by Judy Kentrus
“Let me get that.” They reached for the oval serving bowl at the same time, and their fingers collided. Neither moved or withdrew their touching hands. The heat between them was instantaneous. Linc lowered his eye to Jessie’s upturned face, and it felt like all the air had been sucked out of his lungs. The lip gloss brought out the healthy glow to her flushed cheeks and outlined the perfect shape of her kissable lips. The filmy material of the blouse enhanced the natural fullness of her breasts that were lightly brushing his chest. She smelled wonderful.
“I got it,” she barely managed beyond the breath-stealing tightness in her chest. She was melting from his nearness and thought tight cheeks, dimpled ass. Jess realized her hardened nipples were pressed against said solid chest. He was so gorgeous, and she was in so much trouble.
A flash of lightning followed by a rolling boom of thunder made them jerk apart. Linc acknowledged the embarrassing pinkness to her cheeks and reached for the bowl, just as Edith Amanda came rushing into the kitchen.
“Here’s the trophy I won two years ago in the fishing contest.” Edie frowned at her mother. “Why did you change your clothes? Where are your shoes? You have lipstick on. You are wearing the perfume that you put on for special occasions. How come you are wearing that top? You told Grandma you don’t like to wear it because people can see your girly points. Like now.”
Jess was at a loss for words and wanted to muzzle her blabbermouth daughter. She immediately crossed her arms over her breasts and bit her bottom lip, attempting to hide the lip gloss. Linc would realize she’d didn’t put on a “girly” face too often and had dressed up just to make herself a little more appealing to him. She hoped he didn’t recall the words she’d thrown at him in the cell block, ‘It will be a cold day in hell before I dress up for you.’ She just did.
Linc did the gentlemanly thing and stepped in front of Jessie. “I think your mom looks very pretty.” He quickly tossed in a needed distraction. “What did you catch?”
Edie’s eyes brightened as she held up a faux gold statue of a wide mouth bass. “He was fourteen inches. I beat out three boys!”
Jess immediately reached for the white-bibbed butcher’s apron hanging on the hook by the pantry door to cover the evidence of her arousal. What had gotten into her? Three days ago, she wanted to strangle him, and now all she could think about was drowning in his arms and sinking her teeth into his full bottom lip. She’d totally lost it! Women were definitely fickle.
A few minutes later, they sat at the table, acting as if nothing had happened, or almost happened, between them. Linc appreciated the bowls of savory beef goulash and home-made noodles that had been sprinkled with bread crumbs sautéed in butter. Dinner included brown sugar-glazed carrots and a basket of warm, cloverleaf shaped dinner rolls. “This looks delicious,” he commented, and reached for the platter of Spaetzle.
“Aren’t you going to say grace?” Edie had already folded her hands in her lap. “Mrs. B., my Sunday school teacher, said we shouldn’t forget to thank the Lord for our food.”
Feeling slightly uncomfortable, he glanced at Jessie, whose lips were tight from holding back a smile, and then at the nine year old. “Thank you for reminding me.”
When Edie uttered the words, God is Great, God is good, and we will thank him for our food… Linc recalled the prayer he’d learned at a very early age from his mother and father. He had two helpings of everything and noted there were still leftovers for Jessie’s lunch. He wiped his mouth with a white cloth napkin and took a sip of iced sweet tea. “That is one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten.”
“Thank you. My mother taught me how to make the noodles.”
“Speaking of the judge, I haven’t seen her since the day of the trial.” Linc made sure he kept the tone of his voice light.
“She’s handling some business for the town and then is going to visit her sister Donna and her husband Denny in Pittsburgh for a few days.”
“I wish I went to see Aunt Donna,” Edie pouted. “Then I wouldn’t have gotten in trouble today.”
“She’ll be coming for the annual book fair. You know how much she loves to read.” Jess raised a brow. “What trouble?”
Not wanting to face her mother, Edie concentrated on pushing a Spaetzle noodle around her almost empty plate. “You’ll probably get a call from my teacher. Everyday at lunch, two mean boys come to our table and tease Peter because he is smart and wears Harry Potter glasses. He’s shy and won’t speak up for himself. Today, they called him a googly freak and started tossing his lunch bag around. I told them to stop and called them bullies. They just laughed at me.” Edie lifted her head and glowered at her mother. “The lunch monitor came over and got Peter’s lunch and told them to return to their seats. I wanted to get back at them so I yelled, ‘bullies are sissies and wear pink underwear.’ Everyone started to laugh at them.”
Jessie raised her eyes to the ceiling. If her daughter was going to be a superhero, she’d be called the Protector of the Underdog. “That was very kind of you to defend your friend, but a person is a person, no matter what.”
“I know you told me if I can’t say something nice about a person, don’t say anything at all. But they hurt my best friend!” She slapped the fork handle in frustration, catapulting a noodle in Mr. Lincoln’s direction.
Linc’s quick hand shot out and caught the flying Spaetzle. He winked at her, understanding her dismay. “When I was a teenager, you’re Uncle Treig and I hated bullies too. We got hauled to the principal’s office for fighting, which was not the way to handle the situation. Your grandfather bailed us out a number of times. He tried to drill it into our heads that if our friends are looking for trouble, walk away. We went the other way, but not before we tried to make them understand bullies never win.”
“Bullying in the schools has increased and the Internet doesn’t help because kids spread vicious rumors and lies over the net,” Jessie added.
“Can’t we do something?” Edie asked her mother, almost pleadingly.
Jessie studied the wide mouth bass on the front of her daughter’s shirt as an idea formed in her head. “At the parents’ meeting for the fishing derby, we discussed a theme. How about, ‘Bullies Never Win. Walk Proud!’ You and your friends could get involved in the campaign. Ask Peter if he would like be a part of our newly formed kids committee?”
Edie’s eyes widened at her mother’s wonderful suggestion. “Mom, you are the bestest, smartest mother in the whole world! I’ll tell everyone tomorrow!”
The raging storm accompanied the rest of their meal. When the lights blinked out, Jessie pulled a slender flashlight out of her pants pocket. “Edie, stay still. Let me get the emergency lanterns going.”
“How can I help?”
Before Jessie could tell Linc what to do, the lights came back on. “It’s going to be one of those nights,” she sighed. “Edie, go upstairs, take a quick shower, and brush your teeth. Get the little flashlight from your night table and keep it in the bathroom with you. I’ll be up as soon as I put the food away.”
Linc stood up. “Let me do that.”
“Are you sure?”
He put his hands to Jess’s shoulders and turned her around. “Go. Take care of Edie. When you come down, maybe we can enjoy a cup of coffee before Noah knocks at the back door and asks if we want to hang out on his ark.”
“Thanks. Storage containers are in the cabinet above the stove,” she added, hurrying after her daughter.
Time alone would give Linc a chance to double check that all the windows were locked. He could have the house wired for full security just by making a phone call, and planned to suggest the installation of an alarm system to the judge.
“Edie, don’t flood the bathroom. There’s enough water outside.” Jessie hollered, lowering the room-darkening shades and removing the variety of stuffed critters from the bed. Edie loved sports and animals. The sage green walls complimented the pale yellow curtains and comforter decorated with cartoon-like monkeys, giraff
es, and zebras.
Her father had built a wall of shelves to display Edie’s books and sports memorabilia. A triangular New York Yankees banner, a souvenir from her Uncle Treig, occupied the space beside a vintage poster announcing a Billy Joel concert at Madison Square Garden. There wasn’t a doll in sight.
Edie came into the bedroom dressed in PJ’s decorated with comical penguins and hopped into bed. Jess picked up the book they’d been reading all week, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. “Keep your flashlight on the nightstand. Lisa Kay will come over and stay with you if I get called out because of the storm.”
“I know,” she replied in a singsong voice. Edith yawned and snuggled her head into the down-filled pillow. “I’m kind of tired tonight. I already said my prayers while I was brushing my teeth. Please sing my favorite song.”
Jessie smiled at her daughter, multi-tasking at nine years old. “Okay, if you’re sure.” She kissed Edie on the forehead and each soft cheek that smelled like wild strawberries. “Mommy loves you very much.” Jessie didn’t have the greatest voice in the world, but she’d been singing Sleepy Town Express to Edie since the first time she held her in her arms. “Come on all you kiddies, put your playthings down, come along with me, to the jubilee, down in sleepy town…
When she returned to the kitchen, all of the food had been put away and he’d even made a pot of coffee. Jessie got two mugs from the cabinet and sat down, purposely keeping the table between them. Her nerves couldn’t take a repeat of their earlier scintillating encounter. She added sugar and half and half to her coffee. “I appreciate you cleaning up. We enjoy our special time together before Edie goes to sleep.”
“You are a wonderful mother, Jessie.”
“Thank you. It’s easy when you have such a terrific daughter.”
“It must be difficult being a cop and a parent. Did your husband help out much when Edie was born?”
Her hackles rose at the mention of the jerk she’d been married to for six months. “I’ll say this now, but never ask me about him again. I married in haste, thinking it would be nice to come home to a warm body, someone to talk to and share my problems. He was supposed to love me and accept what I am, a cop. My shift work gave him carte blanche to party with bimbos. When I was shot and almost died, he didn’t even answer his damn cell. My dad was there for me, and I had him file divorce papers. That dickless wonder never had a part of Edith Amanda’s life. She thinks her father is dead. If he came through that door right now, I’d probably shoot him.”
To say he was shocked would be putting it mildly. Linc, too, would probably shoot Jessie’s ex if they ever came face to face. “I consider myself duly informed.” Linc intended to find out more about the man who hurt Jessie and was Edith Amanda’s father.
Jessie was just about to ask him what really brought him back to Laurel Heights when her portable radio went off. She’d purposely turned it up, anticipating emergencies.
“Unit Nine to headquarters. We’re on River Road. A car smashed through the wooden guard rail at Youghiogheny Crossing. The vehicle is hung up on limbs from downed trees. We can’t confirm, but it looks like the mayor’s vintage Caddie. The driver’s side door is open. No sign of the mayor.”
Jess scrambled to the counter and picked up her portable radio. “Donatiello, Sergeant Taylor. Repeat transmission.”
“No sign of a driver. We used our flashlights to sweep the area, but the visibility is poor. The Youghiogheny is rushing so fast, he could have been swept down to the falls.”
“Secure the scene and set up flares on either side of the bridge. I’m responding from home.” Jess began to pace and ordered in a no-nonsense tone, “Dispatch, confirm the chief is aware of the situation. Notify the volunteer fire department we’ll need the truck with the spotlights. Hold on the wrecker until we determine accessibility. Call Northrup and put the emergency squad on standby.”
“Headquarters received.”
Adrenaline pumped through Jessie’s body, and she suddenly realized she’d have to wait for her friend before she could head out to the scene. “Please, do me a favor. Stay with Edie until Lisa Kay gets here?”
“I’d be happy to. As soon as she shows up, I’ll go out to the accident and see if I can be of any help.”
“Thanks,” she said, and called her friend as she hurried up the stairs to change her clothes. Jess returned in minutes flat, smartly dressed in her navy uniform with her hair tied back in a ponytail. “I really appreciate this.” She secured her gun belt around her slim hips before putting on her leather jacket and cap.
The quick transformation from mother, to woman, to cop had been jolting. “Here, something to keep you warm.” Linc held out a silver metal thermos he’d filled with coffee. “This was in the dishwasher when I loaded the dirty dishes. It had to be yours because the word Mom was written on it in black permanent marker. Light and sweet.”
She was overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness. “Thanks, again.” She took a hesitant step toward the door and turned back, holding up the thermos. “This is more than he ever did for me.”
“How about this?” Linc erased the distance between them and lifted her chin and slowly lowered his head to brush her lips lightly with his. One taste wasn’t enough and he drew her easily against him. He nibbled on her full bottom lip, savoring her sweetness then slanted their mouths, deepening the kiss. He was pleased when Jessie wrapped her arms about his neck and kissed him back.
Linc reluctantly let her go and tapped the brim of her cap. “Be careful out there and try not to get too wet.”
“That’s a tall order,” she smiled and grabbed an umbrella from the stand before she plunged into the torrential rain and headed for her patrol car. “Headquarters, Sergeant Taylor. Leaving from my home location and should be at scene in fifteen minutes.”
“Sergeant, the chief and lieutenant are aware of the situation. We’ve had reports of downed trees on River Road and Quarry Pike. Tree removal crews are en route.”
“Received,” Jessie responded. Both roads were direct routes to the bridge. The slapping wipers fought to keep the windshield clear. Narrow rivers of water rushed down the curbs and emptied into the storm drains. Right now, she couldn’t worry about the possibility of flooding conditions. The mayor was missing. What was he doing riding around in a severe thunderstorm? Once you crossed over the bridge and drove another two miles, you approached the gated entrance for the State Park that was still closed for the season. Jess recalled the silent alarm they’d had at his house the other night. Was there a connection?
Since he had to wait for Lisa Kay, Linc thought it was a good time to check the windows. He also wanted to take a mental picture of the interior so he could give his tech a preliminary report for the alarm system. A formal dining and living room were separated by a high-arched opening. The Victorian style furniture was well tended. Persian area rugs decorated the dark mahogany hardwood floors. At the bottom of the carved spindle stair case to the second floor, was a courting bench. Another arched doorway led to a sun porch that overlooked the front of the house. Margaret’s green thumb was evident in the variety of African violets that thrived under grow lights.
He’d just finished checking the latches when a vicious flash of lightning illuminated the high-ceilinged living room. He blinked, wondering if he was seeing things and took a hesitant step toward the piano. No, it had to be a coincidence. There was one way to find out if his suspicion was correct. His grandfather had purchased the baby grand used, and the previous owner had replaced five of the ivories. He turned on the Tiffany glass lamp closest to the piano and sighed heavily. The keys in the middle of the keyboard were much lighter. He lightly brushed a finger over the smooth surface, hoping to connect with his sister. It was stupid and not about to happen. The big question was, how had Jessie gotten his sister’s piano?
“I’m here,” Lisa Kay called, interrupting his melancholy thoughts.
Linc walked into the kitchen and smiled. Lisa resembled a Glouster fish
erman in her bright yellow rain outfit. The coat was too big and the floppy brim came down to the top of her eyebrows. “Thanks for coming over on such short notice.”
“No problem. I got here as soon as I could. I wanted to make sure Xavier Cugat was in the house. He’d be swept away from just the runoff in the streets.”
Lisa hung up the coat and rain hat on the hooks by the back door before helping herself to a mug of coffee. She leaned a hip on the counter and sipped the hot brew, wishing she’d brought a few of her mom’s special walnut almond puff cookies. “I knew your sister Jennie. We shared a couple of music classes together in high school.”
“I’m sorry you and I didn’t meet back then.” Linc’s voice was laced with sincerity and he noted the saying on Lisa Kay’s black sweatshirt: I’m a Vet Tech. What’s your super power? “I miss her very much, and she was a wonderful pianist.”
“Edith takes lessons from Mrs. Schmidt, Schatzi’s mother. Buford left the Steinway to Edith in his Will.”
“That was very kind of him.” Linc didn’t even choke on his words. He wondered why Jessie hadn’t told him about his grandfather’s generosity. First the bike and now the piano. What other secrets she was keeping? The wind howled and the rain beat a rat-a-tat against the windows, reminding him he’d better head out. “If you’re okay, I’ll be going. I told Jessie I would go out to the accident to see if I could be of assistance.”
Lisa raised a brow at his black leather jacket. “You’ll be drenched in two minutes in that thing. Take my raincoat and hat. It’s like a circus tent on me because it belonged to my Uncle Ned, who worked on fishing boats. If anybody asks why you’re dressed like a North Atlantic fisherman, tell them you’re looking for Moby Dick.”
Linc reached for the bright yellow raincoat and shrugged his shoulders. “What the hell, it’s better than nothing.” He was almost out the door when Lisa Kay yelled, “don’t forget the hat.”