Free A Dozen Deadly Roses by Kathy Bennett

the rain.  Black cowboys boots kept his feet dry.  Ugly purple bruises and numerous scratches marked his face.
    “Hi, I’m sorry to bother you at home, but I needed to talk to you.”  She saw his eyes scrutinize her face.
    She was going to say something about his injuries, but opened the door wider to allow him to enter.  Then she saw it.  A long, gold foil box secured with a red ribbon.  His eyes followed her gaze.
    “This was next to your door,” he said.
    She slapped herself on the forehead.  “Stupid me, I brought it home from my dad’s and forgot it outside.” 
    “Can I open it?” Donnie cried.
    “No,” Jade blurted louder than she intended.  “Let me get you cleaned up, then I want you to play in your room.”
    The little boy’s lower lip began to quiver.  “But what about our picnic?” he whined.
    Jade moved to the kitchen, grabbed a dishrag and began blotting chocolate batter from her son’s face and clothing.  “We’ll have our picnic, but Mommy needs to talk to this man.  Be a good boy now.  Go play in your room.”
    Donnie stomped to his room looking over his shoulder at Mac, a scowl fixed on his face.
    “Cute kid, but I don’t think he likes me.  How come you’ve never mentioned him?”
    She needed to take Mac’s mind off Donnie.  Jade knew she’d have to tell Mac about his son eventually, but she needed time to figure out the best way to do it.  She took the shiny box from his hands.  “What is it you want?  You shouldn’t be here.”
    In answer, Mac leaned close and extended his hand to her face.  Jade’s heart went into overdrive as he took his index finger and caressed her cheek.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.
    He pulled his hand away and she saw a thickened brown substance on the tip of his finger.  He stuck his finger in his mouth and slowly slid it out again.  His finger was clean.
    “Mmmmm, delicious.  That’s my favorite,” he said, as his eyes moved over her body.  “Chocolate is a good color on you.”
    Jade felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment, realizing he was teasing her about the fact she was speckled with batter from the mixing bowl.  Did he see how her pulse was racing from his touch?
    “Let me just get this mess cleaned up.”  Turning away from him she went to the kitchen and pushed the gleaming box she was holding on top of her refrigerator.  Then she dabbed at the remnants of cake batter on her face.  When she was satisfied she had gotten most of it, she turned to him.
    “How do you know where I live?”
    “The phone list in the Watch Commander’s office,” he answered easily.
    She leaned against the sink.  “So, why are you here?”
    His expression grew serious.  “I need to talk to you about what happened today.  I need you to understand why I had to jump in after the boy.”
    “Look, Mac, it doesn’t matter.  The captain said nothing would go in your personnel file.  It worked out.”
    “The little boy was about the same age my daughter would be, if Ashley were alive.  I wasn’t around to save her, but I was there for this little boy.”
    Jade bit the inside of her lip, ordering herself not to cry at his words.
    Mac moved out of the kitchen into the living room.  He turned to her, his eyes pleading with her to understand.  “There was no conscious decision on my part to go after the kid.  I’m a cop.  Helping people is what we do.  That’s why I became a cop, to help people - especially those who can’t help themselves.  And as long as I’ve got a breath left in me, no child will die on my watch.”  He sighed.  “I don’t care about the rules or policy.  If I see someone who needs my help, I’m going to respond.  If supervision doesn’t like it, screw ‘em.”
    He was right.  Helping people was what being a cop was all about.  Mac had been trained ‘old school.’  He did the right thing even if the brass and society were so out of touch they didn’t remember what