Page 11 of Capture My Heart

“As happy as she could be under the circumstances. Am, she wanted us both there, but being a cop's wife, she wouldn’t complain.”

When did her little brother learn to give her guilt? Her mom never gave guilt, not over work. She knew the odds.

The longevity of a marriage for police officers was short, due to death or divorce. That fact ran in the back of her mind with every relationship Amy had. It was double if they were both cops. Note to self, don’t date a cop. Not that she was dating anyone right now, cop or otherwise. Her goals constantly squawked in the back of her mind as loud as the police scanner.

“I talked to Gus West yesterday.” She busied herself with emptying the contents of her bag.

“Am. I thought you were going to let it go. Dad’s gone and Gus served his time.”

“That’s the thing. I don’t think it’s as simple as a drunk driver. He said he wanted to tell me something on the phone, but when I got there...” The memory of his nervous behavior made her shake her head. “Tommy, he’s dead.”

“I know. Four years now.”

She spun to face Tommy. “Not Dad. Gus.”

“What?” He dropped his drink can to the counter. “You said you just talked to him.”

“I did. He was anxious and fidgety, and decided he didn’t have anything to say. Except... he apologized, repeatedly.”

“Okay, but you just said he was dead.”

“Yeah, someone ran him over as he walked out to his mailbox. Minutes after he talked to me.”

“Whoa.” Tommy ran a hand through his sweaty blond hair.

She crossed to him and sat on the counter stool next to him. “Dad never stopped looking into your case. He believed you were set up.”

He shook his head. “Amy, don’t.”

“Tommy—”

“Just don’t. I did my time and am out. I don’t need you getting tangled up in that mess. The Gardiner family is not someone to mess with.”

She knew exactly what kind of family they were. The sweet, loving, restaurant-owning family was rumored to sell meth out of the back, along with other illegal items. She’d always been amazed how they were able to weasel out of any real jail time. Someone else always took the fall. Her brother Tommy was one of the employees they threw to the slaughter.

The look in his eyes told her she wouldn’t win the argument tonight. “So, tell me about this new job offer.”

His face brightened. “It’s not for sure, but I was working out next to Trey. We got talking, and he asked for my qualifications.”

“That’s good.” She’d be checking a little deeper into Trey Fenley. Her eye twitched as she thought of how he evaded her questions. He was a charmer alright, but she didn’t want to tip her hand and show Tommy her suspicions. She pulled out her phone. “Do you want pizza or Chinese?”

“Za, but put extra green peppers on it. I should start eating healthy if I might be working at a gym.”

She rolled her eyes.

“By the way, tomorrow morning can you take me down to pick up my car.”

“Where’s your car?” He had a piece of shit Toyota Camry that their parents gave him back in high school.

He slipped off the seat and around the counter to the refrigerator. “At the impound lot.”

“Why is it there?” She felt the creases on her forehead deepen.

“I might have left it in a tow-away zone.”

They only have a couple of those in town. One at the hospital, and the other was across from Tuffy’s bar. Not seeing any bruises or casts, she doubted he was in the ER. “Tommy, you know you aren’t supposed to be drinking.”

“Give me some credit. It was a tough day, taking Mom to the grave and all. I stopped by to see Sheila. I didn’t have a drop of alcohol, I swear.” He raised the three fingers on his right hand in the Scout’s honor. Not that he was a scout.