CHAPTER FOUR

“Brigid!” O’Shea squealed.

She’d opened her hotel room door at the brisk knock to see her old Opeloosa PD buddy. O’Shea had been expecting her, since Mizzay had said she’d contact her after imparting that Brig worked the seven-to-three shift. But Brigid must have boogied. She certainly had gotten here fast.

“O’Shea!” Brigid echoed, throwing herself forward for a huge embrace that ended up with them jumping-up-and-down in each other’s arms. “I couldn’t believe it when Mizzay called and said you were here. Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?”

O’Shea stepped back a few inches, unable to keep the beaming smile off her face. Continuing to hold Brigid’s hand, she dragged her friend into the room and closed the door behind her. “It was kind of a spur of the moment decision,” she allowed a little more cautiously than she normally would have with Brig. “I had time accrued, and decided to take it.”

Brigid sobered, still in tune with her after almost a year of living in Boston. “Is everything okay in the department?”

O’Shea waved off those concerns. “Yeah. Fine. Sort of. Ever since the FBI’s house-cleaning, all the officials who were corrupt have been either jailed or disgraced, and those who remain standing have been squeaky clean. That’s great and everything, but with all the changes, and with the officers on the OPD moving up into new positions of authority, there’s currently no room for me to advance.”

Brigid commiserated. “I get it. You took the sergeant’s exam and passed, but now there aren’t any openings.”

“Right in one,” O’Shea sighed.

She’d worked so hard, studying and putting in her hours, figuring that once she had all her ducks in a row, there’d be a spot open for her. But in the huge department shuffle, the final new sergeant had been appointed just weeks before her test results had come in, so she was in limbo. Unless she wanted to change jurisdictions…

In truth, the only place she’d really considered for relocation, was Boston. Sure, she liked her fellow OPD officers; Billy in particular had become a great friend after they decided their flirting felt creepy. But moving over a town or two didn’t exactly feel right.

Brigid would remember how hard it always was for O’Shea to make up her mind.

“You know the only one really keeping me in the Opeloosa area is Billy. He filled in the ‘best buddy’ spot after you left, but I miss the hell out of you Brigid.”

Brigid came in for another big hug, and O’Shea relished it. Other than receiving a rare squeeze from her brother Cedric who lived in Baton Rouge, it was almost an anomaly to be embraced.

Lord knows her dead-beat parents never inspired hugs.

When and if they called, it was always to ask for money or whine for some impossible favor they wanted regarding some legal trouble they’d incurred. Which was another reason O’Shea was thinking of relocating. She’d had it. Being within easy reach of her parental units, and always giving in to their needs was unhealthy. Cedric had managed to cut the pair loose, and constantly suggested she do the same. Was it possible she’d get up the guts to move? And if so, here?

Brigid took a seat at the small round table in front of a huge window that overlooked the skyline of Boston. There was a perfect view of the water in Boston Harbor sparkling in the late-day sun. O’Shea sat down across from her.

“Pretty swank,” Brigid teased, sending one arm sweeping toward the vista. “You’re paying for this on your patrolman’s salary?”

O’Shea grinned. “Nope. My brother is footing the bill. Once he found out I was coming, he said, and I quote, ‘no sister of mine is going to stay in a seedy motel. I’ll book you something nice.”

Yeah . Cedric was a peach. Which made her feel a little guilty. She could move closer to him, to Baton Rouge. But after serving two tours of duty in the Army, big bro was just starting his own family; twins on the way in less than two months, and she didn’t want to be any kind of burden to him while she floundered regarding her future.

“That was nice of him. He’s such a good brother,” Brigid mused.

Brigid had met Cedric, and they’d immediately hit it off. Before her brother had met his wife, Libby, O’Shea had thought Brigid and Cedric might get together, but that hadn’t been in the cards.

“He is,” O’Shea agreed. “So here I am for ten days, and I plan to take advantage of it. I’m going to cram everything I can into this time period.” There was no need, yet, to tell Brig she’d made inquiries to the Boston Police Commissioners office, seeing if she could get reciprocity here for her exam in Louisiana. The answer she’d eventually receive might sway her one way or another toward where she’d end up.

“As long as you don’t run afoul of the BPD again,” Brigid laughed. “Mizzay said she had to give some cop named Murphy a dressing down.”

O’Shea snorted, remembering the guy’s face as he’d talked to Mizzay. “Oh, she certainly did. I don’t know what exactly, she said, but it had him rolling over and showing his soft underbelly within seconds. I owe her, big time.”

“You owe her nothing. If I know Mizzay, she enjoyed the hell out of it. She did mention, however, that you talked about going out. That, my friend, is a no-brainer. Of course we’re going to hang with you while you’re here.”

“Even if it means doing touristy stuff?” O’Shea teased. She thought she’d see Old Ironsides, the Bunker Monument, Castle Island, and maybe even travel south of the city to gander at the famous Plymouth Rock, but she didn’t want to bore her friend.

“I’ll do anything you want,” Brigid told her. “But I, umm, might not be hitting any bars.”

O’Shea’s brows drew together. “You won’t? But you always—”

Light dawned and O’Shea leapt to her feet. “Oh, my God! You’re pregnant!”

Brigid beamed like a freaking beacon. “Yup. This week signaled the end of my first trimester. We told the SOS team, yesterday, and I was going to call you tonight.”

O’Shea went in for another hug. Bending to her friend, her eyes filling with tears. “Congratulations, Brig,” she whispered, her voice cracking. O’Shea knew the story of the baby Brigid and Sarge had lost when they were both young, and was filled with happiness for the couple. “So you’re due in…” She stood up and mopped her eyes.

“December. And I plan on making you the Godmother, if that’s okay.”

“Okay?” O’Shea chortled emotionally. “It will be my honor. And be forewarned. I plan on spoiling this little bean.” She laid a hand on Brigid’s abdomen. “Which means I’m going to buy out every baby store from here to Timbuktu.”

Brigid laughed. “Uh, huh. Sure. We’ll see what Sarge, my minimalist husband has to say about that.”

“He’ll be… Oh!” O’Shea snickered. “I just thought of something. I can’t wait to see how your fastidious husband does changing diapers.”

Sarge was a bit…OCD, and the thought of a “him-versus-poop” scenario was extremely amusing.

Brigid laughed alongside her. “He assures me he’ll be fine, but the guys are already giving him some razzing; leaving clothespins for his nose on his desk.”

O’Shea knew that poking wouldn’t end until the day the baby was delivered.

“Who’s going to be the Godfather?” she asked. O’Shea assumed it would be Del, Sarge’s boss and best friend.

“We thought about asking Del,” Brigid confirmed, “but he and Brina have their hands full with four-year-old Liam and their new baby, Lilah, so I didn’t want to burden him any more than he already is. Prez and Maygan are busy with their teenagers, and I…” Brigid grinned. “This isn’t for public consumption, but…I have an inkling they’re pregnant again, too. Which is pretty darned quick since Aisa is only six months old, but they’d said they wanted more kids ASAP. They’re just not saying anything yet.”

“That’s so fantastic,” O’Shea gushed. “Your babies will be besties. So that leaves the Godfather position for…?” O’Shea was curious who they picked.

“Wiley, one would think. But he and Solina aren’t exactly kid oriented. They’ve already let it be known there’ll be no offspring from them, which,” Brigid took a breath, “told me that the best man for the job will be Billboard. He’s the greatest uncle any of the current kids could wish for. He babysits at the drop of a hat, and brings the lot of them for excursions without being asked.”

Just the mention of Billboard’s name had O’Shea’s heart beating a little harder.

“How is Billboard, anyway?” she asked, aiming for nonchalance.

“Great. He was off in the burbs trying to track a missing kid today, but the guys just got word he found the boy and all is well.”

“I’d expect nothing less from him. He was never one to give up. Is he…seeing anybody?” O’Shea hoped she’d kept her tone casual enough not to raise suspicions.

“He is, actually,” Brigid grinned. “Do you remember meeting the Devons’ brothers?”

O’Shea tried not to let her disappointment show, and answered as steadily as she could. “Sure. Two of them, anyway. I’ve met Daire and Brent.”

“Well,” Brigid continued, “their younger brother Jamie met a woman named Daisy, who he subsequently married, but in the interim, Daisy’s old roommate Peggy hooked up with Billboard. They make a really cute couple.”

Well, shit.

What had O’Shea been thinking? That someone as fine as Billboard would be lacking for female attention?

Idiot . Of course he was dating someone.

O’Shea’s chest suddenly felt heavy. Maybe Boston wasn’t such a good place for her to think about settling after all, because… How would she handle seeing Billboard, her fantasy man, with his girlfriend every day?

“That’s great,” O’Shea managed, hoping she sounded normal. “And how’s Perk?” Yup. The subject needed to be changed.

“Footloose and fancy free,” Brigid told her, getting a speculative look on her face. “I don’t suppose—”

“Nope.” O’Shea shut that one right down. “There’s zero chemistry between us. He feels like…brother material.”

Brigid laughed and backed off. “Okay. I’ll behave myself. But there are a lot of cute guys in my precinct. You’ll have to visit me at work and see if any of them catch your eye.”

O’Shea rolled those orbs. “I’m not on the market,” she told her friend, definitively, because, yeah, it was going to take her a while to get over Billboard not being available. She’d had a fantasy that when she traveled north, she’d see BB again and he’d fall head over heels for her this time.

Some fantasy. It hadn’t even merited its own incidental music.

“Fine.” Brigid’s voice brought her back to reality. “But if you think you’re simply going to immerse yourself in tourist shite while you’re here, you can think again. SOS and company will make sure you experience all the right stuff.”

The “right stuff” would have been Billboard. But now, knowing he was unavailable, O’Shea supposed the quicker she ripped the band aid off and saw him, the faster she’d be able to move on.

“On that note,” Brigid told her giddily, not knowing where O’Shea’s mind had gone again, “I managed to put in for the next two days off. One of the detectives owed me for covering a weekend shift last month, so I hit him up, and it’s all set.” Brigid looked like she might bounce out of her seat. “So what do you want to see first?”

“First?”

O’Shea had to make something up on the run, because initially her premier goal had been to see Billboard. “Umm, how about a walk around Boston Common, then we’ll grab something to eat. I could use an early supper. Other than breakfast, I’ve only had peanuts on the plane.”

Brigid snapped her fingers. “Mizzay’s already told me she’s got a reservation in place for our favorite restaurant tonight. She was going to see how many of the team could join us for food. I know Sarge is free. He finished with his case today. And obviously Billboard has wrapped up his missing person incident. Mizzay may have to bring Rory, but you’re going to love her. She’s really blossomed being under Mizzay’s care.”

Rory had been abandoned by Mizzay’s druggie sister and brother-in-law; sold off to a radical group for money to pursue their selfish habits. Mizzay had gained custody as soon as SOS had rescued Rory, and it was the best thing that had ever happened to both of them.

“I don’t want to put anybody out,” O’Shea backtracked. “Especially if they already have plans.” The idea of seeing Billboard on her first night here after finding out he was unavailable, was something that would be hard to stomach.

“Are you kidding me? Mizzay has spoken, and when she ‘makes a suggestion’, everyone listens. Besides, they’re all excited to see you again. I’m sure Mizzay is just waiting to make sure you’re free for your first night here.”

“I guess I am,” O’Shea responded, pasting a fake smile on her face. “I can’t wait to see everybody.”

“It’s settled then. Let me call the office and tell them we’re a go. I’ll put my phone on speaker.” She hit a number, then stood her phone up on the table, waiting for her call to be answered.

“SOS, how can I help you.”

Shit, shit, shit. The deep voice on the other end of the line was not Mizzay.

“Billboard, it’s Brigid.”

“Hey, Brig. How are you feeling?”

Of course, the big lug would reveal his empathetic side right up front.

“Feeling great. The puking is pretty much non-existent today, and I ate lunch without getting green, so I count that as a win. But speaking of eating, did Mizzay fill you in that we’re all thinking of going out for dinner tonight?”

“Nope. I haven’t seen her. Del was on the phones when I got in, and mentioned something in passing, but you know him. There was nothing definitive said before he handed the phones over to me and disappeared.”

“Oh. Sounds like the boss,” Brigid chuckled. “Where’s Mizzay?”

“Apparently Rory needed some piece of equipment she’d forgotten for her afternoon soccer game at camp. She’ll be back soon. Do you want me to leave a message?”

“Not necessary. She’s the one doing the planning. So, are you going to join us for food?”

“Is there an occasion?” Billboard asked. “Other than your little tadpole on the way?”

“Duh.” Brigid slapped her forehead, and in any other situation, O’Shea would have laughed, but she was waiting to see how Billboard would react to what Brig was about to reveal.

“You don’t know yet, but O’Shea is in town. She flew in today as a surprise. You’re on speaker, BB. Say hello.”

There were a few seconds of silence before his voice came back, seemingly gruffer than before. “Hey, O’Shea. Welcome to Boston.”

“Hey yourself,” O’Shea managed. “Happy to be here.”

Brilliant repartee . She wanted to groan.

Brigid, luckily, didn’t sense anything amiss, and immediately prodded BB for an answer. “So what do you say? Are you in? Do you want to bring Peggy?”

Shit . The last thing O’Shea wanted was to meet BB’s new squeeze right off the bat.

She laid a hand on her forehead. Was it warm? Could she pretend it was warm? Maybe she could come down with something, really fast.

“Uh, no Brig. No Peggy tonight,” Billboard answered. “But I’ll join you. Where are we headed and what time?”

Brigid chuckled. “I haven’t a clue. Mizzay is laying all the groundwork, so when she gets back, ask her, then text me to let me in on the deets. In the meantime, O’Shea and I are going to have a walk on The Common.”

“Be careful,” he came back huskily.

Brigid laughed. “Uh, we’re talking two, lethal cops here, BB? And it’s four in the afternoon.”

“Yeah. But still. There’s been a gang of youths on scooters causing havoc lately; snatching purses and stuff. But I don’t have to tell you that. You’re probably part of the investigation.”

Brigid didn’t comment, so O’Shea figured BB had hit the nail on the head.

Billboard was still talking. “I don’t want to get a call that either of you have been one of these assholes’ new victims.”

Well, hell.

O’Shea already felt like a victim. Of a broken heart. But that was all on her.

Because despite what she’d dreamed of, over and over, Billboard had never made a single overture on which she’d based her foolish crush.