#7-9--The O’Connells

by Lorhainne Eckhart

  It took him a second to realize what Harold was doing. “You’d better tell me, considering you making threats like this could have them setting a target on you. Tibo has Judge Root’s back. Your job could suddenly disappear. I can’t believe you did that.”

  “Are you saying you wouldn’t have done the same thing?” Harold said, and for a second, Marcus could breathe a little easier.

  “If I didn’t have this Eva thing hanging over my head right now, yeah, I would be doing the same or worse. So what did he say?”

  Harold was a solid man, shorter than Marcus, but there was something about him. He could lead where Marcus couldn’t. “He didn’t like me pointing out that we’d take it to the Feds and start our own investigation. I couldn’t believe it when he asked what we wanted. I think Eileen was ready to put his head on a spike, so to speak, because she’s the one who said the judge had better reverse every one of his decisions. Having kids locked up was never the deal. Every one of them is to have probation and community service. But this was a felony, and as far as Rita Mae and Hunter, they’re to get time. They aren’t walking.”

  This was the kind of agreement that was supposed to happen, Marcus thought. “And…?” He took in a maroon Escalade coming closer, not a vehicle he recognized, but he saw it slowing down.

  “He’s going to get back to you after he talks with the judge.”

  The Escalade pulled in front of his house behind Karen’s BMW, and Harold too turned to take in the driver behind the wheel. A man, older, of medium build but tall, stepped out and started walking around the front. He wore blue jeans, and his gray hair was neatly trimmed.

  “Hello, I’m looking for the O’Connells,” he said. This had to be Duncan, Reine’s father. He wondered if there was a resemblance there. In the face, maybe.

  “I’m Marcus O’Connell,” he replied. “You must be Duncan MacDonald, Reine’s father.” He walked over to the man, and Harold stayed right where he was. Marcus held out his hand, and Duncan seemed to hesitate just a second before shaking it.

  “Thanks for agreeing to this,” Duncan said.

  Marcus was about to remind the man that he’d had his back to the wall, but he didn’t. He gestured to Harold. “This is Harold Waters, one of my deputies and my sister’s partner.”

  The man shook Harold’s hand, too, and then looked up at the house. Something about this moment felt like D-Day. “So you’re a sheriff, I understand—the one who arrested my daughter.”

  He could feel the judgement, but that wasn’t what had happened. “No,” he said. “If I’d had my way, Reine wouldn’t have been locked up. She was in a bad situation, but I think you know that already. Come on in. You can meet Eva and Charlotte, my wife, and the rest of my family. But just to be clear, Duncan, we love that little girl in there. She’s part of our family.”

  The way the man looked at him, he didn’t have a clue what he was thinking. Marcus led him into the house, where he could see the ladies in the kitchen, laughing.

  “Hey, everyone,” he said. “This is Duncan MacDonald. Duncan, this is my mother, Iris, my sister Karen, my sister Suzanne, Jenny, who is my brother’s fiancée, and Alison, my niece.”

  He thought he heard more voices outside. Ryan was yet to arrive, and Luke, he knew, was still off somewhere, though he didn’t have a clue where. They were still missing Owen and Tessa, too.

  Duncan was shaking his mom’s hand, and he took in Charlotte, who was standing just off to the side, holding Eva in front of her.

  “Duncan, this is my wife, Charlotte, and Eva.”

  The man stepped over, taking in Charlotte. She had both her hands on Eva, who was standing so close to her. He could see how uneasy she was.

  “Eva, I’m your grandpa,” Duncan said. “I’ve come a ways to meet you.” He actually leaned down, but Eva only hung on to Charlotte, who didn’t appear to want to let her go, either. The man looked over to him. “Does she talk?”

  What kind of question was that?

  “Of course she does,” Iris said. “This is my granddaughter. She’s just scared, is all. She doesn’t know you, Duncan. Eva, come here.” Iris stepped over and ran her hand over Charlotte’s shoulder. He could see Eva was close to tears, and Duncan had done nothing to ease her fear.

  “Eva, it’s okay,” Marcus said, squatting down in front of her. “You don’t need to be scared. We talked about this.” He held out his hands, and she walked over to him.

  “But I don’t know him,” she said. “Is he going to take me away, Marcus? I don’t want to leave…”

  “Hey, hey, hey, he just wants to meet you,” Marcus said. “You’re not going anywhere. He’s your grandpa, and he wants to get to know you like we know you.”

  Eva looked up at Duncan and slipped her hand into Marcus’s. He wasn’t sure what to make of Duncan’s expression. He seemed almost human. That was the only thing he could think.

  His mom stepped in and said, “You know what, Eva? Let’s go hang out in the living room, you and me and your grandpa, and you can tell him all about school and your teacher and maybe show him your room, too…”

  Marcus didn’t know how his mom had done it, but Eva was holding her hand, and she somehow had Duncan walking with her into the living room. Whatever they were saying, he couldn’t make it out. Duncan glanced back to him once before turning the corner.

  He took in Charlotte, whose arms were wrapped across her chest. Suzanne, who had been leaning against Harold, strode up behind her and started massaging her shoulders, then kissed her cheek.

  “Well, so that’s Reine father,” Karen said. Marcus realized she was drinking a soda, not something she normally did.

  “Where’s Jack?” he asked.

  She just shrugged. “Oh, he got a call from this deputy who works for you, who told him that some kids were getting screwed over. Me and Jack have stayed as far away from this Jackson Moore thing as we can, but…”

  Marcus slid his gaze over to Harold, who only shrugged and said, “I may have forgotten to mention that I called Jack and filled him in.”

  Karen just shook her head as she rolled her eyes. “He’s stepping in to see that the kids who haven’t seen any fairness will get some.”

  Harold gave a subtle smile and shrugged, and Marcus realized his deputy really was going to take care of this situation.

  Charlotte stepped over, and his arm slid over her shoulder so she could settle against him as he listened to the back and forth and teasing between Harold, Karen, and Suzanne. Jenny, in the midst of them, had been rather quiet.

  “Marcus, Eva is terrified,” Charlotte said as she settled her hand over his chest.

  “We’re here to make sure she’s not. It’ll be fine.”

  Charlotte merely sighed. “You have no idea how I hate this feeling of helplessness. I mean, what if he decides we’re not good enough, that he’s going to take Eva from us?” Her voice was low, but he didn’t miss her angst.

  “Hey, let’s not jump to the worst-case scenario.”

  “Once he meets all of us, gets to know us, how could he not like us?” Suzanne cut in.

  “And don’t forget Mom in there, working him with Eva,” Karen added. “There’s no way he’s going to say she’s better off with him. I mean, what do we know about him other than the fact that he has no other kids? Isn’t he remarried or something? I’m sure that’s what Reine said.”

  Marcus realized Owen and Tessa had arrived and were in the living room, as well, talking with Eva and Duncan. Ryan was also now coming through the front door, and Jenny slipped off the stool as Alison made her way into the living room, as well. So much for a quiet introduction.

  He heard laughing, which was always a good sign, and then Karen gestured with her head to the living room and started walking, followed by Harold and Suzanne. That left him alone in the kitchen with Charlotte.

  “You know I’m still angry with you for going to see Reine without me yesterday,” she said.

  “I know, but I wasn’t sure I’
d get in. I’m glad I didn’t take you, because if you’d been there, I wouldn’t have gotten in. She still doesn’t want to see us.”

  Charlotte only nodded. “So how is she doing, really?” Of course, Charlotte knew the system and that it was only getting worse for Reine in there.

  “She’s fitting in a little too well, making the kinds of choices she needs to survive in there. She has a prison tattoo, and I don’t know what else. She’s in a gang, maybe. Who knows?”

  Charlotte didn’t say anything as she stepped out of his arms and stood in front of him. “So she’s basically coming out more broken than she went in.”

  He blew out a breath. “She’s angry and has every right to be. She got screwed. She’s lost her daughter. I just hope she understands we’re not the enemy here, and I hope her dad is going to do the right thing.”

  Charlotte slid her hand over his arm, letting it slide down and linking her fingers with his. “Well, let’s not stand here. It seems your family has invaded his visit and is going to force him to get to know them, so we may as well join them and let him see who we are.” She took a step, still holding his hand.

  “Fine, so you think jamming our family down his throat is a good idea?” he said as he started walking with her, hearing laughter and talking and teasing and Eva and Alison’s back and forth.

  “Well, you know what? It’s kind of what you all did with all of us, right? Harold, Jack, Tessa, Jenny… You O’Connells are a strange bunch, all about family, knowing each other’s secrets.”

  For a second, when she said that and looked at him, he thought she knew something. Then she stepped in closer and slid her hands over his chest so he could lean down and kiss her.

  “Don’t look so worried,” she said. “You think I don’t know you have secrets with your siblings? We all do, but I guess I figured if you wanted me to know, you’d tell me.” She pulled away and stepped back, then started into the living room, and all he could think was how much he loved this woman. There was no way in hell he was letting Duncan MacDonald take Eva from them.

  He considered the situation for a second before stepping into the living room, seeing his mother and Duncan off to the side. Whatever she was saying to him had him giving her all his attention, one on one. It took him only a second to realize that his mom was already working on him.

  Chapter Seven

  There was a tap on Marcus’s open office door, and he looked up to see Harold. He didn’t know what to make of the expression on his deputy’s face as he stepped into his office and closed the door.

  “Do I want to hear this?” he said.

  Harold took another second, seeming to consider his answer. Just the night before, he’d stood shoulder to shoulder with Owen, Ryan, Karen, and Suzanne beside him, letting them know he knew about the knife and what had happened. Marcus wasn’t sure Owen agreed with what he’d done, considering he’d yet to say anything to him.

  Harold pushed away from the door and started over to Marcus, who closed up another burglary file he had no leads on, this time for a bunch of missing scrap metal.

  “Was just at the courthouse and wanted to let you know that Tibo pulled me aside, said the judge had a change of heart and reversed the sentences for the kids. He threw the book at the ones he’d let walk before. They’re all back home now. He also agreed to recuse himself, but don’t get too excited, as it seems Judge Thompson will be stepping in now. Tibo made it clear that any trail I’m looking for, I won’t find it, and there’s nothing wrong with campaign donations from a corporation. It’s just because the judge didn’t want to be accused of impropriety that he’s agreeing to step down.”

  Marcus leaned back in his chair, which squeaked. “You mean it was that easy?”

  An odd smile touched Harold’s lips, and he shook his head as he stepped up to the desk and looked down at Marcus. “Oh, no, I’d say it’s more that whatever Jack said yesterday had the judge rethinking the wisdom of what he was doing. He’s cleaned up the trail so nothing can be linked to him. The judge is smart, and the DA… Well, Tibo—”

  “Tibo won’t derail the gravy train, because taking on a sitting judge, any judge, would be career suicide.”

  “Yeah, but don’t you think Tibo knew what the judge was doing?” Harold was a smart man, and Marcus knew he’d seen his share of things in the different states and cities he’d worked in.

  “Of course. Tibo isn’t a stupid man. Of course he knew, but it comes down to that age-old bullshit of looking the other way. So Judge Thompson, huh?” Marcus said. “And Eileen, is she still sidelined or are the original deals back on the table now for everyone involved?”

  “Probation for all the kids is what’s on the table,” Harold said, “but for Hunter and Rita Mae, it’s jail time Eileen’s aiming for. Whether she’ll get it, we’ll see. Tibo has taken a special interest and wants this shut down quickly. Apparently, he had a word with Rita Mae and her lawyer. Not sure what he said, but whatever it was, they’re no longer saying anything about you or Owen.”

  It took him another second to understand what Harold was saying. “So Tibo shut it down, as in, he’s going to think I owe him one?” Just saying it left him with a sick feeling in his stomach.

  Harold shook his head and glanced away before giving him everything. “Yeah, well, you’ll know when he comes calling.” He settled his hands on his waist, over his duty belt, and then added, “And PJ’s here, outside, waiting to talk to you.”

  Marcus was on his feet and started around the desk. “You couldn’t have started with that?” he said. He wasn’t sure if there was amusement in Harold’s expression as he pulled open the door, taking in PJ, bearded, in faded jeans and a worn T-shirt, talking with Charlotte. “PJ, come on in,” he called.

  Whatever Charlotte had been saying to him, PJ seemed rather calm. She reached over and touched his arm with such compassion. PJ started Marcus’s way, his heavy boots digging in with each step. He had lines etched around his eyes, and Marcus wondered how much sleep the man was getting. Charlotte reached out to him, her expression filled with sympathy, as PJ walked into his office, and he followed him and closed the door.

  “You know Harold, my deputy,” Marcus said, gesturing to Harold, who stood by the door. He wondered what PJ was after, what he needed or wanted other than getting justice for his son, who had been the victim in all this. “What brings you down here, PJ?”

  “Wanted to let you know that I heard what happened, with that judge stepping down.”

  “What he did wasn’t okay,” Marcus said. “But this isn’t done, PJ. A new judge is taking over. The kids are going to be held accountable. Everyone is.”

  PJ dragged his gaze over to Harold and then back to him. “And the pills? Told you I wasn’t going to let it go. I want to know whose they were. I have a right to know.”

  What the hell was he supposed to say? PJ didn’t have that right, yet he should.

  “The opiates were from a prescription given to Angela Rowse, Hunter’s mother,” Marcus said. “I’m not sure how this will help, knowing, but you’re right. You do have a right to know. We also think the judge was taking kickbacks from the private prisons for every kid he sent there. My deputy figured it out, talked with the DA. No one’s getting an unfair shake here, and no one’s walking scot free, not without a fight.” He wasn’t sure what to make of the way PJ was watching him.

  “This is about justice for Jackson,” he continued. “He’s going to get it; you have my word. At the same time, I need to know that you’re not going to try to get retribution from the Rowses. Hunter is going to be held accountable. It was a stupid thing those kids did. You know it, and I know it—but it’s not that different from when we went to school.”

  PJ understood what he was talking about, Marcus knew, considering the path they had both walked. “I’m not looking for trouble, Marcus, but I had a right to know everything. Just saying, as long as justice is served, then you have no quarrel with me.” Then he did something unexpected: He held ou
t his hand to him.

  Marcus hesitated for only a second before shaking it.

  “Thank you, Marcus, for keeping your word,” PJ said. Then he started past him to the door, but before he opened it, he glanced back. “And just so you know, since you did keep your word, you have my gratitude. Give my best to your family.”

  Then he was gone, and for a minute, all Marcus could do was stare at the open door. He turned to Harold and gestured with his thumb. “Did that just happen?”

  Harold shook his head. “Yeah, well, I’d take that as a win. I’d rather have PJ on our side than not…”

  He thought he heard Karen out in the office, saying something to PJ and Charlotte. He stepped out with Harold just as PJ left. Karen was in heels and a long skirt, her hair hanging loose and a big smile on her face.

  “Hey, just the person I wanted to see!” she said. “You and Charlotte. I’ve got good news, and I wanted to do this in person.” She set her bag on Charlotte’s desk and pulled out a piece of paper, then handed it to her.

  “What is that?” Marcus said. The tightness in his chest had returned.

  “It’s Reine’s signature on the adoption form,” Karen said. “Seems Duncan was so impressed with us and our family, and with how happy Eva is and how much we love her, that he spoke with Reine and told her to sign it.”

  Marcus was standing right beside Charlotte now, and he took in the paper for the adoption. For a second, he couldn’t speak, maybe from relief at the absence of the weight that had been on his shoulders for so long.

  “It’s real? This is real?” Charlotte said, then looked up at him, her eyes misty.

  “So real that it’s just a formality now,” Karen said. “We’ll go before the judge, and I’ll have a date set today. Then Eva will be Eva O’Connell, the newest member of our family. Oh, and, by the way, it seems Mom has invited Duncan for the celebration. She said something about how he was still in town, alone. His second marriage ended.”