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  She hated going through it all again, but in a way it was cathartic. “Spelling tried to pull rank. Rob was a rookie and Spelling told him to leave, to respect the blue line and forget anything he thought he’d seen. But Rob was having none of it. He started to ask questions and then they were yelling at each other. Other cops came, then Rob went wild. He started punching Spelling, called him names I’d never heard before. The other cops pulled him back. I remember Rob shaking them off, getting himself under control. Then he came to me. He was so gentle. He kept talking to me, told me I’d be all right. He picked me up and put me in his car. Then he took me to the hospital.”

  Emma rubbed where her temple had begun to throb. “Rob Hernandez is the one who called to let me know about the parole hearing. He met me there.”

  “He sounds like a good man, a good cop.”

  “Yeah, he is. In some ways you remind me of him. You both have this innate honor, this integrity that all the ugliness in this world can’t touch.”

  He held her gaze for a moment before looking down at where his fingers intertwined with hers. “Did you get counseling?”

  Emma nodded. “For a while. I was in foster care until my mom was released and the foster lady took me to see a therapist.” She sighed. “I was so angry I went a little nuts for a while. Got into trouble at school, ended up getting arrested a couple of times. Mostly for breaking things. But Rob would come and see me and he finally straightened me out. He got a lawyer to seal my record. I got my act together and graduated high school, but what helped me the most was visiting my grandpa after graduation. I felt like I could be who I am here.”

  “You didn’t tell Walt what happened?”

  “No. It would have killed him. I wanted to be myself here, not have people constantly looking at me, knowing all the stuff that happened. Waiting for me to go to pieces.”

  “I’m not waiting for you to go to pieces, Emmaline. You’re the most amazing woman I know.” He paused, eyes calm. “It’s no wonder I’m in love with you.”

  Emma tore her hand from his grip and surged to her feet, backing away from the table, heart thudding heavily. “Are you crazy? Didn’t you hear a word I said?”

  “I heard every word. Maybe I shouldn’t have laid this on you right now. But you need to know what you’ve told me doesn’t change how I feel about you. If anything, it only strengthens it. You’ve only confirmed for me that you are the strongest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”

  “No, no, no. You don’t understand. I told you this so you could see why we can’t be together, why we’re totally wrong for each other.”

  His expression remained unwavering. “Emmaline, I’m in love with you, have been since the first moment I saw you.” He rose from the table and stood watching her, hands on hips. “Do you really think what you told me would make me love you any less?”

  Emma shook her head in denial. “You can’t love me. I don’t love you. You have to leave.”

  “You do love me, you just need time to accept it. You wouldn’t be so upset if you didn’t love me.”

  “I get upset when I stub my toe. That doesn’t mean I love stubbing my toe.” Emma crowded back against the sink when he took a step toward her. “Go home, Brad.”

  He kept advancing until he stood in front of her. His eyes held a challenge when he reached up to touch her face.

  “Brad, no.”

  He looked deep into her eyes, then dropped his hands. “Okay. I’m sleeping in Badger cabin again tonight. Get some rest, Emmaline.”

  ***

  Brad’s truck was gone when Emma awoke the next morning. Figuring it was for the best, she trudged over to Black Bear. It was time for atonement. Adrian sat on the porch steps, a magnifying glass in one hand and a pile of rocks beside him.

  “Hi, Adrian. Are you enjoying your Saturday morning without school?”

  “Yeah. No school means I can do other stuff. Look, Emma, I can see facets in these rocks.” He held up a piece of quartz. She examined it through the glass where it reflected the morning sun. The screen door creaked and Dory stepped out. Her friend gazed at her, brows raised.

  “How’s it going?”

  Emma straightened, amazed Dory was still speaking to her. “You’re not mad at me?”

  With Adrian looking on curiously, Dory motioned Emma inside. In her sunny kitchen, Dory crossed to the sink where she’d been washing dishes. The room smelled of green-apple dish soap. Dory handed Emma a towel, then held a sudsy bowl under running water.

  “I’m not mad. I was a bit, at first. Then I remembered how it was before I left Rodrigo. Sometimes you make decisions based on emotions, on fear. I won’t judge you for that.” She handed Emma the dripping bowl. “You know you can talk to me when you’re ready.”

  Unexpected tears welled at the uncomplicated support. She’d gotten it from Brad and now from Dory. Maybe that was what friends did. She leaned against the counter, sucked in a breath, and blew it out to gain some control. “Wow. I got through the whole thing with Brad yesterday without blubbering and now I’m getting all leaky.”

  “You told Brad?”

  “Yeah, he was a rock. Steady. Nonjudgmental.” She sniffed. “But I don’t think he gets the conclusion like I do.”

  Dory rinsed the utensils then dumped the dishwater. “Brad’s like that. When things get tough, he stays cool. What doesn’t he get?”

  “That we can’t be together.” Even now the idea struck her with gloom, her future a lonely, bleak landscape.

  Dory eyed her doubtfully. “Why is that?”

  Emma shook her head. “I have my reasons. I can’t go over it again. It’s too depressing.”

  Dory seemed to consider that, but then shook her head. Hanging her dishcloth over the rim of the sink, she turned to face Emma. “What you need are your girlfriends, a girls’ night out. We’ll have a fun time, relax, then you’ll tell Maddy and me all about it and we will be the wise ones who know what’s best for you. We’ll tell you what to do.”

  That forced a laugh from Emma. “Girls’ night out? I’ve never done that.”

  “You’ve never had a girls’ night out? Really? Hmm.” Dory tapped a finger to her chin. “Give me a little time and I’ll figure it out.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Emma tugged down the borrowed miniskirt to cover more of her butt. “I can’t wear this in public. I just can’t. I’ll be arrested for indecency.”

  “You can and you will, because you look fantastic.” Maddy gave Emma a thorough scrutiny. “If I had legs like yours, I’d wear it every day. And if you get arrested, I’m sure Brad will spring you. That is, after he pulls his tongue up off the floor.” She smiled. “Honey, you’re going to make him drool.”

  Emma turned to glare at Maddy. “We’re having girls’ night out. I’m not dressing for Brad. We’re not even going to see him.”

  “You never know who you’ll bump into,” Dory said, sailing into the room with strappy heels dangling from her fingers. “It’s a good thing you two wear the same size. These shoes of Maddy’s should fit you.”

  They were in Maddy’s small cabin on the outside of town. Having declared Emma’s wardrobe hopeless, Dory had arranged for Adrian to sleep over at his grandparents’ and called to warn Maddy they were on their way.

  “We could have girls’ night out right here,” Emma suggested hopefully. “We could dress in our PJs, order pizza, and watch a chick flick.” Anything that didn’t require her to wear this little swatch of cloth, which was, once again, inching its way north.

  “That could be fun but that’s movie night,” Maddy responded. “This is girls’ night, which requires a short skirt, a good bra, and heels.”

  “Crap.”

  ***

  “We’re going here? Isn’t this place dangerous?” When her friends continued across the gravel parking lot to the Hangman’s Brew Pub, Emma tried not to wobble on the heels. “Remember last week? Bullets flying?”

  “Brad wouldn’t tolerate a dangerous
bar in Hangman’s Loss. And only one bullet flew. That dustup with Britt and Ralphie was stupid, but Brad dealt with it. Besides,” Maddy said, “since Ralphie violated the terms of his bail with that fight at the picnic, he’s in lockup. It’s not like there’s a shooter loose in the area.” She grabbed Emma’s arm when she teetered precariously.

  Stars twinkled in the sky and Emma shivered. Too much bare skin in the evening chill. Her friends had insisted she wear a snug, sparkly top in hot pink to complement the black miniskirt. The loose neck dipped low in the front and left her arms bare. Apparently a jacket would mess up the look so she’d been told to leave hers in Maddy’s car.

  A neon sign in the window spelled out Hangman’s Best Lager, and judging by the number of cars and trucks in the parking lot, this was a popular hangout. Maddy tugged down her own skirt and sent an encouraging smile over her shoulder before pulling open the heavy wooden door. They were greeted with a blast of heavy bass and the sound of cheering. Emma followed with some trepidation as Maddy and Dory walked in ahead of her. A band played a country rock number at full volume in front of a small dance floor where couples stepped to the beat. At the opposite end of the room a huge flat-screen TV showed a baseball game in progress with an enthusiastic crowd seated in front of it. A long bar lined with stools separated the two sections.

  “Let’s get that one over there.” Maddy waved to an empty table close to the bar about mid-distance between the band and the TV. Emma nodded. It was one of the few available and hopefully they’d be able to talk without having to use sign language.

  When the waitress arrived, Maddy ordered potato skins and mozzarella sticks. Emma was surprised to note her friends, like her, ordering soft drinks. At her question, Dory shrugged. She had left her long black hair loose and pushed it behind her shoulder. “I have a little boy. I don’t want to be one of those moms who comes home tipsy. So I don’t drink.”

  Maddy nodded. “I will occasionally, but it’s early. I’ll order a margarita later if I feel like it.”

  They chatted, listening to the music and people watching until the waitress delivered their order. Emma noticed several men around the room looked their way more than once.

  Well, we look damn good.

  Dory leaned forward in her seat, dark eyes intent. “Okay. Before we get Emma to tell all, I have an announcement to make.” She picked up her glass of ginger ale. “This week I officially filed for divorce and my soon-to-be-ex has been served the papers. I’m one step closer to being a single mom.”

  Maddy lifted her glass. “Hard, but absolutely the right thing to do. To no more loser husbands.” Emma raised hers, and all three clinked glasses.

  “Yep. Hopefully in six months I’ll be single again, and I’m so looking forward to it.” Dory distributed the appetizers onto little plates, setting the bowl of chipotle ranch dip in the middle of the table before turning to Emma. “Okay, that’s my news. Now you.” She wagged her finger. “It’s time to spill it. You need to tell us what’s going on.”

  Having decided she would take the chance and confide in her friends, Emma began talking. This time the story came out more easily. Instead of reliving the experience as she had with Brad, nibbling on a potato skin she found she was able to tell her story without her stomach knotting with anxiety. When she finished she heaved a deep sigh. She felt better; the past few days had been more therapeutic than seeing a shrink.

  “So that’s where you went?” Maddy asked. “You drove to the prison in Vacaville for this bastard’s parole hearing?”

  “Yeah. Rob met me there. He’s always had my back, from the beginning. It turns out Rob already had suspicions about Spelling and had been keeping an eye on him. They ended up charging him with rape and assault for two other girls in addition to the charges related to me. He would find girls, usually teen prostitutes, and would beat and rape them.”

  “How badly were you hurt?” The question came from Dory and made Emma wonder how many times Rodrigo had hurt her.

  She shrugged. “I was beat up pretty badly but Rob stopped him from raping me. Spelling broke my collarbone. I had a concussion. But the physical wounds healed. Mentally, I was messed up. I still am.”

  Maddy let out a heartfelt sigh. “Wow. No wonder you’ve been skittish around Brad.” She let out a laugh. “How ironic. My cop brother falls for someone who has reason to fear cops.”

  Dory frowned. “But with Rob Hernandez, you also had an example of a really good cop.”

  “I know,” Emma replied. “It’s not rational.” She lowered her gaze to where she’d been fiddling with a napkin. “I almost freaked that first night when Brad thought I was a trespasser. All I could think was he was the police and he would hurt me.”

  “But you didn’t freak,” Dory pointed out.

  Emma looked up. “No, I kept a lid on it. Thank God. Then I kept running into him in town and he made me nervous. But Brad, being Brad, helped me get past it. At least now I don’t want to run raving like a lunatic every time I see a black-and-white.”

  “That’s really good since I think Brad’s crazy about you. More than I’ve ever seen him with any woman.” Maddy’s blue eyes held a well of compassion.

  “But don’t you see I can’t be with him?”

  “Why not? You two are so hot together I’m surprised there aren’t little sparks going off over your heads whenever you get within five feet of each other,” Dory argued.

  “Sparks?” Emma shook her head. “God, when I’m with him I feel like exploding, he winds me up so much. But it’s not only about me. I have to do what’s right for Brad.”

  “Wait a minute,” Maddy demanded. “Let me get this straight. You have feelings for my brother. Yes?”

  “Definitely yes,” Emma responded.

  “And he’s got feelings for you?”

  Emma took a gulp of Diet Pepsi and let out a deep breath. “He said he loved me.”

  “Oh, that’s so sweet.” Dory sighed.

  Maddy frowned. “So why can’t you be together? You’re crazy if you reject him.”

  “I’m not rejecting him. Don’t you see, I’m protecting him.”

  “No, I don’t get it, and believe me, neither would Brad. And he won’t thank you for it.” Maddy looked at Dory and got a nod in agreement.

  “Look,” Emma explained. “I grew up in motels, some of which rented rooms by the hour. My mother was a drug addict. There were times when we were homeless. I was arrested for vandalism twice when I was fourteen. It’s obvious.”

  Dory frowned. “Maybe I’m dense but I don’t see what’s so obvious. That’s what you came from, Emma, not what you are.”

  Maddy studied her so closely Emma felt like a bug under Adrian’s magnifying glass. “So if I have this straight, if you’d come from the Loss, or some middle-class suburb, you’d be suitable for my brother.”

  “Maybe.”

  “You have to know how stupid that is. There are drug addicts in suburbia. And there are some really weird people here in Hangman’s Loss.” She gave Emma a hard look. “You sell yourself short if you believe you’re somehow less because of your childhood. And you’re selling Brad short by having so little faith in him. Besides, he should have some say in the decision.”

  “I don’t want to mess up his life. He should find a pretty girl-next-door type who would adore him.”

  “Sounds boring to me,” Maddy muttered as she munched on a deep-fried mozzarella stick.

  “Uh-oh, here comes trouble.”

  Emma followed Dory’s gaze to see Brad enter the pub, Logan with him. Her heart kicked into overdrive. “I need a minute before I face him. I’m going to the bathroom.” She stood, gained her balance on the too-tall heels, and moved quickly toward the back of the room.

  ***

  Brad scanned the noisy bar, then did a double take. Holy shit. He’d known she had long legs, but up to her ears? His eyes narrowed as Emma waded through the crowd at the back of the bar. She gave a little tug on her skirt, but it hiked right ba
ck up, showcasing her tight little butt. Christ, the woman drove him to distraction. That other eyes, male eyes, followed her retreat only pissed him off.

  “Hey, Gallagher. Quit drooling and tune in.” Logan accompanied the request with an elbow jab to the ribs.

  “I’m tuned.” But Brad didn’t turn toward his friend until Emma had disappeared from view.

  “I don’t think your girlfriend wants to talk to you. And your sister sure as hell doesn’t want to see me.” He nodded toward the bar. “Let’s get a couple of beers and watch the game.”

  They found a pair of vacant stools at the bar. Brad made sure that while they had a good view of the TV he could still keep an eye on the women at the table. He sipped his beer and watched the action on the screen. “If the Giants keep bumbling fly balls like that, they might as well hand the Dodgers the division.”

  Logan grunted his agreement. A loud laugh brought Brad’s attention to a trio of men at the end of the bar. Councilman Van Horn and a couple of the developers were tossing back shots. Brad had his suspicions about Van Horn. He brought his attention back to the game where the next batter fanned out.

  Logan nodded toward the back. “She sure looks good on those stilts.”

  Brad shifted to keep Emma in sight. “Yep.” She made her way back to the table and sat. She scanned the room until her gaze locked on his, then darted away. At the bar, two guys in college sweatshirts made an obvious show of watching her in that little excuse for a skirt. One of them pounded on his chest as if restarting his heart. It should have reassured Brad that she appeared oblivious to their interest. Should have, but didn’t.

  The women had their heads together and it seemed to him that even his sister was resolutely not looking at them. He said to Logan, “Did you tell Madison why you’re back in town?”

  “You know I can’t do that. You’re the only one I’m cleared to tell what I’m really doing here.”

  Brad eyed Logan seriously. “You really did a number on her when you left. Don’t do it again.”

  Logan’s expression tightened. “I’m staying away from her, aren’t I? I know when this job is done I’ll be out of here.”