The Lion's Den (Faraway Book 2) (10 page)

I was eating lunch in my office, trying to catch up on the endless list of things I’d missed while I was out with Meredith. Business didn’t stop, even if Meredith’s memory did. My phone buzzed next to me, and I picked it up, swiping across the screen to read the new text. It was a picture of Dharma’s pussy with a dildo hanging out of it. Apparently, Dharma didn’t stop either.

She reminded me of myself, unwilling to let anything stand in her way. Except I’d been that way about work, not an executive’s dick. I’d seen her in the hall before lunch and had broken the news that I was on my way to the shore right after work. Within an hour, I’d received the picture. She was wearing the top she had on earlier when I saw her and the picture was clearly taken in the office bathroom, which meant she’d carried a dildo around with her.

That picture was the only excuse I had for not going to the shore right after work.

I left Dharma’s apartment and drove to the shore. I was excited to see Meredith, well, more like anxious. The doctor had said her memory could return at any time. I’d pulled him into the hallway and asked if there was a chance it would never return. I was worried, concerned for my wife. The doctor had shown no indication of mistrusting my motives.

I must have read something wrong. Someone suspected something, because the Chief of Police was suddenly all over me, and was asking about the details of Meredith’s injury. One of the nurses, the neurologist, maybe even Meredith herself had said something to raise a red flag, and now I needed to lower it.

The kids were at the shore house, too. Meredith’s brother had returned them just in time for me to bring them all home. School was starting soon. Dharma would be gone, and Meredith and I were going to start fresh without any distrust or dishonesty. I just had to figure out how to get rid of Dharma.

I parked in the driveway and heard Liv and James playing on the other side of the house. I walked toward the ocean and saw them kicking the soccer ball back and forth on the sand. Meredith was sitting on the deck, watching them.

“Daddy,” the kids both yelled and ran over to me. Meredith smiled, appearing genuinely glad I was there. We were a family.

“Hey! How was Uncle Jeff’s?” I asked.

They both spoke at the same time. I couldn’t understand a word they were saying, and I really didn’t care. I just nodded as if they made sense. James finally muzzled Liv with his hand and said, “We’re going to the boardwalk tonight.”

I turned to Meredith, praying James had it wrong. The boardwalk was a mix of noise, crowds, French fries, and ice cream.
And
it was a dry town, so there was no alcohol. It was hell. “Really?” I asked her.

“Yes. They haven’t been all summer, and school starts next week.” She looked good. The bruises on her face were healing, and she had her hair styled in a way so I couldn’t see the shaved patch. Her skin had bronzed from her weeks in the sun, and her eyes blazed with the colors of the ocean. I walked to the railing and leaned over to her. She kissed me on the lips and leaned back as she exhaled. I let the feel of her lips linger before opening my eyes. With Meredith, I would conquer the world. She was my wife, and she always would be.

“The boardwalk?” I asked, only half joking.

“Yes,” she said and then told the kids to go inside and grab their sweatshirts.

I went in and changed my clothes. When I lowered my pants, I saw lipstick on my underwear. At first, I thought it was a red stain, but then the image of Carrie’s lips pulling them off my hips while she’d been bound and on her knees in front of me ran through my head like a train before it derailed. I ripped off the underwear and folded them tightly before hiding them in a sheet of paper from my briefcase I crumbled up. I threw the paper in the trash and covered it with the remaining items in the basket. They were strips of toilet paper bundled tightly together. Meredith was on her period.
Great.

“Daddy, let’s go,” Liv yelled as I opened the bedroom door, leaving Dharma behind and joining my family.

I drove them to the boardwalk, bought the tickets, and waited while the kids rode the rides. Liv and Meredith went in a boutique and bought Liv new earrings. James and I sat on a bench and watched the people go by. We were exactly how a family should be.

While the four of us ate ice cream, James and Liv chatted about nothing of use. Which super power would you rather have? If you fell out of a plane when it was taking off, would you survive? Would you rather lose a leg or your hearing? Can a bomb blow up a diamond? I let the sight of Meredith drown them out. She had so much patience with them. She wore a new bracelet. A braided white nautical one every store on the boardwalk sold for a dollar.

“Nice bracelet,” I said and turned it on her wrist. She held it up so I could see it better.

“We used to call them shark bracelets when I was little. We swore they kept the sharks away.”

“It’s nice,” I said, and then with her wrist still in my hand, I added, “I think you should quit your job.” I didn’t want her anywhere near the police station or Vincent Pratt. He’d crossed a line at our house the other night.

“What?” Meredith smiled as if the suggestion was almost funny. She scrunched her brow, trying to figure out what I was thinking. She had no idea I was only thinking about how to get her to resign without making anyone suspicious.

“I think you need to rest, and with the kids going back to school, it’ll be perfect for you to have some time to yourself.”

“I had some time this week, and I was bored. I’m looking forward to going back to work.”

I had to stop. I couldn’t push. Meredith would know there was a reason. “What makes you think you liked it there?” I asked with an ease to my voice.

“Did I?” She tilted her head, challenging me, but she had no idea of what.

“To be honest, I don’t know. You only worked a few hours a week, which is why it shouldn’t be a big deal if you stop.” She stared at me, deciphering every word I’d just said. “But it’s not a big deal if you stay either. I just thought you might enjoy the time off.” I kissed her cheek.

“Mom, what’s more important? Your brain or your soul?” James asked, and Meredith slowly released me and turned to him.

She looked out to the sea, as if the answer to his question was there. “Maybe your brain.” She put her arm around James and pulled him close to her. “But without a soul, there’s no need for a brain, because you won’t be able to love. And without love, what is there?”

Who cares?
screamed in my head. What was with all the questions? I was exhausted from three hours with these two.

“Who would be the next Queen of England if the Queen hadn’t had any babies?” Liv asked.

The questions never stopped. They never fucking stopped. They barely stopped for the answers. Half the shit that came out of their mouths, I’d have to search the internet to even answer. I was exhausted. Meredith was beautiful as she explained the English monarchy to our eight-year-old.

Chief Vincent Pratt

SCHOOL STARTED. THANK GOD, SCHOOL
started. I went to my old house and stood next to Lynn as the kids got on the bus. I took pictures. I waved. I told the kids I loved them. Then, as the bus pulled away, Lynn turned and walked into the house without a word to me.

I should have cared more. I knew a decent man would have been hurt by her silence, but it was Meredith’s first day back at the station, and I was consumed with the idea of her sitting outside my office.

Finally.

I started my truck and turned my radio to the classic rock station. It would forever remind me of my pothead girlfriend. Meredith had said classic rock saved her when she was a teenager, during the years following her parents’ separation. She used to switch the radio at my cabin to this station whenever she was there, and I let her. I would be happy listening to crickets as entertainment as long as she was next to me.

What music will my kids turn to?

Lynn and I splitting up couldn’t be ugly. We had to stick together as their parents, and that meant Lynn was going to have to speak to me again.

When I pulled in the station, I scanned the parking lot for Meredith’s car, but she drove her kids to school much later than the rural bus picked up mine. She’d be at least another half hour. I tried to hide my joy as I said good morning to the other guys.

“Morning, Daniels.”

“Morning, Chief. When’s Meredith coming in? I can’t wait to see the dent in her head.”

There were no female officers here. It was just me and seven other men: one close to retirement, two middle-aged, and four young. Meredith was their mother, their daughter, their friend, and their confidant. They adored her almost as much as I did.

“I’m sure she’ll be here soon. Keep in mind that it’s her first day back.”

Daniels’s juvenile grin told me he had no intention of going easy on her. “Oh, I know. Been waiting weeks. I guess you have to bash your head in to get an extended leave around here.”

The mention of “bashing” drained the smile from my face. I still had no idea what had happened that day in Meredith’s house. Or any other day, for that matter. I was the outsider.

“The last time I spoke with her, she still didn’t remember anything—including you.”

“You guys talking about me?” Meredith asked as she walked through the front foyer and took off her sunglasses. She had on a tight gray skirt, a black silk shirt, and black heels. She’d worn the shoes to the cabin once and had kept them on while I’d made love to her standing up.

I stood up straight and took a deep breath.

“Always talking about you. Welcome back!” Daniels said as he walked over and hugged her. She watched me from his arms. The sadness in her eyes told me everything I needed to know. She didn’t know who Daniels was. He took a step back and didn’t attempt to hide his examination of her head. Meredith had pulled her hair to the side of her injury and tied it in a loose bun. Pieces were hanging down, making it impossible to notice unless you were looking for it. “How’s that hard head of yours?”

“It’s getting there. How are you?” Her warmth shone through her eyes and the way she smiled at him. Even if Meredith didn’t remember him, she liked him.

“Bored to tears. I’m glad you’re back.” Daniels picked up his hat and his coffee and headed toward the door. “I’ll see you later. I’ve got to go catch the bad guys.”

“Be careful,” Meredith said as he nodded and backed out the door.

The woman I was in love with was only five feet in front of me. We were alone. My heart pounded against the wall of my chest, and I was sure she could see it beating. Meredith didn’t smile or speak. She peered around each corner of the room and looked at the ceiling, the floor, and at the hallway behind my back.

“Anything familiar?” I asked as she walked past me and into the hallway that led to the interview room. I followed her in there, watching closely as she pulled the handcuffs attached to the table. The ones I’d cuffed her with almost a year ago.

She shook her head.

She was tan from her weeks at the shore, and her hair was streaked with blond highlights. If I didn’t know the reason for her unplanned vacation, I’d say she was the picture of health.

“You have to forgive me,” she said, and I stayed still leaning against the doorjamb.

“For what?”

“For not knowing a thing about this job. It’s going to be like starting over for us.”

“I know. I’m fine with that. In fact, I’d like to take you to lunch today for your second first day.”

“Oh, lovely. Where should we go?” She was flirting with me, and she could because there was nothing between us.

“How about the golf course here in town?” We’d never been there together. Actually, aside from our lunch at the shore, we’d never been in public anywhere together. But if there was nothing between us, then there was no reason not to have lunch.

“That sounds perfect.”

“This morning, why don’t you familiarize yourself with your desk? I left some documents and the schedule for you to review. Maybe something will jog your memory.”

“Memory loss is pure torture.”

“I can imagine.”
It’s killing me.
“You’ll have to see if you can figure out your password for your e-mail. I don’t have that information.”