Forgotten Place (35 page)

His posture stiffened, eyes widened.

"Oh come on, sir.  It's the 21st
century.  Do you think the public really cares about such
things anymore?  Your family knows the truth.  I'd
imagine a good many people in this room, like me, have at the very
least a strong suspicion of it.  Cheating on your wife and
living a double life isn't admirable, but its hardly something that
qualifies as immoral.  You can't help being born that –"

"That's enough, Helen."  He forced a
pleasant smile.  "I appreciate your concern for my job and
even acceptance of my... well, acceptance.  It may well be the
21st century in the rest of the world, but this is Darkwater
Bay.  Change happens slowly.  Bringing you to Darkwater
Bay was probably the smartest thing George and I ever did. 
Honoring your service tonight will be the highlight of my career,
at least in recent years."

Zack's description of the
evening echoed in my ears. 
Cocktails, dinner, an awards ceremony, dancing and revelry
into the wee hours
.  "Oh no," I
murmured.  "You're not –"

"Of course we are.  Didn't anyone tell
you why we were so determined that you attend tonight if at all
possible?"

The betrayal of a conspiracy of no less than
five men slammed into me.  My head whipped around, looking for
the nearest exit where I could make my escape, and fell instead on
three grinning conspirators – Crevan Conall, Johnny Orion and the
recently returned Tony Briscoe.  They raised their glasses in
silent toast.

Must find exit.  Must
get out now. 
The look of
unadulterated panic flashed in my eyes and registered in
recognition on Johnny's face.  He handed his drink to Crevan
and started pushing his way through the crowd toward us.

"No, no, no, no, no," I chanted under my
breath.  If Orion got to me before I got to an exit, that was
it.  He'd be stuck to me like gorilla glue to make sure I
didn't duck out before the festivities began.  I turned back
to Weber and flashed a thousand megawatt smile.  "A dance,
Chief Weber?"

"I'd be delighted," he said.

I let Weber believe he was leading, while I
kept my eyes fixed on the red and white light marking an exit on
the opposite side of the room.  It was easy enough to maneuver
him in the right direction.

At least until a brick wall tapped on
Weber's shoulder and obstructed my view of escape.  Johnny
smiled at Weber.  "May I cut in?"

No was on the tip of my tongue when Don
graciously released me and thanked me for the dance.  Johnny's
arm manacled my waist before I could bolt in the opposite
direction.  My days of subtly leading came to a screeching
halt.  He swept me away from the safety of the emergency exit
and remained silent through the remainder of the dance.

When another soft melody floated through the
air, he continued, but looked down at me.  "You look so
beautiful, Helen."

"I should thank you for the dress, but it's
not really my color."

He laughed.  "I know you're saying that
because you're pissed that I prevented your escape."  His lips
brushed the shell of my ear.  "I know you, Doc. 
Remember?"  One thumb stroked back and forth over the small of
my back.

"I can't do this, Johnny."

"Dance with me?"

"You know what I'm talking about.  I
hate these things, and even more than that, I hate the kudos and
falseness of honoring one while ignoring the contributions of the
many it takes to do this job well.  If anybody deserves an
award tonight, it's Charlie and Taylor and Thieg and Adams. 
Tony and Crevan closed the case against the Jacksons.  All I
did was get shot and cost the department a ton of money in medical
care."

"We're not talking about you standing up
alone and taking sole credit for everything that happened this
year, Helen.  But the people here aren't blind.  They're
not stupid.  They know that your fresh take on our cold case,
your instincts with Kim Jackson and his brother, they opened
avenues that helped those cases get solved.  They want you
here, to honor you and make sure you know how much everyone values
what you've brought to our city."

I caught my first glimpse of the woman who
could only be Johnny's new girlfriend.  Briscoe was almost
physically restraining her from barging across the room in the
direction of her hateful gaze – me being the recipient.

"Your girlfriend is waiting for you," I
said.

"She's not my girlfriend, she's a platonic
friend who agreed to accompany me to this thing tonight."

"Somebody ought to tell her that," I
muttered.  Hey, I know jealousy when I see it, and whatever
Ms. Petite Buxom Blonde had on her mind was clearly not
platonic.

Johnny's arms pulled me close enough for my
chest to press against his.  He stopped dancing.  "Let
them have their night with you, Helen.  We haven't got an
infinite amount of time with you to show our appreciation. 
You'll be long gone before we have this gala again next year, won't
you?"

That was the plan, though when he suggested
it just now, it felt like the last thing I wanted.  I exhaled
a shuddering sigh and murmured, "How do you do it, Johnny?"

"Do what?"

"Read me like a first grade reader. 
I'm supposed to be an enigma, an unknowable –"

"How many times do I have to tell
you?"  His gaze softened into something achingly sad.  "I
know you, Helen.  From head to toe, inside to outside, dark
corners where you can't bear to look to the light of day
obvious.  I know you."

I couldn't tear my eyes away or mask what
his words were doing to my emotions.  Johnny gripped my hand
tighter.

"Please don't run away tonight.  Let
them have a couple of hours, Helen.  Don't leave and let them
believe that none of this really matters to you."

"It
does
matter."

"Then let them see how you really feel about
what you helped accomplish."

My fingers kneaded the shoulder beneath
them.  "Thank you, Johnny."

"What for?"

"Not letting me run out of here and make an
ass of myself."  I stroked his hand with my thumb and felt the
breath hitch in his chest.  The pressure from the hand at my
back increased, pulling me against him so close, I felt like we
might be one person again.

"Helen," he rasped.

"Shh," my hand roved over his shoulder and
caressed his cheek.  "Your date has eluded Tony and is headed
this way."

"Forget about Marci.  Tell me how you
feel.  Tell me if I'm reading what I see wrong –"

I interrupted, rose on my tiptoes and kissed
the corner of his mouth.  It dragged a pained moan that
vibrated up from deep in his gut.

"Happy birthday, Johnny," I whispered before
slipping away from his grasp and moving through the crowd to find
Zack.

Chapter 31

Tony Briscoe looked like the Cheshire cat
that ate the cat that ate the canary when he tugged me out for
another dance before dinner was served.  "Well, well, well,"
he chuckled.  "I go away for a week and the whole damn city
turns on its ear."

"If I had a clue what you were talking
about, I'm sure I'd be interested in your unique take on current
events, Tony, but as usual, you're a bit too cryptic for me."

"Crevan filled me in on the broad strokes of
what's been goin' on around here this week, and as fascinating as I
still find police work after all these years, that ain't what's got
me primed for a bit of interrogation, Dr. Eriksson."

Oh boy. 
Here it comes
.  "I'm
not having this conversation with you."

He snorted, "You show up lookin' like
Cinderella at the ball, and the handsome prince as it turns out,
can't seem to tear his eyes away from you.  Then I find out
that said prince done camped out in your house takin' care of you
on account of what Crevan says looked like the brink of
starvation."

"Stop.  You know what a drama queen
Crevan is."

"He does have a flair in that direction,
don't he?  Are you tellin' me Johnny didn't pick out this
magnificent cut of cloth you're wearin' tonight?  Are you
gonna deny what I saw with my own two eyes no more'n half an hour
ago?"

"It's his birthday," I said.  "Aren't I
allowed to wish a friend happy birthday?"

"Honey, the sparks flyin'
between the two of you were more than friendly.  More
like
let's get outta here and celebrate in
our birthday suits.
"

"And to think that for about six seconds, I
was happy to see you back tonight, Tony.  This is definitely
not the part of you I missed having underfoot."

"Ouch.  So you think you could use
another pair of hands on your big case?"

I thought about the wariness some expressed
over Johnny's arrival and hesitated.  "Perhaps this isn't a
good place to talk about what we may or may not be investigating,
Tony.  If Lieutenant Finkelstein wants to assign you to help,
I'm sure she'll do so in the appropriate setting."

He sighed.  "And to think for six
seconds I thought I missed workin' with you too, Eriksson. 
Ain't it hard bein' so paranoid all the time?"

"If you knew everything I know, you'd
realize that sometimes paranoia is simply good common sense. 
Not everybody is happy to see all the guests at the gala
tonight.  It might be wise to keep that in mind before we
openly chat about a sensitive case."

Briscoe's eyes darted around us. 
"Huh.  Good common sense you say.  Well, considerin' the
history around here, I can't argue that one.  I can say that
I'm glad you decided to stick around for the awards.  This is
the first time I can remember that this shindig actually had
something real to celebrate.  Usually it's some windbag
standin' up and praisin' the least worthy people in town."

"Lowe lauding his puppets, in other
words.  I wondered how such incompetent detectives could be so
highly decorated."

"Means a hell of a lot more comin' from
people who aren't serial killers, I can tell you that.  You're
one of 'em now, Helen."

My chest seized.  One murder did not a
serial killer make.  "One of what?"

"The decorated detectives of course."

Like Dad.  Before I could drift off to
wonder if he'd be proud of me, Zack interrupted.

"They're getting ready to serve
dinner.  Rubber chicken, wilted broccoli, and shriveled up
baked potatoes.  I hope it doesn't kill your appetite,
Helen.  At least you'll have room for dessert.  The
tiramisu is a tradition at these banquets, and I must say, it's
worth suffering through the main course."

Our table wasn't much different than the one
that fed tired and frustrated bodies at breakfast Saturday morning,
with the exception of a few additions.  Johnny's date was
present.  Zack sat beside me.  Tony was back from
Phoenix.  Maya and Ken joined our group along with Ned, Devlin
and Crevan.

I focused my attention on Maya.  "Any
word on your expanded tests?"

She shook her head.  "But I've been
warned that discussing autopsy results over dinner is considered
impolite.  You don't see him avoiding the wonder of plaster
casts of tire treads, do you?"

"I'm glad you're here," I grinned.

"Darling, you look stunning.  With
everything that's been going on this week, how did you have time
for a dress fitting?"

I glanced at Johnny.  He didn't even
pretend interest in anything else at the table.  "A gift," I
said, "From someone determined to help cloak my self-neglect in
front of the masses."

An hour of pleasantries dragged on because
of nerves on my part.  I dreaded the honors portion of the
ceremony.  It came quickly enough.  I held my breath and
waited for the speeches from commanding officers to wind
down.  Don Weber spoke first on behalf of Central
Division.  Pride swelled in my chest when Charlie Haverston
rose and ascended the dais to receive his award.  Not only had
he clawed his way to the rank of detective, he was being honored
for his contribution to turning things around at Central
Division.

I missed Weber calling my name.  Zack
tapped the back of my hand and rose, as did the other men at the
table.  I groaned softly, grabbed my purse and took my place
beside Charlie and company.

Bay View followed Fielding's lieutenant,
before Shelly rose and gave her chuckle eliciting speech about how
Tony Briscoe felt his honor was long overdue.  "I happen to
know that his last decoration was far too long ago, so I am pleased
to be the lieutenant honoring him and his partner Crevan Conall
tonight."

They rose and joined the growing throng of
officers on the stage.  Shelly turned and crooked one finger
at me.  "Come here, Detective Eriksson.  We're not
through with you tonight."

I tucked my chin downward and stepped
forward in shoes I cursed for being too tight.

"It is my distinct honor to present you with
a second commendation tonight, Helen.  I believe that I speak
for all of us when I say that everyone knows that even though
technically Downey is your house now, all of Darkwater Bay is your
home."

My eye glimpsed Maya standing first to
applaud, followed by everyone else at our table (except petulant
Marci), and a slow cacophony of clapping hands and risen bodies
from seats around the banquet hall.  Frankly, I wanted to
crawl under the podium and die.

Low profile, Helen.  Don't draw
attention to yourself –

Johnny's voice boomed above the din. 
"Speech!  Speech!"

Had I wanted to kiss him earlier? 
Strangulation seemed more apt at the moment.  Shelly stepped
aside and waved me forward with a sweep of her hand.