I shifted in my seat to see the reaction to that, pleased to see quite a few people nodding their heads in approval. Gloria raised her hand, and I wanted to grab it and pull it down. The wariness returned to Dylan’s eyes, but before he could call on her, my dad stood.
“Chief, it’s my understanding that our police officers haven’t received a raise in over a year. These men and women are dedicated to protecting and serving our community. I know you are bound by budget restrictions, but have you looked into a way to scrounge up a little money to give our officers a much deserved raise?”
“Yes, Mr. Nance, that issue has already been addressed.”
“We got a raise last week,” someone in the back yelled. Applause broke out, and I leaned around Gloria to see a line of cops standing against the wall, all of them clapping. My father had already known the answer to his question when he asked it. It had come up at our strategy meeting at his house.
Gloria raised her hand again, but Autumn beat her to the punch when she stood. “Our police department’s uniforms have to be the ugliest ones in the world. They look like baby poop.” Laughter broke out in the room. She grinned. “I know, right?” She glanced around, getting nods. “Anyway, can you do something about that?”
Another question that had been answered at our meeting. I had never been so proud of my family and friends.
“We found a little money to spend on new uniforms, Miss Archer,” Dylan said. “In about three weeks, you’ll see them for yourself.” That got another round of applause from the cops lining the wall.
“Well, I hope they’re cool ones.” Autumn looked over at the officers, raising a brow.
“They’re awesome,” one of the female cops said.
It struck me, listening to Dylan answer the questions that he never saidI did thisorI did that. His answers had a way of including his whole department, as if they were a team who’d accomplished these things together. He was such an amazing man.
Having learned her lesson, instead of raising her hand, Gloria stood. My heart thumped hard in my chest. If that was my reaction, I couldn’t imagine what Dylan was feeling.
34
~ Dylan ~
Although I appreciatedwhat my self-appointed support team was doing, the question hanging in the air wasn’t going to be avoidable for long. As soon as the woman fromThe Valley Newsstood, I knew the time had arrived to talk about Christine. I hated that I had to. Jack should be glad he wasn’t standing in front of me right now. I’d expected him to be here but hadn’t spotted him in the crowd. The place was packed, though, so he might be nearby.
Jenny had shown me photos of the two women from the paper so I could memorize their names. The one standing was Gloria Davenport, and I nodded at her. “Ms. Davenport, you have the floor.”
“Mr. Conrad, while your background is impressive, if the rumors—”
“This is bullshit!”
Gasps sounded from the crowd as everyone craned their heads to watch Moody storm down the aisle. I glanced at Jenny, needing her to ground me before I lost my cool. Our eyes locked, and as she’d done earlier, she put her fingers to her chest, right over her heart. Calmness settled over me, and I held her gaze a few more seconds before turning my attention to my enraged captain.
Still standing, Gloria Davenport snatched the phone her boss handed her and started snapping pictures. I was actually glad she was doing that. It reminded me that my actions, along with Moody’s, would be plastered on the front page tomorrow. Moody wasn’t going to look real pretty in his with that red face and fire blazing from his eyes, but mine would show nothing but professional behavior, even though there was a storm raging inside me.
Garrett slipped up beside me in a show of support. It would have been nice if the mayor joined me at the front, but that obviously wasn’t going to happen. It was disappointing that the man who’d hired me couldn’t be depended on when it counted.
No matter what happened, I had accomplished some good things in my short time here, along with making friends I could count on. And although I’d never tell her, I’d also fallen in love with a redheaded mountain girl, learning that there was life after Christine after all. It was a good thing to know.
“Captain Moody, did you have a question?” My composure seemed to enrage him even more.
“You’re goddamn right I have a question.”
It was tempting, but I decided not to remind him that there was no cursing when we’re in public. That would only infuriate him more. “And your question is?”
“Why don’t you tell everyone how you killed your wife?”
You could have heard a pin drop as everyone in the room waited for my answer. “Captain Moody, that is a question I can’t answer because Idid notkill my wife. Do you have anything else you want to ask me? If not, I believe Ms. Davenport fromThe Valley Newswas about to ask a question.”
His face turned so red that I thought he might have a heart attack. “You’re a fucking liar, Conrad.”
“That cost him 50,000 points,” I murmured to Garrett, one of the few who knew about my point system. When the room quieted again, I decided it was time to introduce Garrett, letting him explain about Christine.
“I have a witness,” Moody said before I had a chance to let Garrett take over. Moody looked to the right, and from the middle of the seats, Jack stood.
And…showtime. I stuck my hands into my pants’ pockets to hide my fists. No matter what came next, I was determined to keep my cool. Garrett bumped my shoulder, reminding me that he stood beside me. I hadn’t asked him to interrupt his schedule to come support me, but as soon as he knew what I was facing, he’d jumped on a plane.
