by Meghan March
Rhett got quiet and his hand stilled before closing around his fork. I could have kicked myself for the abrupt question and the change in mood it caused.
“Haven’t thought about it. Taking it one day at a time.”
The concept was foreign to me because I planned by weeks, months, quarters, and years. I had a five-year plan and accompanying goals, along with a ten-year plan.
When I didn’t respond, he added, “I’m just a guy trying to make a living after the rug got pulled out from under him. I don’t have grand plans of building an empire like you do.”
I tried to put myself in his shoes and imagine what it would have been like. For as long as I’d known Rhett Hennessy, which was all my life, he’d wanted to be a cop. Nothing more. Nothing less. That was his identity, and he’d lost it all in an instant. How did someone recover from that and forge a new life?
I thought about the company I’d built and how many directions it had taken. If it were all gone tomorrow, I’d be completely adrift. I had to have purpose in my life, and Rhett was the same.
That was when it dawned on me—all these years, I’d kept Rhett Hennessy on a pedestal, untouchable and unattainable. And now, he was real to me. He was a man, flesh and blood with hopes and fears, victories and disappointments. The shift in perspective was groundbreaking and rocked my world. This Rhett, the real Rhett, was better than I’d imagined.
I was self-aware enough to know that this was huge. And what’s more, I had something I could offer him—a willing ear to listen and a creative mind to help him figure out what he could do next.
24
Rhett
I dug into my oysters, wishing I had all the answers. Or hell, at least something that would make me sound like less of a loser when it came to my plans. Ari was smart, successful, and knew exactly what she was doing with her future.
“If you could do anything, no limits, what would you do?”
The question was so completely Ari, it was almost predictable. Even so, it took me off guard. I had no frigging clue what I wanted to do next, and that ate at me. I lowered my fork and thought for a minute.
I was taking this day by day.
“Right now, I want one thing—answers. I need to know the truth about what happened with my father, and I’m not going to let it go until I figure it out.”
Ari nodded sagely, obviously no longer a girl in awe of every word coming out of my mouth. She was the one who had it all together and I was the mess, but there was no judgment on her face. She was unapologetic about knowing what she wanted, methodical and driven in going about achieving it. I’d never realized before how sexy that could be or how much I envied it.
“When you find those answers, will they affect what your future looks like?”
Another logical question I hadn’t taken the time to consider before. I bought myself time to think by taking a bite of my dinner and she did the same, although I could tell she was eagerly awaiting my response.
Would the truth about my dad affect my next steps? If it came out that he was framed and was exonerated, would I want to rejoin the force?
I had my answer before I even finished chewing. I’d never go back to the department. Something in me had changed irrevocably. I couldn’t carry a badge anymore, because it didn’t stand for what I thought it did before. And if I couldn’t believe in it, I didn’t deserve one.
“I’m done being a cop.”
“I wondered. I can’t say I’m completely surprised either. It would be hard to go back now. I couldn’t imagine going to work for anyone else now that I’ve been working for myself for so long.”
When she said that, it occurred to me that she understood something that I hadn’t consciously realized yet. I’d gotten a taste of freedom, and I didn’t have the patience for department politics anymore.
“How did you know I’d feel like that?”
Ari finished chewing a bite and swallowed. “You’re a leader, Rhett, not a foot soldier. I can only imagine that you’d be happier with complete autonomy.”
Her insight hit me like a round to a bulletproof vest, slamming into me with shattering force.
I never thought I’d be this glad to be off the pedestal Ari had put me on because she saw me clearly. Maybe even more clearly than I saw myself.
I grinned at her in awe. “You’re right.”
One side of her mouth tilted up in a quirky smile. “Don’t sound so surprised. I am a genius.” She winked, and it broke a laugh free from my chest.
“Smartass too.”
She shrugged. “Never said I wasn’t.”
There it was again, the confidence I always thought might be hovering beneath the surface, but she’d never shown before. And it was hot. My sexy little genius. Before I could go further down that line of thought, she picked up with the questions again, forcing me back to the subject I’d been avoiding.
“What does that leave? PI work? Do you enjoy it?”
Did I? I let myself answer honestly. “I don’t want to follow cheating spouses around ever again. I’ve had enough. Sure, it pays the bills, but it blows.”
She abandoned her fork on her plate and leaned her elbows on the table, dropping her chin on her hands to study me. “But you liked tracking down that guy’s family. That meant something to you.”
Hell yes, it had. Absolutely. That had given me just as much satisfaction, if not more, than closing a case as a detective ever did.
I nodded.
“Have you considered focusing on missing persons? You have the skills, and you’re building the independent résumé on top of the experience you had at the department.”
It was like a light bulb going off in my head, and Ari had flipped the switch.
Help people locate the loved ones they refused to let go of, and get them answers? The work could be just as hard as chasing down cheating spouses, just in a different way. But when the outcome was positive, it was a hell of a lot more rewarding. The more I turned the suggestion over in my mind, the more I liked it.
“That’s a damn good idea.”
Ari’s face lit up with a wide smile. “I’m glad you think so. Finding something you enjoy makes all the difference. I wouldn’t work as much as I do if I didn’t love it. You could change lives by helping people in a way that only you can.”
I soaked up her enthusiasm. “It’s something to think about. But first, I have to figure out . . .” I stopped short because we both knew where I was going.
“Is there any way I can help? I have skills, you know. Maybe not perfectly legal ones, but they’re helpful in the right situation.”
My gaze sharpened on her. “You’re talking about hacking into the department, aren’t you?”
With her chin still perched on her hands, she lifted her shoulders to her ears and dropped them. “It’s not like it would be hard. I got into Heath’s work computer in about twelve seconds, but that’s only because he’s not creative with his passwords. If there’s information on the inside that they’re not being up front about, you need to know. You deserve to know.”
I thought about what she was saying. Not so very long ago, my perspective on the world was very black and white. Things were either right or wrong, and I didn’t spend much time considering shades of gray. But that was before. Now I realized that life was more blurry gray lines than anything at all.
The department was holding something back. There was a lot more to the story than they were saying, and Heath’s position in IA meant that he should know what it was. Or he would if he hadn’t requested to be removed from the case due to a conflict of interest.
“What exactly are you proposing, Red?”
Her brain was wired differently than mine, so I couldn’t help but wonder what she planned. I could swear excitement lit her eyes at the question.
“Just some snooping around. See if maybe there are files they’ve tried to bury. Digital footprints are everywhere, even when you think you’ve erased them.”
“You don’t t
hink they know how to cover their tracks?”
She lifted her chin and tapped her index fingers together with a sly smile. “I don’t think you realize how good I am at what I do.”
That smile. That confidence. This woman. She was the full package, and beyond intoxicating with that light shining in her eyes. And her loyalty—willing to do whatever it took to help me find answers—that was even sweeter.
“What do you need?”
“Only your permission.”
My grip tightened on my empty glass. “Do it.”
It was as if those words unleashed something in the universe, because at that moment, Ari’s phone rang.
25
Ariel
“I’m a little busy, Heath.”
“We have a big fucking problem.”
The panic sharpening my brother’s tone put me on edge. “What’s going on?”
“Dad’s gone. I can’t find him.”
I tensed as dread crawled through me. “What do you mean?”
Rhett’s eyes locked on mine as Heath explained.
“He wanted pizza from that place he loves that doesn’t deliver, so I ran out to get it. When I came back, the door was open and he was gone.”
I didn’t know that a disappearing parent could be my worst nightmare, but tonight, it was. “Oh my God. What are we going to do?”
Rhett tugged the phone from my nerveless fingers. “Hey, it’s Hennessy. What the hell’s going on? Your sister’s as white as a sheet.”
My stomach knotted as Heath filled Rhett in, talking loudly enough that I could hear every word. Frozen in place, I didn’t know what to do. Crisis mode required emotional separation and a rational, cool head. Business was business. No one was going to die regardless of the outcome of those decisions, and I could handle them with proper processing and analysis. But the thought of my dad wandering alone on the street, lost and confused, destroyed me.
There was nothing rational going through my head right now.
Not my daddy, please.
“We’ll be there in fifteen. Call the department. Call in every favor you have. Get everyone on the streets. Make a list of places he might go, or where he liked to go—his favorite bars, restaurants, hell, even your mom’s grave—and give it to everyone. We’re on our way.”
Rhett ended the call and yanked out his wallet. He tossed a handful of cash down on the table, rose, and grabbed my hand. “Let’s go.”
Like a robot, I followed him, thinking through every worst-case scenario. I couldn’t even form the words until we stepped outside. “What are we going to do?”
With his face set in a determined mask and his voice strong with conviction, he answered. “We’re going to find him.” He pulled me across the street to the parking lot and stopped beside my door.
“He’s . . . you saw at lunch. There’s something—”
He unlocked the Jeep and urged me inside. “I know. We got this. We’re going to find him. I swear we won’t sleep until he’s safe.”
Before I could reply, he shut the door and rounded the hood.
His vow dulled my terror in a way I didn’t expect. While I was crumpling inside, he was calm, collected, and determined. His confidence and unwillingness to accept any other alternative shored up my strength, and I took a deep breath.
“We got this,” I repeated to myself.
Rhett jumped in the Jeep and with a roar of the engine, we pulled away.
26
Rhett
Watching Ari’s face go white with terror was something I wouldn’t forget for a long time and never wanted to see again. I swore I had a direct line to the fear ripping through her system when that call came through.
My first instinct was to strangle Heath for letting this happen, but I knew that wasn’t fair. Neither Ari nor her brother had realized how bad their dad was until recently, and this had to be the last thing they expected. Up until a few days ago, he’d been living alone. According to Heath, there hadn’t been many warning signs except a sprained wrist from a fall.
I’d been on the hunt for more than one elderly person who had wandered away from home, but this was personal. I would do whatever it took to make sure Mr. Sampson was safe as soon as fucking possible.
Breaking every speed limit, I made my way to Heath’s house as fast as I could. When we got there, three black-and-whites were parked out front with their lights on. I wasn’t sure how I would be received by my former colleagues, but I didn’t give a damn. This was more important than bad blood.
Heath was outside, poring over a map spread across the hood of a squad car. Good, that meant they were working out the search parameters.
Ari jumped out of the Jeep before I could open her door and rushed to her brother. He caught her in a hug, looking just as panicked as she did. As I got closer, I heard him whisper “I’m sorry” to her over and over.
An officer I didn’t recognize spoke up. “We’re gonna get more units out, and we’ll notify all the news and radio stations. If you have any other friends and family that can help search, call them too.”
Ari’s expression crumpled. “It’s just us. We don’t have more family. Dad is all we have.” The pain in her voice jabbed me in the chest.
“It’s gonna be okay, Flounder. We’re gonna find him,” Heath promised. He finally looked up and noticed me. “Thanks for getting here so quick.”
The officers around the hood of the car glanced my way as well. Flashes of recognition streaked across their faces, but I wasn’t about to waste time with introductions.
“Put me to work. I can help.”
All business, the officer in charge handed out assignments and copies of the list Heath had made of all his dad’s favorite places, and we moved out.
Ari was selected to stay at Heath’s house in case her father returned. Everyone had her cell phone number to notify her as soon as someone located him.
Before I jumped in my Jeep, I stopped in front of her and gripped the back of her neck, turning her face up to mine. I pressed a hard, quick kiss to her lips.
“We’ll find him.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You don’t need to thank me.”
Tears filled her eyes, and I released my hold on her neck to wipe away one that tipped over her lid. “We got this. It’s gonna be okay.”
“It’s just . . . he’s all we have left.”
“I know, Red. Hold it together.”
She swallowed and straightened her shoulders, visibly collecting herself as Heath and the units pulled away from the curb to start the search.
“I’m good. Go. Find him.”
27
Ariel
It had been an hour with no leads. I sat in my brother’s house on his beat-up leather sofa, staring at the wood-paneled wall as I waited for my phone to ring again. Each time someone called, my hopes soared. And each time, it had been the same story.
“Nothing yet. We’re still looking.”
The TV flickered with a rerun I’d muted because I couldn’t focus on the banter. Instead, my gaze drifted to the few pictures Heath had on his entertainment center in dusty frames.
One of him and me as kids. His arm was wrapped around my shoulder, squeezing me tight to his side against his Saints T-shirt. I must have been about six years old. Dad had decided I was due to see my first game, and I still remembered how safe I felt between them in a wild stadium packed with people yelling Who dat?
I’d give anything to feel the press of both their shoulders against me again right now. Grabbing my phone off the table for the seventh time, I stared at the screen, checking for missed calls.
Obviously, there weren’t any. The volume on my ringer was turned all the way up.
I sent up another prayer to the man upstairs. Please help them find my daddy. Please let him be okay. He’s a good man. He doesn’t deserve this. Please.
Tears spilled onto my cheeks as I stood and paced the room, finally stopping in front of the only complete fam
ily picture my brother had. It was taken the day my parents had brought me home from the hospital. Mom held a pink, red-faced bundle down for Heath to see, and my dad beamed at her.
She’d died less than three months later from cancer, sacrificing herself so I could live. If she’d terminated her pregnancy, she could have undergone treatments and might have survived. But on the rare occasion Dad would talk about it, he said that she wouldn’t even consider it.
Tears flowed more freely as I reached out to trail a fingertip along her face behind the glass. “Watch over him, please. Keep him safe, angel mama.”
I was convinced she’d done just that on plenty of occasions before, or maybe it was just my way of dealing with the sense of loss that ached in my chest.
Dad and Heath had both had more close calls than I wanted to think about, but somehow, they’d always come home safely at the end of their shifts. When I was young, I would wait at the Hennessys’ kitchen table while Mrs. Hennessy fed me dinner. One night, not long after the first department funeral I ever attended, I remembered asking her, “What would happen to me if my daddy didn’t come home?”
She’d rushed to my side and hugged me. “Oh, child, your daddy will always come home to you. Your mama wouldn’t let anything happen to him. She knows you need him more than she does right now.”
That night, Dad had missed being grazed by a bullet, and he and Mr. Hennessy were still talking about it when they walked in the door. At least, they were talking about it until Mrs. Hennessy had given them both the evil eye with a glance toward me.
I’d burst into tears and ran toward him, wrapping my arms around his waist and telling him he couldn’t ever get hurt. Dad had extracted himself from my wild grip, picked me up, and crushed me in his arms.
“You know I’ve got a guardian angel riding on my shoulder, Ariel. She’s going to make sure I get home to you no matter what.”