Page 49 of Making Home with You
“Sarah,” I say, getting up and moving around to where she sits.I kneel in front of her, taking the fork from her hand as I take both of her hands in mine.“Sarah,” I repeat, waiting until she looks at me.When she finally does, I repeat my question.“Has he done something to you?”
She stares back at me, a strange look on her face as though she’s debating how to answer my question.It sends a sliver of fear down my spine, not just at the idea that this dick might be being inappropriate with her, but that she feels like she can’t tell me about it.
“No,” she eventually says.“I mean he says some inappropriate stuff, but nothing I haven’t heard working in a bar.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief even if it still feels like she isn’t telling me everything.“Want me to come down and have a word with him?”I ask, even knowing I hold no weight in Boston.
She offers a half smile.“No, it’s okay,” she says.“Thank you though.”
I lift her hands for another kiss.“How about I take you out for lunch tomorrow,” I suggest.“Let him see exactly who your boyfriend is?”
Her smile widens a little, even as she ducks her head, her eyes on our joined hands.“You’d do that?”she whispers.
“Baby,” I say, tilting her chin so she’s looking at me again.“Of course I would.”
The next morning, Sarah and I wake early.We share a quiet breakfast and afterward, I drop her at the station, promising I’ll be at her office by 12:30 to take her out to lunch.
I head into work, knowing there’s little point in me going back home.Unsurprisingly, the station is quiet, the only person there, the duty officer from last night.After I send her home, I make myself some coffee and head into my office to write up a report about what happened early Sunday morning at my place.
Even though I can’t prove it was anything, much less Carla, years of police work have reinforced the need to document absolutely everything, regardless of how minor or unimportant it seems at the time.I’ve already made notes on the fish and chips shop saga and I definitely want to document this possible incident too.
Considering how much all of this could potentially fuck with my career, hell with my whole life, I’m not taking any chances.
A couple of hours later, my report is written and the station is buzzing with people.After I deal with a couple of HR matters, I print out my report and head out to see Sam so I can pass it onto him.
Just as I’m walking out the door though, my phone buzzes with a call from reception.Frowning, because Mavis usually walks in to talk directly to me, I grab the phone.
“Hello?”
“Ah, Sir,” Mavis stammers, a nervous edge to her voice.
“Yes?”
“There’s, ah…there’s someone here to see you,” she says, her voice muffled as though she’s covering the mouthpiece or something.
“Who?”I ask.
“Someone,” she stops, clears her throat before trying again.“Someone from the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation.”
It feels like a punch in the gut and as much as I wish I could ignore her words, pretend that whoever this person is, isn’t here, I know I can’t do that.Clearly the matter has escalated and while I don’t blame Sam for not being able to tell me it has been taken out of his hands, it would have been nice to know I was going to be ambushed this morning.
“Send them in,” I say, before hanging up the phone.
I remain standing as I wait for the person they’ve sent to enter my office.It takes only a minute before I’m greeted by a man about my age, dressed in a black suit, light pink shirt and a green tie.
He offers me a small smile as he holds out a hand and introduces himself.“Detective Ian Greenwood.”
“Chief Finn O’Loughlin,” I reply, returning the handshake.“Can I get you some coffee or anything?”I offer, knowing it’s in my best interests to be professional and accommodating with this guy.Pissing him off is the last thing I want.
“I’m fine, thank you,” he says.
I nod and move to close my office door before offering him a seat.I walk around my desk and sit down, hands on the desk in front of me as I try and remain calm.
“So,” he starts, clearing his throat as he opens the file he’s carrying and quickly looks over whatever it contains.“I’m guessing you know why I’m here?”he says, looking up at me.
I nod.“I’ve got a pretty good idea, yes.”
He returns the nod, offering a small smile as though to reassure me.“You’re aware of the allegations being made against you then?”
