“Chance said Gibby was fine, honey. He said not to worry.”

“But that was hours ago…”

Damn. I could have called. I should have. “Uh … hi, guys.”

They turned at the same time, and my mother swept up and across the room, her arms tight on my neck as she squeezed. I tried to disentangle the embrace, but she only squeezed harder, her face hot against my shirt before she pushed back, and let the anger out.

“Where the hell have you been? Do you know how I’ve worried? Do you have any idea?”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m okay.”

She pulled me into a second embrace so desperate and maternal I could barely stand it.

“I said I’m okay. Okay?”

Thank God for my father.

“Sweetheart, please. He’s home and safe.” He drew her back, and guided her across the room. “Let me talk to him for a bit. You should rest. How about a hot bath and some tea?”

“Don’t patronize me, William.”

“He’s not going anywhere. Gibson, tell her.”

“I won’t go anywhere.”

I made it sincere, but she pulled away from my father, her eyes wide and dark with worry. “Did you have something to do with that girl? They say you’ve been sleeping with her.”

I couldn’t have been more surprised had she drawn a knife and stabbed me.

“Martinez and Smith,” my father explained. “They’ve been here twice, trying to find you. They made some veiled allegations, asked some unpleasant questions. We’ll talk about it in a bit. And you?” He turned my mother into the circle of his arms. “Don’t let them rattle you. You’re a cop’s wife. You know how this works.”

“I just hate it so much! What they said, what they implied…”

She cut her eyes my way, but my father caught her chin with a finger. “He’s home and safe. I won’t let him leave.” He kissed her forehead, and she relaxed against him. “Now, how about that bath?”

They left me alone with my thoughts, which in essence were, What the hell? When my father returned, he put the kettle on to boil, and offered a pinch-lipped, apologetic smile.

“You’re not angry?” I asked.

“I am, but mostly at Martinez. He’s running early and hot, and knows it, too, the uncaring little shit.” He pulled two beers from the fridge, and handed one to me, a first. “As for your mother’s concerns, it didn’t help that you ditched school, skipped dinner, and told Chance you were coming straight home. She has imagined all kinds of horrible scenarios.”

“What did Martinez say that made her so upset?”