Page 34 of Their Haunted Hearts (Detectives Kane and Alton #27)
Thirty-Three
Thursday
“Da-dee. Da-dee. Da-dee.” Jackson pounded his tiny fists on the side of the bed and then pulled at the blankets.
“Mommy said to let him sleep.” Tauri’s voice crept into Kane’s muddled dreams.
As Jackson let out a scream of protest, Kane opened one eye and looked at him. “Where’s Mommy?”
When Jackson giggled and pointed over one shoulder, Kane leaned over the edge of the bed and scooped up his son in his good arm.
The giggling, squealing toddler gave Kane a sloppy kiss on the cheek and snuggled down beside him.
Tauri sat carefully on the edge of the bed.
He smiled at him and noted how careful Tauri was to avoid hurting him.
“Morning. What are my two handsome sons doing up this early?”
“It’s not early. Nanny Raya came by to cook breakfast for us.” Tauri frowned at him. “Mommy is tending the horses and told me to stay here and look after my brother. She said Jackson was not to wake you.”
Kane sat up, slowly assessing the damage from yesterday’s fall.
He didn’t like wearing the sling but had to admit that it did help with the pain, and Wolfe’s warning of possible permanent damage if he didn’t allow it to heal made him acquiesce to his demands.
He needed to be ready for any circumstance and strong enough to protect his family and do his job.
His high tolerance to pain and discomfort was a blessing when he had multiple injuries and he’d had them many times before.
“It’s okay.” He kissed the mop of black hair on Jackson’s head.
Oh, how he loved his boys, and moments like this were so special.
“I’m glad you woke me and I’m happy to see you.
” He ruffled Tauri’s gold-streaked hair, making him giggle.
“I don’t get much time to see you before you go to school. What did you have for breakfast?”
“Pancakes, strips of bacon, and maple syrup, and Jackson had scrambled eggs. He likes eggs.”
At the thought of food, Kane’s stomach growled. “Did Raya make any extras for me?”
“Yes, and she told me to tell her when you woke up so she could bring you in breakfast.” Tauri nodded slowly. “She said I must ask you first.”
Raya, their nanny and a trained FBI agent, took her job very seriously.
She had her own apartment, where she cared for the boys in their absence.
She took Tauri to school and spent the day with Jackson.
She had become like a grandma to the children, but she kept the boundaries and gave Kane and Jenna their privacy and space.
She preferred to eat her meals in her apartment.
Kane figured she liked time to turn off and rest after caring for the boys.
Having her own apartment also meant she had her own privacy as well.
She rarely made breakfast but was always there in an emergency.
“Yes, I’d like breakfast, but I’ll need to wash up first. I’ll go to the kitchen when I’m done. ”
He deposited the giggling Jackson onto the floor, and Duke crawled out from under the bed and yawned. Kane smiled at him. The dog never left his side anytime something was wrong. “Duke, look after the boys. I’ll be right back.”
When he emerged from the bathroom, dressed ready for work, Jenna stared at him. He plucked a strand of hay from her hair and kissed her. “Morning. What’s that look for? Did I forget to comb my hair?”
“You’re not thinking of working today, are you?” Jenna eased past him into the bathroom. “You need to be at home resting.”
Kane smiled at her. “Much as I’d love to stay home and care for Jackson, I’ll get more rest at work.
He’s been jumping all over me since I opened my eyes.
” He sighed. “He’s used to me lifting him up and swinging him around.
He doesn’t understand that I’m hurting.” He gave her a long look.
“I can still be useful at work and I can still draw my weapon. My right hand is just fine. The stitches in my leg are a little tight but I can drive and walk.” He rubbed his stomach.
“I’ll grab some breakfast. Have you eaten? ”
“Yeah, I ate with the kids.” She sat down and pulled off her boots. “Raya makes great pancakes but yours are better.”
Kane chuckled and headed out of their room and along the hallway, hearing the boys chatting to Raya. He went to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. “Morning, Raya. Thanks for making breakfast.”
“I’m happy to do it until you’re better.” Raya poured pancake batter onto the griddle.
The air filled with the buttery aroma of pancakes and the bacon crisping in a pan. Kane sat at the table. “That would be very helpful. The boys need a good breakfast and Wolfe insists I rest my shoulder.”
“Indeed, you should.” Raya took two strips of bacon cooling on a plate and handed one each to the boys. “Sit and talk to your daddy.” She lifted Jackson to his booster seat at the table. “Don’t feed Duke. He’s had his breakfast and then some.”
“Mommy makes cookies and black toast.” Tauri wrinkled his nose.
“The toaster caught fire the last time, so I helped her and the next time it turned out just fine.” He looked at Kane.
“She turns down the toaster dial so it doesn’t burn but then the bread is still white and she puts it down again and forgets about it.
” He shook his head. “I told her not to mess with the dial.”
Grinning Kane leaned toward him. “Do you want to know a secret?”
“I do.” Tauri leaned closer.
Kane lowered his voice. “That’s why I cook. Mommy has too many things on her mind to worry about toast.”
After waving goodbye to Raya and the boys, Kane locked the house and headed for the Beast. It was parked right outside where Jenna had left it the previous afternoon.
He shook his head. Wolfe had slipped him a sedative and by the time he’d gotten home, he could hardly make it up the steps and into bed.
He’d slept like a log. The bitterly cold wind brushed away any cobwebs as he climbed into the truck.
The drive through town took longer than usual with many people slowing along Main to peer at the ever-growing Halloween decorations.
The sign for the Halloween Ball now had a red sticker across it saying sold out .
He glanced at Jenna. “I’m glad you purchased the tickets early. ”
“I needed to get a stack. Everyone is going. I hope Julie makes it; she’s due home any day now.
She left her SUV at the airport, so unless she has a problem getting a flight, she should be home soon.
” Jenna gathered her things as they pulled up outside the office.
“I’ll head upstairs. Can you ask the guys about any updates?
Rio was going to interview a suspect. I’ll see if Wolfe has uploaded any more info and meet you in the conference room. ”
Feeling a little useless with his arm in a sling, Kane smiled at her. “Not a problem.”
People buzzed around behind the counter answering the hotline calls.
Rio had updated the media release the previous night and the following few days were usually busy.
The pastor was again manning the phones along with a couple of the usual women.
Kane stopped at the counter and spoke to Rowley. “Any updates?”
“Rio has. He’s in the conference room with Raven updating the whiteboard.” Rowley leaned closer and dropped his voice. “The pastor is becoming a fixture. I figure he means well, but he asks so many questions it drives me insane.”
Kane frowned. “About the cases?”
“Yeah, he has been here working the phones but wants to chat whenever someone calls in. Then there’s the other new guy.” Rowley indicated to a tall young man with broad shoulders answering calls at one of the desks. “That’s Doug Lowe. He wants to help too. He never stops asking questions.”
Kane eyed the man in his peripheral. “Well, we do need help with the hotlines.”
“That would be fine but he wants to be more involved and said if Jenna deputizes him, he’ll go around to the bars and truck stops asking about the suspect you’re looking for as an undercover agent.
” Rowley rolled his eyes. “I said I’d pass on his suggestion and I don’t discuss the cases with him either. ”
Glancing at Doug Lowe currently making notes after a call, Kane slipped behind the desk and went to speak to him.
“We really appreciate your help but going undercover for us isn’t possible.
We couldn’t risk your life with a potential serial killer in town.
Thank you for the offer.” He didn’t wait for a reply and had turned to go when Lowe raised his voice.
“Deputy Kane.” Lowe came up behind him. “I’ve been considering becoming a deputy. I don’t mind working nights if necessary. I’m a good shot and know hand-to-hand combat. How do I sign up?”
Not wanting to reject the offer of help, Kane turned slowly back to face him. “We’re not looking for anyone just now but there’s an application online. Fill it in and we’ll be in touch when a position becomes available.”
“Perhaps if Doug is free at night, he could come with me on my rounds?” Pastor Dimock smiled benevolently. “There’s always God’s work to be done?”
Although Kane wondered how a young woman would feel about two strangers approaching them at night in Serial Killer Central, he smiled.
“I’m sure helping the less fortunate is what you do best.” He looked at Doug Lowe.
“If doing charity work is something you’d like to do, I’m sure Father Derry will be able to discuss this aspect with you.
Thanks again and now I must get back to work.
I’m needed upstairs.” He turned and walked from behind the counter and headed up the steps.
He explained the conversation to Rowley and Jenna.
“They seem to want to get involved.” He dropped into his office chair.
“I understand wanting to help man the hotline, but they seem overkeen.” He frowned.
“The problem is they both fit the general description of our suspect.” He ran a hand down his face. “Am I seeing too much into this?”
“We can’t be too careful. We know that some psychopaths like to insert themselves into investigations. I’ll make a note to ask Kalo to do background checks on them.” Jenna smiled. “Does that make you feel better?”
Kane blew out a sigh. “Yeah, thanks.”