Fine. “Um... did Dawson ... um...”
Flynn drew herself up, her mouth a little tight, maybe even protective. “He was injured taking down the suspect.”
Keely gasped.
“He’s going to be fine. Hurt his knee.” She crossed her arms. “Last I knew, he was going to hitch a ride with Moose to Anchorage.”
Right.
Flynn sighed then, loosened her stance. “We do need you to stop by the station and give a statement, when you have the chance.”
Keely nodded.
Flynn glanced at Vic. “Axel wants me to bring home some ribs.”
“Swing by the Sun, I’ll get a box made up for you. On the house.”
Flynn looked back at Keely. “YourHeartstrings and High Notesalbum was my favorite.” She offered a tight smile, then walked away.
Huh.
“I liked that one too.” Vic.
“It was an early one. I wrote all my own music on that one.”
“Mm-hmm.” Vic leaned forward. “Seemed to me you lost a little heart after that.”
She met Vic’s gaze. “I had a baby that I gave up for adoption.”
Maybe Keely should have softened it, but she had to get it out, just in case she lost her courage.
Vic breathed out, then nodded. “I see.”
“It was a mistake. My dad got remarried, and I was ... he was ... anyway, it was a dark time, and I ended up dating—”
“Chase Sterling.” Vic shook her head, leaning back. “I never liked him.”
And she sounded so much like ... like amom, that it just reached in and balmed all the raw, broken edges. “Yeah.”
“Shallow, sort of a jerk.”
“Completely. And when he found out I didn’t have an abortion, he was mad.”
“I’ll bet.” Vic’s eyes narrowed. “Did your father know?”
“No. He never knew.”
Questions hung in Vic’s eyes.
“It’s a long story, but he is ... not in my life.”
“Oh, Keely, your mom would be heartbroken to know that.” She sighed. “Poor Jimmy.”
Keely frowned at her.
“To miss out on knowing the woman you’ve become.”
The words could take out her heart. “Really?”
