Faith and Fidelity Read Online Free

being smashed. His tolerance had built up to a pretty high level. More cops in and out the front door. More casual glances in his direction. More faint whispers of his name here and there, getting louder as the time got later and volume control was shorted out by cheap liquor. Matt's back stiffened up slowly, his shoulders creeping up towards his ears with tension and discomfort.
    “Hey, Matt,” he heard from a distance.
    Evan was calling him from across the table. He raised his voice to be heard over the enraged shrieks now emanating from Helena and Kalee— as Moses had said something particularly ridiculous. “I see Abe over there with Vic. Have you had a chance to talk to him yet?”
    Matt shook his head no. “Then let's go over.” Evan stood up promising the table they'd be back.
    Abe and Vic were leaning on the bar, nursing club sodas and wiping their brows. Judging from the noise, no one in the back room had noticed the guest of honor had left to get some air.
    Looking up, Abe broke into a huge smile when he saw Matt and moved to give him a big hug. Matt returned the sentiment and felt a lump well in his throat. He always forgot how much he missed the old coot. It was a relief to see him retiring in one piece, the only one of Matt's partners to be able to do that. He tried not to think of himself as the Harbinger of Death.
    “I was hoping you'd grace us with your presence.” He winked over at Vic. “Shoulda checked the table with the beautiful women as soon as I came in.”
    Everyone laughed.

    * * * *

    Evan stood discreetly to one side, watching the warm reunion. Nice. It looked like Matt needed someone to be thrilled to see him. He remembered how many times— you know, before , as he thought of it— after the worse possible day, he'd come home to have one of the kids greet him with a simple smile or hug and suddenly he'd forget the ugliness. Sherri standing at the stove, turning to flash him a big smile, glad to see he'd made it home before midnight.
    'Cause ya know, Evan , he told himself, if you're going to have a memory, have a real one . He'd made it hard on her, working so many hours, leaving her to manage the kids, the house, their life. She'd done it brilliantly, which had made it so much easier for him to stay that extra hour (or four), or take off to pursue something that could have honestly waited until morning. There'd been a million arguments over it. It was really the only thing they'd fought over which made it even more painful. A problem that he could have solved simply by leaving Vice. But he didn't, and if wishes were horses or however that saying went.
    Vic was saying something about another drink and Evan looked down at his watch. It was almost nine, and he'd promised the kids he'd be home in time to say good night. Damn. Evan begged off then hesitantly interrupted Abe and Matt's conversation.
    “Sorry guys. I need to get home. Abe— I just wanted to wish you the best.”
    “Hey, Evan! Thanks for coming. I'm sure you'll see me around. This leisure thing is probably going to get old real quick, and I'll be stopping by to bug Vic here on a regular basis. Maybe impart some of my senior wisdom.”
    Evan grinned. “And I know you don't want to miss any of Vic's meetings.”
    Abe cracked up. “Oh yeah. That would be a shame. Why go out and look for the next Ms. Right when I can spend Thursday nights with you, Moses, and Vic?”
    “Exactly. Take care. I'll see you soon.” They shook hands and Evan turned to go. He stopped and went back to shake Matt's hand.
    “Good to meet you.”
    “Hey, thanks.”
    Evan understood the unspoken message. Hey thanks for not treating me like a circus freak . He felt exactly the same way.
    “Uh, we should you know, get a drink or something sometime,” Matt said casually. “Just hang out.”
    “Yeah. Give me a call at the station.”
    Matt nodded. “Great.”
    Evan gave Vic a small wave and headed for the table to collect his things. He said his