Page 31 of A Burning Rage

An hour later, just as I’m done putting the kids in bed, Shane appears in the hallway as I’m stepping out of Ava’s bedroom. He has showered and changed into a pair of gray sweatpants and a T-shirt.

He catches one of my hands as he looks me in the eyes, his own eyes filled with guilt. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me.” I take both of his hands in mine and gaze down at his knuckles, which have been freshly bandaged. There’s no more sign of blood.

My heart cracks wide open, and I feel ashamed. I’ve been so focused on my own fears regarding Andrew that I haven’t stopped to consider how Shane feels.

I cup his face and tilt his head down so he’s looking at me. “I’m the one who is sorry. I’ve been so focused on myself, I didn’t consider how you might be feeling.”

“It’s not your job to worry about me.”

“We’ll be all right,” I say. Now I find myself in the uncharacteristic position of comforting him, when he’s usually the one comforting me. “Somehow, we’ll figure out how to live with this.”

He reaches out to touch my cheek. “Maybe you won’t have to.”

Again with the cryptic words. I have to wonder exactly what it was Shane and Jake discussed downstairs. I know they’re not afraid to take matters into their own hands, like they did with Howard Kline.

* * *

Monday comes and goes with little fanfare. I decide to stay home from Clancy’s that day, a decision that makes my husband very happy. He opts to work from home. Mom comes over to keep me company and distract me. Annie stops by with her kids, too, which is a big help.

That evening, after the kids are in bed, there’s a quiet knock at the door. I nearly jump out of my skin.

“It’s okay,” Shane says as he gets up to go to the door. “I’m expecting someone.” A moment later, he reappears in the family room with Philip Underwood at his side.

Philip, who’s around my age, has worked for McIntyre Security for a while now. He’s part of Jake’s team, and his specialty is surveillance. He’s dating Mack Donovan’s daughter, Haley.

“Hi, Philip,” I say as I rise from the sofa. “It’s nice to see you again.”

At well over six feet, Philip towers over Shane. He’s a big guy. He’s also a teddy bear.

“Hi, Beth,” he says. “I wish I was here for a happier reason.”

“How’s Haley? How’s she liking school?”

After a harrowing start to her freshman year at her university, Haley has now settled into a university dormitory. She’s studying political science and history in preparation for a career one day in law, following in her mother’s and stepfather’s footsteps.

“Philip is heading the team that’s going to run surveillance on Andrew,” Shane says. “Charlotte Mercer will be assisting him, along with Derek Holder.”

“I just got off duty a little while ago,” Philip says. “Charlotte’s on duty now. As I was telling Shane, Andrew’s father picked him up from the psych hospital at ten A.M. this morning and took him home to the parents’ house, where he’s been ever since. We’ve got a surveillance van parked down the street with cameras viewing on the Morton residence. We installed some stealth cameras around the perimeter of the house. There’s no way he can leave without us knowing.”

“Thanks, Philip,” Shane says. “Coordinate with the others on your team so that Andrew is watched twenty-four-seven. I don’t want any surprises. If he leaves that house, I want to know about it.”

“Understood,” Philip says before he says goodnight and leaves.

* * *

That night, while Shane’s in the shower, I go to the kitchen to make myself a cup of chamomile tea to help soothe my nerves.

Sam joins me. “I thought I saw a light on in here. How are you doing?”

The tea kettle whistles, and I remove it from the stove and pour hot water into my cup. “Do you want some?” I ask.

“Thanks, but I’ll pass. I don’t see the point in drinking something that lacks caffeine.” He hops up on the kitchen island. “So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?”

“I think I’ll stay home again tomorrow. I’m not quite ready to go out and face the world.”

Cooper walks into the kitchen wearing worn blue jeans, his chest and feet bare. “There you are.” He walks up to Sam and brushes his hand over Sam’s hair. “I wondered where you’d gotten to.”