Chapter 41 ALI - STORM BREWING
The next night, I was in the middle of ordering dinner when blue and white flashing lights appeared through the kitchen window. Dread gripped my body as the cop cars turned down Cliff’s long driveway.
“JP,” I called out in a shaky voice. “Can you come here?”
He rushed out of the bedroom in socks, sweatpants, and a t-shirt.
Now that he hit the two-week mark after his surgery, the team physical therapist advised him to have a little time without his sling for light exercises each day.
“Yeah, what’s…” The rest of his sentence died in his throat as he saw the flashing lights.
The color drained from his face. “Where’s my dad? ”
“He’s at Herbs, isn’t he?”
JP immediately ran back to the room for his phone. When he came back to the kitchen, the ring tone filled the air as he tried to reach his dad. He squeezed his eyes shut as he waited, his hand slightly shaking.
I twisted the dishtowel in my hands, trying to calm my nerves. When his dad didn’t answer. JP swore under his breath and called again.
“Breathe, JP,” I reminded him.
He nodded, his eyes still closed.
“Jamie?” his dad’s voice finally answered. JP’s whole body sagged with relief. “Is Ali okay? I’m with a customer, but I can—”
JP’s eyes found mine. “All good, Dad. Just wanted to check in,” he said calmly before hanging up. Knowing JP, he didn’t tell his dad because he didn’t want him to worry him, but Cliff would want to know that cops were at his house.
As soon as the first police officer exited his vehicle, my heart sank to the floor. Familiar cocky stride, bulging arm muscles, and a dark brown mustache. Spencer. One of Mark’s best friends. One of the guys we saw in the grocery store.
“JP, that’s—”
“Yupp,” he said, grabbing my hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Jameson McQuaid?” the other cop asked.
JP nodded. “What’s this about?”
“You’re under arrest for vandalism,” Spencer said with a smug grin.
My eyes flashed to JP’s grey ones in panic. Now that he knew his dad was okay, he seemed calm and collected. He pulled me closer and rubbed a hand down my back, trying to soothe me. “What kind of vandalism?” he asked.
“Tires were slashed in the Centre Ice parking lot,” the other cop stated. “Yesterday around 7pm.”
“Lemme guess, Mark Rossi’s tires,” JP said dryly under his breath.
“JP,” I warned.
“Why would I slash his tires?” JP asked, aiming his question at Spencer.
His partner’s eyes were darting back and forth between JP and Spencer, trying to piece things together.
“I’d pay for a brand new fucking truck for him if he’d promise to drive the fuck away from here,” JP continued. “You can tell him that, too.”
Spencer’s lips twisted into a menacing grin. “You have the right to remain silent,” he started.
“Spencer, you can’t do this,” I interrupted. “This is all a lie,” I tried to tell his partner. “JP’s been here with me every night. This is a set up.” My eyes went back to Spencer’s. “You’re going to let Mark make you lose your job? Really?” I couldn’t keep the panicked shriek out of my voice.
Spencer’s face split into an even wider grin, like this was making his whole day. “Ma’am, I'm going to have to ask you to calm down and step back.” He cocked his head to the side and looked me up and down. “Or do we need to take you for obstruction?”
Fury rose up inside of me. “Spencer, you fucking—”
JP immediately turned in front of me, blocking me from their view. “You have to calm down, Ali,” he whispered. “I don't want that guy anywhere near you.”
Spencer violently yanked JP’s bad arm back, making him grunt forward.
My hands flew up to my mouth to cover my crying.
“I’m okay,” JP grunted, trying to reassure me, but I could tell he was in pain.
“No, JP,” I cried. My whole body trembled with panic.
“Everything is okay,” he said calmly, but his face held a tight grimace. “Go stay with my dad, then call Johnny.” He gave me a serious look. “Can you do that for me?”
“No, JP, I want to stay with you.” My throat burned.
The cops yanked him out of the doorway, making me jump back.
“My dad, then Johnny,” JP called over his shoulder as the cops led him to their vehicle.
“O-okay.” I hiccuped.
My mind raced as I rushed back into the house for his phone. I couldn’t believe this was happening.
I tried dialing Johnny about four times, but my hands were shaking too badly and my tears were making all the numbers blur together.
This was all my fault.
This was why I stayed away for so long.
I knew Mark would come for me in any way possible.
And that thought had a new fear brewing in my gut. JP was right when he said to find his dad. I couldn’t stay here. I didn’t trust that Spencer wouldn’t tip off Mark that I was here alone. I needed to get to Herb’s.
__________
“You haven’t had dinner yet, have you?” Cliff asked later that night. “I’ll make something.”
My whole body felt numb as I nodded. Food was the last thing I wanted because my stomach was twisted up in nervous knots, but at the same time, I knew my babies needed it.
Hank readjusted himself on the couch next to me, then I went back to stroking him.
I think he could sense my anxiety because he hadn’t left my side since JP was taken.
About a half hour later, Cliff walked into the den and handed me a plate.
Looking down, the grilled cheese sandwich blurred in front of me. My favorite when I was a teen working at Herb’s. “You remembered?”
“Of course I did.” He gave me a small smile. “Let’s eat. It could be a long night.” He flipped the TV from the NHL station to a mystery show on Netflix. “A good mystery always distracts my brain.”
“Do you really think he’ll be okay?” I asked.
“I think…” Cliff paused in thought and dabbed his mouth with a napkin.
“No, I know two truths about hockey players. One, they’re stubborn sons of bitches who work hard to get their way.
” He cracked a small grin. “You need that type of persistence to make it in a sport like hockey. And two, they’re the most loyal bunch on the planet.
” He tilted his head to the side in thought.
“Half the time that loyalty only extends to their teammates, not even their wives or families, and that’s when it becomes a problem.
But in Johnny’s case, it’s a good thing.
Johnny still thinks of himself as a teammate, just a different type of teammate.
That’s why he’s the best at his job. That’s why so many of the guys trust him and work with him.
” He nodded. “I bet Johnny has him back here tonight.”
“Tonight?” I asked, feeling a little hope rise in my chest for the first time since JP was taken from me. “You really think that’s possible?”
He nodded. “I’d bet on it.”
___________
A few hours later, Cliff was proven right.
JP climbed into bed with me around 2am.
“Oh my God, is everything okay?” I slurred, still half-asleep.
“It will be.” He pressed a kiss to my temple before curling his body around mine. “We’ll figure it out in the morning. I’m sorry I woke you.”
“I’m happy you’re here,” I said, my voice cracking with emotion.
“Me too. I’m here, and I’m staying here. I promise. You need some rest, baby.”
But when I finally woke in the morning, JP wasn’t behind me anymore.
I panicked for a second, thinking I dreamt him up in the middle of the night, until I heard his voice floating in from the hallway.
The irony didn’t escape me that in the beginning of our relationship, I panicked that he was in bed with me, now I panicked over his absence.
Quickly throwing on flannel pants, I tried to listen in on the conversation going on in the hallway. I caught the words “possible restitution” and “restraining order.”
I threw the door open. “What happened?”
JP stepped closer to me. He had his arm back in his sling, and I really hoped yesterday didn’t hurt his progress. “Johnny’s fighting the charges.”
“Charges?” My eyes went from JP to Johnny. “He got charged?”
“It’s all bogus and everyone knows it,” JP answered. “That Spencer asshole is probably behind the whole thing, but it’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. You can’t get it dropped?” I asked desperately.
“Oh don’t worry, I plan on getting it dropped.” Johnny’s eyes dipped to my baby bump and his face faltered. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? Why are you apologizing?” My eyes went wide. “Sorry is bad! Are things bad?”
“No, they’re not, I didn’t mean…” He shook his head, then looked to JP for help. “I hate disappointing pregnant chicks.”
“Disappointing? Should I be disappointed?” I squeaked.
JP snorted a laugh and pulled me into him for a hug. “Everything’s okay.”
But I knew it wasn’t.
And as the day went on, the bad news kept piling on. The story of JP’s arrest was picked up by a sports blog first, and then it made the rounds to bigger sports outlets.
Kappy called around dinnertime, right before he was about to go on air.
“Dude, just wanted to give you a heads up,” Kappy whispered on the other end of the line. “Make sure you tune in. I'll clear it all up for you.”
JP’s face went slack. “Kappy, what does that mean? No, whatever you’re planning, just don’t. You’ll just make it—”
The line went dead.
“Son of a—” JP cut himself off and clenched his jaw.
“Is that bad?” I asked nervously.
JP scrubbed a frustrated hand down his face. “I don’t know, probably. Kappy’s a loose cannon.”
“I’m sure he means well,” I said weakly.
“Yeah, I'm sure he does.” JP quickly searched for the clicker to turn on the TV.
As soon as JP changed it to the correct channel, Kappy appeared on the screen looking fancy with his dark mullet freshly styled. He was sitting at a panel with three other retired hockey guys, all in eclectic suits.
“JP McQuaid, who’s out on injury reserve, has apparently been busy during his recovery,” another young guy on the panel joked.
“For those of you who don’t know what happened, he was charged with vandalism for slashing the tires of a youth hockey coach,” the panelist with gray hair said.