28 Days(7)

Alex stood gasping for breath while he tried to hold himself together. He ripped the gloves from his hands and bent at the waist; he gripped his thighs, dropping his head as he fought back tears.

At thirty-seven, he was man enough to apologize to his superior, but he was afraid if he opened his mouth he’d break down and cry like a baby.

His heart was breaking and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. Everything was out of his control and he wanted to scream at the whole world.

“Let’s go to my office.”

He nodded.

Straightening, he noticed that two of the guys on his shift stood behind him.

They held his gaze and patted him on the back as he moved past them.

Closing the door behind him, his lieutenant indicated for him to sit in the chair opposite.

He needed to pace, to run even, but instead he dropped his weary ass into the seat offered.

“I’m not going to ask,” his lieutenant wasted no time in starting the conversation. “The reason for that is that I know...Alexander Peterson.”

Alex’s mouth fell open in shock as he stared at his boss.

“There isn’t much I don’t know about everyone under my command.” His lieutenant held up his hand when Alex went to speak. “I’ve known since the minute you stepped foot inside this station. I never judge anyone by his family. Mine weren’t the best. I know from experience and we’ll leave it at that. I should have told you, but I figured if you ever felt the need, then you’d come to me.”

Alex glanced at the door. “Do they know?”

“I take it that you didn’t see the governor’s conference?”

He shook his head. “The news station displayed your photograph. They’re your friends, Alex. Don’t lock them out, especially not now when you’re going to need their support.”

Alex didn’t know what to think or say as he sat and listened. They may still accept him as one of their own, but they presumed his brother was guilty. He needed to be away from the station house—he couldn’t be here and listen to them all talking.

Alex finally found his voice. “I’m going to need some time off. Until after...”

His lieutenant nodded. “After the display I just saw, I have to agree with you. Your leave can start after tonight’s shift, and you call when you’re ready to come back.” He paused giving him a searching look. “I mean that, Alex.”

Alex nodded and looked around his boss’s office. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. No matter what he’s been convicted of, he’s still your brother.” His boss stood and held his hand out to him.

He took the offered hand and shook it.

Moving down to the shower room, Alex didn’t see anyone else, which was just fine because he wasn’t sure he wanted to know what they truly believed about him and his brother. He rubbed his chest where his heart felt heavy with sorrow.

After his shift, he’d sleep and then make a plan of action. He now had time on his hands and he wasn’t going to just sit back and let them execute his brother.

He needed to make one last effort, even if it meant finally coming face-to-face with his past.





Day 2





7:00pm



* * *



As she raced along the sidewalk toward her father, Saige wanted to close her eyes as tiredness overwhelmed her.

She’d drifted back to sleep the night before with the memory repeating itself and the image of the man in his prison garb flashing in her mind. She needed to know more about him. She was terrified of what she’d remember, but that didn’t outweigh the need burning through her to know.

Spending most of the day curled up in the brown chair with her laptop, she’d found court documents for appeals that had been filed by the man’s defense attorney, Daniel Sterling, but she hadn’t been able to find any quotes from her statement. She’d found quotes from newspaper archives and couldn’t believe what Jocelyn Peterson, the man’s ex-wife, had said.

He’s a violent man…

He loved to use his fists on me…

He was cruel and unrelenting…

I’m glad he’s finally somewhere he can’t get to me.

It had certainly contradicted the comment from his brother, Alexander Peterson.

He is an amazing and loyal brother. I’ll never believe that he’s guilty of the charges he’s facing.

His brother loved him and believed in his innocence, and when Saige looked at photographs of the brothers, she could feel a memory teasing her senses.

But of what?

Saige felt more confused than ever as she stepped into the foyer of the Renaissance Hotel, her thoughts distracted with how to gather more information and from where. She’d start with her father. She’d ask him if he could get her a copy of the statement she gave, and maybe a copy of the trial itself. Because her reaction to the man she saw on the television bothered her—it bothered her a lot.

So with those thoughts heavily on her mind, she entered the restaurant, and found her father pacing five feet in front of her.

When he lifted his head, his eyes softened with relief as he tugged her against him. “Princess,” he whispered against the top of her head, “I was worried.”

“I’m sorry.” She returned his embrace and pulled away when a server appeared in her peripheral vision. “I got lost in some research.”