Read To Love a Cop for Free Online

that drizzle, at least, was on its way.
    “Now I am,” she said. “What did Benji say?”
    “Did you know Tino and his wife moved last year? Laura, their kids go to Faubion, too.”
    Goose bumps of alarm rose on Laura’s arms. Faubion, kindergarten through eighth grade, was Jake’s school. And...Tino’s son was a year older than Jake, which would make him seventh grade, and his next oldest, a daughter...fifth, she thought. Then Tino’s kids stair-stepped down from there. They were a good Catholic family, and had already had three kids with Renata pregnant again the last time Laura saw them. They’d likely added a couple more since then.
    “Why didn’t Jake say anything?”
    “It gets worse,” her sister warned. “According to Benji, Tino’s kids have been bad-mouthing Jake. Everyone knows about the shooting now.”
    “Oh, God.”
    “He said kids are whispering about him. He’s seen Jake alone at recess shooting baskets instead of hanging out with friends.”
    “And he didn’t say a word to me,” she said, stunned.
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Thank you for telling me.” So much rage bubbled in her chest, she couldn’t believe how calm she sounded. “I...needed to know.”
    “I thought so. Are you going to talk to him?”
    “Yes. And then I’m going to talk to Tino.”
    “Laura? That doesn’t sound like a good idea.”
    “That son of a bitch,” she bit off, and ended the call with a single stab of her finger.
    * * *
    T OTALLY FREAKED, J AKE stared at the front door that Mom had slammed so hard, he thought it was still quivering.
    Then, with a cry of fear, he leaped forward and wrenched the door open, racing after her.
    He was too late. She was already backing down the driveway, looking over her shoulder. Even as he ran across the lawn, she reached the street and started forward without seeing him. Standing still on the sidewalk, breathing hard, he heard a squeal as she turned the corner a block and a half down. Mom never speeded, but she had to be.
    What if something really bad happened? It would be his fault. Because of what happened back then. Everything had been his fault: Marco and Dad, and Mom sad for so long.
    And now things might get really bad again.
    He could call Aunt Jennifer. She might chase after Mom and...he didn’t know. Stop her from talking to Uncle Tino?
    But he’d heard the end of the phone call. Aunt Jennifer already knew what Mom was going to do. It didn’t even sound as if she’d tried to talk Mom out of going. Jake pictured her, smaller, skinnier than Mom, nice but...well, nice. Too nice to stop Mom.
    What do I do ?
    He didn’t even know exactly where Uncle Tino lived. After finding out his cousins had started at his school, he’d looked in the phone book, but there was no Tino Vennetti there at all, not even at an old address.
    As he ran back across the yard and into the house, his heart pounded so hard it felt as if it was going to burst like a water balloon when you dropped it.
    And then his eyes widened. Detective Winter could stop her if he wanted. He’d make sure Uncle Tino didn’t hurt her.
    And Jake had the card with his phone number hidden under the base of his desk lamp so Mom wouldn’t find it and take it.
    He was in such a hurry to grab the card, the lamp fell over and the bulb shattered, but he didn’t care.
    * * *
    S ATURDAY MORNING, E THAN was back to canvas neighbors of the Finkels he hadn’t yet been able to talk to when his cell phone rang. He took it from his belt and felt a jolt when he saw who was calling. He’d looked up Laura and Jake Vennetti’s number last weekend and added it to his contacts list.
    “Winter,” he said, stopping halfway up the walkway to a handsome Victorian across the street and two doors down from the Finkels, whose house still had a blackened corner.
    “Detective?” It was the boy, and his voice was high and scared. “Mom found out something, and...and I’m scared of what she’s going to do.”
    That didn’t sound