“I know,” JD sighed. “Not my best work. Had to grab her to keep her from falling to the ground.”
Two whistles. One catcall. “Go, Romeo!”
JD shrugged it off. When you dealt with the darkness so often, humor was to be savored wherever you found it. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. She was nice about it, but she also left the party not long after.”
“Lover Boy strikes out. Never thought I’d see the day,” said Bob.
“What’s she doing in Austin?” Trini queried.
“What’s she doing with Avery Lofton, is the question?” interjected Doc. “Guess that wholesome reputation is unwarranted.”
JD raced to her defense. “I disagree.”
Doc lifted an eyebrow.
JD looked at Vince. “Everyone there really liked her.”
“They did,” Vince answered. “She wasn’t a prima donna at all. She played horseshoes with Hal MacAllister, sat on the ground and rolled a ball with one of the babies. She was very normal.” He tipped his head. “Unbelievably beautiful, of course, but she seemed genuine.”
“So why is Lofton visiting her?” Doc asked. “What’s the connection?”
“Zane said they knew each other in L.A.,” Vince commented. “Lofton invited her to visit.”
“Why?”
JD spoke up. “She’s had a rough time out there with the breakup of her marriage. The press has been brutal. So she came here to hide out.”
“How do you know all that? I thought you ran her off,” noted Bob.
“I got a second chance.”
Now even Vince snapped to attention. “Meaning?”
“I’m still not sure how Sophie talked me into it, or how she convinced Violet to go along with the idea, but you’re looking at Violet James’s new bodyguard.”
Mack Lawrence whistled through his teeth.
“You go, Romeo,” said Trini.
“You lucky son of a bitch,” remarked Bob. “Your streak is intact.”
JD squirmed mentally. “It’s not like that. She just had a scare when she finally emerged and went out on her own. She has security in L.A., but she’d been promised she wouldn’t run into problems in Austin, and she’d rather not have a shadow. I told her I’m not a trained bodyguard, but she doesn’t really want that, anyway. I just run interference, pick places where she won’t be noticed, that sort of thing. I’m mostly acting as a companion so she can safely get out and see the sights.” If only he could keep reminding himself of that and forget the charged atmosphere building between them.
“So what’s the connection with Lofton?”
“Not sure yet. I can’t rush it.”
“She know you’re a cop?”
“Yeah. The family had no reason to hide that fact, and Sophie surely explained why she thought I’d be qualified to help. I told her I only teach at the Academy, though, so if she mentions me to Lofton, it would sound like I’m no threat.”
“We need to know about him, JD. ASAP.”
“I understand, Doc, but this woman has been through a lot.”
“Not compared to our vics.”
JD rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I know that, too.” He glanced up. “After I left Violet last night, I cruised the area, looking for Candy, but not a trace of her. Anybody hearing talk about that shipment she mentioned?”
“Not talk,” Mack said, “but some movement at a warehouse owned under a dummy corporation. Lofton’s a partner in it.”
“One of our guys in Houston got word of a new shipment coming in, too,” offered Holly. “Likely within days.”
“I need something to get a warrant for a wiretap on Lofton,” Doc said, his look at JD pointed.
“I really don’t think she’s involved, Doc.”
“And what’s your evidence?”
They all had to trust their instincts, but instinct didn’t get warrants or impress the DA. “I have an opening I can exploit to see her today,” JD said.
“Good. First, you meet with APD’s sketch artist and get us a face for the Turkish girl. Then you keep your focus on Ms. James, and we’ll have other eyes on the area around Danger Zone. Holly, what do you have to report on the surveillance of Lofton?”
Around the table Doc went, and minutes later they were all dismissed.
JD rose to go.
“JD, a minute, please,” Doc said.
JD halted. Turned. “What’s up?”
Doc studied him for a minute. “You look like hell. You’re pushing yourself too hard.”
“I thought you wanted me pushing harder on Violet.”
“I’m not talking about her. I’m speaking in general terms. You’ve been on VICTAF longer than anyone but Bob and me. Too long, maybe? I wonder.”
JD stiffened. “If you don’t think I can do my job…”
“Son, if I thought that, you’d already be gone,” Doc said gently. “You’ve done one hell of a job here, but I’m realizing I’ve asked a lot of you. No one has spent more time undercover than you, and we all know too much of that is a soul-draining experience. You’re damn good at it, but everyone has a limit.”
“You going to pull me, Doc? I’m okay, I promise.” He had to pursue these bastards and take them down. Had to find justice for the victims who robbed him of sleep.
“JD, I’ve been in law enforcement as long as you’ve been alive. I know what burnout looks like, and I’m looking at it.”
“Those women and children who died an ugly death last week don’t care much about my tender feelings.”
“Unfortunately, there will always be victims, and there will always be bad guys.”
Didn’t he know it? The world seemed to hold an endless supply.
“We can’t fix everything, JD, much as that motivates all of us here. But we can’t fix anything if we burn the candle at both ends. So, I want you to focus on Violet James and stop venturing out on your own surveillance. You will get three square meals a day and a full night’s sleep every night you possibly can. Things are coming to a head, and you can’t run on adrenaline forever.”
“I’m not—”
“Son, don’t try to con me. I’ve been there. We can’t lock all the bad guys away and we can’t keep all the victims safe, but we damn sure increase our odds if we’re in peak shape ourselves. Youth will cover a multitude of abuses to the body, but even you, Mr. Fitness, are not invulnerable. So don’t give me any crap, just say, yes, sir, and do it.” There was a fond smile in Doc’s eyes.
JD sighed. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now get the hell out of my hair, what I have left of it.”
“Don’t take me off VICTAF, Doc.” JD couldn’t leave the room without that being settled. He couldn’t go back on patrol or return to the detective squad. What the hell would he do with himself?
“No one else has ever stayed this long, JD. The strength of the concept lies in rotation.” He shook his head. “But don’t worry about that right now. We’ll figure it all out once we’ve punched a hole in this trafficking pipeline.”
JD wanted to stay and argue his case, but he knew Doc too well to believe that would make any difference…never mind that he’d been wondering lately himself about how much longer he wanted to do this work.
But he wasn’t suited to anything else. VICTAF fit him like a glove. It was only that he was tired right now, Doc was right about that.
Since there was nothing he could do at the moment to resolve the situation, he focused on what he could impact. He’d call Violet and make plans for later, then head to APD and the sketch artist.
* * *
“YOU LOOK DIFFERENT THIS MORNING,” Avery said. “Sleep well?”
“I did,” Violet responded. That wasn’t the real reason she was lighter of heart, of c
ourse, but she wasn’t ready to tell Avery about JD. He’d only worry about her and insist on meeting JD so he could be all big brother about it. He’d earned the right to do it, though, after years of watching out for her and being the most real person in her life, the one she trusted most after her family.
But he’d also feel bad that he wasn’t the one introducing her to Austin and standing guard over her. He was under enough strain without her making things worse. He was faithful about visiting, busy or not, and searching for treats to brighten her day took even more time she sensed he couldn’t spare.
So she turned the tables. “You, on the other hand, look terrible. Is there anything I can do?”
His expression clouded, but almost instantly he smoothed it over with a fond smile. “Just some…unexpected difficulties to iron out, and only I can solve them. But that’s life, eh? Success comes with a price tag…but you know how that is.”
“Aren’t you the person who kept urging me to hire people to help? And not to micromanage but let them do their jobs? Are you heeding your own advice?”
“Well, listen to you. Want to be my management consultant?” He shook his head and sighed. “I’m sorry I’ve neglected you so badly. When I persuaded you to come to Austin, I thought I’d have more time to spend entertaining you.”
“Avery,” she chided. “We’re long past that. You’re my best friend. You have a life. You’ve made time for me every day since I got here, and even when we’re half a country apart, you’re always there for me. It goes both ways. I’m not company. We’re practically family.”
For a moment he looked unutterably sad, and she found herself wanting to hug him and make whatever was bothering him all better.
But their relationship had always been strictly hands-off, though she wasn’t sure why. He was an attractive, intelligent man who, in many ways, should have been perfect for her.
But he was far too crucial to her as a friend. If that door to more had ever been open, it was long ago, and she had the sense that neither of them wanted to risk messing up what they had.
“I just…” He rested his head against the high back of the willow chair under the pergola. “I thought it would be like the old days, where we could hang out, have some laughs. Be young again.”
“You’re thirty-nine, Avery, hardly rest-home material.”
He smiled, but even that was weary. “I know, Vee, it’s just—” His cell rang again, and he swore vividly before answering. “Lofton.” Whatever he heard had his brows snapping together. “Jesus Christ, can’t it wait? What does he want?” He sat up straight as he listened, a muscle flexing in his jaw. “Where is Sage?” If anything, his jaw went tighter. “Get a hold of her and tell her to come in— No, I don’t care if she doesn’t usually get up this early.” A deep sigh. “It’s not your fault.” His voice softened. “If he calls again, tell him to keep his shirt on. One of us will get back to him.” He finished the call and stared off into the distance.
“I can walk around while you make your call,” she offered.
“Huh?” His head whipped around as he struggled back from wherever he was mentally. “Oh. No, but thank you. It’ll take more than just a phone call.” He slapped his palms on his legs then rose. “I’m sorry, damned sorry this keeps happening. I’ll make it up to you, I swear.” He gave her the quick one-two L.A. air kiss and stepped away, clearly preoccupied. “I just can’t tell you when.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m doing fine, I swear.” She traced an X over her heart. “Thanks for dropping by.”
But he was already heading off, shoulders rounded. She’d never seen him like this before. Oh, Avery wasn’t playful like JD—he’d always tended more toward the serious, but then, he’d had to be. His father had abandoned Avery and his mother when Avery was only twelve, and he’d had to grow up fast. If his mother hadn’t died when he was in high school, Violet doubted he would have ever pursued his acting dream because he’d have stayed back in Colorado to be the man of the family.
Now Violet was his only family. He’d taken her on to protect, just as she’d tried to care for him by getting him roles.
She didn’t know this world he was involved in now, hadn’t met or spoken to anyone at his club but him. In fact, he’d always made certain she had his personal cell number and always called her back promptly. So she had no idea how to help him or give him relief from his burdens except to stay out of his way and accept whatever time he could give her.
But that didn’t stop her from worrying over him or wishing she had the power to smooth those frown lines away.
After a moment of staring off in the direction he’d departed, Violet shook herself and looked around the grounds, trying to figure out how to occupy herself until she might have the opportunity to hear from JD. She decided to walk over to the main building and see if she could tempt Sophie into putting her to work so she wouldn’t feel so restless.
Instead, about ten paces into her journey, as if she’d conjured him up, her phone rang, and it was JD. With a smile, she answered.
“Hello?”
“Mornin’, Glory.”
“That’s what my daddy calls me,” she said.
“I have to confess you don’t make me feel particularly paternal.” His baritone voice got a little husky. He cleared his throat. “Hope that doesn’t bother you.”
Her heart gave a foolish little flutter. “I think it would bother me a lot more if I did have that effect.”
She heard him exhale. “You make it difficult for a man to think clearly.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t sound so proud of yourself.”
She chuckled. “So how was class today?”
A slight hesitation. “I don’t teach every day. I sometimes get called in on other stuff.”
“Like what?” She chewed her lip. “Dangerous work?”
“Naw. Mostly just lending another set of experienced eyes to put the pieces together. I was on the streets, then I worked Vice for a while.”
“Sort of a cop consultant, is that it? You could make big money in L.A., consulting on scripts.”
He snorted. “From what I see on film and TV, I don’t think the script writers are listening to their experts. Either that, or their experts really aren’t experts.”
“Oh, really? Not real enough for you, Mr. Policeman?”
“Do I hear insult in your voice, Hollywood?”
“Not really, just…I always do a lot of research for my parts.”
“You ever played a cop?”
“Only in a romantic comedy.”
“There you go.”
“Excuse me, but comedy is difficult to pull off, much harder than drama, I’ll have you know. If you ever tried it, you’d see what I mean.”
“Whoa, now. I also wasn’t insulting what you do. You happen to be very good at it.”
“But it’s all anyone wants to see me do. I’m tired of being typecast.”
“That last film sure broke the mold. You got nominated all over the place for it, didn’t you?”
“But I didn’t win the Golden Screen Award.”
“Well, that’s because the voters were blind. And jealous.”
Stated so simply, as though there was no question, his response warmed her. “I was really disappointed,” she confided. She’d said that to no one else, not even Avery.
“But you know you gave an excellent performance, right?”
She nodded, though he couldn’t see her. “I did. I gave it my all.”
“That’s the real reward, isn’t it? Knowing that you put everything you had into it? You don’t control the rest, but with what you could control, you hit the ball out of the park.”
Listening to him was like having a thorn removed from tender skin.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For bringing me back to common sense. You’re absolutely right—I was focusing on the wrong thing. Usually, I’m fine knowing I did the best job I could, though of course I have to be careful about which roles I choose because the films have to make money. That’s all most of Hollywood worries about, not critical acclaim. I mean, acclaim is nice, but the money guys only care about that if it increases box office. As an artist, though, you don’t perform for the money. You do it because it satisfies something in you that needs to create. Performing on stage is actually much more rewarding—you get immediate feedback from your audience. In film, you shoot it out of order and in pieces, and the only feedback you get is from the cast and crew, but all of them have their agendas. At least until you see it with a test audience, and then—” She halted. “Sorry. Talking too much about things you can’t possibly be interested in.”
“You don’t know me well enough to be familiar with what I’m interested in.”
A dose of reality. “That’s true.”
“So you shouldn’t be worrying about whether I’m bored or not. Tell you what—I’ll be sure to snore real loud if you put me to sleep, that a deal?”
He made her smile. “Deal. But anyway, I’m done nattering on.”
“Not nattering, but we can save it until I see you. Did I give you time to visit with your friend?”
“You did.”
“So your dance card is freed up?”
“It is. How about yours?”
“I decided to take some vacation days. I’ve got too many stacked up.”
“Oh, JD, I don’t want to—”
“They were so happy to see me go, they practically carried me out the door. The rest of today, I’m all yours—that is, if you don’t get sick of me.”
That span of time loomed bright on the horizon. “Well, I’ll snore really loud if I get bored,” she echoed.
He laughed. “A clever woman is worth her weight in gold, my dad always says. ’Course that’s because my mom is scary intelligent and would bean him with a skillet if he said otherwise.”
Violet grinned widely. “I would love to meet your family. Maybe to commiserate.”
On His Honor Page 9