Blind Trust Page 8

  With a resigned sigh, he turned back toward Eva. “Okay, we have to assume he’s been following you and knows the location of Mikey’s preschool. I’ll take you and Mikey home, and you’ll need to stay there. It’s too risky to continue bringing him here and going to work. I’ll make sure the cops drive past the place on a regular basis.”

  She never hesitated. “I know. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to Mikey. His safety has to be my primary concern.”

  He wouldn’t be able to forgive himself either if anything happened to Mikey or Eva. He took her hand again. “I’ll keep you both safe. Let’s get Mikey.”

  The little boy greeted them enthusiastically, proudly displaying his finger painting for them to see. Amid the blue-and-green swirls, the child had drawn a family portrait. There were stick figures of a man and a woman with long hair each holding the hand of a little boy who looked just like Mikey. “Auntie Eva, will you help me hide it from my dad? I want it to be a surprise.”

  “Of course,” Eva assured him as they walked to the vehicle. Finn could tell she was getting choked up all over again. “How about if we frame it and wrap it up for him? I’m sure he’d love to have your painting hanging on the wall.”

  “I’d like that.” Mikey grinned as she placed him in the car seat. “Can we do that today?”

  “Um, maybe not today, but soon.” Eva glanced at Finn and he nodded in agreement.

  “I have a day off coming up, I’ll be happy to take you and your aunt to get the picture framed.”

  “Can Abe come, too?”

  “Sure.”

  “Goody!” Mikey clapped his hands. “I love Abe.”

  Finn almost told Mikey he and Abe loved him, too, but held back, reminding himself that he wasn’t part of Mikey’s family. A family he’d decided was not meant for him because of his career, but now couldn’t stop thinking about.

  He concentrated on navigating the traffic to reach Pete’s home. Earlier that morning, he’d looked into Pete Stallings’s background but hadn’t found anything unusual. The guy appeared on paper to be just as Eva claimed, a dedicated firefighter and paramedic who loved his son. There were some money problems, but nothing too terrible. And if Malina was using drugs, the money problems made sense.

  He’d pulled the autopsy results on Malina’s death, too, but surprisingly, the medical examiner had not found any track marks indicating IV drug use. There was some indication that she might have been snorting cocaine, but there hadn’t been any hard evidence of recent use. Damaged nasal passages could be from severe allergies as well as cocaine, especially if the user was early in the level of abuse.

  All of which brought Finn back to the immediate threat. Did the two men who’d assaulted Eva know that she was staying at Pete’s place? He had to assume they did. After all, they knew Malina had stolen their mysterious package. What was to prevent them from breaking into Pete’s to look for the package themselves?

  Unless they already had? Was it possible they’d managed to get inside the house to do their own search? And when they hadn’t found what they were looking for, had gone after Cocoa and Eva? And maybe, now, Mikey?

  His gut told him it was a distinct possibility.

  Once he and Abernathy had Eva and Mikey safe inside the house, he decided to go through the entire place one more time. Leaving Eva and Mikey in the kitchen, eating a snack of animal crackers and milk, he took Abernathy and started up in the master suite.

  He and Abernathy made their way through the upper level without finding a thing. Downstairs, he went through the living room, the playroom, bathroom, finally ending up in the kitchen.

  “I already went through all the cupboards,” Eva said wearily.

  “I know.” He glanced over his shoulder at her. “I just feel like I need to do something.”

  “Me, too.” Her sad smile squeezed his heart. “All finished, Mikey? You want to play?”

  “Yep.”

  She washed Mikey’s face and hands, then lifted him from his booster seat. For a moment she snuggled him close, kissing his cheek, before setting him on the floor. He gave Abernathy a pat on the head, then ran toward the playroom, laughing when the K-9 followed.

  Eva dropped her chin to her chest for a moment, as if struggling to remain composed. Finn couldn’t stand seeing her distress. He pulled her into his arms once again, marveling at how right it felt to hold her.

  “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  “Nothing is wrong with you, Eva.” His own voice was low and husky with emotion. “You have every right to be upset. There’ve been nothing but threats and danger at every turn.”

  She didn’t answer. He stroked his hand over her long silky blond hair, reveling in the softness against his fingertips and her clean citrusy scent. He ached to kiss her, but had promised himself to offer comfort, nothing more.

  Even if it killed him, which was a distinct possibility.

  After several long moments, Eva pulled out of his arms, offering a watery smile. “Thanks, Finn. You’ve been incredible through all of this.” She surprised him by going up on tiptoe to press a soft kiss against his cheek before stepping away. “I feel safe with you and Abernathy, here.”

  “I’ll stay for as long as you’d like,” he offered rashly, willing to do anything if she kissed him like that again. Yeah, it wasn’t smart to stick around where he’d only get more emotionally attached. If he had one single functioning brain cell in his head, he’d assign someone else to protect her and the boy.

  But even as the fleeting thought went through his mind, he rejected it. He didn’t want anyone else here watching over them.

  He trusted only himself and his K-9 partner, Abernathy, to keep them safe from harm.

  Once again, he lifted his heart in prayer that God would help watch over them, too.

  * * *

  Leaving Finn’s embrace was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do. As she went into the playroom to check on Mikey, she put her hands over her warm cheeks, willing the crazy attraction away.

  How was it possible to feel so attached to the man in such a short period of time? She hadn’t felt this emotionally connected to a man before, not even Rafe Del Rosa. It was easy to look back and acknowledge that they’d had some fun, shared a love of art—and that was about it. No wonder he’d broken things off when learning about her retinitis pigmentosa.

  She needed to tell Finn about her condition, sooner rather than later. But after the emotional turmoil of the day, she didn’t want to open up that subject. Especially since once he knew the truth, those hugs and chaste kisses would likely end.

  Be honest, she told herself sternly. The main reason you kissed Finn on the cheek was because you were hoping he’d kiss you in return.

  Yeah, okay, so what? Kissing wasn’t a crime. And it had been so long since she’d met a man she truly liked. Respected. Admired.

  “Can I play outside in my sandbox?” Mikey asked.

  “Not today. Looks like rain.” She went over to the small television in the corner of the room. “How about if I put on some cartoons for you?”

  “Okay.”

  Once Mikey was settled on the floor, lying next to Abernathy to watch television, she returned to the kitchen to think about dinner. Malina had been the cook; Eva was more of a carryout kind of woman. But for Mikey’s sake, she should at least try to provide a homemade meal. Especially since they were going to be housebound for the foreseeable future.

  She opened the fridge and peered inside, hoping for inspiration.

  “Hey, what if we head over to Griffin’s for dinner?” Finn offered.

  She closed the fridge and turned to face him, wrinkling her nose. “I don’t know—it looks like rain. Besides, I can’t bear the idea of being followed by the raspy guy or stinky guy or anyone else who might be looking for that stupid p
ackage.”

  Finn nodded. “I hear you, but Griffin’s diner is a cop hangout, I don’t think anyone would be dumb enough to try anything there. And you and Mikey won’t be alone—Abernathy and I will be with you the whole time. Along with plenty of other cops.”

  She’d never been to Griffin’s but had heard it was a cop hangout. Cooking wasn’t her forte, and going someplace to eat rather than going for takeout once again held a certain appeal. Yet she didn’t want to do anything that might put Mikey in harm’s way, either.

  “It’s located just a couple of blocks from the K-9 headquarters,” Finn added. “I’ll park there, and we can walk over.”

  “Okay, let’s do it,” she agreed. “I can’t lie, my cooking is atrocious.”

  Finn laughed, and despite her earlier assault, she found herself smiling in return. “I’m actually not a bad cook,” he said modestly, “But it would take too long to get groceries and to start a meal from scratch. I know Mikey’s safety is most important and a cop hangout near our K-9 headquarters is the only place that fits the bill.”

  “All right. I’ll get Mikey’s raincoat.”

  Ten minutes later, they were tucked in Finn’s K-9 SUV and heading back toward the K-9 headquarters. Eva remembered seeing Griffin’s, when she’d been at the K-9 Command Center.

  A light rain was falling, the air thick with humidity. Welcome to summer in Queens. After parking at headquarters, Finn and Abernathy escorted them down the few blocks until they reached the diner, an old redbrick building that had aged to a deep rusty brown over the years.

  The interior of the café was a typical diner decor, royal blue vinyl seats in the booths, and wooden tables and chairs in the open area. Beyond that, it wasn’t typical at all. There were two sides to the place. One side appeared to be a dog-friendly patio, shielded from the weather by an aluminum rooftop and walls that were little more than screens that were open in the nice weather. It was homey, and she could understand why the K-9 cops liked it here. A pretty woman greeted them at the hostess stand, a large diamond ring flashing on the fourth finger of her left hand. Eva told herself that it was petty to be jealous of this woman’s happiness.

  “Hey, Violet, how are you?” Finn turned and pulled Eva close. “I’d like you to meet Eva Kendall and Mikey Stallings. Eva, this is Violet Griffin. She’s Lou Griffin’s daughter.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Eva shook Violet’s hand. “Let me guess, your father owns the restaurant?”

  “Yes, he does.” Violet’s smile didn’t reach her eyes and she glanced at Finn, who frowned as if he’d noticed too. “Dad is here, Finn, if you’d like to talk to him. You know how he likes to keep up on the cop gossip. Follow me. We’re busy, but there’s a table available in the doghouse.”

  “The doghouse?” It took a moment for the pun to register in Eva’s brain. The sign above the French doors helped. It read The Dog House—Reserved for New York City’s Finest.

  “Sounds good. Thanks, Violet.” Finn held out Eva’s chair for her and then glanced around. “We’ll need a booster seat, too.”

  “Got it.” Violet returned a few minutes later with a booster seat, a paper place mat and three crayons. “For Mikey, to keep him busy.”

  “Thanks.” Eva was grateful for her thoughtfulness.

  “Finn, where have you been?” An older man with grizzled ruddy features and a shock of white hair came over to shake Finn’s hand. “Haven’t seen you all week.”

  “Been busy,” Finn agreed. “This is Eva Kendall and her nephew, Mikey Stallings.” After the quick round of introductions, Finn added, “Hey, Lou, are the rumors true?”

  “Rumors?” The older man’s attempt to sound surprised was abysmal.

  “Yeah. Zach Jameson mentioned something about how you were offered a lot of money by a real estate developer for this place. Did you really turn it down?”

  “Zach should learn to keep his mouth shut,” Lou muttered, avoiding the question. The older man glanced back over his shoulder at his daughter. “Although I have to admit, he makes my Violet very happy. The Jamesons are a fine family, such a shame about Chief Jordan. Honestly, I couldn’t ask for a better soon-to-be son-in-law.”

  “So you’re not selling,” Finn pressed.

  “Not yet,” Lou admitted. He waved a hand. “Go on now, enjoy your meal.”

  A waitress came by to take their order. Eva ordered a burger and Finn ordered the same. Mikey wanted chicken strips and a glass of chocolate milk.

  “It’s nice they allow dogs here in the patio area,” she said once their server left to place their order.

  “Yeah, well, being so close to our headquarters helped. Lou quickly figured out that half his business came from K-9 cops, so he added this outdoor patio for customers with dogs. And he constructed it in a way that it can be sheltered from the elements.” Finn glanced down at Abernathy lying on the floor between his seat and Mikey’s. “The dogs are all very well trained, so it hasn’t been a problem.”

  “It’s a nice place,” she agreed.

  “Yeah, Lou treats us all like we’re his kids, checking up on us and making sure we’re doing okay.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “That’s why everyone is upset to hear some rich real estate mogul wants to buy the building. We’re hoping Lou doesn’t cave to the temptation to sell.”

  She nodded, understanding his point. Mikey continued coloring his picture while they waited for their food. Despite how busy the place was, their meals arrived quickly. She cut up Mikey’s chicken so it would cool off.

  “Let’s say grace,” Finn said, picking up her hand and Mikey’s. “Dear Lord, bless this food we are about to eat. And provide guidance to Lou as he decides his future. Amen.”

  “Amen,” she echoed, feeling self-conscious about praying in public. Then she realized she needn’t have worried. No one seemed to pay them any attention, and, to her surprise, she noticed another couple at a table several rows back also praying before their meal.

  “Yummy,” Mikey said, taking a bite of his crispy chicken.

  “My burger is good, too,” she confided.

  A few minutes into their meal the sound of raised voices from the other side of the restaurant caught Finn’s attention. With a frown, he rose to his feet. “Stay here, we’ll be right back.”

  He and Abernathy made their way over to where two men were arguing loudly. Eva craned her neck, trying to see what was going on. She stood to get a better view, gasping in horror when she noticed one of the men punch the other one in the face mere inches from Finn.

  “Who starts a fight in a café known to be a cop hangout?”

  She was talking to herself, as everyone’s attention was centered on the ruckus. She took a step forward, not liking the thought of Finn getting in the middle of a fight. But she needn’t have worried. Between Finn and a man she assumed was another cop, they managed to separate the two men, each slapping cuffs on their respective perpetrator.

  Relieved the crisis was over, Eva turned back to the table, looking for Mikey. His chair was empty.

  “Mikey? Mikey!” She shouted to be heard over the din, raking her gaze around the restaurant. But there was no sign of the boy.

  Mikey was gone!

  EIGHT

  “Finn!” The panic in Eva’s voice caught his attention. He released the guy he’d just handcuffed, pushing him toward Ian, one of his fellow officers, to look over toward Eva. “Mikey’s gone!”

  “Gone?” He and Abernathy charged past the diner onlookers to reach her side. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know!” Eva’s blue eyes were wild with fear. She gripped his arms tightly. “I turned my back on him for only a minute when I thought that man was going to punch you in the face. When I looked back, he was gone. It’s my fault, Finn. This is all my fault!”

  “No, it’s not.” Fighting a sense of panic himself, Finn surveyed the pa
tio, then the interior of the diner, thinking it was possible the child had decided to head to the bathroom. He hurried over to check, but the restrooms were empty. There was no sign of the little boy’s blond head anywhere in sight. Returning to the table, Finn’s gaze landed on the child’s blue raincoat draped over the seat. He grabbed it.

  “Find, Abernathy,” he commanded, opening the coat so that his K-9 partner could sniff the interior closest to where Mikey’s skin had been. “Find Mikey.”

  Abernathy buried his nose in Mikey’s raincoat for several long moments. Finn knew that Mikey’s scent was well-known to Abernathy, considering how much time they’d spent at Pete’s house, but this was part of the K-9 training process, signifying they were on the job.

  Abernathy put his nose to the ground around the chair Mikey had used. He alerted there, but Finn encouraged him to keep going. The K-9 followed the invisible trail of Mikey’s scent through the open patio space to the sidewalk outside the diner. Finn’s stomach clenched as he realized that despite his assurances to Eva that she and Mikey would be safe here, he’d been wrong.

  So very, very wrong.

  “Find, Abernathy,” he encouraged, following the K-9 outside. Similar to the day of Cocoa’s dognapping, the dog turned and headed down the sidewalk to the next intersection. There, Abernathy sniffed along the ground, turning in a circle before sitting down. When the Lab looked up, Finn thought he perceived a concerned and pleading expression in the dog’s dark eyes, as if he was waiting for the next command.

  “I know. I’m worried about him, too.” Finn bent over to give Abernathy a quick rub and a treat before leading him back to the doorway of Griffin’s diner.