He stifled a yawn. His day had started too early with a domestic hostage situation that had required some intense negotiations before resolving. Then the day had given way to a series of interviews and paperwork. He’d been headed home when he’d stopped for gas and a quick pick-up order at Rosie’s, the local bar and grill he liked to frequent. “There wasn’t anyone around, and I needed to get her here.”
“I’m not arguing with that. But we’ll need to backtrack to identify her.” Bridget turned back to the girl, straightening her spine, as if pushing her exhaustion away. “Someone is missing her.”
“If they are, we’ll find them. Even if they aren’t, we’ll track down who’s responsible for her.” No one put a girl next to the trash on his watch and got away with it.
“Good. Because she’s my assignment and I need a win.” The exhaustion in her words made it clear how true the sentence was. Her phone vibrated, and she looked at it. A weight seemed to settle on her. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
Todd was surprised by the desire to lift even a portion of her burden. He didn’t even know if she was one of the good ones.
She was putting the phone to her ear before she’d even stepped into the hall.
CHAPTER 3
“Jason, everything okay?” A fist tightened around Bridget’s middle and didn’t let go as she listened for her brother’s words. Ever since he had returned from his deployment to the Middle East, he had been different. Things had only escalated since Mom died six months earlier. The grief had layered with the complications of being responsible for her older brother in a way she never would have anticipated. It felt like she hadn’t had time to truly work through her mom’s death with the way caring for her brother had landed on her.
“It’s bad tonight.”
She rubbed her forehead as she leaned against the wall. “Have you talked to your counselor?”
“I can’t get a hold of him. That’s why I’m calling you.”
The fact the time was nearing nine o’clock probably didn’t help in reaching his counselor. The man was committed but deserved time when he wasn’t on call. “Where are you?”
“Outside the Big R Grill and Bar.”
“Don’t go inside. You know nothing good will happen if you do.”
“But all I see is my buddy lying in pieces.” The PTSD from the roadside device that had destroyed the vehicle in front of his,replayed inside Jason’s mind on repeat on the worst days. Some days, he could pause the tape. Sounded like this was a day that wasn’t working.
“What does Ryan have you do? If you could reach him, what would he tell you?”
“He’d ask if I really want to go in there.”
“Do you?”
“No.”
“Then what? What would he ask next?”
“He’d ask if I’d prayed. If I’d asked for peace.”
“Have you?”
“No.” His voice was muffled. As if he didn’t want to admit it.
“Is that why you called me? You hoped you wouldn’t have to answer that question?”
He snorted. “Maybe.”
She had to make a note of these questions. Be better prepared for next time, because with Jason, there would be a next time. “Are you ready to pray now?”
There was a long pause, but she waited. He had to make this decision on his own. He had to make it as many times as it took. Over and over. Because maybe he wouldn’t ever be cured of the PTSD from watching his friend be killed by an IED in the vehicle in front of him on his last tour in Afghanistan. Maybe he’d have to live with the survivor’s guilt that wasn’t fair. But he had survived. And she wanted to keep him here. With her. And she didn’t know what he needed.
One more way she felt helpless and incompetent.
He whispered a prayer for strength and peace. Then Bridget prayed for him. “Fill his gaps, Lord. Help Jason to see himself as you do. Amen.”
After a pause, he sniffed. “Thanks, sis.”
