Page 82 of Family Bonds- Jarrett & Andi

“She was on a charter plane in the Caribbean with her inheritance and died in a crash into the ocean.”

“What?” he asked.

“I’m not kidding you,” she said, laughing. “I’m not sure why I’m finding this so funny. But it’s true. For a fewmonthsColleen was still in Denver but just recovering from surgery and then she got her inheritance and went on a trip. It was over a million; then add what I got from my father. I was living it up and flying over the islands on a solomuch-neededvacation.”

He let out a laugh. “Did a charter planeactuallycrash?”

“Yes,” she said. “All the records of me flying there and being on the island and part of that charter exist. I met my demise in the ocean. It was during a storm too. You know, I guess I’ve got bad luck, falling down stairs and slopes. Not a good flight I booked either.”

“I have no words for this,” he said, shaking his head.

“There you go. My life and birth in a way. Everything else I’ve told you is the truth. I feel as if you know more about me than I do you. Not fair.”

“You know I love you,” he said.

She moved closer to him and put her arms around his waist. “I might have fallen a little in love with you the minute you stopped to bring my groceries in.”

“Why is that?”

“Because my father used to do that too,” she said. “He always seemed to be around when I needed help and just did it without me asking.”

“And I always will be too.”

26

HIS HEAD AND HEART

“Do you believe what you heard?” Mac asked him the next day. Jarrett had shown up at the police station to fill Mac in before he went to talk to Jack without Andi.

“I don’t have much of a choice in the matter right now,” he said. “I’m heading to the hotel at ten to find out what I can without worrying about Andi hearing things to upset her.”

The last thing he wanted to do was put her in that position again.

He’d had every intention of going home last night before Jack showed up but then changed his mind. There was no way he was leaving Andi alone.

“Do you mind company?” Mac asked. “I need to be filled in if we have to worry about anything coming here.”

“I figured you’d want to come and I don’t see Jack being upset over it. Andimade a commentthat Jack would have done a background on us. Part of me thinks he might have done a basic one on you and the PD before she moved here.”

“I’d expect that,” Mac said. “We’ve got nothing to hide. He would have known there was a state police presence on theisland. I’ve had some contact with a marshal or two in the Boston office.”

He figured his brother would have. His father too.

“Maybe Jack didn’t remember our names when he rushed here months ago or even knew our names more than checking out law enforcement in general.”

“That’s more likely the case,” Mac said. “You love her, don’t you?”

“I do,” he said. “I know you can understand this with Sidney.”

“I can,” Mac said. “There is a fine line between protecting her and yourself and those we serve. You can’t think with your heart over your head.”

Just like he was positive there was a moment that his brother would have shot to kill Sidney’s ex rather than unarm him. But that moment passed quickly.

They’d never make it personal.

Something Andi’s father did and it cost him his life and left his daughter alone.

“I’ll be okay,” Jarrett said. He looked at his watch. “Do you want to go over now?”

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