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“No, there are no fucking buts here, Kat! Let’s just hope you never ever know what this feels like.”
His words sounded more like a threat than a sincere wish and it made Kat swallow, her gaze reaching across the room where Terry stood talking to Jasper.
“Calvin Finnegan Ashby,” Sadie said, her sharp voice commanding the room, “stop this nonsense right now. I know you’re hurt and I know you’re grieving, but you are also a father to that baby girl, and she is your top fucking priority. We will find out who did this. Got it?”
He glared at Sadie, a visceral hate searing in his eyes as they took in the stoicism on his mother’s face. And nodded. “Yeah I fucking got it. Thanks for your concern, Sadie.”
The emphasis he put on that word sent a shiver of unease down my spine. That silence in the room wasn’t actual silence, it was the sound of a fracture, possibly irreparable, forming in the Ashby family. And that thought scared the hell out of me almost as much as what Mueller’s death might mean for Molly.
Fuck. I need to get out of here.
“I need you to man up, Calvin. Get over your grief. We have business to take care of, or don’t you give a damn about avenging your wife’s death?”
Calvin glared at Sadie. “Like you care,” he said and finished off the mostly full glass of booze. “You all got what you wanted, so I’ll get out of your hair and let you celebrate without me.” Cal glanced at the sleeping baby in my arms and his eyes welled with tears again. “Without me and Ava.” He motioned for me to follow him out of the salon, and I did, but not before casting one last look at the people gathered in the room.
Terry, Virgil and Maisie looked sincerely sad about Bonnie’s death and Kat seemed indifferent with a hint of residual anger that wouldn’t seem to go away. Vanessa’s eyes were filled with tears, and I couldn’t see Emmett’s face as he held her close, comforting her.
Sadie and Jasper shared a look that made me realize that as close as the Ashby family was, there were still some secrets that only those two knew.
Chapter Four
Jameson
The stench of stale coffee overwhelmed me when I stepped inside the squad room for the morning briefing, along with about two dozen different types of cologne and perfume. Despite the less than welcoming looks—and stares—I couldn’t help but smile because I was here. The Academy was behind me now, and this was my first week of field training, which meant I was closer to my ultimate goal of becoming a detective.
Lieutenant North stood at the front of the room, handing out the details we all needed to know going into the day shift, a stern expression on his face. “We have two rookies starting today. Robbins, you’re with Gonzalez. Ellison, you’re with Jenkins. Keep your ears and eyes open, and your mouths shut.” A quick smile flashed as soft chuckles went up around the room. “And good luck. Let’s all make it home tonight.”
At those words, excitement bubbled up inside of me. This was it, my first day as a police officer. My first day in the field, where I could make a difference. “You hittin’ on me, Rookie?” A tall, lanky man stood in front of me with a teasing smile and arched brows.
“No, sir. Just excited to get started. Jameson Ellison.” I stuck out my hand and for half a moment, I thought the guy would leave me hanging.
He held up a fist instead of taking my hand. “Dion Jenkins. Let me show you where we pick up our gear for the day.” I followed beside him, doing my best to tamp down my cheesy smile. “I’m not an asshole, at least not for no reason. I want you to listen carefully to every word that comes out of my mouth and we’ll be fine. Yeah?”
“Yes, sir. I’m here to learn.”
Dion looked at me for a long moment and nodded before turning a dazzling smile on the woman behind the counter. “Amanda, sweetheart, car 246.”
“So I’m sweetheart again? You must want a working computer today.” She flashed a wide grin that made her brown eyes sparkle when she turned to me. “Ah, showing off for the rookie.”
“Ellison, ma’am.”
“Nice to meetcha, Ellison. I’m Brady, not ma’am, unless you want me to put you in the Crown Vic from the auction house.”
“Got it, Brady.” She flashed a satisfied smile and disappeared, returning a few minutes later with keys and a shit ton of equipment.
“Thanks.”
“Good luck,” she called after us. “Only listen to Jenkins when it comes to the job, his life is a complete mess.”
Dion laughed and turned to wink at her before we made our way to the parking lot filled with patrol cars. “Amanda is good people. Stuck in the equipment room because she took a couple shots to the midsection a few months back.”
