Josie didn’t know how she got from the top of the stairs to the bottom in barely the blink of an eye, but all she cared about was reaching her boy. When she saw him, she let out a gasp of anguish, seeing him lying limp in her father’s arms. She immediately feared the worst.
“He seems okay,” Tim said as he lifted Archie into her arms. “Thankfully he fell only about five feet and the table broke his fall, but he’s had a nasty shock.”
She looked down at her son’s face and body, searching every inch of him for signs of injury. She saw none, but she knew he could have unseen injuries. She then focused on his eyes. They were open, blinking as fast as his breathing.
“Sorry, Mom,” Archie murmured. “Don’t be mad.”
She was too focused on checking him over to answer. His pupils seemed dilated, and his expression was a little distant. She turned to Blade, who was standing by her side. Detectives Pullman and Sykes were also in the hallway, drawn by the commotion.
“We need to get him to the hospital,” she said. “Right away.”
Blade took a few seconds to examine Archie, who smiled at his father in a sheepish way. “Let’s not be hasty,” he said. “I think he’s fine.”
“Of course you think he’s fine,” she snapped. “You and I have completely different ideas about safeguarding Archie’s health. I’m sure his leg would need to be hanging off before you agreed to take him to the ER.”
“Archie,” Blade said, not even bothering to acknowledge her comment. “How do you feel?”
“I’m okay,” he said, wriggling out of his mother’s arms and standing on his feet. “But I broke the plant.” He looked at the floor. “Sorry.”
Josie looked sharply at the spot where Archie was pointing. There, on the wooden boards, was a broken china pot, its dark earth spilling out and the leafy plant uprooted. That must’ve been the crack she had heard. She put her hand to her face, relieved, but she still couldn’t let go of the fear that an injury had occurred.
“It doesn’t matter about the plant,” she said, lifting his chin to force his eyes to meet hers. “Does anything hurt?”
He shook his head.
“It’s important that you tell me if you have any pain,” she said. It was common for Archie to hide any discomfort if he thought it would upset her. “I’m not mad at you.”
Again, Archie shook his head. He was now retreating into his shell, embarrassed at having caused a drama. She wouldn’t be able to get him to open up for a good while now. And in the meantime, he could have swelling or bleeding on the brain.
She picked him up again, deciding to act rather than deliberate. “I’m taking him to the ER. You can all stay here if you want to, but I’m going.”
Blade kept his voice smooth. “Try to calm down. Tim saw Archie fall, and it wasn’t too far or too serious. I think you’re overreacting.”
This hit a nerve. “What did you say? My son falls from a banister onto a hard wooden floor and you accuse me of overreacting because I want him checked over by a doctor?”
“I have an idea,” Detective Sykes said, stepping forward, clearly trying to defuse the tension. “The police have a pathologist on call for forensics at crime scenes. He’s a fully qualified doctor, and I’m sure he’d be happy to check Archie over to put your mind at rest. If he’s free right now, he could be here in less than ten minutes. Shall I call him?”
“Yes, please do that,” Josie said.
She felt Archie’s hand grip the hem of her sweater. “Mom, you said you weren’t mad, but you are. I’m sorry about the plant. I’ll pay for it with my allowance.”
This caused her cheeks to flush hot with sadness and shame. “I’m not mad, honey. Really, I’m not.” She stroked his head. “I’m just worried about you.”
Tears fell down her face, and Archie started to cry, too. He reached up to his father, and Blade deftly lifted him into his arms.
“Hey, buddy,” Blade said softly. “Your mom’s had a really tough day and she’s sad, but she’ll be fine.”
Blade’s words reminded Josie of the blinding flash of the explosion and the heat that followed. The memory did nothing to help stop the tears, but she tried her very best to keep her voice stable.
“Your dad’s right, Archie. I’m sad that I won’t see you for a while, and I want to make sure you’re okay before you leave.”
Archie’s tears abated a little, and Blade passed him into Tim’s arms. “You go with Granddad into the living room and wait for the doctor while I talk to Mom.”
“Am I still going to Dodge City?” he asked as he was carried across the hallway by Tim.
Josie wished she could be as bright and cheerful as Blade, who was soothing Archie’s fears much better than she was.
“You sure are,” he said with a smile. “Detective Pullman is driving you there in the movie car a little later.”
Archie punched his fist in the air. This was the name he had given to the black SUVs driven by the detectives, because of the television screens built into the seatbacks.
“Yes!” he said. “I can watch cartoons.”
Blade took Josie’s hand. “You’re cold,” he said. “Let’s go make some coffee or something.”
This sounded like a good idea. She needed something hot and sweet to calm her nerves. Would the anxiety of these last few days ever end? She hated not knowing where Cardwell was, what he was planning or if he would ever be caught. How long would she have to spend apart from her precious son? Would Archie even be well enough to travel to Dodge City, away from the danger?
And was the prediction on the note about to come true? Tomorrow you die for real.
* * *
Blade placed a mug of coffee in front of Josie, listening to the pathologist talking animatedly to Archie in the living room. Much to Josie’s disappointment, their son had requested that only his granddad be present in the room while he was examined, but both Blade and Josie had instantly guessed his reasoning. He didn’t want them to start arguing again. That fall from the banister had triggered a highly emotional reaction from his mom, and Archie knew he was responsible. Both parents would need to sit down and have a conversation before he left for Dodge City. Blade wanted Archie to take responsibility for disobeying his mother, yet his son shouldn’t harbor too much guilt about the aftermath. The only thing broken was a china pot.
“I’m sorry,” Josie said, her face pale. “You were right about Archie. He’s not hurt, but I panicked. I’m sure the pathologist will think I’m a hysterical mother.”
“Who cares what the pathologist thinks?” Blade said, sitting next to her.
He watched her moisten her full lips and bow her head over her mug, warming her hands around the edges. The fight seemed to have left her body.
“Don’t give up, Josie,” he said. “I know today was rough, but tomorrow will be better.”
She raised her head and looked at him, sending butterflies swirling in his belly.
“How will tomorrow be better?” she asked. “You saw what the note on the flowers said.”
“Forget about the note. You’re safe.”
“I have to accept that Cardwell might succeed,” she said in a monotone voice. “I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I want you to promise me that you’ll take good care of our son if the worst happens.”
Blade’s eyes suddenly filled up. He didn’t want to think about this. He didn’t want to imagine a life without Josie in it.
“I want you to promise me that you’ll take Archie’s safety seriously,” she continued. “Always make sure he wears a life vest on the water, don’t let him climb too high and please listen to his concerns, whatever they are.”
“Josie,” Blade said, taking her hand, which was still cool despite the warmth of the mug. “You’re worrying about nothing. Please stop saying these things.”
But she didn’t seem to be listening to him. “I worry that you’ll try to force Archie to be like you. He might not be comfortable hiking in the woods or learning to shoot guns.” She looked at him earnestly. “So don’t force him, okay?”
“Archie has his own unique character, and I’ll never try to force him to be like anybody else. He is who he is, and I’ll love him for the rest of my days.” Blade had to stop in order to swallow away the emotion and steady his voice. “I adore our son, Josie, and I’ll never let him down.”
“It’s strange, you know,” she said sadly. “I feel like I’ve lost him to you already. You’re the one he wants all the time.”
This recurring theme needed to be put to bed once and for all. “You have to stop thinking like this, Josie. Children need a mother and a father equally. Archie will go through phases when he’ll switch his attentions between the two of us, depending on what’s going on in his life. Right now, he’s learning how to assert his independence. He wants to push his boundaries and do things that scare him, like swing from the light fixtures and slide down banisters. It’s totally normal, and that’s why dads are an essential part of growing up. I’m strong enough to lift and carry him when he needs it, but only if he needs it.” Blade leaned back in his chair. “If he can do something by himself then I’ll let him. I have every faith in him because he’s smart and sensible.” He smiled. “The smart and sensible part is all because of you, by the way.”
He was pleased to see Josie laugh. “I agree.”
“Have you ever heard the phrase ‘Give me a child until he is seven and I’ll show you the man’?” he asked.
She shook her head, obviously wondering why he was going off track.
“It’s a phrase that’s used in lots of different churches to promote good moral teaching among very small children. Plenty of people think that the character of a child is pretty much all determined by the time he’s seven years of age, so early guidance is vital. That means Archie’s personality is already almost fully formed, and I have to say that you’ve done an exceptional job.” He swallowed away more emotion. “It’s very humbling to know that the woman I love bore my child, sacrificed so much for his happiness and is now letting me back into his life, even though I abandoned you to focus on my selfish needs.”
She looked at him in confusion. “You said I was the woman you love. You mean I’m the woman you loved, right?”
When he didn’t answer right away, her mouth dropped open. “What exactly are you saying, Blade?”
“I’m not sure,” he replied. “I think we make a good team. Archie clearly loves having us both under the same roof together. I enjoy being here with you.” He dropped his voice. “I more than enjoy it. Even when we disagree, I see a woman of strength and power who makes me proud.” He dared to look her in the eye. “I’d like to try again. I’d like to fulfill the promise that I made to you seven years ago.”
Josie’s eyes widened, and she stood up as if in panic. “You don’t have to do this, Blade.”
He hadn’t expected this reaction, but he wasn’t sure what reaction would be normal.
“I’m not saying this because I feel a sense of obligation to you,” he said. “You’re the mother of my child, but you’re more than that to me. I love everything about you.” He stopped just short of saying I love you. It didn’t look like Josie was ready to hear those words yet. “I love being with you.”
“This is too sudden, Blade,” she said, seemingly breathless. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just think about it. Try to stop seeing me as the man who’s stealing your son away and try to think of me as the man who’s here to back you up. I will always back you up, Josie, always.”
She looked a little shell-shocked and simply stared at him. The excruciating silence continued until Archie burst into the room with a beaming smile on his face. He jumped onto a chair to be at ideal hugging height for his mother. Then he curled his arms around her neck.
“The doctor says I have strong bones like a superhero,” he said. “So you don’t need to be sad anymore, Mom.”
“That’s great, honey,” she said, lifting him into the air. “You’re my very own mini superhero.”
“And I’m the full-size version,” Blade said.
She didn’t seem to appreciate his poor attempt at humor. Instead she put Archie onto his feet, ran her hands awkwardly through her hair and took a deep breath before saying, “I’ll go check the suitcases one last time. Archie, you play with Dad for a few minutes.”
Then she was gone, her mind probably awash with thoughts. After all, he had given her a lot to consider.
* * *
Security in the courthouse was the highest Josie had ever seen. Police officers were everywhere, seeming to outnumber the many people packed into the gallery for what she hoped would be the very last day in this high-profile and contentious trial. The protesters who had previously lined the path into the building were nowhere to be seen today. Josie didn’t know whether the decision to abandon the protest was voluntary or if the police had forced them to disperse, unwilling to risk a repeat of the explosion yesterday. The trial had yet again been forced to change rooms due to the damage inflicted on their previous location.
Detective Sykes had tried to persuade Josie to put herself on lockdown for the rest of the week, but Josie wouldn’t contemplate it. She had made it clear to the judge yesterday that she was ready to immediately continue the trial. He had commandeered another court and announced his decision to reconvene without further delay.
Josie had already been in the building for three hours, only a fraction of which had been spent in the courtroom setting out her case for a dismissal of the charges against her client. She thought her argument was strong, but the decision to grant her motion belonged to the judge. After putting the court in recess, he had gone away to deliberate, leaving Josie and Norman on tenterhooks.
The judge now reentered the room, and she rose from her chair, listening to the murmurings from the public gallery. The atmosphere was electric, and her client was clearly feeling the strain as he reached for her hand to squeeze in a rare show of weakness. Norman was no longer wearing his big overcoat and instead was content to attend court in a regular suit. It was a huge milestone for him, one which mattered to Josie almost as much as the result of the trial itself. Norman had taken the first step in throwing off the shackles that had bound him for his whole adult life. It was inspirational to see.
Josie cast a glance to her right, taking a look at the prosecutor. Allan Sanders hadn’t been his usual effervescent self that morning. He hadn’t even acknowledged her as she’d walked past him in the corridor, his arrogance and confidence replaced with somberness. His body language was already showing defeat.
“Before I reconvene today’s proceedings,” the judge began, “may I ask all those present to respect the order of my court. I understand that tensions are running high, but any disruption from the gallery will be dealt with swiftly and decisively.” He paused for a breath. The judge had not directly referred to yesterday’s explosion but had commended the staff for dealing with what he referred to as a “dark day” in the court’s history. “Miss Bishop, Mr. Sanders,” he said, looking between the opposing counsels. “Are you ready?”
When both she and Sanders acknowledged the affirmative, the judge picked up a piece of paper in front of him and looked around the courtroom reverently. A hush fell. Josie tried her very hardest to keep her concentration on the judge and his imminent words rather than on the death threat hanging over her. As soon as she had awoken that morning, she had thought of Orlando Cardwell’s promise for her that day. However, she knew that Blade was behind her, watching her back, protecting her, praying for her. She was comforted by, and thankful for, his presence, but her exact feelings for him were muddled and confused. Did she love him or was she simply reliant on his strong support? Could she have a future with him or was it wishful thinking on his part? She just didn’t know. And at that moment, she couldn’t allow Blade’s face to settle on her mind. The next few minutes could change Norman’s life.
“I have given full consideration to the defense counsel’s motion to dismiss the charges against Norman Francis,” the judge said. “The prosecution’s case hinges quite substantially on the witness testimony of Miss Janice Weeks, the neighbor of the defendant. It is her testimony, and hers alone, that gives credibility to the argument that Mr. Francis deliberately and knowingly led the child inside his home.” Murmurings caught in the gallery as people began to guess what the judge’s decision might be. He raised his voice slightly. “Yesterday we heard Miss Weeks admit to this court that her testimony is a falsehood, motivated by the bitter feud that exists between her and the defendant. As a result, it has now become apparent that the case for the prosecution has been largely based on a lie.”
The murmurings became louder and the judge called for order once again. Josie’s heart was hammering. When the words finally came, they were like sweet music to her ears.
“I hereby grant the defense counsel’s motion to dismiss all charges against the defendant.”
An eruption of joy burst through Josie’s chest, and she craned her neck around to find Blade’s face. She didn’t need to search hard. He was there, at the back, his wide smile instantly noticeable. Norman hung his head, wiping his thumbs beneath his eyes, and Josie was so very glad to have achieved this result for him.
She barely heard the rest of the judge’s words, as he thanked the jurors for their service and told Norman that he was free to depart the court without a stain on his character. All Josie saw was Blade, and all she could think of was his unfailing support and care of her throughout the trial.
Since he had driven through the night from North Carolina, Archie’s life had changed beyond measure. She could never have imagined that Blade’s return could have such a profound effect on her, too. The idea of the three of them being a family unit suddenly didn’t seem so crazy. Blade’s words from the previous day returned to her mind: Try to stop seeing me as the man who’s stealing your son away and try to think of me as the man who’s here to back you up. If she could only learn to accept that Blade’s parenting style complemented her own rather than undermined it, she could move forward without fear. But she didn’t know if it was possible.
The jury rose from their seats and began filing out of the courtroom, accompanied by security officers. The people of the public gallery were standing, some crying and hugging each other. For Lisa Brown’s family, the judge’s decision must have come as a hefty blow. After eighteen months of waiting, this result would be hard to take. Many people, including Lisa’s parents, had convinced themselves of Norman’s guilt. And they would now have to accept humbly that they were wrong.
“I expect you’ll be celebrating this evening, Josie. Congratulations on your victory.”
Josie turned to see Allan Sanders standing close to her, a smile fixed on his face.
“There are no winners today,” she replied. “I’m just glad that the truth prevailed in the end.” She forced herself to smile back at him. “After all, isn’t that why we’re all here?”
Sanders glanced around, seeming to check who was listening. Norman was sitting quietly, head bowed. Josie knew he was praying, probably giving a message of thanks, and she had stepped away from him to give him the space he needed.
“I don’t know about you, but I could do with winding down after all that’s happened,” Sanders said. “How about dinner tonight?”
Josie took a second or two to comprehend exactly what her opposing counsel was suggesting. Was he asking her out on a date? His change in attitude astounded her.
“I’m sorry, Allan,” she replied, thankful to have a legitimate excuse to avoid his invitation. “But that’s impossible. I’m on lockdown for the rest of the day.”
“I see,” he said, as if he knew the rejection was coming. “I had forgotten about your difficult situation.” He looked at her with an odd mixture of concern and curiosity. “Where are you staying in order to avoid these dreadful death threats?”
She picked up her heavy file of papers from the desk. “I can’t discuss that information with anybody. That’s the reason it’s called a safe house.”
She scanned the courtroom, finding Blade standing by the exit door, arms crossed, watching her every move. She smiled at him.
“And is your former SEAL bodyguard staying with you also?” Sanders asked. “You two seem close.” He leaned in. “And I must say that I’ve noticed a striking similarity between your friend and your little boy.” He wrinkled his brow. “I met your son once when I saw you at the park a while back. What’s his name? Alfie?”
Josie prickled with annoyance. The prosecutor’s intrusion was wearing thin. He seemed to be making conversation simply for the sake of it.
“Archie,” she corrected him. “Blade is my son’s father.” She saw Norman raise his head, his prayer now finished. “And what’s more,” Josie continued, surprising even herself, “he’s a great father. The best there is.”
“Glad to hear it,” Sanders said, sounding anything but glad. He picked up her briefcase from the floor. “Don’t forget this. Can I carry it to your car for you?”
“No, thank you, Allan,” she said, taking the bag from him with her free hand. From the corner of her eye, she could see Blade walking in her direction. “I’ll be just fine.”
“As you wish,” he said stiffly, taking one last glance at Norman before heading for a side door out of the courtroom.
Blade reached her side. “Congratulations on a job well done,” he said, bending to kiss her on the cheek.
She felt her color rise. Since they had waved goodbye to their son the previous evening, Blade had not mentioned again the prospect of moving to Sedgwick and trying to rekindle their romance.
“Thanks,” she said, spotting a few gray hairs peppered into Blade’s sandy curls. Had he always had them, and had she simply failed to notice them? She felt as though she was looking at him in a new and more thorough way. “It’s a big relief, I can tell you.”
Blade jerked his head at Allan Sanders, who had just stridden through the door out of the courtroom. “And what did our cheerful prosecutor have to say?”
“Nothing of any importance,” she replied, handing her briefcase to him so she could help Norman to his feet. She kept herself in check just at the last moment. Her tendency to assist those who she assumed were vulnerable was now under control.
Norman stood unaided and held out his hand for her to shake. “Thank you, Josie,” he said. “The Lord provided me with the best defender I could ever have needed, and I’m so grateful for your efforts.”
Josie ignored the hand, placed her file on the desk and drew Norman into a hug. His body felt small and awkward, as if he was unused to such shows of affection. But when she pulled back, the smile on his face spoke a thousand words.
“It was a pleasure to help you, Norman,” she said. “Like the judge said, you can go home without a stain on your character.”
“I’m grateful for more than your efforts in the courtroom, Josie,” Norman said. “You exposed my cerebral palsy to everybody when you made me stand and take off my coat yesterday. At the time, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me, but now I feel liberated. When I get home this afternoon, I’ll be burning that big overcoat I’ve always worn.”
“Good for you,” Josie said. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.” She pointed to his leg. “But first, let’s go get that GPS tracker removed from your ankle.”
She felt Blade’s arm curl around her shoulder. “And then I think that a very special public defender needs to have a celebratory dinner cooked for her by a master chef.” He leaned to whisper into her ear. “And by that, I mean me.”
She smiled, yet her stomach jolted as if she were in an elevator. Blade was trying to be upbeat, but he had just reminded her that she would now be returning to the safe house, where she must hide out for the foreseeable future. Now that the trial was over and Archie was safely in Dodge City, there would be no distractions to take her mind off the danger. It was just she and Blade riding out the storm, hoping and praying that Cardwell would soon be caught.
But at this moment, nobody had a clue where Cardwell was. He could even be right there in the courthouse, just waiting, biding his time. And there was nothing she could do to stop him.
* * *
Blade was on edge, but he hoped he was hiding it well. He had been worried all day, constantly scanning the area around Josie for signs of Cardwell. If this convict was clever enough to bring a bomb into a courthouse, then he was definitely clever enough to find a way to get close to her. Blade did not intend to let that happen, and he stood guard while Josie walked quickly from the back door of the courthouse into the waiting car in the lot. Both he and Detective Sykes were on high alert, ensuring that the path between Josie and the car was totally clear.
The dismissal of the charges had given Blade a well-needed boost to his morale, but it fundamentally changed nothing. Josie was still in danger, and he had no idea when her situation would improve. Only Cardwell’s arrest would give him the conclusion he needed.
He watched her slide into the backseat of the SUV, swinging her long legs into the footwell. Today she was wearing a tailored black pantsuit, and he wondered if the funereal attire was influenced by the death threat hanging over her head.
“All clear,” he said, sliding into the seat next to her and buckling up. “Let’s go make that celebratory dinner I was talking about.”
She smiled weakly. His attempts to cheer her up had largely fallen flat, but he had to try. Her happiness meant more to him than his own, and he couldn’t bear to see her so despondent.
Josie checked her watch. “There are still ten hours of this day left,” she said. “That’s ten more hours for Cardwell to fulfill his promise.”
“Your location is a secret to all but a tiny handful of people,” Blade said. “There’s no way Cardwell will find you.”
The emotion of the day seemed to come spilling out. “I just want my life to be back to normal,” she said, suppressing a sob. “I want my son back.” She placed a hand over her heart. “I’ve never been away from him before. I hate the thought of going home to an empty house.”
“It won’t be empty,” Blade said. “I’m there, and I’m committed to staying with you for as long as it takes.”
She dried her eyes with a tissue. “That’s kind of you, Blade,” she said. “But you have an important training regimen to stick to, and the Invictus Games are in a few months. You can’t miss the most important sporting event of your whole life.”
He hadn’t known the true strength of his feelings for her until that moment. “Yes, I can.”
She looked at him in shock. “Are you serious? You’d miss the Invictus Games for me?”
He didn’t even hesitate in his reply. “Of course I would.”
She opened her mouth and closed it again, like a fish out of water.
Blade decided that it was now or never. He had to make plain his emotions.
“I love you, Josie,” he said. “If your life is in danger, I’d miss every single Invictus Games for the rest of my life. You mean more to me than any number of medals.”
He heard her gasp, obviously surprised by his admission. Yet it was simple to him. He loved her, and his loyalty to her surpassed any sporting event, no matter how important.
“I’m honored,” she said quietly. “But I can’t ask that much of you.”
“You’re not asking me to do it,” he said. “I’m offering it freely.”
“This is all too much, Blade,” Josie said. “I need some time to think about it.”
He turned his head to look at the cars behind. “Take as much time as you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
She fell mute again. Blade noticed Detective Sykes’s expression in the rearview mirror change, and his focus shifted to what was going on outside the car. Detective Sykes suddenly pressed hard on the gas pedal, sending the car surging forward. She safely ran through a red light, and the car behind did exactly the same. Somebody was on their tail.
Blade reached for his weapon. It was time to prove that he was as good as his word.