Page 8 of Hold a Candle

“He is my son, I would blame me,” she replied, turning to walk out into the main room. Her mother’s heart shattered at the expression on Luca’s face as the burly Mica held his elbow and escorted Luca with his wrists handcuffed behind his back. Luca looked terrified, unsure of himself, and lost. He was limping, there were bruises on his face and neck, and a black eye was coming up on the right side.

“Luca,” she whispered, shocked at the evidence right in front of her. There was no doubt he’d been in a fight, and if it was with Tommie Ruskag, he was lucky to be alive. She wanted to run to him and hold him like she had when he was little, protect him with her life, and keep him safe from the Tommie Ruskags of the world.

“Mum?” he asked uncertainly, looking back at her as Mica walked him past her. “Mum...I-I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean to...” His voice trailed off and he hung his head.

Pauley stepped in behind Mica and touched his shoulder. When he turned them both around, she asked, “Can we have a few minutes, Mica?”

Mica looked over at Quinn and her boss nodded. “Interview room three,” Mica replied gruffly, a sympathetic look on his face.

Pauley followed them into the interview room and Mica took off the cuffs. “Five minutes, Pauley. We just came from the hospital so his injuries have been seen to. Bruised ribs and the like, but nothing major. He was lucky,” he added, and then closed the door.

Luca drank her in. “I-I guess you must hate me about now?” His eyes, so like her own, fearfully searched her face.

“Of course I don’t hate you,” Pauley replied stepping up to cup his face with her palm. “Are ye okay, Luca? I can’t believe ye stood up against that monster and won.” Her voice cracked as her emotions overwhelmed her. Pauley was no longer a tough police detective; she was a mother with tears in her eyes who needed to embrace her child.

Luca flinched when she hugged him, but he put his arms around her. “Am I going to jail, Mum? The detective told me I was under arrest for manslaughter, but I told him I was only defending myself. What’s going to happen to me?”

The uncertainty in his voice was laced with something else she couldn’t define. Was it belligerence mixed with a defensive belief in his actions? There must be a hundred different emotions broiling in his heart, mind, and stomach as he realized the immensity of what he’d done. Her son had killed a man, even if he hadn’t meant to, and that meant he had to take on that responsibility. It’s never easy to take a life, and there was nothing she could do to absorb that blow for him, or protect him from the repercussions. Her heart ached for him.

“The first thing ye need to do is not to answer any questions until yer lawyer gets here. And I mean no questions at all. I’ll get one for ye,” she said, wiping her eyes. “And ye’ll be bonded out until yer hearing. Then they will decide if there’s any need to go to court. But ye will let yer lawyer handle that. There shouldn’t be any reason for them to hold ye in here without bond. Tommie Ruskag is a well-known criminal. Can ye do that?”

Luca nodded, looking relieved to have a path to follow. “Aye, I can handle that.”

“When ye get home, we need to talk, Luca.”

His face became guarded and Pauley could see him retreating from her. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. This wasn’t going to be easy if he wasn’t willing to come clean with her. How she wished she had someone she could rely on to support her and give her advice. Being a mother never came with instruction manuals, not for any stage of life.

The door opened. “Time’s up, Pauley,” Mica’s quiet voice sounded behind her. His big, rangy frame glided into the room, giving the impression of the floor moving him along instead of him moving along the floor. It was uncanny at times how such a big man could be so liquid.

“Thank ye, Mica.” Pauley caught Luca’s gaze before turning away. “Remember, wait for yer lawyer.”

Chapter 3

Jamie and Chief InspectorQuinn Tannock went back a long way. At one time, Jamie had considered a career in law enforcement.

Quinn Tannock had been two years ahead of him in high school and had gone on to college to gain a degree in criminal justice and become a constable before Jamie had made up his mind what he wanted to do with his life. He just knew he didn’t want to be a farmer like his dad.

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