CAISEY STEPPED ASIDE so the rush of agents could pass by her in the hall early the next morning. She knew the surge of adrenaline that made a cop’s eyes focus and darken, she’d felt it many times when the rush of the hunt coalesced into action and investigation became arrest. Something was going down this morning, and here she was headed to her desk for more hours of computer searches.
Caisey set the extra-hot vanilla latte in front of Liam and hung her jacket on the back of her desk chair. “Okay, hit me.”
His mouth twitched. “They think they finally got a lead on the Chloroform Killer.”
No wonder they were in such a hurry. “They’ve been pulling all-nighters for weeks. I’d be fired up for a takedown too, if it meant being home in time for dinner for once. What’d they get?”
Liam laughed. “Tire tracks on the vehicle used to dump the body in Aurora led to a plumber.”
Caisey shook her head. “There’s no way he’s that stupid.”
“Maybe.”
“So why didn’t you go with them?”
Liam shrugged and picked up his coffee mug. “It’s been a crazy few weeks.”
“So you’re saying that your health and well-being comes before catching the decade’s most notorious serial killer?” Caisey grinned even though he wasn’t looking at her. “Or were you just not in the mood for a takedown because you’re a wee bit tired?”
“You’re a pain, you know that?”
Caisey laughed. “Yeah, but you love me anyway.”
“Love might be too strong of a word.” Liam’s gaze settled on his computer screen and he clicked the mouse. “It’s possible, anyway, likely even, that all this is connected. Your house was broken into and then the guy impersonating state patrol kidnapped Gabe. I’d like to tread cautiously. The sheriff is still unaccounted for.”
“Most of that links back to Gabe’s uncle, not the investigation.”
“I know. And it depends on what the State guys dig up on the guy they have in Buckshot pretending to be one of their cops. Then they have to co-ordinate with Denver police and the guy they have here.”
“They haven’t sent you anything yet?”
Liam shook his head. “They’re not even done processing evidence on Emma Allens’ murder, which I guess means they’re no closer to figuring out what the heck happened with the sheriff. And the BOLO hasn’t turned up anything yet, so he’s still at large.”
“Yippee.” She blew out a breath.
“Gabe’s dad agreed to help?”
Caisey nodded. “So we’re not supposed to go after Gabe’s uncle now, until Toben coughs up what he knows. And that won’t happen until after the agents on the case approach Gabe with the offer. I guess he wants to see Gabe before he dies. Which means I get to sit here until either Holden gets indicted, or he tries to kill Gabe again.”
Liam tilted his head to one side. “I wouldn’t be worried about sitting here. I’d be worried about going outside.”
Caisey rolled her eyes. “Wow, that’s super helpful. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Liam leaned back in his chair. “Where is Gabe, anyway?”
“How should I know? He disappeared with Nic.”
Liam’s lips twitched. “He chose his cousin over you? How dare he?” Caisey glared at her partner.
“And how’s Grams?”
“Dehydrated. They admitted her to hospital, but only so they could give her fluids because she can’t keep anything down.” Caisey shifted in her chair.
“Why don’t you go see her?”
“I need to clear out some of my work first. I’ll go as soon as I’m done.”
Liam nodded. “Let’s get to work then.”
**
Jenna stood at the window of her spa with her arms folded and one toe tapping on the tile. Her stomach felt like the time she drank orange juice and it was fizzy. She stared across the street where he’d been when she walked from the parking lot to open the spa that morning, carrying her large sugar free, nonfat latte.
That was two hours ago.
He was still there, leaning back against the car that had been her favorite ever since she discovered they existed. Every time traffic passed she wondered if he’d be gone, but he was still there—the arms of his light blue button down shirt folded across his chest. His legs were even crossed at the ankles.
Nic. She couldn’t even say his name out loud or she’d likely start crying right here.
She should probably call the cops and have him forcibly removed, but he was across the street and she’d have a hard time explaining exactly what he’d done. Standing there staring at her wasn’t exactly illegal. Not to mention that part of her wanted to run across the street and throw herself at him. Except instead of kissing him, she’d more likely burst into tears and end up blubbering on his shoulder.
She was stronger than that…she hoped.
He’d been the one to dump her. Therefore girl-law stated that she had to resist the urge to make the first move. Play it cool and make him come to her, groveling on his knees for leaving her and Jake high and dry. Then she would take pity on him and accept his apology. Then she could throw herself at him and they could make out…you know, after the third date.
But who said that was what he wanted? Maybe he was only here for Jake. Or just to freak her out. That made more sense, being as it had been two hours and he hadn’t even moved.
The passenger door opened and another man climbed out—a man with two black eyes, looking more than worse for wear. Ouch. It reminded her of when Caisey was beaten up. He said something across the car, but Nic just shook his head. The other man rounded the vehicle and Nic grabbed his arm. They had words, and it was Nic who waited for a break in traffic to cross the street.
Jenna grabbed her phone and sent a quick text. She was going to stand strong, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t call in reinforcements of her own. She quickly settled behind the counter and perused the schedule to see what needed to be rearranged if she was going to be busy the rest of the day. Plus it had the added bonus of making it look like she hadn’t been stressing this whole time.
The door swished open and Jenna saw Pam’s eyes go wide. She knew how her receptionist was feeling, since just one of them had enough of a presence to take a girl’s breath away. Together they were a double threat, shot-through-the-heart style.
“Jenna?”
She wanted to squeeze her eyes shut. The sound of his voice was like a breath of cool air in summer. Instead, she straightened her spine and looked up. “Hello, Nic.”
He swallowed. “How are you?”
She looked instead at the other man.
He strode forward, smiling. “Gabe Carlen.”
There was only one man with that name Jenna knew. “Gabe? The Gabe?”
His lips twitched. “Last time I checked.”
It was the guy, Caisey’s dream man from the date-to-end-all-dates. Jenna’s eyes burned, so she blinked.
Nic glanced back and forth between them. “You guys know each other?”
“Uh…” It was Gabe! A million questions flew through her mind. Jenna shook them all out and said, “Does Caisey know you’re here?”
He nodded.
Jenna smiled. “That explains why you look like someone beat the crap out of you.”
He laughed. “She didn’t do this.”
Well, that meant Caisey was going to delete her dating profile now and leave Jenna hanging. Jenna felt the smile, so big her cheeks ached. “It’s really nice to meet you, Gabe.”
“Um…excuse me,” Nic said. “I’m here too.”
Jenna straightened her spine and looked at him. “Jake and I are well, thank you.” She glanced at Gabe, who had a small smile on his face that said he knew how hard this was for her. But he had no idea.
She turned back to Nic. “What do you want?”
It was then she knew that this was make-or-break time for him. The look in his eye was one she’d never seen. The boy she knew had become a man, a serious man.
“I want my life back.” He blew out a breath. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to talk. I know we have to go slow with this, but I want to meet Jake when you decide its okay. I’ve missed a lot…too much. But I’d like to know the two of you.”
“And if that isn’t something I want?” It broke her heart to say it, but she got the words out. She needed to know where he stood.
“Then I’ll walk away. If you don’t want me in your life, that’s up to you. But I think we’ll be missing out on something. But Jake is almost an adult and I am his father. When he turns eighteen I’ll be offering him the choice to get to know me.”
“Why now?” She said it before she even knew she wanted an answer. “What’s changed?”
“That’s a fair question, Jenna. But I have one for you.” He took a breath. “Why did you never tell me I had a son?”
Jenna’s world rocked. “I was going to, but before I could say it you broke up with me. I went to your house and your dad chased me off.”
“So why didn’t you keep trying?”
“I wrote you a letter.”
“I never got it.”
She swallowed. “It’s plain to see that now.”
He looked incredibly disappointed, but what else could Jenna have done? It was right around the time Caisey had been beaten up and they’d both been dealing with everything that was happening. She’d figured if Nic cared, he’d have found her. Besides, who wanted to be with someone who only hung around because they felt obligated? And exposing a helpless baby to a grandfather like that? He’d scared the life out of Jenna.
“Caisey was right when she said I wasn’t good enough for you. She was part of what made me realize I’d been too scared before, taking the easy way out.”
“When did you see Caisey?”
He ran a finger across a dark mark on his jaw. “Yesterday.”
“And she hit you?”
“She had every right to. So do you. I—” Nic sighed. “I can’t believe what a mess I made of this.”
Jenna came out from behind the desk. Thankfully the lobby was clear of people and Pam had judged the situation well enough she’d made herself scarce. Jenna wanted to run in her office and lock the door, cry it all out, and then come back out and be strong. Caisey would know how to handle this. She would know what to say, but maybe a smart remark wasn’t what was needed here.
He was obviously broken. She could see it in the slump of his shoulders and the sheen of tears in his eyes. Could they make something out of this mess? Maybe not the blessed life they were supposed to have had, but some semblance of happiness?
Jenna sucked in a breath and nodded. “We should talk.”
**
Caisey pulled into a tight space in front of Jenna’s spa and raced inside where her best friend was facing off against Nic and Gabe.
Gabe’s face changed when he saw her. “Hey, I was going to call you.”
Caisey needed to tell him about the agent’s visit to his dad, but couldn’t think what he might need to speak to her about. It was clear that the reality had been far off the memory of who he was, but she shouldn’t be surprised. He was a regular guy, not a fantasy, and she was here for Jenna anyway. A girl needed her best friend when her kid’s dad walked back into her life after nearly two decades.
She brushed past Gabe and got between Nic and Jenna. “Let’s go in your office.”
Jenna smiled. “It’s okay, Case, we agreed to talk.”
“Jenna—”
“I’ve already made the decision. And honestly, this is between me and Nic. I thought I might need you, but I’m doing okay on my own.”
“Of course you are, but I don’t want you to make the wrong choice.”
“And I need you to help me make the right one?”
Caisey flinched. “I didn’t mean that. Listen, let’s just go in your office and we can figure this out. You shouldn’t make a decision on the fly. You need time to think this through.”
“You don’t get it.” Jenna smiled. “I’ve had years to think it through.”
“So you’re just going to let him walk all over you again? What if he decides it’s not worth it and leaves?”
The smile dropped from her face. “You don’t think I’m worth it?”
“No.” Caisey shook her head. “That isn’t what I meant—”
“But you think he’s going to leave me again. Is that why you warned him off me in the first place?” Jenna crossed her arms. “Why don’t you tell me about that, Caisey?”
Caisey felt Nic move closer to her back. Did he think he was going to help? “It isn’t you, Jenna. There are other factors here you don’t know about. It has to do with...with when I was attacked.”
“What does that have to do with Nic?” She glanced between them and took a step back at what she saw. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“It’s complicated. It’s—”
“Were you ever going to tell me? I know you were trying to protect me, but I wanted the chance to figure out the relationship myself. I didn’t get the chance to tell Nic about the baby and by the time I got to speak to him he’d already taken your advice.”
Nic chimed in. “Jenna—”
“No. Both of you are keeping stuff from me. Did you think I couldn’t handle it? Because I’m not as weak as y’all think I am.” Her eyes narrowed on Caisey. “I’m doing fine. I thought I might need your help, but I don’t. Thanks for coming. I know how busy your schedule is.”
Actually it was, and Caisey really needed to get back to the office, but she didn’t move. “Don’t be like this, Jenna. We don’t think you’re weak.”
“Are you or are you not keeping things from me?”
“It wasn’t important and at the time I really didn’t want to talk about it.”
Jenna shook her head. “What does you being attacked have to do with Nic?”
Caisey took a breath.
“It was my dad who did that to Caisey.”
Jenna looked at her, and Caisey squeezed her eyes shut.
“She was right not to want that in your life, in Jake’s life.” Nic’s voice wavered when he said his son’s name.
Caisey looked at Nic and smiled. “He really does look like you.”
“No!” Jenna whirled around. Her face morphed to anger. “You don’t get to do that. He doesn’t get to have that from anyone except me. You have no right.”
“Jenn—”
“No! I don’t need your help anymore.” Jenna whirled around, raced off to her office and slammed the door.
Caisey winced.
“Come on.” Gabe tugged on her arm. “Let’s give them some room.”
She didn’t want to, but the look on Nic’s face made her retreat outside with Gabe. “We should be quick. I don’t like you being exposed on the street like this.”
Jenna was mad at her. Caisey had been trying to do the right thing, but Jenna didn’t seem to agree, and she wouldn’t even let her explain.
Gabe studied her. “I wasn’t trying to insult you yesterday. I just get what you’re doing, that’s all.”
“Fine. You get me. Great.”
“Yeah, it is actually.” He stepped closer. “Because I’m not leaving. And I’m not going to let your steel reinforced sense of self-preservation push me away. I’m going to break through.”
She really didn’t like the sound of that. “I’m not some kind of challenge you have to overcome.”
Gabe smiled. “Yes, you are. The best kind.” Caisey huffed. “I am not—”
Gabe stepped back. “Don’t you have to get back to work?”