Page 46 of Justice for Samara

“No. Just don’t mind going to bed at nine for the right reasons.”

His boss gave him a lopsided smirk. “I hear ya there. At least Angel’s sleeping through the night most of the time now. There for a while, we were both so exhausted that it was a struggle to stay up and watch a movie, much less anything more intimate. Mom watched her a couple of times so we could go out, but I didn’t ask often. Pretty soon she’d be telling everybody in town that she was raising our kid because we were too busy.”

“Yeah. Sounds like something she’d say.”

Carter took the last bite of his sandwich and wadded up the paper. “Do what you have to do. I trust your judgment, Michael, and I’ll do whatever you need me to in order to keep her safe.”

“Thanks. That’s all I needed to know.”

“And let me know what the commissioner says. Can’t wait to hear that.”

“Yeah.” Michael tossed his sandwich wrapper in the trash. “Me either.”

* * *

The phone ranga couple of times and was answered with a bright voice. “Good afternoon. CommissionerReed’s office. May I help you?”

“Yes, ma’am. This is Chief DeputyMichael Edwards of the TriggCounty Sheriff’s Department. I’d like to speak with CommissionerReed.”

“I’m sorry, who did you say you were?”

Michael chuckled. “Tell him it’s his godson on the phone.”

“Oh! Okay. Hold, please.”

The hold only lasted about thirty seconds. “Michael! Great to hear from you!”

“Good to talk to you, James. You and Eileen doing okay?”

“Oh, yeah. Hey, Katie and Bruce just had a new baby!”

“Wow! Boy or girl?”

“Boy. That makes three for them, two boys and a girl right in the middle.”

“She’ll keep ’em busy. How’s Ben?”

“Doing well. Still traveling all over the place. We thought he was going to marry a guy he met in Copenhagen, but it didn’t happen. I don’t know when he’ll be back. Sleeping in hostels and monasteries. Craziest thing I’ve ever seen. You married yet?”

“No, sir, but I’ve got a girlfriend.”

“Good! What’s she like?”

“Her name is Samara and she’s a detective here in the department.”

“Well, that’s great. And Marjorie?”

Michael sucked a big breath in and sighed. “I really wish you guys would come to visit soon. She’s driving me crazy. I bought a house and it’s finally close enough to finished to live in, and she’s having a fit because I moved out of their house.”

“You think seeing us would help?”

Michael laughed. “Well, it sure couldn’t hurt!”

“I’ll talk to Eileen and we’ll make it a priority to get down there. So, enough catching up. I’m sure there’s something on your mind. Whatever you need, I’ll try to help.”

“I’d really appreciate it. You know a long time ago, I was engaged.”

“Yes. I remember.”