His Sheltering Arms. KRISTI GOLD

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СКАЧАТЬ to make her escape. She wasn’t going to waste her time explaining how much the center meant to her. Or exactly how far she’d go to ensure its success. “Well, Father, it’s simple.” She took her purse from the back of her chair and slipped the braided strap over her shoulder. Then she produced a determined look designed to complement her parting words.

      “I’m not going to fail.”

      Erin left the boardroom the next afternoon in a state of euphoria. As the board members filtered out, she was met with congratulations and optimism. For the first time since she’d proposed the new shelter, she believed it was going to work.

      After the last of the requisite goodbyes, she noticed a figure standing near the vacant reception desk. Cathy had gone home for the day, but the door hadn’t been locked in order to allow the board members to exit. The stranger wore a plain dark suit and his sandy hair close cropped. The shiny plastic-covered Langdon PD credentials pinned to his lapel contrasted his dull-gray eyes. She had met several men from the local department, all very nice and accommodating, but she didn’t recognize this man.

      Erin approached the desk slowly, a sense of foreboding settling over her with each click-clack of her heels hitting the industrial-tiled floor. The shelter was situated a block away from the center. Normally, when there was trouble, she’d receive a call from the on-duty house manager. Maybe he wasn’t here on official business, but the determined look on his ruddy face indicated this wasn’t a social call.

      Erin donned her professional smile. “May I help you?”

      He was close to her height, but his deportment seemed almost predatory. “Are you Miss Brailey?”

      “Yes, I’m Ms. Brailey.”

      “Detective Andrews, Langdon PD,” he announced, without the offer of a handshake. “I need to speak to you immediately.”

      Erin glanced at the desk clock. Zach Miller was due anytime now, but the tone in the detective’s voice told her that his business couldn’t wait. Or at least he thought it couldn’t. “I have an appointment, but I can give you a few minutes. Come on into my office.”

      She led the way and, once inside, positioned herself behind the desk. She gestured to the chair Zach had occupied the day before. “Have a seat.”

      “I’ll stand.”

      Erin remained standing, as well, to maintain an equal advantage. “What can I do for you, Detective?”

      His steely gaze darted around the room before finally coming to rest on Erin. “It’s about this new shelter you’re planning. The grapevine says it’s a house for cops’ wives.”

      Erin had suspected word would get out sooner or later. She’d hoped for later. “If that situation arises. Is there a problem?”

      “The problem is some of us don’t like it. Makes the department look bad, you know what I mean? Bad PR for police.”

      Erin gripped the back of her chair. “Actually, Detective, the proposed shelter is not targeted solely at the partners of those in law enforcement. There is a need for a safe house for women abused by anyone that would know the existing shelter’s whereabouts, in Langdon and in the surrounding suburbs, including the larger cities. Our intent is not to belittle police departments. In fact, we rely heavily on their services at our existing shelter.”

      His laugh was abrupt, humorless. “No kidding. Our guys risk their necks getting involved in domestic fights. Can’t even tell you how many times when I was still working the streets I had a jealous husband threaten me. We go in there and break up their lovers’ quarrel only to have the woman bail him out the next day. People need to learn to settle their problems on their own. It’s an ever-lovin’ pain in the butt.”

      No matter how much time the center had devoted to education, a select few still didn’t understand the dynamics of abuse. This man was a prime example.

      Erin’s patience left the building. “No kidding,” she said, throwing his words back at him. “For the women it’s a big pain in the butt. And sometimes, the arms, the nose and so forth.”

      He balled his fists at his side, his round face flushing an unnatural shade of red. “Why don’t you leave well enough alone? You’ve got one place for them, why do you need another?”

      She straightened up to her full height, refusing to be intimidated by a man with questionable motives, even if he did wear a badge. “Because some men don’t understand that it’s against the law to hit their wives or girlfriends. Those wives and girlfriends need a place where no one can get to them.”

      “Cops can go anywhere they want.”

      “Not if they’re stopped.”

      He gave her a sickening once-over, then smirked. “And who’s going to stop them? You?”

      Erin opened her mouth to respond but was stopped short by a deep, controlled voice. A voice full of hatred. A voice belonging to Zach Miller.

      “I will.”

      Tension as thick as a winter fog settled over the small office. Neither man moved, as if facing off for a duel.

      Zach tightened his grasp on the rolled blueprint he clutched in one hand. “What do you want, Andrews?”

      The sour apple look on the detective’s face repulsed Erin. “This is business, Miller. And it’s none of yours.”

      Zach took another step forward. “Yeah, well I don’t intend to involve myself in your business. Unless I have to.”

      “Good. At least you’ve learned your place.”

      “But I doubt you have.”

      Erin watched Zach’s features harden as if the last vestiges of his control were slipping away. She couldn’t let that happen, so she moved from behind the desk and said, “Detective Andrews, Mr. Miller is my next appointment, so if you’re through now—” she headed to the door and held it open “—I’ll see you out.”

      “Don’t bother,” Andrews retorted. “I can find my way.”

      The detective strode past Zach with an acid glare. Erin closed the door behind him and leaned back against it.

      Zach stood in the middle of the room with a choke hold on the blueprint as he stared at some focal point above her head.

      Erin pushed off the door. “Old friend?”

      He finally met her gaze, fury flashing in his dark eyes. “Old acquaintance. Not a friend.”

      Zach strolled around the room. Erin didn’t speak, deciding to give him a moment to cool down.

      He lifted a slat on the lone window’s dusty miniblind and peered outside into the parking lot. “Why was he here?”

      “He’s curious about the new shelter.”

      Zach turned away from the window, his anger almost palpable. “How does he know about it?”

      “Just because we keep the proposed site’s whereabouts a secret doesn’t mean we can keep its existence СКАЧАТЬ