Hers to Protect

by Catherine Lanigan

  “Absolutely.” He cocked his head toward Josh. “He’s never been on the wrong side of the law. You may not know this, but this has been hard for Josh.”

  Violet looked over his shoulder at Josh as he beamed at his fans. “Yeah. I can see he’s crushed.”

  “It’s an act. He knows how to handle fans. It’s part of his job.”

  “And I was doing my job.”

  “I know. Josh knows it, too. He wanted me to tell you that.”

  She stared at him. Why would Josh care what she thought of him?

  “Tell him—thank you,” she said.

  Paul withdrew a silver case from his breast pocket and removed a business card. “I’ll do that.” He took out a pen and wrote on the back of the card. “This is my private number on top. Below it is Josh’s number.”

  He handed her the card.

  She stared at it. “Why would I need this?”

  “My client feels badly about the consternation he caused you and the good people of Indian Lake. When the time is right, he wants to apologize to you personally. Off the record.” Paul’s smile was genuine. He touched her arm. “You have a good day, Officer Hawks.”

  “Thanks,” she said as Paul walked over to the ever-growing crowd around Josh.

  She saw Katia and Austin in the group now. Austin whispered something to Josh, who nodded. Then Paul walked up to Josh and put his arm around his client’s shoulders. Josh looked up.

  His eyes caught Violet’s.

  She didn’t know what happened, but it was as if everyone else had vanished. Violet could have sworn she was suddenly standing inches from Josh. His gaze held hers, and she had to consciously remind herself that she could not hear his thoughts.

  Contrition filled his eyes and his smile was tenuous, where only a second ago, he’d beamed at his fans as they jostled each other for his autograph or a photo. Paul had been correct. Josh with his public was all performance.

  What she was seeing was the real person. She felt his regret, and a pang of conscience told her if she ever had a chance to get to know the real Josh Stevens, she just might wind up liking him.

  CHAPTER NINE

  JOSH CRANED HIS neck over the heads of the crowd around him.

  “Can I get a selfie with you, Mr. Stevens? It’s for my boy. He wants to be a race driver.”

  “Josh Stevens.” A chubby teen girl giggled. “I never thought I’d actually get to meet you in person. Mind if I take a photo of you?”

  “Sure,” Josh replied, keeping his smile in place while watching Violet walk out of the courthouse.

  He was in the middle of a crowd. His best friends, Austin and Katia, were here to take him to a late lunch. Paul was with him. Yet, Josh had the oddest and very unfamiliar feeling of emptiness.

  Harry had been right that something had changed in Josh over the past months. Maybe a year. He’d become aware of how lonely his life was. Perhaps that was another reason for the chances he took on the racetrack. And for his desire to reunite with his parents.

  It was an impossible obsession—wanting to see them again. It made no more sense than this sensation of loss watching Officer Hawks walk away.

  Harry had managed to keep the story out of the papers, but now the verdict was in. He was guilty. Paul and Harry had been right. Small towns took every infraction very seriously. They didn’t make exceptions for anyone. Especially not celebrities.

  Paul would eventually find a way to get the arrest expunged. There might still be community service hours, his lawyer had said. Curiously, Josh didn’t mind. That would mean he’d have to come back to Indian Lake to fulfill those hours.

  Didn’t it?

  The thought lifted his spirit.

  Why was that?

  “Thanks, Mr. Stevens. I’ll keep this autograph next to my poster of you,” a young boy with freckles said as he rushed over to his parents.

  Josh signed another dozen and a half autographs, and the crowd dwindled. Finally, there was only Austin, Katia and Paul left.

  Austin slapped his back. “I gotta say, Josh, if this is losing, winning for you must be awesome.”

  Paul laughed. “You got that right, Austin.” He turned to Josh and shook his hand. “I gotta run. A copy of that video will be emailed to me.”

  “How’d you do that?”

  “Chief Williams and I had a discussion. That video was not properly entered as evidence. Granted, this was only a hearing. It was a bold move for Officer Hawks. It worked, but I can get a higher court to overrule Judge Lewis’s verdict.”

  Josh blinked, and in that moment of hesitation, he saw things clearly. “Don’t do it.”

  “What?”

  Josh looked at the closed courthouse door through which Violet had left. “Leave it. I’ll pay the fine and do the community service.”

  “You can’t. You’re scheduled over half the map until the end of autumn.”

  “I’ll figure it out.”

  “Fine,” Paul said reluctantly. “I know better than to argue with you.” He shook Josh’s hand.

  Austin clapped his hands together as Paul left. “You gotta be starved. Katia and I want to take you to one of our favorite hangouts in town. I guarantee Lou can serve up the best burger you ever had.”

  “Austin, for real? I’ve had plenty of great burgers.” Josh grinned at Katia, who slipped one arm through Austin’s arm and one through Josh’s.

  “Humor him, Josh.” She chuckled. “But, honestly, Lou’s Diner is unforgettable.”

  * * *

  VIOLET CHANGED INTO a pair of skinny jeans, a pink long-sleeved blouse with a V-neck and pink espadrilles. After court, she’d been given the rest of the afternoon off.

  Then Saturday she’d be back on stakeout.

  Violet couldn’t believe it. She was still pinching herself as she put on mascara, lip gloss and a wisp of blush. She ran a brush through her long hair and fastened the right side back over her ear with a black plastic clip. Sticking small gold hoops in her ears, she grabbed her cell phone and purse and left the apartment.

  The cell rang. She checked the ID and smiled as she answered. “Mom.”

  “Honey,” Connie said. “I heard the news. You did great. And you were so worried.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Isabelle said you’re meeting for lunch. Give her a hug for me. And your brothers called to check on you.”

  “I’ll call them all later. Love you, Mom.”

  “Love you, too.”

  As she walked down the stairs, she stopped at the landing and knocked on Mrs. Beabots’s kitchen door.

  “It’s open, sweetie,” Mrs. Beabots said.

  “I’m going to Lou’s with Sadie, Isabelle and the kids. You want me to bring you anything back?”

  “Sweet potato fries. Lou makes the best,” she said, sifting flour into a red ceramic bowl.

  Violet paused. “What are you making?”

  “Pies. For Sarah, Luke and the kids. I’ve frozen four so far this morning.”

  Violet rolled her eyes. “Do you ever take a break?”

  “No, why? Should I?” She laughed. “You’re going to be late.”

  Violet looked at her watch. “Oh, right. See ya later.”

  “See you.”

  Violet backed out of the drive in her squad car. She drove to Main Street and headed up toward the train station. As she pulled into the last angled parking space, she waved to her sister, Isabelle, who was taking toddler Michael out of his car seat.

  “Hey, sis!” Isabelle took six-year-old Bella’s hand as she scrambled out of the SUV.

  “Hey, yourself. You need any help?”

  “No,” Bella answered before Isabelle could respond. “She’s got it.” She lifted her head to look at Isabelle. “Dontcha, Mom?”

  Isabelle smiled happily. “I
do.” She walked over to Violet and kissed her cheek. “You look good. I heard court went well.”

  “How’d you know about that?” Violet asked, walking alongside her sister.

  “Mom told Sadie. Sadie told me,” Isabelle said.

  “I shoulda known.”

  “No secrets in this family,” Isabelle replied. “By the way, Sadie had to cancel for lunch. She said she’d stop by the station and see you later.”

  “She always says that and then doesn’t show.”

  “She’s busy. Law school is like that, you know,” Isabelle replied as she looked closely at Violet. “You look almost, well, radiant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this.”

  Isabelle’s eyes scoured Violet’s face. “You were worried about this, weren’t you?”

  “Yeah. I was. I didn’t know how it would go, what with Josh Stevens bringing in a powerful lawyer from Indianapolis.”

  “But, Vi. You were in the right. How could it go wrong?”

  Violet shook her head. “I’ve never been in court like this before. In fact, I’m learning so much every day on the job, I feel...”

  “Overwhelmed?”

  “Yeah.”

  The 1940s railroad dining car that Lou had transformed into a diner was jam-packed with people. The red plastic-covered stainless-steel stools at the long serving counter were full. The din of clattering plates, silverware and sizzling burgers from the open window grill and kitchen was underscored by an Elvis Presley song on the jukebox. Except for the new appliances, the decor was authentic vintage.

  Violet loved it.

  Friends waved to her and Isabelle. Even little Bella fell into the companionable atmosphere and waved around to just about everyone in the diner.

  “There’s not a seat left,” Violet said.

  “Oh, yes, there is. C’mon,” Isabelle replied, waving to someone at the six-top table in the corner.

  “Who?” Violet followed Isabelle, who was carrying Michael in a way that obstructed her view. Violet peered around her sister and saw Austin stand up and greet her with open arms. He happily took Michael from Isabelle.

  Just as Isabelle leaned down to hug Katia, Violet saw him.

  “Josh?” she gasped.

  “Hi.” He rose slowly from his chair, though his eyes never left her face. “It’s you.”

  “Yeah. It’s me. No uniform,” she said uncomfortably, wondering why she should feel awkward.

  “Hey, you guys!” Katia gushed. “Come sit with us. It’s practically standing room only around here. We got the last table in the place. Josh promised the waitress we’d eat enough for six, so we got the big table.” Katia swept her hand over the large array of onion ring towers, plates with burgers, fries and Lou’s famous malts.

  “Thanks!” Isabelle replied quickly. “The kids are starving.”

  Violet had wanted to stop her sister, but Isabelle slid in next to Katia. The waitress brought booster seats for Michael and Bella.

  Bella scrunched her nose. “Oh, thank you, but I don’t need one. I’m a big girl.” She sat in the chair next to Isabelle, apparently satisfied that she was not classified as a baby like her brother.

  Since Austin was sitting next to Katia, that left Josh on the end and the only seat open was the chair next to Josh.

  He grinned at her. “It’s okay. Really.” He moved the chair out for her.

  “Thanks,” Violet said, placing her purse on the floor under her seat where she could feel it with her foot.

  “I can’t believe our good luck,” Isabelle said, sparkling with that same idol-admiration Violet had seen on the faces of the crowd around Josh earlier that day. “Running into you like this, Josh, is, well, what can I say, kismet.”

  “Really.” He reached for his strawberry malt.

  Isabelle went on. “You met my husband, Scott Abbott? The journalist. He’s very grateful for the interview you gave him. He hasn’t finished the piece, however. He was waiting till the trial was over.”

  “Hearing,” Violet and Josh corrected in unison.

  “Sorry. Hearing.”

  Violet turned her head to see Josh watching her. His smile was small but appreciative. Something pinged in her heart.

  “My brother-in-law will write a flattering piece, I’m sure. Don’t worry,” Violet said. Why had she felt she should give him reassurance? He was the almighty and powerful Josh Stevens. He could have anything he wanted.

  “I’d appreciate any kind words at this point.”

  “Mom, I’m hungry,” Bella whined.

  Michael slapped the table. “Me, too.”

  Isabelle put her arm around Michael and kissed his cheek. “They’re very busy here today. We have to wait our turn.”

  “But I need food now, Mom,” Bella countered.

  Violet looked around the diner. It was true. The three waitresses, dressed in pink and white with pink striped aprons, were dashing from table to table. The woman behind the counter couldn’t make malts and shakes fast enough.

  Bella started toying with her silverware and flipped the spoon onto the floor. “I’ll get it!” She scrambled off her chair and onto the floor, crawling under Michael’s chair. He started giggling and laughing as she pulled on his leg.

  “Bella, get up,” Violet ordered.

  “I don’t have the spoon yet.”

  “Then get it,” Violet said.

  Violet looked under the table and saw the spoon was easily within Bella’s reach. The child was actually inching the spoon away from her so that she could crawl farther under the table.

  “Bella!” Violet scolded.

  Bella jerked and knocked the table.

  “Whoa!” Josh grabbed the table to steady it.

  Isabelle reached under the table and pulled Bella up and onto her lap. “Behave, Bella. Or no ice cream for you. Now tell me what’s really wrong,” Isabelle cooed.

  “Mom, I just wanted to be by you.”

  Isabelle kissed the top of her head and hugged her close. “Katia, could I have a couple of those fattening French fries you wouldn’t think of eating?”

  “Of course.” She lifted the plate and let Bella pick the ones she wanted. “You know me too well, Isabelle.”

  Just then the waitress came and took their order.

  Michael picked up a spoon and banged the table. Isabelle was still talking to Katia and Austin. She reached over, without looking, and placed her hand firmly on Michael’s hand. He started to cry, and Isabelle simply took the spoon and then kissed his forehead and smoothed his baby-fine hair from his face. All without missing a beat of conversation.

  While Austin, Katia and Isabelle chatted, Josh said to Violet, “I’m not very good with kids.”

  “Me, either, though Isabelle’s great with them. Honestly, she was forced by circumstances to raise me, my sister and all three of my brothers.”

  “Oh?”

  Violet turned her gaze from Isabelle to Josh and found his face was close. Very close. “My dad died.”

  “I’m sorry. I know just how rough that had to be.”

  “You do?”

  “Both my parents died when I was six.”

  “That’s how old I was. Isabelle was eleven.”

  The waitress brought their drinks, and boxes of animal crackers for Bella and Michael, explaining that their order would be a few minutes. The crackers were complimentary.

  Violet leaned back in her chair. Josh propped his elbow on the table, cradled his head in his hand and stared at her. “Looks like we have some things in common.”

  Violet was unused to being scrutinized. This wasn’t a date, but it was beginning to feel like one. She fidgeted with her napkin. It made no sense that he made her nervous. Just this morning, they’d been adversaries. Now they were hanging at lunch like friends did.

  “Not all
that much,” she said finally. “After all, you live a very dangerous lifestyle.”

  “Me? What about you? You walk around with a gun on your hip, and you think I’m living dangerously?”

  “There’s a big difference, Josh. I’m sworn to protect the people in this town. There’s honor and...and, well, even nobility in the choice of my career.”

  “Whereas, I—”

  She interrupted. “You risk your life for other people’s entertainment. You spend hours signing your name to countless pieces of paper and autograph books that will be lost or thrown out in a few weeks or months. You smile for a camera and hope these people will buy a ticket to your next race. And when that time comes, you may or may not die. How many chances do you think you’ll spend before you lose?”

  His eyes were unblinking as he reached behind him to the jacket hanging on his chair. “Thanks.”

  He stood. “Austin. Katia. I’ll give you a call from the road.” He took out his wallet and tossed a one-hundred-dollar bill on the table. “Isabelle, nice meeting you.” He looked at Bella and Michael. “Kids, too.”

  “You’re not leaving?” Austin said. “What about tennis this afternoon?”

  “Paul wants me back in Indy ASAP. I should get going.”

  He folded his jacket over his arm and leveled his eyes on Violet. “Officer Hawks. Good day.”

  Josh walked out of Lou’s Diner as another couple walked in.

  “Vi,” Isabelle said, “what’s going on? Is he still upset about the verdict?”

  “No,” Violet replied. “He’s leaving because of me.”

  “Because you’re the cop who arrested him?” Katia asked.

  She’d wanted to knock the arrogance out of him. She’d put him in the basket with other borderline criminals and lawbreakers. The truth was she didn’t know all that much about him. And she’d been rude.

  Austin and Katia, obviously, knew a different Josh Stevens.

  Maybe the person they knew was the one she’d glimpsed when their eyes had met in the courthouse vestibule. Maybe if she’d allowed him to reveal more of himself to her, she might not have made her rash assessment.

  Maybe she wouldn’t be feeling such deep regret.

  No matter who he was, it wasn’t her place to hand down judgment.