by Dana Mason
“So . . . tell me.”
“I can’t give you any information. You’re not my partner. You’re not even a cop anymore.”
Johnny’s face changed when he said it, and Brian didn’t miss the subtle difference. “Look, Bennett, I get you’re pissed, but I can’t keep this up. You have kids now. You know how important it is to be around for them.” Brian lowered his eyes to the table. “I can’t screw this up anymore. I only get one chance to raise these kids. I let Julie down. I won’t let Melissa down or my kids again.”
“You can juggle if you’re careful. It doesn’t have to be either, or, Bri.”
“No, you can juggle. I can’t. It’s a proven fact that I can’t. Look what happened to my daughter—on my watch!” Brian shook his head, trying not to get emotional. Giving up his job was hard enough. He didn’t need people second guessing the decision. “I won’t do to Melissa what I did to Julie. I owe her . . . I owe her everything, a family and a full-time husband.”
“Can you be happy if you’re not on the job?”
“I’ll be happy as a clam,” Brian said. “I can’t wait to be my own boss. Get the sergeant off my back—make my own rules.”
“Yeah . . . well, I hope you don’t regret it.”
“Give me something on Jeffries. What did they find in the search?”
“Loads and loads of pictures. All ages. Disgusting,” Johnny sneered. “He had quite a racket going on at the Community Center . . . pictures of kids as young as six.”
“Oh my God.” Brian snarled. “Nasty son of a bitch.” The idea of anyone looking at his daughter’s pictures made Brian sick. He felt fire in his stomach and wanted to hurl at the idea, but he had to ask, regardless of the answer he had to ask.
“Where did my daughter’s pictures go?”
“Bri—”
“Just spit it out, Bennett! You’re going to tell me eventually. Get it over with so I can sleep at night.”
“There’s one buyer. The FBI got him yesterday. He liked the older girls. They believe he’s the only buyer for Erin’s photos.”
“So he’s been arrested?”
“Yeah, but Bri, they’re not totally sure . . . they’re assuming. It seems Jeffries liked to post the older girls’ photos on stock photo porn sites . . .”
“Fuck!” Brian laid his head back and shook it. “Please don’t let my daughter’s pictures be on the internet.”
“Yeah, and you know how that goes. The internet is forever.”
Brian’s stomach rolled. He looked at Johnny and said, “And Erin’s . . .”
“They haven’t found any of Erin’s online, but I thought I should warn you.” Johnny said, “Most of the direct buyers have been picked up. Jeffries kept some serious records. I promise you, he wasn’t as loyal to Ackerman as Ackerman was to him. He kept shit on all his buyers.” Johnny’s face wrinkled in disgust. “Anyway, the ICE is all over this. I think it hits pretty close to home since he got to your daughter and the DA’s daughter. They’re all sittin’ ‘round wondering what they would do if it were their kids.”
“Kaiser’s kid, too, huh?”
Johnny shook his head. “Yep.”
“They have to get this guy, Bennett.”
“And they will.” Johnny shook his head. “Give them time—and God help him if I catch him first. I’ll make him a cripple.”
“I’m counting on it.” Brian finished his coffee and said, “Keep me informed.”
Johnny nodded, reaching across the table to shake Brian’s hand. “See you later, Bri.”
“I can’t believe you’re moving in with us,” Erin said as she wrapped up another glass from the cabinet.
“It does seem a bit fast, doesn’t it?”
“No! I think it’s cool, but aren’t you going to miss your apartment?”
Melissa looked around, her eyes lingering on the spot where Chase had knocked her to the floor. She took a deep breath and shook her head. “No, not really. I would rather be with you guys than be here alone.”
“Melissa, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Why?”
“Maybe we should wait until Daddy can help us.”
“No, honey, I’m fine.” Melissa smiled at her, trying to push away the dark thoughts.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.” Melissa looked at her and asked, “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Uh . . .” Erin’s eyes touched the same spot on the floor where Melissa had been staring. “Honestly, I’m worried you only agreed to live with us because you’re no longer comfortable here.”
Heat drained from Melissa when she met Erin’s eyes.
“My dad loves you. I don’t want him to get hurt.”
Melissa chuckled and reached out to hug Erin. “I love you! You’re a good daughter.” She led Erin to the couch and sat down with her. “Erin, I’ve loved your dad my entire life.” She smiled, remembering him as a child, his unwavering loyalty and heartfelt empathy for everyone—everything. He had been one-of-a-kind. “Nobody has ever meant more to me . . . and I tried to stop. I tried like crazy to forget about him. He wanted Julie, and I would have never interfered with them. I also believed he and I would never be together again, but now it’s happened, and I wouldn’t walk away from this for anything in the world.” She had to swallow down her tears. “I thought you understood that.”
“But before, you weren’t comfortable staying in my mom’s house and now you’re suddenly okay with it.”
“You don’t miss a thing, do you?” Melissa smiled, pride seeping in at how quick—and honest—Erin was being with her. “It’s true. I’m not totally comfortable living in your mom’s house, but, Erin, that has a lot to do with you and Cody.”
Erin’s eyes drifted to the floor. “I think it’s a good thing.”
“I love your dad—and you and Cody—enough to get over my apprehensions, but I also love you all enough to wait if we need to. I don’t want you or Cody to think I’m trying to replace your mom. This is a lot to take in after only a few months.”
“Cody and I are both happy you’re going to be a part of our family . . . and I believe my mom would like it, too.”
Melissa laughed, but she couldn’t put any humor in it. “I think your mom would hate it.”
“No, she loved you, too. She used to talk about you when Dad wasn’t around. She really missed you.” Erin laced her fingers together and said, “I also think she’d be proud of Daddy, and she would want him to be happy.”
Melissa fought to hold in her tears. “I miss her. I hate that I wasted years being angry with her. The truth is—I feel a little guilty about your dad. I’ve been trying to tell myself he was mine first, but . . .” She shrugged. “That doesn’t really matter does it?”
“Don’t feel guilty. Feel happy. I finally have another girl in the house. Do you know what it’s like shopping for bras with your father?” Erin rolled her eyes. “Melissa, we’ve had enough bad things. Between losing mom and all this stuff with Coach and Chase . . .” Erin teared up. “We deserve some good times without guilt.”
Melissa hugged her again. “Thank you, sweetheart. I’ll stop feeling guilty and try to enjoy every minute of this. I really do love your daddy, and I’m really excited about getting married.”
Erin smiled wide. “And having a baby?”
“And, one day, having a baby. Oh God, I can’t wait to have a baby.”
“What’s going on in here?” Brian asked as he entered the room. Melissa and Erin both looked up with smiles and tears. “Hey . . . what the hell?” he asked, lifting his hands in question.
“Hi,” Melissa said. “Nothing is going on. We’re just talking. What are you doing here?”
“I can see nothing is going on, including packing. I came to help.” He waved at the boxes, “Heavy lifting. Except you’re supposed to be packing, not talking.”
“We are packing. Here, big guy,” Melissa said, pointing to a stack of boxes. “Take these. They’re ready.”
Chapter Fifty-Three
Brian backed his truck into his driveway and parked. Where the hell was he going to put all this stuff? He got out and stared at the load, scratching under his baseball cap.
“You look a little perplexed,” Ali said from behind him.
He jerked around. “Hey, Al. I hope you brought help.”
She chuckled. “I brought Jamie, and Johnny is right behind me with the truck . . . and me, of course.” She reached into the truck for a box.
“Stop!” Brian shouted. “You’re pregnant. You don’t get to carry boxes. Maybe you should go help the girls pack.”
“I’m fine, and I’m here to unpack after you men bring the stuff in.”
“Gimme that.” Brian took the box from her and followed her into the house.
When he came back outside, he nearly walked directly into Matt Wilson. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to talk,” Matt said.
“Yeah, would you like to talk about how you helped my daughter keep secrets, which eventually led her to shoot her teacher? Is that what you want to talk about?” Brian pointed to Matt’s chest. “Or how about, when you found her running from the crime scene, and you still didn’t tell us anything.”
“Sir, I know you—”
“I trusted you, Wilson. That’s what I did,” Brian said.
“And so did Erin, sir.” Matt put his shoulders back. “I’m sorry if I let you down, but Erin is my first priority. She’s where my alliance stands. Shouldn’t it be that way?” He bowed his head for a second before meeting Brian’s eyes again. “She needed my support during whatever she was going through, and it’s her trust I want most. I’m sorry if you can’t respect that.”
Brian placed his hands on his hips, staring at Matt, pissed off. Yes, he was pissed, but not at Matty’s tone, or at what he’d said, but at how this kid had figured this shit out before Brian had. If Brian had shown a little bit of this dedication to his own wife—to his own family—Erin wouldn’t have been in the position with Jeffries in the first place.
Matt dropped his head and turned to walk away.
“Wait.” God damn it. This freaking kid—how had he become a man before Brian’s eyes? Brian smiled, remembering the eleven-year-old who had first come into the station, wanting to join the police explorers program. Too freaking young, they had to turn him away, then again at thirteen, when he came back with a cracking voice and an eager spirit. This fucking kid had already become twice the man Brian was, and here Brian was, being an ass to him. How the hell could he not let Matty be in Erin’s life? Brian would be one lucky son of a bitch if his own son turned out half as good as Matty Wilson, and it was about damn time he showed this man the same amount of respect he’d shown Brian.
“Matty . . . Matt” Brian rubbed a hand to his chest, not sure how to say what he needed to say. “I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right.”
“I’m sorry?” Matt asked, confusion lining his face.
“You’re absolutely right. Your alliance . . . your dedication should be with your girl, not with her dad . . . not with anyone or anything else. The person you love should always be your priority. I’m sorry I didn’t respect that. Thank you for being there for Erin when I wasn’t.”
“Uh . . . thank you, sir.”
“It’s Brian. Stop calling me sir. It makes me feel old.” Brian held his hand out to shake Matt’s. “You’re welcome to date my daughter, provided you continue treating her respectfully.”
Matt grinned, and Brian saw a little hint of the kid he remembered. “Thank you, sir—Brian.” He waved to the boxes. “Can I help with the moving?”
“Yes, but not here. Will you head over to Melissa’s and help the girls? I’m a little uncomfortable with them being alone. I’d feel better if they had someone with them.”
Matt nodded, and the serious look on his face almost made Brian laugh.
“I’ll head over there now.”
“Thanks,” Brian said, turning as Johnny pulled up in his pickup.
Ali turned the corner, smiling like the Cheshire cat. “That was well done, Brian.”
“Huh? Oh.” He looked back at Matt, who was pulling away from the curb. “That punk likes to remind me of what an ass I can be.” He smiled. “He really is a good guy.”
Ali nodded and turned to go back inside the house.
Brian approached Johnny. “Perfect timing. We’re almost done.”
Johnny snapped his fingers. “Aw, shucks.”
“Don’t worry.” Brian laughed and pointed to the truck. “I saved some of the work for you.”
“Dad!” Cody shouted from behind Brian. He ran up to them, pointing to the house. “There’s something wrong with Auntie Ali. She’s sick or something. Brian and Johnny both turned and rushed into the house.
Ali was leaning over the sink throwing up.
“Ali, what—”
“Melissa!” She screamed, and Brian’s blood chilled.
“There’s someth—oh God!” Ali screamed again, wrapping her hands around her neck. “Where is she?”
“She’s at her apartment with Erin.”
The hair on the back of Brian’s neck stood up at the expression on Ali’s face.
“No—” she said, pulling at the neck of her shirt with her eyes closed tightly. “I feel like . . . oh God—There’s something—something’s wrong with her!” She looked around frantically and screamed, “Melissa!” She grabbed her phone and started dialing, but her hands shook so much, the phone slipped and hit the ground.
“Whoa, Ali.” Johnny grabbed her arms, trying to get her to sit down. “What’s going on, sweetheart?”
Ali met Brian’s eyes, and the stark fear in her expression took Brian’s breath away.
“There’s something—she’s hurt—oh God.” She gasped again and pounded her chest with her palm then she reached for Brian, clutching his arm. “Something’s wrong with her!”
Melissa taped the last box and marked it. “Why don’t you start in my room? There’s a set of luggage under my bed. Start with the dresser. I need to run down to the warehouse. I have some stuff stored down there that Brian can take when he gets back. When I’m done, we can work in the office.”
“Okay, and Daddy can’t accuse us of not working when he gets back,” Erin said, rolling her eyes.
Melissa trotted down the stairs with the keys to the backdoor of the warehouse. She walked to the back of the building and stood in front of the steel door. Staring at it, she broke out into a sweat. God, Lis, go in already. It’s daylight, and there’s no boogieman in there—just spiders. She chuckled and jiggled the key into the lock.
“Hey!”
She jumped and turned quickly. “Matt! Oh my God, you scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry.” He grinned, and Melissa wondered why he looked so happy. “Brian sent me over to help.”
Brian . . . wow, she must have missed something. “Really? Okay . . . I guess he’s over his anger with you.”
Matt nodded. “We had a good talk.”
“That’s great . . . really great.” She smiled and pointed up to the apartment. “Erin is upstairs. You can go help her. I’m going to get some boxes ready for Brian when he gets here.”
Matt frowned at her. “Maybe I should help you with these boxes first.”
Melissa nodded, relieved she didn’t have to go into the warehouse alone. “Okay.” She jiggled the key, but couldn’t get the rusty padlock to open.”
“Let me try,” Matt said. He popped the shackle up and down until it had some play, then he turned the key and yanked on the base until it sprang open.
“Ah, thanks!” Melissa said.
Matt removed the padlock and swung the hasp open before pushing through the door.
The warehouse had a row of windows near the ceiling, atop cinderblocks and steel framing, with a few tall windows halfway down to the floor. With the windows painted over, the space was completely black, except for the light coming through one
window which was obviously broken. She held her breath against the smell of dust and stale air as she entered.
“Looks like you have a broken window.” Matt said, “Where’s the light switch?”
“When did that happen?” She stared at the jagged glass across the vast expanse and hoped there were no birds trapped inside. “I’ll get the light. There’s a string over . . .” She walked farther into the room and around the door Matt was holding open. She reached for the string to switch the light, but before she found it, the room went dark. Then she heard a scuffle, a grunt, and a thud.
“Matt?”
She tried to focus her eyes in the darkness as hurried footsteps approached. She reached her hands out, swinging at whatever was approaching, but when her hands made purchase, a fist slammed into her face.
The blow knocked her back and pain exploded in her face. She tried to scream, but a hand clamped over her mouth. An arm wrapped around her chest, clutching her arms to her sides. Her first thought went to Matt. She prayed he wasn’t critically injured. Then she thought of Erin, upstairs alone. How long before Brian returned?
Melissa tried to take a breath, but with the hand over her mouth and the arm squeezing her chest, she couldn’t get enough air.
“Shut up, or I’ll break your neck.” The whispered threat confirmed it wasn’t Chase. She wasn’t sure whether to be more afraid or relieved.
“Where’s the little bitch?” He breathed through gritted teeth. “That little tramp who shot me.”
Oh God . . . oh my God. Melissa tasted the bile burning her throat. Don’t panic—don’t panic, Melissa. Be calm and breathe. She tried to inhale when he adjusted his grip, but the pressure was too tight around her chest.
He squeezed her again. “Tell me where she is!”
Melissa grunted, trying to breathe. “Not . . . here,” she sputtered when he loosened his hand from her mouth to her throat.
“Liar! She’s here. I recognized her voice and that sweet little laugh.” He towed her across the floor, lifting her feet off the concrete as he went. Melissa felt the twist around her neck and tried to move with him instead of against him, afraid he really would break her neck if tested.