Page 46 of Brokered Betrayals
“I know,” Evangeline said.
“I just can’t with you two,” Sawyer said before he disappeared down the hallway with Darla.
Evangeline patted Royce’s shoulder. “I’d better go with him. I want to make sure he’s taking our teasing in the spirit it’s intended. Sawyer seems a little edgier than usual.”
Royce sighed. “Yeah. He’s trying to stay positive, but knowing our adoption will probably get delayed is taking its toll. And it doesn’t help that the suspects in the case have eluded the authorities for over a week. The guys from theSinister in Savannahpodcast and Alec have made a major push to get the info out to their wide-reaching audiences, but still nothing. Their inevitable arrests won’t change our outcome, but we can’t stand the injustice of it all. The accusations about the adoption agency and the law firm representing them have gone public, and the damage is done. It’s now a matter of waiting to see if a judge reviews all the adoptions handled by the law firm during a certain time or only the ones involving the adoption agency.”
“It’s an awful mess,” Evangeline said. “I imagine it’s hard for two cynical police officers to have blind faith that things will work out, but I believe enough for all of us.”
“Thanks, Mama,” Royce said, kissing her cheek.
He sat down on the couch and turned the television on for the first time since their guests had arrived after breakfast. The visitors hadn’t all come at once, just a steady stream of well-wishers and at least one rogue baby kisser. To have so many people supporting them was a blessing, but Royce was excited to take his house back. And then the doorbell rang.
Dolly leaped up from her spot beside him on the couch, barking her head off. Royce braced himself for Darla to wake up, but no cries came from the hallway. He scooped Dolly up, kissed her on top of the head, and took her with him to answer the door.
“All right, killer. Let’s go see who’s here.” Her little body vibrated with a growl, but she didn’t bark again. Royce opened the door and greeted the couple standing on the porch. It took him a minute to recognize the men sporting golden tans and relaxed smiles. “Chief,” he said. “I thought you were out of town on vacation with Mr. Chief.”
Abe snorted and looked at Mendoza. “Guess that makes us Mr. and Mr. Sheriff too.”
Mendoza rolled his eyes heavenward and extended an enormous paper carryout bag. “We got back last night, which is why I didn’t have time to prepare something for you from scratch.”
“Dodged one there, buddy,” Abe said with a wink.
Mendoza cut him a dark look, but his eyes shimmered with humor. “You don’t look like you’re starving to me.”
Abe patted his stomach. “Not after the vacation we’ve just had.”
Royce watched their byplay in awe. Mendoza was the most private person he’d ever met, so getting a glimpse beyond the wall fascinated him. But his entertainment ended as quickly as it began. Mendoza seemed to recall where he was, and the shield went up again.
“We just wanted to stop by with some food and congratulate you in person,” Mendoza said. “Those first few weeks with a newborn are rough, and I figured you guys could use a meal you didn’t have to cook.”
“Thank you,” Royce said as he accepted the bag. “We appreciate it very much. Would you like to come in and meet the baby?”
“This isn’t her?” Abe teased, nodding toward Dolly.
“No, but she thinks so.” Royce kissed the dog’s head and made quick introductions before stepping aside so they could enter. “Sawyer and his mother are trying to get lipstick off Darla’s forehead,” he said as he led them into the living room. “You might see a side of my husband you didn’t know existed.” Though Sawyer would be on his best behavior in front of Chief Mendoza and Abe. “We communicated a ‘no kissing’ rule to our guests this morning, and one of his elderly aunts left a bright red lip print on her forehead. He’s livid.”
“Can’t blame him,” Mendoza said. “No one wants people breathing nasty germs and bacteria onto their babies. It’s flu season, for crying out loud.”
“Make yourselves comfortable,” Royce said, gesturing to the couch. “I’ll just go put the food in the kitchen.”
He set Dolly down on the floor, and she immediately jumped onto Abe’s lap, turning the brawny sheriff into putty. Traitorous trollop. He unpacked the bag and looked at the contents in each aluminum pan to decide if it was something they’d want to freeze for later or eat soon. Abe and Mendoza had basically delivered a holiday feast to their house. Royce shifted the lasagna to the freezer to make room for the spiral-cut ham and all its glorious trimmings. He nearly dropped the mashed potatoes on the floor when he heard Mendoza fawning over Dolly. He peeked around the door and caught his chief making kissy faces at the dog and wished he hadn’t left his phone on the coffee table. Sawyer still hadn’t returned to the living room, and there was no way in hell he’d believe Royce’s claims without evidence. Knowing Mendoza wouldn’t want Royce to witness this too-human moment, he finished shuffling food and shut the refrigerator door harder than necessary to warn his chief that he was coming back. But he put a little too much oomph into it because a chunk of ice fell out of the dispenser and onto the floor. And it turned out the gesturewas uncalled for since Mendoza was standing just on the other side of the door when he’d closed it. Royce yelped in surprise. “Didn’t hear you sneak up on me, Chief.”
“He’s light on his feet like a panther,” Abe called out from the living room. “And silent as smoke.”
“Did you need something?” Royce asked.
The smile Mendoza gave him was pure predator. “Could I have something to drink?”
“Of course. Soda, juice, water, or something stronger?”
“Water would be great.”
“Still or sparkling? Flavored or unflavored?”
Mendoza’s brow furrowed. “Anything unflavored.”
“Coming right up.” Royce stepped back, and his foot landed on the slippery ice. His leg slid out from under him, and he slammed into the refrigerator hard enough to dislodge something from the top, which slid down the side. “Well, damn.” Royce peered into the thin gap between the appliance and wall, but it was too dark to see. Reaching into the abyss, his fingers brushed against something thin and plastic. “What the hell?”