Page 48 of Protect My Heart

The next item in the box was an army-issued duffle bag. He pulled it out and unzipped it. Jim removed the usual items he expected to find in a soldier’s bag— clothes, toiletries, and magazines from twenty years ago. Then he saw it, a military-issue fixed blade knife with a compass on the end of the handle.

He picked it up, pulled it from the sheath, and examined it.

“Papi’s knife.” She touched the back of the blade. “I remember when Mikey put that gouge in it when he was trying to carve his name in the concrete driveway.”

Turning the protective case upside down, he gave it a shake. Nothing came out. He handed it to her. “Well, it’s a knife. I don’t see anything unique about it. I guess he wanted you to have it.”

Doc curled her fingers around the handle. “Why the cryptic message? If he only wanted me to have his knife why didn’t he just say, ‘Some crazy guy may be after you. Arm yourself.’”

She ran her thumb over the top of the compass. “These notches are worn smooth on this side. Does this come off?”

He reached out his hand, and she placed the weapon in it. Jim examined the knife once more. This time he wiggled the handle but it didn’t move. Turning it over, he looked closer at the compass. With a little effort, the end moved. His brow rose as he spun the top off.

Doc leaned in.

Jim tipped the knife up and a key slipped into his hand.

“Never seen that before.”

“It looks like it goes to a safe. Did your mom have an old safe around?” He turned it over in his fingers. “The numbers on it don’t look like a safe-deposit box key.”

“I haven’t seen one around but I can ask her.”

Jim’s phone pinged. He checked the text. “I have to go. Work calls.”

“On call?”

“No, but there’s a new development in one of my cases. I need to meet CJ at the station.” He stood and pulled her up with him. His hands bracketed her face. A quick kiss then he steadied his dark, intense gaze on her. “When I go, arm the security system and keep the knife with you, just in case.”

“Will do, but don’t worry, I have Tigger, the world’s best guard dog.”

Said dog softly snored in the corner of the storage room. “Come on, Tig. You’re making us look bad, sleeping on the job.”

The dog stretched and yawned. His long lean form spanned the length of one shelf, shifting from front to back. His tongue lolled out as he trotted behind them up the stairs.

Jim addressed his best friend. “Seriously, Tig. You’re on the job until I get back.”

Tigger got to the top of the stairs and flopped down on the kitchen rug.

Jim rolled his eyes. I may need a backup plan.

Chapter 15

Neat piles of paperwork sat on the dining room table. Liz missed her organized office. Someday soon, she would have another—she just didn’t know where yet. She sighed and toyed with her glasses perched on the well-worn notch on her nose. She made notes in Luis’ file. The case might be all but closed from the police’s viewpoint, but she still had to deal with Luis’ treatment plan. She closed the folder and pushed her glasses up, holding her mess of waves away from her face.

“I think it’s time for a snack.” She glanced at the dog. His stub tail waved.

“Come on.” She ran a hand over his head and down his velvety ear. “I think Jim has some cookies for you on the counter.”

Tig hopped and gave a yip of excitement, but plopped his butt down and waited. His eyes never left her hand as she offered the meaty treat. With one quick gulp, the cookie disappeared and his tongue rolled out. His brown eyes sparkled as they pleaded with her for one more morsel.

Liz chuckled. “Oh, you poor deprived boy. Do you want another?”

He barked.

“You do, don’t you?” Her hand moved at a snail’s pace as she reached into the bag. Streams of drool formed on his jowls. His soldier-straight pose wavered. His butt started to wiggle. “Sit.”

He sat, but gave one more bark, as if to say, Hurry up, I’m dying over here.