Free Blind Faith by Christiane Heggan

in
Dayton
for a few months, until the publicity dies down. Tricia can finish the school year there. After that, I don't know. I can either come back here or stay there."
    It was a healthy decision. Nick thought, the best she could make under the circumstances.
    Without saying another word, Patti took an old battered suitcase from a shelf and started stuffing the money into it. She set the spiral notebook on top, then stood up. "I know how angry you were "with Kelly Robolo for the part she played in Matt's death. Maybe now you can make peace with her. God knows she's going through enough as it is."
    Kelly. Christ. For a moment, he had forgotten all about her. This turn of events didn't make Matt's death any less tragic, but it certainly put a different light on what had taken place that night in
Chinatown
.
    "What do you mean, she's going through enough?"
    Patti looked surprised. "You don't know?"
    He shook his head.
    "You didn't hear it from me, but Kelly is being harassed by the department."

"Harassed how?"
    "I've heard that a couple of patrol officers have been giving her tickets, and that her house was vandalized a few times. The word bitch was spray painted on her front door, her mailbox was torn out and the tires on her car were slashed."

"Did she report it?"
    "No, but one of Kelly's neighbors did. I don't believe anyone bothered to investigate the complaints, though."
    Nick's adrenaline began to pump harder. If there was one thing he couldn't stomach, it was police officers abusing their power. "Do you know who's behind this?"
    "No. And remember, you didn't hear it from me. I wouldn't have told you
    at all, but I know you and Kelly were friends once and I thought with
    Matt gone and me moving to
Ohio
, you could probably use--"
    "Mommy, Uncle Nick!" A beaming Ashley burst into the garage and threw herself in Nick's arms. As he scooped up the four-year-old from the floor, he saw Patti kick the safe door shut. "Look what I got!" Ashley waved a brand-new Barbie dressed in a glittering silver gown.
    "She's beautiful, pumpkin. Just like you."
    "Madeline gave her to me. And Cindy gave me the wardrobe case that goes with it." She looked at Nick. There was a smear of chocolate frosting on her round cheek and Nick wiped it off with his thumb. "But I like your present best of all. Uncle Nick."
    "What? That ugly red bike?"
    She laughed. "It's not ugly! It's beautiful. Want to see me ride it?
    I don't need training wheels anymore."
    "Not in that dress, darling," Patti reminded her. "Later, when your friends leave, you can change and show Uncle Nick how well you can ride."
    Ashley nodded but her smile faded quickly. Nick had seen a lot of those shifts of mood lately and knew they were part of the grieving process.   "I wish Daddy was here to see me ride my new bike." She looked at Nick with sad, solemn eyes. "But my daddy is in heaven with the angels and he won't be coming back."
    "I know, pumpkin." Nick's voice was thick with emotion. "But you remember what I told you the other day, right? Your daddy will always be with you."
    She nodded vigorously and poked herself in the chest with her fat little finger. "Because Daddy is in my heart."
    "That's right. And he'll always love you and watch over you. Which means," he added, tickling her stomach, "that you'd better eat all your vegetables."
    She laughed. "I will, I will!" Then, still giggling, she said, "Stay for dinner. Uncle Nick, please."
    He hadn't planned on that, but how could he refuse? "Well now," he said in a teasing tone, "that depends on what's for dinner."

Ashley thought for a moment, then grinned. "Cake and ice cream?"
    Nick laughed. "In that case you've got yourself a deal." He put her down and watched her run out of the garage to rejoin her little friends.
    "You're so good with children," Patti said softly. "You'll make a wonderful father someday."
    He had thought so, too, but his wife, Nina-ex-wife now--had been dead set against the idea.
    "Snotty noses and dirty