Chapter 12

 

“Are you sure you want me to eat at your house tonight?” Eddie called across the room.

Harvey looked up from packing his briefcase. “I thought you could run through the rest of that videotape I screened.”

“I could do it here.”

“Or you could do it in my living room and have a nice meal too, and get to visit with Carl and Margaret.”

“I dunno.”

“Come on, Eddie. Leeanne isn’t going to bite your head off.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“The way things are going, I’m not even sure she’ll show up for dinner.”

“Okay.” Eddie looked at his watch. “I’d better finish my report. I’ll be there in half an hour. Hey, did the florist deliver?”

Harvey smiled. “Pink and yellow. Jenny was impressed.”

“Let’s hope Leeanne is.” Eddie yawned.

“You’d better go home early tonight. You’re running yourself ragged.”

“It’s these two cases, you know?”

“I know.”

“Or is it one case?”

“If we knew that, my friend, things would be a sight easier.”

Eddie winced. “I keep forgetting who knows what. I spilled it to Tony about the harassment thing, Harv. I didn’t mean to, but the guys know we’re working closely with Cheryl on something and interviewing all these women.”

“I know. I think everyone in the department is aware of the investigation. Don’t worry about it.”

“So, can we assign our men to interviews that overlap both cases?”

“Let me think about that. Better to keep them on the murder if possible, but if the cases merge …” Eddie was yawning again. “Do you think I drink too much coffee?” Harvey asked.

“I don’t know. Some days you have to.”

 

*****

Eddie was fast-forwarding the security tape from the patrol sergeant’s area on Harvey’s video player when Leeanne came in and sat beside him on the sofa.

“Better put that away. Abby and Peter are here with the boys.”

He clicked the remote. “We sure wouldn’t want them hearing some of this.”

“Finding what you were looking for?”

He was surprised she had asked, and even more that she had sat down near him. “Yeah, Harvey told me about a couple of spots, and he’s right. The guys go lean on Brad’s desk and shoot the breeze, and you never know what’s going to pop out. Some of them have an inordinate interest in the female anatomy, that’s for sure.”

“So, these cops are hanging around talking dirty about all the women who work there? That’s disgusting. The newspaper would fire them if they did that.”

“Well, it’s not that simple. In the first place, there seem to be a few who are the worst. A lot of guys just make a comment now and then, or fail to object when someone else does it. But there are two or three who seem especially …”

“Perverted?” Leeanne asked.

“I wasn’t going to use that word, but they’re not very classy.”

“And the sergeant allows it?”

“Oh, yeah, he allows it.” Eddie grimaced. “The truth is, he’s one of the worst. But I shouldn’t tell you that.”

“I’m not working for the paper anymore.”

“I know.” He smiled at her and looked deep into her eyes for the first time in weeks. His throat tightened. Why did things have to be so painful?

“Tu es fatigué,” she said softly.

“Exhausted, but I feel like I’ve got to keep going until we find out who killed Joey. I’ve never had a case that drove me like this before.”

“What does the harassment issue have to do with it?”

“It’s complicated, and I don’t suppose I should discuss it with you,” he said apologetically.

“Okay, sorry. When it’s over, will you explain it to me?”

“In great detail, ma belle.” Her tender smile made his heart pound.

The doorbell rang. Eddie ejected the videotape and stood reluctantly. He took the tape to Harvey in the kitchen.

“Where do you want this?”

“I’ll put it in my briefcase for now, just for safety.”

“There’s more?” Eddie asked.

“Yeah, I’ve got another tape, but I haven’t had time to look at it yet. So, how’s it going with Leeanne?” Harvey asked as he locked the briefcase.

“Fine, I guess, but we haven’t had a chance to really talk. I mean, you know, about us. Personal stuff.”

“Mm. Well, she seems amenable tonight.”

“Does that mean she likes me again?”

Harvey chuckled. “Yes, Eddie, that means she likes you. It’s pretty obvious now, I think. And she made a big to-do about the roses when she came home.”

“Good. She thanked me, but, you know, people were around.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Harvey, we need a couple more chairs.” Jennifer stood in the doorway with Connor in her arms. They had set up tables in the study because Beth and Jeff, it turned out, were coming for dinner, too.

“Sure, gorgeous,” Harvey said. “Give me a hand, Ed?”

 

*****

Leeanne went upstairs to freshen up. She’d missed staying here with Jennifer. She got along fine with Beth, but it wasn’t the same. She and her sister had been very close before everything blew up with Eddie, and she liked Harvey a lot. He treated her with more respect than Jeff did. Jeff couldn’t forget that she was his little sister. He made no secret of the fact that, in his opinion, she had treated Eddie abominably. At least Harvey acted as though she had a right to some space and time to regroup.

When she went back downstairs, Carl and Margaret Turner and Julia were just coming in.

Margaret kissed Jennifer on the cheek and handed her a grocery sack. “It’s slaw from the deli.”

“Perfect,” Jennifer said. “Thanks.”

“I thought I’d have time to make something, but. . .”

“No apologies needed.”

“Well, next time you’re coming to our house. We owe you.”

“Who’s counting?” Jennifer grinned at Julia. “How are you doing? I see you’ve brought back the horse book you borrowed.”

They soon sat down to eat, and the conversation flowed throughout the meal. When they moved into the living room later, Leeanne removed Connor from his infant seat and took a seat on the couch with him on her lap.

“Can I sit here?”

The note of uncertainty in Eddie’s voice surprised her.

I’ve done this to him, she thought. I’ve stayed away from him, and I haven’t let him sit beside me at church. He’s never in his life been unsure of himself, but now he doesn’t know which way to jump.

She didn’t like it.

“I was hoping you would,” she said quietly, and her pulse raced as his slow smile crept out. Why, why did I hold him off so long?

Margaret came into the room and made a beeline for her. “May I hold the baby?”

“Of course.” Leeanne handed Connor to her.

Harvey and Jennifer settled in comfortable chairs, and Harvey smiled at Margaret. “Carl tells me you need to get back in practice doing that.”

“What?” Jennifer nearly screamed. She clapped a hand to her mouth and leaned close to Margaret. “You didn’t tell me!”

“I didn’t have a chance.”

Jennifer leaned over and hugged Margaret. “This is the best news! Margaret, I’m so happy for you.”

Carl pulled his chair close to Margaret’s and sat down. “Well, Goldilocks, you and Harvey had your part in the drama.”

“Is it a boy?” Jennifer asked.

Margaret laughed. “We don’t know yet. I asked Carl if he wanted me to run a blood test and find out, but he said no.”

Jennifer stared at Carl. “I’m proud of you.”

He shrugged. “It’s not so important now.”

“I understand.” Harvey slid his arm around Jennifer’s waist, and she leaned against him.

 

 

Leeanne sat quietly beside Eddie, feeling the contentment that permeated the room. Her arm rested against Eddie’s as she sat close to him, making room for Beth and Jeff beside them on the couch, and she took comfort in his warmth.

When she glanced at Eddie, his eyelids were drooping, and his long, thick lashes lay dark against his skin. She shifted just a little and let her sleeve brush against his hand. He started and sat up, throwing her a sheepish glance.

By the end of twenty minutes of conversation, he was hovering between consciousness and sleep, but when Jennifer offered more coffee all around, he roused.

“Coffee, Eddie?” Jennifer asked.

“Absolutely. Thanks.”

Jennifer chuckled. “I think you’ve about reached your limit on sleep deprivation. Maybe you should go home to bed.”

“Oh, not yet.” He’d hardly had a chance to see Leeanne.

Jennifer smiled and put a mug in his hand. “Okay.”

She moved on, and Eddie sipped the coffee. It was too hot, and he sucked in air.

Leeanne and Beth both declined.

“Beth?” Margaret Turner looked over at her. “Jennifer tells me you need a consult.”

“Oh, excuse me.” Beth pushed awkwardly up from the sofa. “Leeanne, I’ll see you later.”

As they left the room, Margaret said softly, “Not feeling so good this week, honey?”

Eddie had set his coffee down on a coaster on the end table, and his eyelids drooped again. When his head nodded and his eyes closed, Leeanne let him drift off.

Half an hour later, the Turners left. Jeff and Beth soon followed them out the door. Leeanne leaned over and ruffled Eddie’s hair lightly. He opened his eyes and looked at her. She smiled, and he glanced around at the empty living room.

“Oh, boy,” he said, stretching. “J’ai dort.”

“Oui. Leves-toi.”

“Je le regrette.”

“Don’t be sorry. You’re out on your feet. Harvey told me to wake you up and send you packing.”

His disappointed frown encouraged the flickering hope in her heart.

“I was hoping we’d have a chance to talk tonight.” His eyes were sincere but glazed with fatigue.

“Maybe tomorrow? If you don’t sleep, you won’t be any good at busting crooks tomorrow.”

“Did Beth and Jeff go?”

“Ten minutes ago. They told me to let you sleep.”

“You shoulda woke me up. I feel like I ought to have been more polite, you know?”

“It’s okay.”

“Leeanne, just sit here for a minute, please?”

She looked into his eyes. He didn’t speak for a moment, and she let herself return his gaze steadily, although she felt her color rise as the realization hit her: she loved him beyond anything she’d ever felt before. More than when he’d proposed, more than when he’d carried her out of Jeff’s house after she’d been bruised and terrorized by a criminal, more than the night he’d told her father, I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re not sorry.

He reached slowly for her hand and clasped it. “I know we’re both really busy right now, but … sometime … soon … we need to talk. Please.”

She nodded. “I’ll look forward to it.”

He squeezed her hand. “Merci.”

Jennifer came in with a tray and began making a circuit of the room, picking up cups and napkins.

“Don’t mind me. I’m just the maid.”

Eddie stood up. “Time to hit the road, I guess.”

“Get some sleep, Eddie,” Jennifer said.

Harvey peered in from the doorway, with Connor tucked up on his shoulder. “You want to skip running tomorrow?”

“No, it wakes me up. If I skip it, I don’t feel right all day.”

Leeanne walked with him to the entry.

“Eddie,” she said softly, as he pulled on his jacket, “did I tell you I love the flowers?”

“Yeah, you did.” He gazed into her eyes. “You’re beautiful.”

Leeanne tried to hold her smile back, but decided she couldn’t, and what was the point, anyway?

Eddie put one hand up to her cheek. “That smile. That’s what I’ve been missing.”

She thought for a second he would kiss her, and a thrill of anticipation went through her. But he just chucked her under the chin, the way he had so long ago, the first time they’d ever said goodbye.

“Bon nuit, ma cherie.”