Page 50 of Free to Live
I go to object when Holly skewers me with a look. “Don’t argue. Cass would have my throat if I didn’t cover you and Detective Idrissi after midnight. If your dad and Chief Drever were still here, it would be the same. As it is, CFD and CPD haven’t been paying a dime.”
“Seriously?” She nods. Whoa. “Who do we have to thank for that?”
“Cass is going to make an announcement about it in just a few.” Holly takes a sip of her drink. “I’ll take my cameras back now.”
Carefully, I untangle the expensive equipment from around my neck. Holly casually puts the straps around hers. I notice something ease in her beautiful features. “They’re an extension of you, aren’t they?” I take a small drink and nod down.
She nods. “I’m nowhere without at least one. Even in the office, I have a camera with me.”
I grin. “Sure you don’t have a secret fantasy to become a PI?”
She wrinkles her nose. “There have been more times I’ve ended up in that position unintentionally. So no, thank you.”
I’m about to ask her about what she means when the music fades down. Cassidy is up on the stage with the DJ. “Could I ask my family, Officer Bianco, and Detective Idrissi to join me on stage?” Holly begins weaving her way through people who graciously move out of our way. As we get closer to the stage, Holly holds up a camera with one hand. Cassidy shakes her head. “Hols, give it to Keene. We need you up here.”
Turning toward me, Holly asks, “Can you hold this a moment?” She passes me her drink.
“Sure.” She takes a step back and looks up at the stage. Fiddling with the dials of one of her cameras quickly, she turns and hands it to her brother-in-law, who appears to our left. “Thanks, Keene.”
He grins down at her. “No problem. Now get up there. I got you covered.”
She winks at him before turning back to me. “Ready?”
I pass her martini back to her. We make it the few steps over to the stage. Squeezing up with the other Freemans, I glance over at Mike. “Any idea what’s going on?” I mutter.
He shakes his head. He opens his mouth to speak, but Cassidy starts talking. “Thank you, all, for coming tonight to support Collyer’s Police and Fire Departments. There are not enough words to express our gratitude to the men and women who willingly step into harm’s way to protect the citizens of our town every day.” Cassidy waits while the bar breaks into cheers. “Let me go on, y’all!” she yells into the mic. “Before midnight all of the CPD and CFD have been drinking free courtesy of one of the sponsors of today’s event, Hudson Investigations.” My eyes drift over to Keene as he’s snapping photos. He throws me an arrogant smirk. “The men and women of Hudson are primarily veterans of law enforcement and our armed services. They know well what it means to complete a successful mission. It’s a constant battle you endure, a constant war you face. And despite that, you all fought as one today to stand for your fallen. This is their gift to you.”
Damn. I feel the knot in the back of my throat. Feeling Mike clap me on the shoulder, I turn to him in time to hear him yell, “Fuck, man, did you know…” I shake my head.
“But Holly just told me you and I are drinking free all night; not just ’til midnight.” Mike’s eyes widen.
“What?”
“I just found out myself.”
“Jesus,” he mutters. We both turn our attention back to Cassidy, who isn’t done.
“We have some early totals we want to share which is why we asked Officer Bianco and Detective Idrissi to join us on stage. Joe, Mike, can you make your way forward?” Cassidy beams at us.
My stomach turns.God, please let it be better than last year’s total. Just better than eighteen grand.I slide past Ali, whose dazzling smile gets even more bright if that’s even possible. I maneuver past Cori, who’s practically bouncing in her Chucks and CPD T-shirt. Suddenly I’m next to Cassidy, who is proudly wearing a CFD T-shirt and form-fitting jeans. Mike’s made his way up the other side.
“I know we threw a lot of this together at the last minute. So, I swear right here and right now, we’ll do better next year. But I’m so proud that as of ten minutes ago, the current total for the Victims Association is $101,343.”
My jaw goes slack, and the mostly empty martini glass starts to fall. It splashes all over my pants before a hand grabs it in midair before it shatters on the floor. “Holy crap.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. Cassidy turns around to face me, her feet having just touched back down after being spun in circles by Mike.
“How does that work for a few weeks of planning, Joe?” she jokes.
The whoop I let out is heard through the open mic. As if I give a shit. All that’s running through my mind is the fact that Tara’s family won’t have to cut down on their heat next winter. Kelley can buy her family new school clothes without stressing. And Wendy’s family will be able to stay in their home. I give up the battle and let my tears fall into Cassidy Freeman’s neck. “Thank you,” I say hoarsely in her ear.
“No, Joe. It’s all of us who need to thank all of you,” Cassidy murmurs. Stepping back, she wipes her own tears. “Just remember, I promised next year is going to be even better.”
“I don’t know how,” I say honestly.
She smiles confidently before tossing a long dark braid down her back. Holding the mic away, she grins. “Just stand back and watch us.” Pulling the mic up toward her face, she yells, “Now who came here to dance and celebrate?”
The room goes wild.
“Then let’s get those hands up in the air for the CPD and CFD! Remember to drink safely tonight. Numbers for safe transportation are available at the bar. See you on the dance floor. And one more time, let’s hear it for the men and women of the Collyer Police and Fire Departments!”
