Kate James - Home To Stay

When the briefing was concluded and all the questions answered, Shannon left the conference room, along with everyone else. She didn’t know if the others felt as dejected as she did. Yeah, cops hoped they’d never get so callous that they didn’t feel for the victims, but Shannon had to wonder if she’d be able to deal with this sort of thing on a regular basis.

She focused on her work and got some satisfaction when she and Darwin were called out and located an Alzheimer’s patient who’d wandered away from Ocean Crest Hospital; they were able to return him unharmed to his family. They also helped apprehend a man who’d crashed a stolen vehicle, injuring an elderly woman, and had fled the scene. He blew well over the legal limit and, right now, was warming a bench in a holding cell.

But her thoughts kept drifting back to Sawyer Evans and his son, Dylan. How could she not be emotionally engaged when a child’s well-being was at stake? And it wasn’t only about the boy. It was the father, too.

There was something about Sawyer... He stirred up feelings in her that were unprecedented in her experience, and she couldn’t set them aside. Was it empathy she felt because of Charlie?

She tried to take comfort in the fact that the investigation was a top priority. The assistance from the FBI added much-appreciated resources.

But no new information had emerged. The time factor associated with when Sawyer had left the DA’s office made it less likely that one of the people he’d prosecuted was responsible for the abduction, but the investigative team could not ignore it, as they had no other leads.

Shannon knew the SDPD and FBI couldn’t discount a random, opportunistic abduction either, improbable as it seemed. In addition to tapping their combined manpower, they were appealing to the public for help.

Missing-child posters went up across San Diego County. She’d heard that Sawyer had used his own resources to broaden the distribution. It wasn’t just because Shannon was focused on the case that she saw Dylan’s smiling face everywhere she went.

Shannon knew that as more time passed, concerns about the boy’s safety intensified. The first twenty-four hours were crucial, and they’d pulled out all the stops in their search.

But those critical early hours had now passed.

Sawyer had come into the division midday. His eyes had been vacant until they met hers. He’d paused, and she’d felt a brief connection before he moved on to catch up with Bigelow.

Sawyer must’ve been going out of his mind. For Shannon and her parents, it had been a little over a day until they learned Charlie’s fate. She remembered vividly those excruciating hours of not knowing.

Long after Sawyer left, the raw pain she’d seen on his face haunted her. She knew it was contrary to department policy, but she had to contact him. Offer him whatever comfort she could.

She hoped that if this turned out to be a second transgression, it wouldn’t end her career with the K-9 Unit when it had barely begun.

She thought about going to Sawyer’s home at the end of her shift. She knew the address. She’d been there with Logan on the day of the abduction.

Even if she was to step over the line and contact Sawyer, going to his home uninvited was decidedly wrong. She’d stop by his office instead. She debated staying in uniform and decided to go in civilian clothes. After all, it wasn’t official police business. She didn’t want to create any false expectations.

She’d worked the seven-to-three shift. If she changed quickly, she could be at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law by four, a time she assumed was within the normal hours of a professor. She wouldn’t call first, since she couldn’t explain over the phone why she wanted to see him. She didn’t entirely understand it herself.

She’d take her chances. If he was giving a lecture, so be it. Then she’d leave a message.

At the school, she got Darwin settled in the climate-controlled comfort of her Explorer and followed the signs to the faculty offices.

Sitting behind the reception counter was a slim young woman with a pretty face and a mass of wavy auburn hair falling nearly to her waist. The name plaque on her desk said Miranda Smith.

Shannon absently ran her hand through her own short hair. The word tomboy flitted through her mind. The presence of this beautiful, feminine woman made her feel self-conscious.

Miranda glanced up and smiled, revealing perfect, even white teeth. “May I help you?”

Well, at least Shannon had nice teeth, too. The braces she’d worn for the better part of two years as a teen had ensured that. She smiled back and walked to the counter. “I’d like to see Mr., ah, Professor Evans, please, if he’s available.”

Miranda’s smile faded immediately and her eyes clouded. “I’m sorry, but Professor Evans isn’t here. He’s taking some time off...” Of course he wouldn’t be at work while his son was missing! Shannon should’ve thought of that. She was obviously more affected than she’d realized. “Yes. Thank you,” she murmured. She pulled out a business card and a pen. Jotting her personal cell phone number on the back, she handed it to Miranda. “I’d appreciate if you’d ask him to call me...when he gets a chance.”

The receptionist accepted the card and glanced at it. Her eyes rounded. “You’re with the police? Is there news?” she asked hopefully. “I can try to reach him at home right now.”

Shannon shook her head. “I’m sorry, no.” She suddenly wanted to take the card back and leave. This was a bad idea, but it was too late to undo what she’d done. “Please just have him call me. There’s no urgency.” She thanked the receptionist and quickly left.

Inside her Explorer, she grasped the steering wheel with both hands and rested her forehead on it. How dumb was that? she asked herself.

CHAPTER FIVE

SAWYER SAT ON his sofa, head back, eyes shut. He’d closed the shades. He didn’t want to see sunshine, nor did he care what time of day it was.

He’d never felt so helpless, or so distraught, in his life.

He wanted to rage. He wanted to lash out.

He wanted to give in and break down.

But his lethargy prevented all of it. And what purpose would any of those reactions serve?

They wouldn’t bring his son home.

Not knowing where Dylan was... Maybe injured...

No, he refused to think about that.

As a father, he’d sense if harm had befallen his son. Wouldn’t he?

His parents. Meghan. They’d all wanted to stay with him.

He couldn’t handle company. He couldn’t bear their pain. The weight of his own was intolerable.

He just wanted to be alone.

And he hated being alone, in his own head, with his own thoughts. It was a dangerous place for him right now.

He wanted to be with Dylan, but that was impossible.

The sudden jangle of his phone startled him.

He kept his cell phone within reach at all times. Wishing. Praying. Hoping beyond hope that it would be the police. Calling to say they’d found Dylan. Safe and unharmed.

But whenever the phone had rung, it’d been his mother or father, his sister or a friend.

He picked it up and checked the call display.

It was his office.

He couldn’t imagine what they’d want. He’d advised the dean he’d be off until further notice. When he’d told her why, there’d been no further questions.

So why was Miranda calling?

He nearly put the phone back down, but curiosity got the better of him.

“Sawyer, how are you?” Miranda asked as soon as he answered.

Sawyer leaned his head back and stared up at the ceiling. How did she think he was, with his son missing for almost two days?

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “That was a stupid question.”