Jamie Hill Triple Threat (85 page)

"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.

"Sergeant?" Mel processed the bombshell he'd just dropped on her. "Task force?"

"Take a week and think about it. After the press conference you're on vacation for nine days. I don't want to see you anywhere near the WPD. The place will be crawling with reporters. Let us handle it. In fact, you might want to go somewhere and get away. Your front yard will be standing room only, too."

"It will," Nate agreed.

Reeder moved to the door. "See you at three-thirty." His face softened. "Good work, you two. I'm proud of you both."

"Thank you Captain," Mel replied and Nate echoed her words.

They were alone again, and faced each other.

"Sergeant!" She repeated, still feeling shocked.

He grasped her waist and pulled her close. "I've never kissed a sergeant. Come'ere. Let's see if it's any different." He placed a light kiss on her lips.

She patted his lapel. "Well?"

Nate smiled. "Even sweeter than the hundred kisses I stole from you this morning."

Mel wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh Nate. This is all happening so fast. I can't believe it."

"I know. It's been a whirlwind. We need to take some time and slow it down. I'll call my chief and request the next week off. It'll give us time to relax and unwind."

"And get to know each other."

He set his jaw. "We know each other. Make no mistake about that. I feel like I know you better than anyone in my life."

She caressed his neck. "I feel that way too. But we haven't been together very long."

"So what? I love you, Melanie Curtis. I'm not afraid to say it anymore. I love you. I think I knew it from the minute you called me
'supervisory special ass'
."

She laughed, her heart soaring. "I love you too, Nate. I love you so much, but I'm scared. I know we'll make it in a long distance relationship. I'm not worried about either of us finding someone else. I just don't want to be away from you. The thought makes my heart hurt."

He shook his head slowly. "We're not going to be in a long distance relationship. I've already talked to my chief about taking a position with the Wichita Bureau office. He says if that's what I want to do, he'll make it happen."

Mel blinked. "Why would you do that? Isn't it a step down? Most agents would drool for an assignment like you have, traveling all over the country."

He shrugged. "It's a great job for a single, unattached guy. That's not what I am anymore. I'm attached."

"You're very much attached." She pressed a light kiss to his lips. "I just don't want to come between you and your job. You're good at it, and you need to do what you love."

Nate sighed. "I'm tired, Mel. This case has shown me that relationships between sons and their mothers are what we make them. I can't run across the country saving my mom any more than Dick Webb could keep killing women to punish his. I'm done. There's more to the bureau than chasing serial killers. I'm excited to explore the possibilities."

She grasped his neck and hugged him tightly. "I am too, sweetie. We'll explore together."

He kissed her earlobe. "Starting with a week off. What would you say to a really posh hotel where we could get massages and soak in a hot tub whenever we like?"

Mel chuckled. "I'd say book a room! So what do you think, are there any hotels like that in
Des Moines
?"

Nate pulled back and looked at her. "There probably are.
Des Moines
, you say?"

"Why not? We could take a couple days and go to
Bloomington
, see your Ma and Pop. I'd like that."

He smiled. "I would too. You're the best, Mel."

She linked her arm through his. "See, that's what makes us such a great couple. I think
you're
the best. We're going to have to spend long hours figuring this out."

"Long hours, you say?" He waggled his brows.

"Very long hours." She nodded with a satisfied smile and patted his arm.

~The End~

Jamie Hill
was born and raised in a beautiful, mid-sized town in Midwest
USA
. At various times she wanted to be a veterinarian, teacher, cheerleader, TV star or a famous singer. The one thing she always wanted to be was a writer. Starting at about age ten, she penned romance as she envisioned it in one spiral notebook after another.

When she's not working at the day job she loves, Jamie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and watching movies (the scarier the better!). In her 'spare time' she can often be found writing, editing, or doing something more mundane like housework. After that, she's probably taking a nap. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to drop her a line.