by Laura Acton
Lorelei’s eyes flared. “Are you threatening me?”
“Never. That is not my style, ma’am. Your civic record shows you possess convictions to do wonderful things for the citizens of Toronto. Given time, I believe you’ll extend your reach to include the entire country. However, you must moderate your behaviors, or you will be the cause of your downfall. Let me share a tidbit with you that you may not know, but if ever came to light may torpedo your public service.”
Lorelei stared and nodded, unsure where this man was headed, but she learned long ago to listen until the end.
“I am well acquainted with when you met Dan and the nature of the encounter you two shared in the hot tub since I accompanied him to the Blue Mountains resort as his guardian.”
“Guardian?” Lorelei’s stomach churned.
“Yes.”
“Why would a college student who would be entering the police academy soon need a guardian?”
Maintaining a calm expression, Wilson said, “Danny was not attending university. He was in high school. A senior, though technically he should’ve been a junior, age-wise. Dan had barely turned seventeen when I took him on the ski trip.”
Lorelei’s eyes widened, and her hand flew to her mouth. The implications slapped her as she let out an, “Oh, my gawd.” She swallowed hard.
“You understand now?”
Nodding Lorelei articulated, “I had sex with a minor when I was an adult. If this ever gets out, I’m ruined. Regardless of the fact I assumed he was older than me.” Her eyes narrowed, angrily. “If you or he so much as—”
Wilson cut her off. “I already told you, threatening you is not what I am here to do. Dan would never reveal the encounter to anyone. He is not wired that way. I only sought to inform you since others overheard the conversation you had with Daniel in the TRF building and your change in position on the issue occurred shortly after.
“Any investigative journalist worth their salt might start digging and put two and two together. And the other rag-mag writers will not care about facts, only selling their wares with titillating stories which will far exceed the truth, which would be a detriment to both you and Dan.
“I will not allow Dan’s honorable reputation to be dragged through filth and don’t want yours to either. So, the ball is in your court, ma’am. I hope you choose wisely so you can continue to reach for what you desire.” Wilson stood. “Good day, ma’am.”
Lorelei stared at the closed door after Mr. Keswick left. Her mind whirled with this new information. The man could’ve blackmailed me, but instead, he came to warn me. What the heck am I gonna do now? I can’t change my position a second time, or I’ll appear wishy-washy.
She sighed, and her eyes landed on the donated books. With time before her next meeting, Lorelei read both of them cover to cover for the first time as an adult. The messages she gleaned from them now included faithfulness and going against the majority to fight to protect those with voices too little to be heard.
A smile formed as she realized how she could tie both her pet project for literacy and a change of heart for the police funding. These books would be her reason … children needed to be protected as well as educated. Perhaps an effort to teach little ones not to fear first responders … a community service program could be included in the increased training budget for TRF.
TRF HQ – Briefing Room – 3:20 p.m.
William sat at the end of the table with Mike as the members of Daniel’s team, minus his son and Loki all drank hot beverages to warm up from their stints in the rainy weather. The skies cleared for a bit earlier but for the most part, it drizzled all day long, making being outside miserable.
He noted the TRF team appeared exhausted and frustrated. Not unexpected after their day so far. They received one swatter call after another and ran around the city responding to non-issues, getting thoroughly soaked in the process each time.
In his ride along with Daniel, William concluded Daniel’s talents were being wasted here. Though, at the moment he kept those thoughts to himself because Yvonne would be displeased if he voiced them and Daniel canceled dinner plans with them. William would bide his time and find the right opportunity to suggest a return to the military once again.
Dressed in his last dry uniform, his hair still damp, Dan grinned at Loki as they both entered when he spied a Timmy’s cup waiting at his place. “Who do we thank for the coffee?”
Lexa smiled. “Boss and I did the run. Figured you both could use a hot pick-me-up after spending an hour traipsing about in the rain.”
Wrapping his hands around the cup, seeking warmth, Loki inhaled the hot chocolate. “Thanks.”
Jon’s phone buzzed, and he answered, “Hardy.” He listened and rose as the person on the other end continued to talk. “Is he alright?” Another pause. “Yes, I’ll be there as soon as possible.” He hung up and turned to Nick. “Kent’s school is suspending him for fighting. Jen is helping her sister today, so …”
“Go. Dan or Bram can run tactical,” Nick said. “Is Kent okay?”
Jon nodded. “Yeah, though he will probably end up with a black eye. A kid threw a sucker punch and Kent fought back when another teen began hitting him too. I don’t agree with zero-tolerance policies. Why punish someone for protecting himself?” Frustrated, Jon started to leave, but said, “I suggest you split up if you receive another call, so the entire team isn’t jacked up on one side of town if a real one comes in.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Nick scanned his team after Jon exited. Not long after, the klaxon alarm went off for the fifth time today and Tia’s somewhat skeptical voice said, “Three hot calls, a man with a gun entered Crown library, a neighbor reported a group discussing an imminent killing spree, and a woman threating to throw two kids off the Eastern Ave overpass at Bayview.”
Nick directed, “Bram, Ray, take the armed man. Dan, Loki the potential spree shooters. Lexa with me on the overpass call.” The teams headed out, after getting details on locations for each.
Horton Avenue – 4:25 p.m.
Dan strode through the pouring rain to the SUV after what amounted to the eighth swatter call for the team today, with the library and overpass calls also hoaxes. Just as well his father didn’t bother coming and stayed to visit with Gambrill instead. A tiny, fearful voice wafted up to Dan as he halted at the driver’s side door. He scanned the area, wondering if he was hearing things … difficult to tell over the sound of rain pelting the metal of the vehicle.
Loki trotted over, disgust on his face. They broke in on a whole bunch of nothing responding to a call of armed women discussing plans for a mass shooting. Well, not nothing, more like five grandmotherly types all knitting and surprised when he and Dan barged in on them.
He wished there was a way to stop the rash of false calls they had been dealing with lately, especially on days with nasty weather. Each time they went out they ended up soaked to the skin. He opened the passenger door and noticed Dan still outside standing in the rain. “Dan, dude, let’s go.”
When Dan only stood without moving, wearing an expression of concerted concentration, Loki asked, “What’s up?”
“I heard something. At least I think I did.” When Loki started to speak again, Dan said, “Shhh.”
Loki strode around the vehicle to join Dan, his ears straining to pick up any sound over the noise of the raindrops splashing on the asphalt and sidewalk. Then he caught a slight sound too. A soft fear-filled plea for help. His eyes met with Dan’s, unable to discern where it came from.
Another disembodied cry floated to them, and Dan’s head whipped to the right, narrowing in on the direction of the sound. His eyes moved downward toward the drainage grate at the curb. “There! It came from there.” Dan rushed forward and dropped to his knees, peering into the darkness. “Hello, is anyone down there?”
Loki joined Dan, pulling out his flashlight and flicking it on. The light illuminated a small frightened boy clutching a stuffed cat. Water swirled around his calves and ap
peared to be rising.
Surprised by the sight, Dan said, “How did you …” How didn’t matter. “Hang on, little buddy. We’ll get you out.” He turned to Loki. “He’s too far down for me to reach and I’m too big to fit. Can you try?”
Handing Dan the penlight, Loki flattened himself on the ground and attempted to squeeze through the opening. Frustrated, he pulled back. “No go. I can’t fit either.”
Sitting back on his heels, Dan unmuted his headset. “Tia, we have a critical situation. A boy about four or five is stuck in a storm drain at our location. The water is rising fast. We need rescue services.”
“Copy.” Tia made a quick call to Toronto Fire Services dispatch. When she finished, she reported, “ETA five minutes.”
Loki shared a glance with Dan, both thinking the same thing. The boy might not have that long. Waiting isn’t an option.
“Rappelling gear. We make a loop, drop the line down, and pull him up,” Dan said as he stood and jogged to the back of their SUV.
Shining the light on the young child, wanting to calm him, Loki said, “Hi, I’m Loki, and my partner is Dan. He went to grab a rope so we can help you out. Can you tell me who you are?”
“Noah.”
“Hi, Noah. Is your home near here?”
Noah shook his head. “Grandpa’s.”
“What is your grandpa’s name?”
“Grandpa.”
“Okay. What is your last name?”
“Who.”
“Your name?”
“Who.”
Frustrated, Loki asked once again. “Noah who?”
Noah nodded his head vigorously.
As comprehension hit Loki, he smiled despite the grave circumstance when realized he played a short game of Who’s on first, What’s on second.
“Noah, do you know your mom’s or dad’s names?”
“Mommy and Daddy.”
Switching on his headset, Loki said, “Tia, search the surrounding area for anyone named Who. Contact them and check if they have a son or grandson named Noah.”
“Copy.”
Dan rushed back with the gear prepared. He knelt and as he lowered the line, he said, “Noah, grab the rope, put it over your head and under your arms. Once it is in place, I’m going to pull, and it will tighten around your chest. Then we can lift you out of there.”
With additional encouragement from both Loki and Dan, little Noah did as instructed. Sirens sounded in the distance as Dan began pulling the youngster up. The sirens drew a crowd of people from the nearby houses. They stood on their porches out of the rain wondering what caused the commotion in their ordinarily quiet neighborhood.
Loki reached out and grasped the little boy’s hand when he was near the top. As the fire rescue truck stopped, Loki lifted Noah out of the drainage.
Untying the slipknot, Dan released the child as Loki held him in his lap. “You’re safe now.”
A woman and two men rushed out of one of the houses across the street, not caring about the downpour as the woman shouted, “Noah!”
“Mommy!”
The firemen, parents, and grandfather all converged at the same moment.
Loki handed the boy over to his mother and stood, wearing a huge smile. He patted Dan’s back as his partner coiled the rappelling line. “Never thought I’d say this, but thank goodness for your supersonic hearing. Without it, things could’ve turned out much differently.”
Peering up at the unharmed child being smothered with love, Dan grinned. Moments like these created the beauty of life, and he wished his dad had come on this call and bore witness to how he made a difference here today. His training in observations and being attuned to his surroundings saved a little Who today.
Home of Marbella Ridgewater – Kitchen – 9:00 p.m.
Sitting at Bella’s informal table in the kitchen where he enjoyed many meals with her and Wilson as a teen, sated by a delicious dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes, and all the trimmings, Dan grinned at his mom as he finished relating the rescue of Noah Who. “In debriefing, Loki was in rare form.” Dan chuckled. “He told Boss to name the report Dantastic Hears a Who.”
Yvonne beamed, delighted to witness the joy reflected in Dan’s eyes. “I’m so glad you responded to that call. A precious child might be gone tonight and his family grieving his loss. With all the false calls, I’m certain an angel must’ve guided you to be there today.”
William sipped his after-dinner coffee, with a splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream. He wished he had gone on the last run with Daniel, but he also enjoyed a chat with Walter. His long-time friend was in high spirits today too. Walter received a call from a Ms. Ravenswood to discuss including a community service element into his training budget, directed at ensuring children were not frightened of first responders. Her change of heart confused but cheered Walter at the same time.
A soft ah of bliss escaped Bella as she viewed a scene she dreamed of for many years. Danny relaxed and laughing in the presence of William, Yvonne being able to express her love and Danny accepting it, and all three with their relationship nearly restored to how it should’ve been.
Wilson grinned. He would keep quiet about his visit to Lorelei, but from William’s dinner conversation the woman chose well. He almost snickered at how Loki’s comment intermingled with his Dr. Seuss lesson today. The world is a web with so many paths to follow but filled with many connections to give the fine threads strength.
House Across from Lexa’s Home – 10:30 p.m.
Dan stayed later than he anticipated at Bella’s but he enjoyed himself so much he didn’t want to leave. As he slipped in the back door of the vacant dwelling, after parking his truck on the next street over, Dan shook off the rain and paused to wipe his feet on the towel he brought, not wanting to track water or mud into this house.
Though Lexa confronted him about his overwatch activities, all their calls prevented them from having a real conversation about them. As a result, he didn’t need to come up with a deflection, and she couldn’t attempt to wheedle a commitment from him to abandon his nightly post. Though, it also inhibited him from presenting his scheme to her which would benefit both of them.
Not needing light, since his eyes adjusted to the dark, Dan moved into the room where he set up the surveillance gear. His senses on alert, a light scent of jasmine wafted to him. He stopped in his tracks. Crap! Busted. “Lexa.”
Moving out from the darkened corner, with her arms crossed and her face holding a grim line, Lexa said, “How did you know I am here?”
“Jasmine.”
“What?”
“The jasmine fragrance of your shampoo. I detected your scent.”
“Not only do you possess bat ears, you have the sense of smell of a polar bear who can follow a sexually receptive sow’s scent over one hundred miles.” Lexa couldn’t believe that tidbit flew out of her mouth. I miss nights with Dan, but to throw out trivia related to sex. Damn, he gets under my skin.
Dan’s brows arched at her comparison, but noted tightening of her jaw and went on the offensive, hoping to derail Lexa’s ire. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh no, you don’t. I’m the one who gets to ask.” Her arm swept to the monitor, which was currently off. “What is all this?”
“Protection.” Dan shifted on his feet under Lexa’s continued glare not sure which way she would go.
“I’m capable of doing that for myself. I don’t need you spying on me.”
“Not spying,” Dan countered entirely on the defensive now.
“What do you call installing cameras and watching my house all night?”
“Doing my job.”
Lexa rolled her eyes, glad for the dimness which concealed some of her humor. Despite being annoyed with him, his current body language and facial expression reminded her of a child with his hand caught in the cookie jar. “I am not a damsel in distress. I can look after myself.”
“Never said you were. And I know you can. It’s just …” Dan trailed
off, unable to tell her exactly why he did this because it might scare her off if he declared how much he came to care for her.
“Just what?”
“Something I would do for anyone on this team. Team is family. I protect family. I don’t want to lose any of you if it is within my power to do something.”
Dan’s answer deflated Lexa’s remaining irritation. What he said rang true with all she learned about the man standing before her. He went out of his way to help Loki with his problem with Narciso. She could understand in Dan’s mind her stalker wouldn’t be any different. A threat to someone he cared about meant he couldn’t remain idle. He was a protector at his core … demonstrated every day in his actions on and off shift.
“You can’t stay here every night. You are important to us too. Running yourself ragged is going to end up with terrible consequences.” Lexa caught the slight nod, the only concession she might expect from him. She blew out a breath, causing her bangs to flutter. “I have a potential solution.”
Dan cocked his head. “Yeah, what?”
“You are stealthy like a panther. Can you sneak into my home undetected?”
A smile blossomed on Dan’s face. “Easily.”
“Okay. Then here’s the plan. You park your truck or motorcycle someplace different but close by each night, and you slip in before bedtime. You go out the same way in the morning. No one will be wise to your nocturnal visits, and you will be able to sleep.” Unable to admit out loud the stalker disturbed her, what she left unsaid was she would sleep better too.
“Deal!” Dan flashed her a WOW smile because she suggested the exact strategy he had worked out and hoped to gain her agreement.
Lexa withheld the laugh wanting to bubble forth at his excitement. His joy contagious, she found herself smiling. “Shall we clear this stuff out and go to bed?”
“I’m happy with skipping the first and going right to the second,” Dan teased as he moved to unplug the monitor.