Judge, Jury, & Executioner

Chapter 32

Maddox handed him the last piece of paper for him to sign. He scribbled his name and then laughed.

"I feel like I'm signing book covers," Reaves said.

Maddox took the paper and looked at he signature.

"People pay money to have you desecrate a book cover?" Maddox said before placing it with the other papers.

"Wow. That hurt," He laughed.

She gave a slight smile and then closed the folder.

"Not too bad for a Best- rate writer eh?" Reaves asked.

"Well, b-rate," Maddox replied smirking.

"And the hits just keep coming."

Maddox laughed before looking at the drawer where Reaves' book was. She went to open it, and Drake plopped into his chair.

"Did Emma go back to CCD headquarters?" Maddox asked.

"Yeah, we exchanged numbers though in case we need her help again," Drake explained.

Reaves mumbled, "Sure, that's why you exchanged numbers."

Maddox leaned back in the office chair as she saw the sun setting through a window.

"It's been a crazy two days hasn't it," Reaves said.

"Yeah. But that always seems to happen when your around," Maddox told him.

"I feel like you've been waiting eight months to say all this?"

Maddox laughed and then she crossed her arms.

"So what's next for the great Nathan Reaves?" She asked him.

"I was thinking a long vacation and avoiding jury duty as long as humanly possible," Reaves joked. "Mainly going home to my daughter, and sister and hoping they don't shoot me."

"Well if so, I guess I'll see you later when I'm arresting them."

He faked a smile and then they all laughed. Maybe your not so bad after all Reaves.

"Well, I'm gonna head home. Sleep, eat, binge watch something. See ya tomorrow Maddox. And Reaves, it was a pleasure meeting you," Drake said shaking his hand.

"Oh come on, come by the house. Tommy and Liam will come too. We'll have an after party," Reaves suggested.

"I'm in."

They both looked at Maddox and she shook her head.

"I know we tied the bet. I just, i was hoping we could be closer-like friends. Completely platonic friends, no attraction at all, just friends and-"

"I understood. How about another time. I'm just, a little shaken. Maybe another time," Maddox told him.

"Till next time, Detective Maddox," Reaves said.

Maddox smiled and nodded at him before watching them get in the elevator and leave. She reached down and opened the drawer where she hid his book.

You should read the dedication.

She stared at it before opening it up to the dedication.

To the one that got away. And to the memories that could have been. Det. R.M.

Maddox felt a pit in her stomach. What was she doing? He literally just walked away. She just let him!

Maddox practically jumped up from her seat and ran down the stairs. She snuck past the caution signs to where the floor had caved in. They had to set up signs to keep people from going back there in case the structure was damage more than expected. She saw it under a pile of rubble.

She picked it up and stared at it. Something her father said echoed in her mind.

You only get one shot. Don't miss.

***

Reaves sat his bag on the counter and saw Allison whipping up dinner while Megan was sitting on the couch covered up with a blanket. Allison pointed at her and then whispered.

"She's been worried all day," Allison said.

"I'm gonna go fix it," Reaves replied before walking over to the couch.

He crawled up behind her and placed his arm around her.

"I didn't die today," He said.

"It's not funny."

Reaves nodded slowly and then he leaned his head onto her's.

"I'm sorry. I should've been safer, and I wasn't. But I'm here, and I promise I won't endanger my life anymore. I will be safe. I will sit at home and write. Or go back to the NYR, or something or-"

"Dad, I don't want you to quit," She said leaning up. "I was mad that you quit before. You loved working with Ryan. And then you just didn't. And then you got the chance again, and you didn't even tell me till you nearly got blown up. I want you to be happy. But I want to know that your happy."

Reaves leaned forward and wrapped her into a hug.

"I love you," He said.

"I love you too."

Reaves saw Allison walking over and she smiled excitedly. This is never good.

"Yeah, sis?" He asked, concerned.

She sat down and looked like she was about to jump out of her skin.

"You okay?" He asked, again concerned.

"I have some news," She said.

The last time he heard that, she said she left her husband after he cheated on her and that she was homeless. Talk about a bad way to start a conversation.

"Please tell me Jack didn't call you," Reaves said.

Jack was her ex husband.

"No, he hasn't. This is good news," She said.

"Your moving out?!" He asked, apparently too excited when Megan smacked him.

"No, this news is, really really good."

"You sure, cause that's really really good news too."

Megan smacked his arm again.

"Please Nate, take this seriously," Allison said.

"Okay, what?"

"I-"

There was a knock at the door Allison collapsed into the back of the chair.

"Drama queen," Reaves joked as he walked to the door.

Allison stuck her tongue out at him and he returned it. Then he unlocked the door and opened it.

"Liam! Tommy, Drake, welcome," Reaves said letting them inside.

"Nice house. Better than the apartment," Liam said.

"Yeah, and no one's been held hostage in this house either."

"I bought some beer on the way over, and some soda for Megan," Tommy said.

"Thank you for considering the only person underage here," Megan said before taking the soda from him.

Everyone laughed and then Reaves saw Liam talking to Allison. He looked at them a little confused and then Tommy waved him over away from everyone.

"Is Ryan coming?" He asked.

"No," Reaves replied, not hiding the disappointment.

"You know, she forgave you a long time ago for doing the background search."

"She did?"

"Yeah."

Reaves didn't get it.

"Then why was she mad?" He asked.

"Because, she liked you Nate. For the first time in a long time, she liked someone. And you left without even trying. She thought you didn't feel the same."

"How do you know all this?"

"She told me."