Second Chances: A PAVAD Duet Read online

  “It’s just…Nate has seen too much violence.”

  “Because of what happened to you?”

  Marianna stared at him. He knew, then. “I—”

  “I read the file weeks ago. You have nothing to be ashamed of. And Nate seems like a good kid. I think you can tell him this.”

  She pushed the memories away. “Even about the threat? A part of me thinks I should. He can watch the others, keep his eyes open.”

  “Yes. But that’s also a big responsibility to put on a boy his age.”

  “True. Maybe I should tell the three oldest; let them know to be careful. They have activities outside of school, activities that I can’t always go to. If someone wanted to hurt me, all they’d have to do would be go after one of my boys. I can’t get that thought out of my head. What am I supposed to do?”

  “Tell them. I’ve been there. Someone did attack my daughter to get back at me. Twice. I’ll never forget that. And I’ll never be careless when children are involved again. I’ll assign someone to watch the school. It’s something I’ve done before. I’ve had threats against me before. Brynlock is great about keeping the kids safe.”

  She nodded, resisting the urge to borrow trouble. To worry more than was necessary. “I’d feel better if you did that.”

  “Consider it done. Can you think of anyone who would want to hurt all of you?”

  “Nothing. Not all of us, that is. Not unless it’s a case we worked on. But that can potentially be hundreds.”

  “Then we’ll gather the troops and start going through them. One by one if we have to. Or better yet, we’ll talk to the profilers and see if we can narrow the options down somewhat.”

  Chapter 17

  Her boys were spread out around the house when she unlocked the door a few hours later. Nate was in the living room, the three youngest boys in his charge every evening from four until she made it home from work. The older twins were probably in their room, and Teddy was probably off somewhere working on his latest non-computer project. He was still in the midst of Ed’s five-week ban from all computers for about three more weeks. He was struggling, but doing it.

  She’d called the school once she’d returned to her lab, and had him go home instead of coming to the lab. Ed had agreed. Teddy didn’t need to be around to hear what had happened to Cody. Not until Marianna had a chance to temper the explanation to something more suitable—if such an explanation could exist in this situation—for an eleven-year-old.

  Nate looked up, then past Marianna’s shoulder to the man behind her. Her oldest son stood, a look of suspicion on his face. “Director Ed, sir. We didn’t know you were coming home with our mother.”

  “It was unexpected. How have you been, Nate?”

  The younger twins and Bobby greeted him, James rushing up to show the just-lost tooth. Marianna waited until Ed spoke with James, admiring the gap in the boy’s smile.

  She’d noticed it before; Ed was really good with children. It was a quality she couldn’t help but admire. It was so…unexpected…from someone in his position. “Nate, we’ve got something to talk to you and Bryce and Collin about. And Teddy, too. Will you go get them, while I get the younger three settled in their rooms for a little while?”

  Her son stared at her for a moment, apprehension taking hold of his face. “Sure, Mom.”

  A few minutes later Marianna sat at the head of her dining room table, four of her seven sons surrounding her. Ed sat at the opposite end.

  Ted was visibly upset. “Mom, what’s going on?”

  “We wanted to tell the four of you what happened today, so that you can keep your eyes open and be careful,” Marianna started. Her eyes met Ed’s. How was she supposed to do this?

  He must have understood what she needed. “Agent Cody was hurt today. By someone she probably knew.”

  “Is she…dead?” Bryce asked.

  “No. But she is in a coma. And she’s hurt pretty badly.” Marianna knew the boys liked Cody—especially the older twins. They shared a love of music and Cody had given Bryce bass guitar lessons a few times. “She has several broken bones, and her brain has some swelling. But the doctors are excellent where she’s at. She should be ok, but there’s always the possibility that she won’t be. But that’s not what we’re wanting to talk to you about.”

  Nate stood and leaned against the bar separating the dining area of the house from the kitchen. “Go on; how does this involve us specifically?”

  “We think the person responsible is the same one who shot Kelly Reynolds last month. And broke into Dr. Brewster’s home.” Ed spoke directly to Nate, but Marianna appreciated how he included all four boys in his attention. “We think it’s all related.”

  “So?” Collin didn’t understand; Marianna wasn’t sure she saw the connections that clearly herself. Then again, if she did, wouldn’t she know who was responsible? “What does that mean?”

  “It means that there’s a possibility that someone is targeting your mom.” Ed was frank about it. Marianna half wished he’d sugar-coated a bit more. Her kids didn’t need to be afraid. Not for her. Or themselves. Not again. “That she and the rest of her team worked on a case in Indianapolis that upset someone. That someone is hurting people on your mom’s team.”

  “So this guy could hurt my mom next?” Teddy asked, the first thing he’d said since sitting down at the table. Was he too young for this? They all were.

  “He could try. But…I won’t let him, son. I’m going to be with your mom everywhere she goes when she’s not at work. And at work she’ll be surrounded by federal agents. I promise you I’ll keep her safe.”

  Chapter 18

  He wouldn’t let those kids down. Ed made that vow when Teddy looked up at him with all the faith and trust that only a well-nurtured child could expect. “But we need you guys to help, too. I want you to keep your eyes open. Watch for anyone around you that doesn’t seem to belong, especially if they stare at you or try to talk to you.”

  “You think we’ll see him?” Nate asked.

  “I don’t know what this guy will try to do. But the fastest way to hurt your mom is through you boys. So I think protecting you—and you protecting each other—is the safe and sensible thing to do. On that note, I’m assigning agents to your school, and there will be some of my people roaming the neighborhood, and waiting outside on the street. You’ll see them, and I’ll make sure you know who they are. But I don’t want you to do anything to advertise that they are out there, ok? Just to be on the safe side?”

  “And what happens if we do see him?” Collin asked.

  “You get your tails inside, lock the doors, and call 911. I’ve set it up that any emergency calls from this house go straight to my dispatch. You call and you’ll have thirty FBI agents on your doorstep in under four minutes.”

  “And during those four minutes?” Nate’s eyes bore into Ed, and something passed between them. This son of Marianna’s was more man than not. Ed had to respect that. “What then?”

  “You put your younger brothers somewhere safe, and you do your damnedest to keep you all that way. Get your ball bats, hockey sticks, whatever, and stay with your younger brothers. Keep together so we can find you when it’s needed. I won’t lie to you boys, someone could get hurt. That’s why you have to stay smart and sensible. Use your heads. And take care of each other. And remember, my people will be watching over you.”

  “And our mother,” Nate added. “Promise us you’ll keep her safe. We want your word.”

  “You have it.”

  And they did.

  Chapter 19

  Her couch was not designed for a man to sleep comfortably, but Ed wasn't planning on doing too much sleeping anyway. He was hoping for merely comfortable. Instead he studied her living room in the dim light. She'd unpacked since the last time he'd been there. it was nice, though not overly large. it was a home, welcoming and warm and perfect for children to grow up in. Photos of the boys were everywhere and he had to admire her obvious love for he
r children.

  He'd always found women who loved being mothers attractive, regardless of their career choices. And Marianna Glendower did motherhood very, very well. She did most things very, very well; he'd seen that for himself over the last several weeks. His admiration of her had only grown.

  A click came from the kitchen and he tensed. Ed relaxed, recognizing the kid outlined in the light of the refrigerator. "Nate? You ok?"

  "Just can't sleep, sir. I didn't mean to wake you."

  "I wasn't sleeping, either. Want to talk about things?" Ed kept his tone neutral, but inviting. He'd dealt with many a middle-of-the-night talks with teenage Georgia. Especially after what had happened when she was fifteen.

  "Yeah. I guess. You'd probably have the most answers."

  "You have questions about what's going on with your mom."

  "That's the truth." The boy flopped into the chair adjacent to the couch, putting his bottled juice on the coffee table in front of him.

  "Tell me why this guy is doing this. Why does he want to hurt my mom and Aunt Ally? They never hurt anyone!"

  "No, they haven't. And I wish I could tell you. If I could figure out why, I could find the guy and deal with him. Nate, I'm not going to stop until I do find him."

  "Yeah, you say that, but we both know the good guys don't always win."

  He was old enough to understand that; Ed knew soft platitudes and empty promises wouldn't be enough for a young man like Nate. "No, they don't. But we have to try, have to do the best we can. And when it matters, hold on to hope that we can win. And son, your mom matters to me. A great deal. I can promise you that."

  Nate stared at him for a long time. Ed just waited, sensing the boy needed to wrap his head around what were very adult concepts. Finally, Nate spoke. "I used to think the bad guys my mom dealt with were just stupid people who would always get caught. I never thought they'd be people who would hurt my mom. Or that they would be so real."

  "Or everywhere you turned? Son, I've been in law enforcement for more than half my life. Bad guys exist. I can't deny that."

  "How do you do it? Doesn't make it seem like there's more bad than good? Cody was nice, she didn't deserve to be hurt at all."

  "No, she didn't." Ed thought for a moment. "Sometimes. If you let it, the bad will start to overshadow the good. That's when you have to find your grounding."

  "Your what?"

  "Grounding. Your center. The something that makes your world worthwhile."

  "What's yours?"

  "My daughter. My grandson, the rest of my family. My friends. They are the ones I do this job for. To help protect them. The people I've helped through this job. The knowledge that for those people I have made a difference."

  "Why did you join the FBI and not the cops, or the military, or something?" Nate's tone changed.

  "Initially?" What was the boy thinking?

  "Yeah, I guess. How did you know it's what you were supposed to do?"

  He recognized the question for what it was. A boy on the verge of manhood would have insecurities when a parent's choices were examined. Threatened. "I never intended this. I was in my first year of law practice, married with a baby coming. I was expected to go into state politics like the rest of my family--even like my wife. I hated politics, still do and always have."

  The boy snorted, and Ed was reminded of the boy's father's occupation. "I hate them, too. So what changed you? Made you go against your family?"

  "Something happened. That's for sure. To a classmate of mine. HIs wife and daughter were victims because of nothing they had done. Thy were kidnapped because of who my friend's family was. The FBI was called in."

  "And that was it? You just joined right then?"

  "No. It's not that easy. I stayed with my friend until the end, and that meant seeing how the agents helped his family, him. I made my decision kind of rashly, and applied."

  "Just like that? What did your family say?"

  "My family wasn't happy, no." Where was this leading to? Was the boy possibly thinking of joining the FBI someday? Did his mother know?

  "But you did it anyway."

  "I was a man, son. Twenty-four years old and had been making my own decisions for quite a while. But that was it in a nutshell. When I spoke with the agents so long ago, something clicked, Nate. Everything in me said it was the right decision for me. Then when Georgia--my daughter---was born I kept remembering my friend's daughter and the repercussions for her. And I know I could do more good as an investigator than as a politician, if I worked hard enough. Where is this going? It sounds like something more on your mind than what's going on with your mom."

  Chapter 20

  Marianna stood in the hall, unashamedly eavesdropping. She’d heard the depth of Nate’s turmoil in his questions, though the words were innocuous enough on the surface. Something had been bothering her oldest since the move. But what? And why had he turned to this man now? The circumstances? Or just the man?

  “Yeah,” Nate said.

  “Anything I can help with?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking lately. For a while.”

  “About what?” Ed’s voice was calm, encouraging, unthreatening. Something her ex had never been. Just another difference between Ed and the boys’ father.

  “About my father.” Nate snorted, and Marianna’s breath caught. Nate had long despised his father, and how could she blame him? “About my mom. Genetics.”

  “I’ll admit genetics aren’t my strength. I’m not a good scientist at all. But maybe I can help you figure some things out.”

  “My biological father is a real bastard. He hurt us. Hurt my mom. A lot and bad.”

  “I know, son.” She appreciated Ed’s matter-of-fact tone and suspected Nate did as well. She’d always tried to be honest with the boys about what had happened between her and their father, without demonizing her ex. She hadn’t had to paint him in a bad light—the older boys remembered enough on their own.

  “If Uncle Fin and Lorcan hadn’t helped us—even though they didn’t have to—my mom and Bobby would have died.”

  “Possibly.”

  “They are good men.”

  “Some of the best I know.”

  “Unlike my father. They are better men.”

  “Possibly.”

  “Not possibly, definitely.” Nate paused a moment. “I don’t want to be like him. At all. I want to be like Uncle Fin, and Lorcan. And you, I guess. I want to join the FBI. And…I don’t think my mom will like that.”

  “Maybe not. But if you’re serious, and that’s what makes you happy, I think your mom will understand.”

  “I hope so. Because next year I’m taking less science and more history and political science. As well as psychology and sociology, if I can fit it into my schedule. Brynlock offers enough AP courses that I should be able to complete my freshman requirements by the end of my eleventh grade year. If I can convince the school to wave the rule that says you have to be a junior to take the AP classes.”

  “Can you handle the classes, if you make that request?”

  “Yes, sir. I’ve been thinking about it, and I borrowed a psychology book and have been doing some of the assignments to see if I like the subject. I know I can do this.”

  “Then let me make a few calls tomorrow. I may be able to arrange a meeting for you and your mother with the board at Brynlock to discuss the matter.”

  “Would you? That would be awesome!”

  “Sure. But you need to promise me this is something you are serious about. And you have to give each class your full attention, no quitting halfway.”

  “I won’t, sir. I can promise that.”

  “Then I’ll be happy to help in any way that I can.”

  “You already have. Thank you. I…uh…should probably go to bed.”

  “Good night.”

  Marianna chose that moment to enter. “Nate? Why are you still up?” Maybe he’d tell her what was on his mind? Should she be upset that he’d turned to Ed
instead? A man he apparently admired enough to follow in his footsteps? She sank onto the couch next to Ed.

  “Nothing, just talking, Mom. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  She waited until her son was up the stairs before turning back to the man. “Thank you for listening to him.”

  “So you heard? I thought as much. He reminds me of my daughter.” A dark look crossed his expression and puzzled her. “She had some things happen to her around that age that drew her to the Bureau.”

  “I take it they weren’t good things?” Marianna had heard very little about his daughter in her time with the St. Louis division. Just about her and Hellbrook, and a former agent. And she’d spent very little time with the younger woman.

  He shook his head, a haunted look on his face. One of regret and sorrow that only another parent could understand. “No. Definitely not. But they did have lasting repercussions. Still do. And I’ll never forget that if I hadn’t been a part of the Bureau, she never would have been targeted. But Nate will do just fine. He’s a good kid. You’ve done a wonderful job with him.”

  “But he—and the rest of my kids—need someone besides just me, don’t they?” It was her biggest fear, her biggest worry. She’d tried to expand her sons’ support system. They had Ally, and Kelly, and even Fin and Lorcan. But Fin and Lorcan had lived in different cities for the last several years, until St. Louis, how much support could they really provide to her boys? Boys to whom they shared no real family connection?

  “Possibly. At least some of the times. I struggled in the opposite direction with Georgia, ya know? My sister moved to Washington state just as Georgia hit her midteens. Then it was just me and my daughter, and I was gone more than half the time. I didn’t know what to do with a traumatized teen girl. But we muddled through.”

  Traumatized? What had happened to his daughter? She was too afraid to ask. She just covered his hand with hers. He turned his palm up and laced his fingers through hers. Marianna was comforted by the gesture. Ed liked to touch. He’d touched Ana McLaughlin several times in front of her, and Paige Daviess, Alessandra Brockman, the female members of his daughter’s team. He’d slapped the backs of the male members of those teams. Had rested a hand on Ted’s shoulder many times during the last nine weeks, as they’d talked. At the various school functions they’d attended, they’d always ended up sitting together. Ed would end up holding one of her younger three boys or his grandson Matthew.