The Threat Of Fear

chapter 16

        "How was your first official day of being a cop?" Nick asked.

"Fine, I guess." I shrugged.

"You guess?" Alec hummed.

"Yeah." I breathed out.

"So," Nick drew out. "We don't get any details on your first day?"

"Nope." I giggled. "I'm really tired right now, so I'm going to go to bed."

"Shouldn't you eat something first?" Shade suggested, walking into the house. "You have a very time consuming and calorie burning job. You need to keep your energy and health up."

"Maybe later." I murmured. "I'm not really hungry right now."

"Go get some rest then." he smiled softly, hugging me to his chest.

His lips brushed against my forehead before he let me go. I don't know if that was on purpose or by accident, probably by accident.

"I will," I whispered.

        "Cookie, you need to be careful," Marino warned.

We continued to slowly close in on the rapist without him knowing.

"I know." I nodded. "I will be."

The other officer's got into formation.

"You ready?" I asked under my breath.

Marino nodded.

"Okay," I whispered. "Let's go."

"Freeze!" Marino and I shouted at the same time, popping out of our hiding place without guns in our hands.

"Rick Schmitz, you're under arrest for the rape of five women and the murder and rape of two other women," I said, putting my gun away and grabbing his arms, putting handcuffs on him.

Marino started reading his rights to him as we lead him to the police car.

Rick Schmitz tried to get out of my grip but I didn't allow it and Marino gripped his shoulder to make sure he couldn't.

With his other arm, Marino opened the door to the police car.

Rick Schmitz was put into the car and Marino shut the door once we made sure he was secure.

"This is one of my favorite parts of working here." I sighed, watching the car drive him off.

"It is indeed a great feeling." Marino agreed.

        "I think I'm going to keep them." I murmured to myself, resting my hand on my stomach as I looked into my mirror.

"Rachel?" Shade called from the other side of the door.

"Yes, Shade? I hummed.

I went over and sat down on my bed.

"Are you ready?" he asked. "Nick's saying that they're going to be here soon with the girl their thinking of adopting."

"Yeah, I'm almost ready," I answered. "The door's unlocked if you want to come in."

The door creaked open and Shade stepped in, closing it behind him.

I'm going to have to oil the hinges soon.

"Hey." Shade breathed out.

"Hey," I responded, patting the empty space next to me.

He walked over and sat next to me, wrapping his arms around me and resting his hand on my hip.

"How are you doing?" he asked, kissing my temple.

"I'm doing well," I giggled. "We locked the rapist up today. You?"

"I'm doing good." he smiled at me softly. "It was all just paperwork at work today."

"Hey, Shade?" I murmured.

"Yes?" he wondered.

"I wanna keep them," I said. "I want to have the baby."

"We'll raise them together, then." he nodded. "As a family."

        "Hi, I'm Rachel and this is Shade," I said, holding my hand out for the young girl to shake. "You must be Tiffany. How are you?"

Alec and Nick are talking to the one who brought her here.

"I'm doing good, ma'am." she shyly responded, shaking my hand. "How are you?"

"I'm doing well." I smiled. "I hope the other two didn't scare you too much."

"No, they didn't." she shook her head. "They were really nice."

"That's good to hear." I murmured. "I've worked hard to teach all three of them manners."

"Hey!" Shade pouted. "I've always had pretty good manners! Haven't I?"

"Not in middle school, you didn't," I remarked. "Although, you were the easiest to teach."

"Easier than my twin brother?" he wondered.

I nodded in response. "Yes, easier than Nick. Much easier than him."
Shade did a little victory dance as Tiffany looked at him weirdly.

"Yeah," I drew out, glancing at Tiffany and crossing my arms. "I think he was dropped on his head as a baby a few too many times. I have no proof yet, but it's my theory."