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Chapter Twenty-Five
Niko
I pull awayfrom the curb, gripping the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip. My eyes should be on the road ahead of me, but instead they’re pinned on the rearview mirror and the woman still standing in the driveway. I don’t know why, but I hate leaving Doe behind while I go to work. I want to stay with her. Although the days Doe and I were in Florida were tense, I still enjoyed the time I spent with her, especially the day at the beach.
I’m not the only one who learns more about her every day; she’s learning more about herself. She enjoys wet sand beneath her feet. The sound of seagulls is soothing to her. She discovered that she loves seafood. She loves the smell of coconut but hates the taste. Regardless of her using unscented shampoo, her hair smells like peaches. I found this out when she fell asleep on me at the hospital.
Despite her skittish and shy nature, she has a caring personality. She knew it was a stressful time and stepped forward to ensure I took care of myself, and when she knew I was struggling, she was there for me.
She made the worry over Dad’s health more bearable, and I was glad she was there. Inadvertently, she also helped shorten the rift between Reece and me. When we got ready to leave, he apologized, not only to me but also to Doe. She still didn't fully understand what his words had meant at the hospital that night, but she knew they weren't nice. Taking the time to apologize to us, he showed me maybe our relationship has room to heal.
I pull my eyes away from the rearview mirror and look ahead. I feel like a pussy for not wanting to leave her. I need to man up and get my head on straight.
I pull up to the station and park in my usual spot. Several spaces down, I notice Tavers’ truck. I spoke with him a few days ago to update him on when we were returning. He suggested I talk with Capt about taking a couple of extra days off, but I refused. I’ve already taken more days off lately than I should have.
As I pass by Officer Landers at the front desk, she asks how my dad is. I stop and give her a brief update then head to my office. Spying Tavers through the glass when I walk by his office, he gets up and follows me.
“How’s the old man?” he asks, taking a seat in the chair across from my desk.
“Good. He went home a couple of days ago with strict orders to take it easy. Of course, my mom is making sure he sticks with those orders.”
He chuckles. “I bet it’s biting his ass to be babied and forced to sit still.”
I take a seat and lean back with my fingers laced over my stomach. “You know my dad. He hates to be idle, but I think he’s finally getting the picture that he has to slow down. They moved to Florida to retire and enjoy a stress-free life after working hard to provide for me and my brother and sister. They deserve it.”
“How’s your mom holding up?”
“She tried hiding it, but I know she was scared. Tori’s going to stay a few extra days to help out while Michael takes the kids home.” I pull open my desk drawer, grab a notepad, and throw it on top. “Catch me up. We got anything new?”
For the next fifteen minutes, Tavers tells me about a case he took while I was away. Being his partner, it’s now my case as well. He explains that the station received a call from social services about a possible Munchausen by proxy case. The mother in question has brought her eight-year-old boy into the emergency room eleven times in the past year. The injuries aren’t life threatening, mostly vomiting and stomach pains, but the number of occurrences is worrisome. I take notes as he relays all the information he has on the case. He just got the warrant to go over the child’s medical records this morning and was waiting on me to head to the hospital.
Cases like these make my skin crawl and my anger spike. How in the fuck someone could purposely harm their child to gain attention is so far out of my thinking process. I’m an officer of the law, and it’s my job to uphold that law, but there are times I’m also just a man who really wants to beat the fuck out of people.
We both stand to leave just as Benjamin, one of the forensic guys, taps on the office door.
“Detective James, do you have a minute?”
Grabbing my cell phone, I stuff it in my pocket. “Sure. What’s up?”
His eyes flicker briefly to Tavers before focusing back on me.
“We got the DNA results back for the Jane Doe who was taken to the hospital a few weeks ago. They came back yesterday, so I was hoping I’d catch you today before you went out.”
He holds out a thin vanilla folder, and I look at Tavers before reaching for it. As I look down at the folder, a sinking feeling forms in the pit of my stomach. I have no idea why the feeling is there. Whatever’s in this folder could reveal that Doe has someone out there who cares for and misses her. It’s what I want and not only what she needs but deserves.
Even knowing that she could have a family just waiting to shower her in their love, it still leaves my chest feeling weighted down. In the few short weeks I’ve known Doe, she’s become mine in a way. Not as a possession, but mine to protect. And I do care about Doe. Probably more than I should. I don’t know how deep my feelings run or what my feelings are exactly, but I just know I don’t like the thought of her not being in my life anymore. It doesn’t seem natural to think about her not being around.
A throat clears, and I look up to find the tech still standing in my doorway. I push the ridiculous emotions away.
“Thank you, Benjamin.” I give him a chin lift, indicating he can leave before turning my back on him.
The envelope feels heavy in my hand, and for some insane reason, I’m not ready to look at the results yet. I open my top desk drawer and slip it inside. When I turn back around, Benjamin is gone, but Tavers is looking at me with a raised brow.
“You’re not going to read the report?” he asks.
“It can wait. We need to get to the hospital.” Before he has a chance to question me on my lie, I spin around and leave the office.
It wouldn’t take more than a minute to read the results, and we both know it. Using the excuse of needing to get to the hospital is a lame one, but I don’t want to explain why the thought of looking it over scares me shitless. Thankfully, Tavers doesn’t call me on my lie, and we both walk silently to my truck.
