped and shook her head. “That just shows how determined he was to make something of his life. It’s really amazing.” She was proud of him.
“Have you told Tony how you feel?” Craig wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer to him.
She didn’t have to tell him. He knew. Still, speaking the words out loud wouldn’t change anything. She shook her head. “I didn’t tell him I was pregnant because I didn’t want to force him to come back. He had an opportunity to get out of Salt Creek and make something of his life. I won’t tell him I love him now because he’s finally achieved everything he’s ever wanted. I won’t make him give it up for me. Or Levi.”
Craig squeezed her hand. He leaned in close, his forehead touching hers. “Despite your tough exterior, you’re a hopeless romantic. You want the real deal. You want him to proclaim his undying devotion to you in song. I get it.”
She rolled her eyes. “You are so corny. How does Julie ever put up with you?”
Craig wrinkled his nose at her. “Because she’s a hopeless romantic, too.”
“Honey, look who I found,” Julie called from behind them.
Sabrina turned and saw Tony standing with Julie and her heart dropped. Of all the people for Tony to meet, why did it have to be Julie?
“Tony!” Levi stood up and ran over to him.
Craig stood up. “You must be the hero cop.”
“I don’t know about hero, but I’m a police officer.” He shook hands with Craig.
“Sabrina tells us you got promoted to undercover detective. You must be very excited.”
Tony looked at Sabrina out of the corner of his eye. “I am. If you’ll excuse me, I’m chaperoning some teenagers. I don’t want the other chaperones to get overwhelmed.”
Sabrina fielded question after question from Julie and Craig for the rest of the fireworks.
“Uh... Mom.” Levi stood next to her.
She glanced around. People were folding up their blankets and gathering their stuff. The fireworks show was over. She hadn’t even noticed. “You ready?”
They walked in silence back to the parking lot. She scanned the crowd, wondering if she’d see Tony again. If he was close by, he was giving her a wide berth.
When they arrived at Craig’s car, Levi paused. He stared down at his feet for a minute before giving her a hug.
The gesture took her by surprise. After weeks of his bristly attitude, his sudden show of emotion brought a lump to her throat. She hugged him tight.
“Mom, are you sure you’re going to be okay until Monday?” Levi climbed into the backseat. “I don’t have to go camping with Craig and Julie.”
“Nonsense. You love camping with them.” She ruffled his hair. “I can take care of myself, you know.”
“Maybe you and Dad can do something. I think he may be lonely without me, too.”
Her heart leaped to her throat. Dad. She’d wanted him to accept Tony, but now he had. Just one week before Tony went back to San Antonio. Was Levi old enough to understand, or would he think Tony was abandoning him?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TONY FOLLOWED THE teens back to their van, but his heart was no longer in the conversation. Was Julie right? Was it fear of his job that kept Sabrina from being able to make a commitment to him?
“Ain’t that right, Tony?”
“What?” His eyes flew to boys in front of him.
“You got arrested a few times when you were a kid, and they still let you be a cop.” Kyle leaned on the van.
Tony nodded. “They were all minor charges and most of them were purged from my record when I turned eighteen.”
“I got arrested for shoplifting. Would that keep me from becoming a cop?”
Tony shook his head. “What did you steal and why?” There was a big difference in a kid who stole food because there wasn’t any in the house and the kids who stole for the thrill. A good judge knew that.
Kyle popped his knuckles. “I stole a bag of apples.”
Tony’s tension melted. “Are you interested in being a police officer?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. If I could be a cop like you.”
Martin snorted. “He won’t be around much longer, anyway.”
“What do you mean? Why not?” Kyle shot Tony an accusing glance.
Tony took a deep breath. “I’m only here on medical leave. I report back to work at the end of next week.”
Kyle was quiet the rest of the ride back to Salt Creek.
Tony kept his eyes focused on the road. Until that moment, he hadn’t realized how much he wanted to stay. Was it possible? Was there a way?
Travis Anderson met the boys at the vans and checked them all in. A flicker of surprise crossed his face when he saw Tony. “I didn’t know you were supervising tonight.” He shook Tony’s hand.
“I wasn’t. My plans changed last-minute and I decided to lend an extra hand.”
Daniel, one of the cabin parents, began rounding up the boys to take them to their cabins. Martin volunteered to stay behind to help clean out the fans.
Travis waited until the large group had left, then he stepped close to Tony. “I wanted to let you know that Karen has announced her retirement. We’ll be looking for a new associate supervisor. Interested?”
The man was offering him a job? It could be the perfect solution. There was a possibility he could transfer to the Lampasas County Sheriff’s Department. But not for another year. Being a cop was all he’d wanted to do. He was good at it. Could he be happy doing anything else? Even if it was just for a year. “I’m very tempted, Travis. Let me think about it for a few days.”
“I
can’t pay nearly what they pay in San Antonio, but you’re welcome here as long as you want to stay.” Travis shook his hand and turned to go. “The position won’t officially open until the end of the month, but we can start on the paperwork whenever you’re ready.”
A heavy weight pressed on his chest. Maybe things could work out after all. If he wasn’t a cop, could he convince Sabrina to give him a second chance?
His phone vibrated. Jarrod. Still at the home?
Just leaving. He sat in the driver’s seat, but didn’t start the SUV.
He didn’t have to wait long. Meet me in town? Behind the gas station.
Be there in five.
A flash of light blinded him. He squinted. Headlights glared from down the street. The car was parked on the wrong side of the road, angled right at the parking lot. The headlights flashed off, then back on again. One of the vans from Little Mountain flashed their lights back. The green car turned around and sped away.
Something came up. Give me fifteen minutes. He sent the message to Jarrod and kept on eye on the van. From here, he couldn’t tell who the driver was.
Tony parked across the street from Little Mountain and watched the other vans unload. A tall, skinny woman climbed out of the driver’s seat of the van he was watching. When all the kids headed inside, she waved Martin over. The two of them walked into the house together. Just before they got inside, she handed something to Martin.
The streets were deserted as Tony drove through town. Jarrod’s patrol car was parked behind a gas station on the edge of town. Unless someone was looking, they’d never see the vehicle hiding in the shadows. Tony parked next to the car and rolled down his window.
Jarrod’s elbow was in the open window of his car. “How’d things go at the home? Anyone give you any trouble?”
“I know where they’re getting it.”
“Where?”
Tony told him about the flashing lights and the girl. “They left it in the van. I’d be willing to bet Martin will sneak back out to get it. You should put surveillance on him.”
“Hmm...” Jarrod scratched the stubble darkening his chin. “Do we bust them now, or try to find out who the supplier is? Was the girl Rachel Johnson?”
“It could be, but I’m not sure. She usually comes to work after I leave. I’ll find out.”
The truth was, he’d been so wrapped up in watching Sabrina, someone very well could’ve talked to Martin. It was just dumb luck that he happened to catch the two vehicles signaling each other.
How could he have made such a stupid mistake? He knew better than to let emotions get in the way of his job. It might not be an official job, but Jarrod was counting on him.
Jarrod pulled out a notepad and went over all the people he’d seen Nick talk to after leaving the sunglass booth. “But if he made a drop-off, he’s sneakier than anyone else I’ve ever watched. I didn’t catch it.”
“Maybe he was just picking it up tonight. Or maybe it was for him. Maybe Martin is selling and Nick is just a buyer.”
“Are you volunteering tomorrow?” Jarrod tapped his fingers on the side of the patrol car. “I’ll work on getting a search warrant for Martin’s room and you keep an eye on him.”
“Not a problem.” The adrenaline that had been rushing though his system all evening began to ebb, leaving him feeling a little drained.
“Didn’t you say you did mostly street duty in San Antonio?” Jarrod waited for Tony’s affirmative nod. “They’re wasting your talent. You should look into undercover work.”
“I am. Captain Rodriguez called to tell me, not only did I get the promotion to detective, I’ll be running my own undercover task force.”
“That’s fantastic.” Jarrod’s freckled face broke out in a wide grin.
“Thanks.” Shouldn’t he be more excited? It was the culmination of everything he’d worked for over the last seven years. Most of his colleagues would kill for this chance. Stakeouts, undercover operations to bust the bad guys. It was everything a cop could dream of.
“It’s a shame Sheriff Cameron couldn’t swing the transfer. It’d be great to work with you.”
Tony shrugged. “A year isn’t that long. Maybe I’ll still be around.”
* * *
SABRINA PARKED HER car behind her dad’s truck, feeling the first signs of a tension headache. It was after midnight and she was dead tired. Thank goodness tomorrow was Saturday and she could sleep in.
She’d only taken one step toward the house when her father appeared at the door.
“The group home called. They have an emergency and need you to get there right away.”
She turned around and got back in her car. Hadn’t she just been wishing for a distraction? Not like this, though. She hoped everyone was okay.
As soon as she arrived, she saw a little girl on the steps.
“Mia, where’s everyone at? And why aren’t you in bed?”
Mia nodded to the staircase. “Ms. Karen told me to wait down here for you. Lacey is bleeding again, so Ms. Karen is with her.”
“Bleeding? Take me to her.”
The little girl ran up the stairs and Sabrina took them two at a time to keep up. They went through an open door to a large dormitory-style room and Sabrina stopped short. Pandemonium had erupted. Girls of all ages were running around the room. Several jumped on the beds while four more engaged in a pillow fight. In the corner of the room, Karen sat with her arms and legs wrapped around a struggling girl. Blood poured from the girl’s arms and the frazzled woman was trying to apply pressure to the wound and yell at the girls running amok in the room.
Instinct kicked in. “KNOCK. IT. OFF!” Sabrina’s voice was so loud that most of the girls stopped running in surprise. “You.” She pointed to one of the older girls. “Go get me a large bowl of water. And you, take these little ones to the recreation room and play a game.”
Another one of the older girls tried to slip through the door. “Not so fast, Keisha.” Sabrina twirled around to her. “You start cleaning this mess up.”
Keisha crossed her arms. “What if I don’t?”
Sabrina took two steps to the girl and looked her straight in the eye. “I suggest you don’t try to find out.”
The girl dropped her defiant gaze and bent down to pick up sheets scattered around the floor. Once again, the room erupted into chaos, but this time it was organized chaos. With a sigh of relief, she hurried to the woman and child in the corner.
“What happened? Where is your help?” She pulled the pillowcase off a pillow on the floor. With quick rips, she tore it into strips.
Karen was talking in a low, soft tone to the girl in her arms. When the girl had calmed down some, she gave Sabrina a soft laugh. “Lacey got cut and she panics at the sight of blood.”
Got cut? She raised one eyebrow, but didn’t correct her. Sabrina recognized a cutter when she saw one. Scars from previous episodes crisscrossed the girl’s forearms.
The girl hadn’t panicked. She’d been fighting Karen’s attempts to help. Her eyes pleaded with Sabrina not to reveal the girl’s secret, so Sabrina nodded and began to wrap the tiny arms with the makeshift bandages. “I’m sorry that you’ve had an accident, Lacey. But it doesn’t look too bad. I think we can have you fixed up in no time.”
Lacey raised her face to look at Sabrina. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
The pain in Lacey’s eyes was heartbreaking. She smoothed the girl’s stringy hair back and patted her cheek. “There, there. Accidents happen. Let’s get you fixed up.”
Together, she and Karen walked Lacey to the medical office where they could get her cleaned up. “Where is the rest of the staff?” she whispered over Lacey’s head.
Karen frowned. “Rachel is the weekend supervisor. She got a phone call a little while ago and said she had a family em
ergency and took off.”
“You don’t believe her?”
“No. She’ll be back by morning and put on a big show. You just wait and see.” Karen laid the girl on a cot and tucked a blanket in around her.
Sabrina reached out to squeeze Karen’s hand. “I’m really going to miss you when you retire. Are you sure you don’t want to stay on a few more years?”
“Nonsense,” Karen laughed. “I’m not worried. With Tony coming on staff, I can rest easy knowing these kids will have someone they can count on.”
Sabrina almost dropped the box of bandages she was holding. “That’s impossible. Tony’s going back to San Antonio.”
Karen shook her head. “Travis told me this morning that he was going to offer the job to Tony.”
Sabrina’s throat went dry. Had she jumped to the wrong conclusion? Was Tony giving up the job he loved to stay in Salt Creek? “But what about his promotion in San Antonio?”
“I don’t know. I’m just repeating what I heard. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s one in the morning and I need to get those little girls back in bed.”
Sabrina nodded. “We’ll be fine.” She sank into the chair next to the cot. In all the excitement, her headache had disappeared. Now it returned with full force. Standing up, she rolled her head in a circle and dug through the cabinet for some ibuprofen.
A tall woman with bright pink hair stuck her head into the room.
“Can I help you?” Sabrina asked.
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “I’m the night supervisor for the girls’ dormitory. Who are you? Where’s Karen?”
“I’m the medical assistant, Sabrina Davis.” She held out her hand.
“Rachel Johnson.”
Johnson? Sabrina stepped back. “Are you kin to Allen?”
The woman gave her a saccharine sweet smile. “I’m his sister-in-law. Kurt’s my husband.”
Her mouth fell open. Kurt was married? The Kurt she remembered had been a hateful, arrogant bully. He derived great pleasure from making other people miserable. She couldn’t imagine him being nice enough to anyone to win their heart.
She’d grown up with Allen. He’d been a sweet guy, right up until high school. Then he’d spent his time trying to live up to his older brother’s bully reputation.
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