Double Play (Bishop's Run Series Book 2) Page 7

  "I don't know how she does it," Tess remarked. "I can't imagine trying to do this job with small children. She must have been exhausted."

  Hatch was shaking her head. "She had Lynn just before she took the Detectives exam, spent her maternity leave tending a newborn and studying. She was on patrol in the Eighth precinct from the time she was twenty-four until she passed. After that, to the house y'all are in now. The 'Fighting Fourteenth'."

  "I've heard it called that before. Why do they call it that?"

  "Because the Department had to fight so hard to get it, and the citizens, too. The city planning committee kept putting it off saying they couldn't fund it, that taxes would have to go up, and so on, until the police and the public were publicizing the need in the media.

  "The citizens started citing police response times from the outlying precincts, and the gross expenditures and outrageous claims on the expense accounts of a number of the committee members, like trips out of the country, trips that would have been family vacations to regular people. Several seat-holders were voted out based on their stance on the matter.

  "So, after the election, the voting changed, the precinct was built, crime in the area went down because of police presence, property values went up, new businesses moved in, old stores were razed or renovated, and now everyone's happy. Especially Mir, because that put her closer to home and it cleaned up the neighborhood she lives in."

  Tess smiled, shaking her head. "Wow."

  "Yeah, wow."

  Hatch took two small juice glasses down from the cupboard. "These'll do just fine," she smiled as she poured some wine into each, handing one to Tess. "Cheers," she remarked as she tapped the edge of her glass against Tess's.

  "Cheers." Tess took a sip. Oh, it was good wine, this. "Nice," she remarked.

  "This one hasn't disappointed me yet," Hatch remarked.

  Hatch threw the pasta into the now-boiling water. When she turned from the stove, she noticed another picture, this one on the side of the refrigerator, held in place with two magnets to keep the edges from curling.

  Tess saw her looking at the picture and wondered how, exactly, to answer the question that she knew was coming.

  She decided to offer up the information rather than wait.

  "That's Bishop. In the picture."

  "Bishop."

  "She's...it's complicated, but she changed my life. She's...my...she's--I love her."

  That she loved Bishop had slipped out, but she couldn't have contained it. Her love was still as strong as the morning she'd declared it, still palpable just underneath her skin.

  "See, what happened was..." and Tess, without prompting, began telling Hatch about how she'd met Bishop, about Tenley and what had happened there.

  Talking about Bishop brought Tess an odd relief, like finally letting go of a long-held secret.

  Hatch let Tess talk, she'd honestly never heard the woman have so much to say at one time. As the story unfolded, Hatch's eyes got bigger and bigger. By the time Tess was telling about what had gone down at the airport, Hatch was leaning against the counter, thoroughly enrapt in the story. When the timer for the pasta went off, she jumped a bit in surprise.

  The telling was more difficult for Tess than she realized. Seeing it all play out again was painful but she maintained her clinical accounting of the shootings. Tess's discomfort was not lost on Hatch, though, she could feel the undercurrent of all that Tess felt for Bishop in that moment, especially when Tess let slip a small tear that she quickly wiped away.

  Hatch prepped their plates and served them, then took a seat at the bar next to Tess. She picked up her fork, then put it back down and said, "Bishop is the girl you kissed."

  Tess didn't look at Hatch as she whispered, "Yes."

  Hatch nodded, her brow furrowed. "So you came to Richmond after all that."

  "I'd planned to attend the University of Virginia when I was a teenager but...some things...happened...that prevented me from doing that. I'd only ever lived in Tenley, and I needed to change things, make some decisions. And I had decided all this, had made plans, when things changed, like they do sometimes."

  Tess wasn't being entirely truthful and her voice was a bit timorous with her explanation.

  They were silent for a while, taking bites of the food in front of them, Hatch considering Tess's words, Tess thinking of Tenley and all she'd left behind. The silence was broken by Tess.

  "This is really good."

  "Why, thank you, ma'am, I appreciate that."

  Tess looked over at Hatch and smiled. "You remind me of her."

  "I remind you of Bishop."

  "Yes. Little things you do, things you say."

  Hatch just nodded. She knew when she'd taken Tess to bed that she wasn't the first woman Tess had slept with, her ease with Hatch communicated that.

  Now she knew her name.

  They cleaned up the kitchen together, then Hatch called it an evening. "I've got an early morning meeting with the team, we're doing a review for the senior agents tomorrow, so we'll be in the War Room bright and early."

  They kissed goodnight, and they both tried so hard to stop before they went too far, but that one kiss led to another, and then another, both of them weakening and then giving in, Hatch reconciling herself to being tired the next day as she followed Tess to her bedroom.

  27

  Tess had been at her desk most of that Friday morning. The War Room door had been shut for hours now, Hatch and Kane joined by three men in suits. When it finally opened, Tess watched the suits leave, Kane walking them to the bank of elevators while Hatch watched from the door. She looked over at Tess and signalled to her to come over.

  "Hey," she said, closing the door of the War Room behind Tess as she came through. "We're bugging out, we're going to trail after some of the new players that showed up." She turned and walked over to the table, now scattered with papers and photos, and began gathering them up.

  Tess walked over and picked up some of the pics, pausing to look through them before she passed them to Hatch.

  "When do you leave?"

  "As soon as we're packed."

  Tess was quiet as Hatch moved around the table.

  Hatch looked over at Tess who was still idly sifting through more photos.

  "You okay?"

  "...no."

  Hatch stopped packing and looked at the young woman. "I wish I could stay, Tess, I wish I could spend more time with you. It's the nature of the job, though, to move on a moment's notice, but I...Tess, I've been thinking, and you can say I'm out-of-order for what I'm about to say, but I have to ask--why are you still here?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean I think that you've done this--this move to Richmond--as some sort of personal challenge and it seems, to me at least, that you gave up something that people look for their whole lives. And to what end? What's the goal here? Is there a point when you say that this path you're on is not worth what you gave up and you turn around and go back?

  "Tess, if I had what you had, I swear I would drop all of this, the DEA, everything, and be back there in a heartbeat. What you have--had--with Bishop--was what everyone is looking for. Someone to love, who loves you, in a place that is Home. I really think you knew you'd made a mistake before you ever got here, so what I'm saying is--go home, Tess."

  Tess stood there, unable to deny anything Hatch was saying, she agreed with everything. She had made her decision, though, had accepted the position, she'd given her word, and she'd been partnered with one of the best detectives she'd ever met.

  "But, Miranda..."

  "Honey, Miranda loves you, I know you know that, but I know Mir too, and I can guarantee that she only wants what's best for you. She would understand. That's the kind of woman she is. I think she'd be more upset to know that you were staying here when you have given up so much. That's what Miranda would think."

  Tess was deep in thought as Hatch walked over and pulled her into a hug.

  "I'm sorry, did
I upset you?"

  "No, no. You're right." She was quiet. "And I just realized...I won't see you again, Hatch."

  Hatch hugged Tess a little tighter to make up for the fact that she didn't have words for that. They kissed. It was soft, sweet, and it conveyed all the things they wanted to say.

  Tess laid her head against Hatch's shoulder. "Be careful out there, Hatch, promise me you won't go running out into traffic."

  "I won't, Tess, I promise."

  The door opened and Kane entered the room, saw the two women embracing and turned to leave.

  "No, stay, I'm on my way out," Tess said as she broke her embrace of Hatch and walked towards the door. She stopped and patted his arm. "Take care, Kane," she said.

  "We will, Tess. You, too."

  Tess left the room.

  Kane turned and looked at Hatch, noting the sadness on her face. "You're gonna miss that one."

  "Yeah, Kane, I am."

  They went back to work.

  28

  Hatch had carried the last box to the truck and told Kane she'd join him at the hotel. Kane nodded, knowing that Hatch had to say goodbye to one more person. He saw Miranda coming out the door of the precinct lobby, and indicated that to Hatch. Hatch walked over and they met on the sidewalk.

  "You're leaving."

  "Yep. Time to go."

  Miranda was quiet. "You know I love you, right?"

  "I love you, too."

  "I'm sorry I got so mad with you about Tess." Miranda moved into a hug with her. "Take care, Hatch, and you know, it wouldn't hurt you to send a text or give me a call sometimes."

  "Yes, ma'am, I will," Hatch replied, holding the woman tight against her. "Tell the kids I'll see them soon, okay?"

  "Will do. You know, Evan is still talking about your damn motorcycle..."

  "Whoops."

  They both laughed at that.

  "Keep your head down, Hatch."

  "You, too, Mir."

  Mir leaned up and kissed Hatch on the cheek, something she'd done only one other time--when Hatch left Richmond to sign on with the DEA. "You know you've always been my favorite."

  Hatch was going to make a joke, but her retort got caught in her throat and she suddenly found it a little hard to see. She hugged the woman even tighter, then let her go.

  "I'll see you, Mir."

  "See you, Hatch."

  And they parted ways, Hatch heading for the parking lot, Miranda for the precinct door.

  That night, Tess sat on her couch, her phone screen lit while the TV quietly played in the background, thinking about all that Hatch had said.

  She slept poorly and for only a few hours. Saturday morning, after waiting for the sun to rise, she scrolled through her contacts, took a deep breath, then hit 'call.'

  She started talking as soon as it was answered.

  29

  It was a beautiful day for a wedding.

  The sky was a brilliant, cloudless blue and it was warm out, but pleasant in the shade. We arrived at Penny's house, noting that the caterer and the DJ were both busy setting up. We rushed up the porch steps, opened the kitchen door to find Biggs and Carole kissing rather passionately.

  "Whoops," said Penny, as she skidded to a stop just inside, causing me to crash into her as she tried to back out the door. I caught her by the waist before she fell, then looked around, spied the near-newlyweds standing by the stove, the smell of fresh coffee in the air.

  "Hey, you're not supposed to see her until the ceremony," I laughed.

  "Now, Baxter, you know we'd never be able to stay away from each other that long," said Carole, smiling shyly.

  "I'll bet you didn't even try," said Penny.

  "Nope, we didn't. I wanted to spend the night with my best friend, especially before such a big event," said Biggs.

  "Aw," said Carole. "That's so sweet." She pulled Biggs closer, kissed her. Biggs blushed.

  "Well, it's the truth," Biggs added, gruffly.

  "Okay, everybody needs to get changed, this party starts in forty-five minutes, guests will be arriving in about thirty," directed Penny. Biggs and Carole headed for Penny's bedroom. "You're on the clock, you two," reminded Penny. "No fooling around." Biggs and Carole just laughed as the door closed.

  "Now you," said Penny.

  "What?" I asked.

  "Go get changed."

  "Where?"

  "In the small bathroom on the hall."

  "What small bathroom?"

  "Geez, Bax, how long have you practically lived here? You didn't know there's a bathroom on the hall?" She led me down the hall, past the narrow laundry room, then opened what I had assumed was a closet door. She clicked on the light.

  "I'll be damned." I was looking at a half-bath. Small, but functional. "I had no idea. I thought this was a closet."

  "Just get in there and get changed. And close the toilet. If you drop anything in, like a black bow tie with red hearts, I swear I will strangle you with it," laughed Penny.

  I stepped inside and closed the door. Then I closed the toilet. She may have been laughing, but she meant every word.

  30

  Penny went back to the kitchen, poured a cup of coffee while she waited. She would change into her white linen shirt and khakis when Baxter finished. As she sipped her coffee, she thought about her recurring dream. She'd had it again last night, and it had been incredibly real, as if it had somehow moved closer, become clearer. She was frowning when Baxter rejoined her in the kitchen.

  "Penny?"

  "Oh, hey, well, don't you look nice," Penny said, as she looked me over.

  "Yeah, how's the tie?" I asked.

  "Here, you did a good job, just let me tighten it up," said Penny, as she handed me the cup of coffee. I took a quick swallow, then set the cup on the counter, presented my neck to her so that she could straighten it out.

  "What were you thinking about?" I asked her.

  "When?"

  "Just now, when I came out here."

  "Oh, Bax, I don't know, there's just so much going on right now. Bring me your hairbrush, please, I want to style you a little."

  I went back to the bathroom, grabbed my brush from my bag. Penny wet her hands under the sink, then ran them through my hair. It felt good, the water was cool, her hands were soft, warm. She led me into the living room, and I took a knee while she sat on the small couch.

  I had not had my hair brushed by anyone else in a long, long time. This was a different experience from previous times, this was pleasant, relaxing, and I closed my eyes. Penny took her time, and when she was through, she put down the brush, held my face in her hands, and softly kissed me.

  I opened my eyes.

  Penny was looking at me, lovingly, but with a sadness underneath it.

  "I love you, Bax."

  I looked into her eyes. They were glistening.

  "I love you, Penny."

  She nodded, kissed me quickly, then let me go and stood up. I looked up at her as she wiped the tears away.

  "I'm going to change."

  Then she walked past me and down the hall.

  31

  Jeannie, Carole's college roommate, would officiate, having obtained her "license to wed" through an online church the week after Carole had shared her good news. She arrived about thirty minutes before the ceremony, tall, coiffed, and the complete opposite of Carole. After introductions were made, Biggs and Penny took her outside, showed her around. They were back in the kitchen about ten minutes later.

  "Penny, this is a really beautiful piece of land. If you ever want to sell it, just let me know," Jeannie said, flipping a magnetic business card up onto Penny's refrigerator door. We all laughed.

  "Jeannie!" Carole admonished her. "Forgive her, Penny, you know how real estate agents are."

  "Just putting that out there," said Jeannie. "You have a gorgeous house," she said to Penny.

  The guests, consisting of friends of the couple and including a number of ballplayers from Coach's various teams as well as f
ormer high school students of Carole's, had started arriving and were standing in clusters around the edges of the small seating area under the trees in a little clearing above the water.

  Neither Biggs nor Carole had any living parents or family in the area, and all of these people were their surrogates. There is truth to the saying that friends are the family you choose for yourself.

  The DJ was playing a soft instrumental that was soothing and easy, and the soft breeze off the water kept the bugs to a minimum.

  Carole and Biggs would stand together on the stage, a raised platform supplied by the caterer. I would stand next to Biggs, mostly, according to Carole, to keep her calm. We'd all chuckled because we knew Carole had nothing to worry about. Biggs wanted this as much as Carole. There'd be no running away.

  At twelve o'clock, Dr. Sharon Biggs and Miss Carole Daley, holding hands, emerged from Penny's house and stood on the top step of the porch. There was a spontaneous eruption of applause from the guests as the couple looked out on all of their loving friends, as their friends, their 'family,' looked upon them.

  Happiness squared.

  Biggs and Carole walked on down to the stage and stepped into their places as the guests took their seats.

  Jeannie and I had already taken our positions, Penny was moving about the scene, the quiet clicking of her camera barely noticeable. Everyone settled in as Jeannie began the ceremony.

  "Welcome, everyone. We gather here today, under the sky that holds the stars, by the water that sustains us, caressed by the very air we breathe, to witness the marriage of two people who have determined that, as with the absolute essentials of water, of air, and of the stars above, they cannot live, one without the other."

  "If there is anyone here who objects to this union, let them speak now, or forever hold their piece."