“I always make those questionable decisions alone, because if I don’t, the results will harm my family. My decisions,” she said, speaking in broad terms, “are necessary. I’m no butcher, but I
Muriel nodded, then described her earlier visit with Shelby and explained she didn’t believe Shelby’s story of Anthony not being undercover. “She thought I’d just start talking, I guess.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this,” Cain said, exhaling loudly, “but you need to withhold judgment on Shelby. She’s working against us, but she can listen to reason when necessary. Don’t completely alienate her yet.”
“I don’t want a relationship with a liar, Cain.”
“I don’t want that for you either. Just be cordial. I think she’s partly right. Anthony isn’t working for Annabel. He’s working to see all of us go down. If that’s true, he’s twice as dangerous.”
“Then let me help you,” Muriel said. She turned in her seat and stared at Cain so intently Cain could tell her emotions were still fueled by the day’s events. “I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines while you take all the chances. This is my family too and I want in.”
“We put you on the sidelines for a reason, Muriel, so I want you to really think about what you’re asking.”
“You’re willing to start teaching Hayden to take chances and give Katlin a chance, but not me?”
“We’re all born into our roles for a reason, but no one forces you to follow the path we think is right for you. You already take plenty of chances, so why the sudden change?” Cain put her hand on Muriel’s knee and did nothing when she slapped it away.
“I’m not a child you have to protect.”
“How about a deal?” The offer made Muriel’s head come up again. “Take a few days off, I mean really take off somewhere, and forget about the office. Then if you still feel the same way, I’ll consider broadening the scope of your job.”
“No more arguments to get me to change my mind?”
“I’ll not force your path, Muriel, but I do want you to consider it before we veer in that direction.” Cain would honor Muriel’s decision, but it was like a cold wind slicing through her soul. She couldn’t restore Muriel’s innocence once she lost it, no matter how much power she wielded.
*
Emma didn’t say anything when Cain walked through the door. She’d been standing in the foyer since Cain had called that she was on the way home, and she didn’t smile until she actually saw her. “Welcome home, baby,” she said when Cain put her arms around her and lifted her off the ground.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine, and I missed you, but you do have some damage control waiting for you upstairs.”
“Hannah?” Cain put Emma down.
“Hannah’s young so she was easy. No, it’s Hayden. And it’s not me he wants to talk to about what happened.” She ran her thumb along the crease in Cain’s forehead. “He wasn’t rude, and it’s not because he doesn’t trust me with his feelings. He said it was man stuff between the two of you.”
Cain laughed a little. “That might be problematic since we’re a man short, but I’ll go up and talk to him.”
“He’s serious,” Emma said, but smiled anyway.
“I’m not laughing at him, lass, but after dealing with Muriel we might get a group rate on anger-management classes before this is over.”
“Come on, then, let’s go upstairs. I have a date to dress dolls with Hannah.” Emma led her up the stairs and kissed her in front of Hayden’s room.
“They just let you go?” Hayden asked before Cain could even offer a greeting. She sat next to him on the bed and waited to see if he had anything else to start off with.
“They couldn’t prove I did anything so they had no choice.” She sat with her hands on her knees. For once she felt as if she’d let Hayden down. Hannah, Emma was right, was too young to know what had happened, but not him. She never wanted him to see her being taken away by the police. “I’m sorry you had to experience that.”
“That didn’t matter to me. I’m just mad.” He smashed his fist into the palm of his other hand.
Cain took his wrist before he could repeat the action. “I’m still sorry you had to see that, but it happened. And if you want to talk about it, I want you to.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” he said, but hadn’t made eye contact with her yet.
“Are you sure about that?” She moved her hand to his knee and waited. “You don’t sound like you’re okay.”
She could hear Hannah talking to Emma. Hayden stayed quiet, but he turned his head slightly and looked at her hand. “Why?” he finally said.
“Why what?”
“Why did you go if you didn’t have to?” As he asked he brought his eyes up.
“My father once caught me fighting with this neighborhood kid. I was beating on him because he called my father a useless killer.”
Hayden blinked a few times then shook his head. “Did he get mad at you? You had a good reason to whale on the kid.”
“He didn’t stop me, but he didn’t talk to me about it until the next day. Before he left for work he asked me to think about why he was disappointed.”
Hayden stared at her like he couldn’t believe what she’d said. “You defended him and he was disappointed in you? Why?”
