“I’m so sorry, Ma’am. We’re coming right out,” Declan said.
“Are you related to Rob Walker?” Caitlin asked. She looked from the woman to the picture and back again.
The woman pulled her eyebrows down and held her child close on her hip.
“Eh…” She searched for Declan’s guidance as she must have found Caitlin acting as weird as he did.
“That’s my uncle,” said the little girl.
“What? He is,” the girl said when she met her mother’s scowl. She wormed her way down from her mother’s hip and walked over to Declan and Caitlin. Her mother followed her and held a protective hand on her shoulder. Liv pointed at a middle-aged man, next to a blonde woman and surrounded by younger men and women.
“That’s Rob with my auntie Brenda. Rob’s my grandfather’s brother.”
The photo frame shook in Cait’s hand and Declan quickly took it from her, afraid she would drop it.
“I can’t believe it…” Caitlin whispered. “I never looked him up. I never wanted to know…”
“What do you mean?” Liv asked Cait.
Caitlin blinked a few times and crouched so she was at eye-level with Liv.
“I think we’re family…”
“Cait!” Declan took Caitlin by the upper arm and hauled her out of the bedroom. “What in the world has gotten in to you?” he said.
“He’s my dad, Dec. I’ve got to have that picture!” Cait thrashed as she tried to get out of his iron grasp.
“Wait!”
The woman speed walked after them into the living room, with Liv hot on her trail. “I’m Jessie. Let’s talk in the kitchen!” She held a hand to her chest and tried to catch her breath.
Nobody bothered to look after the still unconscious body on the floor. What a cluster fuck. He was leaving harmed bodies behind and running after his partner, who was amid losing her shit.
Luckily, their colleagues arrived at the scene. An ambulance followed the squad cars and Declan lead them all into the house. Two I.A. officers took Cait and Dec separately to the side to question them about what happened.
Two female officers took care of Liv and Jessie. Declan overheard Jessie say she’d been grateful for Caitlin taking the man down like she did. Her husband had been abusive ever since he started drinking a few months ago. The man accused Jessie of taking Liv with her to see her family with the intent of never coming back.
Declan looked over to the internal affairs officer who lead Cait back into his car. He sighed and figured today had been the last day of his partnership with Cait.
A small hand on his bicep took him by surprise. “I’m so sorry, officer—about your partner. I wanted to thank you both. She did the right thing, but now she’s going to be in trouble for saving us.”
“It’s our job, Ma’am. I’m glad we could be there for you and your daughter.”
“Please, call me Jessie.”
“Do you have any kids?” Jessie asked.
For the first time that morning, he took a deep breath, and it was like a weight lifted off his chest. He smiled.
“My girl is having our twins next year.”
Her eyes rounded, and she returned his smile.
“That’s so special. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“Here, I have more copies of my own.” Jessie handed Declan the picture of Rob Walker.