Page 74 of S.O.S. Billboard

Nah.Perkins was too goofy and young for the pretty mom.

O’Shea and Anna loaded the dishwasher companionably, then Anna filled the sink with water and soap to tackle the pans.

“You wash, I’ll dry?” O’Shea asked.

“Sounds good. I rarely have help,” she smiled. “Ethan is willing, but he gets so distracted that if he washes, he leaves food bits behind, and if he dries, the dishes are always wet.”

“I get it.” She rolled her eyes. “Who, at eleven years old, wants to do chores?”

O’Shea knew there was a bite to her voice, but she shook off her sourness. Anna didn’t need to hear that O’Shea and her brother had doneallthe housework for her parents from the time they’d been able to function as little automatons, until the day they’d fled home.

“Sounds like there’s a story there,” Anna replied wisely.

Nope. O’Shea wasn’t going to openthatcan of worms, but it was just the comment she needed to begin her own line of questioning.

“There’s always a story,” O’Shea admitted, stabbing Anna with a knowing stare. “And I’m thinking you have one, too.”

Anna bit down on her lip.

O’Shea could see that she was debating with herself whether or not she should talk.

“I… I’m not supposed to say anything to anybody,” she practically whispered.

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m not anybody,” O’Shea returned smartly. “I’m just a visitor from out of town who’s not a threat to anyone.”

Anna snorted. “Right. Like I believe that. I see how you’ve been teaching Ethan your self-defense moves, and I can tell you’re damned good at what you do.”

O’Shea shrugged. “It’s just part of the job,” she demurred. “But now, I will admit you’ve got the cop side of me curious. What aren’t you supposed to talk about?”

“I…” Anna looked hesitant for a moment, but all of a sudden, the floodgates opened. “My ex-husband ordered me not to say a word, but… During our twelve-year marriage, he was abusive. To me. But as Ethan got older, Barnie began cuffing him around, and I knew it was only a matter of time before my ex began beating on our son, too.”

Anna hung her head, like she had something to be ashamed of.

O’Shea reached out and clasped the woman’s arm. “That’s not on you, Anna. That’s on your prick of an ex.” Her heart hardened. “Nobody has a right to abuse another person; especially one they’re supposed to love and nurture.” O’Shea knew that from experience, but this wasn’t about her. It was about Anna and Ethan.

“I take it once you saw that the man was escalating, you filed for a simple divorce?”

“It wasn’t that easy, and I had to give up a lot to obtain it, or risk…heaven knows what,” Anna heaved. “You see, Barnie is a big-wig in town; he’s the chairman of the selectboard, and that means he’s basically in charge of the entire town budget. Which means he has the ear of every department, including the police.”

“Ahh,” O’Shea commiserated. “Now I understand why you brought SOS in to find Ethan. If you’d called the cops, theyprobably would have reported back to your ex, and there would have been consequences.”

“Maybe. Probably,” she gulped. “He would see my ‘negligence’ as grounds to take Ethan, which I believe is his goal. Well, that and the house.” She blinked and brought herself back to her narrative.

“I understand that not all our town cops are in Barnie’s pocket, but I don’t have any idea which ones I can trust, and which ones I can’t, so it’s better that I err on the side of caution.”

“Absolutely,” O’Shea agreed. “So, the two of you divorced?”

“That’s right. Two years ago.”

“Because of the threat your husband posed to your son.”

Anna nodded.

“And he didn’t fight it?”

“He… Can I take a minute to decide what I can and can’t tell you?” She laughed, self-deprecatingly. “Although… It’ll probably all come out, anyway.”

“Take your time,” O’Shea agreed easily, but yes, she’d pry everything out of Anna before this conversation was over.

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