Chapter 35: Chapter Thirty-Five

Fallon pushed herself hard as she ran. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something was watching her every move. Over and over, Ian's words rang in her head that they should bring in someone else. He had a point, but damn it all, she didn't want bureaucratic tape getting in the way, not to mention more law enforcement would push the Maddoxes out of the loop. Was her ego and vendetta clouding her judgment on what would be best for those children? She shook her head as she pounded around the paved trail. No way. Her priority was getting them all out of there, and she could find them faster without throwing up any red flags, which would alert those involved to move them.

Her lungs burned and her muscles ached but she kept going. She needed this. There was no one with whom she could spar until she was exhausted, so running was the second best option. Closing her eyes against the glare of the morning sun off the waters of Elliot Bay, Fallon ducked her head and dug down deep for more. Her body had it and gave it to her. As she came out of a secluded area and faced the glow of the day, Fallon noticed a man standing along the edge of the trail, one arm—his only arm—resting against the bench beside him. He was watching her.

Eyes narrowing from behind her sunglasses, Fallon kept her gaze on him. He was an older man and she noticed something familiar about his posture. She moved nearer and his eyes never left her.

As she was about to pass him, he opened his mouth and spoke, "Fallon Maddox?"

Running in place, she stared at him. "Can I help you?"

"I'd like a moment of your time."

"Right now? I'm a bit busy."

"Perhaps we could meet after you are done with your run."

"Who are you?" Fallon questioned.

"My name is Donal Cavanaugh."

Ah shit, Ian's dad. She stopped running. Hands on hips, she looked at the man staring down at her. "We can walk and talk."

He nodded and fell into step beside her. "You know who I am?"

Running her tongue over her teeth, Fallon answered, "Yes. You're Detective Cavanaugh's father."

"My son seems to be very concerned with the way you've been treated by the police in their handling of the death of your father."

"And this is your business how?" Fallon asked as she wiped the back of her hand across her forehead.

"I'm his father. I don't want him to have problems on his job because of you."

"Last time I looked, your son was a grown man. I didn't ask him to be concerned for the way I was treated. Seems to me you'd be proud of him for standing up for what's right despite what others want him to do. You were a cop, right? Didn't it mean something to you to help others? I mean, isn't that why you wore a badge, to help others?"

The man beside her muttered something in a language she didn't know. They walked on in silence. As they rounded another corner, Donal spoke again, "I'm just concerned about my son's future on the force. He worked hard to get to where he is."

"Why do you assume that I would like him to lose his job or anything like that? Your son appears very capable to me."

"What do you know about helping others?" Donal questioned.

"I've served my country. And I understand the desire to want to protect and honor the bonds you've made with the ones you consider to be family, but that isn't always the best thing one can do."

Her companion stopped walking and placed a hand on her arm. "Do you love my son?"

Fallon looked at him. Donal Cavanaugh was taller than she was, and despite having only one arm and being older, he still had an imposing look about him. His eyes were as gray as his son's and just as shrewd.

"It's really a very simple question, Ms. Maddox. Do you? Love my son?"

Admitting it to Ian had been hard, was she ready to tell his father? Licking her lips, she held the assessing gaze even though she wore sunglasses. "And if I do?"

"If you did, I'd probably say something like, good. But you haven't answered my question."

"You're right. I haven't." She started walking again.

"Well, if he's willing to stand up to me and my mouth for you, he obviously feels something for you. So when is the wedding and when do I get grandbabies?"

Fallon almost tripped over her feet. Is he serious? Casting a look to her left, she again found herself mesmerized by the steely determination in Donal's eyes. "Who said anything about a wedding?"

"I just did."

"Well, I don't know anything about that. A wedding and kids aren't high up on my list of things to do right now." Had Ian talked to his father about this?

"Not high on my son's list either, but I'm hoping that will change. We're not getting any younger."

She arched a brow and cocked her head to the side. "Well, in that case, do you have a schedule of when would be a good time for me to give birth? You know, so we can plan our lives around your schedule?"

Donal Cavanaugh didn't get angry at her response. He laughed instead. "I see why my son likes you. You don't back down at all." He took her hand and bowed over it. "It has been a pleasure, Miz Maddox. I look forward to seeing you again soon."

Fallon stood there and watched as the older man turned around and headed back the way they'd come. She wasn't sure what to make of that interaction. She began walking along the path, continuing in the direction they'd been heading. Her mind whirled as she tried to figure out how this was going to go down. Stopping at another bench, she did her stretches then headed to her vehicle.

Sitting behind the wheel of her Xterra, she focused on Donal Cavanaugh. What was his angle? It didn't seem that Ian had told him anything about what they were going to do, but Donal could have been playing it coy. "Man," she muttered, starting the engine.

Fallon stopped at Starbucks on her way home and got a mocha. The house was quiet when she entered and, as she sat in the kitchen eating toast, she found out why. The woman her brother Shawn had met on the pier, Lina, strolled into the kitchen dressed only in one of Shawn's shirts.

"Oh," Lina said, pressing a hand with bright purple paint on the nails to her mouth. "I didn't think anyone was here.

Breaking off a piece of toast, Fallon said, "Obviously." Chewing slowly, she didn't say a word, just stared at her brother's guest. "Who are you?" she asked, knowing full well what the woman's name was.

Lina appeared insulted. "Lina. What's there to eat around here?"

Fallon stood and walked to the sink where she placed her dish. Heading back to the table, she grabbed her half-drunk mocha and continued on to the living room. "Beats me, I'm not your cook. Wake up Shawn and have him fix you something." Sipping her drink, she walked off toward her room and shook her head in dismay as she caught sight of a leggy blonde coming down the stairs in a tank top and boxers.

"It's like a damn brothel in here," she muttered as she entered her room, shutting the door behind her. "They'd be all over my ass if I had a guy here." A smile flitted across her face as she imagined the reaction of her brothers if they walked into the kitchen to see Ian in nothing but pants, looking like he just rolled out of bed.

Feminine shrieks filled the air and Fallon sat on her bed and laughed as the sound of heavy footsteps thundered down the stairs. Setting her feet on the bed, she closed her eyes and finished her drink. With a groan, Fallon got up and took a shower. As she left the house, she saw the two women in the kitchen and Shawn. Clay was heading in from the living room. Both of her siblings only wore pants.

"Morn, Fallon," Clay said, raking a hand through his dark hair.

"Make sure this is clean before you leave." She jerked her head toward the kitchen. "I'm going out."

"You're not having breakfast?" he asked hopefully.

"I ain't cookin' for your women. Forget it." Fallon headed for the door and went to her vehicle. She had some things to take care of.