The sun shone down on them. It was a beautiful autumn day, and, despite the funeral, her optimism continued to flow. She stopped and looked up at him. “The funeral, the visits to the families . . . all of it has helped me to work out my issues.”
He leaned against his car, the sunlight highlighting the red in his hair. “You mean the guilt.”
She nodded. “It’s always easier to help others with their problems than to see them in yourself. That’s what the parents have done for me. They only wanted the best for these teens. The same as I wanted for Molly. Maybe they made a mistake along the way, but they have nothing to feel guilty about. It’s not like they’d neglected these girls.”
“How can you be so certain? Especially after what you experienced in some of the foster homes you stayed in.”
“When you’re neglected as a child like I was, you can spot the signs.”
He lifted a brow. “You’ve never really told me about your parents.”
“Neither have you.”
“Then let me fix that. Tonight. After dinner, we’ll talk.” He took her hands.
She felt the warmth spread through her body. He hadn’t so much as hinted at touching her since the night they arrested Van Gogh, but she could see that he wanted to. She wanted his touch, too, but she’d needed the space, and he’d respected that. Another plus for him in her book.
“I agree,” she said. “It’s time we talk.”
His brow creased. “Now you have me worried.”
“You have nothing to worry about.” She freed her hands and pressed a finger into his forehead to relax the muscles.
He smiled, the cute little one that deepened his dimple and made her want to kiss him. The atmosphere changed, and the air heated up between them. If they hadn’t been standing at the cemetery, she suspected he would have kissed her.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she grabbed it. “It’s Taylor. I should answer.”
“We’ve got him.” Taylor’s voice was filled with urgency.
“Got who?” Becca asked as she climbed into the car.
“Xiaowen Shen. The mastermind behind the credit card fraud.”
“Perfect. Is he corroborating Willow’s story?” Willow claimed that the ringleader had bought lists of foster kids’ identity and insurance information from hackers. He employed Willow to create bills for a bogus clinic to defraud insurance companies, resulting in millions of dollars of Medicaid and private insurance fraud. Willow had recognized Frankie’s name on the list and decided to use it.
“He’s not saying a word, but we recovered a printout of insurance information at his house, confirming Willow’s statement. Several of the others kids he had running the credit card scam and billing the insurance companies are rolling over on him, too.”
“I’ll bet he wishes he never graduated from credit card fraud to insurance fraud.”
“He’s going away for a long time.”
“Unfortunately, Willow might be, too. Too bad there’s no way we can help her.”
“She made the choice to use the insurance info, and Frankie died. You can’t change that.”
“I know, but she’s just a kid,” Becca said, remembering how wild she’d been at that age and knowing something like this could have happened to her. “I just hate not being able to do something for these kids.”
“Don’t forget Danny. You’re helping him.”
“One bright spot in this otherwise messed-up investigation. Keep me updated on Shen. Especially if you confirm that he was the local who was buying information from Van Gogh.” Becca disconnected and relayed the latest development to Connor then fell silent. She thought about Danny and how Elise had agreed to foster him. She’d have quite an impact on his life.
He’d known only abandonment from the day his mother gave him up for adoption at the age of two. She’d tried so hard to keep him, but he had a heart issue, and she couldn’t get him the care he needed. She’d wanted him to have a better life, but he never got it. His heart issue put off prospective parents, so he remained in foster care, moving from home to home. He’d finally had enough of the system and took off. Not unusual. It was a sad thing, as far as Becca was concerned, and something she was still committed to help fix.
She told Connor about Shen, then they made the rest of the drive in silence, both of them pensive. But the silence was comfortable, something she’d never had with another person.
He pulled into the parking area at her office and squeezed her hand. “I’ll pick you up at five.”
“I’ll be ready.”
His fingers twined in hers, and she could tell he wanted to say more, but was waiting for the evening. He gave her hand one last squeeze and then she got out of the car, basking in the sunshine before she stepped into the security booth. The clean, crisp air blew softly against her face. Since Van Gogh’s arrest, everything seemed so much clearer and crisper. She was grateful for her life, and planning to do whatever she could to make it count.
No more with the guilt and recriminations. She now recognized that the misplaced guilt she’d felt all these years was just a reason to stop living. A reason to keep herself from getting hurt again. She didn’t need that anymore. She was free, free to come out of the shadows of fear. The shadows of guilt. It was time to live for the present.
“ARE YOU SURE YOU want to do this?” Connor asked Becca from the driver’s seat.
The sun was dropping toward the horizon, a burning fireball hanging behind tall pine trees and large outbuildings. But the evening was still unusually warm and a fresh breeze drifted through his open window.
“Of course.” Becca smiled, a carefree, wonderfully relaxed smile that made him hopeful for their conversation.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He nodded at his parents’ house. “It’s going to be crazy in there. A room overflowing with people, all of them like me.”
“Exactly like you?” she asked, her tone lighthearted. “Then I can’t wait.”
She’d been relaxed all afternoon at work, and now she was downright flirtatious.
He could get on board with that kind of attitude very easily. He leaned close, cupped the back of her head, and kissed her. The world exploded around him, and all he could think of was deepening the kiss.
“Ew, Uncle Connor.” Fists pounded against his window. “Come out of there.”
He lifted his head at the sound of his seven-year-old nephew.
“Go hide, Zach, and I’ll be out to find you at the count of ten,” Connor yelled, though he didn’t take his eyes off Becca.
“Me, too, Unca Connor.”
“You too, Emma,” he said to Zach’s three-year-old sister.
“Sorry for the interruption, but that’s life around here.” He took in a deep breath and blew it out, then trailed a finger down her face and sat back to clear his head. “Time to go in. The craziness will start as soon as I open the door. Consider yourself warned.”
“Absolutely.” She smiled, her expression easy. How far she’d come in such a short time. He knew she was still having nightmares and anxiety plagued her at times, but she was seeing a counselor and that should help over time.
Her opened his door and started counting loudly. Becca came around to join him and slipped her hand in his.
“Eight, nine, ten,” he said even louder. “Ready or not, here I come.”
A little girl’s giggle came from bushes abutting the porch.
Becca chuckled. “She’s destined for a covert law enforcement career for sure.”
He grinned at Becca then cupped his hands around his mouth. “I’m sure Zach and Emma are way too big to fit behind the shrubs.”
“No I’m not, Unca Connor,” Emma said.
Becca laughed joyously, and Connor stood watching the sun set behind her back. He’d ha
ted this place ever since his mother had walked out. Now he could see it from new eyes. From Becca’s eyes.
Her laugher stilled. “You look awfully serious for a game of hide and seek.”
He stared over her head at the bus stop and memories came flooding back. “It’s my mother. She didn’t neglect me, the way your mother did you. Instead, she walked out when I was fifteen. Put us all on the bus for school one morning like usual, and then took off. She told Dad that she couldn’t handle the responsibility anymore. She had to be free. We never heard from her again.”
“I’m so sorry,” Becca said, but she didn’t get all sappy like the women in his family would, trying to hug him and make it all better. She just stood tall and strong next to him, holding his hand and waiting for him to continue if he wanted to.
“As the oldest kid, a lot of responsibility fell on me. I wasn’t allowed to be a kid anymore. I resented it when my brothers and sisters got to have fun, but I had to keep things running while my dad worked. It got to the point that I hated being here. That’s why I left as soon as I could. And I hated coming back here. Until you.”
“Me?”
“The people inside? The ones who are cutting up and having a good time? I’ll walk in that door and they’ll welcome me like nothing’s wrong. I essentially turned my back on them, but they’ll still be there for me. You didn’t have the luxury of turning your back on your family. You had no one to run from. I can now see how dumb it was to take off, and I aim to rectify it.”
“So if this thing between us keeps going, we’ll both be getting a family, then.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
His nephew stepped out from behind a wishing well. “Uncle Connor. Come on. You’re not playing right.”
“I’m done with all of that,” he said to Becca. “These games with the kids? They’re the only ones I’m going to play anymore.” He squeezed her hand and took off to chase his nephew.
Zach screeched so loudly, it brought his mother to the door.
“Connor Warren, why didn’t you tell us you were here?” she lectured, standing on the porch with her hands on her hips. “We would have come to greet you.”
“I figured the longer it took for Becca to meet all of you, the more likely it is that she’ll keep going out with me.” He looked at Becca and winked.
His sister came charging down the steps and linked arms with Becca. “Come on, Becca. You’ve had a long ride with this big dope and it’s time you met the smart ones in the family.”
Becca laughed hard and Connor strode over to her. He looked at his sister Beth. “We’ll be in in a few minutes.”
Beth winked at him, as if she’d read his mind and jogged up the steps.
Connor turned to Becca and circled her in his arms. “You seem happy.”
“I am,” she said battling with a wayward strand of hair the wind had pulled from her clip.
“I can think of no one who deserves to be happy more than you,” he said and pressed the hair behind her ear, then slid his fingers into her hair to cup the back of her head. “And I promise to spend every day making sure you’re treated like a princess.”
She grinned up at him. “Even if you have to wear the knight costume again to make it happen?”
He winked at her and leaned in for the kiss that marked the beginning of a whole new happiness in his life, too. “Even then.”
The End
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Acknowledgements
Additional thanks to:
My super agent Chip MacGregor, whose book-publishing knowledge knows no bounds. Without you, this series wouldn’t have become a reality, and your ongoing support in bringing my books to market and steering my writing career is priceless.
The very generous Ron Norris, who gives of his time and knowledge in police and military procedures, weaponry details, and information technology. As a retired police officer with the LaVerne Police Department and a Certified Information Security Professional, your experience and knowledge is invaluable. You go above and beyond, and I can’t thank you enough! Any errors in or liberties taken with the technical details Ron so patiently explained to me are all my doing.
And last but not least, to the Portland FBI agents and staff for sharing your knowledge and expertise at the Citizen’s Academy. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to learn more about what you do and how you do it. I am in awe of your skills, dedication, and willingness to put others before yourselves.
About the Author
Susan Sleeman is a best-selling author of clean read and inspirational romantic suspense books. Awards include Thread of Suspicion—2013 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Best Book Award, and No Way Out and The Christmas Witness—Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence finalists.
Susan grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing novels and hosting the popular Internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.
Susan currently lives in Oregon, but she and her husband have had the pleasure of living in nine states. They have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law, and an adorable grandson.
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