Page 9 of Crosshairs
CHAPTER 11
I MISSED DINNER but somehow managed to make it home before everyone was asleep. When you have ten kids, it takes a while to greet everyone properly.
I finally found myself alone in the kitchen with Mary Catherine. The fertility treatments had become a little less jarring to her physically. She looked good and seemed to have a pretty reasonable handle on the household. I felt bad that I hadn’t been more help. Some people might say it’s crazy to try for an eleventh kid. I understand that. But with ten adopted kids from my first marriage, I also understand Mary Catherine’s desire to have a baby.
I filled her in on my first conversation with my new partner. I tried to paint a realistic picture. She picked up that I was concerned the meeting had been tense.
Mary Catherine said, “Invite him to dinner. That way you getto see a different side of him, and he gets to meet your wonderful family. Including your beautiful new wife.”
I chuckled. “Having someone over for dinner seems to be the Irish answer to every problem.”
“Because it tends to solve every problem. No one can be upset over a good brisket with onions and carrots.”
“Let’s give it a little more time. I’m not ready to give up an evening to this guy just yet.” Then I did a little math and realized I’d only said hello to nine children. I looked at Mary Catherine and said, “Where’s Jane?”
“Juliana said she’s at the library working on something super-secret.”
“Sounds like her.”
From the dining room table, where she was drawing with crayons, Chrissy yelled, “I bet she has a boyfriend.”
Mary Catherine was quick to point out that my youngest daughter should mind her own business.
Chrissy innocently said, “Isn’t my sister my business?”
I stepped out into the dining room and kissed the top of Chrissy’s head. “That’s a pretty good answer. Is that what you think Mary Catherine meant by her comment?”
Chrissy shook her head and said, “Nope.”
I glanced into the kitchen to see Mary Catherine smiling. We are definitely on the same sheet of music when it comes to raising these kids.
I went back to the kitchen and nibbled on the kids’ leftovers. I guess that’s a dad thing, no matter how gross everyone thinks it is. There were no other immediate problems on the horizon with the kids, so I decided to venture into a slightly more controversial topic.
“When is the next appointment with the fertility doctor?” I asked. Now I knew to keep my voice a little lower.
“Day after tomorrow. And we may get some concrete information one way or the other.”
“Have you given any more thought about when we should bring it up with the kids?”
Mary Catherine looked at me and shrugged. “Trying to find the right time with at least a quorum of the kids has been hard. I think I’d rather wait till we have some real news. No reason to get them excited—or upset—by spilling the beans too early.”
“What do you mean ‘upset’? None of them would be upset by a new baby in the house.”
Mary Catherine gave me a look like I was an eight-year-old trying to use physics for the first time. “It’s hard to tell how people might react to big news like a new baby. I’m thinking specifically of Chrissy, and maybe Shawna, because they’re the youngest. Chrissy’s used to being treated like the baby of the family. I don’t know how she’d react to being replaced in that role.”
“We’ve raised those kids right. I guarantee they’ll support any new addition.”
“I hope you’re right. I agree that we’ve raised them to support one another and the family as a whole. But you know that doesn’t mean there aren’t some squabbles every once in a while.”
Thank God I’d found a woman who understands dynamics like this much better than I do. Tough family discussions like these make me realize the relative safety of work once in a while.
CHAPTER 12
I HAD A quick goodbye with the kids and Mary Catherine as I rushed out the door before 7:00 the next morning. I wanted to set an example for my new partner, so I arrived at work at about 6:50. I had plenty to do around the office anyway.
I stepped into the quiet squad bay, glad to see a light on in Walter Jackson’s office. I needed a little time with Walter, the earliest riser on our squad. I don’t know that anyone has ever beat him into the office. I’d have to hear a few puns, but I’d get a lot done.
I felt a twinge of anxiety about mentoring Rob Trilling. He was so young yet had more experience than I had in the military and in combat. That could sometimes translate to a good police career, but sometimes it didn’t. I had seen it go both ways. The strict discipline of the military helps with the transition to police work. But the job requires an incredible amount of flexibility. Iwas worried about whether he’d be open enough to listen to my suggestions. Most people think cops are trained to investigate. That’s not untrue—they do go to classes for it—but the real learning happens on the job. What worried me was that there was nothing Trilling had done with the NYPD that told me he understood investigations. Sure, he had moved into Emergency Service quickly and they had obviously wanted to take advantage of his military background. But working patrol and a fugitive task force wouldn’t prepare you for homicide investigation.