Linda Warren - A Texas Child

She could feel Jessie’s eyes on her.

“You never told me why you and Levi broke up. At the time, you said you didn’t want to talk about it. Do you want to talk about it now?”

Myra stood up. She couldn’t remain still any longer. “I didn’t tell you because I knew if I did you would look at me differently.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’d think I was a horrible person.”

“Not likely.” Jessie lifted an eyebrow. “Nothing on this earth will ever change my opinion of you. You were the only bright spot in my dismal childhood and I know you as well as I know myself. If you did something you’re not proud of, then it was just a bad choice.”

Awkward silence followed and that was new for them. They could always talk about anything.

“Tell me what happened,” Jessie said softly.

Myra resumed her seat on the sofa and gathered her thoughts and courage. “You remember when that serial rapist was released from prison and, a week later, he followed a mother and her sixteen-year-old daughter home from the mall?”

“Yes. Levi was involved. The story was everywhere, but I don’t remember much of the details.”

“A neighbor was looking out her window when the guy forced them inside the house with a gun. She called 9-1-1. Levi was in the area and the first to respond. He was ordered to stand down until the situation was assessed, but as soon as Levi heard who the truck in the driveway belonged to, he knew the man was dangerous. He’d arrested him before. He parked down the street, out of sight, and walked to the house. Hearing a scream coming from the upstairs, he acted quickly, disobeying a direct order.

“He got in through one of the downstairs windows. The father had been shot in the living room. The screams and sobbing continued as Levi made his way to one of the bedrooms. The mother was tied up and the guy was ripping clothes off the teenager. His gun lay on the carpet. Levi burst in and the guy immediately went for his gun. Levi shot him.”

“I remember Levi received an accommodation for his bravery.”

“Not at first. He was immediately suspended for disobeying a direct order. But the father survived, and when he heard what had happened, he was livid that Levi had been suspended for saving his wife and daughter. He had political connections, and once he got through making phone calls, the suspension was lifted immediately and the accommodation awarded.”

“I don’t understand what this has to do with you and Levi.” Jessie’s face scrunched into a frown.

Myra wrapped her arms around her waist as if to ward off what she had to say, but she had to tell Jessie. She had to tell someone.

“Before the father woke up, the cops and detectives were all behind Levi, especially Stu, who was assistant police chief, and they supported his choice to go into that house against a direct order. They got a petition going so everyone could sign to show their support, and it was to be given to the chief of police and higher-ups.”

“Oh, Myra.” Jessie placed her hands over her mouth. “You didn’t sign it, did you?”

“No.” It came out as a moan. She rested her head on the sofa and covered her face with her hands. “The D.A. hadn’t signed it and I didn’t know what my position was supposed to be. Can you believe that? I was afraid of losing my job and, in the end, I lost something much more important. When Levi saw my name wasn’t on the petition, he came to my office and said, ‘You didn’t sign it,’ and I had to say no. He walked out without another word. His things were gone from my apartment that afternoon and I never spoke to him again...until today.”

“My—”

“Wait, that’s not quite true. I met him in the hall a couple of times and told him how sorry I was. He walked away without a word.” She drew a long breath. “Now you can tell me what a horrible self-centered bitch I am.”

“I will do no such thing.” Jessie scooted closer and hugged her. “I’m sorry, sweetie, but no one is perfect and—”

Myra sprang to her feet. “Don’t do that, Jessie.”

“What?”

“Be understanding and nice. I need you to be angry with me.”

Jessie shrugged. “Sorry. Not gonna happen.”

Myra paced. “When he walked into my office looking so hurt and disillusioned, I knew I’d screwed up so bad I could never make it right. I don’t understand why I let him down so badly. I’ve never been afraid to speak up for what I believe in, and that day, it seemed like another person had taken over my body and my thoughts.”

“It was your first big job and you had to go through several interviews before they hired you. Since you’re a Mexican-American woman, you were afraid they wouldn’t 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.