Beautiful Broken Promises(13)

“She’s so beautiful. Dude, you’ll be blown away. She still has the most stunning blonde hair, except it’s long now. Almost to the middle of her back.”

“Should I... I don’t know... should I say something to her?” My mind was jumping up and down in excitement, pumping its fists in pure joy, but my body was clearly still in shock.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, you just need to meet us in New York. Besides, she’s sleeping right now. She hasn’t heard anything I’m saying to you.”

“Where the hell are you guys?”

“On a plane back to New York. I picked her up five hours ago in San Diego,” he stated.

“San Diego?! I’m in f*cking San Diego. You mean she was only a few miles away from me?” My heart plummeted at the thought. Was it possible she was always that close to me while I was living in San Diego?

“Before you start thinking what I know your thinking, she didn’t live there. She was south of the border like we thought. Look... it’s a long story. Get your ass to New York. I’m buying you the next available ticket right now. We’ll talk once you get there.”

“Wait, how are you talking to me on a plane?” I questioned.

“Dude, get with the times. The sky is not the limit anymore.”

I quietly chuckled but sobered when I thought about Kate sitting right next to him on the other end of this line. Kate. My beautiful Kate. I wanted to keep Charlie on the phone just so I could maintain the only connection I’ve had with her in years. I was so damn afraid to lose that feeling.

“How does she look?” I whispered.

“Good, man. Really good.”

“If she wants anything before I arrive, get it for her. Anything at all. I don’t care if it’s a f*cking chocolate bar dipped in gold, you get it for her.”

“I think I’ve got it covered, Lane,” he chuckled.

My sigh of relief was enough of a response for him and he sounded off quickly. I placed the phone in my lap, staring at the tiny little device that managed to turn my world right-side up once again.

~~~~~~~

Me: Change of plans. I won’t be in on Monday

Jace: Dude, call Audrey. I can’t continue to keep this from her

Me: It’s all over, I’ll be telling her everything soon enough

Jace: What do you mean it’s all over?

Me: On my way to NY to pick up my girl

Jace: Are you serious? HELL YEAH!!!!





- FOUR -

My hands shook and a familiar smell permeated my nose as I pushed open the same doors I’d been through countless times since I was a kid. My dad was currently an officer, my uncle was an officer, and even my grandfather had been on the force. The 72nd precinct in Brooklyn would always feel like a small piece of home to me.

The place quieted down as I marched in and heads rose to double-check that they were seeing things correctly. Yeah, *s it’s me.

“Parker?” I heard old Frank’s voice question from across the room.

“Yes, sir.” I nodded my head in his direction and continued toward the back, where I knew I would find the peeling, tiled stairs. All of the offices and interrogation, or “interview,” rooms were located upstairs. I smiled when I saw that the light bulb directly in front of the ladies’ restroom was still burned out. All these years and no one had thought to change that damn thing?

My shoulder hurt like a bitch and the pills I could hear rattling in my bag were calling my name, but they would have to wait. The taxi ride from JFK had taken about forty-five minutes and the entire time I battled with myself to not take anything before I saw her. I was pretty sure I smelled like I had been on an airplane all day, but I didn’t care. She was here. Kate was in the building and I was only moments away from her.

“No!” I suddenly heard a woman’s voice vehemently gasp from above where I was currently climbing up the stairwell. “We are not prisoners. We WILL NOT go into your little interrogation chamber, so you can all gawk at us through your stupid two-way mirror. Out here is fine, thank you,” she stated angrily.

My feet pushed forward up the last two steps and I rounded the corner into a packed hallway. Officers were leaning up against every wall; ones that I had worked with before and a few new ones as well. I tried to take in all the faces staring back at me, but I was only looking for one.

I heard a tiny intake of breath and then what sounded like a little boy whisper, “Superman!”