Chapter Eleven

Lio

I was up to my armpits in annual reviews on Wednesday afternoon. They weren't due for another six weeks, but I loathed procrastination more than I disliked messiness, which was ironic since I was using the reviews as an excuse to not think about the ballistics report Gunderson had delivered to me—both by phone and email. But damn, I hated annual reviews. The struggle wasn't because I didn't care; it was because I cared too much and overthought every comment I made about an officer's performance.

When my cell phone rang, it felt like someone had thrown me a life preserver to save me from drowning in misery. When I saw the identity of the caller, my spirits lifted. "Well, this is a surprise," I said instead of a standard greeting. "Is everything okay?"

Alex snorted. "Can't a boy just call his dad between school and baseball practice to talk? Why so suspicious? It's like you're the chief of police or something."

I laughed at his snarky response. "You're at the age where you only call your old man if you need something," I teased. "When you were younger, you wanted to talk to me about the most random things." I tried not to think about how much I missed those moments.

Alex huffed a sigh. "I don't only call you when I want something, but you happen to be right this time."

"What's up?"

"Can I stay at your house tonight?" Alex asked. "Mom and Russ are going to a retirement dinner for some guy Russ works with, and they might be home late. I thought I would hang at Eric's house after practice, but he has an Eagle Scout meeting."

"Bud, you never have to ask permission to come over. It's your house as much as it is mine. You're my favorite human, not just a visitor."

"I thought you might have plans with Abe," Alex said.

"We're splitting our time between our houses, so Abe will be there too if that's okay with you."

"Abe should move in with us full-time," Alex said. His support meant the world to me, and my heart swelled like a balloon. "The two of you aren't getting any younger." His little dig was a sharp pin and pop went the balloon.

"Ouch," I said, rubbing a hand over my chest. "Low blow, son."

Alex laughed. "We can upgrade Abe from godfather to stepfather."

"I love how supportive you are of my relationship with Abe, but maybe let us decide when we're ready to get married."

"Fine," he said. "But seriously, why doesn't he just move in? Abe loves our house, even though it's a work in progress."

"I would like to point out that I'd be further along with the renovations if I had a few more hands."

"But you'd look weird with more than two."

"Hardy har har," I said dryly. "If this baseball thing doesn't pan out for you, maybe you can fall back on stand-up comedy." I could picture Alex rolling his eyes on the other end of our connection, which made me smile. He didn't like it when Alyssa and I mentioned having an alternative plan to becoming a major leaguer. Our boy had single-minded focus that rivaled even mine. "Abe and I have talked about him selling his house in Pembroke and moving in here someday, but I'm not sure Abe is ready yet. He feels a responsibility to live in the county he serves. How would that look to his constituents?"

Was that why Abe hadn't submitted his paperwork to file for reelection? We hadn't talked about it much, but I knew his campaign manager was blowing up his phone like the sales associates at the car dealership trying to repurchase my truck. I bet they wouldn't be so keen to make me a deal now that she'd been shot up. God, I missed my truck. My city-issued SUV was nice, but I would be glad to get my baby back from the body shop. Thoughts about my truck would lead to deliberations about the shooting, and I'd mulled it over relentlessly since the incident but was no closer to knowing what had happened. Gunderson was more than ready to chalk it up to misfortune, but I wasn't so sure.

"Coach Steve just pulled up to the school, Dad," Alex said. "We're doing indoor batting cages and working on defense drills. I should crawl through the door around five."

"I'll be home soon after you. I'll make a big pot of spaghetti."

"Carbo load," Alex said eagerly. "Let me or Abe handle the garlic bread, though."

"Smartass."

Alex's laughter rang through the connection before he disconnected. I smiled and shook my head as I called Abe.

He answered on the second ring with a "Hey, baby." His voice, deeper and huskier than usual, felt like a caress down the length of my spine.

"Hey, sexy," I replied.

"Is this another call for an afternoon quickie?"

I wasn't proud of myself for the urgent request I'd made the day before, but I didn't regret skipping lunch so Abe could bend me over the couch in my living room. He fucked me until pleasure overrode my stress. It hadn't been a permanent solution, but I'd faced the rest of my day with a clearer head and had stopped anticipating threats lurking around every corner.

"Not this time," I said regretfully before explaining why I'd called.

"Spaghetti sounds great. Do you have the frozen meatballs I like, or should I stop and pick some up?"

"Of course I have them." I'd been adding Abe's favorite foods to my shopping cart long before I realized I was in love with him. "Have you filed your reelection papers yet?"

Abe snorted. "Not you too."

"Is Ham pestering you?" I asked.

"He's as relentless as the auto warranty people. Has he recruited you?"

"Nah," I replied. "Alex suggested you move in with us now, and I said you might not be ready since you feel obligated to live in the county you serve. Am I the reason you might not run for reelection?"

"You're part of the reason," Abe admitted. "I prefer your house over mine, but I do feel obligated to live in Bryan County if I'm the sheriff. But that's not the only reason I haven't committed to run again."

I leaned back in my chair and said, "I'm ready to listen if and when you want to talk about it."

"I'm running out of time to make a decision, so maybe I should stop putting it off and just air it all out."

"Oh, baby," I moaned. "Take it off."

Abe snorted. "Who are you, and what have you done with my Lio?"

"I'm still your Lio, but I don't have to keep my lascivious thoughts to myself now." And that was so freeing. "Talk to me, Abe."

He sighed heavily. "Honestly, I'm bored."

That was the last thing I expected. As police chief, I had more than enough to fill my work hours and then some. Abe had a lot more responsibility than I did. He had to please the voters, whereas I only had to satisfy the mayor and commissioner. Scary as it sounded, they were more familiar with the ins and outs of my job and therefore more patient than someone whose only knowledge of law enforcement came from watching television or listening to podcasts.

" Bored ?" I asked, unsure I'd heard him right. "As in, you miss investigating and serving warrants with SWAT?" Abe had worked his way up to Bryan County's SWAT commander before deciding to run for sheriff, a move that had shocked everyone who knew him.

"I do miss the adrenaline rush, but not enough to do it again," Abe replied. He exhaled sharply, and I imagined the furrowed brow and grim press of lips accompanying the gesture.

"No judgment, babe. Tell me what you're thinking."

"You know what kind of disarray the sheriff's department was in before I took office, right?" Abe asked. "There was so much corruption and bullshit I had to fix. Now everything clicks along without a hitch on most days, leaving way too much time for settling pissing contests."

"Like annual reviews and shit."

"Yeah," Abe groused. "Christ, I have a stack of those to work through."

I tilted my head and tried to figure out what he was telling me without really saying it. Then it hit me. "You don't feel needed there anymore."

Abe sighed. "I think that's the crux of it. My undersheriff is better suited to run daily operations since we've cleaned house and implemented new policies. He's a better administrator than I am."

"Well, I know a county that could use a new badass sheriff in town," I said.

The Chatham County Sheriff's Department was in turmoil after Sheriff Wheeler resigned in disgrace. Neither the remaining deputies nor the constituents had faith in the man Wheeler had appointed to replace him until the next election.

"You want me to run for sheriff in Chatham County?" Abe asked.

"I want you to be happy. This decision isn't up to me, and I won't try to sway you. I'm not trying to manage your career. Just throwing out suggestions."

"I mean, it's not a bad idea. That department makes Bryan County's problems look teeny tiny." Abe blew out a breath. "We'd have the county's two highest law enforcement officers living under one roof. Don't you think it will create a stir?"

"Yeah, it will get people's attention, but I've never known you to back away from a good fight."

"I'm thinking more about your need for privacy, Lio."

I shrugged, then remembered he couldn't see me. "Meh," I replied. "I can handle it. Again, it was just a suggestion."

"One that's worth considering. Do you have any other good ideas in that sexy brain of yours?"

"Actually"—I drew out the word—"I do, but I thought we'd save it for after we retire from our perspective departments."

"You've got my full attention."

"We form a company that evaluates and analyzes various law enforcement agencies, then offer suggestions on how to improve them. I'm thinking of a two-prong approach. You'd handle the cleaning house and implementing new policies, and I'd focus on the administrative aspects and the follow-up. It's one thing to identify problems, but eradicating them and keeping them gone requires a different skillset."

"I love that idea, but I'm not sure it's a good fit for us right now. We'd have to travel a bunch, and Alex is in a critical stage where he needs us, whether he knows it or not."

Us. I hadn't thought I could love Abraham Beecham more than I already did, but I'd been so wrong. "Alex mentioned something interesting before I called you." I probably should've kept my mouth shut, but a small part of me still wanted to test Abe.

"What's that?"

"He wants to promote you from godfather to stepfather."

Abe swallowed audibly. "Our boy is a genius."

I suddenly found it impossible to breathe. "I fucking love you so much." The declaration sounded more like a wheeze. So not sexy.

Abe chuckled warmly. "I love you too. And that fixer-upper department in Chatham County is worth strong consideration. I think I'll discuss it with Ham instead of dodging him."

"Awww, my baby is all grown up."

"You want the belt again, Lio?"

My asshole clenched, and a flash of heat engulfed my entire body. Sweat beaded on my forehead and upper lip as desire swept through me and threatened to carry me away. "Yes. Yes, I do." I cleared my throat and added, "We need to change the subject because my pants are starting to get tight."

Abe's laughter reverberated through me. "Did you get the ballistics back from Gunderson?" His deputies had used a metal detector to recover a bullet they believed was used in the shooting. There'd been no shell casings collected, and the bullet was mangled to hell and back, so there wasn't a lot they could do with it.

"And boner deflated," I said dryly. "Yeah, the sheriff personally called me, then emailed the full report. Unfortunately, there were no prints on the bullet, which was a standard .223 caliber."

"The most popular ammo on the market."

"Yep," I agreed. "Gunderson is sticking to his hunting theory."

"Would a poacher pick up his spent cartridge off the ground?" Abe asked.

"They might if they realized they'd fucked up and expected the cops to show up at some point."

"True," Abe said. "Is that what your gut tells you?"

"No," I said firmly, "it isn't, but I have no evidence to prove it wasn't an accidental shooting."

"I don't like this, Lio. In fact, I fucking hate it."

"Me too, but all I can do is be diligent."

"I can't lose you." Abe's broken whisper shredded my heart.

"You won't." It was a promise I had no business making, but I was determined to keep it anyway. "I should probably get back to these reviews."

"Of course you started yours already," Abe groused.

"And you should call Ham and have as honest a conversation with him as you had with me."

"He's not as hot as you," Abe said.

"Do it anyway."

"Fine."

Before returning to my reports, I treated myself to a candy bar and a fresh cup of coffee. I didn't look up again until Greg poked his head in to announce he was leaving for the day. I checked the time and noted it was five thirty, so I shut everything down and went with him. As October crept closer to November, the days got shorter. In a few weeks, it would be fully dark by the time I left the precinct.

I usually loved the play of light when the sunset turned the low country to burnished gold, but those open fields allowed my enemy an opportunity to lie in wait and strike again. I felt exposed and vulnerable even when I reached the dense woods surrounding my property because the trees gave my attacker the perfect cover. Suddenly, my need for privacy felt like a horrible thing.

I forced myself to take even breaths as I navigated the final stretch of my road. I'd expected to feel relief when I turned onto my gravel driveway, but all I felt was more concern when I found the house completely dark. Alex should've been home. Then again, he was probably playing video games online with Eric in his bedroom, which was at the rear of the house.

"Calm down, Lio," I scolded, but it didn't work.

Something was off. I felt it in my bones as I walked to the front door. I slipped my key into the lock and let myself in. The foyer was dark, and I tripped over Alex's backpack as I reached for the light switch. The kid had been notorious for dropping his stuff as soon as he stepped in, but I thought he'd outgrown it. The throwback to his younger days made me smile until the overhead bulb switched on, casting the scene before me in a different light.

Alex hadn't casually dropped his backpack; it was completely upended, and his cell phone was crushed. His equipment bag was on the floor too, and one of his aluminum bats lay three feet ahead. There was a hole in the drywall as if someone had swung the bat and hit the wall. On the opposite side of the foyer, there was a dent in the sheeting. It looked like someone had been shoved hard against it.

"Fuck. Oh fuck." My mind raced, and my heart lodged in my throat as I took in the scene in the living room. An end table was pushed two feet away from its original spot, and the floor lamp lay broken on the floor. "No. No. No. No." Paralyzed by fear, the world around me went still and silent. I only heard myself chanting the single word repeatedly, though it sounded muffled and far away. My imagination took over, depicting a scene where Alex got ambushed as he walked through the door. He'd fought back, swinging a bat at his attacker before getting shoved into the opposite wall. The tussle moved into the living room, and then—

I snapped out of my daze. "Alex!" I yelled as I ran through the house, even though I knew in my suddenly sluggish heart that he wasn't there. My feet were as heavy as lead as I ran from room to room, calling out his name and begging for him to answer me. Nothing. I noticed an open window in my workout room. I'd opened it to air the house out when I burned Alex's birthday cake and must've forgotten to shut it. Someone had probably entered through the window and taken my boy.

I needed a minute to compose myself but didn't have it to spare. I'd worked too many missing kids cases to know every second counted. I took a single calming breath as I dialed 911. The dispatcher was calm and professional as I identified myself and walked her through the scene I'd found and requested immediate help.

"I've dispatched Chatham County deputies to your home. They should be there in under two minutes. Stay on the line until they arrive." Another downside to my privacy was relying on a different department in an emergency. I would've preferred SPD to run point, but I wouldn't get a say.

"I need to call my ex-wife," I said.

"Hang on with me until help arrives, okay?"

I nodded, then forced myself to speak. "Yes."

"Is there anywhere on the property you haven't searched?" the dispatcher asked.

"I have an old barn on the property, but it's dilapidated and falling down. Alex wouldn't…he wouldn't willingly go there in the dark."

"He might if he were trying to flee from an attack," she explained.

"You're right. Maybe Alex can't hear me shouting for him. I'll go—"

"Wait for help," she insisted. "I don't want the deputy to mistake you as a threat if you're lurking around in the dark. They'll search for you." I wanted to argue with her, but I heard emergency sirens in the distance. "First responders will be on the scene in less than a minute," she said.

I saw the lights flashing in the trees as the sirens grew louder. A moment later, the first cruiser pulled into the driveway. I thanked the dispatcher before disconnecting and heading outside to meet the deputy. The second car arrived before I finished describing the scene, and I started over again. They asked me to stay outside while they thoroughly checked the property, which gave me a moment to make a call that was every parent's worst nightmare.

Alyssa answered on the second ring. Her name was a choked sob on my lips, and my ex-wife immediately went on high alert. "What happened?"

"Someone took Alex," I managed to say.

"Where are you right now?" she asked.

"House. My house."

"Honey, what's wrong?" Russ asked in the background.

"Someone took Alex," she told him.

"Tell Lio we're on our way," Russ said.

Another set of headlights appeared at the end of the driveway. I couldn't see the vehicle but knew it was Abe from the sound of the engine speeding down the gravel lane. He'd barely come to a complete stop before he leaped from the truck and ran over to where I stood in front of the deputy's cruiser.

"Shit, Lio," he said, running up to me. "What happened?"

I collapsed against him and would've fallen to the ground without his strong embrace. "Alex is gone."

"Gone? What do you mean?"

"Someone took our boy, Abe."

He held me against his chest, and I released my fears in a torrent of tears and angry sobs. He kissed the top of my head. "I'll get him back. I promise."