Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

MADDEN

It's not very often that I'm in the squad room now that I'm working at the school, but today I have reports to file about the speakeasy we've found, and the cleanup that's taken place.

"What are you planning on doing with it?" Renegade, another member of the LSERT, asks as I sit at my desk pointer finger typing my report. Everyone has always made fun of me for it, but I'm used to typing on my phone, and my laptop isn't nearly as easy for me.

"What do you mean, what am I going to do with it? It's not my decision to make. I really want to keep it open. You know, let it be a spot for school kids to go look at. That way, they can see what the past looks like."

"Tank and I went down there the other day, it's wild. Holden and Leigh have gotten a huge kick out of their family members being involved in it. Of course, they're upset about the fact that they died while trying to get away from her dad, but he looked into it a little bit more. That place was the reason the Moonshine Task Force started. Apparently, it pissed off the Thompson's so much that they petitioned the city council. It was obviously some time before it started, but their deaths and that place were the reason it did."

I look up at him. He's acting like I don't know any of this stuff when I'm the person who's been spearheading the entire operation. "I know. We'll know for sure what's going to happen with it after the school board meeting on the third, and then I'll share it with everyone."

He's about to say something else to me, but we're interrupted by the sound of yelling coming toward the squad room.

"Why don't you just go watch that dude on the internet that you've been commenting on for the last six months, Ruby?" Caleb's voice carries through the room, and all movement stops.

"Oh, you would love that, wouldn't you?" Ruby shouts as she squares up against Caleb.

I've never seen two people that have sparks throwing off of them like these two do. It's a train wreck, but no one in the squad room can seem to look away. Their irritation with one another is a live thing between them, arcing like the flash of an electrical discharge.

"Maybe you should take this some other place." Mason says as he comes out of his office. "This isn't the place to be doing this."

Caleb turns on his dad. "Stay the fuck outta this."

Mason turns into Menace right before my eyes. It's the type of switch that flips and causes everyone else to look for cover. Before he can say anything, Ruby and Caleb start back with each other.

"Don't yell at your dad. He's done more for your kids than you have lately. Does that make you feel good?" She puts her hands on her hips, eyes blazing as she looks at him.

"Is it supposed to? Does it make you feel good to point that out? If you'd stop blaming me for everything that's gone wrong in our marriage, then you'd be able to open your damn eyes and see everything for what it really is." The words are clipped, devoid of emotion.

I've worked with Caleb long enough to know when he's extremely pissed, and he's there right now. I head over toward where he stands to pull them apart, so that this doesn't get any worse than what it already is, but Ruby continues.

"I see everything clearly, Caleb. You had a bad call, some bad shit happened, and you refused to figure out what you needed to get through it. I've begged you to get help, set you up in a way that all you had to do was show up for the appointment. You chose not to. You gave up on our marriage." Her voice shakes with emotion and anger. "Not me." She points at herself.

His jaw is tight, teeth working together. "I've been quietly screaming for help, into a void that you've ignored."

"The fuck I have, I've done my best..."

"To blame me for everything that's happened between us," he interrupts her. "I moved out thinking it would allow us time to miss each other, but all you've done is prove you didn't need me." His voice is hoarse as his eyes rake over her.

"I don't." She folds her arms over her chest. "But I want you to be there. I miss you. I want you to be with us. I don't know how to ask you any clearer than this. You haven't been around." She rolls her lips together. "So I've had to learn how to do things that you normally took care of. It's not that I want to do it, Caleb, I have to."

His face is immovable, a brick of granite, as he gazes at her. "There you go again. Blaming me for all of this."

"I'm not." She stamps her foot. "I'm trying to explain to you why I've done the things I have. There's a reason for all of it, but you seem to think that I've decided where we're concerned. I haven't, Caleb. I want you to be my husband, to be a father to our kids, and to be in bed with me every single night. You're the one who's decided not to. I'm sick of begging you." Tears pool in her eyes, and she sniffles as she tries to hold the emotion in.

"I'm a fuck up." He holds his arms out beside him, as if he's role-playing Christ on the cross. "Tell everybody about how I broke your heart, and what a piece of shit I am, Ruby. Go. For. It."