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“Jason’s savior, I understand,” Jack said.
“She’s my mommy,” Jason stated.
Kelly caught Jason’s eye and placed a finger over her lips to quiet him. He giggled and began to eat the food on his plate.
Greta bustled into the room and served Kelly while Courtney narrowed her eyes on Jason. Was this one of Trey’s girlfriends? According to Patrice, the number of old flames was staggering.
“The Gallaghers are some of our oldest friends,” Senior said.
“And my father invited them to dinner,” Trey said. “He wanted to catch up.”
Kelly met Trey’s gaze. So he hadn’t extended the invitation? Maybe he hadn’t even known about it.
“It had to be tonight,” he continued, “since Father is leaving tomorrow.”
The tightness in Kelly’s gut released a little.
“Tomorrow? Oh, no,” Carol Gallagher wailed. “Can’t you stay a few more days, Alex?”
Suppressing a smile, Kelly cut into the grilled steak Greta had placed on her plate. Medium rare. Perfect, just like the fact Senior was leaving.
“I was hoping for a round of golf on this fabled course,” Jack said. “I need revenge.”
“Better not, Daddy,” Courtney drawled. “You know Mr. Wentworth always beats you.”
“What do you say we take it up to a thousand dollars a hole?” Jack asked.
Senior shrugged and took a swallow of an amber liquid in a crystal glass.
“How long have you been a cop?” Courtney asked just as Kelly had started to chew.
Kelly swallowed and took a sip of wine. “I’m a rookie.”
“What department?” Jack asked.
“Miami-Dade County.”
“Oh, my,” Carol said, eyes wide. “Weren’t they in the paper today, Jack?”
“Yes,” Courtney said. “Something about secret payoffs?”
Jack nodded at his wife and daughter. “That was a disturbing report.”
“Nothing but allegations at this point,” Trey said. “Don’t believe everything you read.”
Courtney’s huge green eyes swept Kelly’s uniform. Wearing a superior smirk, she lowered her gaze, and Kelly suspected she was searching for her service weapon. Courtney wore a lovely emerald silk blouse that matched her eyes, and Kelly again wished she’d changed.
“Have you ever seen a cop take a bribe?” Courtney asked.
“Absolutely not,” Kelly stated. “Every officer I know is honest.”
“Still,” Carol said, “where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.”
“How about you?” Courtney asked with a laugh. “Have you ever taken a bribe?”
Kelly put down her fork. “Did you really ask me that?”
“Just making conversation,” Courtney said, looking away.
“Why don’t we let Kelly eat?” Trey said.
“Well, yes,” Carol said. “The poor thing had to work all day. She must be exhausted.”
Kelly took a sip of wine. Too bad the “poor thing” had just lost her appetite again. She doubted either of these women had ever worked a day in their lives. And Jack had probably inherited his fortune. She didn’t know that, of course, but from the looks of all three of them, they had all the cash they wanted.
Pushing away useless resentment, she glanced at Jason to check on his progress. He grinned at her, mouth full. She smiled back and indicated he should chew with his mouth closed.
“Eat your dinner, Jason,” Senior barked.
Jason looked at his plate and put down his fork.
Silence fell over the table for several long minutes.
Jack cleared his throat. “Anything exciting happen at work today, Kelly?”
“Well, let’s see,” Kelly said, deliberately making her tone as light as his had been. “I arrested a man.”
Carol leaned forward. “What did he do?”
“Punched his wife in the face. Broke her nose.”
Carol gasped, and Kelly regretted her inexplicable need to shock these people out of their white bread lives.
“He hit her?” Jason asked in a thrilled voice. “In the face?”
Oops. How could she have forgotten about Jason? Kelly shot a glance at a stunned Trey. Well, at least she hadn’t mentioned all the blood.
