Page 26 of The Secrets She Keeps

Powell shook her head. “I don’t think so. It’s bad. Really bad. It’s…why Kimball went off the deep end that night in the first place, I think. Major Crimes is trying to keep it quiet, Haldyn said. To protect Heather and Hope. It’s not common knowledge.”

Powell hoped it never would be.

“I see. I definitely didn’t realize.”

“I don’t think anyone did,” Powell stood. “I’m going to go talk to Cara. Let her know I am here. She struggles sometimes with people and new situations. She has autism—she manages well, most times. But when she’s stressed, it can cause her to struggle a little. Keep an eye on Brandt, will you?”

“I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” her twin said.

“I’m beginning to doubt it. None of you have proven you can yet. It’s why I have to keep an eye on all of you constantly. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. It is one of my Powell powers, after all.”

17

Gunnar fought the fury,seeing the strain in Heather’s eyes. The woman was the toughest he had ever met, hands down. She was also more vulnerable than he thought she realized was visible. “I’m sorry about this. Dan shouldn’t have sent you up here. He should have sent Lila or Sean or?—”

“Like he pointed out, I drew the short straw. How that was possible since I’m still suspended, I don’t know. But here I am.” Heather looked down and pulled the blanket away from her baby’s face. Gunnar had to smile. The baby’s mouth was open, and she was blowing bubbles in her sleep.

“She looks a lot like Hope. Adorable.” The baby was a beautiful baby, no denying that. Wild brown tufts of hair stuck out underneath the green hat on her little head. A baby version of the Hope gremlin. It made him want to smile just to see her.

“It’s the hat and the weird sprouts of hair everywhere, right? Makes her look even more like Hope. She’s the spitting image of my baby sister. Hope gets such a kick out of that,” Heather said. “We don’t exactly have a lot of winter clothing for the baby, but Summer had extra hats for my girls. We had to make do—most of our winter gear is still in the barn at our old house in Oklahoma.”

Both little girls had on those slouchy knit hats similar to the ones Heather’s younger sister often wore. He’d only met Hope Coleson a few times.

Something about Heather had always gotten under his skin.

Not the same way that Powell did, obviously, but the fear. He had always been able to see the fear in Heather’s face when she didn’t think anyone was watching. He just hadn’t figured out how to help. He’d hoped with time, she’d open up to him a little. So he could help.

He’d thought it had had to do with the trauma from what Eastman had done, from killing her brother-in-law three years ago to abducting her nieces and her sister five months ago. But now, he knew the truth.

It was far more than that. And it never should have happened.

The TSP had betrayed Heather in the most unimaginable way possible.

The TSP was supposed toprotectthe innocent. Yet they couldn’t even protect themselves from their own bad actors. That wasn’t something he was going to accept easily.

Both women were still shivering. Neither wore more than a damned sweatshirt with windbreakers over the top. They’d wrapped blankets over Heather’s older girl, and the baby had blankets over her carrier. “You need winter coats for this place.”

“I know. I was going to leave Cara and the girls here and go find us some. I think there is a secondhand store nearby. I don’t want to pay full price if we won’t use them again. We’ll just take them home with us for the next Colesons who may need them.” Heather shot a look toward the two men in suits who stood nearby. Watching. She paled a little. “As soon as I figure outwhich of Barratt’s bodyguards I’m going to leave with the girls and Cara, and which one is going to drive me.”

Of course. The bodyguards were big, strong, armed men. Intimidating. And Heather had been through utter hell at the hands of a man who fit that description to a T. Heather was terrified of the bodyguards, even though she would never admit it.

He’d take her himself, but he had a call with the WHP commander in ten minutes. Gunnar checked. He recognized both of Houghton Barratt’s guards right there. They were decent guys—she’d be safe with either of them. He’d leave Powell alone with either of them, no question. There wasn’t a better litmus test than that.

“Grab hats and boots if you can find them. At least for yourself. We are going to have to go out on some scenes, I think. It’s going to be damned cold. Have Buck drive you—I’ve known him for a few years now. He’s a good guy—he has six younger siblings he wrangles, including three little sisters. The eldest is seventeen now, I think. He has custody and has since she was eleven or twelve. He adores his family.” Gunnar understood what she wasn’t saying. Hell, it was no wonder she didn’t want to be alone with a man she had never met before. “I’ll stay in the lobby with your girls until you get back. I’ll just take my call from the WHP in here. We’ll grab dinner in the dining room when you get back. Powell and I were going to eat together, but I suspect her brothers might have crashed the party, so you can help me run them off.”

“Great. I’ll do that. Did I ever mention I hate the snow? And flying? And probably Daniel McKellen the Second forever.”

“No? I hadn’t heard.”

Powell was there. Going for the niece on Heather’s left. Of course, Gunnar had recognized her as Powell’s favorite intern.“Cara, come inside. Get by the fire. It is freezing out there. Come on, let’s get you warmed up.”

A look of pure relief went through Heather’s face when she saw Powell standing there.

Powell fussed over Cara a great deal. Like she did Haldyn. It had surprised him at first to see how much, but when Powell cared about someone, she fussed. It drove her brothers crazy, but they let her do it to them too.

Occasionally.

Gunnar wanted her to fuss over him too. For the rest of his life if she wanted. All she had to do was say the word.

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