“To pass on. You’re going to be okay.”
“I am?” Cali tugged at the sheet when she realized she hadn’t put on any clothes after she and Brit had made love. Twice. And it had been just as amazing as their first time.
A flock of nerves buzzed around her stomach when she remembered her mom could read her mind.
“It’s okay.” Her mom grinned. “He’s a good man. But you’ve got to remember that you can’t fix him. He’s got to fix himself.”
“He’s not broken,” Cali said.
“In his own way, he is. But everyone has their issues to deal with. Like you.”
“I’ve got issues?”
Her mother stepped closer. “You just need to re-find yourself. You lost yourself when
you started taking care of me. But you’re making headway. Making friends. Learning to stand up for yourself a little better. You need to start painting again.”
“I stand up for myself,” Cali said.
“Most of the time. But your nature is to turn the other cheek to avoid conflict. And you’ve got some conflict coming up. Just remember that a little conflict won’t kill you. Sometimes, it even makes you stronger.”
Confused, Cali got the feeling her mom was talking about conflict with Brit. “What’s going to happen?”
“Just hold your chin up, girl. You have to do what your heart tells you to do. In the end, he’ll be forced to respect that.”
Cali sat up. “I don’t understand.”
Her mom walked over and pressed her soft palm on Cali’s cheek. “Forward. Move forward.” Her smile widened. “I love you. You were the best thing I did in my life.”
~
The telephone startled Cali awake. She sat up and felt the tears on her cheeks, and the dream came back to her all at once. Brit rolled over and grabbed the phone, then he looked at her. Concern tightened his brow. She pulled the sheet up to dry her face.
“Hello?” Brit said. “Yeah, just a second.” He covered the receiver. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine,” she said. “Who is it?”
He didn’t look convinced, but held out the phone. “Tanya.”
Cali took a deep breath before answering. “Yes?”
“You were right,” Tanya said. “I got Mrs. Chavez this morning. She looked at an old newsletter. It was them. Mike Anderson and Keith Bolts. Originally, it was supposed to be Mike Anderson and some other cop, but he had to cancel at the last minute and Bolts came instead.”
Cali bit down on her lip. “Thanks. I’ll call you later.”
She handed Brit the phone. He hung it up. “What was that about?”
Cali debated on how much to tell him. “I had Tanya check on something.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No. Remember how I told you that I thought I knew Officer Anderson?”
He sat up, the sheet slipping down his naked chest. “Yeah.”
“Well, last night I realized where I knew him from.”
“Where?”
“The same place I knew your partner from.”
“Quarles?” He studied her.
“No. Keith Bolts.”
His brows rose in small arches over his eyes. “You knew Keith, too?”
She nodded. “I saw them both at a meeting for At-Risk teenagers. They came to speak there in September.”
He pushed a hand over his face. “Both of them?”
Now she had to tell him the hard part. “In my dreams, Mom told me that remembering where I met them was important. I think it could be some clue to solving the case.”
He half-laughed, half-moaned. “You dreamed you met them?”
“No, I saw them. I had Tanya check to make sure they were really there.”
Sitting up, he ran a hand through his hair. “Do the kids go to these presentations?”
She nodded. “It’s actually put on for them. They bring in speakers from the community to encourage them.”
“Are some of them gang members?” he asked.
She saw from his expression that what she’d said had become important.
She nodded. “I don’t know any of them personally, but I know several go to our school. The lady who heads the organization works out of the district office. I would assume she would be the person to talk to.”
He jerked the covers back and stood up. He was naked, but didn’t seem to care. “This could be it.” He swung back around and looked at her in an odd way. “Your mother told you this?”
Cali nodded, trying not to look below his waist, but she couldn’t help herself. Goodness, he was beautiful. Had there been a day when she didn’t enjoy looking at a man’s body?
He leaned down and kissed her. “Can you be ready to get in your car in ten minutes? I want to check this out.”
“Yeah. But I have to shower or I’ll smell like sex.” Suddenly, a big smile started in her chest and met her lips. Brit believed her. That felt good. She let her gaze travel down again. Then she grabbed the sheet, pulled it around her, and waddled into the bathroom.