Page 78 of Family Affair
Chapter 18
The next morning, Coco called her office and left a message for Aaron about being late. Naturally, she chose not to share with him the real reason for her absence, instead inventing some inane excuse about Chap and a follow up visit to the vet. He would steam over prioritizing a pet over work. Let him. He would steam even more if he knew the truth.
For her trip to the police headquarters, Coco dressed strategically, like a knight before the tournament. She dug through her closet until she unearthed a gray pinstriped suit that she used to wear to meetings with corporate legal teams in her previous life. The expensive lightweight wool complemented by black heeled pumps and hair in a conservative updo conveyed a business-minded attitude. Not like her paint splattered ratty t-shirt Detective Willis had caught her in.
The suit was also for Dan’s benefit. She had decided to go by his house later today. Their relationship had been heading down a dead-end street even before Cade made an appearance in her life, and she didn’t want to prolong the inevitable. She couldn’t, and wouldn’t settle, never again, not for what she wanted to do in life, and not for a man to share her life with.
The doorbell rang, deafening in the small house. Coco peered into the peephole, and her carefully ironed-out plans got a wrinkle.
Dan was standing on the porch.
She chewed on her lip before opening the door. Now was so not the time to give him The Speech.
“Hi.” She smiled brightly, letting him in.
“Mornin’.” He looked good and smelled clean and fresh as he leaned to give her a kiss on the corner of her mouth.
“What are you doing here?” He should be at work.
“You’re signing Cade’s alibi this morning,” he stated and gave her an assessing look. “You look great. Better than ever. Professional clothes suit you.” He sounded a little surprised.
She sighed inwardly because the suited-up persona he found attractive wasn’t the real Coco. “Guess I clean up nice. Dan, I’m sorry, but I really have to go.”
“Sure, let’s go. I’ll drive you.”
She paused. “Drive me where?”
“To the police station.”
“You want to come with me?” Maybe she was too slow, but she didn’t get his drift.
“I’m on the Sheffield legal team. I came to pick you up so you don’t feel lonely and overwhelmed. See? I’m learning how to be considerate.” He smiled, all manly charm and dark eyes.
“Wait. The Sheffield legal team? You mean, Cade’s?”
His smile became guarded. “Last I checked, Cade’s a Sheffield. Why are you so surprised?”
“I thought you were the company’s lawyer.”
“I am. I’m also the family’s lawyer. Ready?”
Dan offered her a ride in his car, but Coco declined, wanting to maintain her distance.
By the time they made it to downtown, they were running a few minutes late.
“This way,” Dan led the way after they signed in at the front desk. “Everyone should already be there.”
“Who’s everyone?” she asked, but he didn’t answer. They reached their destination and walked in.
“Coco’s here,” Dan announced unnecessarily. “I believe you’ve met most everyone, right, sweetheart?”
“Good morning, everyone,” she said automatically and scanned the room where quite a crowd had gathered together for such a simple purpose. Clearly, the Sheffields took this investigation seriously.
Detective Willis presided at the head of a long conference table. Dan’s friend Jeff Anderson, a corporate lawyer like Dan who shouldn’t be a part of this, was sitting next to Willis, suit jacket negligently open.
She nodded at him and moved inside the room, taking notice of an older gentleman, small and thin to the point of frailty with sharp features and clever eyes. The only stranger to her, he sat stiffly between Jeff and… Cade.
Her heart did a somersault. He was here! He never left.
