The Good Father

“I know he is.” She was blinking back tears.

“He puts bugs outside rather than killing them.”

“I know.”

Memories glided through his mind like a picture show. One after another. “And...what about Missy’s little sister?” They’d all been juniors in college the year a friend of theirs had brought her three-year-old sister to school for a family weekend visit. The little girl had been afraid of all the guys in their cr

owd, throwing a tantrum that threatened to ruin the entire weekend, until Jeff had knelt down and very seriously explained something to her, a secret, she’d said. She’d been his adoring fan the rest of the visit. To the point that years later, at Jeff’s wedding, one of the guys had given a toast to the guy they’d all deemed the world’s greatest future dad.

“Jeff slammed Cody into a chair, Brett.”

“Slammed, as in set him down strongly, or as in breaking something?”

“He didn’t break anything.”

“Has he ever broken anything? Or left bruises?”

“Not on Cody.”

“What about Chloe?”

Chin jutting forward, Ella nodded.

And, emotionally, Brett shut down.

His ex-wife wouldn’t lie to him. He didn’t doubt her word for a second. But neither could he believe Jeff Wales would raise a hand to his wife.

“I need your help, Brett. Jeff needs your help.”

He nodded. His buddy sure as hell did need him if someone was trying to pin a DV rap on him. Someone who’d been persuasive enough to convince Ella.

Brett cared about Chloe. A lot.

If he thought for one second anyone was hurting her, he’d hunt whoever it was down himself and have him prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

But he wasn’t going to stand by and see Jeff hurt.

“Has Chloe had medical treatment?” Records were a way to establish truth. Maybe Jeff’s wife had met someone. Had a lover on the side who’d hurt her.

Maybe Chloe had asked to leave Palm Desert to get away from the guy. Maybe she cared enough about her marriage to Jeff to try to salvage it.

People made mistakes.

And deserved second chances.

“No, she’s never had medical treatment due to Jeff’s anger issues.”

Anger issues. Sure, Jeff got mad—who didn’t? But he’d never known a more easygoing, laid-back man in his life. Jeff took it on the chin when most guys, Brett included, would have been swinging.

“Have you ever seen Jeff be abusive to her?”

“No.”

“You’ve never seen any of Jeff’s outbursts firsthand?”

“No. But I’ve seen the bruises, Brett.”

Okay. So, something was going on with his friends. Something bad. Maybe Chloe was sick or something. Or suspected Jeff of having an affair and was trying to get back at him.