“Holy shit,” Wilson said at the same time.
“As I said, there were reasons I declined this case,” Shepherd said. “But I will leave it up to you, Saxton.”
Determination took up residence inside Saxton. “I assumed the men who killed my father, both fathers, were long dead by now. Yes, if there’s a chance we can get this guy, we need to try.”
“Can you handle it?” Shepherd asked.
“I’ll talk to Lassiter to be sure I can,” Saxton promised.
“Sir, if we’re going to do this, Donna has to be brought into it. And there is the matter of her children being present in Virginia when we go back to move,” Burke said. “They shouldn’t be there.”
***
While Burke and Wilson were at the house Burke was buying with the home inspector, Donna and her children were at Rae and Wilson’s place. Donna, Wilson, and Burke would leave for the airport once the home inspection was complete. Rogers would meet them there. Donna and Rae had been brought in on the mission that Shepherd had agreed to. Dorthea would not be told though.
“The boys are so disappointed they aren’t going back with us and can’t say goodbye to their friends in person,” Donna said. “Thank you for keeping them while we’re gone.”
“It’s better for them that they’re not out there. Trust me, you don’t want them anywhere near anything that has the potential to be dangerous,” she said in a whisper. They sat at the kitchentable, and the children played in the front of the living room, which was within their view.
“I know,” Donna said. “I just don’t want this to make the move hard on them.”
“I understand,” Rae said. “But kids are resilient. They’ll make new friends and bounce back quickly. You know, you could arrange for video chats with the parents of their friends so the kids can say their goodbyes. It’s the next best thing to being there in person.”
“Yes, I was thinking the same thing.”
“What will you tell your mom as to why the kids aren’t there?” Rae asked.
“That Jimmy and Mike volunteered to fly out and help pack and load the truck right away, and we thought it best the kids weren’t in the way. Besides, a twelve-hour long drive home would be hard on them.”
“And if the case drags out longer than a few days?” Rae asked.
Donna sighed and shook her head. “I have no idea what we’ll tell her. I guess that’ll be up to Laura Lee to decide. Rich said that if that’s the case, my mom and I will fly back early while the five of them finish it before driving back. If it drags on too long, it will be necessary that I’m back so I can register Elijah in school. So much for the guys having time off. I’m sorry your time with Jimmy isn’t going to be what you thought it was.”
Rae shrugged. “It’s okay. It’s important for you and your family to get resolution to this. And obviously, any help you need until Rich is home, I’m happy to help. I’m glad the house you two are buying is in the same school district as the rest of us. Sienna will see what she can do to have Elijah put in the same class with Lilly and Hahna, so he already has two friends in class with him.”
“How many kindergarten classes are in the school?” Donna asked.
“Four and all the teachers are great. He’ll do well with any of them, but I was thinking that if he already knew a couple of classmates, that would make the transition easier for him.”
“Do you think that the preschool beside the elementary school has space available in its four-year-old program? I don’t want Jayden to slip in what he’s learned in preschool this year. He currently goes to the Headstart Program five full days,” Donna said. “And I wanted to get Jeriah into something too.”
“I’m pretty sure they do,” Rae said. “If they don’t, our local park district has some great programs for kids to stay busy and socialize during the day, sports for kids as young as two, art classes, dance, even swimming. And you could have preschool time as part of your normal day at home. I could recommend great workbooks and lesson plans for you,” Rae said.
“Yes, that would work. I had wanted to get a part-time job now that I finished my classes and got my certification for phlebotomy, but if I have to wait on that for a few months, it’s not the end of the world.”
“I’m taking classes at a local college to become a preschool teacher,” Rae said. “I was a class assistant and really liked it. I’d love to help you with an at-home program if you have to go that route.”
“That would be great, thanks, Rae.”
Zulu
Rich held Donna’s hand during takeoff and landing, not because she needed it, but because he wanted to. He had this need to touch her, to protect her, to maintain a physical connection with her. Rogers sat in the window seat beside her, and Wilson sat across the aisle from Burke. They’d merely swapped Donna’s children’s names for the two men’s names. Donna had gone through the special TSA screening with the armed agents when they declared themselves upon arrival at O’Hare International Airport.
The flight was uneventful, though Donna would admit that she was nervous about them going after Leo Davis and the head of the drug ring. When she hugged and kissed her children when leaving them with Rae, the reality of what they were going back to Virginia to do hit her. The funny part of it was that despite the potential danger, she was determined to help clear her father’s name. She knew in her heart that it was the right thing to do.
A rental car had been arranged. They picked it up and then went to Donna’s apartment, with only one stop at a big-box hardware store to pick up packing supplies. They would all stay at the apartment. As it was early yet, they ordered pizzas for dinner and got busy packing.
The packing was the easy part. Deciding what to bring out in the U-Haul versus what the movers would bring later was harder for Donna. They all needed more clothes right away. She’d pack all their winter clothes. The kids needed their beds and a few more toys. Sheets and towels were needed. The food in the pantry should go too. They’d bring the food in the freezer and refrigerator in the vehicles.
