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

by Susan Page Davis

  “Yeah. I did my time.”

  “Why did you go to work for Hawkins? You could have made a fresh start. Now you’re going back in the slammer.”

  Leare bit his lip and made faces, and then he said, “I need a lawyer, and I can’t pay for one.”

  Eddie didn’t like it, but he had to stop questioning him.

  When he and Jimmy got up to the office, Harvey was sitting at his desk and Nate ambled over.

  “Did Melanie spill, or did you get tired of flirting with her?” Eddie asked.

  “She’s about as cooperative as a rock,” Harvey said. “I sent her back downstairs. How did you make out?”

  “I’d say I got about as much information from him as you did from Mel.”

  “What, you couldn’t read his mind?”

  Eddie folded his hands and gave him the Altar Boy persona. “I don’t even pretend to know what guys like that are thinking, Captain.”

  Nate grinned at him. “Sure you do, sweet stuff.”

  Eddie frowned. “Watch it.”

  “I think it’s ‘hot stuff,’ Nate,” Jimmy said.

  Nate laughed. “Oh, yeah, that’s it.”

  “Gentlemen,” Harvey said, “let’s get back to work, shall we?”

  Chapter 18

  Tuesday, January 4

  The two prisoners were arraigned Tuesday morning. Melanie made bail. At least they knew where to find her. At any rate, she promised not to elude them if they went looking for her again. Leare was held over.

  They worked all morning on what they knew about Hawkins, but at lunchtime they were no closer to finding him.

  Around two, Eddie took a call from the sergeant on the main desk.

  “Bruce Leare wants to talk to you.”

  “Is he still here? I thought he went to the county jail.”

  “He did. You’ll have to go over there.”

  Eddie told Harvey about the call.

  “Let’s pray before you go,” Harvey said. “Mike is really chafing about this. We need something solid, and soon.”

  They went into the breakroom and shut the door. They didn’t usually take time out for prayer during work, but this case was different. The fact that an armed killer had planned to go into Mike’s house festered. The chief was doing his job on the fourth floor, as usual, but he wanted results. Eddie couldn’t blame him. They prayed briefly but sincerely.

  “Get going,” Harvey said when they’d finished. “Don’t promise Leare anything, but try to find out if he has a vulnerable spot.”

  Eddie drove over to the jail, passing by the exact spot on Congress Street where the accident had occurred Friday night. Traffic moved along smoothly today.

  An officer brought Leare into the visitors’ room. It was outside regular visiting hours, so no one else was in there. Leare shuffled to his spot and sat down across from Eddie.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “You asked for me?”

  “Yeah. I can’t stay in here, man.”

  “That’s not up to me,” Eddie said.

  “You can help me.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  He sat there for a long time, fidgeting.

  “Let’s not waste time, Bruce,” Eddie said.

  “Okay. What do you want to know?”

  “Everything about Al Hawkins.”

  Leare huffed out a breath. “He said if I didn’t do what he wanted, he’d have me snuffed, like he had Kyle.”

  “Hawkins told you he killed Kyle Quinlan?”

  “Yeah.”

  Eddie wondered what Hawkins’s game was, claiming a murder that he’d had no part in. Probably he was using Kyle’s death to scare Leare, and it was working.

  “So, tell me about the operation.”

  Leare told him where and when he handed money off to Hawkins and who came to get the product at the house where they’d arrested him. He named four runners Hawkins used to distribute for him, and then he looked at Eddie.

  “Is Rog going to die?” Rog, Eddie took it, was Roger Tasker, the man Tony had shot.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Good.” Leare squinted at him. “But the kid died.”

  “What kid?”

  “Kyle. He was one of Al’s dealers. I heard that he told Kyle if he didn’t take out the cop that nailed him, he’d kill him. And now Kyle’s dead.”

  “Oh, that kid,” Eddie said.

  “It wasn’t you he was after, was it?” Leare asked.

  “No, not me.”

  “So who killed him? I know Al wouldn’t do it himself.”

  Eddie wasn’t about to tell him, so he said, “Odd things happen when you mix it up with guys like Hawkins.”

  “Yeah.” Leare frowned. “If he was out to get you, I was going to tell you who Al tapped to do the hit when Kyle messed up.”

  “Oh yeah? I’d be interested in that.”

  “You know who they’re gunning for?”

  “I find it hard to believe you don’t.”

  Leare sat there for a few seconds with a calculating look. “I heard it was a big-time cop.”

  “Then you know it wasn’t me. Tell me who the new triggerman is.”

  “You gotta get me a deal.”

  Eddie wasn’t really allowed to deal, but he thought that for this information, Mike might be able to pull some strings. Once they knew who now held the contract, they could protect Mike from him.

  “Who’s your lawyer?”

  He told Eddie the attorney’s name.

  “Did he talk to the D.A.?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I probably can’t do anything for you, but I’ll give it my best shot. Now, who’s Al’s new shooter?”

  “Skinny guy they call Rooster. Real name’s Bentley. Is he really after the chief of police?”

  So he did know. Eddie eyed him keenly. “That’s the scuttlebutt.”

  Leare grinned. “I knew it!”

  Eddie left and went back to the office.

  “Well?” Harvey asked.

  Eddie smiled and handed him the tape from the interview. “He was ready to talk. Listen and rejoice, my friend.”

  Harvey put on his headset and listened. Eddie went to his desk to start looking for intel on Rooster Bentley. Three more messages had appeared like magic. The top one read, “Let’s reconnect. Dani,” and a phone number. He swiveled and looked across the room at Paula. She smiled and waved.

  Harvey came over frowning. Eddie said, “What?”

  “Leare was awfully eager to dump on Hawkins when he talked to you.”

  “Yeah. But remember, he just got out of jail in New Hampshire. I think he’s scared to do another stint, and I know he’s afraid of Hawkins.”

  “How long was he in jail?”

  “Nine months,” Eddie said.

  “Hmm. When did he land back in Maine? Because his rap sheet says he’s a native.”

  “About three weeks ago.”

  Harvey’s forehead wrinkled. “Maybe he wants to see Hawkins put away for a long time and figures he can take over part of his turf while he’s in prison.”

  “Maybe, but I think he’s just plain scared.”

  Now that they had some good information on Hawkins’s drug operation, they had a strong possibility of finding him. Nobody wanted to wait, but they had to do some work first.

  Harvey, Nate, and Jimmy started in on the new data on Hawkins and his runners. Eddie focused on locating Rooster Bentley. By quitting time, he had some leads he hoped would pan out.

  It was Lamaze night, and they all knocked off at five o’clock.

  “I think we’re going to tour the delivery suite and the neonatal nursery tonight,” Harvey told Eddie.

  “Maybe you’ll see Abby.”

  “Yeah. I’m hoping that if I see the delivery room ahead of time, I’ll stay conscious when we go there for business.”

  He reminded Eddie to come in early on Wednesday and be ready to work with the TV crew. They seemed to have managed to keep the TV ta
ping a secret, but Paula had continued to deliver phone messages, which got more provocative as the day went on. Eddie ignored them.

  He went home and called Leeanne. She sounded glad to hear from him.

  “My folks saw you on the news with Mason,” she said.

  “Really? Way up there?” Eddie tried to make it sound insignificant.

  “Yeah. And I showed the YouTube thing to Travis and Randy. They think it’s cool.”

  “Well, uh, I might get to see Mason again tomorrow.”

  “For real? That’s exciting.”

  “Yeah, I, uh ... I’m doing a news interview about it. They’re doing this reunion thing.”

  “Wow, I am so impressed. Will it be on the Portland station?”

  “Uh. . .”

  “Eddie?” she said.

  “Yeah, I’m here. I think it’s going to run in the morning.”

  “Morning news?”

  “Do you, uh, know what Morning Nation is?”

  “Holy smoke! Oops, is that a bad word?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Leeanne laughed. “You’re not kidding, are you?”

  “I wish I was.”

  “Why? This is awesome.”

  Eddie sighed. “I’m afraid they’ll ask me about the other thing.”

  “What other thing? Oh, you mean the Sobbin’ Women, as Abby calls them?”

  “Yeah. You’re not mad about that, are you?”

  “No. I’ve been getting some reflected notoriety because of it. I told one of my friends that I was with you New Year’s Eve when you rescued Mason, and she’s been telling everyone she knows and asking me if I’ve cried over you yet.”

  “Have you?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t tell her.”

  Eddie wasn’t sure what to say. Somehow, Leeanne sounded more confident now, and less fragile where their relationship was concerned.

  “Leeanne, if they make me look like a heel—”

  “It’s okay, Eddie. I know you, and television is television. I won’t buy into anything they say to make you look bad.”

  “Promise?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Thanks.” He wished he totally believed that.

  “You saved two lives. Why would they want to smear you?”

  “For ratings.”

  “Maybe they don’t know about the crying poll.”

  “Maybe.” But he knew they did.

  *****

  Eddie got to the station at seven-thirty on Wednesday morning with a churning stomach. He and Harvey had agreed to skip the run that day, but they prayed in the garage before they went in. Paula had been warned and also arrived early. The television reporter, Mia Hennessey, and her makeup artist and cameraman were waiting. Paula introduced them to Eddie.

  “You’re the hero?” Mia said.

  He gulped, and Harvey said, “He’s your man.”

  “My, you’re beautiful.” She looked Eddie up and down.

  “Harvey,” Eddie said, eyeing him without hope.

  “Relax. You can do this.”

  “Let’s sit you down and get you made up for the show,” Mia said.

  “Do I have to wear makeup?” Eddie asked.

  “Trust me, you want to look good. Not that you don’t, but Leeza can play up those Gallic eyes and the planes of your cheekbones. There won’t be a woman in America who isn’t in love with you after our show airs.”

  Eddie looked desperately toward Harvey, but he’d gone to his desk and was opening his briefcase.

  “We’re going to the hospital, right?” Eddie asked.

  “Yes, after we do some shots here,” Mia replied.

  “Oh, man. People will see me wearing makeup.”

  “It will make you look better,” Leeza said. “Where can I set up? Is that your desk?” She pointed.

  “Not out here!” Jimmy came in from the stairway. “Can’t we go someplace else?” Eddie pleaded.

  Harvey came over, smiling a little. “Why don’t you take Leeza to the interview room?”

  “So the other guys can watch?”

  “All right, the breakroom.”

  “Okay.” To Leeza, Eddie said, “It’s small, but it’s more private.”

  “Lead the way.”

  The next hour was sheer torture. First the makeup, and Leeza trimmed the back of his hair a little. Even though he insisted she take it easy on the makeup, that took at least twenty minutes. Then the cameraman taped him working at his desk, handing Harvey a report, and taking his Kevlar vest out of his locker. Mia had him take off his sport jacket so his shoulder holster showed.

  She did a little introduction to the interview standing in front of the door that said Priority Unit.

  Finally, they settled down for some questions, with Rudy, the cameraman, in Eddie’s face. Mia prompted him to tell about the accident. Eddie didn’t tell her Leeanne’s name, but that he had a friend with him that night. He told her about the crash, Mason and his mom, the fire, getting the extinguisher, spraying the engine, and going back for Mason.

  “That’s great,” Mia said. “We’ll use the video clip that’s been posted to YouTube, and we located another person who caught the fire on her phone.”

  “You have footage of the fire?”

  “Yes. So, how did it feel when you pulled Mason out of that burning van?”

  Eddie glanced at Rudy. The red Record light still glowed. “Well, I was glad, but I wished I could have helped his mother, too. She was hurt pretty bad. But before she passed out, she told me to get Mason out, and I did.”

  “Did you try to get Mrs. McInnes out, too?”

  “By the time I got Mason free, we could see flames under the hood, so I ran for my fire extinguisher.”

  “Do you always carry a fire extinguisher?” Mia asked.

  “It’s part of my emergency gear.”

  Mia grinned. “Detective Thibodeau, is rescuing people your superpower?”

  Eddie eyed her warily. “Not really. I don’t get to do it very often.”

  “Oh, so what is your superpower?” She didn’t bat her eyelashes, but Eddie recognized the flirty tone in her voice.

  Our Father, which art in heaven, help me not to make a fool of myself.

  “I don’t think I have one, but I have a supernatural person helping me.”

  Her eyes widened, and before she could stop him, he said, “I’m pretty sure God helped me and the EMTs that night.”

  She barely skipped a beat, but her smile tightened. “Have you seen Mason since the accident?”

  “No, I haven’t. I checked on his mom once at the hospital.”

  “Would you like to go with us over to the hospital now? I’m told he’s there, visiting his mother, whom you also helped save when you put out that terrifying fire.”

  “I would like to do that, yes.”

  She smiled at the camera. “Let’s go.”

  On the way out of the building, she had Rudy take some shots of the front of the police station. Eddie took his truck and followed Mia and her crew to Mercy. As they walked into the lobby, people stared at them. Eddie kept walking, hoping no women out of his past would pop out at him. They took the elevator to what they called a med-surg floor.

  Mason’s mother looked terrible. She had purple bruising all over one side of her face, and she was strapped up in bed and had a cast on her left leg, up to her waist. A machine had wires going to her to take her pulse and monitor her breathing, and an IV pole stood near the head of the bed.

  Even with all that, she smiled at Eddie and said, “I remember you. Thanks for all you did.”

  “Hey, it was nothing. I’m just glad you’re going to be okay.” Eddie tried to forget about the camera and talk to her like he normally would have.

  Her husband was holding Mason.

  “I’m Bill McInnes. Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome. I really didn’t do that much.”

  “Oh, we’ve thanked the EMTs, too, but if you hadn’t been on the spot and
put that fire out...” Bill shook his head. “We’re all grateful. Right, Mason?” He looked at the little boy, who eyed Eddie soberly with big, blue eyes.

  Eddie stepped toward them. “Hi, Mason. I’m Eddie. Do you remember me?”

  Mason cringed against his father for just a second, then reached toward Eddie and leaned out away from his dad. Eddie caught him in his arms.

  “Hey, buddy.” He chuckled as Mason almost choked him with his hug.

  “Eddie.” Mason burrowed his face into Eddie’s shirt.

  His parents laughed, and Eddie thought they were a little relieved. If Mason had screamed, that would have ruined their moment.

  Mia stepped up with her microphone. “Mason, do you remember when Eddie took you to the ambulance?”

  He wouldn’t look at her, but he nodded up and down vigorously against Eddie’s shirt.

  “Did you know Eddie was a policeman?”

  “P’wiceman.”

  Eddie reached into his jacket pocket. He’d popped into the mall the night before for a keepsake. “I brought you something, Mason. If your daddy doesn’t mind.”

  Bill McInnes looked at the plastic ambulance in his hand and nodded.

  “Here you go,” Eddie said. “You got to ride in one of these with your mom.”

  Mason clutched the toy and dug in again on his chest. Eddie hugged him and patted his back. “You feeling okay now?”

  Mason nodded. Rudy weaved a little, looking for the best shot of Mason’s face.

  Mia said, “What a great moment for our hero and little Mason McInnes. Now, Detective Thibodeau, may I show you something else?”

  “I guess.” Reluctantly, Eddie handed Mason off to his dad. What was she pulling now?

  Leeza handed Mia an iPad. She lowered her voice and stage-whispered to Eddie, “We’ll show this full screen when the segment airs.”

  Oh, great. He didn’t get a chance to preview it. She turned the iPad toward him and hit a button. A video started.

  Eddie’s mouth went dry.

  Sarah!

  Chapter 19

  Eddie’s jaw just about hit the floor. Sarah looked great. He supposed they did makeup on her, too, but she looked absolutely terrific. She wasn’t wearing her uniform, but a very girlie-looking pink blouse and matching lipstick. He was suddenly very conscious of Rudy taping his reaction.