“You did?” Zara asked excitedly.
“Just about the cop working for Ned. I didn’t tell him about Violet. Not yet.”
“Listen to me. Whatever happens between you and Tanner, it sounds to me like the man deserves to know about his daughter. And if Ned has cops working for him that know Tanner, he might be the only one who can protect that little girl, April. You have to tell him.”
April sighed. As much as she liked Tanner, and had even started to trust him, she couldn’t deny that she was still hung up on the fact that he’d actually rejected Violet before she was even born. “That’s just it, Z. He knows there’s a kid out there somewhere that’s his. Casey went to his house when she was seven months pregnant, and they told her to leave and never come back. They rejected her and his kid. They practically threw her off their front stoop!”
“That was a long time ago, April.”
April let out a puff of air. “Maybe. But I mean, how could anyone have a kid and not even care enough to know if they’re alive and safe? I mean, sure, there are people like that, but he’ll take the shirt off his back to help a guy he works with, but he won’t lift a finger to find out how his own kid is doing? How does that even make any sense?”
There was a long pause, then Zara’s eyes got big again.
“What?” April asked.
“What if he doesn’t know he has a kid?”
April sighed. “I just told you that he does. Casey told him.”
Zara shook her head. “No. You said she toldthem. Was Tanner even there? Did he see Casey and her pregnant belly?”
April had no idea. When Casey told her the story, she’d used the pronoun “them,” which April always assumed included Tanner.
“April, if he doesn’t know - if his family never told him for whatever reason - then his behavior would make complete and total sense.”
April sat up straighter at Zara’s words. “I never even considered…”
“Based on everything you know, and everything you’ve told me about this man, do you really think he’d turn his back on Violet, even if she is different from all the other kids?”
April didn’t have to think very long or hard to know the answer to that question. She’d watched him carefully break down her walls every morning on their runs. She’d seen him literally take the shirt off his back to help someone, not to mention give the man CPR. He even talked about his friends and coworkers with more compassion and loyalty than most people talked about their own flesh and blood. He was the real deal. “No. I don’t think he would.”
Zara nodded. “There you go. Tell him, April. Tell the man he’s got a daughter who needs him now more than ever. Let him help you fight this battle. You can’t take on Ned by yourself. But with Tanner’s help, I think both you and Violet could finally get the happily ever after you both deserve. When are you seeing him again?”
“Tomorrow, actually. He invited me to a barbeque one of his friends is hosting.”
“Perfect,” Zara said. “What better way is there to really get to know a guy than by the company he keeps. And then - then you’ll tell him?”
April swallowed hard, knowing she couldn’t keep putting it off. Violet was counting on her, and no matter how hard she tried to convince herself otherwise, Zara was right. If Tanner didn’t know about Violet, then everything she’d assumed about him was wrong. She already knew he wasn’t an uncaring, rich jerk who didn’t want to share his wealth. His family made regular donations to the soup kitchen, and he even personally volunteered there. No, Tanner just didn’t know Violet existed.It was the only explanation that made sense. “Yes,” April conceded. “I’ll tell him.”
Chapter 11
Tanner arrived at Garrett’s house a little earlier than usual because he wanted to make sure he got there before April. They had talked on the phone and exchanged several text messages since last night, but despite his many offers to pick her up, she’d insisted on taking an Uber to Garrett’s house. He knew there was a story behind her not having a car or driving, but whenever he pushed April about it, she always seemed to shut down on him. He’d have to be patient and just wait until she was ready to open up. He just hoped today didn’t end the way it had a few years ago for Caden and Hallie. Talk about a disaster. Luckily, the two of them found their way back to each other and worked things out just in time.
Garrett put a few steaks on the grill. “Need a hand?” Tanner asked. Garrett’s property was large for being so close to the heart of the city. It also had a private dock with access to a large lake that he and his friends often used for fishing, and sometimes even swimming.
“I’m good. How are you doing? How’s the case coming along?”
It seemed everyone in the law enforcement community knew Tanner was heading up the Arlo J murder case. Tanner just wasn’t really allowed to discuss it. He’d finally mustered up the courage to ask Blake for his alibi, and his friend hadactually reacted much better than Tanner thought he would. Blake claimed to have been meeting with a vendor at the time, and Tanner was able to confirm it with said vendor, so Blake was definitely in the clear. But there were still too many unaccounted-for variables, including the question of how Blake’s hair had ended up on Arlo J’s body.
The only other person who could’ve transferred that hair onto Arlo J was Skyla, and Tanner doubted she killed the man, even if she had met with him for some reason that morning. If Skyla had wanted to kill him, she’d had years of opportunity in which to do it. Instead, she’d allowed him to blackmail her until Blake came into her life and put a stop to it.
Tanner did plan on asking her why she’d met with Arlo J, but he didn’t see a reason to rush it. The woman healed people. The last thing she’d ever do is hurt someone, let alone kill them.
In answer to Garrett’s question, Tanner merely shrugged, giving a non-committal grunt as he popped open a cold beer.
Reese stepped out of the house carrying a bowl of more marinated steaks. “Hey, Tanner. When did you get here?”
“Just a few minutes ago.” He was still getting used to her keeping her eyes downcast to avoid meeting his gaze. “How’s the gallery set up coming along?” Reese was an artist who was finally settling into her life in Dallas after a huge ordeal with her stepbrother who’d had her committed after she’d seen something she wasn’t supposed to. Mainly, the moment of his latest victim’s death.
