That had been one of the most difficult conversations of my life. Jack coming to what I considered my new hometown, a place I’d fallen in love with, had forced me to put the situations with Stephanie’s arrest and Moody on the back burner. That didn’t sit well. I had a job to do, but first I had to deal with my past.
“And?”
I glanced at the hand Jenny had put on my arm. She had no idea what her touch did to me, even one simply meant to let me know she was here for me. “And I told him everything. He’s not real happy with me right now, mostly because I’m airing my dirty laundry in public.”
“He said that?” Jenny asked.
“Yeah. He thinks it’s going to make him look bad for hiring me.”
Jenny’s father made a snorting noise, drawing my attention. “Jim John has his own share of dirty laundry, so don’t let him give you any shit.” He glanced at his wife. “Sorry, I couldn’t think of a better word.”
Did Porter know what hold Moody had over the mayor? I needed to find a moment alone with him, see if he’d tell me anything. “Since he wants to make sure that his new police chief hire doesn’t come back to bite him, he agreed to my request for an open town meeting. I’ll answer anyone’s concerns.”
“I don’t think I like that,” Jenny said.
Autumn nodded in agreement. “What you told us isn’t anyone’s business. Some of these yokels around here will see it as some kind of gladiator-versus-the-lion event and just for the fun of it, they’ll be rooting for the lion.”
“Now you’re scaring me,” I teased. I couldn’t help but smile at her analogy. Truthfully she’d pretty much hit the nail on the head. That was how I saw exposing my past to the people of Blue Ridge Valley, the very ones I’d taken a vow to keep safe. Unfortunately it had to be done.
“But clever not to act like you have something to hide,” Connor said.
I nodded, glad I’d gotten the twins’ earring colors down. “Not so sure it’s as clever as it’s unavoidable. Jenny said everyone at the bar heard Jack, so you know the talk has started. The smartest thing to do is meet it head-on and hope the dust settles. My boss at Chicago PD is flying in to back up my story.”
“What can we do?” Adam asked.
“Spread the word about the town meeting. It’s tomorrow night at eight. If anyone has time, you can help me put up a few posters announcing the meeting. Also, keep an eye out for my former partner.” I scrolled through my phone, pulling up the picture of my former friend that I’d downloaded this morning. As it was passed around, I described the car he was driving. “If you see him, please call me. It would be best if you didn’t try to engage him in any way. If he should say anything to you about me, tell him about tomorrow night’s meeting.”
Jenny scrunched her eyebrows together, puzzlement clear on her face. “You want him there?”
“Oh yeah.” I was counting on it.
Three hoursbefore the town meeting, I picked up my old boss at the Asheville airport. Other than the people I’d had lunch with, no one else, not even the mayor, knew Garrett was coming. Compared to either of Chicago’s two airports, finding a parking spot outside of baggage claim was a breeze. I leaned against my car, Daisy at my side, watching for the man who’d helped to mold the cop I was today.
Garrett walked out the door with three big dudes wearing Harley-Davidson jackets, all of them laughing. Knowing my old boss, he was telling them a dirty joke. Garrett spied me, waved to his new friends, then headed my way.
“Good to see you, Cupcake,” he said, dropping his tote bag and wrapping me in a bear hug.
The man always made me laugh, except when I’d displeased him. “I was hoping you’d forgotten my nickname by now.”
“Not a chance.” He let go of me and eyed my dog. “And who do we have here?”
“This is Daisy.”
“Hello, Miss Daisy.” He held out his hand, and she put her paw in it.
I figured by the time we got back to Blue Ridge Valley, the two would be fast friends. We loaded up and headed home. What would he think of my little town? He’d tried to talk me out of quitting and moving here, saying that I’d be bored out of my mind within a week. Truthfully I’d feared he’d be right, but I didn’t miss the senseless gang wars, watching kids without a future shooting each other without an ounce of regret, or seeing Jack’s face every day.
“You run down Jack yet?”
“Yep. He’s staying at a motel outside of town.” He had been spotted by one of my officers yesterday afternoon. I’d followed my former partner back to the motel. As tempting as it had been to confront him then and there, I’d reined myself in.
“Think he’ll hear about the meeting?”
“After he disappeared into his room, I stuck fliers announcing the meeting on all the cars, including his.”
“You clue in your department to what’s going on?”
“Not yet. I wanted to wait until you were here to talk to them. We’re headed to the station now.” And wasn’t I looking forward to that? “Daisy, you’re being rude.” She had her face stuck between the seats, wanting attention from her new friend.
