Becky’s office?”
“I guess so. Why?”
“She told me that when there was some question about the circumstances surrounding abuse they like to talk to family members.”
“ Circumstances surrounding abuse!” Louise whispered loudly. “Jesus, Eric. She’s a shy, frightened, seven-year-old kid. I’ll give Becky a call. The last thing Kylie needs is to be cross-examined.”
“Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just telling you what she asked.”
A few minutes later, she called back. “Okay. Becky promised to go easy with Kylie, but I want to be the one to bring her. Said she had some papers for you to look over and sign.”
Louise was right. She and Kylie had bonded. If Becky had any chance of getting the truth from Kylie, Lu was the one to take her. He’d stop by the marina and see how Bobby was doing.
“Great. When you get home we’ll call in that order for Chinese food.”
Chapter Eight
“So this girl just appeared at your door with her daughter and a dog?” Bobby’s gray eyes sparkled. He wore a curious expression as he stifled a laugh. “Hell. That sounds like something on one of those woman’s channels.”
Eric sat across from him on one of the marina’s picnic benches. “Hmmm. My buddy the decorated Ranger. Jeez, Bob, didn’t know you were a fan. Is that Hallmark or Lifetime?” Eric asked. It was his turn to hide a smile.
Bobby flushed. “Honest to God. It’s not me, it’s Gwen.” He shook his head and scowled. “That’s how I spend my Saturday nights. The early part anyway.”
Bobby broke into a grin. They both laughed.
Eric proceeded to give his best friend the abbreviated version of the last twenty-four hours. Ashley’s arrival and the questions it raised, never mentioning Ralph’s phone message, the miscarriage, or the calls to Buzz or Lip.
“You gonna take ’em in?”
Eric nodded. “At least until they get settled. Hell, I can’t leave ’em on the street. The little girl’s only seven and seems like a real sweet kid. I’ll try and help Ashley find some work. Maybe get her a place. Must be good at something.” He shrugged.
“Maybe she’s a computer guru.” Bobby laughed. “Could help straighten the office out.”
Eric shook his head and shrugged. “She wouldn’t be on the top of my list.” He stood and headed to the parking lot. “Look, I’ll be in early tomorrow, but I’ve gotta pick Ashley up from the hospital and get her settled. Thanks for taking over today.”
“No sweat, boss. I love it. Got these guys doing jumping jacks twice a day.” His friend laughed and slapped Eric on the back as he got into his Jeep. “Hey. By the way, what’s Ashley look like?” Bobby asked as he shut Eric’s door.
Eric thought for a minute. “Last night—like a drowned cat.” He pictured her at the hospital. “This afternoon. Cute. Thin. Short dark hair. Nice smile and…”
He caught Bobby hiding a grin.
Eric stopped and cleared his throat. “I don’t know. I’ll bring her by sometime. You can judge for yourself,” he promised.
His young friend laughed. “Are you blushing , Lieutenant Montgomery? I think you like her.”
Eric frowned at the thought. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He cleared his throat a second time, but Bobby held his smile. Eric ignored the thought that he might have any attraction to Ashley. It was ridiculous. He’d only known her for a couple of days, and she was a mystery wrapped in a riddle.
He looked at Bobby. Eric wasn’t the only local hero. His friend was tall, good-looking, and athletic. And Eric had to admit, his pal’s dark, curly hair, strong features, and cleft chin set him apart. The local girls loved him. He’d been a staff sergeant in the Rangers and had his share of hardware to show for his years in the Middle East. Bobby had an impressive combat résumé. They had been on a dozen missions together. There was no one Eric would rather have beside him when the shit hit the fan.
But Bobby was way off base. He had
“I guess so. Why?”
“She told me that when there was some question about the circumstances surrounding abuse they like to talk to family members.”
“ Circumstances surrounding abuse!” Louise whispered loudly. “Jesus, Eric. She’s a shy, frightened, seven-year-old kid. I’ll give Becky a call. The last thing Kylie needs is to be cross-examined.”
“Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just telling you what she asked.”
A few minutes later, she called back. “Okay. Becky promised to go easy with Kylie, but I want to be the one to bring her. Said she had some papers for you to look over and sign.”
Louise was right. She and Kylie had bonded. If Becky had any chance of getting the truth from Kylie, Lu was the one to take her. He’d stop by the marina and see how Bobby was doing.
“Great. When you get home we’ll call in that order for Chinese food.”
Chapter Eight
“So this girl just appeared at your door with her daughter and a dog?” Bobby’s gray eyes sparkled. He wore a curious expression as he stifled a laugh. “Hell. That sounds like something on one of those woman’s channels.”
Eric sat across from him on one of the marina’s picnic benches. “Hmmm. My buddy the decorated Ranger. Jeez, Bob, didn’t know you were a fan. Is that Hallmark or Lifetime?” Eric asked. It was his turn to hide a smile.
Bobby flushed. “Honest to God. It’s not me, it’s Gwen.” He shook his head and scowled. “That’s how I spend my Saturday nights. The early part anyway.”
Bobby broke into a grin. They both laughed.
Eric proceeded to give his best friend the abbreviated version of the last twenty-four hours. Ashley’s arrival and the questions it raised, never mentioning Ralph’s phone message, the miscarriage, or the calls to Buzz or Lip.
“You gonna take ’em in?”
Eric nodded. “At least until they get settled. Hell, I can’t leave ’em on the street. The little girl’s only seven and seems like a real sweet kid. I’ll try and help Ashley find some work. Maybe get her a place. Must be good at something.” He shrugged.
“Maybe she’s a computer guru.” Bobby laughed. “Could help straighten the office out.”
Eric shook his head and shrugged. “She wouldn’t be on the top of my list.” He stood and headed to the parking lot. “Look, I’ll be in early tomorrow, but I’ve gotta pick Ashley up from the hospital and get her settled. Thanks for taking over today.”
“No sweat, boss. I love it. Got these guys doing jumping jacks twice a day.” His friend laughed and slapped Eric on the back as he got into his Jeep. “Hey. By the way, what’s Ashley look like?” Bobby asked as he shut Eric’s door.
Eric thought for a minute. “Last night—like a drowned cat.” He pictured her at the hospital. “This afternoon. Cute. Thin. Short dark hair. Nice smile and…”
He caught Bobby hiding a grin.
Eric stopped and cleared his throat. “I don’t know. I’ll bring her by sometime. You can judge for yourself,” he promised.
His young friend laughed. “Are you blushing , Lieutenant Montgomery? I think you like her.”
Eric frowned at the thought. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He cleared his throat a second time, but Bobby held his smile. Eric ignored the thought that he might have any attraction to Ashley. It was ridiculous. He’d only known her for a couple of days, and she was a mystery wrapped in a riddle.
He looked at Bobby. Eric wasn’t the only local hero. His friend was tall, good-looking, and athletic. And Eric had to admit, his pal’s dark, curly hair, strong features, and cleft chin set him apart. The local girls loved him. He’d been a staff sergeant in the Rangers and had his share of hardware to show for his years in the Middle East. Bobby had an impressive combat résumé. They had been on a dozen missions together. There was no one Eric would rather have beside him when the shit hit the fan.
But Bobby was way off base. He had
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