Second Time Around

by Nancy Herkness

  Kyra wiped her sleeve across her eyes to dash the onion tears away. “How private?”

  “I need you to come somewhere with me,” he said. He’d ducked into a corner so no one could see him from the hall.

  Kyra put down the knife. “What’s going on?”

  He shook his head and gave her a pleading look. “Can you just come with me?”

  She scooped the onions into a plastic storage container and shoved them in the fridge before washing her hands. She should probably get Emily involved but Diego seemed in a hurry. “Do I need my bag?” she asked.

  “No. It’s not far.” He checked the hallway before leading her out past Powell.

  “We’ll be right back,” Kyra said to the guard, since Diego seemed to want to keep this outside jaunt under the radar.

  Powell nodded and went back to reading something on his cell phone.

  Diego checked both directions on the sidewalk before turning right and practically jogging down the block. Kyra had to trot to keep up with him.

  “In here,” he said, veering into a narrow walkway between two buildings. They dodged around several garbage cans and a ramshackle shed. Behind it, Felicia sat on a plastic crate, her bandaged arm cradled on her lap. When she looked up, her thin face was streaked with the tears welling up from her brown eyes.

  “Oh, sweetie, what’s wrong?” Kyra said, dropping to her knees by the child without a thought about the dirty cement. “Is your arm hurting you?”

  Felicia shook her head. “I mean, yes, it hurts but that’s not it. I heard Mama talking to Mr. Allen and she say Shaq gotta be put down because he bit me. I can’t let my dog die. He didn’t do nothing wrong.”

  “He bit you,” Kyra said gently. “But he probably won’t have to be put to sleep since it’s the first time. He won’t even have to go back to the shelter because I’m going to adopt him.” Why hadn’t Diego told her that?

  Relief and hope flared in Felicia’s face, then faded. “But I won’t ever get to see him again.”

  “Do you want to after what he did?” Kyra asked.

  “You gotta tell Ms. Kyra what you told me,” Diego said. “You can’t let Shaq take the blame no . . . anymore.”

  Felicia shook her head. “If Ms. Kyra going to adopt Shaq, he’ll be okay.”

  “You know that’s not right,” Diego said, his voice stern.

  “I can’t. My mama . . .” The girl dropped her gaze to her arm.

  “It’s okay, sweetie,” Kyra said. “I’ll take good care of Shaq.”

  “It’s not just Shaq,” Diego said. “It’s the K-9 Angelz. They might have to shut it down.”

  “We don’t know that,” Kyra said, noticing that Felicia’s shoulders were shaking with silent sobs. “I’m sure Ms. Emily will find a way to keep it going.”

  “I heard Doc Quillen talking,” Diego said. “When a dog bites a kid, it’s real bad.”

  “He didn’t bite me,” Felicia muttered so softly that Kyra barely heard her. “Another dog did. One from down the hall.”

  “Are you sure?” Kyra glanced up at Diego, hoping he hadn’t persuaded the child to make up a different story.

  Diego evidently guessed what she was thinking. “I kept my promise to you, Ms. Kyra. Felicia came to me after school. I didn’t make her say nothing . . . anything.”

  Felicia took such a deep breath that her shoulders rose and fell. “I went to Mrs. Galvan’s apartment to get some arroz con pollo she made for me and Mama. I was carrying it back when Axel got out of the elevator with his big mean old German shepherd, Chopper. Chopper’s mean ’cause Axel makes him that way. I’m scared of both of them.”

  Kyra put a comforting hand on Felicia’s small knee. “I don’t blame you.”

  “Axel lets Chopper off his leash when he’s in the building, even though he’s not supposed to.” Tears started down Felicia’s cheeks again. “I guess Chopper smelled the food because all of a sudden he ran at me and clamped his teeth on my arm and started shaking it. I dropped the dish and it broke all over the floor. So Chopper let go and started eating. He probably got glass in his mouth.”

  Diego made a strange noise in the back of his throat, and Kyra knew he was feeling bad for the dog.

  “My arm hurt so bad and was all bleeding so I started yelling for Mama. She came out and she and Mrs. Galvan took me to the hospital. I don’t remember a whole lot about being there ’cause they gave me some kind of medicine to make it hurt less and then I got anesthesia.”

  “I don’t understand. Why did you say Shaq bit you?” Kyra asked.

  Felicia stared down at her hand again. “Mama told me to say it. She say our insurance don’t cover all the stuff that my hand needs and Axel ain’t got insurance. But the Carver Center does, so if I say Shaq bit me, their insurance will pay.” She threw Kyra a quick glance before she started to sob again. “But he didn’t do it. He was barking and scratching at the door. He wanted to come protect me when he heard me yelling. He’s a good dog.”

  Kyra sat back on her heels, wondering how to untangle this mess. She understood Davina’s dilemma. As a mother, she wanted her child to get the best possible medical care. But this was going to require great delicacy to resolve.

  “Thank you for telling Diego and me the truth,” Kyra said. “You’re very brave.”

  “Mama won’t get in trouble, will she?” Felicia asked.

  “No one will get in trouble,” Kyra soothed, although she couldn’t figure out how to avoid it. But Schuyler Chase might have a way. “I have to share this with Ms. Emily.”

  Felicia started shaking her head.

  “She won’t tell anyone else at the center, I promise,” Kyra assured her. “Diego, will you see Felicia home safely?”

  The boy nodded and Kyra stood up and offered her hand to help Felicia. The little girl jumped up and flung her arms around Kyra’s waist. “I didn’t want to lie to anyone but Mama said I had to. She was scared and sad.”

  “Your mama was just taking care of you,” Kyra said, gently encircling the girl’s thin shoulders. “She did it because she loves you so much.”

  “I love my mama,” Felicia said, releasing Kyra and wiping her own cheeks with the back of her uninjured hand, “but I love Shaq, too.”

  Kyra accompanied them back to the sidewalk and watched the big, hulking boy take the little girl’s unbandaged hand in his as they walked away. Tears brimmed in her eyes at the protectiveness of his gesture. God, all she did was cry these days.

  Kyra sat beside Emily at the director’s desk teleconferencing with Schuyler. Will’s sister had listened to the beginning of the phone call and decided they needed to be able to see each other as well. Behind the lawyer was an imposing credenza of some dark wood, filled with weighty-looking tomes, their gilt titles made shiny by the subtle up lighting. Kyra wondered what Schuyler thought of the background behind them, which consisted of some fake-oak filing cabinets and artwork by the center’s kids.

  Schuyler took notes as they talked. “So Felicia said the dog who actually bit her was a German shepherd. We should be able to take impressions of Shaq’s teeth and show the bite marks on her arm don’t match his.”

  Kyra interrupted the flow of legal strategy. “How are you going to keep from revealing that Felicia told us all this? She’s terrified of getting her mother in trouble.”

  Schuyler put down her pen. “I had an associate canvas the apartment building for witnesses. Word of that will have gotten around. We didn’t actually find anyone who would admit to seeing the incident, although a few said they might have heard it.” Her lips curved in a sly smile. “However, Allen doesn’t know that. All I have to say is that a witness came forward. Since I don’t expect this to go to court, I’ll never have to identify or produce the witness.”

  “Allen won’t ask you who it was? Or how credible they are?” Emily asked.

  Schuyler’s smile turned sharper. “He can ask. I don’t have to answer.”

  Kyra liked this woman more all the time.
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br />   “Honestly,” Schuyler continued, losing the smile, “I think Titus is looking for a way out of this suit. I don’t expect him to even ask for the bite-mark match. He’ll know I wouldn’t request it if I didn’t have proof.”

  “But the center’s insurance won’t cover Felicia’s plastic surgery,” Emily said. “How will you get him to drop the case?”

  “We’re taking care of that,” Schuyler said with a wave of her hand. “It’s part of the pro bono work.”

  “You mean the law firm will pay her medical expenses?” Kyra asked, knowing she sounded skeptical.

  “Something like that,” Schuyler said. “You don’t need to worry about it. What I require from you and the entire staff is radio silence on the whole situation. Don’t involve any more people. Make sure nothing is said in front of the other kids. I’m going to force Allen—and Ms. Gibson—to sign a gag order as part of the settlement. That way the center doesn’t get its reputation dragged through the dirt. You can keep the K-9 Angelz program up and running. And Shaq can return.”

  “If you can do all that, you’re a miracle worker,” Emily said, but Kyra heard the hope in her voice.

  “I’ve never been called that before.” Surprise and gratification rang in Schuyler’s voice. “But don’t jump the gun. I’ve got some delicate maneuvering to do yet.”

  The lawyer’s image winked out as she signed off the call.

  Kyra pushed her chair far enough away to see Emily’s face. “I don’t think the law firm is paying for Felicia’s medical expenses,” she said.

  Emily closed the conference window and flipped down the laptop’s screen. “You think it’s Will, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but I don’t know what to do about it.”

  “Nothing. He’s doing it for the center.” Emily’s tone was firm. “You should have seen him yesterday, surrounded by a circle of kids that kept getting bigger and bigger as he told his Spartan stories. He finally had to stand up so everyone could see him as he thrust and parried with his imaginary sword and spear. The kids were fascinated, but Will—” Emily smiled reminiscently. “Will was on fire with the thrill of sharing his knowledge with the kids. I could see how happy it made him. He really should teach a class at business school or something. He has a true gift.”

  Kyra nodded, but she didn’t feel she could share Will’s decision with Emily. That was his news to announce in his own time. “Maybe he’ll find a way to teach part-time.”

  “I hope so. The world needs more teachers who can inspire the kids.” Emily looked guilty. “I shouldn’t be singing Will’s praises to you.”

  “No, I appreciate it. Now I don’t feel so guilty about my suspicion that it’s his money being used for Felicia’s treatment. Even more important, the K-9 Angelz program is safe now,” Kyra said, standing so she could carry her chair back in front of Emily’s desk. She wished she felt more excited for Emily’s sake, but she just felt tired.

  “And Shaq. I guess you won’t need to adopt him now.”

  Disappointment sifted through Kyra. She hadn’t wanted a dog, but now she felt lonely without one.

  Chapter 20

  As Will finished reading the financial analysis of the new dog food project, his assistant informed him that Nathan Trainor wanted a minute of his time. “Of course,” Will said, although he was surprised. Nathan didn’t generally drop in on him.

  Will came around his desk as Nathan walked into the office, carrying a small black case. “Thanks for seeing me without an appointment,” Nathan said, shaking hands. “I took a gamble that it was late enough in the day for most meetings to be over.”

  “It’s always good to see you. Would you like water or something stronger?”

  Nathan hesitated a moment and then nodded. “Something stronger. I have cause to celebrate.”

  Will crossed to the built-in bar. “Champagne or scotch?”

  “Scotch. Single malt, if you have it.” Nathan put the case down on Will’s desk and accepted the glass of caramel-colored liquor from Will.

  Lifting his glass, Will said, “Here’s to good news.”

  Nathan returned the salute and took a taste of scotch. “Excellent stuff. Worthy of the accomplishment.” Setting the glass down on the desk, he flipped open the multiple latches on the case and lifted a streamlined cube of brushed stainless steel out of the custom padding. The elegant object had rounded corners and measured about seven inches on each side. Several black rubber insets dotted the shiny surface.

  Nathan placed the device on the desk and stepped back. He swept his arm toward the cube and said, “This is a prototype of the TE-500 battery made portable.”

  “But we use the TE-500s for our refrigerator backups,” Will said, thinking he’d misheard. “They’re twenty inches across and weigh forty pounds each. We have special racks for them.”

  Nathan’s gaze was fixed on the unassuming cube. “We’ve been working on how to downsize the TE-500 without losing any power.” He looked at Will with a grin of triumph. “It took a lot of hours in the lab but we did it.”

  Will ran his finger over the smooth metal case. “That’s damned impressive.”

  “It is.” Nathan picked up his drink and sipped it while contemplating his latest invention.

  Will envied the deep-seated satisfaction Nathan took in having solved a complex technical challenge. What radiated from the other man could only be described as joy, a quiet exultation that he had used his talents to the fullest.

  Nathan flipped open one of the rubber flaps. “This is the charging input. The others are for different kinds of plugs—including USB—so the battery is versatile.”

  “How did you do it?” Will let the admiration sound in his voice.

  “Ah, that would be giving away patented secrets,” Nathan said with a smile. “Besides I don’t think you’d understand my jargon.”

  Will chuckled. “Very true. I know more about ancient Sparta than modern technology.”

  “You’re no slouch in the tech area. That’s why I knew you would appreciate it.” Nathan ran his palm over the top of the battery. “This handsome little box has some revolutionary stuff inside it. Not even your average engineer would understand it.”

  “How do I get my hands on one?”

  “Your name is already on the friends and family list.”

  Surprise swept through Will at Nathan’s easy inclusion of him as a friend. “I’m honored.”

  Nathan nodded. “It may take a couple of months. We have some work to do on the production and financial side of the project but you’ll get one of the first batteries off the assembly line.”

  “My hearty congratulations.” Will felt guilty that he had to force the note of enthusiasm into his voice, even though he was genuinely pleased for his friend. “Reports of your genius are not exaggerated.”

  Nathan patted the box. “This was a team effort. I’ve got some amazing minds in my R and D department.”

  “But you work shoulder to shoulder with them, as any good general does.”

  “It’s not work for me,” Nathan said. “It’s pure pleasure to forget everything but solving the problem in front of me. Chloe will tell you that I lose track of time when I’m in the lab. She sometimes has to chase me down there.”

  Nathan’s gray eyes lit with affection when he spoke his wife’s name.

  “How did the baby shower go?” Will asked, remembering their dinner.

  “I was informed that it was a success.” Nathan leaned one hip against the desk. “Chloe asked the guests not to bring gifts but a few did, of course. When she showed me the tiny little clothes, it socked me in the gut. I’m going to be responsible for a brand-new life.” He stared down into his glass. “I know that I don’t want to raise a child the way I was raised, but that leaves a lot of open territory. What kind of father should I be?”

  “You’ll be all the things you wanted in your own father but didn’t get. That’s a good place to start.” Will understood Nathan’s doubts, though. He had no role
model he would want to work from either. “And you have Chloe to guide you. She won’t let you be anything but stellar.”

  “That’s what gets me through the terror,” Nathan said with a wry smile. “Chloe has far more confidence in my parental abilities than I do.”

  Kyra had confidence in Will’s ability to teach. Was that what it meant to love someone? To believe in them?

  “What made you realize you loved Chloe? I mean, loved her to the point where you wanted to spend the rest of your life with her.”

  Nathan’s attention focused on Will. “Are you asking for a friend?”

  “No.” Will made a restless gesture. “I think I’ve screwed up.”

  “I screwed up, too.” Nathan took a sip of scotch and stared out the window. “I let her go and the world turned gray. So I went out and got drunk with Gavin Miller, who can be an ass but is also a keen observer of human nature. He asked me what I would do if Chloe walked into the bar at that moment and said she had made a mistake and wanted me back.” Nathan brought his gaze around to Will. “That clarified everything for me. Maybe ask yourself the same question and see what your answer is.”

  Without meaning to, Will turned toward the empty doorway. He imagined Kyra walking through it, dressed in her sexy bartender’s uniform, giving her hips that extra little swing she adopted for Stratus. A ripple of heat shuddered through him, stirring his groin but also making his heart clench with longing. “I would be happy to see her. Very happy. Is that the right answer?”

  Nathan shrugged. “If you’re desperate enough to ask me for advice, I’d give it serious consideration.” He set down his empty glass and picked up the battery, fitting it back into its case with great care. “I’m going home to show this to my pregnant wife, who will probably cry over it because her hormones are on a rampage.” He flipped the latches shut. “But that’s a sign of true love, too. She cries over a cube of metal filled with power cells, fuses, and circuits simply because I developed it. Think about that when you’re answering the question.”

  Would Kyra cry? He couldn’t picture it. She would examine whatever he had created with focus and attention before giving him her clear-sighted opinion. Then she would tell him that he should keep creating because he had that desire in him. And she would support him in whatever endeavor he took on.