Maternal Instinct by Janice Kay Johnson

Author:Janice Kay Johnson [Johnson, Janice Kay]
Language: deu
Format: epub
Published: 2010-12-13T00:36:54.587000+00:00

Nell's mother was delighted. "And here I thought you lived like a nun!" she crowed over the phone. "So, you finally found a guy."

Sitting on the edge of her bed, having shut herself in the bedroom to make this duty call, Nell gritted her teeth. She had spent a lifetime—Kim's—trying to convince her own mother that 'finding a guy' was not even a secondary goal in her life plan.

"I'm getting married because I'm pregnant and Hugh wants to help raise his child. Besides, it makes Kim happy."

"Oh, she likes him, does she?" Mom sounded satisfied. "She has good taste."

"Her boyfriend has blue hair this week," Nell said acerbically.

Mom ignored her. "When's the wedding? Oh, this is going to be fun! Can we go shopping?"

Unbelievable. "I'm pregnant, Mom. I won't be sweeping down the aisle in flowing white."

"Pooh! No bride is a virgin anymore." Not in Mom's world, anyway. "You'll only have one wedding." She giggled. "Or no more than two or three, since you're not starting until late. So make the most of it!"

"It'll be a small ceremony," Nell continued doggedly. "I'll wear … something I have." Blue jeans? an inner voice taunted. Her uniform? Her businesslike charcoal suit? "We're doing it in three weeks. Probably the Saturday. I'll let you know. If you're free to come."

"Are you kidding?" caroled Mom. "I'll be there with bells on my toes." She paused, then added sadly, "No shopping?"

Her mother always looked chic, Nell had to give her that. "Maybe," she conceded with a sigh. "If you can come a few days early?"

Mom squealed.

Nell winced. This was worse than she'd expected.

But not worse than giving the news to Captain Fisher, who reacted with predictable anger at the indisputable discovery that two of his officers were human and therefore fallible.

They'd waited a week, as much as Nell thought they dared. That Monday morning, they stood shoulder to shoulder in parade stance before his desk, expressions as blank as they could make them.

He gave them hell, assigned Nell to desk duty, and ordered Hugh out to patrol with a few, choice, last words about showing judgment—if he knew how.

The brush of Hugh's shoulder was a conduit to let Nell feel Hugh's repressed frustration and resentment. Her fault, she thought, knowing it wasn't true—they'd both made a baby—but feeling responsible anyway. This one case mattered to him. She didn't fully understand why—it wasn't as if he had to prove himself, he had been the one to turn down promotions to detective. But it mattered, and she wanted to give him something.

"Sir," Nell piped up. Her voice squeaked, but she forged on. "We were completing interviews regarding the missing weapon. Perhaps we should finish those?"

Hugh, who had been backing toward the door, paused.

The captain's small eyes narrowed. "You mean, perhaps you should pursue your theory about a second gunman, despite orders to drop it."

"Uh…" Nell took a deep breath. "Yes, sir."

He rumbled, but didn't erupt. "Why should I let you?"

"The gun has to be accounted for. Sir."

His hard stare held hers until she blinked, then transferred to Hugh.

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