Page 21 of Seizing Mack
“What? No!” He shook his head vehemently. “I want them to know they have someone they can go to when they have questions or problems. This is a rough age for them, Mack. Peer pressure, lots of changes.”
“And you think they’re going to open up to a cop?” she asked doubtfully.
“A cop, no. But someone they know? Someone they can trust? Yes, maybe. Hopefully.”
The tense lines on her face softened. “They’re good kids, Detective.”
“I don’t doubt it. And I’d like to keep it that way.”
Mack sat back, her expression thoughtful, but her eyes were as sharp as ever. At that moment, they were focused on him, gauging his sincerity. “This is important to you?”
He met her gaze with one of his own. “Very.”
“Why?”
“Excuse me?”
“Whyis it so important to you?”
He carefully weighed his answer. There were a lot of reasons he could give her, but she wanted truth. She really cared about these kids, he realized, his respect for her continuing to grow with each tick of the clock.
“Because I’ve chosen to make Covendale my home. Because I’ve seen enough young lives ruined by drugs, alcohol, and violence. Because I believe I can make a difference, not just on the clock, but off of it as well.”
“This is about more than the job for you,” she said softly.
She had no idea. “Yes. Many years ago, I... lost someone important to me.”
He waited, holding her gaze. Eventually she nodded. “All right, Detective. How about we do something on a trial basis and see how it goes?”
“Perfect. I can come by a couple of times a week, hang out, get to know them.”
Her lips quirked, as if she found the idea amusing. “They’re teens and pre-teens. They’re naturally suspicious of anyone over twenty-one.”
“Then I guess I’ll just have to convince them — and you — to trust me.”
