Crossing Lines (Cops and Docs #2) (30 page)

The blond woman was maybe a few years older than her. She glanced up and smirked. “What? No cappuccino to go with?”

“You must not have heard me correctly. I said
chocolate.
”

Jeanie looked at Kelli fondly. “Oh, I heard you, but next time come with a proper bribe. He has court in a couple of hours. He doesn’t like visitors before then. Not to mention, he’s going to think you being here is improper.”

“I know. I just can’t believe the DA is taking this on himself. I mean, I know it’s an election year.” Kelli stopped talking. She just put her foot in it. Not a good way to start. She had to calm the damn nerves.

“Better not lead with that.”

“Yeah, sorry.”

“Well, I’m sorry about your brother.” Jeanie sighed and stood. “Five minutes. You slipped in while I was in the bathroom.”

Kelli nodded.

A few seconds later, she knocked on District Attorney John Taylor’s door and entered.

The man glanced up. His forehead wrinkled and his brows arched downward. He wasn’t happy at all. “No.” He pointed his finger at her.

Kelli held up her hands in surrender. “Five minutes. That’s all I ask.”

“I know you know how wrong this is.”

“I’m not breaking any laws,” Kelli answered.

“You’re starting with that?”

Kelli shrugged. “Might as well lay it all out on the table. I’ve got nothing more to lose at this point.”

“McCabe.” He growled. John leaned back in his chair and fiddled with the expensive looking pen in his hands. “I’ll give you two, but only because I respect you, and you’re damn good at what you do.”

Kelli sat in the big leather chair in front of his desk. For a few seconds, she looked down at her lap as a sudden surge of emotion got the better of her. When she glanced up again, she tried her best to keep it under control. “Cole had two men assassinated under your watch.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” John tossed his pen across the desk.

“Tony knew it was going to happen, and he was protecting himself. That’s gotta sway you a little.”

“His lawyer said the same thing. You think it carries more weight because you’re his sister?”

Kelli didn’t answer right away. This wasn’t going to work. She could see it…feel it. Despite all that, she asked, “Please, consider it?”

“I’m going to be blunt. No. This office can’t be soft on drug trafficking. The problem is too big, and he’s got priors. Ten to fifteen…it’s how it has to be. With good behavior, he’ll be out in seven.”

Nausea rolled through Kelli, but she swallowed it down. Acceptance swam up to meet her, but it was hard won and painful. It was his choice, and this was hers. Kelli got up. “I understand.”

* * *

In the parking garage, Kelli gripped both sides of the steering wheel and stared out the windshield. It wasn’t until she tasted salt on her lips that she realized that she was crying. The tears were clean, cathartic, and probably necessary. Her phone chirped. Kelli wiped her tears away and got out her cell. It was a text from Nora.

I don’t mean to interrupt, but I needed to make sure you were ok.

Instead of texting in return, Kelli tapped on the phone icon. Nora picked up almost immediately.

“Hey.”

“Are you okay?” Nora asked urgently.

“No, but I will be. I think.” Kelli didn’t bother to hide the thickness in her voice.

“Kelli.” There was so much hidden in that one word—concern, love, and need. “Just come home.”

“I’m coming.”

* * *

Bending her leg slightly, Nora slid on her remaining shoe. She gasped when Kelli’s arms snaked around her from behind.

“I didn’t hear you come in.”

Kelli’s only response was to pull her closer. Kelli’s body was stiff with tension. Nora turned in the embrace. The need to comfort Kelli overwhelmed her. Nora smoothed the wrinkles on Kelli’s forehead, then trailed her fingertips downward to her cheek.

“We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

Kelli’s shoulders sagged in relief. “Thank you. I’m not sure when—”

“That doesn’t matter,” Nora said. She may not know the details of Kelli’s errand, but she knew the general reason for it. “Now, do you feel like you’ve done everything you could?”

“Yeah…yeah, I do.”

Nora kissed her. “Okay.”

Kelli’s eyes widened. “Okay? That’s—”

“Yes, okay.”

Kelli’s expression was one of amazement. “Damn, you’re… I love you. You know?”

Nora smiled softly. “I know.”

“We’re supposed to meet at the court house, but I need to swing by…see Mom and Sean. I mean, I know they’re dealing with this their own way, but…”

Knowing Kelli to be the consummate protector, Nora nodded in understanding. “We’d better hurry.”

* * *

The drive to the McCabe home was filled with quiet reflection. The radio filled the air between them. Nora watched Kelli discreetly as they neared their destination. After all this time, she had yet to identify the special combination of things that brought them together. They were complete opposites in temperament and life experience, yet somehow, the traits that made them different began complementing each other and created a snug fit. The odds should have been against them. They almost were.

Kelli glanced in her direction. “What?”

“You used to tease me. It was a step away from being mean, really. I could have walked away from it…from you…and stopped all this before it even started.”

“True.” Kelli smirked.

“Did you think we’d end up here…like this?” Nora asked.

Kelli slid her hand over Nora’s thigh.

“Hell no. I was bored, and I really just wanted to piss you off. Everything that happened after was a very welcome bonus.” Kelli paused. “I did think you were hot, though.”

Despite the situation at hand, Nora laughed. “You’re an ass.”

Kelli grinned. “Language! God, I have truly corrupted you.”

“And you love it,” Nora said sarcastically.

* * *

Entering the McCabe home, Nora basked in the instant wave of comfort it brought. Carina McCabe came out of the kitchen, coffee cup in hand. She brought it to her lips and looked at them. Then, her gaze zeroed in on Nora.

“She was worried about us?”

Nora nodded.

Kelli sighed. “Of course I was, Mom.”

Carina took another sip from her cup. “Good morning, by the way.”

Then, before Nora had a chance to respond, Carina McCabe wrapped her in a hug. Stunned by the gesture, Nora still had the ability to return it. Within a few seconds, Carina was ensnaring Kelli in a similar embrace.

“I’m as okay as I can be,” Carina said.

“I know, Mom, but I still—”

“Worry? I know. You have to be you, baby.”

Nora blinked as she watched the exchange. Realization dawned as warmth filled her. A mother’s hug… She couldn’t remember the last time she’d experienced one, if ever. This was truly home. Yes, it was. Nora’s chest contracted, but she enjoyed the moment of breathlessness.

Sean adjusted his tie as he entered the hallway. He studied his sister and gave her shoulder a swat as he passed by.

Sean glanced at Nora. “I knew you guys would show up. She was worried about us, huh?”

When had she become the go-to person for all things Kelli? No matter. Nora liked it. “Yes, I—”

“We covered that already,” Kelli said instead. She sounded a little exasperated.

Nora tucked her hand into the crook of Kelli’s arm. “They know you well.”

Kelli looked at her. “Yeah, I know that’s a good thing.”

“It is.”

“Mmm.”

“Let me go see if Travis is ready. Williams said he’d meet us there.” Sean disappeared back down the hall.

A few minutes later, Travis wheeled his way out. Sean wasn’t far behind. Travis smiled in Nora’s direction and gave his partner a knowing look. “She was worried?”

Nora nodded.

This time Kelli was quiet.

“I told him when he called…we were all gonna be there. You think he believed me?” Carina asked. Her tone was laden with emotion. Everyone turned to look at her.

“I told him the same thing. Either way, he’ll see,” Kelli said. “I am glad he called though. I figured it would help.”

The overall mood became more serious. The atmosphere should have been thick, stifling, but it wasn’t. Nora leaned against Kelli’s side. Her heart went out to this family,
her
family. There wasn’t much she could say, but she could be there. That was enough.

* * *

As other people filed into the elevator, Kelli’s family pressed closer to each other. Kelli placed one hand on Travis’s wheelchair and the other at Nora’s back. Even more so than before, the reality of the situation was about to hit them squarely in the chest. She glanced at her mother to see that she was already staring at her.

“We’re okay.” Carina mouthed.

Kelli nodded. They were because they had to be.

Nora wrapped an arm around Kelli’s waist and squeezed. Instead of the emptiness she expected to feel, Kelli was almost whole. She had no doubt that the woman next to her was responsible. Kelli pressed her lips against the top of Nora’s head.

Williams met them as they made their way off the elevator.

“I peeked in. He’s already in there with other inmates awaiting sentencing,” Williams said.

“There’s no point in waiting. Let’s go in now.” Carina sounded anxious, but she was right.

Williams touched Carina’s shoulder, and she covered his hand with her own.

“Yeah, let’s go.” Sean led the way.

Kelli followed. When they entered the court room, there was plenty of seating left. Kelli motioned them to a bench near the front. They were here to be supportive, not hide in the back. Antony stood facing the bench, chained to two other inmates. He was staring straight ahead, his jaw clenching and releasing rhythmically.

Kelli glanced at her family. Her mom’s eyes were all shiny with tears. It had been a while since she’d seen him. Sean’s face was flushed, and his eyes were glassy, but he had a soft smile on his face. Travis grabbed Sean’s hand and whispered something quietly to him. Kelli stepped forward. She had to get Antony’s attention.

“Kelli.” Nora slid her hand into hers.

Kelli turned and met Nora’s gaze. Her expression was filled with concern, comfort, and just as clear as day, love. Kelli brought Nora’s hand to her lips and kissed it. They were about to face a lot of shit, but look at who she had in her corner. When she let go, Kelli moved toward Antony. His body shook. Well, she’d be scared as hell too, but Kelli hoped that she was about to ease things a little. She wrapped her hand around his elbow. Tony jerked away but still turned around.

His eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open as he stared at Kelli. She smiled and glanced over her shoulder at her family…his family.

Antony started trembling even more. Tears spilled from his eyes. “You—” his voice cracked.

“Yeah, we’re here.” Regardless of the past, she showed up. These were her people, and as she promised Antony, she would always be there. Family. It was everything.

###

About KD Williamson

KD is a Southerner and a former nomad, taking up residence in the Mid-West, east coast, and New Orleans over the years. She is also a Hurricane Katrina survivor. Displaced to the mountains of North Carolina, she found her way back to New Orleans, where she lives with her partner of ten years and the strangest dogs and cats in existence.

KD enjoys all things geek, from video games to super heroes. She is a veteran in the mental health field working with children and their families for over ten years. She found that she had a talent for writing as a teenager, and through fits and starts, fostered it over the years.

CONNECT WITH KD WILLIAMSON:

Blog:
kdwilliamsonfiction.wordpress.com

E-Mail:
[email protected]

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