Welcome to the Cassadines: Book II of Kismet

Chapter Fifteen

***Close Enough***

Tommy met his commanding officer's stare with as much calmness as he could muster. Bryan Phillips was a good man, but for some reason he couldn't seem to understand why Tommy felt compelled to accept Stefan Cassadine's offer. His hand clenched into a fist at his side. His dull, blunt nails dug into his palm as he swallowed down his agitation, and moved across the room to stand in front of Bryan's wall of commendations.

"Sir, the leave of absence isn't permanent," Tommy said. "Once we find Sabrina and Jacks, I'll return to my duties here."

"You're not thinking straight, Hardy," Bryan said as he sat behind his desk. "You're too close to the situation—"

"It's not just a situation," Tommy interjected. "She was forcibly removed from her home. Animal blood was found at both crime scenes. Something horribly wrong is going on here. Calling it a situation doesn't do either of them justice."

"This isn't about justice and you know it," his commander stated. "You have feelings for the victim and that puts you at risk. I'm voicing my objections because I would rather not have to identify your body later."

Tommy snorted. "Your confidence in me is astounding."

"I have a great deal of confidence in your abilities," Bryan defended himself. "You are one of the best investigators I have ever worked with which is why I'm saying this. I like you, Hardy. You have your entire career and life ahead of you. Cassadine may have confidence in you, but does he have your best interest at heart? I wonder and I wish you would think about this rationally before you jump on his jet and head for God knows where."

Slowly, Tommy's hand unclenched and he released a deep gust of air. Bryan's reservations made sense, but who could be rational at time like this? Tommy couldn't and he knew for a fact that Bryan didn't have that ability either. Not after what happened to his wife, Claudia. Tommy was a boy when she disappeared, but he remembered his parents talking about it. Something like that was hard to forget.

"I know what I'm doing, sir," he said, turning to face Bryan. "Thank you for caring enough to voice your concerns." He went to the desk and extended his hand. "I hope that when I return I'll continue to be a member of your task force. If not, of course, I will understand—"

"Stop." Bryan took Tommy's hand and gave it a strong shake. "You will. Don't lose your perspective, Hardy. Don't stand so close that you miss the forest for the trees. Be smart and if you need me, I'm only a phone call away."

Tommy's mouth curved into a faint smile. "Thank you, sir."

~**~

"Well, what did he say?" Sly stared at Allyson who stared back at him. No response from her lips. Of course, he got a little edgy. "Phillips! What did your dad say? Did he get through to him?"

She slipped her cell phone inside her purse and shook her head. "Daddy said Tommy wouldn't listen."

"Damn," Sly mumbled under his breath. He grabbed a crutch and pulled himself to his feet. "He's so damned stubborn."

"Listen who's talking." Allyson brushed past him to put the closed sign up in the window. "You're trying to run a tow service with busted body parts."

"Lucky's helping out," Sly grumbled. "Besides since Dawn left, business has dropped. It seems the frat boys have suddenly had a shortage of flat tires."

"Well, I offered to help—"

"Nope. Your dad would kill me," he said, "and you wouldn't know how to handle crazy frat guys."