Page 12 of Chill’s Chance

“You did us a solid by taking care of Hunter’s son. It’s the least we can do.” I tell her. “But I am interested in why you didn’t tell the cops he was here.”

Claudia looks at Slade before answering. “Slade said a cop was working with the man who killed his momma. Since I wasn’t certain if he was a real cop or just someone pretending to be one, I decided to not contact the police. I was afraid that would put him in danger. So, I asked my granddaughter to see if she could find Slade’s dad. She’s a bounty hunter.”

I grin at the obvious pride on Claudia’s face. The girl must be a badass if she’s a bounty hunter. Sounds like someone I’d like to know.

“A bounty hunter, huh?” Puma asks, rubbing his chin as Mal and Elina crawl onto his lap. Elina offers him a bite of her cookie and then Mal does the same. “Thank you.” He tells them before grinning at Claudia. “Good cookies.”

“Thank you.” She responds. “My granddaughter works here in Vegas for a bails bondsman. She’s pretty good at her job. She said you were in the military.” Claudia says to Hunter is chewing on the bite of cookie his son offered him. “And that you went AWOL.”

“I did. I left when I found out about Nicole.” He says, rubbing his son’s back. “I feel horrible for not being here for them.”

“Nicole was a good woman.” Claudia says as Slade eats his cookie in silence. Tears cascade down his face, showing us he’s listening. “Slade was brave coming to me.”

“He is brave.” I say, catching the boy’s eyes. “Very brave. Like his daddy.”

Slade leans his head against Hunter’s shoulder and Hunter looks at me, giving me a grateful smile.

“Slade, can you tell us what happened?” Puma asks him.

“Mom always tells me to hide in my bedroom whenever someone knocks on the door.” Slade says.

“Why?” I ask. Slade shrugs.

“I don’t know. It wasn’t always like that, just these past few months.” Slade says, glancing at his dad. “She told me not to tell you because she didn’t want you to worry.”

Hunter nods, but I can see he’s fighting back a tsunami of emotions. He flicks his eyes at me, and I see the pain mixed with anger.

“So someone knocked, and you hid?” Puma pushes.

“Yeah. She asked who was at the door and he said it was the police. She opened the door and two men came inside. I had the door open a crack so I could see and hear her.” Slade explains. “One man grabbed her and shook her hard. I should have protected her, but I was scared.” Slade explains to Hunter, who uses his thumbs to wipe away his son’s tears while ignoring his own.

“No one blames you.”

Elina crawls from Puma’s lap and takes Slade’s hand in hers. “I’m sorry about your mom, but your dad is here and so is Puma. We’re going to take care of you. You don’t have to be scared anymore. Because no one can hurt you now.”

Hunter squeezes Slade and gives Elina a smile. Slade takes a deep breath and continues, keeping Elina’s hand in his. “He said she owed him money. When she promised him she’d get it, he laughed at her and told her she’d run out of time and that she had to hand me over to them.”

Hunter tenses, and I know if Slade wasn’t on his lap, he’d have punched a hole in the wall. I know, because I’m struggling not to do it myself. What kind of person expects a child in payment for a debt? Puma and I share a look and we communicate the message. We’ll find these assholes and put an end to them.

“I bet you were so scared.” Elina says. “What did you do? Did you run away? I would have run away.”

Slade nods at her. “I ran. It’s my fault she’s dead.” He cries.

“No, it isn’t.” Puma says and his tone is soft, but firm. “No one is to blame for what happened to your mother except for whoever hurt her. Not you and not your mom. Elina is right. You’re safe now and we’ll protect you.”

“Had you seen either of the men before?” I ask Slade and he nods.

“The cop used to hang out at my school and watch me.” Slade says with a shudder.

The adults go silent as we struggle with the implication of his words. I finally break free and ask him another question. “So, if you saw him again, you’d recognize him?”

He nods. “I would.”

“What about the other man?” I push. “Do you think you’d recognize him, too?”

Slade nods.

Well, that’s something.

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