of him. The little boy was dressed in a white cotton gown that came
down to his ankles. He was barefoot and full of mischief.
"I'll let you boys keep an eye on that critter while I hunt Jessica
down. Then I'll take Caleb upstairs because I promised him a story. "
She was turning away when Cole stopped her with a question. "Ma'am?
Where's the boy's father? " "That's a good question, and if I were at
liberty to talk about it, I'd tell you where I think he is, but I gave
my word to Jessica to keep my mouth shut. I can tell you that sweet
boy's mama died giving birth, " she added. "Her husband wasn't at her
side, though. No, sir, he wasn't."
"Jessica isn't the boy's mother?
" Daniel asked.
"Caleb thinks she's his mama because she's been taking care of him for
so long, but she isn't his blood mother."
"Is Caleb's father dead or alive? " Cole asked.
"I don't honestly know, " she answered with a scowl. "But I'm hoping
he's drunk himself to death by now. I'm not going to say another word
about him, " she vowed. "You'll have to ask Jessica for the details.
" She disappeared into the dining room. Cole and Ryan both turned to
look down at the baby. Caleb was standing near the front steps,
grinning up at them. All of a sudden he dropped to his knees and
crawled backward.
He wasn't housebroken yet, and when he tried to shimmy down the front
steps on his belly, the ties on his diaper came loose.
"Where do you think you're going? " Cole asked as he bent down and
picked the baby up in his arms. Ryan grabbed hold of the diaper before
it slipped past Caleb's thighs and quickly retied the straps. Caleb
dropped the rag doll and reached for Ryan's badge.
"You act like you know what you're doing, " Cole remarked, ignoring the
baby's squirming and grunting to get down.
"I've had a little experience."
"Nieces and nephews? " "No. A daughter." He patted the baby before
walking away. "He smells like apples and soap. It brings back
memories." He crossed the porch and leaned against a post, staring out
into the darkness. "I'm tired tonight, " he remarked.
"I didn't know you were married."
"You never asked." His voice had taken on a hard edge, an unspoken
suggestion to let the topic go. Cole was too curious to take the
hint.
"How long have you been married? " "It would have been seven years
last month."
"Would have been? " Ryan nodded. "They're both dead." Cole's mind
began to race with questions.
"When did you say you started working on this investigation? " "I
didn't say."
"Okay, you didn't tell me. So when did you? " "I was appointed to
head the special force after one of the robberies."
"Quit being so evasive. Tell me which one of the robberies it was."
"Dillon, " Ryan answered. "After the robbery at Dillon."