Chris Read online

  She pulled all her ingredients out and started to prepare the cake batter.

  She was enjoying having free-reign in the kitchen. It was her domain now, Lizzie had told her.

  It was so wonderful living here. Being with her aunt and being able to help her out. Not just for the sake of it, but for her aunt’s sanity and health.

  And she was certainly enjoying the peace and quiet of country living.

  She sighed. Why didn’t she move here sooner?

  Of course she knew the answer to that question; she was afraid she’d leave behind all memories of Dale. Of her wonderful husband and everything that went with that. Friends, police support, and the unit they’d lived in together for so long.

  But that would never happen. How could she ever forget the love of her life? The heart of her very being?

  She’d never forget him, and she knew it.

  Charlotte swiped at an errant tear and took a deep breath. She needed to stop thinking and start working.

  The timer went off on the oven and she pulled the next batch of apple and cinnamon muffins out and placed them on a tray to cool. So far they were her most popular item. What would the customers think when she introduced some new baked goods?

  It had been a hard slog training as a pastry chef. She was working full-time, then going off to school at night. Dale knew it was her dream to open her own catering business and encouraged her.

  Even when it meant they didn’t get to spend quality time together. He still pushed her to finish her course, so she could follow through on a life-long dream.

  And she did. But at what cost? They lost so many precious hours together.

  How was she to know he would be gone from her life so soon?

  Charlotte closed her eyes and braced her shoulders. Why did these thoughts come to her at the most inopportune times?

  Why did her darling Dale have to die?

  Lizzie came rushing through the door, flustering about. “We’re out of muffins!” she said, then noticed them on the cooling racks. “Oh thank goodness.”

  She looked across at Charlotte. “Are you okay, sweetie?” Her voice was soft, as though she knew what Charlotte was going through. And of course, she did, as her own husband had also died young. In much the same way as Charlotte’s darling Dale.

  “I’m fine,” Charlotte said, reaching for the tray. “I’ll bring them out in a moment.”

  Lizzie stared at the ingredients that had been rounded up. “What are you making?” she asked curiously.

  Charlotte glanced up from what she was doing. “Carrot cake,” she said. “I thought it might be a nice change for your customers.”

  Lizzie clapped her hands together. “That will be wonderful,” she said excitedly. “The lunch crowd will love it!” She grabbed the tray of warm muffins and left the kitchen with an added spring in her step.

  Moments later she popped her head back into the kitchen. “By the way, they are our customers now.” Quick as a flash, she was gone again.

  Charlotte pondered Lizzie’s last words. She hadn’t even thought about how long she would stay in River Valley.

  In her mind, this was an extended vacation, but she certainly loved the place so far.

  She hadn’t met many of the locals yet, as she’d spent most of her time where she loved it most – in the kitchen.

  She smiled.

  This was what she always wanted to do. But the smile soon left her face. If only Dale had been here to see how far she’d come.

  She braced her shoulders and got back to her carrot cake batter. It wouldn’t be long before the lunch crowd were looking for something to eat. And she needed to ensure there was plenty of variety to choose from.

  ~~~

  Before Chris even got out the door of Chase’s office, the sheriff’s pager also went off.

  Something was going on.

  Chris lifted his eyes to look at Chase, who was staring at him. It sounded serious and all available police were required to attend a hostage situation in a nearby town.

  Chris took a deep breath. In all the years he’d been a deputy, he could only recall one other time when the River Valley police had ever been requested to attend a situation outside their jurisdiction.

  That one had ended well. He wasn’t so sure this one would, given the information they had so far.

  Chase turned toward the safe and removed his gun. It was rare for any of the uniformed members to carry their firearms in the building. It wasn’t necessary.

  Chris scurried off to his office to do the same.

  They met at the sheriff’s car a short time later. “I’ll coordinate everyone while you drive,” Chase instructed.

  And that’s exactly what happened. As Chris drove, lights and sirens blaring, Chase organized the rest of the uniformed members.

  It wasn’t long before they heard the sirens of the other officers not far behind them.

  “There.” Chase spotted the scene before Chris did, and indicated where he should pull in. He parked not far behind a police vehicle from another county, and they gingerly moved forward, hands on their guns.

  Chase went over and spoke to the hostage negotiator, then walked back to Chris and the rest of his team. “Sit tight and wait,” was all he said. “So far it seems to be under control.”

  So they did. They stood around watching and waiting. For the next three hours. It was quiet. Too quiet, Chris felt, but they stayed put as they’d been asked to do.

  “He’s coming out.” It was the negotiator. He’d managed to convince the perpetrator to let his girlfriend and their three-year-old child go. But he was willing to give himself up first.

  Praise the Lord.

  The front door opened, and two officers ran toward the perpetrator. He wasn’t very old, late 20’s Chris guessed. But he was agitated. Very agitated.

  Chris didn’t like it at all. He was prepared to move quickly if necessary, and he was sure it would be.

  As the two officers got closer, the man turned back and reached for something inside the door. He was so quick no one realized what was happening before a shot rang out.

  It was at that point the scene turned into utter and absolute chaos. At least ten officers ran toward the hostage taker and pinned him to the ground. Three more ran toward the officer who’d been hit. Officer John Birch.

  Two officers started CPR while a third applied pressure to stop the bleeding. An ambulance was called.

  Chris’s heartbeat escalated. He didn’t know Officer Birch well, but he knew it was unlikely he’d survive until the ambulance arrived.

  He also knew it could have been any one of them. It was just dumb luck he was the one to be sent to take the hostage taker into custody.

  He thought about the officer on the ground. He wasn’t very old; mid thirties perhaps. He felt for the man’s family. His wife, his children, and even his parents. He couldn’t imagine what they were about to go through. His heart was breaking for them all.

  It seemed like forever until the paramedics arrived, but, it was only minutes. They began to work on the officer within seconds, but it was too late. He’d been shot through the heart and would have died almost immediately, they were told.

  As the heartbreaking scene played out in front of him, Chris noticed a terrified young woman with a small child walk slowly out of the front door. She looked scared and bewildered at the scene in front of her.

  He gingerly walked toward her, realizing that through the chaos that had ensued, no one else had noticed her. She was carrying the child and clinging to her tightly.

  A police woman caught up to Chris, and together they helped the woman with the child and took them to the waiting ambulance.

  When he had woken this morning, Chris had no idea this was how deadly the day would become.

  Chapter Two

  Charlotte watched as her aunt made cup after cup of coffee and put them into carry trays, then placed those trays onto a trolley. She asked Charlotte to bag up at least two dozen muffins as
well.

  Lizzie had heard what happened and wanted to help where she could. That was so typical of her aunt.

  It was only a couple of blocks to the sheriff’s office, and between them they would manage the filled trolley. It was the least they could do, Lizzie had told her, and Charlotte knew she was right.

  What those poor men had been through this afternoon didn’t bear thinking. She knew what her own dear Dale had endured in such circumstances.

  Between them they lifted the trolley up the steps to the historical building and headed toward reception, where Lizzie was prepared to drop and run. As they were about to leave, Chase came out of his office. Chris wasn’t far behind him.

  The two men looked drained.

  Lizzie ran to them and hugged them both. “I was so scared when I heard.” she said, hugging them again.

  Charlotte had never seen her aunt so upset. “We bought coffee and muffins for the troops,” she said, hoping the interruption might calm her aunt. Lizzie turned toward her and smiled.

  “Of course,” she said. “I was so worried I almost forgot.” She laughed a bitter laugh. “That is why we’re here.”

  Chase led them into the break room and rounded up his staff. He put his arm around Lizzie and squeezed her shoulders. “You’re a good ol’ bird,” he told her affectionately.

  Charlotte took in the scene. As a newcomer to town, she could see why her aunt had stayed here so long.

  She spotted Chris and offered him a coffee. “Thanks Charlotte,” he said, taking a cup of the brew. “That will really hit the spot.”

  Their fingers touched as she handed over the cup, and a thrill went through her. Surely that was because of the circumstances? She didn’t even know this man. Barely anyway. They’d only met this morning, and that was only fleeting.

  She had to admit to herself she’d taken notice of him at the store. Then she reminded herself she wasn’t interested in other men. That is, other than Dale.

  And certainly not another cop. She’d done her time as a cop’s wife and look what happened. She’d been right to worry.

  Chris put on a good façade but being married to a cop for so long she knew the signs. The dark circles under his eyes, the way he held his body, and the slight tremor in his hands.

  What he’d been through today had affected him more than he would ever let on.

  She passed over a muffin and he quickly took it. “You’re a great cook,” he told her, taking a mouthful.

  She smiled at him. “Thanks,” she said. “I do my best.”

  “Don’t tell your aunt,” he said conspiratorially. “But these are way better than she’s ever made.”

  “Is that so, Christian?” Aunt Lizzie laughed as she hugged him again. “I’m so glad you boys are all okay.” She stayed close to Chris and Chase, looking them both up and down.

  Charlotte couldn’t begin to imagine the mess she’d be in if either of them had been hurt. She moved closer to her aunt and put her arms around her, letting her know she was there for her.

  She had no plans to leave any time soon, and perhaps she needed to let her aunt know that sooner rather than later. She seemed to need reassurance right now.

  As the coffee and muffins ran out, the room cleared. “You’re a very decent and special woman, Lizzie,” Chris told her. “On behalf of us all, thank you.” He gave her a long hug, then left the room.

  “He’s right,” Charlotte said, clearing the rubbish away. “You are very special, and we all love you.”

  ~~~

  The funeral for Officer John Birch was well attended, not only by those who knew him, but out of respect, several officers from River Valley also attended, including Sheriff Callahan, Deputy Dolan, Officer Sawyer and more.

  Lizzie also attended, Chris noted. She really was a wonderful lady, and he admired her greatly.

  After the service, everyone congregated for the wake. It was a time to reflect on the life of Officer Birch.

  The church had been packed, and it had been difficult to see who had attended apart from his immediate colleagues and some locals.

  At the wake, Lizzie noticed a woman surrounded by the man’s colleagues. As though in a protective cocoon. “It’s his wife,” Chris told her. “Their baby is due in just a few weeks,” he added as she took in her very pregnant belly.

  “And now a child grows up without its daddy.” Her voice broke, and she turned her head away. Chris slid his arm around the concerned woman and pulled her close.

  “It’s a very sad situation,” he said, looking down at the distressed woman. “But what can you do?” It was a rhetorical question, but Lizzie answered anyway after thinking for just a short time.

  She spoke so quietly, Chris nearly missed it. “We can hold a fundraiser,” she said. “Raise money for the child’s future.”

  “That’s a great idea,” he told her. “But it will take a lot of work to organise.” He squeezed her shoulder and thought that would be the end of it. Knowing Lizzie, he should have known better.

  “Okay, that’s settled then,” she said. “I’ll get a committee together and we’ll make plans.” Her mind made up, Lizzie gave him a hug, and whispered in his ear. “I’ll let you know when the first committee meeting is being held.”

  Chris stared at Lizzie’s back as she retreated. What just happened? He didn’t agree to anything. Or did he?

  He honestly didn’t think so, but he wouldn’t object. A fellow officer had died, and his wife had been left to bring up an as-yet unborn child. Her life was going to be difficult. The least they could do was make it as easy as possible.

  Now all he had to do was wait for Lizzie’s call and follow her orders. He grinned knowing that’s exactly what he’d end up doing.

  ~~~

  As Chris entered the café, Charlotte noticed the dark circles under his eyes.

  The previous day’s activities had affected everyone. Not just those directly involved, but people from surrounding areas, as well as friends of the officers involved.

  Not to mention the slain officer’s family.

  Charlotte had not long left the kitchen when she saw him. He looked bedraggled and decidedly tired.

  She stopped mid-stride.

  He looked up and strode toward her, taking the heavy tray out of her hands.

  “Charlotte,” he said, nodding his head.

  Her heart skipped a beat. Since when did she react this way to perfect strangers? But she knew the answer to that – since she met Deputy Christian Dolan, that’s when.

  Her aunt would mention him several times a day, dropping hints about the eligible bachelor, hoping it would pique her interest.

  From what she’d seen so far, he was not looking for a relationship, and just quietly, neither was she.

  Charlotte would happily accept his friendship. She could do with a few good friends. Moving to a new town, away from everything she loved and knew had been hard. Particularly given the circumstances.

  She put her hand over his. “Christian,” she said quietly. “You look tired. I, um,” She gazed into his eyes. “I know yesterday was difficult. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  She pulled her hand away as he moved toward the front counter and Aunt Lizzie, who was watching every move, as she often did.

  He deposited the heavy tray on the back counter, ready for the two women to place the baked goods into the glass display cabinet.

  “An extra-large coffee would be good,” he said, reaching into his pocket. “And maybe one of those blueberry muffins.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” she snapped. She felt annoyed but knew she shouldn’t. She’d seen Dale like this after a siege. It was part of the after-shock from such an event.

  She snatched up the tray and started toward the kitchen. Chris was a step behind her. “Let me,” he said. Reluctantly she surrendered the heavy item.

  “Thanks,” she said as they moved toward the kitchen. “Christian, I...”

  He stared at her so intently she stopped ta
lking. “I guess it doesn’t matter,” she said, putting the tray above the oven. She wanted to tell him about Dale. That she understood what he was feeling, how it affected him.

  But the moment was lost.

  “Well, I guess I’d best be off. Criminals to catch, paperwork to do,” he said hurriedly, then tipped his hat to her.

  And just like that he was gone.

  Charlotte’s heart sank. She felt empty, incomplete when he wasn’t around. As though something was missing from her life.

  She shook herself. What a crazy way to feel. The man was almost a stranger, yet she felt connected to him. Now, she wasn’t sure, but there was something. Some weird sort of spark.

  Perhaps they really were meant to be friends, and the universe was telling her so?

  Charlotte heard the tinkle of the bell above the door and knew he’d left. It was time to get moving. Once the mid-morning rush started she wouldn’t have time to think.

  The door to the kitchen opened.

  “What’s going on Charlotte,” Lizzie asked curiously.

  Charlotte looked at her but didn’t really see her. “Charlotte?”

  She waved her hand across in front of her face. “Nothing aunty.” When Lizzie didn’t seem convinced, Charlotte reiterated. “Really, it’s nothing.” She turned back to preparing for the rush hour.

  ~~~

  Charlotte had just finished cutting up the second carrot cake for the day and placing it in the display cabinet when she saw the police vehicle pull up out the front.

  The little bell tinkled. “Afternoon, Charlotte.”

  The way her name rolled off his tongue made her heart sing. “Christian,” she said, her heart fluttering. “What can I do for you on this gloomy afternoon.”

  “If you have any Cornish pasties, I’ll have two of those and a large coffee. Thanks.”

  “To have here or takeaway?” She waved toward the sea of empty tables.

  He checked his watch. “I’ll have it here today,” he said, then strolled toward a table close to the kitchen.

  Charlotte plated his meal and placed it in front of him, then returned to make his coffee.

  Lizzie came rushing in from the storage area. “I’ll do that,” she told Charlotte. “You need a break. Go and sit with Christian.”