Chapter Twenty-Three #2
“You’ll still have a job. If they fire you for things you did after you lost your partner on the job, you’ll file the biggest lawsuit in the history of workplace injustice lawsuits, and they know that.
There’s no way they’ll fire you. And let’s not forget you’re a damned good detective who they’d be crazy to let go. And they know that, too.”
He tipped up her chin and kissed her again. “I gotta say, this fierce side of you is a huge turn-on.”
She snorted out a laugh. “You haven’t had sex in weeks. It probably doesn’t take much.”
“Nah, baby, it’s all you. I can’t wait to sleep with you in my arms tonight. I’ve missed you so much, and not just since I’ve been here. For months now.”
“Everything is going to be okay now, Tommy. I know it is.”
“Let’s get out of here. I’ve had more than enough of this place.”
“I’ll be forever grateful to them for giving you back to us.”
“I’m back, and everything will be better. I promise.” After he’d driven out of the parking lot and headed them toward home, he looked over at her. “When are you going to marry me?”
“As soon as possible.”
“Maybe we can do it on Thanksgiving and surprise the hell out of everyone.”
“That’d be fun.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“You don’t want something bigger and better?”
She shook her head. Once upon a time, she might’ve wanted bigger and better, but life had taught her to be thankful for smaller things.
“All I want is you and Alex and our life together. I couldn’t care less about anything other than that.
We have so much to be thankful for. Thanksgiving seems like the perfect time to take that next step.
Both our families have been on hold until we figure out our plans, so how about I tell them dinner’s at our house this year? ”
“Sounds perfect to me.”
After Dr. Trulo arrived at the Townsend home, Freddie briefed him on what’d taken place with Hattie and the promises he’d made to her.
“I’m convinced that with the proper care, Hattie could make a full recovery from the agoraphobia and paranoia that’ve set in since she and her husband were victimized by Ginny McLeod. ”
“The murdered woman who defrauded her friends and family?” Trulo asked.
“Right. The Townsends were among her victims, and when you talk to Hattie, you’ll understand the impact that’s had on her, which led to today’s events.”
“What about you, Detective? I understand she pulled a gun on you and assaulted you.”
“I’m fine. Let’s worry about her. She’s the one who needs your help, not me.”
“I’ll take care of her, but I want to see you in my office tomorrow to discuss this further.”
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“Nonnegotiable, Detective.”
Freddie stared at the doctor for a long moment, hoping he would blink. He didn’t. “Fine. I’ll see you tomorrow. Can I take you in to see Hattie now?”
“Lead the way.”
An hour later, Freddie drove away in Sam’s car, heading for home in Woodley Park.
He needed to see Elin right now. She was the only thing he could think of as he drove faster than he should’ve, tempted to use the lights and siren to get there faster.
He resisted, but just barely. It took ten precious minutes to find a parking space near their building and another ten to jog the short distance home.
He took the stairs two at a time and nearly dropped his keys twice as he tried to get in the door.
Elin saved him when she pulled it open, her white-blonde brows furrowing with confusion. “I’m glad it’s you. I thought someone was trying to break in.”
“It’s me.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I need this.” He put his arms around her and held her so tightly she let out a squeak.
“Freddie! Let me breathe.”
“Sorry.” He dropped his head to her shoulder, filled with relief to be back with her when he’d had reason to wonder if he’d ever see her again.
“You’re freaking me out.” She ran her fingers through his hair and gave a gentle tug, compelling him to look at her. “What happened?”
“Nothing.” If he told her, she’d worry about him even more than she already did. “Just a weird day, and I couldn’t wait to see you.”
“You’re supposed to be working for a few more hours. You said you’d be home late.”
“I cut out early.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to see you.”
“You don’t do things like that when you’re working a new case. What gives? And don’t tell me it’s nothing.”
“Something happened, but I don’t want you to worry. I was completely fine. Well, most of the time, I was completely fine, but it was kinda weird and…”
“What happened, Freddie?”
“I went to interview one of the people our vic scammed.”
“By yourself?”
“Yeah, Sam had to go back to HQ to interview two people we had in lockup for almost twenty-four hours. We decided to split up because we were way out in Maryland.”
“What happened?”
“When I got to the woman’s house, she pulled a gun on me, and, well, she basically took me hostage for a very short time.”
“Jesus,” Elin said on a long exhale.
“I talked to her and made her see I could get her help to deal with the issues she’s developed since Ginny McLeod stole their money. Dr. Trulo came, he’s helping her, and it’s all fine. But I wanted to see you.”
She looked up at him with the stunning blue eyes that had never failed to slay him from the first time he ever saw them. “Why did you want to see me so badly?”
“I always want to see you.”
“Why, Freddie?”
“Because,” he said, sighing, “for a minute—and it was only a minute or two—I was afraid I might not see you again, and that made me sadder than I’ve ever been in my life.”
She wrapped her arms around him and brought his head to rest again on her shoulder. “How will I bear to let you go back to it tomorrow?”
“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”
“You arrested her, right?”
“No, she’ll be on a seventy-two-hour psych hold, during which we hope she’ll be convinced to seek in-patient help.”
“She held you hostage.”
“She’s mentally ill. Arresting her won’t do anything but make a bad situation worse.”
“She could’ve killed you.”
“She didn’t. We should have a baby.”
“What? Where’s that coming from all of a sudden?”
“It’s not all of a sudden. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now.”
“What happened to not wanting to bring children into this messed-up world we live in?”
“Sam made me see that we can’t judge our own lives and how we live them by the screwed-up stuff we see on the job, because it’s out of proportion to regular life.”
“And after you have this scary experience, suddenly you’re ready for a baby?”
“Not just because of that. Don’t you want one, too?”
“I do, but not right away. Can we have a year to enjoy being married before we have a baby?”
“I suppose we can do that, but we’re going to need to do a lot of practicing so we’re ready when the time comes.”
She laughed, as he’d fully expected her to. “If we practiced any more than we already do, we wouldn’t get anything else done.”
“I’m fine with that since there’s nothing else I’d rather do than practice with you.”
“Starting now?” she asked as he walked her backward toward their bedroom.
“Starting right now.”
“Hey, Freddie?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“Thanks so much for not getting killed today. I wouldn’t know how to live without you.”
“All I could think of the whole time was you and getting home to you. That’ll always be my top priority.”