Second Chances: A PAVAD Duet (23 page)

“
Paige Daviess.” A voice
said from somewhere behind Kelly. They turned to see Ed Dennis’s
daughter standing just outside the stairs. “She’s the tall, skinny
dark-haired girl on Lorcan’s team. Goth clothes, pretty face. Have
any of you seen my father or my husband?”

Marianna thought the woman
looked exhausted. Dark rings were beneath the eyes that reminded
Marianna of the woman’s father. “Not for a couple of
hours.”

“
Thank
you. I’ve looked all over for the two of them. Odd that
they’d
both
be
missing together. Unless they’re off somewhere screaming at each
other.” She frowned again. “Dammit.”

“
Screaming?” Marianna
would be the first to admit to being confused. Ed didn’t seem the
type to yell, just give the worst sort of icy freeze out to someone
who’d displeased him.

“
My father and my husband
have some volatile history between them. Although, at times, I half
think they like yelling at each other. Weird.” She shook her head.
“Anyway, if you’re looking for Paige, she’s one floor up. She’d be
happy to do anything to help Dan. They’re pretty close.”

“
Why?” Kelly demanded.
Marianna didn’t have to be a profiler to understand what the
younger woman was thinking. The girl Marianna vaguely remembered
meeting was beautiful, and around Kelly’s age. Surely Dan Reynolds
wasn’t involved with a girl the same age as his daughter? It wasn’t
unheard of, but Marianna didn’t understand it.

“
Dan is the closest thing
to a parent Paige has ever had. And Dan needed that. He’s always
been so alone. Some of the younger agents help him get past
his....well, past. And he provides a mentor for them.” Georgia
sighed. “Still, it’s not the same as having his own children back.
It could never be.”

Marianna’s hand tightened
on Ted’s shoulder. Dan Reynolds would always have Marianna’s
sympathy. She’d heard the story, had been shocked the first day
she’d been in the St. Louis building to learn that the older man
had spent years searching for his children after his ex-wife had
taken them and disappeared. For the longest time, losing Ted and
the rest of the boys had been her biggest fear. On some level it
still was. Probably always would be. Ted shifted at her side,
looking bored with the adult conversation. “No, it
isn’t.”

The two mothers shared an
understanding look. Georgia continued. “I need to be going. Dr.
Glendower, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at the
carnival.”

“
Have a good night.”
Marianna said as Georgia. “Kelly, I need to be going if I am going
to get the kids. Where exactly is Ally going to be?”

“
She’ll be at my father’s,
I guess. Wherever that is.” Marianna felt for Kelly, understanding
how displaced the girl felt. Kelly was the type who needed
structure, for all that her Goth clothes and unconventional
appearance shouted defiance and confidence. It was a lie, and
Marianna knew it.

“
Go find Agent Daviess and
find out. I’ll drive you over there. We can give Ally back her
children, and get your sister settled in.” Marianna checked her
watch quickly. “I’ll call the daycare; tell them to have Ally’s
kids ready.”

Kelly nodded, a slightly
overwhelmed look in her green eyes, before entering the stairwell.
Marianna pulled her cell free of her bag, placing a quick call to
the child care facility as she rushed Ted out to the parking
garage. She’d deliver Ally’s kids and help Kelly adjust the best
she could.

Then it was home to do
homework and chores and baths. Marianna was immensely thankful for
the routine of it all. She loved being a mother, loved being able
to give her kids the kind of life they deserved. The kind of life
she somehow doubted Kelly and her sisters had had. It made her
doubly angry on Kelly’s behalf.

Kelly and the younger
members of her team were
like
Marianna’s children—she cared for them all. But if
she admitted it, she was closer to Kelly than the rest. The girl
was just so wounded, and Marianna understood the signs of chronic
abuse.

Someone had mistreated
Kelly, made her fearful and distrustful. Made her cling to those
she was close to, yet still not trust them fully. Marianna could
definitely understand that. From experience. Kelly needed her
friends, was going through a difficult time. Marianna made a vow to
be there for the girl as much as she could.

Five minutes passed before
Kelly and Agent Daviess arrived in the parking lot. Marianna
studied the two as they walked side by side. Except for coloring,
the two were very similar. They were both tall, though Kelly stood
slightly shorter. Both wore similar clothing, dark black with
silver jewelry. Both were edgy, darting eyes around the parking
lot. Agent Daviess’ hand rested on her weapon, telling Marianna she
felt threatened. Kelly abhorred guns and refused to wear one in the
field, but she had the same watchful look about her.

The two were a lot alike,
and Marianna wondered whether they’d become fast friends, or
whether they’d be too much alike. She hoped for the former, as it
would probably help Kelly adjust to the changing relationship
between her and her father if someone was there to act as a
buffer.

“
Mari—you can follow us to
my...father’s.” Kelly hesitated. “I’ll ride with Paige.”

Half an hour later,
Marianna pulled the van full of children—her seven plus two—into
the driveway of a two story log cabin with natural stone accents
and large windows. It was a beautiful home, both modern and rustic
at the same time. The yard was large, at least two acres—a rare
find, even on the outskirts of the city. A partial basement was
visible, complete with sliding doors and more windows. Probably
where Agent Daviess lived.

It was a shame that only
one man and a tenant shared such a large home. It was meant for a
family.

She unloaded the
four-year-old Aislin from the back seat, wondering briefly what
Ally would say when she saw the purple streaks in the preschooler’s
strawberry blonde curls. Apparently Ryan and Ted had given her the
idea—and Timothy and James had executed the experiment. Just like
Kelly’s, Aislin had said, referring to the Goth’s own altered
hairstyle.

Kelly took the child,
probably as a subconscious buffer against her father. Marianna sent
a sharp look over at the younger twins as they started to unfasten
their seatbelts. “We’re not staying, boys.”

“
Why not, Mom? Agent
Reynolds is cool!” Ted said. “He’s got real bullet holes and
everything!”

“
Because this is family
time for Kelly.”

“
But Aunt Ally’s here! Ryan
gets to stay!” Ted continued. “Please!”

“
Please stay,” Agent
Reynolds said, as he walked up beside Kelly. Ally stood at his
shoulder, her body language catching Marianna’s attention.
Something about the way Ally leaned toward Agent Reynolds had
Marianna’s eyes narrowing. The two stood close, nearly touching
shoulders. Close. Agent Reynolds continued, “I have plenty of hot
dogs and hamburgers in the freezer. Josh and J.T. are in the back
yard trying to figure out the grill. And the doc has agreed to
stay, as well.”

Marianna hesitated, looking
toward Ally. The blonde shrugged. “It’ll help Gracie and Kelly, I
think, to have people around, for a little while.”

Marianna thought about it
for a while, thought about Kelly. She nodded. “Ok. We appreciate
the invitation, Agent Reynolds.”

“
Please, it’s Dan. And make
yourselves at home. Kids, there’s soda in the fridge, and
lemonade.”

Marianna checked her watch.
It was nearly six, they’d stay for a few hours, and then head home
to baths and homework. Chores could wait for one night, especially
since tomorrow was Saturday. And she’d just look at this as a way
of getting to know some of the new people she worked with. Even if
it made her highly uncomfortable to have the kids mixing with
people she didn’t really know. The kids needed to know people in
this new town. Needed to feel comfortable. Shouldn’t
they?

His daughter had looked
tired, her dark eyes weary and shoulders slumped. Ed had questioned
her, not truly satisfied with the stock, ‘I’m fine, just tired.’
response she’d given him. Hellbrook had obviously echoed his
concern as he’d pulled her to his chest, wrapping one arm around
her.

It still gave him a shock
sometimes to see the man he’d fought with for years cuddling the
most precious woman in Ed’s world. Hellbrook loved her; he had no
doubt about that. And Georgia deserved someone who’d understand
her. But she’d looked so tired, he couldn’t help but be a little
worried.

He’d bullied her into
letting him take Matthew for the night. He knew she preferred to
keep the boy with her when home—she was gone more than she’d
like—and he understood that. But she’d needed the rest. He strongly
suspected he’d be getting a second grandchild soon. He hoped. He
knew Georgia wanted more than one child.

It was good to see her
happy. Even if it was with Hellbrook. His daughter and
Hellbrook—would he ever have predicted
that?
Still, the other man took care
of her and Matthew the way a husband and father should. That’s all
he could have asked for.

Matthew sat in the back
talking to the puppy, both fastened in tightly. “Hey, Mattie, we’re
going to make a stop on the way, then we’ll find something to eat,
ok?”

“
Ok.” The little boy was
more interested in the wiggling puppy than the
conversation.

Ed pulled into the drive of
Dan’s cabin, surprised to find the driveway blocked by several
unfamiliar cars. Matthew had his seatbelt unhooked and the puppy in
his arms before Ed had even shut off the engine. “Buddy, it looks
like Dan has visitors already, so we’re just going to give him this
file and leave, ok?”

“
Ok, Grandpa. Then we can
eat?”

“
Yes.”

He knocked and waited. Soon
the door swung open and Agent Daviess greeted him. “Hello sir, and
little sir—have you come to join the party, too?”

“
Hello, Paige. I just need
to speak with Dan for a few moments, then Mattie and I are headed
to McDonalds. Is Dan around?”

“
He’s
kind of busy right now.” Agent Daviess looked around before
continuing. “All three of his kids are
here!
Gonna be living here, I guess.
At least the youngest two will be. Come on in, everybody is in the
back yard.”

“
Everybody?”

“
Yeah. Dan’s kids, and
those two Indy lab geeks who were stuck in the elevator with Dan
last week. Their kids, too.”

“
Dr. Glendower and Dr.
Brewster?” Sometimes he had a tough time following Paige’s
conversations.

“
Yep. Josh and J.T., too.”
Paige turned and led them deeper in to the house. Ed saw Dan seated
on the deck, surrounded by several women—including Marianna and her
friend Dr. Brewster.

Dan’s shoulder touched the
smaller blonde’s. His body language shouted tense to Ed, as Dan
spoke with three younger women that he knew had to be his
daughters. The oldest girl stood fidgeting, close to Marianna, as
they all spoke.

There were children
everywhere. From a tiny little girl to who Ed recognized as the
oldest of the Glendower boys. Agents Compton and Tompkins stood
nervously by Dan’s grill. Ed’s eyes narrowed. Something about the
adults was just
off.
Poor Dan; this kind of situation had to be difficult for his
friend.

“
Dan.” He greeted his
friend, eyes searching for tell-tale clues in the other man’s
demeanor. “I brought the Gonzalez file.”

“
Great. Let’s step in the
kitchen real quick. Hey Monster-Matt!” Dan ruffled Matthew’s hair
and petted the wiggling dog the boy still held. “There’s quite a
few kids running around who would love to meet your
puppy!”

“
Ok, Uncle Danny!” The boy
ran off and Ed followed Dan into the kitchen, sliding the glass
door closed behind him once more.

Dan limped to the fridge
and pulled out two cans of soda. Ed waited, knowing Dan would say
what was on his mind when he was ready. He finally spoke. “She beat
my little girl.”

“
I’m sorry.” He hurt for
his friend for a moment. What father ever wanted to be faced with
the knowledge that his child hurt.

“
I can’t do anything about
it, to erase it. I should have found them earlier. I should have
thought to check with Phillips, but I didn’t. Dammit. I don’t know
where to go from here.” Dan kept his gaze on the people sitting on
his back porch.

“
One day at a time,” Ed
said. “So how did the girls get here?”

Dan gave a short bark of
laughter. “Emma kidnapped Gracie and raced across state lines.
Because by their way of reasoning—if their mother comes looking for
Gracie here, I have a legal say-so.”

“
You do. As custodial
parent. You were living in this state when you filed,
correct?”

“
Yes. She
wanted to live close to her family in Kansas City. We moved here
from Jersey in summer of eighty-eight. Kelly was just a
preschooler. Everything was normal then. My
ex
was normal. I don’t know what went
wrong. Maybe I left her alone too much, especially after Emma came
along. I don’t know.”