Kathryn Springer - Tested by Fire

“You don’t always know who the bad guys are, do you.”

His words cut into her deeply. No, she didn’t know. If she did, reports wouldn’t change and court notices wouldn’t disappear into thin air.

“And are you one of the bad guys?”

“I might be.” He released his hold on her and rose to his feet. He extended his hand, but she ignored it and scooted into a sitting position.

Colin trotted over and pushed his face against John’s leg.

“Traitor,” Finn muttered. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she grudgingly accepted his hand and let him pull her to her feet.

“Never let your guard down,” he said tersely.

“That’s your code, not mine.”

“It’s every officer’s,” John argued. “I knew an officer who was off duty and went into a convenience store for a gallon of milk. The place was being held up and he walked right into the middle of it.”

“What happened?” Finn asked, but she was afraid she already knew the answer.

“The guy who was robbing the place recognized him first and fired.”

Finn turned away. “I don’t need to hear any more.”

“I think you do,” John said, his voice harsh. “Don’t you see how fragile you are? How easy it was to take you down?”

Tears stung Finn’s eyes. “I’m not expecting a friend to attack me.” Even as she said the words, she realized that that was what was happening at the department.

“Finn, some people just pretend to be your friend.”

Finn slept late the next morning. It was something she seldom did and she recognized it for what it was—an escape from the reality of the evening before. John had left shortly after he’d confronted her about letting her guard down.

She rolled over and closed her eyes. Lord, he needs to meet You. He needs to learn to trust again. I know You can help him. I know it. Do what You need to do to chip away at the walls.

When peace started to quiet the churning inside, she got up, showered and dressed. The rain had ended sometime during the night and already patches of blue sky were showing through the clouds. When she walked outside, everything smelled fresh and water pinged gently from the eaves to the flagstone at her feet.

Seamus was standing on the patio in his bathrobe, holding a cup of coffee. He waved a greeting.

“Hi, Chief.”

“Feeling rested this morning?”

“Not really,” she said simply, mentally reliving the restless night she had spent. “But I’ll sleep better tonight.”

“So will I,” Seamus admitted. “I think I counted raindrops until two in the morning.”

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