Page 57 of Break Away
“He fooled everyone. He was working as apolice officer and they didn’t have a clue he was a pervert. Ormaybe they did but ignored it. He was skilled in presenting theimage people wanted to see. He’s the one who did something wrong,Mom, not you.”
“I’ll always blame myself for poor judgmentwhere he’s concerned.”
Zoey hesitated. Her mom wasn’t going to likewhat she had to say. “Mom, Paul is back in Hangman’s Loss.” Dawnalready knew about the hit-and-run, so Zoey filled her in on therest of what had happened.
“That evil man. You come home, right now.Call your work and tell them you’re taking a leave of absence, andyou come home with Lucy until the police have this business figuredout.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can. Or I’ll go up there and finishup what you started when you stabbed that sorry excuse for a man.I’ll do what that one woman did to another guy and cut off hisdick, maybe his balls, too, and see how he likes life then.”
Zoey laughed, she couldn’t help it. It seemedlike mama bear instincts didn’t go away when your kids grew up. “Idon’t want to have to visit you in jail, Mom. But seriously, thepolice are on it. Do you remember the Gallagher family?”
“Of course I do. You had a crush on theyoungest son.”
“You knew that?”
“Moms know more than their kids give themcredit for.”
“Good to know. Brad Gallagher, who also is mylandlord, is now chief of police, and he’s taking my caseseriously. In addition to the police investigation, he’s having analarm system installed here tomorrow.” She plucked at the sheet onher lap. “You know the other house that’s on this property, alittle cabin? Levi is living there.”
“Levi is the boy you liked?”
“He’s definitely not a boy anymore. Um, he’sa cop for the Hangman’s Loss PD, too.”
“Good. He lives close and he’s a cop. He canhelp keep an eye out for you.” Zoey was quiet, and moments later,Dawn asked, “Is he still as good-looking as he was back in highschool?”
“Better. We’re, um, kind of going outtogether. Nothing serious,” she hurried to explain, “but, you know,hanging out sometimes.”
“Do you want it to be serious?”
“I told you, he’s a cop.”
“So?”
“Geez, Mom. It’s not like cops have been goodto the Hardesty family.”
“We’ve run into a few bad ones, for sure. Butthere are many more who risk their lives to protect people. Youhave to judge the person, not the uniform. If Levi Gallagher’s agood person, he’ll be a good cop.”
It seemed so simple when her mom said it.Zoey lay in bed staring at the ceiling after saying good-bye. Shedidn’t know why it surprised her that her mother didn’t have thesame issues with law enforcement Zoey did. She’d always felt herattitude about cops was reasonable and justified, but finding outthat, despite what had happened in their past, her mom didn’t holdthose same views challenged her own presumptions.
***
Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny. TheGuns and Hoses charity softball game was scheduled to begin at ten.At nine, Levi was knocking on the cottage door.
Zoey answered and gestured to her attire.“This is all your fault.”
Levi took in her appearance, a grin spreadingacross his face. “You look cute. But what’s my fault?”
“That I’m wearing police-issued gear. Itfeels wrong.”
She hadn’t been able to say no when Brad hadpresented her with the official game-day baseball jersey. It waswhite with blue sleeves, with HLPD GUNS written on the back, and apolice badge on the front in the pocket area. In a nod to thetemperatures forecast to be in the high eighties, Zoey had optedfor denim cutoff shorts, which, if judging from Levi’s extendedperusal of her legs, might be a tad short.
He shrugged. “It’s actually Brad’s faultsince he gave you the shirt, not me. And if you don’t like it,change. No big deal.”
“But it is a big deal. I could tell Bradthought I would like it. And I do, except when I get weird.” Shesighed. “I’m sorry. I’m making a big deal over nothing.”
“Brad’s not going to be hung up on a shirt.Change if you want, but if we’re going to drive together, we needto leave soon.”
