With his extensive training in Special Weapons and Tactics, Holden understood that teamwork usually got the job done better than any one mans heroic gesture. Tamping down his own desire to take action, Holden slid into the role required of him on this particular mission. He drew his mothers hand into the crook of his arm. Ill stick with her.
As Atticus picked up an umbrella and went to talk with Edward, Susan Kincaids grip shifted. You did a beautiful job, sweetie.
Glad to do it, Mom. I know Dad loved that song. He taught it to me on one of our camping trips. Scared all the fish away with our singing. All the brothers, too.
He heard a bit of a laugh. Good. Maybe not.
He easily supported her weight as she wrapped her arm more tightly through his and leaned her cheek against his shoulder. As he looked down at the crown of her dark brown hair, he noticed gray sprinkled through the rich sable color. Hell. He hadnt noticed those before. Hed bet good money the sudden sign of aging hadnt been there a week ago when hed stopped over for a family dinnerwhile his father had still been alive.
An unexpected rage at the collateral damage the senseless murder had spawned exploded through every cell in his body. John Kincaids killer hadnt just stolen his life. The killer had left a big hole in the leadership of the Kansas City Police Department, and an even bigger hole in the hearts of the Kincaid family.
Somebody had to pay for all that.
But with the same kind of deep breath that iced his nerves before he pulled the trigger to shoot, Holden buried his anger. Instead of lashing out, he leaned over and pressed a kiss to the crown of Susans hair. I love you, Mom.
She hugged the triangular folded flag tight to her chest and nodded, rubbing her cheek against his sleeve. The sniffle he heard was the only indicator of sadness she revealed. Her brown eyes were bright and shining when she looked up at him and shared a serene smile. I love you, too, sweetie. Then she settled in at his side, holding her chin up at a proud angle his father would have admired. Walk me to the car?
You bet.
They were all the way down to the road when a man in an expensive black suit stopped them. Su?
Bill.
Holden adjusted the umbrella to keep his mother covered as William Caldwell, his fathers best friend since their fraternity days at college, bent down to exchange a hug. The laugh lines alongside his mouth had deepened into grooves, emphasizing his silvering hair and indicating another casualty of John Kincaids death.
Holden. As Bill pulled away, he reached for Holdens hand. I cant tell either of you how sad, and how angry, this makes me. Releasing them both, he straightened his own black umbrella over his head. Im making a sizable donation to the KCPD Benevolence Fund in Johns name, but if theres anything more personal I can doanythingever.
Bill Caldwell ran his multinational technology company as smoothly as hed told B.S. stories around the campfire on the many hunting and fishing trips hed taken with the Kincaids over the years. But today he seemed to be at a loss for words.
Susan squeezed his hand, rescuing him from his overwhelming emotions. Come to the house, Bill. Were having an informal potluck dinner. Nothing fancy. I just want to be surrounded by everyone who loved John. I want to celebrate what a good, wonderful man he was.
Bill squeezed back and leaned in to kiss her cheek. Ill be there.
Holden settled his mother into the back of the black limousine theyd ridden in to the cemetery. After tucking a blanket over her damp legs and finding a box of tissues to set beside her, he closed the door and circled the long vehicle to greet Atticus as he walked up the asphalt road. Alone.
Holdens temper flared again. Where the hell is Edward? His long strides took him away from the limo. You went to talk to him. What did he say?
As usual, Atticus didnt ruffle. I talked to him. As tough as this is on us, you have to know its probably harder for him to be here. His wife and daughter arent that far from where
I know hes hurting, Holden snapped. But Mom wants to see him. He cant be such a selfish son of a bitch that hed cause her pain, can he?
Get off your high horse. Sawyers with himbringing him around to avoid the crowd. Ed wont let Mom down.
You dont have to defend me, Atticus. Edward and Sawyer walked out of the woods to the limo. Got your boxers in a knot, baby brother?
The rain whipped his face as Holden spun around. Edwards dark hair and beard had been trimmed shorta vast improvement over the shaggy caveman look hed sported a couple of weeks ago the last time Holden had dropped by his place to try to annoy him out of his drunken grief. Yet there was something dark and sad about his pale gray eyes that wiped away Holdens temper.
He noted the scar cutting through Edwards beard, and the way he seemed to lean heavily on his cane as he approached. Edward had been through more than any man should have to endure, and Holden was immediately contrite about any doubts hed had about his oldest brothers loyalty to the family.
Hell. It wasnt much to offer in the way of sympathy, but Holden walked the distance between them and wrapped Edward up in a tight hug. I miss you.
At first, Edwards shoulders stiffened at the contact. Then one arm closed around Holdens back and squeezed with a familiar strength. But just as quickly as the bond was affirmed, Ed was pushing him away. Get off me, kid. He inclined his head toward the limo. Is Mom inside?
Yeah.
Edward swiped the rain from his face and looked at Holden, then beyond to Sawyer and Atticus. The four brothers hadnt been united like this for a long time. But the unspoken sentiment between them felt as strong as ever. This aint right.
After Edward climbed into the backseat for a few minutes alone with their mother, Holden closed the door and straightened, standing guard to ensure their privacy. Sawyer rested his forearms on the roof of the limo on the opposite side, looking first to Atticus beside him, and then across the top to Holden. Were gonna get whoever did this, right?
Right, Atticus said before turning away to scan the departing crowd and keep everyone else away from the private family meeting.
Holden took the same vow. Amen.
Chapter One
October
Oh God. In her sleep, Liza Parrish rolled over and tried to wake herself up. It was happening again. And she couldnt stop it.
Shh, baby. Shush.
Liza closed her hand around the dogs muzzle and hunched down closer beside him in his hiding spot in the shadowy alley. The fact that he didnt protest the silencing touch was evidence of just how close to starvation this furry bag of skin and bones was.
He was lucky shed come here after classes and work tonight, following up on a call to the shelter about an emaciated stray wandering the dock area that neither the countys Animal Control Unit nor the Humane Society had been able to catch. Shed get him back to the vets office where she was interningfeed him a little bit of food and water, run some tests to make sure he wasnt infected with heartworm or some other debilitating disease, give him some love and a bath, and maybe just save his life.