A Texas Child. Linda Warren

hire you. Which was totally ridiculous, I have to say. But they did and you worked hard to prove yourself, learning all you could to be part of the team. You were very young and that job was important to you.”

      “But it shouldn’t have been as important as Levi.”

      “Maybe. But, in my opinion, you were trying to follow the rules for your department and you weren’t sure what those were concerning a signed petition to support a cop whom you were dating. Why would you need to sign it?”

      “What?”

      “What weight would your signature carry? After all, your support should be understood and they shouldn’t have asked you to sign in the first place. So, please, stop beating yourself up. If Levi was the man for you, you’d be together. Just let it go, My. And now how about some chocolate? I got chocolate. That cures everything.”

      Myra smiled. “I knew I needed to see you. You always make me feel better.” Arm in arm, they walked into the kitchen. They sat at the large island eating Truman Chocolates and Myra felt as if the world had been lifted off her shoulders.

      Almost. There was something Myra had left out, but she just might keep that secret forever. No need to bare her soul. In her heart, she knew Jessie would understand, as always.

      “Where’s Merry?” Merry was a dog Jessie had rescued. Someone had brutally abused her, stabbing her and cutting off her ears and tail. But Jessie had nursed her back to health, and she was usually under Jessie’s feet, along with two little boys.

      “She’s under our bed, probably asleep by now. She’s getting older and the kids sometimes tire her out.”

      Jessie had a loving heart and a goodness that went all the way to her soul. Myra could only hope that through the years a little bit of that goodness had rubbed off on her.

      * * *

      LEVI TOOK TIME to cool off before he went to the house. Pop could zero in on his moods like a rifle aimed at a target. Sometimes he hit the bull’s-eye, and other times he veered so far off it wasn’t worth the effort to endure the questions that would be fired at him.

      Pop followed him into the house. “What did that fancy lady want?”

      “She wanted to hire me.” Levi washed his hands at the kitchen sink and dried them with a paper towel.

      “I knew it.” Pop slid into a chair at the kitchen table. “She wants you to find out if her husband is cheating?”

      “What?” Levi threw the paper towel in the trash can. “No. I don’t even know if she’s married.” And it didn’t matter if she was. Myra meant nothing to him. But it might take a while to get her out of his head again.

      “What did she want you to do, then?”

      “Find a missing child.”

      “I guess you’re packing. I did laundry this morning and your tighty-whities and socks are in your drawer.”

      “I’m not taking the case.” He leaned against the cabinet.

      “Why not? You just finished a case and you’re always eager to help find a child.”

      “I’m busy.” He walked into the dining room and sat down at his laptop.

      Pop immediately followed. “That’s a truckload of bullshit. What’s wrong with you?”

      Hurt feelings. Hurt pride. Hurt until he didn’t want to feel it anymore. But, of course, Levi didn’t say that to his grandfather.

      “Nothing. Some cases I take. Some I don’t. It’s my choice.”

      “Mmm-hmm.” Pop pulled out a chair and sat facing him. “Do you know how old you were when I could tell you were hiding something?”

      Levi didn’t reply, just kept checking his in-box.

      “You were about seven, I think. I was called to the school about you, Ethan and Carson fighting with the Wilcott boys. Your dad was at a cattle auction and your mom worked in Austin, so I had to go. I asked you who started the fight and you stonewalled. You know what that is?”

      “Pop, I’m not seven years old anymore, and if I don’t want to talk about it, I’m not. And yes, I know what stonewalling is.” He clamped his jaw tight and stared at his grandfather.

      “Yep, that’s it. When you do that, I know you’re hiding something.”

      Levi leaned back in his chair. “Pop, don’t you have something to do? Check on your cows? Or visit Walt?”

      “Aw, I’m not going over to Walt’s no more. He’s keeping the baby and you can’t make any noise. Hell, I’m old. I make noise. What’s Ethan and Abby thinking, letting Walt keep that baby?”

      Levi, Ethan and Carson had grown up like brothers in the small town. Walt, Ethan’s dad, and Pop were best friends but sometimes it was hard to tell that by talking to them. Carson’s dad had passed away last year, but not before wreaking havoc with Carson’s life. Through it all, Carson had managed to find happiness with Jena. Both his friends were married with families. He was the lone bachelor.

      “Do you know Abby milks herself?”

      “What?” That grabbed Levi’s attention.

      “Yeah. Walt has it in his refrigerator. I almost drank it. He said Abby leaves it for the baby. Beats me why she’d want to do that. I don’t understand young women.”

      “It’s called a breast pump, Pop, and women have been using it for years. One of these days, you’re going to have to start living in the twenty-first century.”

      “Like hell. I’m not using that cell phone you got me, either. If I want to talk to someone, I’ll use the phone in the house.”

      “I bet Walt uses his.”

      “Hell, yeah. Abby calls ten times a day to check on the baby and so does Ethan. If the baby farts, they want to know about it.”

      Levi wanted to laugh and he wasn’t in a laughing mood. “Did you take your blood pressure pill this morning? You’re grouchier than usual.”

      “You’re changing the subject.”

      “Well, you’re rambling. I don’t know what the subject is anymore.”

      His grandfather nailed him with one of those I-know-you-boy looks. “Who’s the fancy lady?”

      “Someone I knew a long time ago.” He didn’t bother to stonewall or lie.

      “Thought so. Someone took her child?”

      “No.” He gave him a short version of the story Myra had told him because he knew Pop would keep jabbing until he drew blood.

      “That bastard beat his girlfriend into a coma and took her baby? And it’s Stuart Stevens’s daughter?”

      “That’s about it.”

      Pop tapped the table with his arthritic knuckles. “You can be packed and on the road in ten minutes.”

      “I told you I’m not taking the case.”

      “Why not? It’s Stu’s grandson and his life is in danger.”

      “I’m not the only P.I. around.”

      “You’re the only one who can find him in less than twenty-four hours and it looks like that little boy doesn’t have much time.”

      “Pop...”

      “Wait a minute. How do you know this woman?”

      Levi tried hard not to grit his teeth. “I met her when I was a cop.”

      “Is she the woman you were holed up with for about six months?”

      “We weren’t holed up. I moved into her apartment.”

      “Same