Page 33 of Echoes of You

“Hartley!” a voice bellowed.

Both Lawson’s and my head snapped up to see Dan McConnell charging down the sidewalk.

I fought the urge to groan. There was nothing like a grown man having a hissy fit.

“Is this some kinda joke?” he spat.

I gave him a lazy smile. “The tantrum you’re throwing? I certainly hope so.”

Dan’s nostrils flared. “You think you and your family own SAR. Newsflash, you don’t own shit. I’m going over your heads.”

Lawson stepped forward, raising a placating hand. “There are a limited number of spots each year. Holt does his best to make sure he gives us a well-rounded team, but things are always shifting. You should apply again next season.”

Dan turned his angry gaze on my brother. “I know this isn’t Holt’s doing. It’s Nash’s. He was giving me and Kevin shit all during field exercises. He feels threatened.”

I couldn’t help it; I laughed. “Threatened by what? The fact that you can barely string two words together?”

Redness crept up Dan’s throat. “You’re a piece of shit, and everyone knows it. The only reason you got a job on the force is because your brother was already in leadership. You’re nothing but dead weight they string along.”

My gaze hardened, my back teeth gnashing together.

“All right, that’s enough,” Lawson barked. “Take a walk. I’d hate to have to bring you in for disrupting the peace.”

Dan snapped his mouth closed, but rage still pulsed in his eyes as he stared me down. Then he turned on his heel and stalked off.

Lawson blew out a breath. “You just had to needle him.”

I shrugged. “He needs to take life a little less seriously. It’s avolunteersearch and rescue team.”

My tone was light as if nothing from the altercation had landed. But Dan’s words swirled around me, grating and digging in deep. Because I’d had to face time and time again that I’d only ever be the joker to my family. The troublemaker. Never the person they relied on. And maybe that was wise. Because I only ever let people down.

* * *

Climbingthe steps to Maddie’s cabin, I frowned at the railing. These stairs were a deathtrap. I needed to break out my tools this weekend and start triaging repairs. The last thing Maddie needed was to trip and break an ankle.

As I reached the front porch, I cracked my neck, trying to alleviate some of the pressure that had built up over the course of the day. The scene with Dan, then callout after callout. Drunk tourists getting in a fight on the beach. Mrs. Callum wanting to report vandalism, but said vandalism was a five-year-old using chalk onhersidewalk. Teenagers shoplifting on a dare and pissed-off parents arguing that their children would never do such a thing.

All I wanted was to crack open a beer, kick back, and ignore the world for a while. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. But maybe I could at least have some good company for what was in store.

I lifted a hand and knocked on Maddie’s door. A few seconds later, I heard the shuffling of footsteps, and the door opened.

I scowled. “You didn’t ask who it was.”

Maddie rolled her eyes. “I saw your SUV from the window.”

I stared at her for a beat to see if she was telling the truth.

She held up a hand as if taking an oath. “I solemnly swear, Officer Overprotective.”

My gaze caught on her face. There was strain there and something else.

“What’s wrong? Are you in pain? Did you take your meds?”

Maddie waved me into the house. “I’m fine. Took the anti-inflammatory and half a painkiller.”

“Why didn’t you take the whole thing?”

“Because I didn’t want to pass out in my dinner.”

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