Chapter Twenty-Four
“I’mhappy you’re healed and coming back to work, Harker. I know the last few weeks had been difficult for you, and very busy. It’s too bad you weren’t able to arrest Jamieson Finch to celebrate the new year. At least with all the additional data you’ve brought us, we’re making the case against him rock solid. That is, if we ever get our hands on him.”
Liam’s jaws clenched at his captain’s words but didn’t say what he thought of his failure.
“I’m not pulling you off the investigation, so you can relax. I read your report, and I can see how close you’ve come to catching him. I know how dedicated you are to your work, so you’ll remain under my direct orders. Continue your work, keep me appraised of your investigation, and maintain the line as straight and narrow as possible. Understood?”
Liam nodded, grateful his boss had not only kept him on the force, but was allowing him to continue tracking his father, even if it was on the down-low.
Dismissed, Liam walked into the bullpen, a weight falling from his shoulders. Part of it at least, but he refused to think about it. About her.
When he reached the bullpen, he sat for a minute, his mind still filled with everything that happened, amazed at the sheer luck they all had. One of the most incredible of them all was the rebellious Cary, who, in the end, saved them all. So frightened for Catriona, he had bundled up and hid in the trunk of their car as they returned into the city, following them from a distance until he jumped into action and stunned them all.
Liam had to jump through hoops to protect the boy, straightening the story between him, Sam, and Cary to make sure nothing would happen. As a cop, it would be way easier to justify the use of the weapon and report it as self-defense. Even if he would get a reprimand about it, possibly lose his job, Liam knew it would be worth it for Cary.
However, he was able to keep Cary out of the report entirely and, even if there had been a lot of explaining to do, in the end, the report had been closed to everyone’s satisfaction, especially the bastard brothers. Still on his thoughts, Liam’s phone rang in his pocket and he frowned, recognizing Lazarus’ number.
“Oz? Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, Liam. I was calling because I’m in the neighborhood and knew you had your meeting with the captain today. Wanna grab lunch? That diner of yours has some great hamburgers, and I remember a delicious key lime pie from the last time we went there.”
Of all the places to eat, Liam wasn’t keen on returning to the place where he’d first came face to face with the angel he couldn’t have. However, he didn’t want to argue with his brother.
“I’ll be there in five minutes.”
Liam hung up and grabbed his coat before stepping outside into the frigid cold. He almost reached for Chewy’s leash but remembered that he’d given the mutt to Cary and Ted. It had been the right thing to do. It was clear the dog provided joy to the lonely boys. Also, Archer had promised Liam that the Paylor brothers would be taken care of, and the dog would tag along. Small blessings in a cruel world. If only he had the same easy solution for Sam.
Since they’d escaped, it seemed as if his brother had been pulled under a riptide of dark memories he didn’t want to be saved from.
The city was bubbling with activity. Another year had flown by, almost as quickly as the last few weeks, and now they were slowly heading to the month of March. He had to admit that since the holidays, his only high point had been Catriona surviving the electric shock every doctor had said should’ve been fatal.
With clenched teeth, Liam forced her soft eyes out of his brain and braced his shoulders as he entered the restaurant. Debbie, in her usual place behind the counter, smiled at him, and he was glad that the good woman had no idea of the level of danger he had brought inside her establishment. It was inevitable that the woman wouldn’t ever have allowed him to set foot in the diner again.
The diner was packed, and Liam saw Oz seated at the counter, sipping a coffee. He looked steadier, more robust than when he’d finally regained consciousness, not quite his old self, but on the way. Deva had taken charge of his recovery over the last month or so, putting him through an immediate physical therapy regime.
With a clap on his shoulder, Liam sat beside him. “You look good for a man who flirted with death.”
Lazarus’ bearded mouth quirked up, his British accent becoming thicker. “I sure did. I think my mission here isn’t done.”
Liam smiled at Debbie, who brought him a coffee before taking their orders.
Alone again, Liam sighed. “I’d have completed that mission if I’d killed Finch. I feel like I failed.”
“You didn’t. You saved us all from having to fight a completely different battle against the police and the FBI. I have no doubt we would’ve ended up exposing the lie, but we’d have lost too much time doing so.”
“Finch is still out there.”
Lazarus shook his head. “But he’s more alone than ever. The only person who’d stayed by his side due to loyalty is now dead. The man is cornered.”
“Cornered but dangerous. We don’t know where he’ll come from next, we haven’t cut off any of his funding.”
Debbie came with their burgers, but Liam didn’t know if he could eat. Lazarus didn’t seem so affected and after devouring a few bites spoke. “God, that’s delicious. Deva is making me have those nasty protein shakes when all I want is real food. That’s so good.” Taking a few fries, he nudged his brother to do the same. “Eat. Not everything is lost. The wind shifted again this morning.”
“What do you mean?”
Lazarus wiped his hand. “Catriona was kind enough to come out of her retreat to finish the task she’d started. I thought she’d take more time to rest, but I should’ve known better.”
Liam remembered too well how pale she’d been when her eyes opened. Shaken with burns on the back of her hands, her first words were how grateful she was for him, for his family, only increasing the guilt he felt for being unable to protect her. He may not have been responsible for all that happened to her, but if he hadn’t fallen for the beautiful angel, she wouldn’t have suffered so much.
