Family Honor (32 page)

"Son-of-a-bitch!" Nate exclaimed. He took a step closer to her. "It's okay, Mel. Give me the gun."

Stone felt for Webb's pulse. "He's dead." He glanced at Mel and Nate. "I've never said this before in my life, but good fucking riddance."

"No truer words." Nate removed his gun from Mel's hand and folded her into his arms. "Oh my God, baby. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Anger welled from deep within, and he pulled away to look in Mel's face. "Did he touch you? Did that sick bastard lay one finger on you?"

She shook her head. "No. Not really. He pushed me around a little. Told me about the big plans he had for me. We were just getting to the gist of it when I remembered your back-up gun."

He pulled her tight again and laughed. "I'm glad you remembered it and I didn't! Otherwise, I would have taken it this morning."

She nodded and let him hold her.

Stone cleared his throat. "Um, guys?" He nodded to the four cops in the doorway. He grabbed Mel's robe from the hook on the closet door and handed it to Nate.

"Thanks." Nate wrapped it around her. He told Mel, "Let's get your statement and get this ass wipe out of here. Then we'll clean you up and get some decent clothes."

"Okay." Mel slipped her arms into the robe and cinched it around her waist.

"Hey!" Stone piped up. "While you were lounging around in bed this morning, Willis and I were busy saving your ass. They're calling us heroes, even."

She raised her brows at Nate.

He smiled and tossed a quick glance toward Webb. "You saved your own ass, babe. We just helped clear your name. Becker confessed to everything and is being held in custody."

"Becker?" Mel blinked, then must have noticed his head. "Oh, what happened?" She touched the bandage gently.

"She clocked me," Nate admitted. "I'm fine, just wounded my pride. Let's leave that part of the story out when we tell our grandchildren, okay?"

Mel grinned. "You got it."

He curled an arm around her waist and led her past the officers to the other room.

Stone followed. "Grandchildren?"

* * * *

Mel and her father sat in a small conference room next to the IA administration office on Friday afternoon. She'd spent the morning being debriefed about the shooting and its aftermath. Now, her hearing was underway. She brushed lint off her rarely-worn skirt and picked at a tiny string nervously.

Cappie caught her hand and squeezed. "Relax. Hank Reeder told you this is a formality. You've already been cleared. IA needs to tidy things up in their own way."

"I know." She sighed. "It's just been one hell of a week."

"Not all of it was bad," he teased.

"You're right. Highs and lows. But I'm ready to get off the roller coaster. Some peace and quiet sounds good right about now."

"Understood." He squeezed her hand again. "How was the hotel last night?"

She smiled. "It was nice. I know I need to go home soon. Henry promised me the mess was cleaned up. I'm just not ready to face it yet."

"You could have stayed at my place, you know."

She shot him a
yeah, right
look.

"I told you, I like Nate. I hope he sticks around."

"He will." She felt a chill and rubbed her upper arms.

Henry Stone joined them, dressed in his best Sunday suit.

"Look at you." Mel smiled. "How did it go?"

"I clean up pretty good, don't I?" He dusted off the arm of his jacket. "My testimony? Piece of cake. They asked like three questions. You know this is just a formality, don't you?"

"I know. I just
hate
waiting."

"What are you waiting for?" Brady Marshall entered the room, also dressed in a sharp black suit.

Mel stood and gave him a hug. "For this to be over with. Thanks for coming, Brady."

He hugged her then took a step back and smiled. "Anytime. I told them what a rotten person you are, how you kick puppies and drown little children—or was that drown puppies and kick little children?"

"Jerk." She swatted his chest.

"Nah." He leaned in to her, still grinning. "My report was truly glowing. A saint among us, that type of thing. Not sure what Jack's going to say. He worked with you longer than I did."

"Jack's here?"

"He's in there now."

"Aw." Mel felt tears well. She'd asked Brady and Henry to testify. Jack must have volunteered.

"He's a good guy," Cappie acknowledged. "Never see him at Morgan's, though. Heard he had another kid."

"That would be why," Marshall replied. "Four kids don't leave a man much breathing room. I'm sure his evenings are well-planned."

Cappie looked at Mel. "I'd settle for one, thank you very much."

She raised her hands in an exaggerated shrug. "Talk to Nate. He's the one who hyperventilates when the subject comes up."

Everyone laughed. "I noticed," Cappie said.

Henry started to say something but Mel shot him a look and cut it off. She'd tell her father that she and Nate had started discussing children, but now wasn't the time.

Jack Dunlevy entered the room and all eyes turned in his direction. "Where's the funeral?" His suit was as dark and formal as the rest.

"Hey you!" Mel approached and he scooped her into a big bear hug. "What are you doing here? You didn't have to come."

"Are you kidding? I remember my friends."

She touched a lock of the dark, shaggy hair that curled around his collar. He'd let it grow since he'd quit the force, and packed on a couple extra pounds. But he looked happy as hell, and Mel had always envied him for that. "Well, thank you. I assume you told them I kick puppies and children, too?"

He raised his right hand. "Only the truth, so help me God. I left out most of the poker game stories."

She chuckled. "Those might have incriminated my father worse than me."

"Hey, leave me out of this." Cappie rose and shook Jack's hand. "Congrats on the extended family. A boy this time?"

Jack beamed. "A beautiful baby boy. Scottie. He's got his daddy's appetite and his mama's temper. Keeps us hopping." He pulled out his phone and showed them a picture of the infant, and another of the child with his brothers and sister.

"They're gorgeous, Jack. Cindy is precious. Mark and Devon are huge. I can't believe how fast they're all growing."

"We're good." He nodded.

"And Crystal's doing well?"

"Crys is an amazing mom. She's definitely in her element. I do believe she gets prettier every day, too."

Marshall added, "She's been so much help to Gina and me with the twins. We knew nothing about babies, as you recall. It's been a learning experience, but I wouldn't trade a minute of it. When you see that first smile…." He looked at Jack, who nodded understanding.

Cappie nudged Mel. "See? People do it all the time. You don't have to know anything about babies. You can learn."

"Okay, Daddy, point taken."

"Daddy?" Stone, Marshall and Jack all repeated in unison.

Cappie waved a warning finger at them. "It's her new name for me, and I like it. So shush."

Stone mumbled, "Next thing you know we'll be calling you 'grandpa'."

Mel started to reply but was taken aback when she saw Nate enter the room. He was dressed in a formal black suit like all the others, and he was completely clean-shaven. She hadn't thought he could look any sexier, but somehow he pulled it off. "Hey," was the only word she could form.

"Hey," he replied, gazing into her eyes.

Marshall cleared his throat. "Willis, this is Jack Dunlevy, the former homicide cop we've told you about. Jack, this is Supervisory Special Agent Nate Willis with the FBI."

"Good to meet you Willis." Jack extended a hand.

Nate shook it. "My pleasure. I've heard great things about you."

"Don't believe 'em." Jack glanced at the other men. "I don't know about you fellows, but I think I'll cut out and leave these kids alone. Good to see you all."

"Thanks Jack," Mel called after him, and waved to Marshall and Stone as they left.

Cappie followed them. "I'll be waiting outside," he said to Mel. To Nate he said, "Nice suit."

"Thank you." Nate smiled and watched the older man leave.

Mel moved in front of him. "I told you not to shave."

He rubbed his chin. "Well, you see, there's a life lesson in that about our relationship. Sometimes I'm not going to do what you tell me. Get used to it."

She grinned. "I will." Lowering her voice, she added, "I didn't think you could get any hotter, but this smooth-face thing is doing something for me."

He smiled and started to reply when Reeder entered behind him.

Mel held up one finger. "Hold that thought." She stepped around him. "Yes, Captain?"

"The hearing is over," Reeder said gruffly. "Normally they give the accused time to make a statement, make their own case. They chose not to do that in this matter."

"What?" Mel had her statement all prepared.

"It's over, Curtis. You've been cleared of all charges, and IA expresses their gratitude for your cooperation in this matter. The two hundred grand has to come out of your bank account, of course."

"Of course." Mel had expected to be cleared, but hearing the words now seemed almost surreal.

"The cash will go with what's left of Becker's bribe money into the police fund. The Fiscal Affairs department decides how it's spent. Usually it's on new equipment or funding community programs like Crime Stoppers and anti-gang awareness for kids."

"That's good," she agreed.

"There are a few loose ends to tie up. You and Willis need to do a press conference at four p.m. and announce that we've caught the slasher. We'll go over the details of the information we want released. It's not as sensitive now that Webb is dead and there won't be a trial. But his old man's been arrested, so he'll get his day in court. That jackass bribed so many people, and the ones that got caught are turning on him. So his case is pretty much open and shut."

"Any sign of Martin?" Nate asked.

Reeder shook his head. "There's an APB out on him, but nothing yet. If he got out of the country he might slide. But if he ever tries to come back, he better watch himself."

"That money's going to run out eventually." Nate looked at Mel. "I talked to the CSIs at your house yesterday. They said Zybowski's on suspension until his hearing."

Reeder said, "No one's rushing to get that done, either. They want to make damn sure he had no part in Martin's deception."

"Good." Mel shivered and rubbed her arms again. The mention of her house brought back memories she hadn't had time to erase yet.

"That's about it," Reeder said. "Oh, you've been promoted to Sergeant. The Crimes Against Persons department is going to ask if you'd like to head a task force for them. I told them I wasn't sure. It'd mean working pretty closely with the FBI." He glanced at Nate and tried not to smile.