“I’ll try to arrange something for tonight,” said Heather, options racing through her mind. “We’ve got connections everywhere. But it might mean a change of climate.”
“Then my kids will learn about the four seasons firsthand.” The woman was resolute. “I’ll start packing.”
“You won’t lose your access to training, Mary Beth,” said Heather. “I promise you that.”
“I’m counting on it.” The woman left to tell her children.
“If you need backup,” called Heather, “I’m here.” Speaking with Megan and Neil was going to be harder than making the decision to leave.
An hour later, Heather came into Kathy’s office. “I’m escorting the Landers family to Minneapolis tonight—an 8:30 flight. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon. Gene is driving us to the airport at six in his car. If we arrive too early, we’ll circle the airport until it’s time to go. Can you make the rounds tonight? Tiffany will go with you, and the kids are expecting us.”
“Yes, I can. And I’ll give Gene Friday off. He’s been putting in a lot of time.”
Heather waited for her sister to absorb the real meat of the conversation. It took only a few seconds. “All right,” said Kathy. “Minneapolis is fine…if that’s what Mary Beth wants.”
“I agreed with her decision, Kath. In her circumstances, she’ll never feel free in Houston.”
Kathy stared at her. “I’ll keep my cell phone on, so check in with me every fifteen minutes until you’re all on that plane. I want to monitor this transfer. You hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Heather gave her sister a mock salute. “Take it easy. Don’t we always keep in touch?”
“Oh, Lord,” Kathy said, “every time we go through this, I’m a nervous wreck. And I feel like we’ve lost a friend.”
“I don’t. I think of it as saving lives.”
“But on a personal level, I wish Mary Beth could just have a safe life right here. I wish we could…I don’t know…”
“Fix the world?”
“Yes.”
“We’re doing it, Kath, the way we always do it. One person, then another and another…”
Kathy started to smile. “I guess that’s why it takes so darn long.”
Heather nodded and left the room. She had more work to do, and she needed to call Dave. No point in him passing by the building in the hopes of seeing her that evening.
HANK LANDERS FINISHED his shift on Monday afternoon and drove away from his station house. Maybe Mary Beth really was in El Paso. Or hiding in a quiet safe house apartment, which could be anywhere. Or maybe she was in a motel. The damned city had so many motels, he couldn’t count ’em. All Hank knew was he hadn’t found Mary Beth anywhere yet.
Shit! He’d spent the whole friggin’ weekend investigating for nothing. The whole damned weekend. He didn’t need that idiot wife anymore. But the kids. They were his.
There was only one more shelter in the city he hadn’t personally visited. Not that he’d gotten into any of them. But he had connections. His buddies had helped him out. He knew how it worked. A favor for a favor. A person never knew what the future held. Welcome Home. What a stupid name. The whores who lived there deserved all the misery they could find.
IN HER OFFICE at five forty-five that evening, Heather checked her pocketbook for the computer-issued airline tickets and driver’s license for identification at the airport. She’d retrieved a few personal items from home earlier, which she’d placed in an ordinary tote bag to carry on the plane.
Kathy stood in her doorway.
“Are you and Tiff set to go now?” Heather asked.
“We are. Just stopping by to wish you luck. Don’t be concerned about the street kids. We’ll be out there tonight.”
“Thanks, Kathy. Dave’s parents will be trailing you. You’ll be fine.” She shrugged. “I can’t get them to stop yet.”
A satisfied expression settled on Kathy’s face. “They can continue as long as they want with no complaints from me. Now tell me about the Landers family. How are Mary Beth and the kids?”
“Neil’s angry. Megan doesn’t understand. But Mary Beth is pretty calm. She keeps telling them that the important thing is that they’re all together. And that they can make a home anywhere as long as they’re together.”
“Smart to focus on simple truths. No grandiose schemes and big promises.”
“Mary Beth is a sensible woman. She just needs a fair chance. I’m meeting them and Gene at the back entrance in just a bit.”
Kathy nodded and was gone. Five minutes later, Heather was about to leave her office, when her intercom buzzed. She glanced at the readout. Diana was probably checking on her. She picked up the receiver.
“There’s a uniformed officer here,” the guard said immediately. “Said he was sent on a 911 call, so I let him in. Now he’s asking for a Mrs. Landers. And I said we don’t have anyone by that name.”
“Are you on speakerphone?” asked Heather.
“No.”
“Good. You said the right thing. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“I’ll tell him that.”
Heather called Gene’s cell phone. “Change of plans. Get the Landers family back to their suite and tell Mary Beth to lock the door. I want every resident in lockdown until further notice. Then wait to hear from me. Pass the word to the staff.”
She hurried out of her office, her footsteps echoing as she went to the reception area. She opened the solid metal door separating the front area from the back and pulled it shut behind her. And there stood Hank Landers, big, bulky and looking very official in his blues.
“I know she’s here. Now, bring her out with the kids.”
Heather met his angry gaze. She braced herself and quietly said, “El Paso.”
“Bullshit!” The word exploded, released on a breath reeking of alcohol. She saw his lips thin and his fingers curl into fists as huge as George’s. She blinked.
“Mary Beth’s got to be here,” the cop continued. “She’s nowhere else. I’ve checked. And besides, she’s too chicken to go far away.”
Heather forced a casual shrug. “Lots of our clients go elsewhere, Officer Landers. That’s the truth. If you doubt it, that’s your problem, not mine.”
“I don’t believe a word you’re saying,” he said, moving toward her. “So we’re going to take a walk back there and see.”
She stared at him, but aimed her words at Diana. “Step on it, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Go ahead,” laughed the cop. “Use your alarm system. Get the cops here. Whose side do you think they’ll take?”
Heather’s brain stopped working. For a moment. She wanted to believe—had no choice but to believe—her cops would do the right thing.
With his triumphant smile still in place, Landers took another step toward her. “The hell with both of you! I’m going inside.”
Could she take him down? Heather’s mind raced with alternatives as she stood squarely in front of the door. “It’s locked tight,” she said in a calm voice. “Can only be opened electronically.” And she would never give the order.
“No problem.” He reached for his gun.
You can’t fight a bullet. She coughed to distract him. “You don’t really want to do that,” she said quietly.
He glared at her. “No woman tells me what to do.”
Buy time. Keep talking. “I wouldn’t think of telling you anything, Officer Landers. I’m simply asking—”
She never finished the sentence. His left hand knocked her sideways as though she were a toy. She hadn’t seen it coming despite all her training. She stumbled and hit the wall. Then, he drew his gun. She managed to regain her balance….
“She can’t hide from me!” the cop roared, firing two rounds at the door latch.
The man was crazy. Certifiable. She had no weapon to match his gun. Where was Dave? Where was Powers? Or Jazzman?
“Drop it!” She had her answer.
She remai
ned against the wall, her cheek throbbing. But Landers spun around and smiled at Dave. “It’s okay, buddy. You remember me. I’m HPD. We’re family.”
She wanted to vomit. Family. A cop like Hank could never, ever be part of hers. But which family would Dave choose?
“Drop it nice and easy,” said Dave, his gun pointing at the other cop.
She had her second answer.
No one moved. Two cops. Two guns. Two women.
“Put it down, Landers,” repeated Dave, “and we’ll talk all about it outside. Maybe salvage your sorry-ass career.”
Heather said nothing. Landers looked down at his gun, looked around the room, then back at Dave. “My sorry-ass ca—” A connection seemed to register in the cop’s mind. “It’s over, man. It’s over. And it’s all your fault.” He pointed the barrel at Dave.
“No!” Heather screamed, running at Landers.
A shot rang out as she placed her kick. Landers shouted and fell, his weapon skimming across the floor.
Heather turned to see Powers, holstering his gun. “Would you mind calling an ambulance for this piece of trash?” he asked Diana. “He’ll be living behind bars for a long time, and his wife can come out of hiding—wherever she is.” He bent down and cuffed Landers.
Suddenly, Dave stood in front of her, with his arms out, and she could think of no one else. “Heather?” She ran to him. Then he was holding her, rocking her. Kissing her everywhere, treating her bruised cheek gently.
She glanced at Hank lying on the floor groaning. “I guess every family has a black sheep.”
LATER THAT EVENING, after all the statements, all the legal matters and after speaking with Mary Beth and the children for an hour, Heather drove herself home. Dave had kissed her and then continued his shift. And she realized that this is how a regular patrol officer lived—day after day, shift after shift—alternating between readiness and a high adrenaline rush. Never knowing what would really happen on any particular day, but always anticipating the worst. Not an easy way of life. Lots of stress.
George had not exemplified a good cop. Her dad had been a show-off who liked to throw his weight around.
Dave’s attitude and actions defined good cop. And if he’d allow it, she’d help him keep his balance for the rest of his life. She’d help him shrug off his uniform when his day ended. Keep him sane and happy.
She pulled into her driveway and sat there with the engine running. She’d never told him. And yet…he kept hanging around. “You’re the biggest coward under the sun,” she murmured.
She checked the time. His shift was almost over, and she pressed her autodial to his cell.
Still in uniform, he showed up forty-five minutes later. Heather waited in the driveway leaning against her car, studying him as he got out of his.
Fatigue had settled on his face…until he spotted her and his smile washed away the effects of the busy shift.
She opened her arms, and he was there. “I love you, Dave. I’ve loved you for a long time.”
“I know. At least, I’d hoped. But please say it again.”
There were no more barriers. She trusted him. Dave was everything she wanted. He was the right man for her.
“Marry me, Heather.” Like a heartfelt prayer spoken aloud. “I feel like I’ve been waiting forever.”
“Of course, I will.” She kissed him, then sighed as she leaned against him. “Let’s get married and have a quiet, peaceful life.”
Dave laughed out loud. “A peaceful life with Heather Marshall? I know it will be a full life. And a fulfilling life. But quiet? Somehow, sweetheart, I don’t think so.”
She looked into his face and thought about all the excitement ahead of them.
Her laughter joined Dave’s. “Hmm…maybe you’re right. But at least we won’t be bored.”
He kissed her. “Say it again.”
She knew exactly what he meant. “I love you, Dave. And I’ll be telling you so for the rest of our lives.”
“Promise?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“And I promise to do the same.”
A promise she could count on. She didn’t need anything more.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-1859-8
A MAN OF HONOR
Copyright © 2006 by Linda Barrett.
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* Pilgrim Cove
A Man of Honor (Harlequin Super Romance) Page 18