Hunter's Find

by June Kramin

  “You’re going to have coffee?”

  “Just half a cup. It’ll be all right. I can’t believe I feel like I have a hangover without the fun of drinking. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “I saw you down a few shots with your friends. I thought you would have been tipsier last night.”

  “Tipsy? I don’t get tipsy. I get good and hammered.” He stood and rocked with Hannah. “And I didn’t get hammered. I had to go along with the guys, but I have a pretty high tolerance.”

  Mandy sipped at the coffee. Hunt laughed as she pretended her knees buckled at the taste.

  “Taste good?”

  “You have no idea.”

  “How about when we’re out getting paint chips, we swing by the dealership and pick you up a car. I don’t like that you are out here without one.”

  “We’re fine.”

  “What if something happened with Hannah while I was at work and you need to rush her in to the doctor or something?”

  “I’m pretty sure you’d be here in a heartbeat if that were the case, Daddy.”

  “You bet your ass I would be.” He pulled Mandy’s hips close to his, mindful of the precious package he held. “Have I said ‘I love you’ today?”

  “Yes. But I’ll take another.”

  “I love you, Mrs. Blaine.”

  She gave him a kiss. “I love you, too. Will you hold onto her while I go shower? I really need to wake up.”

  “Of course, babe.” An unmistakable rumpling came from Hannah’s diaper.

  Mandy took off running. “My timing is excellent. It’s yours!”

  Their weekend was uneventful by excitement standards, but Mandy was proud of what they had accomplished.

  They had gone to a small used car dealership where a friend of Hunt’s was the manager. Mandy picked out a small SUV. She wanted front wheel drive with the dirt roads and snow. When they were in the office with the finance manager, Hunt insisted on making the loan joint. “Your responsibilities are mine, too.”

  Mandy asked Hunt to step outside with her for a minute. “I thought we had this conversation already. I’m capable of taking care of some bills, Hunt.”

  “I know you are, but I want to do everything together from here on out.”

  She stared at him then took his hands. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I’m not worried that you are. I just get a kick out of being Mr. and Mrs. That’s all.”

  “You sure that’s all?”

  “Cross my heart,” he said as he made the motions.

  “All right. You win again. Come Monday we’re opening a joint account and I’m transferring everything into it.”

  “You do what you want. I want it all out on the line. I’ll have no secrets. No ‘rat money’ that I’ll hide from you. Everything is together from now on.”

  Mandy smiled and pulled him back into the office. “Joint loan application please.”

  After they arrived home, Mandy taped up color swatches in every room. Along with the samples, she had picked up a few books on decorating and feng shui, a small decorative fountain, and tall twisted Ficus for the living room. She added a fern to the kitchen and a Wandering Jew to the bedroom.

  Hunt helped by installing ceiling hooks for her. “This place needs a little life, Hunt,” Mandy said as she sprayed the fern after setting it in its long macramé hanger. “I never understood people that don’t like houseplants.”

  “I do like them, that’s why I don’t have them.”

  “Explain that logic.”

  “I could kill a silk plant.”

  She laughed hard. “I’m here for you, lover.”

  Again he closed the gap and held her close to him. “And I’m thankful for that every day.”

  Chapter Forty-Six

  As much as Hunt hated to leave for work the following Monday, life had to get back to routine. “Now that we’re back on track, you going to continue your story for me? I feel like I’m reading a crime novel and had to put it aside for a few days. I’m hating this Dan character and have to know more, babe.”

  Mandy laughed and placed her free hand on his cheek. “My jealous husband. Dan was harmless. I hardly had to see him after that blow up in the office. Abbey made sure of it.”

  “Call him Craig, babe. Abbey pisses him off.”

  She laughed again. “At least I see you pay attention to me when I talk.”

  “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”

  She playfully smacked his rear end. “You rotten man. Get to work already. This house doesn’t clean itself while you’re gone, you know.”

  “It always worked before.”

  “Well now you have a baby to consider. I don’t want her having a dust bunny for a favorite pet. Now scoot. I promise I’ll pick up where I left off when you get home. Any supper requests?”

  “Surprise me.”

  After a final kiss goodbye to both of his girls, Hunt was out the door.

  Amanda started her day. Things were becoming routine to her. A routine she never in a thousand years would have expected to accept. Cleaning house, doing laundry, feeding a baby. Her life until this point had not been the life for just anyone.

  Evening gowns and fancy dinners were replaced with ones she carefully assembled due to Hunt’s desire to eat healthy. Gun holsters were replaced with diaper bags. Alcoholic drinks were replaced with “nursing friendly” beverages. She should have felt strange about this, but she didn’t. Searching for honesty within herself, she knew she was truly the happiest she had ever been.

  She put Hannah down for her morning nap and covered her up. Staring at her sleeping baby, her thoughts went to her parents. She wished they were alive to see her. Again she regretted not making it to the funeral, but she knew dwelling on it was going to get her nowhere.

  Her mind wandered to the life she led as an agent. The life she never asked for. She had been placed there by Abbey. She struggled often with wondering why she had taken the job. Did she have something to prove? And to whom? Her parents wouldn’t have approved—that was a certainty. She didn’t think she had a death wish, and most certainly had no one to try to impress. Mandy knew it would take a long time for Hunt to accept the fact that she liked staying home and being a mom. She’d have to work hard at it to keep him convinced.

  Mandy walked down to the living room and took in the room. The words Hunt said to her came to mind. Feel free to girl the place up. Looking at his curtains, it became clear to her where she was going to start. After digging in a few kitchen drawers, she found a tape measure and went to work. Mandy was on the last window when a car pulled into the driveway. Instinctively she reached for the small of her back, feeling for a gun. It had been almost a year since she’d worn it. Funny how old habits die hard. She knew it was silly and refused to go to her dresser drawer for it. Peering from the small window in the door, she watched as a familiar acquaintance emerged from the car.

  Anxiously she opened the front door and waited on the porch for her old boss to join her. Mandy surprised even herself when she threw her arms around his neck.

  “I never thought I’d be so happy to see someone,” she said as she held herself there.

  Abbey laughed and returned the hug. “I have to admit, I didn’t expect such a reception myself.” He let go of his hug, but continued to hold her by the hands and gazed at her. “I think domestic life agrees with you. Maybe I had you all wrong.”

  “Don’t be an ass. When I had it, I had it.”

  “You still have it, sweetheart. Now you just do it without the firepower.”

  “I almost ran for my throwaway, idiot. What are you doing showing up without calling first?” She was glad to know their banter was still there after all this time. She always could insult with the best of them.

  “You going to blow away your UPS man if he doesn’t make a call first?”

  “If he shows up without his brown truck, you bet I am. I’m freezing my ass off. Come inside, Abbey.”
He stepped in and hung his coat up. “Can I get you anything?”

  “Got coffee on?”

  “I’m nursing, so no. But it’s easy enough to get some going.”

  “Whatever is handy is fine.”

  “Coffee is easy. We have that cup-at-a-time thing.”

  “Sounds great.”

  “Still take it black?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  After they were settled at the table, Mandy dove straight into business. “I know this isn’t a social call. What’s up?”

  “Can’t I just want to say hello?”

  “No. You always have an agenda.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get to the hearing.”

  “I didn’t need you there. It was fine.”

  “I stood behind you. You know that. I put every effort into doing what I could to keep you clean.”

  “Were you suspended for long?”

  “Not at all. They wanted to make sure our stories jibed. I’m sorry things turned out the way they did. That wasn’t the plan. I hate how things went down with you and Gerard. I knew you hoped things would end differently.”

  “But it didn’t, and it’s long over. I don’t look back anymore. My life is with Hunt now.” She paused. “I have to admit, it was strange being kept from you.”

  “I know. That decision came from higher up. I couldn’t fight them. Things already looked bad enough.”

  “What gives then? You here to tell me to go back into hiding, Abbey?”

  “Abbey? Now you make me feel like you’ve switched back to work.”

  “You’re making this about work. If it was anything else, you’d have asked about the baby.”

  “How is she? Daddy take a liking to her?”

  “Of course.” Mandy wiggled her ring. “I know I don’t have to tell you anything you don’t already know. You probably knew when Hunt bought the ring and house. I’m done with the service, Craig. Why are you here?”

  “Dan’s gone rogue on us.”

  “He what?”

  “He hasn’t checked in—in more than a week.”

  “How do you know someone didn’t pop a cap in that dick’s head?”

  “He’s out there. He’s on his way here, Mandy. I can feel it.”

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Hannah’s crying gave Mandy the escape she wanted. She didn’t have a reaction to what Abbey was telling her. There was no way she heard that right. What would Dan want with her? After stalling with changing Hannah into a dry diaper, she made her way downstairs. Hannah would need to nurse, but hopefully she’d give Mandy a few minutes first.

  Abbey stood when she came back into the kitchen. He looked down at Hannah. “She’s a beauty.”

  “What does he want?” Mandy was no longer up to pleasantries.

  “I can’t say for sure. You knew him almost as well as I did. There was something not right about him though. I should have had someone on him long ago.”

  “Dammit.” Mandy paced. “I’ve been out too long. I should have known…”

  “Known what?”

  “Someone was snooping around the other night at our reception. There was something not right about it, but I couldn’t put a finger on it. It had to be him.” She took a step closer toward Craig. “You think he was working with the Menuscos?”

  Abbey met her eyes. “I’m not sure what to think. Something just never smelled right for a long time with this. I never told you I suspected anything wrong about him, but I was glad your whereabouts were kept secret from him.”

  “But it was a secret from you, too.”

  “It was, but they still gave me courtesy updates when I asked about you. I was worried about you, kid.”

  “Dammit, Abbey. Why didn’t you tell me your concerns about Dan when you had the chance?”

  “What chance? All this fell to shit in nothing flat and they hauled your ass off. I thought I was being overly cautious. You only just popped back up on the grid, Mandy. I didn’t see you rushing to be in contact with me.”

  “I didn’t think I had reason to. Besides, things have been moving too fast. Getting married, getting settled here.” She paused and pointed at paint samples taped up. She glanced back over to him and lowered her voice. “I didn’t think you cared to hear from me anyway.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “We’ve had nothing but a professional relationship. I’m out of the agency and never going back. There was nothing to say. I guess I felt bad for letting you down, and didn’t know how to approach it.”

  “You didn’t let me down, Mandy. Things played out the only way they were going to. There’s a reason these people have the positions they do and never go to jail. I was a fool for sticking you in there the way I did and thinking I could make a difference.”

  “We could have had them. You just wouldn’t listen to me. I knew I was close.”

  “It was too dangerous and despite what you thought, I know the system. It wasn’t enough. You should have come in.”

  “Darci would still be dead.”

  Craig sighed. “Probably. Look, I don’t want to fight. I’m frustrated, and now I’m worried about you. As soon as I found you, I got on a plane. I was sure you’d just get pissed off and tell me you were a big girl and could handle yourself, but I had to come.”

  “I can handle myself, but now I have a baby to consider, dammit!” At the sound of her mother’s raised voice, Hannah began to cry. “Shhhh, Peanut. It’s okay.” She turned to Abbey. “I need to nurse her.”

  “You want me to leave the room?”

  “I’ve never been shy. After having a kid and the world with their hands up my koochie, I hardly give a rip. I’m warning you. Look away if you’re uncomfortable.”

  He could only grin. “I never would have pictured you, of all people, this way.”

  “Well…get used to it. This is my life now.”

  Mandy sat down and unbuttoned her shirt only as much as she needed to. Abbey was a tough guy and all talk, but it was obvious he was embarrassed at her bare breast. He picked up his coffee and wandered to the kitchen window.

  “Your husband the jealous type?”

  “If he is, we haven’t been together enough for it to manifest. Why?”

  “Because there is a police cruiser pulling in the driveway going a little faster than it should be.”

  Mandy stood up, keeping the baby attached. She learned she could do more than she thought she could with a baby at her bare breast. Heading for the door, she told Abbey to sit down. “It’ll be fine. He’s a bear, but he’s not going to rip your arms off without a good reason.”

  Hunt flew in the door. The look on his face was concern, not anger. He instantly relaxed when he found Mandy standing there, calmly nursing Hannah.

  “Who’s here?”

  “Abbey.”

  “Craig? What’s he doing here?”

  “Come meet him and sit down, Hunt. I was just sort of finding that out for myself. Why are you home?”

  “I was driving by on my way to a call when I saw the car in the driveway.”

  “Do you need to go?”

  “Not right away. I need to fill out a report on some property damage probably from some young punks. It can wait.”

  Mandy knew how intimidating Hunt could look in uniform, but the look on Abbey’s face when he stood up and reached out his hand made her grin. Craig wasn’t a short man, but Hunt was a good five inches taller than he was. Where Hunt was built for uniform and bullet proof vests, Craig was built for business suits. The two men shook hands firmly.

  “I’d like to say I’m pleased to meet you,” Hunt said, “But why do I feel like this isn’t a social call you are making to my wife?”

  Mandy wasn’t sure whether she wanted to be flattered or upset at Hunt’s use of the word ‘wife’. It made Craig pause as well.

  “I wish it was a social visit. I wanted to inform Amanda of the situation, then believe me I was going to bring you in on it.”

  “B
ring me in on it? Bring me in on what? What the hell is going on?”

  The sound of his voice raised disturbed Hannah again. She stopped nursing and began to cry. Hunt took her from Mandy and brought her to his chest.

  “It’s okay, baby girl. Shhh…” He bounced her for a moment. “She done?”

  “She needs the other side.”

  “Go feed her; I’ll talk to Craig.” He gave the baby back to Mandy.

  “No way, Hunt. This is about me. I’m staying.” Defiantly and holding nothing back, she exposed her other breast and sat down once again with the baby. Hunt could only sigh and return his attention back to Abbey, who had to quickly look away from Mandy’s breasts. Not quick enough that Hunt didn’t see him. Mandy was grateful Hunt let it slide.

  “Have a seat,” Hunt said as he pointed to a chair. Craig hustled into it as Hunt asked, “What gives?”

  “One of our agents has gone rogue. We think—rather, we know, he is on his way to Vermont.”

  Hunt interrupted. “Is this that Dan asshole?”

  Abbey looked over to Mandy then back to Hunt. “How do you know that?”

  Hunt sat and dropped his elbows to the table then rested his head in his palms. Still looking down, he said, “Care to tell him, babe?”

  She regarded Abbey again. “Hunt and I have a lot of catching up to do. I’ve been filling him in on…well…me. It wasn’t top secret stuff. He could have read any of it in the reports. I did fill him in on a few of my clashes with Dan during the case. Don’t bust my balls over it. It never occurred to me it was off limits. You know me better than that.”

  “I don’t care what you’re telling him. What bothers me is that he has already pieced it together. How could it have slipped me in all this time?”

  “’Cause you’re not in love with her,” Hunt said, looking back up. He stood and turned to Mandy. “We’re not staying here. I think your instincts were right the other night. It could have been him. Go pack a bag.”