But I wasn’t superhuman.
My bedroom had been cleaned—I was pretty sure that was my mother’s doing. The clothes I’d left on my bed were gone as well as the shoes I’d discarded in front of my dresser. My bed was made with clean sheets and the unfolded laundry I had sitting on the chest at the foot of my bed was now folded and sitting atop the chest.
I smiled and slipped the picture frame out of the way. After entering my code, I pulled the safe open. My badge was the first to go in. When I pulled my gun from the holster, out of habit, I ejected the cartridge, cleared the chamber, and set them beside my shield.
“You look like you could use a beer.” Malik’s voice was soft.
I groaned and closed the safe it. Once I had the picture back in place, I turned to see he was handing me a beer. “Thanks brother.” I lifted the bottle in a silent toast then took a healthy swallow. We sat on the edge of my bed as laughter floated into the bedroom from the others downstairs. It was my turn to host a dinner for the family at my ranch. Since I was called out on a bust, mom decided to cook—at my place.
“Hard one?”
I nodded. “Child killer. Those are the hardest.”
Malik rubbed my back. “I don’t know how you do it,” he said. “That would have ripped my heart out and you’re still standing.”
I said nothing. Instead, I drank more from the bottle, set it on the bedside table and slumped to my back.
“Want me to clear everyone out?” Malik asked. “We can do this another night. You’re exhausted and I’m sure you could use some peace and quiet.”
“No.” I exhaled loudly. “After what I’ve seen today? I need this. My family brings me peace—is that weird?”
Malik smiled and rubbed my back. “No. There’s nothing weird or wrong about wanting your family around you right now. They say love heals, right?”
“I’ve heard that too.”
Malik chuckled. “So, what’s the verdict?”
“Let me get a shower to wash off some of the muck, then I’ll come down.”
“Let me see,” Malik said.
I didn’t have to ask what he meant. Instead, I lifted the hem of my shirt so he could see the spot. He pressed it firmly with two fingers and I groaned in pain.
“Well.” Malik traced the edges with a finger. “You didn’t break anything. It’s going to be this colour for a bit. Try not to exert yourself too much.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
“Have you given any thoughts to taking some time off?” Malik asked. “You’ve been going at this for a while now. Your body will splinter.”
“I know. And I have thought about it.”
Malik nodded, patted my shoulder and left me alone to my demons. Still on my back, I removed the Rolex my mother had given me when I graduated from the academy, the necklace Jesse presented me with for my last birthday and a ring Malik bought me on one of this trips to Greece because he thought it was my style. I set them all on the bed and peeled myself off to shower.
The water did help. It cooled my body and gave me a little kick to make it through family dinner.
Hopefully, I wouldn’t fall asleep in my plate.
When I made an appearance, everyone swarmed around to hug me, and my father handed me another beer.
“The table is set,” William Jonas said. “We can all sit.”
I nodded to my father and we headed to the dinner table, my mother, wrapping an arm around my hips.
My parents, William and Paula, positioned themselves at the heads of the table as usual. My brother Malik sat to one side of the table with an empty chair beside him. Jesse sat at my side and I smiled at the spread.
My mother hadn’t spared no expense.
The table was heavily laden with all our favorites—beef stew, Jamaican rice and peas, curried goat, a garden salad, and friend plantains.
