Be With Me(43)

“You see, Miss Fal on, the shotgun is my area of expertise. I’m quite adept with it, if I do say so myself.”

“Ah . . . okaaay,” Regina said. “Stil , Virginia, I would feel much better if you didn’t go around wielding a shotgun. If your son is going to stay with you, perhaps you should leave the weapons to him since he’s a trained police officer.” Virginia looked down her nose and narrowed her eyes. “Hmmph, and who do you think taught Kyle his way around a gun?”

Regina pursed her lips and tried to stifle her laughter.

Birdie laid a hand on Regina’s arm. “Virginia real y is responsible with firearms, and she was such a dear to come down and stay with me at the station.” Regina shook her head, unsure of what one had to do with the other, but then her brain was a complete muddle.

“Birdie, if you like we can go now. I left our ladies’

tea, but it lasts another hour if you’d like to join me.” Birdie glanced worriedly at Regina. “Oh, I don’t know, Virginia. Regina might need me here. She’s had such a trying day. I want to be able to help her any way I can.”

Birdie patted Regina’s arm then squeezed gently.

Regina smiled at her then gave her a quick hug.

“You go on, Birdie. Be sure and leave your contact information with Greta so one of our officers can cal you. He’l need to ask questions, and he’l want to take you over to the house so you can make a list of any missing items.”

“You take care, dear. And cal me if you need anything.”

Regina watched as Birdie went back into the waiting room, spoke with Greta for a moment and then went over to where the guys were standing, so she could to hug each one of them.

It was a sight that always made Regina’s heart twinge just a little. Birdie with her boys. Now al grown men, but no less her boys.

Birdie walked out with Virginia wrapping a comforting arm around her slight shoulders.

Regina swayed, and her own shoulders slumped forward. Strong, comforting arms surrounded her from behind, and a gentle mouth found the top of her head.

“It’s time to take you home, Reggie darling.” She closed her eyes for a moment and curled both hands around Cam’s arm.

“Regina, I hate to interrupt, especial y as I know how badly you need to go home, but the chief cal ed and specifical y asked you to wait for him. He’s on his way in now,” Greta cal ed from her desk.

She sagged against Cam’s chest. She knew what was coming. Understanding it didn’t make it any easier. Her job was something uniquely hers. An achievement she was proud of. For so long she’d existed under the shadow of her father, ignored and only brought out when it was opportune for Peter Fal on to play the family man for the media.

And now she was going to be asked to stand down from that job for an indefinite period of time.

“We’l be here with you, Reggie,” Cam said against her ear.

“Thanks, Cam,” she said as she straightened in his embrace.

Hutch walked forward and took both her hands. He pulled her toward one of the chairs.

“At least sit down while you wait, before you fal over.”

She stared at Hutch, and damn if her eyes didn’t go al watery again. But when she looked at him, al she saw was the blood on the wal s of his bedroom.

The malice behind the destruction. And the fact that this maniac could wel target him or one of the others.

She couldn’t lose them.

“Hey,” he said softly. He rubbed his thumb underneath her eye. “What’s that for?” She sucked in a breath and sat down in the chair.

Sawyer took the seat beside her and Hutch knelt down in front of her. Cam stood behind Hutch, a frown on his face.

It pissed her off that she was showing such weakness in front of them, but she couldn’t seem to stop the tears from leaking down her cheeks.

Hutch picked her hand up and brought it to his lips.

He brushed a kiss across her knuckles while he rubbed his other hand over her injured wrist.

“It’s nothing,” she lied. “Just reaction I guess.” Sawyer reached over and pulled her against his side.

“Quit the brave front shit, Reggie,” he growled.

“You were almost blown to hel . I’d say that’s worth being upset over.”

As much as she wanted to burrow into Sawyer’s arms and stay there for a year, this wasn’t the place to do it. Her chief would be in anytime, and she didn’t want him seeing her cuddled up with three men in the police station. Her father? He could go to hel . But the chief she respected.

She slowly straightened then pushed forward out of her seat. “I need to go to the bathroom,” she said.

Sawyer and Hutch both reached for her to help her up. As she walked by Greta’s desk, the dispatcher gave her a sympathetic look.

“Why don’t you go wait in the chief’s office,” she offered. “It would sure be a lot more comfortable than sitting out here in these hard chairs.” Regina smiled. “Thanks, Greta. I’l do that.” She glanced up at the guys. “You’l wait?” Sawyer frowned darkly. “Of course. We’re not going anywhere.”

She turned and went into the bathroom, more to compose herself than to use the facilities. At the sink she splashed cold water on her face and tried to wash some of the dried blood from her forehead.