Mariah Stewart - Dead End

Evan shrugged. “Hey, you know, rumors are flying around about everything this week.”

It was true-John Mancini had offered Evan an assist in getting into an accelerated program-but Evan didn’t feel like getting into any of that right then and there. Tonight was Disco Night at Taps, and with the Bee Gees playing, Tom singing along in a weak falsetto, and all his old friends there with him, Evan pushed all thoughts of his next career move from his mind. He waved to Sean Mercer, the police chief from Broeder, who was weaving through the crowd with Evan’s sister, Amanda.

“Hey, hero-man.” Amanda hugged her older brother. “I saw you on the news last night. The local stations are really playing you up big-time, aren’t they?”

“There’s so much focus on the arrests of the crew who was running those brothels in the county, it’s a good thing. Not the publicity for me, but shining the spotlight on this trafficking in children…”

“I couldn’t believe this was happening, right there in Carleton.” Amanda frowned. “Everyone I’ve spoken with has reacted the same way. No one believes it could happen here.”

“It’s happening in a lot of places. It’s good that the story’s out there. People should be aware that this is going on in their own backyards; it’s way more common than even I ever imagined. And I’m a cop.”

Sean motioned to the bartender, who promptly set up three beers. He handed one to Amanda and one to Evan, who waved it off and pointed to a place on the bar where six or seven beers were already lined up.

“If I drink every beer that’s been bought for me tonight, I’ll have to crawl home. I’ve already had three, not counting this one. I think I’ll just nurse the one I have for a while.”

“I’m really proud of you, Evan,” Amanda whispered.

“Thank you. But it doesn’t take much heroism to save the woman you love when someone is holding a gun to her head.”

“Where is said woman you love?” Amanda looked around the crowded bar.

“She’s still in Virginia. She’ll be here on Friday, though. We have big plans for the weekend.”

“A romantic weekend away? Cape May? New York?” Amanda asked.

“West Broeder. The backyard. Just me, Annie, and a couple of rosebushes.” He grinned. “I already bought ’em. They’re lined up along the back fence, just waiting to be planted.”

“Way to plan a getaway,” Sean deadpanned.

“Hey, that’s what my girl wants, that’s what she gets.”

“Crosby, the boss is here. He’s looking for you.” Johnny Schenk slapped him on the back. “He wants to kiss your butt a little. I say let him.”

Evan laughed and stepped around his sister to greet Chris Malone, who, still in his dark suit and dark tie, looked out of place in the smoky, loud neighborhood bar. He was a sport to stop in, Evan acknowledged as he accepted the congratulations and words of praise Malone had offered.

An hour later, his ears ringing from too many repetitions of “I Love the Nightlife” and Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” Evan slumped into a booth opposite Joe and leaned against the hard wooden back. They had a basket of chips and a bowl of peanuts between them, and a couple of beers. Just like a hundred other nights they’d shared in this booth, in this bar, after their shift together as detectives in the Broeder Police Department. Those were the good old days, Evan was thinking as he grabbed a handful of peanuts.

“Getting too old for this kind of partying, Sullivan,” Evan told Joe.

“Hey, I know what you mean. Nights when I’m not working, I’m asleep by now.” He glanced at his watch. “I should probably get going soon. Rosemary and Joey are leaving early in the morning, and all the commotion always wakes me up.”

“All what commotion?”

“Oh, you know, getting everything out into the car, the dog starts barking… though I have to say, they’re getting better at it. It doesn’t take ’em as long to get on the road as it did when they first started.”

“Started what? I’m confused. What are they doing?”

“Didn’t I tell you? We’ve been looking for something for Joey to get into, something he could do, so on a whim back in November, we took him to this dog show down near Philly, the big one, at the big expo center. Honest to God, Evan, you never saw so damned many dogs in your life. And all of them just groomed so nice, better than a lot of the guys in here tonight, I gotta tell ya.”

Joe took a sip of his beer.

“Anyway, this show is what they call benched, which means that the dogs are all up on these tables for most of the day, and you can walk back there, see them, ask questions, and learn about the different breeds. It was interesting, I gotta admit, but Joey, he was just beside himself. They have these kids, they call them junior handlers, who compete in the rings with their dogs. He started talking to a couple of them, got interested, and next thing we know, he’s asking if he can do it, too. How do you like that? We spent years shuttling him to soccer, baseball, football-all that stuff he hated and didn’t do well at. And here he gets all psyched up about showing dogs.”

“So what did you do? How does a kid get started in that?”

“While we were there, he talked to someone in one of the local kennel clubs, who took a shine to him. This woman, she’s a breeder out near Reading, she invited him over, taught him the ropes, worked with him all winter. She’s a terrific lady; she and Rosie have gotten to be good friends. Anyway, she offers to let Joey show one of her dogs in one of these junior handling competitions back in the spring. He doesn’t win, but he does okay. Next thing I know, it’s every weekend.” Joe rested his arms on the table and laughed. “It’s a pain in the ass, vacuuming all that damned dog hair out of the back of the car-I had to buy Rosie one of those big SUVs to carry around the dog and the equipment, you wouldn’t believe all the crap you have to cart around-but it’s been worth it. The kid is happier than I’ve ever seen him. Doing better in school, too. It’s like a miracle has occurred.”

Evan felt a twitch start somewhere low in his gut, the twitch that was the equivalent of a light going on or a distant bell starting to ring. He stared at his beer, not wanting to analyze the twitch, or look into the light, or hear the bell.

“So did you buy him a dog?” Evan didn’t want to look at Joe, didn’t want to let his imagination take him further than he wanted to go.

“Naw, didn’t have to. The breeder has an older dog she lets him show. Dog stays in our house, sleeps in his bed. This big, hairy thing. Clumber spaniel, you ever seen one of them? Rare, this breeder is the only one in this part of the state. Great dog, though, gentle as a lamb. Loves Joey, Joey loves him. It’s been great for the kid.”

“That’s great, Joe, that you found something for your son to enjoy.” Evan couldn’t even raise his eyes to look at Joe. If he was wrong…

Evan prayed he was wrong.

He’d known Joe for fifteen years. He’d danced at his wedding, he’d held his son in his arms at the hospital on the day he was born. For years, he’d watched Joe’s back, and Joe had watched his.

“Yeah, it’s been real good for him.” Joe nodded and popped a few more peanuts into his mouth.

“Hey, I’m going to hit the men’s room,” Evan told him. The gnawing at his insides was unbearable. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back. I might ask you for a ride home. I’m feeling a little woozy after all those beers. I’m not used to drinking so much anymore.”

“I hear you, buddy.” Joe nodded again. “I’ll be here.”

Evan walked to the back of the bar and down the short hall that led to the restrooms.