Chapter 38
"You do work out," she said, eyeing his slim figure.
She didn't know he was thin because of his recent bout with cancer, his recovery from surgery. He wrestled back his drifting thoughts and tried to put himself in character again. Bobby looked out over the gym and nodded. "I still have my membership downtown… You know, business contacts…"
She gave him a crooked smile. "I think there's something about 'retirement' you're not getting." As she said it, she ran her hand down his arm.
Bobby smiled, completely in character. "A business like mine… you don't just turn it off and say 'I'm done.' And frankly, I don't want to retire completely." Bobby looked up and down the length of her again. "Of course, if you wanted to change my mind about that…" In contrast to his words, he folded his arms across his chest. He was going to be flirty, but in control and hard to get.
"You seem like someone who doesn't change his mind easily," Tawna said, touching his face with her hand and then drawing it away again. She gave him another flirty smile. "But I like a challenge." She turned and led the way out of the gym, wiggling her behind as she walked.
He'd managed to get away from her before things went too far. She was a very forward woman. Bobby opened his dresser drawer and withdrew his binder, which was full of information about the case. He removed pictures of the victim. He hadn't been the most handsome man around. If she pursued him as actively as she was pursuing Bobby, it's no wonder he fell for her.
After an hour or so of study and notes, he tucked it all neatly inside the binder and zipped it shut again. He stuffed it back in the drawer, stripped down to his shorts, and climbed into bed.
Bobby thought of his family. He desperately wanted to talk to them, but he couldn't risk putting their number on the phone he was using for his cover. A woman who'd hired a hit man to kill her husband certainly wouldn't flinch about hurting Alex or Katie if she thought it would benefit her somehow.
His real phone was safe in his locker at Major Case. Suddenly, Bobby turned to his side, punching the pillow a few times before resting his head against it.
Katie had been so quiet last night. Over the years, Goren had thought he'd gotten a pretty good handle on women. He thought he understood them. He thought maybe that was why his marriage to Eames was working out so well. But Katie was shattering that illusion. He couldn't predict her moods any more than he could predict the next pennant winner.
He was worried about her. In the last six months, Katie seemed to be changing, and not just physically growing up. She seemed to be losing her bright energy, her cheerful disposition. It was something he realized he'd always counted on. No matter what hell Bobby was working through, for the last sixteen years, he relied on Katie's joyfulness to pull him out of his own head and into the reality of the moment. It had allowed him to finally be content.
Alex tried to reassure him about it all. She consistently told him it was teen hormones and Katie would work through it and be fine again. Bobby still worried. In his experience, everything that happened to him left some kind of mark.
With a sigh, he turned his thoughts back to Alex. He replayed their conversation from last night, and chuckled, remembering how she teased him about the "geezer gang." Even after all these years, he found her fascinating. People thought they could read each other's minds, but it was really just a matter of knowing each other so deeply that the slightest expression held meaning. Alex almost always knew exactly what he needed. Still, she was tough as nails, and sometimes he needed that, too. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind, even when she knew he wouldn't like what she had to say. Bobby respected that, loved her for it.
Alex was also the only one who had ever understood him. She had worked her way so deeply into his heart that she knew him from the inside out. Bobby clutched the covers in his left hand and sighed. He hated undercover work.
Alex had trouble falling asleep. She hadn't had the heartfelt talk with Katie that she'd wanted to. Every time she'd tried to talk to the girl, Katie's reaction had gone a different way than she expected, and Alex had turned to damage control and then dropped it. She wanted Katie to understand how foolish she'd been. She wanted Katie to know that some people couldn't change, that confronting them wouldn't accomplish anything. She wanted Katie to know how much she loved her, even when she made mistakes.
Alex longed for Bobby. He would be able to calm her down. If he were here, she would be able to sleep. She was glad Bobby didn't know what had happened, though. He would have been beside himself. He wouldn't have been able to concentrate on his work, knowing what Katie had done, the danger she'd been in.
It was better for everyone that Bobby had gone undercover before they found out.
Alex gathered the blanket up in her hand and quietly said a prayer for her husband. In the evenings to come, it would be shortened to two heartfelt words: "safe" and "soon."
Katie punched at her pillow angrily. It seemed that no one was going to respect her wishes about anything anymore. Andy found out, and sent her a text.
Are you okay?
How the hell was she supposed to answer that? She'd been stupid and gotten herself bruised and now she'd had to make a police report and her mom was mad at her and she still didn't know what her dad would do when he found out. And Daddy was gone, and the house just didn't feel right.
Yes. She finally typed. Andy could take whatever he wanted from that.
Why didn't you tell me?
Because you're just a kid and you've already gotten into my business too much and I knew you would try to stop me!
I couldn't.
You can tell me anything.
I'm tired, Andy.
I won't hurt him, Katie. I'll let the police deal with him.
Katie sighed. Andy did know why she didn't tell him.
Katie?
She typed back. Sorry.
I just need to know you're okay.
Quiet tears fell from her eyes as she typed her response. I'm okay. Thanks. He finally left her alone. Katie cried herself to sleep.