To Love a Cop

Ethan had had a thought about that, but figured it wasn’t something he should say to Laura in front of her kid. He’d wait.

Laura talked about her week at work, and he did the same. He’d made an arrest on an assault case he’d been pursuing for a while, and was working with the DA’s office now to make sure there were no holes in the case that might result in an acquittal.

“I do enjoy arresting someone who thinks he’s gotten away with something crummy,” he admitted when Jake asked. “It’s one of the pleasures of the job.”

Jake leaned forward, his expression almost as avid as when he’d looked at handguns. “What else do you especially like?”

It was obvious Laura was alarmed by the question. Ethan was amused to meet her hard stare, daring him to give the wrong answer.

“Hmm,” he said, giving himself a minute to think about how he would answer. It wasn’t a common question. Probably a good thing, given that the satisfaction and frustration, boredom and adrenaline became so entangled, picking them apart was no easy task. “I meet good people along with the bad,” he said at last. “I like helping people. Giving them justice even if I can’t put everything back the way it was before the crime was committed.” He smiled faintly. “Becoming a detective was my goal from the beginning because I enjoy puzzles. Putting all those pieces together until the picture is whole. That aha! moment can’t be beat.”

Jake looked appalled. “That’s the best part? Not...I don’t know...the way people look up to you?”

“No.” Ethan’s smile widened. “It’s true that in certain circumstances I need respect from people, even a little fear. But most day-to-day policing goes better if I can connect with people. Encourage openness.”

The boy sneaked a look at his mother that Ethan didn’t understand, then burst out, “Is that what Dad thought, too?”

“He seemed like a good cop to me, when we worked together.” Ethan kept his voice relaxed, friendly, instinctively trying to ratchet down any tension between Laura and Jake. “People liked Matt. He had a gift for talking people down from whatever cliff they’d climbed up on. He could calm an enraged guy or a distraught woman like no one else I ever knew. I told him he should think about training to become a negotiator. I don’t know if he considered that later.”

“If he did, he didn’t tell me,” Laura said. “But he was really good at cooling tempers. I’d kind of forgotten. I’ll bet family get-togethers have been way more tempestuous without him.”

Ethan heard the wryness in that. The family hadn’t had to do without their peacekeeper. They could have chosen to forgive his mistake, however terrible the result had been, to support him when he needed them as he never had before. Instead, they’d turned their backs, with yet more terrible results.

Jake seemed not to have heard the subtext. His face scrunched as he appeared to struggle to pull up memories of his father. “Mostly I remember Dad being fun.” His eyes focused on Ethan again. “Wrestling with me, laughing, helping me learn to throw the ball. Stuff like that. Oh!” He brightened. “And he had a motorcycle. Was it a Harley, Mom?” He saw her nod, but didn’t see her expression. “He’d take me on drives. Just slow, like around the block, but I thought it was the best.”

Laura’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I’m glad you remember,” she said softly. “I wasn’t sure you did.”

“I wish you’d kept the motorcycle,” Jake said discontentedly. “Then I could have had it someday.”

“We needed the money I got for it.” She gave a funny, broken laugh. “I have to admit, the idea of letting my teenage son head out on his Harley sends a chill down my spine, too. Maybe by the time you can afford to buy your own, I won’t be so worried about you riding it.”

“Didn’t you go for rides with Dad on it?”

“We did in the early days.” Having apparently conquered the tears, she smiled at him. “Before you were born. After that, well—” she laughed “—I’m a secret coward. I never enjoyed the open road the way your dad did.”

“Really?” he marveled. He turned to Ethan. “Do you have a motorcycle?”

“Nope. I was never that interested in anything with an engine.” Replete, Ethan pushed his plate away. “Now, windsurfing on the Columbia River, that’s a charge. I’ll take you this summer.” He frowned. “You can swim, can’t you?”

“Yeah!”

Ethan smiled at Laura. “Both of you.” He’d really like to see her in a bikini. Even a tight-fitting one-piece. Although nothing would be even better.

He never had had that heart-to-heart with his common sense over whether getting too involved with both Vennettis was smart. Reaching out a hand to the boy, that was one thing; he could even think of it as part of his job. He remembered Ken describing Jake as a lit fuse. The spark could still be doused.

He felt a spark low in his belly every time he looked at Laura, too, but this one was entirely personal. He hadn’t decided whether it would be better stamped out, too.

It’s not too late to back off, he told himself, but had a bad feeling he was lying to himself, something he tried not to do.

His unease was such that he made his excuses right after Laura closed the box on the two remaining slices of pizza and, when he declined to take the leftovers, stood to put them in the refrigerator.

“Would you clear up the rest?” she asked Jake, and walked Ethan to the door.

“Thank you for doing this,” she said, sounding more formal than she had since he first arrived.

“I like your son. I had fun, too. I don’t take time to do something like shoot baskets often enough.” He grinned. “And, just so you know, the slam dunk was meant to impress some boys Jake knows who were ignoring him.”

“Jerks,” she muttered.

“Yeah, I figured they deserved to see that he has cooler friends than they do.”

Her eyes sparkled and her laugh was a delighted ripple. “His friend isn’t so modest, though.”

Ethan shook his head. “Laura, Laura. You don’t understand preteen boys. Modesty is not a virtue they admire.”

That gained him another laugh. “Then thank you for the dunk, too.”

“Ah, listen. I had an idea,” he said. “I didn’t want to say anything in front of Jake.”

Her smile faded.

“Nothing bad. I was just thinking I could install a hoop above your garage, if you’re okay with it. It would be healthier for him to be out shooting baskets than doing whatever he does in his room.”

Laura made a face. “Probably computer games.” She looked toward the garage. “Our driveway is flat.”

“Pretty much perfect.”

“If you mean that, I’ll go ahead and buy a...backboard. Isn’t that what they’re called?”

“Yep. I could make one if I had time, but I can’t promise right now.”

In the end, she agreed to let him pick one up since she knew nothing about them and his vehicle was better suited for hauling something that might come in a huge box than hers was. She insisted on paying for it, though.

He was starting to turn away when she touched his arm. “I...wanted to ask you something.”

Ethan tensed at the way she’d lowered her voice. “Sure.”

“Please be honest with me. Do you, um...” She visibly squared her shoulders. “Are you carrying a gun?”

He felt a spurt of anger that he knew wasn’t fair. For all she could tell, he might have a backup weapon; a lot of cops never got dressed without donning an ankle holster. He wasn’t one of them. Maybe someday he’d be sorry, but he didn’t think so.

“No,” he said tersely. “Did you think I’d come to lunch or dinner at your house carrying, after you told me how you felt about it?”

Those shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even asked. It’s just...”

He got over his pique. “Hey. I do understand, Laura. It’s a hot button for you, and for good reason. I respect that.”

Desperate eyes searched his. “Thank you. I hope it’s not uncomfortable for you. I mean, being unarmed.”