"Ha, well everything from you suing me for custody to us co-parenting." She rolled her head and opened her eyes. "I've had ten years to come to terms with what I've done. I'm not going to apologize. I called. I tried to find you. I went to see your mother for help contacting you. I ran into brick walls every time, but my little boy deserves to know his father."
He rolled his shoulders. Anger and accusations were so close to the surface, but the acid that thrummed through his veins and screamed how unfair it was she didn't keep trying didn't need to find its outlet here, today. He drew a deep breath and humbled himself in a way he hadn't done since the day she'd run from his proposal. "I'd like to meet him."
"I haven't told him I contacted you. If you didn't want anything to do with him..."
That fucking stung. "What have I ever done to make you think I'd turn my back on him?"
"You turned your back on me."
"I think you have it backward. You left me."
"I told you I regretted it almost immediately. But you didn't answer your phone, didn't answer my messages!"
“I never got those messages you say you left. When my truck was totaled, my phone was destroyed. I left our apartment because I couldn't walk up three flights of stairs. You said you tried to find me? I call bullshit. All you had to do was call Brock or Brianna. They would have told you where I was." He didn't try to prevent the sneer which spread across his face.
“I thought you hated me because of the accident, and then when I found I was pregnant... I tried to call your family, but no one would talk to me. I lost my nerve, and I quit trying. You have no idea how intimidating your family is."
He closed his eyes and shook his head. It was raining hard now. The sound of the patter on the windshield had become more intense. "We aren't going to find a common ground on this point. Okay."
"Okay?"
"Yep. You tried to get ahold of me. However, I believe if you had really wanted to let me know, you'd have found a way." He shrugged. He wasn't going to rehash the past. There was nothing to gain by dredging it up.
"You weren't in my shoes." She shook her head and crossed her arms.
"No, I wasn't." He could second guess her motives and intentions for the remainder of his life, but it wouldn't serve a productive purpose. "Are you going to let me meet him, or do I need to get a court order?"
"What? No! Shit, this is not going the way I wanted it to go. Look, I haven't told him I contacted you. I wanted to talk to you before I talked to him. I'll tell him and use this week to answer the multitude of questions he'll have. Would you like to come by on Saturday? We can start easy, maybe grill some hamburgers in the backyard, and you two can visit?"
"I'll be here. May I keep this?" He held the picture.
She released a huge sigh. "Good. That's good. Oh, I have more." She reached in her pocket and removed a stack of photos. She nodded to herself and took another deep breath.
He took them reverently and examined each one. Gage. The boy looked like he did at his age. He smiled and placed the pictures securely in his inside coat pocket. He glanced at her. "We can't bring this situation into work, but I want to know more about him before I meet him."
'"Yeah, I imagine you would. I can call you after he's in bed tomorrow night. I'll answer any questions you have."
"That would work."
"Okay, well, I'm going to get back in the house."
"Good night."
She flicked a look his way before she opened the door and sprinted through the rain into the house.
He put the truck in gear and drove away from the curb, heading to the one person he trusted with almost every secret he'd ever had.
Amber closed the door quietly and took off her soaking wet jacket. Dawn grabbed her arm and yanked her into the kitchen. "So?"
"He was understandably upset." She drew her shaking hands through her hair and dropped into a kitchen chair.
"And?"
"And he wants to meet Gage. I gave him some pictures. I have them digitally, so..."
"When?" Dawn hissed.
"Next Saturday. We're going to grill in the backyard, let them get acquainted." She rubbed her arms, chilled to the bone even though it wasn't cold in the house.
"What did he say about not answering your calls?"
Amber leaned back in the chair and explained.
"Okay, but what about what his mom said to you?"
"I told him I spoke to her. He didn't even blink. He said she’d told him I’d been there. He said if I’d wanted to find him, I could have."
"That's true." Dawn nodded her head.
Amber threw her sister a dirty look. "Hey, whose side are you on?"
"Yours, of course, but you can't deny you could have gone to his mom's house with the baby, or hell, even pregnant, and Brody would have been summoned to appear."
"Yeah. But by then I'd convinced myself he didn't want anything to do with me."
"You, maybe. The baby? Wrong answer."
"I was so afraid he’d take Gage away from me,” she whispered. “Damn it, Dawn, I'm looking for a little support here." She dropped her head into her hands.
Dawn sighed and dropped down on one knee beside her. "Honey, I'm nothing but support. I'll be here while you guys determine which way is up. I'll be here when you need a break. I'll support you because you’re my family, and I love you, but I won't blow smoke up your skirt. Dad would roll over in his grave. He taught both of us better."
"Yeah, I know. It seems like everything I thought I knew about the situation was wrong. I thought he was avoiding me. He thought I’d left him and never looked back. Both of us were abjectly wrong."
"Yeah, that's true, and it is definitely a perfect storm type of a mess, but all the bad weather is behind you. You've got clear skies now. The question is, what are you two going to do with the days ahead?"
Amber leaned forward and placed her hand on her sister’s. "Love, work, and live."
It was what her father had always said. No matter the day or the hour, if the question, what are you going to do came up, he always answered the same way. He would love, work, and live. He always said nothing else mattered—unlike her mother who begrudged each sunrise as another day she had to endure.
"Well, that's a good plan. The little one isn't going to wake up anytime soon. How about we have a glass of wine and watch a chick flick until it's time to put him to bed, and then I'll help you herd him to his room."
She chuckled. Gage was far too big for either one of them to carry, and he was like a zombie when he fell asleep on the couch. "Deal."
"Cool. Do you want red or white?"
"Doesn't matter." She watched her sister head to the cabinet. "Was I wrong? What I did? Keeping Gage from Brody?" she blurted.
Dawn turned with two stemless wine glasses in her hand. "Wrong? Yes. Probably. Maybe. Hell, I don't honestly know, Amber. I wouldn't have done what you did, but you made the decision you thought was best for you and Gage. You can Monday morning quarterback the situation from here to eternity and never really know. I've watched you sacrifice for that little boy. You love him with everything you have. He's a great kid. Were there mistakes made? Yep, by two young lovers. Hopefully, the mature adult versions of those two lovesick kids can overcome those errors and find a way to build a new relationship."
Amber smiled at her sister. "How did you get so smart?"
Dawn shrugged. "I watch Dr. Phil. Here's your wine. Let’s snuggle into the cushions and watch something fun and happy."
Amber stood alone in the kitchen for a moment. "Fun and happy." She drew a deep breath. Damn, she needed an extra dose of each.
Chapter 4
"What are you doing back here? Looking for leftovers?" Hannah King smiled up at him from her chair. Her e-book reader was on her lap and a large mug of lemon tea was sitting beside her.
"No, although if you have any, I won't object to taking some off your hands." Brody leaned down and kissed his mother's cheek. "Where's Dad?"
"He's out back with h
is new love." Hannah waved her hand and laughed.
"It's your fault. You bought it for him."
"You're right. What was I thinking?" She chuckled and picked up her reader. "The leftovers are in the red lidded containers. There are three. Take one for you and one for Blay."
"Thanks, I'll grab them on the way out." He headed to the backyard. The familiar slam of the screen door brought back so many memories. How many times had he run through that door while he was growing up?
His father straightened from a large telescope on a tripod at the sound, and even in the darkness he could see his old man's smile. "What brings you back?"
"Needed to talk with you."
"A case?" As he got closer, he saw his father's brow draw together.
"No. Personal. What are you looking at?
"Cancer's Praesepe." Chauncey King shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. "Take a look."
"Seriously?"
"Yep, the brightest galactic star cluster in the sky this time of year. It's exceptionally clear after the front rolled through and having this beauty doesn't hurt either."
Brody leaned down and stared at the cluster of over one hundred stars located in the constellation of Cancer. "Wow, this scope is fantastic. How big is the cluster?"
"I read an article which stated it filled a space three times the diameter of our moon." Chauncey's words were quiet and almost reverent. "But you didn't come here to talk about the stars tonight, did you?"
Brody stood and crossed his arms. "Got a situation."
"Well then, you get the chairs; I'll get the drinks."
Chauncey picked up his expensive telescope and carried it into the house. Brody spun and went to the small shed and removed two old Adirondack chairs. His father came back with two ginger ales and sat down beside him before he passed one of the sodas. They both opened the drinks and took a sip.
"Amber Swanson is the new DEA agent permanently assigned to JDET."
His father's head swiveled in his direction. "I heard they assigned an agent. The details haven't made it to me yet. Is this going to be a problem?"
Brody released a sigh. "Yeah. It's going to be an issue."
"Why?" His father took another drink of the soda.
"How much do you remember about our relationship?"
His father dropped his head back against the chair and stared up into the night sky. "You loved her and thought she was the one for you. She didn't agree."
"Yeah, that's how I remember it, too." Brody mimicked his father's position. They'd had many serious conversations looking at the stars.
"And?"
"It isn't how she remembers it." He hit almost all the high points to their conversation tonight.
"So, a miscommunication and maybe a case of too little, too late?"
"That about covers it. Except for this." He took the pictures from his pocket. It was so dark, there was no way his father could see them.
"What are they?"
"Pictures."
His dad twisted in his chair. "Of what?"
Brody drew a deep breath. "Of my son. He's ten."
His father took the stack of photos from him and reached into his pocket for his cell phone. He turned on the flashlight and handed it to Brody to hold. They stared at the pictures, not a word spoken between them. Finally, his father handed the photos back in exchange for his phone. He turned off his flashlight and leaned back against the chair, staring heavenward once again. "Looks like you."
"He does."
They sat in silence for a couple minutes. "What are your plans?"
"Going to get to know him, be a father to him, and introduce him to his grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles." He had a son. The reality was stronger each time he thought the words.
His father's hand patted his arm. "It's the right thing. How are you and Amber going to do this?"
"Slowly, and hopefully without interference." Brody rolled his head and stared at his father.
"Boy, you know your momma is going to get excited about her first grandchild." Chauncey chuckled. "And interfere."
"Yeah, that's why I'm asking you not to tell her."
"Awww… damn, son. You know I can't do that."
"You keep all kinds of things from her."
"Work related." His father's voice scolded him. “Not a grandchild.”
"This is work related. She's on my team."
"'s mighty weak reasoning."
"But... it's true." Brody stared up at the sky finding several familiar constellations his father had taught him to locate over the years.
“I’ll buy you some time. But if she finds out you didn't tell her first, she'll be devastated."
"I understand."
"What's his name?"
"Gage." He smiled when he said the name.
"G's huh?"
"Nah, I won't have any more kids. There's no one, not anymore." Brody took a long drink of the ginger ale. He forced the 'what could have been' thoughts out of his mind.
"Don't shut any doors. Life has a way of using a battering ram to open them back up." His dad took a sip of his soda. "When can we meet him?"
"I'm going to her house this weekend. Saturday. If things go well, and he's not too overwhelmed, I'd like to bring him by on Sunday. I guess it also depends on Amber. She wants to take it slow so he doesn't get hurt, by either of us." Brody rolled his empty soda can between both of his hands.
"Well then, I guess there is only one thing left to say." Chauncey stood up and extended his hand. "Congratulations, Dad." His old man grabbed him up and into a hug. "You have no idea what a wonderful blessing that boy will be to you."
He closed his eyes and hung on to his father for a few moments. "Thank you."
"For what?" His dad drew away.
"For always being here for me." Brody cleared his throat.
"You'll do the same for Gage."
"God, I hope so." Brody crushed his soda can. "I'll put away the chairs."
"Nah, I'll do it. Leave through the McBrides’ yard so your momma doesn't see and stop you. I'll tell her you had a work-related issue you had to attend to. Keep me up to date on how this situation progresses. Saturday can't come fast enough for me."
"I'll do that." Brody pitched his soda can in the recycle bin. The weekend seemed like a lifetime away.
"All right everyone, listen up!" Brody's voice lifted above the din of the bullpen. "Swanson, Rayburn, Watson, conference room one. The rest of you, download the reports from the last bust with the DEA. Any name, gang, or location which can be inferred, tracked or suspected will be checked out. Mozingo, you've got lead, and you'll report to Lt. Anderson."
"Roger that, Sarge. You heard the man. We are officially developing leads and working the streets. Let's get the lead out." Mozingo grabbed the reins and gave Brody a farewell salute as he followed the other three agents to conference room one.
Captain Terrell stood at the front of the table reading a file. He glanced up when they entered and nodded for Brody to shut the door. He closed the door and took his seat at the other end of the table.
Terrell tossed down the file and slid a chair back, dropping into the seat. The damn thing groaned under his captain's muscled bulk. "I've been studying the reports from the information we're getting from Masters, and I think I've tied it to some information our new canary has given us."
Brody leaned forward. "What do you have?" He'd been studying everything coming from the Masters investigation and trial.
"Taylor, our singing bird, has been dropping information he has no idea he's dropping. When he was asked about the drugs he's seen, he listed off a pharmacy. Tranks, Roofies, Xanies, Special K, Acid, Black Tar, Line, Apple Jacks, and Molly off the top of the list. What has us concerned, however, is Taylor told us the cartels were making a push to set up a stream selling Gray Death."
"That shit's nasty, Captain. If they start importing GD, it isn't only the users who will be dying. A person can OD by touching it. Our frontline, th
e beat cop, will be facing that shit." Brody flopped back in his chair and crossed his arms. "We have to get ahead of this before the cartels make the Desert into a ghost town."
Terrell nodded. "Swanson, your paperwork came through this morning. There shouldn't be a need for me to reinforce this, but as I don't know you, I'm going to do it anyway. Nothing from this task force goes to the DEA unless I approve it. Understand?" He glared down the table at Amber.
"You don't know me, so I won't take that as an insult. I've been permanently assigned to this task force, and I work for you. The DEA wants information, they go to you, not me."
Brody fought hard not to smile. The woman was pissed by the captain's reprimand. He could tell by the way her neck and cheeks flushed red.
"I'm glad we understand each other. Now, tell me what you know about this Gray Death." Terrell crossed the tree trunks impersonating his biceps and waited.
Amber leaned forward and glanced at him but gave Watson and Rayburn equal time. "Gray Death is a composite drug which resembles cement chunks or grey powder, which is how it got its name. According to all the data I've read, it has heroin beat in potency... exponentially. The formula for cooking the shit varies, but usually a heroin or cocaine base and then they add fentanyl, U-47700 or even carfentanil."
"What the fuck is carfentanil?" Colt Rayburn leaned forward. "What's the street name? I'm not familiar with the pharma."
"There isn't a street name, yet, thank God, but carfentanil is a large animal tranq. It is about a hundred times stronger than fentanyl, and the estimate is ten thousand times stronger than morphine. We've seen cases of this mixture in Georgia and have agents assisting the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. But, if this stuff is coming into this city, you need to warn your street officers that wearing gloves might not be enough. Even inhaling this could be deadly."
"What about Narcan?" Brody leaned forward. "If our officers are exposed would Narcan work to stop the effects?"
"Unknown. I've read some reports which have suggested Gray Death might be resistant to Narcan, and other studies indicated it could take multiple, as in five to ten doses, for the Narcan to work. Most patrols carry one dose."
Brody (Hope City Book 3) Page 4