Detective Partners (31 page)

"I'll try not to," she said. "It's just that I think about what the poor little soul must have endured before you rescued him and I feel that he deserves to be spoiled a little." She sighed. "I can't imagine someone not wanting him. He's-"

The phone rang at that moment. Galen moved around Nicole and into the living room. He seized the cordless off the end table and pressed the talk button. "Maxwell."

"Maxwell, it's Strauss," Parker said. "Is Goodwin with you?"

"Yes, sir."

"I've been trying to reach her," Parker told him.

"Is something wrong?" Galen asked.

"I'm afraid so," Parker muttered. "Her father's dead. An officer took him breakfast earlier and found him on the floor. He had no pulse. I don't know what the cause of death is yet. We'll know more after the autopsy."

"I saw him yesterday," Galen said. "He seemed fine to me."

"Why did you go to see him?" Parker inquired.

"I wanted to know if he had anything to do with the picture."

"Did he?"

"He wouldn't answer any questions," Galen said.

"I'm not surprised." Parker sighed loudly. "Please pass along to Goodwin my condolences and tell her to take as much time as she needs. We'll manage without her for a while."

"I'll tell her." Galen passed a hand across his forehead. "Sir, if it's all right with you I would like to take a few days off."

"All right, but if I have to I will call you to come in," Parker informed him.

"I understand," Galen mumbled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He ended the call and set the phone down. His heart heavy, he turned to face Nicole. She was standing in the doorway. A solemn expression was on her face. He held out his hand to her. "Come here, sweetheart."

"Something is wrong, isn't it?"

Galen nodded. "We need to talk."

"No." Nicole slowly began to back up. "No, we don't. We're going to be late for work if we don't leave now."

"We're not going to work
. "
He made his way toward her. When he reached her, he cupped her cheek with his hand. She was trembling. He could feel her body shake. "You need to sit down. Let's go to the-"

"I don't want to sit down and I don't want to talk." She took a step back and he let his hand fall to his side. "You can do what you want, but I'm going to work." She started to turn away.

Galen grabbed her and pulled her close. She struggled against him for a moment and then gave up the fight. He picked her up bridal style, walked to the couch, and sat down. She snuggled close and laid her head against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and said softly, "That was Strauss on the phone. Honey, your father - he's dead." He felt her stiffen up. There was more he wanted to say, but he held his tongue. She needed time to take it in. He gazed at the wall and waited.

After several minutes of silence, Nicole raised her head and looked at Galen. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears and her face was pale. "What-" She winced at the hoarseness in her voice. "What was the cause of d-death?"

"No one knows right now." Galen brushed the hair back from her face. "We'll have to wait until an autopsy is performed to find out." He stroked her cheek. "Do you need anything? Is there anything I can do?"

"Just hold me," she whispered.

Galen slid his arm under her knees and stood. He carried her to the bedroom, where he found Charlie curled up at the foot of the bed. The dog jumped up and started barking. "Charlie," he said firmly, locking eyes with the dog. "Be quiet." He laid Nicole on the bed and removed her shoes. She unhooked her holster from her belt and placed it on the nightstand. Galen walked around to the other side of the bed, slipped out of his shoes, and laid down.

Nicole scooted backwards until she met Galen's chest. She reached behind her for his arm and draped it over her. A shaky sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes. "Stay with me. I mean if I fall asleep please don't leave me."

Galen kissed the nape of her neck. "I'll be right here. I won't leave you."

Charlie crawled up the bed and settled beside Nicole. She scratched his belly. "Don't you leave me either, little
guy.
"

When Nicole woke, hours later, she found herself lying on her back. Galen's arm was heavy across her belly. She breathed in his scent and savored the warmth and closeness of his body. Moving her head, she looked at him and saw he was awake. He lowered his head and kissed her jaw. She nuzzled his cheek. "I must admit this is the first time I've shared a bed with someone." She glanced at the ceiling. "Before the rape I couldn't bring myself to let anyone get that close. After the very thought of being near a man sent me into a panic."

"I'm honored you let me be your first," Galen said.

Nicole squeezed his arm. "I want you to be my first in many things." She swallowed hard. "I was a virgin when I was raped." She heard him suck in a breath. "As far as I'm concerned that wasn't my first time. I want it to be with you."

"When you're ready," he murmured, "all you have to do
is
tell me."

"I will, love." She rolled over onto her side and buried her face against his chest. "I should be angry with my father, Galen. I should hate him for what he did to me and to the people I love. I should be glad that he's gone, but I'm not." Tears filled her eyes. "I'm sad. I'm sad that he never told me that he loved me and that he was proud of me. I'm sad that we couldn't be good to each other."

Galen moved Nicole onto her back and hovered over her. A tear leaked out of the corner of her eye and he caught it with his finger. "Sweetheart, you were good to him."

"Was I?" she croaked. "I had him arrested. Not once, but twice."

"Honey," he groaned. "He needed to be held accountable for his actions. The blame lied with him. Not with you." He caught another tear as it escaped. "Don't think for one second that you did anything wrong. I'm sorry that he wasn't the father you needed and deserved." He gazed deeply into her eyes. "I love you and I'm proud of you. Don't ever forget that. When you start to feel as though you have no one left remember that you have me. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

"You better not." Nicole touched his face with a trembling hand. "My heart couldn't take losing you. I love you."

Galen placed feather light kisses on her eyelids, cheeks and the corners of her mouth. "I love you, too." He pressed his forehead to hers. "Stay with me tonight. Let me take care of you. I don't want you to be alone."

"I'll stay," she breathed.

"Your father died of a massive heart attack," Dr. Cain informed Nicole. "I'm sorry, dear. There wasn't anything anyone could have done to save him."

"I see," Nicole said quietly. "When are you planning to release his body?"

"Tomorrow," the doctor answered. "That is if you are ready. I could have him transported to a funeral home of your choice."

"I don't know yet what I want to do with him," Nicole said. "I need to think about it."

"I'll keep him here at the morgue until you're ready to make a decision," Dr. Cain told her. "You try and get some rest, dear. We'll talk tomorrow."

"All right."
Nicole said goodbye and hung up the phone.

"What did she say?" Galen asked from the kitchen doorway.

"He died of a massive heart attack." Feeling a sharp pain between her eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose. "She said there wasn't anything anyone could have done to save him didn't
know he had a bad heart. I always thought he would die from a bad liver due to his heavy drinking."

"No one knows how they're going to die," Galen said. "The tea's ready. Would you like something to eat with it?"

"No, thank you."

He frowned. "You barely touched your dinner."

"I'm not hungry." Nicole rubbed her forehead. "My stomach is in knots." She smiled at him weakly. "Thank you anyway."

"I'll get the tea," Galen said. "Do you take sugar or honey?"

"Sugar."
While she waited for Galen to come back she looked through a photo album she had picked up from the coffee table. Flipping through it, she saw pictures of a happy family. It made her heart ache. Tears sprang to her raw, red eyes and she blinked them back.

"I see you found my photo album," Galen said, carrying two cups of tea to the couch. "Mom put it together for me after my-" He halted.

"After your Dad died?" Nicole guessed.

"Yes." He held out a cup. "Careful. It's hot."

"Thank you." She took the cup from him and sipped cautiously at the steaming liquid. "Your Dad was handsome. I can see where you got your good looks."

"Do you have any pictures of your Mom and Sister?" he asked, sitting down beside her.

"I do." Nicole put her cup down on the coffee table and grabbed her purse from the end table. She dug through it and fished out her wallet. Opening it, she passed it to Galen.

He stared at a picture of Nicole with her mother and sister. "I see red hair ran in the family."

"That and freckles," she sighed.

He smiled at her. "I like your freckles." He gave her back the wallet. "Your Mom and Sister were beautiful."

"Yes, they were," Nicole agreed. She returned the wallet to her purse and reached for her teacup. Wrapping her hands around the warm cup, she sat back against the couch cushion.

"After you drink your tea why don't you go take a long hot bath," Galen suggested. "In the foyer is an overnight bag with your clothes in it. Your neighbor Alicia dropped it off a little while ago.
I called her and asked her if she would bring by some things for you. I thought you would be more comfortable in your clothes instead of mine."

He was so thoughtful and sweet. Nicole felt a lump form in her throat. How did she get so lucky to have him in her life? She set her cup down and moved closer to him. He raised his arm and she cuddled up against his side. With love shining in her eyes she looked at him.
Please, God,
she prayed.
Don't take him from me too. You have enough angels. Let me keep this one. Please, let me keep this one.