Page 140 of Never Let You Go

“I’m sorry. Come here.”

She slides onto my lap and pulls a deck of cards from the front pocket of her hoodie. She deals five cards on the bar, face up, and gives each of us two, face down.

I guess we’re playing Texas Hold Em tonight.

“That legal?” A big voice booms next to us.

“Hey, Declan,” I say. Declan Campbell is half of Emerald Creek’s police force. “Busted,” I whisper-shout to Skye, who giggles and slaps down her cards. “Two pairs! Woo-hoo! Partay!” Then she turns to Declan. “Did you put any bad people in jail today?”

“Matter of fact, yes, I did.”

That’s interesting. Nothing ever happens in Emerald Creek.

“Are you celebrating?” Skye asks, undeterred by the news.

Declan laughs. “I don’t celebrate putting bad people away, no.”

“Why not? It’s your job. Alek-zandra says we should celebrate every win.” She stacks the cards together in her little hands. Maybe she’s spending too much time with adults.

“Maybe I will, then. Justin, Diet Coke for me. We’re celebrating tonight, it seems.”

Justin eyes Skye, holding his tongue for now. “Here you go, Officer. On the house. Thanks for keeping us safe.”

Declan shuffles his feet, glancing at me.

Skye slides off the barstool. She knows when adults need to talk. She’s a good kid like that. Too good, I sometimes feel. Too perceptive. “Justin, can I take Moose for a walk?”

He hands her the dog’s leash. “Stay on The Green,” I tell her. Where I can see you.”

“And take poop bags,” Justin adds.

“Eww. Okay.” Skye stuffs the bags in her coat pocket and heads out. The dog is so tall, he reaches above her midsection.

“I’m wondering who’s walking who,” Justin says.

“Something on your mind, Declan?” I ask. He never comes into Justin’s bar, and he’s in uniform. Something’s on his mind.

“Old Man Fletcher’s not going to be trouble for a while,” he says under his breath. “Just thought you should know, seeing how you’ve been helping Isaac out.”

Shit. That can only mean one thing. The person behind bars is Isaac’s dad. I’m not surprised. The guy was an asshole. He probably got into it with the wrong person. “How long?”

He takes a long pull on his coke, and says, almost too softly for me to hear, “Depends if the other guy makes it or not.”

“Shit,” I say under my breath.

“Yup. Thought you’d like a heads up.”

That means two things, one good and one bad. The good news is, Isaac’s father is no longer an issue as far as using his son as a punching ball. At least for now, and maybe for a very long time. The bad news is, the family lost its primary breadwinner. I’m not sure what his mom does for a living, but I know the dad is—was—a manager at a meatpacking facility, and those jobs pay good money. “Appreciate it,” I say.

“No problem,” Declan says, and with that, he leaves.

“Tough,” Justin says, sliding me a refill. “How old is Isaac?”

“Going on eighteen. He’s graduating high school this year.”

“He’s going to grow up fast.”

“Yup. I’m gonna make him an offer.”

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