Page 52 of Callahan

He studied me for a beat, then said, “Okay, that’s fair since we don’t have a firm academy date. But I need you on the job in ten days, not a month. With what I’m paying you, you can afford to fly to your parents’ house and not take the bus.”

Although I didn’t think I’d need more than a week before I could be back in Haven Springs, Brian had suggested I ask for month so I’d have something to concede to Angus on.

And I’d always been able to afford to fly, I just hadn’t been in a hurry to get home and begin my new life as a construction worker.

I hoped Alan wasn’t going to be too pissed I wasn’t coming to work for him. He’d told me there was no rush when I’d calledhim to explain what happened to me, and why I needed to wait to travel.

“Do what you need to do to make sure that bastard is caught,” he’d snarled into the phone.

Taking a job as a cop definitely fit in that category.

I wanted the Chief to think this was a real concession on my part, so I countered, “How about ten days after I’m cleared to travel?”

“Done.”

He crossed out a date on the piece of paper in front of him, wrote something in its place, then spun the sheet around so I was no longer reading the words upside down.

“Initial here, here, here, and here,” he said as he used the tip of his pen to point to places he’d altered the typed agreement, then tapped a line with my name filled out below. “And sign here.”

I glanced at the changes he’d made, scratched my initials where’d he indicated, then scribbled my signature in the spot he’d told me to.

“Your background check should only take a couple of days. In the meantime. I’ll have these changes made so you can sign a cleaner version tomorrow,” he said as he stood up and offered me his hand. “Welcome to the Haven Springs Police Department, Officer Callahan. You’re going to be a great asset to our town.”

“I appreciate that, Chief.”

“I think Shawn would be happy you’re here.”

Not if he knew what I’d almost done to his girl on her kitchen counter.

I could only bring myself to nod and smile, so he continued. “It’s good that Lainey will have another person in her corner. She’s been through a lot. The whole town has tried to look outfor her, but I like knowing you’ll be here to help take care of her, too.”

Yeah, if she’ll let me.

I didn’t say that, of course. Because then I’d have to explain why she wouldn’t.

****

Lainey

Brian called at five-thirty that evening, while Conor was still asleep.

“Hey, Lainey, it’s Brian.”

I couldn’t help but smile. He always opened with that, whether he was calling or texting.

“Hi, Bri. What’s up?”

“I’m just calling to check on you.”

“I’m assuming Adam showed you the letter.”

“Yeah, that was pretty messed up. You doing okay?”

“I mean, it’s obviously a little scary. I just hope you catch whoever put it under my door.”

“We dusted it for fingerprints. But I’m going to need you to come down to the station when you have time this week so we can get your prints in order to rule them out.”

“Adam touched it, too.”

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