Behind the Badge by Susan Sleeman

Author:Susan Sleeman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-08-13T04:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Sydney could tell Russ thought her desire to help others was naive. Not surprising. At the academy, others had scoffed at what they’d called her unrealistic viewpoint, but she knew for a fact that she could combine her faith and her career to achieve a positive influence in others’ lives.

She’d always thought the influence would be on someone in the community, but maybe God had put her in this situation to help Russ with whatever anguish he seemed to be facing. His family hadn’t been church-going folks, but she’d seen his brothers at church, so maybe Russ had become a Christian, too. When the door closed again, she’d broach the subject.

But how did she start? Maybe she could tell him how her faith had helped her in the past. She hadn’t been a good example for him, though. Actions spoke louder than words. She’d let these events toss her around like a tiny boat in a storm. He might not believe anything she told him. She’d have to tread lightly.

At the click of the door, the light evaporated. She could hear Russ fumbling for his flashlight in the dark. This was the perfect opportunity to speak without worrying about any nonverbal cues he threw her way.

“I wanted to thank you for being so understanding during this mess.” She took a deep breath and rushed on before he could try to change the subject. “Seems to me the only way you could empathize so well is if you’ve been involved in a similar situation.”

“Yeah.” His tone was flat, devoid of all emotions.

“So someone died and you thought you should’ve been able to save them?”

“Yeah.”

She heard him tapping his light against his palm. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“Sometimes talking helps.”

“Talked to the shrink the department insisted I see. Didn’t stop the nightmares or regret. So I’m done talking.” The finality in his tone made her want to stop but the darkness gave her courage to continue.

“I don’t know if you believe in God, but He also listens.”

“Tried that, too.”

She’d offer an open-ended question so he wouldn’t shut her down again. “And?”

“He was there to bring me through the worst of it, but now I’m on my own.” His tone was thick with despair. “You mind turning on your Maglite. Mine’s dead.”

She reached for her flashlight and took this as his way of saying he’d closed the conversation. But as far as she was concerned, it wasn’t over. Maybe for now, but not forever. The ache in his voice ensured that she’d continue trying to get him to open up and share what was eating away at him.

For now, she settled back and rode in silence as the truck made a few more stops before the final one at the school. In a dimly-lit garage the size of a large barn, Russ exited the truck and she followed. Nikki was seated at a card table on the far side of the room, playing cards with her bodyguard.

She looked up, spotted Sydney and raced across the large space.

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