Close To The Heart (Westen Series Book 5)

by Suzanne Ferrell

  Aisha had transferred to Westen several months ago when the county decided to upgrade its firefighter and paramedic teams to full time professionals and not rely on a big volunteer squad. Again, another need brought on by the meth lab explosion and influx of new residents involved in the rebuilding of the town.

  “I used it in the field as an Army Medic,” Chris added.

  “Figured you two, along with Carlos, as paramedics were up to date on it as part of your training.” Clint reached into the box beside him and pulled out a small white box. “However, with the number of overdoses we’re seeing statewide, both from opioids and heroin or fentanyl, in most counties in Ohio it’s become standard practice for law enforcement to carry it and know how to use it, as well as EMS units.”

  “Not to sound wussy or anything, but I’m not really thrilled with giving shots. If I was, I’d go study for the paramedic license,” Colin said.

  Jeremy gave him a shove. “What, you scared of needles?”

  “No, just don’t like the thought of sticking them into people.”

  “Not a problem,” Clint said, pulling out what looked like a regular sinus nasal spray bottle. “You come across an unconscious, unresponsive person you suspect having used any of the opioid drugs, you simply shove the tip up one nostril, press the bottom of the bottle toward the tip once.”

  “How fast does it work?” Daniel asked.

  “Pretty fast.” Chris turned in his seat. “Gave it to a guy in the barracks one day. Fool shot up like a jack-in-the-box. Completely disoriented, like he had no idea where he was or what had happened to him.”

  “Problem is, it only temporarily counteracts the effects of the opioids,” Clint said. “You should call for the paramedics as soon as you give it, in case the patient slips back into unconsciousness or respiratory distress. And if it doesn’t work immediately, you wait two to three minutes and use another bottle in the other nostril.”

  “One shot per bottle?” Bobby asked.

  Clint nodded. “That’s right. You’ll need to carry two bottles in your vehicles, just in case.”

  “Let’s hope we don’t get too many of these cases, that’s going to get expensive,” Deke said.

  “Have to find the source first,” Wes said.

  “If there is one,” Daniel added. “We haven’t run into any other heroin in any of the empty houses so far. Nothing before or after we found Rose’s stash.”

  “Well, if you do find anymore, be careful,” Clint said as he handed out boxes of the naloxone to each of them. “If fentanyl is mixed in with the heroin or what you find is straight up fentanyl or a derivative, it can be absorbed through the skin or eyes, as well as ingested. Don’t touch anything suspicious without gloves. We don’t need to treat you for acute respiratory depression as well as your victims or suspects.”

  “Damn the bitch.” Dan slammed his hand down on the desk.

  Every head swiveled his direction. If they expected an apology for his outburst, they were in for a helluva long wait.

  “There was no way to know any of that crap in the house was or wasn’t mixed with fentanyl. Damn sure Rose didn’t. Lexie could’ve died accidentally touching the stuff at any point, especially when she was alone there.”

  Bobby came around her desk and laid her hand on his shoulder. Her soft touch gentled some of his anger. “But she didn’t because she’s a smart little girl. You said so yourself.”

  “Doesn’t excuse her mother’s actions.”

  “No, it doesn’t,” Wes agreed. “We’ll add this information to Chloe and DA Howard’s case against her in court next week.”

  “And when we find her, she’s going to jail for child endangerment,” Gage added.

  7

  I hope you don’t mind meeting here. We had a long morning meeting with the psychologist in Columbus,” Melissa said as she opened the door for Chloe. Then she paused.

  Behind the tall, fashionably dressed lawyer stood a massive dog that looked like it was half wolf.

  Chloe looked back at her companion and gave an apologetic shake of his head. “I hope you don’t mind Wöden coming along. Since he recovered from his wounds, he hasn’t let me out of his sight. Judge Rawlins has even made him an exception to the no animals except service dogs in the courthouse rule for him.”

  Suddenly, the big white and grey animal started whining and wagging his tail.

  “Does he like little girls?” a small voice asked behind Melissa. She and Chloe turned to see Lexie peeking around the doorjamb.

  “When I was a girl, my uncle used to raise hunting dogs,” Melissa said. “He told me if you hold your palm out and stand very still the dog will sniff it and decide if he likes you. Do you want to try?”

  Lexie nodded and inched forward, extending her hand out.

  Wöden inched closer and sniffed her fingers, licking them almost immediately.

  “He likes me!” Lexie said with a grin. “Come on inside, Wöden.” She moved backwards, and the big dog walked right in behind her, his bushy tail wagging as the little girl stopped to wrap her arm around him in a hug. He was busy licking her face.

  Melissa grinned at Chloe. “Someone had peanut butter and jelly for lunch.”

  Chloe laughed and followed her inside. “That’s one way to get him to like you. Now if I could just convince him I’m safe moving around Westen, we’d all be a bit happier.”

  “Perhaps he believes the philosophy that if you save a life, you are responsible for it?” Melissa offered.

  “I heard that was an old wives’ tale. But I don’t mind him really, except when I have to go into court or a restaurant. Lorna took exception to him being in the café, said he was scaring her customers.” Chloe smiled and shook her head. “She told him to wait by the backdoor. He didn’t growl or argue, just trotted through the café and kitchen to lie at the backdoor. It’s like he’s smart enough to know people and whom he should or shouldn’t argue with.”

  “And who might need a special friend,” Melissa said with a nod to the kitchen table.

  Lexie was sitting at the banquet, drawing on a piece of paper. Wöden sat on the floor beside her with his head in her lap, his eyes half closed, as the little girl slowly stroked his head, her fingers sinking into his fur.

  “He did the same thing my first night at the cabin. I’d been scared—don’t ever tell Wes I’ve admitted to it—since someone was stalking me and had slashed my tires. Wöden walked in out of the blizzard, sniffed my hand and accepted me as part of Wes’s life. He knows when I’m upset and lets me stroke his fur, just like he is with Lexie.”

  “Coffee?” Melissa asked, going to the cupboard and getting out two large mugs.

  Chloe grinned. “Please. Caffeine is my addiction. Wes even splurged and bought one of those individual coffee makers.”

  “Oh, I’d so love one of those, but I’ve spent the quarterly household funds to get the new sectional for the family room. Teens need someplace to flop and feel at home more than I need fancy coffees.” She poured them both a mug and set it on the kitchen island next to the sugar bowl. She got a bottle of French vanilla creamer from the fridge. “I settle for adding a little special cream. Would you like some?”

  “Please.” Chloe set her briefcase on the floor next to one of the barstools at the island and doctored her coffee. “So how is Lexie doing?”

  Melissa took a sip of her coffee and considered how she wanted to answer. “Why don’t we sit and you talk with her. I don’t want to influence you.”

  “You’re a very smart woman,” Chloe said, grabbing her briefcase in one hand, her coffee in the other.

  “I can’t take credit for it. The psychologist suggested she do that when we met this morning. She said first impressions were important. I’m new at this and not above learning from experts.”

  “Like I said, smart woman.” Chloe gave her a smile, then walked over to sit at the table with Lexie. “That’s a very nice picture. What are you drawing?” she asked as she pulled out a chair
.

  Melissa joined them at the table and took a sneak peek at the mostly pink picture. Fighting a grin, she took a long drink of her coffee.

  “It’s the boys,” Lexie said, putting down the carnation pink and picking up the magenta.

  “Boys. Why are they all pink?”

  “Because they’re shrimps,” Lexie said, putting tail fins on the bottom of all four boys—one had red hair, one had yellow, two had curly brown hair.

  “And shrimp are pink,” Chloe said, connecting the dots and looked at Melissa.

  She lifted her brows and gave a tilted-head nod to her youngest charge. “We had some with our salad for lunch today. Fancy little café near the psychologist’s office in Columbus.”

  Chloe pointed to a fifth stick figure, also in pink, with long dark brown hair and bangs. “Who is this?”

  “That’s Miss Melissa,” Lexie said and smiled at her.

  “She’s a pink shrimp, too?”

  Lexie nodded and reached for a cookie on the plate in the center of the table. “Uh-huh. She’s the mom. It’s a shrimp family.”

  “Tell Miss Chloe what nickname the boys gave you,” Melissa prodded.

  Lexie’s brows scrunched low and her mouth twisted into a half-pout, half-pucker. “They call me shrimp.”

  “Hmmm. Boys give the worst nicknames,” Chloe said. “Do you know what the boys in school used to call me?”

  Lexie’s eyes grew wide. “What?”

  “Giraffe.”

  “That’s silly,” Lexie said with a giggle. “You don’t look like a giraffe.”

  Chloe stretched her neck and straightened her spine, expanding all of her length that Melissa guessed was nearer six feet than her own five feet four. “I was taller than all the boys in elementary school.”

  “You still don’t look like a giraffe.”

  “And you don’t look like a shrimp.” Chloe paused a moment. “Why aren’t you in this picture of the shrimp family?”

  Lexie’s gaze dropped and her shoulders slumped. She gave a shrug. “Cause I have a mommy. She won’t want me to stay here. She’ll make me come with her and Gary.”

  Chloe’s eyes met Melissa’s. She shrugged. She’d never heard the name Gary before this very moment.

  “Lexie, can I borrow this picture?” Chloe asked.

  Lexie gave it to her. “You can have it. I can draw another one.”

  “Thank you,” Chloe said, dropping it into her briefcase. She picked up a cookie and took a bite, her eyes brightening with delight. “Oh man! These are good.”

  “Me and Miss Melissa made them,” Lexie said, her face less pouty than before.

  “You did a good job. These are as good as the ones my sister Bobby makes. Do you and Miss Melissa make cookies often since you came to live here?”

  “Yes. She says it makes the toster crew happy.”

  “Toster crew?”

  Melissa laughed. “She means the testosterone crew, my nickname for the boys. It’s true what they say about teenage boys. They’re bottomless pits when it comes to food.”

  “Ah. I see.” Chloe leaned in close to Lexie. “That’s a good thing if you get to learn how to make yummy cookies like these with Miss Melissa.”

  Lexie nodded. “I like baking.”

  “Did you bake with your mommy?”

  The little girl shook her head. “No. She never felt like it. My nana would make some cookies before she went to the home.”

  “Her nana lived in a nursing home in Florida before she died,” Melissa explained to the lawyer. Best to let her know there was no family to take Lexie should the judge rule custody to the state.

  Chloe gave a nod. “So, tell me, Lexie, other than the new nickname from the boys, do you like living here?”

  Lexie nodded. “It’s nice. Miss Melissa’s nice and cooks good food. The house is warm, and I got new clothes. And a haircut. And my nails done.” She held up her hand to show off her pink fingernails. Then her face lit up with a huge dimpled smile. “And Deputy Dan brought me my book yesterday.”

  “You like to read then?”

  Again, Lexie nodded.

  “Did you learn to read in school?” Chloe prodded.

  Lexie shook her head. “No. I don’t go to school. Mama taught me how to read before she got sick.”

  “Your mama is sick?”

  “That’s why she needs the medicine from Gary.”

  Drugs.

  Chloe took another cookie and munched on it. Either she was thinking or giving Lexie time to process the conversation some. Not giving her too much pressure for information. “So, what do you like about books?” she asked after a few minutes.

  “Reading a book lets me go on adventures far away in my head.”

  Something in the way she said far away struck Melissa as important. She exchanged a look with Chloe who apparently had the same reaction.

  Melissa leaned closer, putting her hand on the little girl’s shoulder, rubbing it lightly. “Lexie, when do you need to go far away on adventures?”

  “When Gary and his friends bring medicine to Mama.” She looked at the clock, then back at Melissa. “It’s almost time for the bus. Can I go wait on the porch?”

  “I don’t see why not, but don’t leave the porch,” Melissa said.

  “Okay. Come on, Wöden. You can meet the boys.” Lexie scooted out of her seat and headed for the door, the big dog trotting right along behind her.

  “What kind of dog is he? I swear he looks like a wolf,” Melissa said as she retrieved a plastic container from the counter and opened it on the table. The remainder of the cookies she and Lexie had made were inside. “Might as well put them here. They’ll be gone so fast, you’ll think a swarm of locust hit the place.”

  “Bobby used to say the same thing about me and our younger sister Dylan when we were teens. And as for Wöden, you’re partially correct. Wes says he’s part Husky and part wolf.”

  Melissa’s head whipped around to the front door, her heart racing. Suddenly, Chloe’s hand landed on hers and she realized she was halfway out of her seat.

  “She’s safe, Melissa. I promise. Probably safer than she is anywhere else. She’s part of his pack. He’d no more let something happen to her than he would one of his pups.”

  Returning to her seat, she took a slow breath and waited for her heart to beat normal again. “I just worry about her. Daniel said we should be careful that her mother, and whoever she’s getting drugs from—maybe this Gary person—don’t try to take her away from here. It’s been my job to keep her safe.”

  Chloe gave her hand a pat and smiled. “It appears Lexie is part of more than one pack.”

  Before Melissa asked her what she meant by that, Chloe started digging around in her briefcase. “So, now I’ve talked to Lexie and seen how she’s adjusting for myself, which, by the way seems remarkably well, why don’t you and I have a talk.” She laid out a long yellow legal pad in front of her. She propped one elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. “What kind of condition was she in when she first arrived here?”

  Melissa stared out the front door where Lexie and Wöden sat on the top step, as if thinking back. “It was that first night after the blizzard. Daniel carried Lexie inside, all bundled up in a quilt. She’d fallen asleep after having a hot meal at the Peaches ’N Cream. We took her into the small bedroom across from mine. All the boys have rooms upstairs, but I thought she should be closer to me, you know in case she woke up afraid and not knowing where she was.”

  Chloe didn’t write anything down, just sat there listening. “Good thinking. Did she wake up that night?”

  “No. She slept through until morning. The boys had left to go out and help shovel drives with Kyle and some of the other teenagers by the time she woke up.” Melissa face softened, her eyes filled with anguish. “She came out wearing the clothes she’d had on the day before. Everything was threadbare. Holes in them. Her hair a tangled mess. She looked like a lost waif.

  “I made her bacon an
d pancakes. Then just sat with her while she ate. Told her my name and that Daniel brought her here to stay for a while. She asked if her mama was coming to stay, too.” Melissa swallowed hard. “I had to tell her no and that we didn’t know where her mother was. That was why she had to live here for now.”

  “What did she say to that?”

  “Not much. She got quiet, like she was trying to process all the information. She cried a little. You know a tear or two escaping down her cheek, but she was so still, I didn’t know if I should hug her or if it would make her feel worse.” Melissa heaved a sigh. “I’m so new at all this. I decided to treat her how I’d want to be treated—with respect and honesty and space. I gave her another pancake and refilled her milk. Then started cleaning the kitchen, letting her adjust.”

  The other woman might not have experience in caring for children or teens, but her history gave her more insights than she knew. Chloe had read the file on Melissa that Bobby had given her the day she applied to be Lexie’s legal advocate. The file painted a very grim picture of Melissa’s life with her ex-husband. Classic case of low self-esteem and submission brought about by both physical and emotional abuse. She never stated there was sexual abuse, but in Chloe’s experience with these cases, they went hand-in-hand.

  Something must have clicked in Melissa with that last beating. Maybe it was almost dying, maybe it was realization that no one was going to stand up for her if she didn’t, but the night she’d called for help she found her courage. Not only had she faced her demon, she’d survived.

  Instead of hiding in a corner somewhere, Melissa’s next move after the trial was to apply to be the housemother for at risk teens. Not an easy job for anyone. The woman wanted to make changes in her life and in others. Chloe glanced at the framed list of rules hanging near the back door. She suspected in her former life, the rules constantly changed—another tactic of controlling someone, keep them guessing. Melissa didn’t want her charges having to guess what she expected out of them, and they in turn would learn to trust her.

  The woman had good instincts.

  “How did the boys take having a little girl in the house?”