She's My Daughter

By Lauren Oetting

Leo Daniels, a medicinal chemist and part time MP special officer has his world changed when a gorgeous woman comes into his life. He gets an amazing family and a even more interesting back story of his wife. Can he work through her problems that have come back to haunt her and can he save his family?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780359836628

Book preview

She's My Daughter

She’s My Daughter

The Leo Daniels Series

By: Lauren Oetting

I would like to dedicate this book to my father, who will always be the MP of my heart.

Chapter 1

June 2010 Minneapolis Minnesota

Man does it feel good to be home, my little apartment for one does not really do much for the imagination. The kind of oversized dark furniture kind of cramps up the place, it makes my apartment look small. With how tall I am I almost have to slouch to walk through the door. Standing six foot five with a broad build can be a hassle sometimes. I set my satchel down on my little table by the door and I headed toward my kitchen to get something to drink. With how big I am my galley kitchen seems small, man I want a bigger place. I am alone so this will have to do for now. So I just grab a soda out of the fridge and I take a big drink. I then head back to my room and change out of my work clothes into something more casual, jeans and a t-shirt.

I got comfortable on my couch with my drink and started to watch some TV. Just as I was getting comfortable my cell phone started ringing. It’s just Will, wanting to meet up at the bar for a drink, ah why not. I head to the bathroom and look myself over real quick. Man I could use a haircut, I didn’t realize that my hair was starting to get really shaggy. My face is a little rough but I think I am alright. Hey my kind of shaggy hair and scruff doesn’t really look that bad, hey some chicks dig it. My kind of dark complexion kind of stands out, my brown hair brings it out even more and my green eyes kind of pop. My face is kind of wide, my cheek bones are kind of prominent and my nose is straight, short and narrow. To me I don’t seem like a handsome man, yet my mom always calls me a heartbreaker, well along with my identical twin brother. Having another me walking around this earth has always scared me, but Mickey is one of the best men I know.

I grab my wallet and keys and I am out the door. Luckily the bar is just around the corner. The city of Minneapolis at night can kind of be a lively place, even though most of the weirdos come out at night. So I walk up a block and around a corner to the right and I finally get to the bar. I walk in to find Will seated at the bar with two beers in front of him. The bar itself was your run of the mill bar, dark with some neon signs with wood paneling everywhere. There is a small stage in the back and all kinds of tables strung around the place. There was a group of ladies in the back left corner drinking and getting loud.

Hey buddy! Will said to me as I sat down beside him and he handed me a beer.

What’s up man? I say back and took a swig of beer.

Uh not much, long hard day at work. He said.

Will stood around six foot, fair skin, brown eyes and really dark brown hair, almost black. He has a slender athletic build. Will’s nose is somewhat short, narrow and almost pointed. We were roommates in college, and a friendship ensued.

School coaching that hard? I ask.

Eh, some of the kids were being brats and student teacher drama got really bad today. He said and took a drink.

Sorry to hear that man, how are Lindsey and the kids?

They are doing well, Lindsey got promoted earlier this week so she can work from home now. Which makes me really happy and Alice started playing the flute so I get to hear awesome practicing. He said with sarcasm and rolled his eyes.

Ha! was all I said and chuckled.

Aaron made the basketball team. Then he took a big drink.

Awesome, you must be pretty proud! I told him and patted his back, he just nodded in agreement as he took a drink. So what’s the student teacher drama you mentioned? I ask confused.

Well supposedly one of the ninth grade teachers slept with one of her students and then she slept with one of the other teachers, and now she’s pregnant. Now there is a huge scandal with the school board, police and child protective services. Then to top it all off, the paternity of the baby. Now the school and all the teachers look bad.

It’s just a huge mess of a problem. I tell him.

Now all of the teachers are being investigated and all the students are being asked questions. Of course I don’t have anything to worry about and Lindsey has been supporting me, the whole thing just makes me feel uncomfortable. He said and took a long drink. I am thinking of finding a better job, I am getting tired of all this student teacher drama.

Hey I don’t blame ya man, it just seems the world is getting shadier and more perverted.

I will drink to that. He said, clinked my bottle and took a drink. It is times like this that I am glad the kids are in elementary school. He said after he was done with his drink.

Yeah but they will be in high school before you know it.

Yeah sadly. He let out a sigh and took a long drink. Well enough about me man, how is it going with you? he said as he was fidgeting with his coaster and nodded to me.

Oh not bad, just trying to make some medicine. I told him and took a drink.

Fun times as a pharmaceutical chemist, make any breakthroughs lately?

Not too much lately, we have been studying cancer treatments and side effects.  Hoping we can come up with something to help alleviate chemo therapy side effects and hopes to come up with more of a solution in pill form than the extensive treatments. I explained.

I hope I can affect the world like you some day. He said sadly.

Hey you are in education and coaching, that’s a rewarding job. I reassure him and pat his back.

Yeah at least you don’t have to deal with brat kids. Kids now in days feel like they are so privileged and can get anything they want, no respect anymore. He said and lowered his head with a sigh.

I will drink to that. I tell him and dink his bottle. Will has a decent enough athletic build, not like your stereotypical coach with the big gut and grumpy demeanor. Will is usually cheery and easy going, the school drama must be really messing with him. Hey bar keep, let’s get some shots over here. I blurted. I ordered shots of tequila and we woofed them down heartedly. Better? I asked him.

Yeah thank you. He said and shook his head, the tequila hitting him hard.

No problem man. I told him.

I almost forgot to ask man, how is it going over at the army base? he asked me.

Uh not too bad, luckily right now I am on an assignment basis, only when I am really needed. My lab boss and the base have an understanding, if I don’t show up in the lab, they know I am on assignment. I state and pick at some beer nuts.

I thought you ran the lab? he asked confused.

Oh no, I have like one or two above me, maybe even three.

Huh. He ordered us more beers and took a big drink of his when he got it.

I just realized there is no music in this place. I stated and got up and walked over to the juke box, with my beer in hand. I put in a quarter and select a Whitesnake song. Just after I was done this lady walks up to me.

Hi! she tells me.

Hi! I say back.

What a gorgeous woman, tall blonde, she probably stood about six foot. Her blue eyes really stood out, her full red lips seemed seductive and her tight silver dress hugged every curve. With her cute little nose and awesome curves, she has looks like a model.

I’m Tammy. She said and put out her hand.

Leo. I told her and shook her hand.

Nice to meet you Leo. She smile at me.

Nice to meet you too. I smiled back.

Sorry if I am being so straight forward, I saw you sitting at the bar and I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of you. She started fidgeting with her hair, nervous I guess, she must not be use to coming up to guys.

Really, am I really that endearing? I asked with a smile and crossed my arms and legs.

Well yeah, you are the best looking man I have ever seen, are you a model? she asked with a flirty voice.

Ha no, just a pharmaceutical chemist. Funny, though I was thinking the same thing about you. I said with a wink and a smile.

Oh no I am just a waitress. She said while still playing with her hair. Then the song was over and she put a quarter in the juke box and picked something. Would you like to dance? she asked as Guns N’ Roses was coming on.

Sure!

We danced hand in hand, talked a bit and got to know each other a little better. She was a waitress at a nearby diner and she is finishing school at the local community college to become a nurse, which baffled me. She is living in an apartment that she can barely afford and lookes out for herself. I looked over at Will and he gave me a big smile with a beer in hand.

Is your friend okay? she asked.

He will be okay, he had a rough day at work. He probably won’t be here much longer, he has a family to go to.

Family man, love it. Do you plan on having a family of your own? she asked while motioning to my bare ring finger.

Eventually! I said with a smile, then Will teleported beside me and handed me another shot.

Real quick man before I leave. He told me and shoved it in my hand.

Alright. I downed it with him.

Thanks man, check you later.

Later man. I told him as he started to walk away.

Hey bar keep let me pay up. Will stated as he went for his wallet.

No I will take care of it. I yelled over at them. The bar keep just shrugged and smirked at Will.

Thanks man. Will yelled and walked to the door.

No prob. I yelled back at him just before he exited the building.

How nice. Tammy told me after Will was gone.

Eh, he needs the money more than I do. He’s got kids and I don’t.

Being a pharmaceutical chemist must pay well. She seemed impressed.

Eh, it pays the bills. Only when my army base calls me up do I need to go out on assignments.

Military?

Yep, special officer. I tell her as we say from side to side.

Now that explains a lot. She tells me and I spin her, I put my hand back on her waist.

Would you like a drink? I asked her.

I would love one.

I walked her over to the bar and I ordered another beer and I got her a glass of wine, I even picked up her tab, to be a gentleman. Occasionally she would look over to her friends to let them know she was okay.

Would you like to introduce me? I asked her.

Sure. We grabbed our drinks and she grabbed my hand. Girls this is Leo, Leo these are the girls.

Hi girls. I said to the four of them.

Hi Leo. They said in unison.

How tall are you? one of them asked.

Six foot five.

Man! one of them said.

I sat down with Tammy and talked with her and her friends for a bit. We had one more drink and Tammy was ready to call it a night. So I left the bar with her and stayed by her side, I didn’t want her to get hurt.

Would you like to go get some coffee? she asked me.

A cup sounds good.

Where can we go at this time of night? she asked as she looked around, her heels were clicking on the ground.

My place. I said as I grabbed her hand and led her the way.

Oh ok! was all she said, I caught her by surprise.

Good morning sleepy head. I said to Tammy as she walked out of my room in my t-shirt, while I made her a plate for breakfast.

Good morning, oh that smells good. She said as she sat down at the bar in front of me.

I handed her a plate and I poured her a glass of orange juice. She just kindly sat their while I made my plate. I made us eggs, bacon, toast and hash browns. I poured myself a glass of orange juice and then I came around and sat down beside her. Before I had a chance to fully sit down she grabbed me by the collar and pulled me in to her face and gave me a big kiss, of course I kissed back.

There’s a proper good morning. She said as I sat down.

We got to eating and she said she had to be at work by eleven so we had a few hours. Luckily she only lives on the other side of the block and the diner is only a few blocks away. After we ate breakfast she was awesome enough to cuddle on the couch with me while we watched some TV. After that she put her clothes back on. Before she left I gave her one of my cards so she could call me and she gave her number as well. I told her I would come by the diner for dinner, that made her happy. Tammy is one awesome lady, smart, funny, and gorgeous. Before she left we shared a very sensual kiss, then she was gone.

Man what am I going to do for the rest of the day? I asked myself. I think I will go for a run. I tell myself.

So I changed into my sweats and tennis shoes and out the door I went. I ran quite a bit, I even ran to the gym. I worked out for at least two and a half hours. Going between weightlifting, the elliptical, the power rack and the cable cross. I skipped cardio since I was running back home.

On my way back home I ended up coming up to the diner, but there was some sort of commotion going on in the alley. People standing at a police tape line and I saw camera flashes going off. So I decided to check it out, wanting to make sure Tammy was okay. Man was I in for a shock, right there on the ground was Tammy.

Tammy oh my god! I yell and I burst through the people and try to cross the tape line.

Sir this is a crime scene. One of the officers told me as he was trying to hold me back.

That’s my girl let me through. I try to shove.

Sir, sir. He tells me and put his hand on my chest.

NO you sir me. I tell him and show him my ID.

What is going on here? one detective asked all confused as he walked up to me.

Well sir, this here says Leo Daniels MP Special Officer. The uniformed officer showed him my ID. I am still trying to shove my way through.

You know the victim? the detective asked me.

Yes now please let me through. I am almost yelling.

The detective motioned to let me through, I got close to her but careful enough to not touch anything. Then I realized that tears were coming down my face. I just lost an amazing woman that I just met, why world, why? Tammy was wearing her uniform, a yellow waitress dress and her hair was up. I looked her over and she had a pocket knife in her abdomen, she was covered in blood from the waist down. I don’t know how much time had passed but one of the detectives pulled me up and dragged me to the side.

Alright sir, what’s your name and what is your relation to the victim? one detective asked. He was probably five foot seven, two hundred and seventy pounds with silver hair and a mustache wearing a brown suit. He had a very short stubby nose and his voice didn’t match his body. The other one had to be around forty in jeans and a blue button up shirt. He was blonde with a beard, he had to stand around six foot. He has a leaner build than I do but his broad shoulders must be his intimidation factor.

Leo Daniels, MP, special officer and she was my special lady. I tell them I show them my ID again.

Major right? the blonde asked.

Yes. I reply.

How long have you known her? he asked.

We met last night at the bar around the corner.

Last night? they both said together.

She left my place about ten o’clock this morning. I added.

Ah, okay. The chubbier one said and made a note in his notepad.

May I ask what happened? I asked and they both looked at each other.

It was just a mugging that gone wrong. The blonde stated.

Was the perpetrator caught? I asked worried.

Not yet sir, we will find him.

I sure hope so, you better pray that I don’t come across him first. I tell them and cross my arms. Do you guys need help?

With all due respect Major but this is a civilian case but I wouldn’t mind letting you know when the suspect is caught. The blonde one stated and handed me a card, Detective Davis. Then the other guy handed me his card, Detective Lawrence.

What about her family?

We are in that process sir. The chubby detective stated.

I am sure once her body is released they will make the proper arrangements. The blonde stated. I am sure you would like to know the details.

Yes! I blurted. Is there any other information you need from me?

No I don’t think so. Lawrence stated and looked at the chubby one, to be more polite.

Here, just in case you need me. I told them and handed over my card.

Thank you Major. Davis said.

With that I took my leave and left the crime scene. I didn’t feel like running anymore so I just walked back to my apartment. When I stepped into my living room I flopped down on my couch and put my head in hands and started to cry some more. What the hell is wrong with me? Tammy was an amazing woman, she had a