Chapter 2:

As they were driving back to the 16th Olivia said, "I talked to Nora this morning."

Cade knew she was speaking of his youngest daughter Nora who was attending medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He asked, "How is she?"

Olivia replied, "She's good. She wants to do her residency at Mount Sanaii and wants to stay with us for a while. I said she could."

Cade grinned as he said, "That'll be great; finally, all our kids in the city."

Olivia nodded as she said, "Which reminds me you are supposed to go speak to Noah's principal about him getting bullied."

Cade said as he placed a Marlboro in his mouth and lit it, "Yea; I remember I'd like to lock the kid up."

Olivia laughed and said as they pulled up to the 16th precinct. She leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the lips and said as she fluidly slid out of truck, "I love you and remember to keep that famous temper of yours under control."

He shot her his legendary crooked gin as he called out the open window, "I love you too and I'll try my damnedest."

She chuckled as she entered the building. As soon she was inside, he drove away.

He pulled up to the school stepped out of his truck and finished his cigarette as he walked up to the entryway. A rather overweight stern looking black security guard said, "sir you have to go through the metal detectors."

Cade showed his badge as he drawled, "I don't think so hoss."

And then he walked in and straight to the principal's office. He stepped inside and with one quick sweep of his hard granitelike eyes took in the whole situation. He knew the tall well-built blond man was the father of Noah's bully; he was a former star quarterback at Penn. State now he was a very high-priced defense lawyer, and the statuesque svelte blond was a former fashion model turned woke activist was his mother. As soon as the father spotted him, he strode over with and outstretched hand and said, "Hello my name is Chritopher Grant and this is my wife, Tanya."

Cade shook the man's outstretched hand as he said, "Pleased to meet you; I'm Sheriff Cade Harper."

Tanya asked in a snooty voice, "Isn't your wife a CAPT in the NYPD?"

Cade replied as he leaned against the doorjamb, "Yes Ma'am she is. She's in command over at SVU."

Tanya asked, "What is SVU?"

Cade replied, "Sex Crimes."

Both parents had displeased looks on their faces as the principal said, "Now that we're all acquainted, we should get to the reason that we are all here."

Tanya said, "Yes; Tucker would never bully anybody; he has told us that Noah Harper is just too sensitive and can't take a joke."

Her words caused Cade to see red and his temper to soar. He said in a voice filled with barely controlled rage, "Noah can take a joke but from what he told me your little psycho I uh mean your son was bullying him plain and simple."

Christopher snapped, "I resent you calling my son a psycho he's just being like I was as a young boy."

Cade arched a scarred brow as he drawled, "why am I not surprised."

Tanya jumped to her feet as she screamed, "And just what is that supposed to mean? We are fine upstanding members of the community unlike you and you wife who are lowly civil servants."

Cade chuckled to himself as he drawled, "Lady I'm very proud of what me and my wife have accomplished. Ya know it always cracks me up that woke ass liberals like y'all decry the police 'cept when y'all need them; why then we can't get there fast enough to suit y'all."

Christopher growled, "I'd watch it if I were you Sheriff."

At Cade's questioning look Christopher clarified, "You have an election coming up."

Cade chuckled mirthlessly as he said in a voice that oozed sarcasm, "Yea, like in three years."

The principal said, "Why don't we get the kids in here to tell us their versions."

And then the principal had his secretary have the boys report to his office.

15 minutes later both Noah and Tucker were standing in front of the adults. The principal had the boys tell their stories. Once they were done the principal said, "Here's what we're going to do; since I don't know which one to believe I am going to suggest that the children can go home and, in the morning, we will start fresh is that acceptable to both sets of parents?"

Christopher and Tanya both said yes and hustled Tucker out of the door. Cade was furious but agreed and got Noah out of there.

Noah was thrilled it was just him and his dad; whom he looked up to and wanted to be just like. As they were eating hot fudge sundaes Noah asked, "Dad; how did you and mom meet?"

Cade grinned as he began to speak, "I had been a deputy for bout a year when we get this call sayin' SVU needed help arrestin' this guy who hurt little kids; well, me and my partner responded, and we met your mama. We were caught in a gunfight in which I saved you mama and got the guy. After that I asked her out and at first, she said no but after a few days she excepted, and we've been married for 8 ½ years."

Noah said, "That's a really long time."

Cade nodded as they finished their sundaes. As they were getting into the truck Cade said, "Your mama said Nora is goin' to be livin' with us for a while."

Noah was ecstatic. As they neared the Sheriff's office Cade said, "Buddy listen if that lil punk bullies you again just call me or your mama."

Noah nodded as they walked in. Cade put Noah in his office to do his homework and called Olivia to tell what had transpired at the meeting.