Page 68 of Whispers of You
“Well, it’s a beautiful day. Why don’t you eat it outside and enjoy the sunshine while things are quiet?”
“Fine. Text me if things get busy,” he huffed.
“Will do.”
I held my breath until Abel disappeared into the break room to get his lunch. The air slowly left my lungs as I turned back to my computer screen. Abel could be prickly as a cactus when he wanted to be, but his heart was ooey-gooey goodness through and through. No crankiness could hide that from the world.
Tapping out a rhythm on my desk, I surveyed the area. There really wasn’t anything to do. We were all caught up on paperwork. No more reports needed to be filed.
My mind started to drift to last night. To the lake. To Holt. How he’d silently watched over me for the past decade. That familiar war of longing and anger took flight inside me. I never knew which one would win out on any given day. Lately, the anger was hitting hard but in short bursts, while the longing was settling somewhere deep in my bones, showing no signs of leaving.
My hand moved to the mouse, and I clicked on solitaire. Anything to distract me from that stormy sea of emotion. I moved the cards around on the screen in a half-hearted attempt to beat the computer.
The phone on my desk rang. In a split second, I’d minimized the card game and was tapping the button on my headset. “Cedar Ridge police, fire, and medical.”
“This is Calvin Dwyer at 65 Alpine Drive. I just heard two shots across the street. I think at the McHenrys’.”
My blood turned to ice. Gretchen. It was the only thing I could think for a full second. Her smiling face filled my mind. The way she had the ability to see the positive side of everything—even the hell we’d been through ten years ago.
“Hold on, Mr. Dwyer. I’m dispatching officers now. Please make sure your doors and windows are locked.”
I hurried to switch over to the radio. “Shots fired at the McHenry home on Alpine Drive. I’m getting an address now.”
It was only blocks from the station. Officers could be there in under a minute. Everyone would be okay.
A series of muted pops sounded over the phone line as officers, including Lawson, responded to the call on the radio.
“Did you hear that?” Mr. Dwyer barked. “That was more.”
“I heard it, sir. Officers are responding. Can you see anyone at the house?”
“I—I don’t think so—wait! Someone’s heading out the back door. They’re wearing a black hoodie.”
I quickly typed the description into our computer system so the officers had it. I could hear the sirens, both leaving the station and near Mr. Dwyer’s home.
“I see a squad car. They’re here.”
“Please stay in your home with the door locked, Mr. Dwyer. An officer will come to speak to you as soon as they’re able.”
“Okay. Thank you.” He didn’t hang up. “I’m shaking.”
Shock. It was beyond understandable. “Can you get yourself some water and take a seat?”
“Water?”
“Or just take a seat. I don’t want you passing out on me.” I typed in a request for the EMTs to check out Mr. Dwyer, just to be safe.
Voices sounded over the radio, officers entering the McHenry house.
“I can do that.”
I forced myself to focus on Mr. Dwyer. “Nice and easy.”
A shuffling sounded in the background, then a cabinet opening and closing before a chair squeaked.
“Slow sips,” I instructed.
“That helps.”
