Page 5 of Save Me
It took him a few moments to gather up his personal items and say a few goodbyes. It took him longer to pack up a bag and get Chester into his carrying case. The massive black cat had become his support animal shortly after finding out about Daryl.
He’d taken the drive to the Keys many times over the years and, before he knew it, he was on Highway One, stuck in all the tourist traffic. His parents’ home was on Shark Key, one of the most secure, exclusive, and expensive Keys. The home had been in the family long before he’d been born.
His parents had done updates any time a storm ripped the roof or deck off, but not much more. The property, which was easily worth four million in today’s market, could use a little more updating, in his opinion.
After passing through the security gate and having a chat with one of the guards on duty, he headed to the very tip of the Key.
He parked his Jeep behind his father’s patrol car, grabbed his bags and Chester’s carrying case, and headed up the front steps.
Setting his bag down just inside the glass double front doors, he called out, “Mom? Dad?”
“Back here,” his mother answered almost immediately. They would have known he was coming, as the security gate always notified the residents when a visitor passed through.
Taking Chester with him, he headed further inside. He hadn’t expected his parents to have company and stilled just inside the living area. Seeing Crissy Talbot sitting on his parents’ sofa, holding her daughter, shocked him. He hadn’t been prepared to see her again just yet.
The last time he’d seen her, she’d been broken, bleeding, and half dead. Now, she was healed, tan, and very healthy looking.
The matted bleached blonde hair she’d had back then was gone, replaced with a darker pixie cut that somehow made her appear healthier and very appealing. She was tiny.
She sat in faded jean shorts, an oversized T-shirt, and worn flip flops. She could easily have been a tourist in the Keys.
If not for the fear hidden behind those piercing blue eyes of hers, he could have easily mistaken her for someone else.
“Here he is now,” his father said, standing up and walking over to wrap his arms around him.
Brock set Chester’s container down and easily wrapped his arms around his father, never once taking his eyes from Crissy’s.
“What’s all this?” he asked quietly.
“This,” his father said, standing back, “is your new assignment.”
He hadn’t expected his father to be so up front with the woman. Or with him, for that matter. When he’d talked to his dad on the trip down there, his father hadn’t once mentioned that Crissy knew he would be watching out for her and her daughter.
His father had made it seem like he’d be joining the Key West force and working the standard beat.
“Okay,” Brock said, wrapping his arms around his mother, who had followed his dad over for a hug.
It had been a few months since he’d last seen them, but no matter the time between the visits, their greetings were always the same. They greeted him like a son who had been away for years, and somehow that always cheered him up, knowing that they loved him that much. Few of his friends growing up had been lucky enough to have parents who had stuck together or even cared in the least about their children.
His dad was made of strong stuff and his mother made of even stronger. Or so his father always said.
“Crissy, you remember our son, Brock?” his father said, sitting again.
“I…” Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“I was the officer that found you,” he said, not willing to verbalize that Daryl Collins, the man responsible for kidnapping and raping her, had been his partner. He hated to think of him by his first name and chose to push the relationship they’d had away. Which is why he thought of his ex-partner now as just Collins.
“Right.” She glanced down at her daughter, and he instantly understood she didn’t want to talk about what she’d gone through in front of the child.
Moving over, he sat across from them and motioned to Chester’s case. “Are either of you allergic to cats?” he asked.
When Crissy shook her head and glanced towards the case, he thought for a moment he saw a smile.
“Chester is a big softy.” He reached down and opened the door. His cat didn’t disappoint. After strolling out of the case as if it was a grand hotel instead of a small box, he meowed loudly, walked over to greet both of his parents, then headed straight for Crissy’s daughter.
Emma cheered happily and reached for the cat’s fur.
“Easy,” Crissy warned her daughter. “Gentle.”
