Heartbreaker Hero: Eddie's Story (Maine Justice Book 4)

by Susan Page Davis

  Mike smiled. “You know, they’ve driven me crazy all weekend. This morning I was a little grouchy. I said to Sharon, ‘Can’t I even go to church without my shadows?’ But then Allison asked if we’d mind if she sat in. She said she normally goes to her own church when she’s not on duty, and she would love to be able to worship while she was guarding me. How could I be upset after that?”

  “That’s great, as long as she keeps her eyes open during prayer,” Harvey said.

  Mike chuckled. “Good one. Was Needham outside when you came in?”

  “Yes, he was. I’d say you’re well protected for the next hour.”

  Beth came from the girls’ class she taught, and Abby and Leeanne returned from the singles’ lesson with a total of three young men escorting them. Charlie Emery and Josh Wright were standard in Abby’s retinue, but the third guy surprised Eddie. He didn’t recognize Mr. Tall, Dark and Semi-Handsome, and he was chatting up Leeanne like crazy.

  Eddie stood up by the end of the pew and smiled at Leeanne. She came right to him, like a paper clip to a magnet, and Mr. New Guy got the message and faded away. Abby disengaged from Charlie and Josh and squeezed into the row, too, but Peter Hobart came at the last second and said something to her, and she got up and went with him. Everybody shuffled a little, and the service began.

  The pastor was up to his usual form, and Eddie knew he needed to pay attention and learn, but with Leeanne’s shoulder touching his, it was hard to concentrate. The minutes ticked away. He wanted to hold her hand, but she had her notebook out, so Eddie pulled his out, too. At least if he took a few notes, he could look at it later and not totally lose the point.

  After the service, he and Harvey met Mrs. Stewart and welcomed her and the deputy chief. Mike had a few words with Harvey, and he and Sharon headed out with the Stewarts and the security detail.

  When Allison Crocker passed Eddie, she smiled. “I didn’t realize this was your church, Eddie.”

  “Yeah. Mine and Harvey’s. And the chief’s.”

  “Nice. I enjoyed it. Oh, and I saw you on YouTube.” She hurried off after the Brownings.

  Lunch at Harvey’s went too fast. Before Eddie knew it, Leeanne was upstairs changing her clothes, and Jeff was loading her big suitcase into Beth’s car.

  “Mike says he wants to arrange more first aid training for us,” Harvey said.

  Eddie shrugged. “We had it at the Academy, but I guess a refresher wouldn’t hurt.”

  “Well, one of the patrolmen was stabbed last night. His partner controlled the bleeding. Seems like we have more and more injuries on the job. Mike wants us all to have advanced training, maybe even the EMT course.”

  “Guess it might be good. Who got hurt?”

  “McFarland. You know him?”

  Eddie shook his head. “Not really. I know who he is. Do we get paid for the training?”

  “I’m not sure yet. But Mike’s also thinking about a body armor rule.”

  “What, make us wear our vests all the time?”

  “Well, the patrol officers, anyway.”

  “Man, what a pain. Remember last summer, how hot it was?” Eddie asked.

  “Do I ever.”

  “Where’s all this coming from?”

  Harvey shrugged. “Stewart, maybe.”

  Ah. The new deputy chief was trying to make his mark.

  Leeanne came downstairs in jeans and a plum-colored blouse, carrying a small duffel bag and her purse.

  “Let me get those,” Harvey said. He took the bags from her and went out.

  Eddie stood looking at Leeanne. Her hair fell softly on her shoulders. She walked toward him, smiling ruefully.

  “Guess this is it until Saturday.”

  He held out his arms, and she walked into them. He held her very gently.

  “Do you think in English?” she asked.

  “Yes. I’m as American as you.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s just that my professor said that’s how you know you’re proficient in a language, if you start thinking in it. I don’t believe I could ever think in French.”

  “Maybe when I was little,” Eddie said. “It was kind of a mix, I guess. We always talked English at home, except to my grandparents. Well, not always…hey, do we have to talk about this now?”

  “No.”

  He kissed her and tightened his hold on her. She nestled her head in against his chest. Eddie let his cheek rest on top of her head.

  “Guess I’ve got to leave.” She touched the leather strap on his shoulder and followed it down to his holster. “You take care.”

  “I will.” He could tell she was thinking about the hazards of his job. Maybe Harvey had said something about the body armor. He said, “We don’t get shot at much.”

  “How often?”

  Eddie shrugged.

  “Once a month?” she asked.

  “Less.” He tipped her head up and looked into her eyes. “I’ll miss you.”

  She let him kiss her again, and he took his time, but when he was done she pushed away, smoothing her hair, her cheeks flushed. He took her hand and walked out into the kitchen with her. Everybody was standing around talking, waiting for them. Leeanne blushed more when they looked at her.

  “Come back when you can,” Harvey said to her.

  “I’d like to.”

  Jennifer and Abby hugged her, and she got her coat and walked toward the door with Jeff and Beth. Five thousand things rushed into Eddie’s mind, things he should have said. He walked outside. It was warm, and everything was dripping. She waved before she got in the car. Harvey came and stood beside him. The car disappeared at the corner of the street.

  “She’ll be back,” Harvey said.

  “I’m going up Saturday, if I don’t have to chase pushers.”

  They went inside, and Harvey went to his computer. Eddie leaned in the study doorway, waiting for him to finish.

  When he sat back, Eddie said, “You want to work?”

  “No. Well, yes, but I’m not going to. Mike says I’ve got to learn to let it go when I’m off duty, and Jennifer feels that way, too.”

  “I guess I should go see my folks.” Father Claude’s visit still churned in the back of Eddie’s mind. “What would you say to a mother who sics a priest on you?”

  Harvey thought for a minute. “I guess I’d say, ‘I love you Mom. Thanks for caring about me.’”

  “Thanks. I needed you to say that. It wasn’t at all what I was thinking of saying.”

  “Be grateful for your mother, Eddie.”

  He nodded. Harvey had lost both his parents when he was eighteen. Where would Eddie have been for the last ten years, if not for Pop and Maman?

  He drove over to his neighborhood feeling a little nostalgic and, thanks to Harvey, thankful. He parked at the curb because Pop was blowing the driveway. He shut the machine off when Eddie walked over.

  “Hey, Pop.”

  “Oh, so finally we get a visit. Where you been all week?”

  “Working.”

  “Hmm.” He turned the engine on again.

  Eddie yelled, “Why don’t you let me finish this after I say hello to Maman?”

  “Yeah, I just might.”

  “Good,” Eddie said. “Leave it right here. I’ll come finish it.”

  He shut it off. “You can’t go to confession to make your mother happy?”

  Eddie raised a hand, remembering why he’d made himself scarce the last few months, but his father had turned away, toward the garage.

  Eddie walked to the side door and went into the kitchen. His mother was loading the dishwasher.

  “Sacré bleu, it’s my only son.”

  Eddie laughed. “Hello, Maman.” He kissed her cheek.

  “Oh, sweet boy.” She stepped back abruptly and scowled at him. “What do you mean, being sassy to the priest?”

  Eddie pulled in a deep breath. “I wasn’t trying to be rude to him.”

  “Don’t lie to me, Edouard Jean!”

  “C’e
st vrai.” But she wasn’t buying it.

  “And what in heaven’s name is this vulgar thing online about all these women whose hearts you’ve broken?”

  “Uh...” He didn’t have a good answer for that one.

  “Lisa showed me,” she said. “A hundred and thirty-seven women are saying you made them cry. What’s that all about?”

  Eddie had deliberately avoided checking the numbers. He should have known other people would. He spread his hands, trying to find words.

  “But the video of you toting the little boy is sweet.” Maman grabbed him and kissed him on the cheek. “That’s my son, the good one. The one saving little children, not the one making women cry.”

  “Okay. I’m going to go out and finish the driveway for Pop.”

  “Why didn’t you come an hour ago, before he started?”

  Eddie almost swore, but then he remembered Harvey’s advice. It came from his boss, but he thought God was responsible for the reminder. He pointed a finger at his mother.

  “I love you, Maman. Thank you for caring about me.”

  Her face softened.

  He went out and spent the next half hour blowing snow and shoveling the walks. Pop was nowhere in sight.

  Chapter 16

  Sunday, January 1

  Eddie almost didn’t go back to church that night, but he knew that came from laziness, fatigue, and loneliness. He made himself get ready and go.

  Officers Emily Rood and Aaron O’Heir were standing near the church steps.

  “Don’t tell me,” Eddie said. “The chief’s here.”

  “Yep,” Emily said. “He told us we didn’t need to go in, since Captain Larson and Deputy Chief Stewart are here, and now you.”

  “Well, if you want to hear a good sermon, or if you just want to swap off and get warm, this is the place.”

  “Thanks, Eddie,” Emily said.

  He went inside. Abby was at work, but Harvey and Jennifer were already there. Eddie dropped onto the pew beside Harvey.

  “How are your folks?” Harvey asked.

  “Same as usual. I cleared some snow for Pop, but it’s so warm out now, it probably would have melted anyway. And I took your advice with my mother.”

  Jeff and Beth came in after a record trip to Skowhegan and back. Beth assured him Leeanne was safely home.

  After the service, Jennifer talked to Jeff about her parents. He and Beth had stayed only an hour at their house, but they had messages from Mrs. Wainthrop, and late Christmas gifts for the Larsons.

  Rachel Trueworthy walked past in the aisle, and Eddie said, “Hi.”

  She looked at him in surprise. “Didn’t think you were speaking to me.”

  “No, I—”

  “It’s okay, Eddie.” She walked away. She was a nice girl, and Eddie did like her, but when he thought about Leeanne, he knew his feelings for Rachel were in a totally different category. He hoped she wasn’t Weepy Woman Number 138.

  “It’s raining,” Jennifer said when they went out to the parking lot.

  Eddie didn’t like that. A thaw in January was not necessarily a good thing in Maine. In some ways, it was better if it stayed cold until it was done being cold.

  *****

  The temperature dropped again in the night, and when Eddie went outside on Monday morning, the driveway was slippery with frozen rain. He had to scrape the ice off the windshield before he could go anywhere. Power lines and tree branches glittered like Christmas garlands as the first rays of dawn hit them.

  It was too dangerous to run outside, where everything was coated with ice. He drove to the campus in a glistening, eerie landscape where trucks crept along, spewing sand and salt on the slick pavement. Tree limbs were bowed down. Some had cracked under the weight of the ice. Harvey was already inside the track house.

  “So, today we try to run down Melanie Tucker?” Eddie asked while taking off his jacket.

  “Her and Al Hawkins,” Harvey said.

  If they could find either one of them that day, Eddie would be happy.

  They did their three miles, and Eddie’s thoughts drifted off to Skowhegan while he ran. He wondered if Leeanne was awake yet, and if she was looking online at far distant colleges. Probably she was out in the barn, feeding her goats. Her dad would be glad she was back, so he didn’t have to do it.

  At the station, the dispatcher called in reserve officers to help with all the collisions. Power lines started snapping, and some companies put the word out for their employees to stay home. The rural areas were hit hardest, with trees going down on the wires. To the north of the city, thousands were without power.

  Nate couldn’t get to work because a tree had fallen across his road. Harvey told him to take his time and come in when he could. The rest of them set to work on Melanie Tucker’s possible location. Harvey didn’t want anyone to go out looking for her until the temps climbed above freezing again. The roads were slicker than a greased eel.

  A half hour into the shift, Paula came to Eddie’s desk with a handful of phone message sheets.

  “What’s this?” he asked.

  “You had a few calls. I didn’t put them through—thought you’d want to screen them first.”

  He looked at the first one. It had a phone number and “Celeste” on it. He frowned, not recognizing the name. The other five were similar, but with different women’s names and numbers. Eddie looked over at Paula.

  “Do any of these have to do with the case we’re working on?”

  “No, those are ones where the caller said it was personal.” Paula gave him a sweet smile.

  Eddie threw them in his trashcan.

  He made a few calls to confidential informants and people he knew who lived in bad neighborhoods. Between him and Harvey, they knew just about every felon in the city, but most of them didn’t want to talk about Al Hawkins, and they all claimed they’d never heard of Melanie Tucker.

  Harvey was glued to his desk, too. They both put everything they had into finding the man who wanted to kill Mike. Harvey did a lot of scowling and staring at his screen. Eddie knew what that meant. He would go over and over the information he had until either something jumped out at him or he went berserk.

  About nine o’clock, he closed a phone call, got up, and walked over to Eddie’s desk.

  “Mike wants us both upstairs.”

  Eddie tried to read his face. “New case?”

  “I don’t know yet. He just told me to make sure I brought you.”

  Eddie didn’t like the sound of that. “I hope nothing happened at his house last night.”

  “I think we’d have heard.”

  They took the stairs. Mike’s secretary, Judith, eyed them solemnly when Harvey opened the security door. She was sixtyish and gray-haired, Mike’s legacy from the former chief.

  “Good morning, Captain. Detective.” She buzzed Mike on the phone. “Captain Larson and his gendarme are here.”

  Eddie was startled. Had Judith actually made a joke? He’d never seen her smile, and she was always polite and professional. He couldn’t believe it.

  Harvey looked amused, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Go right in, gentlemen.” Judith turned to her computer and ignored them, typing rapidly.

  Jack Stewart was in Mike’s office with him.

  “Hope you fellows don’t mind if Jack sits in,” Mike said.

  “Not at all.” Harvey nodded to Jack and took a seat, leaving the most comfortable chair for Eddie. That was just Harvey.

  “Good,” Mike said. “I’ve discussed this new matter with him.”

  “A new case?” Harvey asked.

  “More like a new opportunity. At least, that’s what Jack’s trying to tell me. Coffee?”

  The bosses were both drinking coffee, and Harvey said, “Sure.”

  “I’ll get it.” Eddie jumped up and went over to the table where Mike had his coffee setup. He had a new coffeemaker. Maybe a Christmas gift? It was one of those ones where you made the individual cup. Eddie did
n’t want to interrupt them, so he picked a container marked Original Medium Roast for Harvey, because it sounded impossible to hate, and decided to try one called Mocha Fudge himself.

  “This involves an interview for one of your detectives,” Mike said to Harvey.

  “About the Quinlan case?”

  “No, something else. Jack thinks it would be good P.R. for the department. It would mean half a day off his regular routine—paid, of course—for Eddie.”

  Eddie was just about to carry Harvey’s Original Medium Roast to him, and he almost dropped the mug. He got a grip on it and stared at the chief. Mike was watching him.

  “Me?” he said.

  “Yeah, you, Eddie.”

  “I don’t know if I can spare him right now,” Harvey said. “We’re really pushing on the Quinlan case, Mike. None of us wants to do a P.R. stunt while your life is in danger.”

  Mike made a face. “Well, nothing’s happened since Kyle Quinlan died. I’m thinking we got all wound up over nothing.”

  “No, it’s not nothing,” Harvey said. “The guy who made the deal with Kyle still wants you dead.”

  Jack Stewart cleared his throat. “They wouldn’t send the camera crew until Wednesday.”

  “Camera crew?” Eddie asked.

  Mike grinned. “Yeah. Whether I survive this thing or not, Morning Nation wants to interview you. They’re going to show the clip of you that’s apparently taken the cyber world by storm, and—”

  “Hold it,” Harvey said. “This is about that kid he pulled out of the wreck Friday night?”

  “Yeah. I never go to YouTube, but apparently at least a million other people do.”

  “A million?” Harvey swiveled around and gaped at Eddie.

  “And that doesn’t even count the two hundred women whose hearts you’ve broken,” Mike said, with a nod of respect—or fake respect—Eddie’s way.

  Eddie managed to put the coffee mug in Harvey’s hands. He completely forgot about the Mocha Fudge and staggered to his chair. He knew about YouTube, but he’d never seen Morning Nation. He had a vague impression it was a morning news show, but it was always on when he was at work. He looked over at Harvey, who calmly sipped the coffee.