Page 70 of Strays
The next day, we help her prep the foil packets and veggies after breakfast, then start setting everything out in the yard while she makes us lunch. We light the grill two hours before the guests are expected, since we’ve gotten the wrong kind of charcoal.
Jo looks nervous. She’s been to plenty of barbecues at her parents’ house, but this is her first time hosting one at her own home.
Alice and Jayme are the first to arrive, with Kate. She’s already squirming in Jayme’s arms when they step into the yard, and the second he puts her down, she bolts, running aimlessly like someone let a balloon loose.
This time, Alice seems a little more comfortable around us, even smiling when we say hello. After their first visit, I figure Jayme has helped with that. They bring so many juice boxes for Kate that they barely fit in the cooler, so Jo tucks half into the freezer.
Mike and Hugh come over from next door carrying a bowl of potato salad. They’ve talked to Jo plenty by now, and she introduces them to Alice’s family with a warm smile.
Then Fontes shows up with his wife, Sônia. She hugs each of us when Fontes introduces her, then hands Jo a dish covered in foil. “It’s called pavê de abacaxi,” she says. “Brazilian dessert.”
A little later, Jo’s friend Jenna pulls up in front of the house in a Chevy Spark. It’s so tiny that my back hurts just looking at the thing.
Jo hugs her tight and pulls her into the yard.
After everything, I’m not exactly thrilled to see anyone from Jo’s work, but that’s kind of the point. She set this up for people to get to know us, so we do our best to sound light and gentle when she introduces us.
Jenna’s polite. Warm, even. “You really scored three gorgeous men, and I still can’t get one. Not even an ugly one,” she tells Jo, and they both crack up.
It’s so good to see Jo happy, laughing like that, I can’t help but smile too.
Shane is surprisingly good on the grill, and in no time, we’re all eating and chatting. I never thought I’d feel this at ease around so many people, but I do.
After a while, Shane sits with us to eat, and Sônia smiles at both of us. “I want to thank you for what you did for Daniel. He told me you didn’t even hesitate to go in for him and Jason. I know this job is dangerous, and I try not to think about it too much, but hearing how close it came... I’m just really glad you were there.”
Jo looks between Sônia and us, her brows furrowed. “What happened?” she asks.
Sônia glances at her, surprised. “You didn’t know?”
Jo looks at me, then at Shane, her expression hardening. “Know what?”
Jay takes a breath before answering. “It was a warrant service. Intel said there was only one guy inside the house, but there were two. Fontes and I ended up in a bad spot, so Shane and Kory breached from the back and took out the first shooter so we could get to cover.”
Jo’s eyes go round and wide. “When did this happen?”
“Last Friday,” I say, quickly adding, “Everything turned out fine. We handled it.”
Her eyes go even wilder, a flick of panic creeping on. “Why am I only hearing about this now?”
Shane shrugs. “You’ve got a lot on your plate. We didn’t want to add more. And it wasn’t a big deal, just bad intel.”
Sônia looks almost indignant. “I’m sorry, but I’m not letting you say thiswasn’t a big deal. I’ve been a cop’s wife for nine years, and thank God that kind of situation doesn’t happen often. You were very brave.”
I’m already annoyed. I get that she’s grateful, but she’s going to end up scaring Jo. “Shane’s right,” I say. “It wasn’t a big deal. We’ve seen worse more than once, so…”
Sônia turns to me. “Where did you work before? Was it really that dangerous?”
Fontes clears his throat. “It’s not that.” He glances at her, then at us. “It’s because they’re an aegis unit. Anytime there’s a high-risk call, or an entry where the threat level’s too high, they’re the first ones sent in. Every time.”
He looks down, then away, like he can’t bring himself to meet our eyes. “Even when it’s outside protocol. When it’s too risky and they can’t justify sending a human officer in, they send the aegis unit instead.”
Sônia doesn’t say a word, just staring at her husband.
Jo looks from Fontes to each of us, shocked. Now I’m a bit mad at Fontes too. He and Sônia didn’t do us any favors by talking this much to Jo.
We all fall silent. In the background, I hear Mike and Hugh chatting with Jayme and Jenna near the grill, and Alice laughing with Kate somewhere in the yard.
Jo moves her chair closer to Jay, then tugs on my shirt to pull me in, and stretches her arm, trying to reach Shane on my other side.
