“So was I. I was so afraid that I was going to throw us away because we come from opposite ends of the universe. And maybe I would have. Maybe being a cop was all I knew. Maybe I had become black and white. But I learned a great deal about myself when I was trying to stay alive in that warehouse. When I killed that man, I realized that I did what I had to do to survive. For the first time. I understood what you meant.”
“We’re not so different, you and me.”
Delta smiled. “No, we’re not. Not anymore.”
Pulling Megan to her, Delta kissed her, gently at first, but then, harder, thrusting her tongue into Megan’s mouth.
Pushing Delta away, Megan fanned herself. “Why, Officer Stevens, I do believe you care for me.”
Bringing Megan back to her, Delta kissed her warmly.
“Yes, Megan Osbourne, I most certainly do.”
“Enough to do that one thing?”
Delta’s eyes grew wide. Licking her lips, she nodded vigorously. “Oh God, yes.”
“Good!” Jumping to her feet, Megan left the room and quickly returned carrying a square board with chess pieces on top. Setting it on the table, Megan sat across from Delta, who looked at the chessboard bemused.
“Is this that ’one thing’ you were talking about?”
Megan’s eyes sparkled. “Well, of course. What
one thing
did you think I meant?” Winking, Megan leaned across the table, knocking some pieces to the floor and slipped her hand into Delta’s pajama top. “Why don’t you make the first move?” Megan murmured huskily.
For Delta, it was the sweetest chess match she ever played.
When the guilty verdicts were handed down and the lengthy sentences pounded out with the gavel, Delta found herself driving alone to the cemetery. The trial, as anticipated, had not been long. The evidence and various plea bargaining was sufficient enough to lock most of them behind bars for a long, long time. The pharmacist’s testimony buried Williams, as he had kept a log of dates, times and transactions Williams and others had made. Jennifer came to the trials every day, as did Connie and Megan. It was an emotionally difficult trial because friends were called in to testify against friends and partners against partners. But in the end, the individuals standing on the two sides of the issue were clearly divided.
When it was finally over, there was no celebration or cork-popping. While Delta was glad to see justice done, the price everyone paid, they paid in spirit. It was that very spirit that Delta needed to mend now.
Standing by Miles’s grave, Delta sighed heavily. The rains made the surrounding grass smell fresh and clean, and birds chirped as a slight breeze rustled the leafless branches. Looking about her, Delta felt alive, and she knew that Miles wanted her to feel alive.
“It’s me again,” she said, taking her hand from her pocket. “We did it. It took a lot of work, but we did it. I told you I wouldn’t let you down.” Delta looked around her at the other visitors. “My life is very different now, without you. I’ve fallen in love with Megan. Somehow, I think you expected that to happen. Maybe, in some weird way, you had a hand in it.” Inhaling, Delta released a loud sigh. “I miss you, big guy, but it’s time for me to move on. I need to know that I’ve let go of you. My therapist said it would be good for me. I finally had to agree. So . . . here I am, one last time, to say goodbye.”
Laying three objects on the headstone, Delta wiped her eyes. A tiny rain tumbled carelessly to the ground. Standing two of the objects up, Delta removed her hand from the white king and the white knight; two marble pieces from the chess set Miles bought for her.
“Do they play much chess where you are?” Delta asked, centering the third object in the middle. “If they do, always remember that the best moves are often the most preposterous, illogical, and outlandish ones imaginable.”
Staring down at the middle object, Delta closed her eyes.
“Your badge saved my life, my friend, and for that gift, I can promise you to live it to the fullest.” Delta paused for a moment. “I don’t think I’ll ever have another partner who means as much to me as you did. And I’ll take all the things we learned together and use them to make my little corner of the world safer for your kids. And when your children ask what kind of man you were, I’ll tell them you were the bravest, most sensitive, and most wonderful man I’ve ever met. I’ll tell them that you were the best friend a woman could have. I love you, Miles. I’ll always love you.”
As Delta walked away, the tiny drops of rain gently glided down and rolled off dented badge number 342.
Storm Shelter -
In this sequel to
Taken By Storm
, Delta’s best friend, Connie, is embroiled in a life-and-death challenge with a deranged genius. Delta and Connie combine their wit and intelligence to outsmart the killer.
Weathering the Storm -
The series continues with the most important case of Delta’s career. It’s a deadly race against time as Delta rushes to save children who have been abducted by a child pornography ring.
Storm Front -
In this 4th installment, Officer Delta Stevens must discover who is trying to assassinate District Attorney Alexandria Pendleton before it’s too late. If that wasn’t enough she must also catch a brazen international jewel thief, a woman, who is not only stealing jewels, but trying to steal Delta’s heart, too!