Chapter 3
The bar stool felt harder than I remembered as I waited for Chris. We used to be regulars here, and we’d chosen it out of nostalgia rather than any real desire to hang out in a loud sports bar. Looking forward to the evening, I’d arrived early. A night out with my best friend was exactly what I needed to get out of the funk I’d been in for the last week.
It’d been great seeing Chris at the ribbon cutting ceremony but there hadn”t been much time to talk, so I was happy he could get away for a few hours tonight. It’d been too long since we’d last seen each other, and it’d be nice to catch up. I was busy with SSI; and my god-daughter, Zoe, had him and Vicky burning the candle at both ends. I made a mental note to plan a day we could all get together. I could use a day with them—Zoe’s laughter was the best anti-depressant. Thinking of Chris’s family reminded me I wanted to ask him about Emily, he’d seemed off when Jack asked about her at the opening.
When I saw Chris walk in, I waved him over. We shook hands and hugged, patting each other on the back, the way men do. “It’s good to see you, man. How’s dad-life treating you?”
“Good, other than the sleepless nights and non-stop dirty diapers.” Chris’s laugh made it obvious he was loving every minute of it. “How about you? How’s the new place working out for SSI?”
After Isabelle’s death, I turned in my badge and started Sheppard Sons Investigations, a personal protection and investigation company, with my dad and brother, Jack. It wasn’t easy for Dad and I to leave the police force, we were third generation cops, but it was the right decision for both of us. We were still serving our community, but we didn’t have to wait for the 9-1-1 call to help them. We could offer protection before the crime was committed, and didn’t have to deal with the bureaucracy or red tape of law enforcement.
“It’s great. We’ve grown a lot in the last year and we’ll be hiring another full-time person sooner rather than later.” I waved the bartender over. “Let me buy you a beer.”
“Thanks. Is it cool if we grab a high top instead of sitting at the bar?”
The change in Chris’s tone caught my attention. “Yeah, no problem.”
After we sat down, I asked Chris what was going on. He made a joke that I never missed anything, “Must be a cop thing.” But his laugh sounded forced.
“It is.” It was also a best friend thing. “Spill it.”
“You remember my sister, Emily?”
I raised an eyebrow. Of course I did. She was the awkward teenager in braces who wanted to tag along everywhere we went. She and Jack were were about the same age and were both sophomores when Chris and I were seniors. I’d only seen her a few times since graduating. The last time had been at Isabelle’s funeral, but I’d been so consumed with grief I barely remembered talking to her.
“She’s in trouble, and I could use your expertise.”
My back stiffened. It had to be bad if he needed my kind of expertise. “What kind of trouble?”
Chris sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly before answering. “Her ex hit her.”
“Fuck.” The thought of any man hitting a woman pissed me off. The thought of someone hitting Emily made my blood boil. I’d do whatever it took to help Chris, and Emily. But first things first. “Is she somewhere safe right now?”
“Yeah, she’s staying with our parents.”
I nodded. Glad she was nearby.
“She left him two days ago, while he was in jail, but she’s worried he may come after her.”
Without thinking, I switched to professional mode. If the asshole got arrested, it was bad. “Tell me everything you know.” I took out my phone and typed notes as Chris filled me in.
Chris didn’t know if Craig was still in jail, so I made a note to check if he’d made bail. “Has he made contact?”
“Not that I know of, but I can ask.” He took a swig of beer. “She said it wasn’t the first time he-”
“Not the first time?” How long has this been going on? My expression must have looked accusational because his tone was angry when he replied.
“Don’t look at me like that Jamie. Christ, if I’d known, I would’ve dragged her out of there.”
“I know.” Unfortunately, families rarely knew when a loved one was being abused. I softened my tone, and my expression. “What else can you tell me?”
“This was the first time she pressed charges. After giving the police her statement, she packed a few things and drove straight to my place.” Chris told me he’d never liked Craig but hadn’t expected abuse. “Emily said he’s a violent drunk, and he’d been drinking more lately.”
“Damn.” Abusive was bad, but drunk and abusive was worse, it made him less predictable.
“God, I feel so stupid. I should have seen the signs, known something was up.” He ran his hands through his short brown hair.
“It’s not your fault. Abusers are good at fooling people, and the abused are usually too afraid to speak up.” I offered what little comfort I could, knowing full well it wouldn’t help. I was all too familiar with the weight of guilt after failing to protect a loved one.
“We encouraged her to file a restraining order, and thankfully she agreed. We’re hoping it’ll discourage him from contacting her.”
“It might, but it’s just a piece of paper and difficult to enforce.” I didn’t tell him people often got more violent, and vengeful, after being served with a restraining order. I wanted to learn more about Craig first.
Chris sighed. “I was afraid you’d say that. Can you look into him? Find out if he has a history of doing shit like this.”
“Yeah, of course. I’ll do it first thing in the morning. I just need his full name and address.” I knew myself well enough to know I wouldn’t wait until morning, but I didn’t want Chris to expect an answer tonight. Gathering background information was never as quick and easy as it was on TV.
“I’ll text you the info.” Some of the tension left Chris’s shoulders.
“Thanks.” I also wanted to talk to Emily because she might tell me things she hadn’t told Chris, and I needed as much information as I could get before coming up with a game plan. “Any chance you can bring Emily by the office tomorrow? I’d like to ask her a few questions.”
“I’ll ask her tonight. And Jamie, since this is more than a quick favor, I’ll pay you for your time.”
Not willing to wound his pride, I agreed to bill him. But he didn’t know our rates, so he’d never know he was getting the friends and family discount.
With that out of the way, we ordered nachos and talked about more pleasant things. I loved how happy he looked as he told me stories about Zoe, but it made me feel sad, too. It reminded me of the future I’d lost. If Isabelle hadn’t been killed, I’d probably be a dad by now and we’d be swapping parenting stories about our children. And I wouldn’t be feeling like a hollow shell. I wondered if our baby would’ve had thick black hair like Isabelle, or thin brown hair like me.
I came back to the present when I heard Chris ask if I was okay.
“Yeah, just thinking. Sorry, I’m not being a good friend at the moment.”
“It’s okay, I know this time of year is hard for you.” He finished the last of his beer.
“Thanks.” I contemplated asking if he wanted another beer but I was eager to go home and start researching the asshole who’d hit Emily. Chris’s revelation was a shock and had taken the night in an unexpected direction, but it gave me something to focus on. And keeping busy always helped lessen the pain.
Chris stood up after we settled the bill. “I should get home. I’ll let you know what Emily says.”
“Any time after eleven works, just shoot me a text so I know when to expect you.” I threw a ten on the table before walking out with Chris.
He shook my hand and gave me a quick hug. “Thanks again Jamie.”
I patted him on the back before releasing him. “Anytime. Give the girls a kiss for me?”
“Of course. I’m sure Vicky will send one back, but you’ll have to use your imagination for that one.”
As soon as I got home, I looked up Craig David Hopper, 28, of Houston, Texas. To say I didn’t like what I found was an understatement.
Houston PD released him on bail the morning after Emily left and his court date was set for mid-July. That was a long time for someone to sit around stewing in anger.
Records showed this wasn’t Craig’s first arrest, nor was it the first time someone had filed a restraining order against him. It was, however, the first time the person he’d hit had pressed charges. He’ll be pissed. But would he be pissed off enough to come after her?
Not wanting to worry Chris any more than he already was, I hadn’t told him the restraining order might make things worse, but given Craig’s history, we had to prepare for it. I’ll tell them tomorrow. It wouldn’t be right to keep them in the dark, because in this case ignorance wasn”t bliss.
As a cop, I’d answered far too many calls, and called too many coroners, after abusers violated their restraining orders. A cold chill spread across my body, making the hairs on my arms stand up.
Wanting to make sure I wasn’t reading too much into the reports, or over-reacting, because it was personal, I asked Jack to take a look.
“Yeah, I’ll be right there.” Jack got up and gave Meg a quick kiss on the top of her head before joining me at the kitchen table.
I miss having that. Will I ever have it again? I shook my head to clear it, there was no point in thinking about it. I had to focus on helping Emily.
I summed up the situation, but didn’t tell him it was for Chris. Jack and Emily had hung out in the same circles and had graduated together, it’d be just as hard for him to be impartial as it was for me.
I leaned back and turned my laptop so Jack could read the files on my screen. “So, what do you think? This guy likely to be a problem?”
After scanning the files, he answered, “Yeah, he fits the profile.” Then he stood back and looked at me with one eyebrow raised. “Want to tell me why you need me to confirm something you already know? What’s going on?”
He sounded both annoyed and intrigued. He knew I’d only be asking if I doubted my objectivity, which I rarely did. This was why working with family could be a blessing or a curse. We always had each other’s backs, a sentiment that included our team members, but we also called each other out on our bullshit.
“You remember Emily Taylor?”
“Chris’s sister? Yeah, or course, we went on a couple of dates but didn’t click.”
I’d forgotten about that. I hadn’t thought it was a big deal, but Chris had a fit. It hadn’t mattered that he’d known Jack forever and knew he was a good guy—no one was good enough for Emily in Chris’s eyes. Thinking back, I’d felt the same way about Madi. No one was good enough to date her, and I wasn’t shy about saying it, nor did I care that it irritated her to no end.
“We lost touch after graduation.” Jack shrugged. I saw his jaw clench when he put it together. “Tell me this asshole didn’t hit Emily?” He asked through gritted teeth.
I nodded. “Chris and I had drinks earlier, and he asked for my help. He’s worried about her.”
“Did she press charges? File a restraining order? Where is she now?” Jack threw a handful of questions at me without giving me a chance to answer.
He may not have stayed in touch with Emily, but that wouldn’t stop him from stepping up and helping her. I filled him in on what little I knew, and said I was expecting her to stop by the office tomorrow around eleven-thirty. Jack said he’d have Meg add them to our schedule. Not mine, ours.
“Thanks.”
Meg was our administrative assistant at Sheppard Sons Investigations (frequently shortened to SSI). Dad had poached her from Ma earlier this year and happily suffered the endless teasing saying it was worth it. Meg was an asset we hadn’t known we needed. She was great at putting our clients at ease with her warmth and compassion, which was exactly what they needed. Not that the rest of us lacked compassion, but we were the strong silent types, whereas Meg was the friendly, outgoing type and she put people at ease just by being herself.
Jack’s a lucky guy. Meg was the love of his life, and the perfect partner for him. Jealousy washed over me. I missed having someone to share my life with. Maybe it’s time for me to think about taking my ring off. I shrugged off the thought. I wasn’t ready to date again, or even think about it.
“Earth to Jamie.” Jack snapped his fingers in front of my face. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I was just thinking it’ll be helpful to have Meg there to greet Emily, help put her at ease. I’m sure she’s still pretty shaken up.” I was still fiddling with my wedding band, a fact that hadn’t gone unnoticed by Jack.
“Sure.” He nodded towards my hands. “When you’re ready to talk about what was really going on in that head of yours, let me know.”
Asshole. I hated it when he called me out. Though I supposed I deserved it, I’d done the same to him more than once. “Thanks.”
Jack probably knew me better than anyone, despite having grown apart after high school - I’d been a rookie on the police force, eager to prove myself, and Jack was overseas serving in the Army. But we’d grown closer than ever since he moved in with me a couple of years ago. I’d made the offer under the pretense of saving him money while he worked off his partnership, but in reality I was lonely in the home I’d built with Isabelle and I wanted the company. Not that I’d ever tell him that. Not that I need to.