„Mom is the best cook. All my friends think so.“ She flipped her notebook to a blank sheet. „Thanks for doing this interview with me. My mom says I shouldn’t be bothering you. What with all the goings-on and everything.“
„It’s okay. I was going crazy sitting all by myself in my house anyway.“ A loud roar erupted from the living room. „I thought football season was over.“
Rachel leaned back in her chair far enough to see around the corner into the living room. „It is. Right now they have a hockey game and a college basketball game going. Sean bought Dad one of those picture-in-a-picture TVs last Christmas.“ Her lips quirked up in adolescent amusement. „Mom was so pissed. So, do you mind if I tape this?“
„You really think you’ll be able to hear anything you record?“
„Sure. I grew up in this house. I’ve developed excellent listening and not-listening skills.“ Rachel flipped on the recorder. „This is an interview with Assistant State ’s Attorney Kristen Mayhew. Can you start by telling us why you chose the law as your profession?“
Kristen opened her mouth, prepared to spout the response she always used. The one that wasn’t nearly the truth. But something in Rachel Reagan’s blue eyes stopped her. „I didn’t, not at first,“ she said honestly. „I’d planned to study art. I even had an art scholarship. But in my sophomore year someone I was very close to was the victim of a serious crime.“
Rachel’s eyes grew wide. „Who?“
„I’d rather not say. She has the expectation of privacy, you know? Anyway, the person who perpetrated the crime was never punished and I didn’t think that was fair.“
„So you became a lawyer to make a difference?“
Kristen focused on the girl’s earnest expression. Rachel Reagan reminded her of herself, so many years ago. „I’d like to think so.“
Rachel had a whole list of questions. Kristen answered each one, following Becca’s movements around the kitchen, remembering her own mother doing the same, the memories bittersweet. Becca was rolling dough when the back door opened and a man wearing a Bears sweatshirt and faded jeans walked in, as tall and dark as Abe. Fondly, he dropped a kiss on Becca’s cheek and Kristen knew without asking that this was Abe’s other brother. She’d met Sean when they’d arrived, so this could be none other than -
„Aidan!“ Rachel dropped her pen. „We thought you weren’t coming.“
Aidan had a CPD uniform on a hanger slung over his shoulder. „I had to switch some shifts, but I didn’t want to miss ham.“ He plopped his hat on Rachel’s head and gave the brim a tug so that it covered her eyes. „What’s new, squirt?“
Rachel adjusted the hat so she could see. „I’m doing my homework.“
Aidan’s gaze shifted to Kristen and she could feel his cold blue eyes critically assessing her. „So I see,“ he said. „You’re ASA Mayhew.“
Kristen wasn’t sure he considered that a good thing, but stuck out her hand. „Kristen.“
He shook it „Aidan.“ His eyes, so like Abe’s, narrowed. „Why are you here?“
„Aidan.“ Becca’s mouth bent in a disapproving frown. „What’s gotten into you?“
„I’m sorry,“ Aidan replied, but it was clear from the taut clench of his jaw and his expression of disdain that he was anything but.
„Aidan.“
Kristen turned instinctively to the sound of Abe’s voice behind her. He filled the doorway to the living room and just the sight of him made her breath catch, made her lips tingle anew from the kiss he’d given her on returning from Angelo Conti’s grave. He still wore a suit, but his tie was loosened and his shirt unbuttoned, revealing a strong throat and just the hint of dense chest hair. He stepped forward, a cautious look in his eye. „What’s wrong?“
Aidan looked at Abe, then back at Kristen, disbelief mixing in with the disdain and Kristen wondered if she wore the fragile relationship with Abe on her chest like a scarlet letter. „No way,“ Aidan spat.
Rachel perked up. „No way what?“
„Be quiet Rachel,“ Aidan snapped. „Tell me it isn’t true, Abe.“
Abe considered him evenly. „You’ve never been impolite to a guest. What happened?“
„Oh, nothing. Just that my partner and three other cops in our precinct got called into IA yesterday. Seems the SA’s office is investigating cops for the murders of those low-lifes that deserved to be fried the first time around.“ Aidan glared at Kristen. „They’re good men and good cops who wouldn’t murder any man, even ones you guys were too inept to keep in jail.“
Kristen wanted to deny it but a look from Abe had her closing her mouth tightly.
„And now you have the nerve to bring her here?“ Aidan sneered. „I’m gone.“
„Don’t you move one inch.“ Becca inserted herself between the brothers. „You aren’t going anywhere, Aidan. Not until you’ve first apologized to Rachel’s guest.“
Aidan’s eyes widened and he looked at Abe. „I thought – “
Abe’s lips twitched. „I guess she’s technically Rachel’s guest“ He let Aidan stew a moment, then added, „But next time she’ll be mine.“
Delighted, Becca and Rachel stared at Kristen, whose cheeks heated. Deliberately she ignored them and looked up at Aidan. „I’m sorry your friends were hassled, but anybody who’s had any contact with those cases has had to account for their whereabouts on the nights of the murders. Everybody in the SA’s office is getting questioned, even me. If they have alibis, we’ll take them off the list. If not, they’ll have to stay there a little longer.“ She lifted her hands, let them fall. „I’m sorry. I really am.“
Aidan hesitated, then inclined his head in a single nod. „All right then.“
„If we make her eat out on the back porch, can she stay for dinner?“ Rachel asked dryly.
Aidan rolled his eyes. „Give me my hat, you smart-ass.“
„Aidan!“ Becca snapped. „Don’t curse in my kitchen.“
„Go in the living room and curse with Dad,“ Rachel said with a grin and after a moment Aidan grinned back, quickly checking the grin when his eyes met Kristen’s.
„I’m sorry,“ he said quietly. „My partner was very upset after being called into IA. We’re all afraid this is going to turn into a witch-hunt.“
„Not on my watch,“ Kristen vowed and Aidan pursed his lips, considering.
„All right then.“ He lifted one black brow. „I guess you can stay.“
Sunday, February 22,
8:00 p.m.
She’d held her own, Abe thought proudly. Kristen had survived a Sunday dinner with the Reagans. The ham was culinary history and everyone who remained gathered in the living room to watch a movie, so like old times it made his throat thicken. Sean sat on the sofa, while Ruth sat on the floor with their new baby, her back up against Sean’s knees. For a long time after Debra’s death Abe hadn’t been able to watch Sean and Ruth together. It wasn’t just that Ruth looked so much like Debra, because she did. They’d been cousins after all, their mothers were sisters. It was more the happiness Sean and Ruth exuded every time they were in the same room that was the hardest to bear. But over the years, Abe had become accustomed to the sharp pang of loss. It was a given. Just one of those things. Seeing Sean and Ruth together made his heart hurt.
Until today. Today he hadn’t been alone. Today he’d brought Kristen to his family and she’d melded right in, as if she’d known them all her life. Now she and Rachel sat on the love seat watching the Steve Martin comedy Sean had rented. From his seat on the couch Abe could watch her face as she truly relaxed for the first time in five days.
She was intent on the movie when Rachel leaned over and whispered something in her ear. It must have been classic Rachel, irreverent and funny, because Kristen threw back her head and laughed that wonderful husky laugh that made him feel like he’d taken a kick to the gut. Looking back, he should have known he wouldn’t be the only one to feel that way. Ruth twisted to stare, her face slack with shock. His parents also turned, pained.