Detective Partners (14 page)

"I love you too, Mom."

"Good night, dear."

"Good night." Galen closed his phone and walked back to Nicole. "Are you ready?"

She smiled up at him. "Let me visit the little girl's room first."

He smiled back. "I'll be at my desk. Take your time."

"Thank you."

Galen and Nicole left the conference room. While she went off to the restroom, he headed to his desk. He had just sat down when Officer Travers walked into the room. 'Travers, what brings you here?"

"I want to talk with Goodwin." His brown eyes scanned the room. "Where is she?"

"Restroom."
Galen smirked. "The woman has a small bladder. What do you want to talk about?"

Officer Travers cleared his throat. "It's personal."

"It has something to do with her father. Doesn't it?"

Travers hesitated for a moment before he said, "Yes."

His mouth setting in a grim line, Galen leaned forward and placed his arms on the desktop. "What has he done this time?"

"Nothing," Travers told him. "I just wanted to let her know that we released him this morning."

"You should've left him in there to rot," Galen said coolly. "You don't have to wait around. I'll let her know."

"Actually."
Officer Travers shifted from one foot to the other. "I was going to ask her if she wanted to have dinner with me."

A mixture of jealousy and protectiveness surged through Galen. Keeping his voice neutral, he said, "We're busy."

"Then I'll ask her some other time."

Not if I can help it,
Galen thought.

Nicole sank back against the plush cushion of the booth and let out a weary sigh. She glanced across the table at Galen. He had removed his suit coat and tie. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and the top button on his dress shirt was undone. He had stubble on his jaw and his hair looked as though he had run a hand through it. He oozed masculinity and sex appeal. It was a dangerous combination.

"Travers dropped by the unit while you were in the restroom," Galen said.

"Oh." Nicole reached for a glass of water. "What did he want?"

"He wanted to let you know that your father was released this morning."

"I see." She took a drink and put the water glass down. "Was that all he wanted to tell me?"

"No." Galen fiddled with a corner of his napkin. "He also wanted to ask you to dinner. I told him we were busy. He said he'd ask you some other time."

Dread swept through Nicole. The last thing she wanted right now was to have a man show interest in her. She looked at Galen and saw he had a muscle in his jaw twitching. What was that all about? "Is something wrong?"

"Yes, actually there is." He gazed into her eyes. "I don't want him asking you out."

Her breath caught in her throat at his words and the gleam in his eyes. Was he jealous? Surely, that wasn't it. To be jealous you would have to have feelings for that person. He didn't have feelings for her.
Maybe he's just being protective of me because of my past,
she thought. "Why don't you want him asking me out?"

Before Galen could answer, the server showed up with their food. She placed cheesy enchiladas in front of Galen and tacos in front of Nicole. After telling them to let her know if they needed anything else, she walked away.

"Are you going to answer my question?"

"I don't want him asking you out because I feel you're not ready for something like that," he said, grabbing his fork. "Besides, you said yourself that you don't date."

"You're right," Nicole said.

"I can't help but wonder why you don't date," Galen said. "Does it have something to do with your father?"

"That's part of the reason, but there's more." She carefully picked up her taco. "I'm going to leave it there for now. If I explain any farther I will lose my appetite."

"We'll talk about it another time."

They ate in silence for the rest of the meal. Their hunger was more important than conversation. While Nicole ate, she thought about Officer Travers. He was a nice man and she didn't feel threatened by him. The truth was she didn't feel anything when he was near. There was no spark. Her heart didn't skip a beat every time their eyes met. She just couldn't see herself opening up to him, not the way she did with Galen. She glanced at him and their eyes met. Her heart skipped a beat.

Chapter  14

Nicole had just finished breakfast, Saturday morning, when the doorbell rang. Wondering who it was, she hurried from the kitchen, through the living room, and into the foyer. After deactivating the security alarm, she unlocked the door and opened it. To her horror, she found her father standing there. The promise she made to Galen, that she would stay away from her father, came back to haunt her. She couldn't let him in. To do so would be going back on her promise.

"Are you going to make me stand out here all day?" Stuart growled. "Let me in."

Nicole took a deep breath and braced herself for what was to come. "I can't do that."

"What did you say to me, young lady?" he said, his eyes flashing with anger.

Her heart began to pound frantically in her chest and her mouth went dry. Still she stood her ground. "You can't come in. Please, go away and leave me alone." She started to shut the door.

Stuart stuck his cane in the door to prevent her from closing it. "You let me in and I won't beat you within an inch of your life," he snarled.

Nicole swallowed hard. "Go away, Dad. I don't-"

He shoved his way inside. "I am your father. How dare you speak to me in that way?"

She stood there by the open door and fought back her rising fear. "What do you want from me? I'm not giving you any money."

Stuart raised his hand and slapped her on the cheek. Pain exploded in her head and she whimpered. "You have only yourself to blame for that, girly. You've been running your mouth ever since I got here. Now apologize."

Anger quickly took the place of fear. How dare he come into her home, mistreat her, and then demand that she apologize. "No."

He slapped her again. "Apologize to me."

"I'm through apologizing to you," Nicole said coldly. She knew she was playing with fire, but at that moment, she didn't give a damn. She was tired of being his doormat. She was tired of the abuse. "Get out."

With fury on his face, Stuart slammed the door shut. "I'll
leav
after I teach you a lesson."

An hour and a half later, Galen pulled up in front of Nicole's house. He put the car in park, turned off the ignition, and got out. Pocketing his keys, he walked up the driveway and across the yard. He headed up the steps and rang the doorbell. Just then, his cell phone went off. He
retrieved the phone from his pocket and checked the caller ID. The number was unfamiliar to him. He opened the phone and pressed the talk button. "Hello?"

"Maxwell, its Travers. Listen man, you need to get to the hospital."

"Why?" Galen asked.

"Someone beat the hell out of Goodwin," Officer Travers told him.

"Which hospital?"
Galen demanded to know as he sprinted toward the car.

"Cedar Ridge Memorial."

"I'm on my way." Jerking open the door, Galen got behind the wheel and started the car. He put it in drive and drove away with tires squealing.

Ten minutes later, the elevator doors parted and Galen stepped out. He marched down the long corridor, through a set of double doors, and into the waiting room. He started toward the nurse's station and changed his mind when he saw Officer Travers talking with a doctor. Galen made his way toward the men. As he drew near, Travers glanced his way. There was a grim expression on his face.

"Dr. Kershaw," Travers said. "This is Detective Goodwin's partner, Galen Maxwell. Maxwell, this is the doctor that treated Goodwin."

Galen shook the doctor's hand. There were so many questions he wanted to ask him. He didn't know where to start.

"I was just telling Officer Travers about Ms. Goodwin's injuries," Dr. Kershaw explained. "Let me bring you up to speed on what I told him and then we'll go from there." He led them over to the waiting area, where they sat down. "I examined Ms. Goodwin thoroughly. Her back and the right side of her body are covered in bruises. I believe she was lying in the fetal position at the time of her attack and that is why her right side was injured and not her left. She has three broken fingers, a mild concussion, and her face-" He cleared his throat. "Her left eye is swollen shut and she has a split lip. I gave her something for the pain and to help her rest."

"May I see her?" Galen asked quietly.

"She's talking with an officer as we speak," Dr. Kershaw told him. "After that, well, she told me that she doesn't want any visitors right now. I think that's for the best. She needs her rest. Do either of you have any questions?"

"Just one," Officer Travers said. "How long are you going to keep her here?"

"For a few days," the doctor answered. "If that is all, I must go. I have another patient to see."

"Thank you, doctor," Travers said as they got to their feet.

"You're welcome." Dr. Kershaw turned and hurried away.

"How did you find out about Nicole?" Galen inquired.

"I was in the call center talking to one of the dispatchers when Goodwin called in requesting an ambulance." Officer Travers rubbed the back of his neck and grimaced. "She was barely coherent. Her speech was sluggish and slurred. At one point, the dispatcher thought she had lost consciousness. She wasn't talking and wouldn't respond to questions. Whoever hit her in the head must've hit her hard. It's a miracle she's alive."

Rage burned inside of Galen. He knew without a doubt
who
beat Nicole. When he had a chance, he was going to pay her bastard of a father a visit. "Thanks for calling me."

"No problem." Travers checked his watch. "I better go. Keep me posted on her condition."

"Will do."
Once Travers had left, Galen grabbed his phone from his pocket and called his mother.

"Hello?" Olivia said, coming on the line, a minute later.

"Hi, Mom."
He leaned against the wall. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, dear," she said. "Are you all right? You sound a little strange."

"I'm all right." But was he? He had so many emotions tearing through him at once. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Listen, Mom, something's come up. Nicole and I won't be able to make it."

"I'm sorry to hear that," she told him. "I was looking forward to our visit. We'll have to do it soon."

"I'll call you later," he said. "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie," Olivia muttered.