Chapter Four
TJ
TJ stood by the reception desk in the Robinson police station and smiled at Dee Roberts when she told him, “It’s been six months, TJ.
You need to find a man. You’re in the prime of your life.
You shouldn’t be single.” Dee patted her light brown hair, which she had worn loose.
Her light gray eyes stared at him. “You’re not getting any younger. ”
“I need to find a man who doesn’t mind putting up with my shitty work hours and the fact I get shot at and have to deal with a rampaging bull on occasion.
My last one walked after two months because he didn’t like sharing me with my job.
” And TJ had been oddly happy when that short-lived relationship had ended.
At thirty-two, he wanted to have someone to settle down with, but so far nothing.
It might help if he actually did some looking, but with work being as busy as it was, by the time he got home, he usually went straight to bed.
Dee grimaced. “He was an ass who didn’t deserve you.”
“And I still get the odd hate mail. That didn’t help the relationship either.” Oh yeah. The ex had opened one and blanched. Not long after, he had disappeared.
“Most people who live in this town have known you your whole life. We know you and we know how much you care about everyone who lives here. We’ve seen you become the man you are today, and don’t forget we voted for you to become our sheriff.
Those few homophobic idiots can take a short walk off a long pier.
We don’t need those kinds of people here, and trust me when I say if we ever meet one, we tell them where to go.
Most have decided to stew silently in their hatred.
” Dee grinned viciously. “I do enjoy going to grab a coffee and telling everyone how well we’re doing with you as our sheriff. In a very loud voice.”
It warmed TJ to know the people of Robinson had his back. When he’d applied to become sheriff, he hadn’t been positive he’d succeed, but he had. A year later, he had more support than before he’d become sheriff. “It’s gotten better over the last year.”
“Because you’ve proven you’ll put the townsfolk first. We needed to see that. Most don’t even think about your sexuality. They only care that someone comes out to visit them when needed and the bad guys are arrested.”
TJ stretched, then waved to his deputy, Miles Owen, as he walked into the station. With mud splashed over his boots and jeans, TJ knew where Miles had been, and the scent that accompanied him confirmed it. Crompton Farm. “Hey Miles. How did it go at Crompton’s?”
Miles brushed his jeans, then gave up, screwing his face up.
“The old man will outlive us all, but he’s right.
Someone has been going on his land and laying traps.
We managed to find them all and I’ve left some trail cams dotted around to see if we can pick up whoever it is laying them.
He might be old and ornery, but he’s a decent man who cares for his livestock and the wild animals that live in the area. ”
TJ agreed with Miles’ assessment. Having dealt with Crompton more than a few times over the years, he found the older man astoundingly intelligent and extremely thoughtful, but you didn’t want to piss him off.
“I’ve never had a bad time with him. His bark is worse than his bite, but he knows the area better than anyone else.
If he says something’s going on, then I listen and act. ”
Miles nodded, his hazel eyes narrowing. “Gave me some of his home brew. Told me to drink it when I got home and when I had a late shift the next day. I think he’s made some fruity vodka-like one this time.”
“That stuff blows your head off. He gave some to my Crocker, and he was ill for two days after. Said it was the best home brew he’d ever had, but you need far less than you think.” Dee grinned. “It was really good brew.”
“Completely illegal, of course,” TJ mused. Having caught Crompton brewing his moonshine, Crompton had offered TJ a taste, and TJ had nearly had the top of his head blown off. He’d given the older man several warnings, then left him to it. “But his stuff is good.”
They all grinned, then the phone rang, and Dee answered it. As she spoke, TJ asked, “How long before we’ll get something?”
“The tracks look fresh.” Miles rubbed his jaw, his eyes looking off to one side. “I’d say a day or two. Maybe three. I tried to keep myself out of sight for as long as I could. Didn’t want to tip whoever it is off that I’d been there.”
“Good idea.” Yawning, TJ shook his head. “I’m going home. I have the early shift tomorrow and I’ve been here fourteen hours already.”
“When’s Taylor coming back?”
“The doc’s cleared him for desk work. The break in his leg has healed, but doc wants him to ease back into work.
” Shrugging, TJ ran his fingers through his short blond hair, realizing he needed to cut it.
“He can deal with the mounds of paperwork we have to get through until he’s ready to be back on patrol. ”
“That sounds great. I hate paperwork.” Miles stamped his feet, then sighed. “I need to get changed. I can smell things, and I don’t want to know where they came from.”
“I didn’t want to say anything about the smell. As for the paperwork, I know how much you detest it because you mess it up every time and I have to get you to redo it.”
“I joined to serve the people of this town, not sit at a desk for hours at a time filling in useless forms.”
TJ understood. They all spent far longer filling in forms than they should.
His officers joined to serve Robinson, not sit spending most of their shifts going through forms and documents.
It was a necessary evil of the job, and one TJ hated with a passion.
“I get you. I really do, but we have to do them. Look I’m going. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Miles nodded and saluted TJ, which caused him to chuckle.
Waving at Dee, TJ left the station and headed over to his truck.
Man, he could feel his body dragging him down.
Back-to-back fourteen-hour days were kicking his ass, but now that Taylor was returning, some of the work could be passed to him and TJ could drop to twelve-hour days.
He still needed at least one additional officer, but there were no funds at present. Something he’d been told for years.
“I need more staff.” But he needed to budget for them, and right then, he didn’t have the money. Maybe a fundraiser would help, but that would mean taking away what little free time he had.
As he was about to pull away from the station, his phone rang, and he smiled when he saw his mother’s name on the screen. “Hey Mom.”
“TJ. When are you going to have a day off?” Mary Jane asked. “You work far too hard.”
“Soon, hopefully. We were a man down but he’s due back tomorrow so that will take some of the pressure off me.”
“I called to let you know your father and I are going away for a two-week vacation to Las Vegas. We both want to see it while we can.”
TJ snorted. “Don’t say that. You’ll outlive me. When are you going?”
“Tomorrow.”
TJ stared at his phone then asked, “Is this a surprise booking or something?”
“It came up as a cheap deal, so we decided why not go.”
“Have a great time.” TJ wanted the same relationship with that special someone that his parents had.
“We will. Hug the children for us and don’t work too hard.”
“I won’t, Mom. Love you. Say hi to Dad for me.”
“I will. Now go home and get some rest.”
“I will.” Smiling, TJ put the phone down then ran his hands over his face.
Pulling away from the station, TJ drove home, listening to the blues on the radio. Humming along, he pulled into his drive and sat with the engine idling as he stared at his house.
He needed to mow the lawn, or he could get one of his kids to do it.
He had them this weekend, and he had Macy too, Toni and Carter’s daughter.
Yes, she wasn’t his, but he wasn’t going to take his own two and leave their half-sister behind.
He had a great relationship with his ex-wife, and Carter only thanked him every other month now for setting up their blind date.
They were happy and his kids were in a great home with a fantastic stepfather who happened to be one of TJ’s friends.
Not all divorces ended as well as his had, and for that TJ was grateful.
He got to see his boys whenever he could and not all fathers had that luxury when a divorce ended acrimoniously.
Then again, some fathers walked out the door and never returned.
Toni must have felt her ears burning, because a second later, her name appeared on TJ’s phone. “I was just thinking about you.”
Her soft laugh came over the phone. “Macy has asked if you want to take her to see the horses.”
“She knows how to get around me. Your daughter is a menace.”
“Takes after her dad, the man you introduced me to.”
“Ah, so some of the blame is mine.” TJ smiled. “I can accept that.”
“I called to let you know I popped over and left some food in your fridge.”
“Toni. You don’t need to do that, but thanks.”
“Pfft. We all know how hard you’ve been working, so let us take care of you for once. Oh, here’s Carter. I’ll speak to you later.” TJ smiled when he heard them murmuring. “TJ. You up for the game next week?”
“Your place this time, right?”
“Yeah. Usual time.” Carter coughed and TJ knew what he was about to ask. The question didn’t get asked as often now, but he knew. “Have you heard anything?”
“No. I check hospitals and police, prisons and morgues as I always do, but still nothing. No news is good news.”
“I’m not my brother. I know what the likelihood is.” A soft sigh. “I want them to have some closure.”
“I know. I wish I could give it to them. I don’t know how I’d feel if it was one of mine or Macy.”
“Thanks TJ. I know you don’t have to keep looking. Cody isn’t a relation of yours.”
“Don’t be daft. Like I wouldn’t keep looking for him. He was almost sixteen when he disappeared, and he was staying with me at the time. I feel responsible.”
“Cass knows it’s not your fault. He thinks he would have left before if you hadn’t stepped in and tried to help.”
“Look Carter—”
“Don’t. We both know Cass fucked up where Cody’s concerned. Cass should have put him in therapy, but refused to do it. Cody refused to do it. We should have forced it, then Cody wouldn’t have jumped off the deep end and done what he did.”
TJ shook his head, even though Carter couldn’t see it. “We all watched him fall apart.” They all bore some responsibility.
“No, TJ. You told Cass time and time again to get Cody help, and he refused.”
“If I find anything—”
“I know.” The words sounded weary, so TJ changed the subject.
“Macy wants me to take her to the horses. What do Lincoln and Arthur want?”
“We both know those boys will do whatever Macy wants. She rules them like a queen.”
TJ chuckled because it was true. All of four years old, Macy ruled her brothers, and they let her. They adored their little sister. “How’s Toni doing?” Five months pregnant with their surprise baby, she’d had terrible morning sickness and had lost over ten pounds in weight.
“She’s much better, thankfully. You know I was getting worried, but she’s doing well and putting weight on now.”
“You know where I am if you ever need me to have the kids to give you both a break. I love all three of them.”
“We’re lucky, aren’t we? Not many people get on like we do, and share our kids the way we do.”
“I guess we are, but I wouldn’t want any other man for Toni. I’ve gotta go, Carter. I’m exhausted.”
“Shit, TJ. I forgot about the hours you’ve been working. Toni told you she left you some food?”
“She did and thank her again for me. She really doesn’t need to do that.”
“Like she’ll ever stop caring for you. Or me. Go to sleep, TJ. I’ll call tomorrow to arrange when I’ll drop the kids off.”
TJ hung up and got out of the truck and trudged up the driveway to his house.
The light from the moon shone through the windows, so TJ didn’t bother putting the lights on once he was inside.
In the kitchen, he grabbed a beer from the fridge and as he shut the door, he spotted something on the side he hadn’t noticed when he’d first walked in.
Medals.
It took TJ a few seconds to realize what medals they were. The missing medals that had gone when Cody had. He reached over and touched one, then went to pick it up. A scrape behind him had TJ spinning around and drawing his gun, pointing it to where he’d heard the sound.
Someone sat at his table, shadows falling across his face. “TJ.”
The voice sounded familiar, but TJ couldn’t quite place it. It took a few seconds, then he swiftly inhaled. It couldn’t be, could it? “Cody?”