Chapter Eighteen
Cody
On Friday afternoon, I greeted Foster and his two children at the door of the counseling center.
The snow had started to fall a half-hour earlier.
I took Joshua’s car seat from Foster’s outstretched hand and took a peek under the tented blanket.
The seven-month-old infant slept with clearly no cares in the world.
Malaika, his seven-year-old sister, held Foster’s hand and tucked herself behind him.
I crouched. “I’m Cody. I’m a friend of Foster and Arnav’s.”
Slowly, she nodded.
“Oh, you’re here.” Denise stepped out from the hallway leading to her office.
Foster gestured to their shoes.
Denise waved him off. “Just wipe them. I noticed the snow’s coming down.”
“Still melting when it hits the pavement.” Foster continued to hold his foster daughter’s hand.
“Tell me that I get to look after this little guy,” I pointed to Joshua.
Foster grinned and handed me the diaper bag. “He fell asleep on the ride over—so there’s a good chance he’ll sleep through the hour.”
“I can handle it if he doesn’t.” I said this with way more confidence than I felt. “I need practice before Avery delivers that wonderful bundle of joy.”
Avery was another counselor at our center. She was ready to give birth to her first child any day now. She was thrilled.
Her husband, Will, was in perpetual panic.
He’d lost his first wife to sepsis during a miscarriage and he was never two feet away from Avery unless he was at work leading horseback riders on the trails on their property.
He intended to shut the business down over the winter to take care of the baby and his wife.
Seeing how independent Avery was, I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d chafe under the constant attention.
“I wonder if Will’s going to even allow you near the baby.” Denise grinned. She and Avery had the same blonde hair and blue eyes. They were also about the same age, although Denise had a son who was nearly ten years old. She had Adam when she’d been just a teenager herself.
“Why don’t we hang up coats?” Rainbow made her way into the great room from the kitchen.
The space was a waiting room during the day and the family room for Rainbow and Kennedy at night. Warm, inviting, and a soaring two-stories with massive windows on one side that faced the riding ring.
The four therapy horses were ensconced in the barn on this snowy day.
I might’ve visited them on my lunch hour.
Kennedy stepped into the hallway.
Tiffany stood by her side.
“Doggie!” Malika pointed with a huge grin on her face.
All the adults exchanged quick glances and, I was certain, tamped down our enthusiasm. Her excitement was a good sign.
Foster crouched.
I didn’t miss his knees cracking.
Lorcan’s sometimes did the same thing.
“Do you like doggies? We haven’t seen many.”
She nodded. “Yes, I like doggies.”
Slowly, Denise approached. “If you like, Tiffany can join us while we talk. Would you like that?”
Malika bit her lower lip. Slowly, she nodded.
Foster met my gaze and offered a small smile.
I gave him an even bigger one in return. I didn’t know his foster daughter’s story. The word tragic had been whispered. Naturally, I hoped Denise could help the young girl. God knew, the child had lucked out with Foster and Arnav.
As he stood, Foster’s phone beeped. His expression changed. “That’s Arnav.”
“Tiffany, would you like to meet Malika?” Kennedy petted the dog on the head.
I’d have sworn the golden retriever smiled. Her presence on the ranch was truly a blessing, and I’d borrowed her on more than one occasion with patients who expressed interest.
“Sorry.” Foster stepped toward the kitchen. “Hey, what’s up? We’re at Healing Horses—” He stopped abruptly. “Yeah, Cody’s here.”
Instantly, I was upright and moving toward him.
He handed me his phone.
“Arnav? What’s up?” I wanted to demand what was wrong, but I didn’t want to panic anyone. Why he was calling Foster instead of me directly had me baffled, but now wasn’t the time.
“I’m about to go into an interrogation room down at the RCMP detachment.”
“Lorcan?” A guess. It might’ve been several of my clients…but I had a feeling in my gut.
“Yeah. He mentioned you.” He clicked his tongue. “Sort of like I hope Cody doesn’t find out, but he’ll notice if I miss dinner. At that point, I suggested he let me call you. Look, I’ve got to go. I have no idea how long we’ll be here.”
Then he cut the line.
I handed the phone back to Foster—a little dazed. “I—” I cleared my throat. “I can’t watch Joshua.” Fuck. I’d really been looking forward to this.
“Oh, I can.” Kennedy grinned. “Because eventually one of my seven sisters is going to have a baby, and I need the practice. Autumn and Summer have been out of diapers for about sixteen years.”
Her youngest two sisters of the seven—the twins.
Rainbow was…third?
Kennedy was the eldest.
“I can help too.” Rainbow nudged Kennedy. “I won’t be the one having children, but practice is always good. Avery’s due soon.”
I was already heading back to my office. I locked my laptop in the filing cabinet, grabbed my messenger bag and my coat, then hotfooted back to the waiting area.
Foster, Denise, and Malika—along with Tiffany—had disappeared.
Joshua, in his car seat, was fast asleep on the floor—tucked between Rainbow and Kennedy.
I waved as I headed out the door.
No one answered, but that didn’t matter. I didn’t want them to risk waking the baby and anyway, I was on a mission.
The light snowflakes melted as they hit the wet pavement—as Foster had said. My drive into Mission City felt interminable. In fact, it took the fourteen minutes it always took. I could see the RCMP detachment from my condo. My hands shook as I put my SUV in Park and got out.
Lorcan’s truck was at the back of the lot.
I chose to see that as a good sign. If that was here, then he hadn’t been taken away from his job-site in handcuffs.
Right?
What was Riley going to say?
Hell, what was I going to say? Because, technically, I hadn’t been invited.
Lorcan had given Arnav permission to call me because he wasn’t going to make it home for dinner. That was oh so very different from racing down to the cop shop and wanting to be the knight in shining armor.
I tucked my messenger bag under my seat. Although, realistically, not only was Mission City a relatively safe town, but—perhaps more importantly—anyone who broke into a vehicle while it sat in the RCMP detachment parking lot was pretty dumb.
And yet, there are dumb…and desperate…people everywhere.
Something I knew well.
I hunched my shoulders as I hustled to the door. My wool coat offered protection from the snow, but a cold wind blew again.
When I stepped through the front door, a blast of hot air smacked me in the face.
And I nearly barreled into a guy wearing a uniform. “Sorry.”
“No worries.” He grinned. His blond hair was trimmed and his hazel eyes showed amusement. “Still snowing?”
I swept the accumulated snow off my arms. “Yeah. It’s starting to come down.”
“Ah. Good to know. I’m off in a few minutes and looking forward to going home and hunkering down with my dog.”
“Oh.” I squinted. “Do we know each other?”
“I’m Constable Seth Jacobs.” He extended his hand. “Mission City born and raised.”
“You look familiar.”
“I have that kind of a face.”
Well, he had a kind face. Not the hard-nosed look I generally associated with police officers—not that I knew many personally.
He tilted his head. “You look a little lost.”
“I am. My friend is here, and I’m hoping to find out how he’s doing.”
Seth eyed me. “We don’t have many civilians here right now.”
I held out my hand at about the level of my ear. “Around fifty. Dark-brown eyes, graying hair.” I swallowed. “Real sweetheart.”
“Oh yeah. He’s in an interrogation room with his lawyer. But you probably already knew that.”
I nodded.
“I can tell you there’s been a break in his case.”
“What?” I frowned. “He was found not guilty. What case?”
“Well, it’ll be in the newspapers soon. His husband turned up dead.”
“Ex-husband.” Right. Because that’s the most important part of this conversation. “How’d he die?” A long list flittered through my mind, and none were good.
Seth regarded me.
I held my ground.
“Car accident. Down in Mexico.”
“So Lorcan’s not a suspect.” Right. Focus on the positive.
“Hit and run.” His hazel eyes continued to scrutinize me.
Good luck, buddy. I didn’t do a doctorate in clinical psychology without learning how to hide my emotions. “So you’re thinking, what? That he flew down to Mexico and hit his ex? Hired someone to do it for him?”
“That has possibilities.”
I rolled my eyes. “Lorcan didn’t even know where his ex was—it would’ve been hard for him to hire someone.”
“He claims he didn’t know.” Seth cocked his head. “Friend, eh?”
I didn’t back down. “Good friend.”
He smiled. “Well, that’s good. Lorcan’s a good man, and he needs friends.”
I didn’t gape. Close…but didn’t.
Seth shrugged. “Look, my coworker, Colton, really doesn’t like your friend.
” He blew out a breath. “He arrested Lorcan and has clung to him somehow being guilty. I was late to the party on this one. I followed the trial, and the evidence presented—I could see a way for Lorcan to be acquitted. Having good representation helped. A lot.”
“He didn’t do what they said.” I might’ve been wrong, of course.
I didn’t know Lorcan was innocent. Just…
in my bones I was absolutely certain. If Kennedy had asked me to explain myself, I would’ve struggled.
Then my boss would’ve patted me on the shoulder and reminded me that I had good instincts.
Not a single thing Lorcan had done over the past week had given me any hint that he might be a criminal mastermind. Or even a bumbling one.
“You’re probably right. I should tell you that Dorrie’s in the interrogation room as well.”
I tilted my head.
“Right. You’re too young to remember them. Corporal Dorrie Duhamel and Corporal Colton Pritchard. They tend to work sex crimes, but they do other stuff as well. I’ll share that usually Dorrie’s the hard ass and Colton’s great with most victims.”
“He doesn’t see Lorcan as a victim.” I bristled. “Just because—”
Before I could even build up steam, Seth held up his hand. “I’m well aware that victims come in all shapes and sizes. And genders. And ages. Sometimes that’s the toughest part of my job. I just do the arresting—Dorrie and Colton do the investigating.”
I glanced at the clock on the wall.
Six-ten.
“I don’t know how much longer—” Even as Seth said the words, a door opened.
Lorcan stepped out, with Arnav’s hand on his shoulder. Whether propelling him, or merely comforting, I couldn’t tell. He stopped short when he spotted me.
My heart caught in my throat. He looked so dejected—frowning, eyes red, shoulders hunched…the epitome of misery.
“It’s going to be all right.” Arnav patted his shoulder. Then, spotting me. He offered a smile. “See, your boyfriend is here to make sure you get home safe.”
Seth chuckled.
Yeah, I didn’t think he bought the friend comment.
“Is he free to go? Can I bring him home?” I stepped closer, but didn’t dare touch. Lorcan looked like he’d shatter at the slightest contact.
Arnav nodded. “Yep. Nothing to be done. Obviously he didn’t do anything.” He glared at the man standing behind them.
Although not in uniform, the cop pulled off intimidating. Well over six feet tall with dark-brown eyes and hair that was nearly black.
A shorter woman with blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail skirted around the big guy. “You’re free to go.” She eyed me. “I’m Corporal Duhamel. My partner is Corporal Pritchard.”
Big guy didn’t flinch.
Clearly I could’ve put this together myself—with what Seth had told me—but confirmation helped. “I’ll be taking Lorcan home.” No sense trying to pretend we weren’t together.
Dorrie handed him a coat. “You forgot this. It’s cold out.”
“And snowing.” I advanced toward Lorcan. “All the more reason to head home.” I met Arnav’s gaze.
He nodded.
I read that he’d let me know later what happened. Well, as much as he could. I wasn’t certain where the boundaries of police investigation met solicitor/client privilege met whatever would be public knowledge shortly.
Arnav smiled at Lorcan. “I have to make a call to a friend. But I’ll call soon. You’ll be together?”
Lorcan slowly slid his arms into his coat. “Uh, yeah.” He cleared his throat and then met my gaze.
I linked my arm in his. “Absolutely.” I met the gaze of the three police officers. “Nice to meet you all, and I hope not to repeat this.” I nodded to Arnav, and then I guided Lorcan right out the door.