Firestone

by Christian, Claudia Hall

  She smiled at Blane, but he was staring off into space.

  “Why do you think Nelson . . .?” Blane asked.

  “I told you he came by here,” Heather said.

  Blane nodded.

  “I don’t think it’s more complicated than Risa said,” Heather said. “Nelson wants to see what it’s like to care for a foster child. It’s a temporary placement so it seems perfect all the way around.”

  Blane gave her an odd look.

  “What?” Heather asked.

  “You think he’s interested in me,” Blane said.

  “He said he was.” Heather shrugged.

  “What do you think about that?” Blane asked.

  “I think you and I are life partners,” Heather said. “We are a family. When you’re well, you may decide you want a relationship with a man. I might decide the same thing. Those men would have to integrate into our family.”

  Heather nodded, and Blane scowled at her.

  “You’re being pretty adult about that,” Blane said.

  “I don’t know.” Heather shrugged. “Maybe it’s naive, but I feel really strongly that . . . we’re a family.”

  Blane smiled.

  “Aren’t we?” Heather asked.

  “We are,” Blane said.

  “I don’t know how it will work, or if it will at all,” Heather said. “But I think it’s nice that he’s trying to see if he likes being the foster parent of a teenager.”

  “Before we even go out on a date?” Blane asked.

  Heather smiled at him.

  “You don’t think this is some kind of manipulation?” Blane asked.

  “How so?” Heather asked.

  “Maybe he’s just trying to pretend to be a good guy when really he’s . . .” Blane said.

  “An ax murderer?” Heather asked. “Like the movie?”

  Blane grinned at her reference to the movie So I Married an Ax Murderer.

  “No, I don’t think he’s an ax murderer,” Heather said. “I think he’s cautious. And . . . we’ll see. You’re in no condition to date. Not now or for the next few months, maybe even the next year. If he’s still around when the baby comes, then we’ll figure something out.”

  “You already have it figured out?” Blane smiled.

  “It’s a lot less scary to think about Nelson than to think about what’s going to happen on Saturday,” Heather said.

  Blane nodded.

  “I talked to Tres,” Blane said.

  “You what?” Heather asked.

  “I asked him if he would . . . help you if something happened to me,” Blane said.

  “Why?”

  “Because you like him,” Blane said.

  “I do?”

  “You do,” Blane said.

  “Hmm,” Heather said.

  “Hmm?” Blane asked.

  “Oh.” Heather smiled. “It’s going to be a weird month or so.”

  “That it is,” Blane said. “Should we get to bed?”

  Heather nodded. She started up the stairs. They were standing on the landing when he touched her arm.

  “Thank you for being my family,” Blane said. “For loving me.”

  Heather smiled.

  “We’re a family,” Blane said.

  “Yeah, we are,” Heather said.

  “Thanks,” Blane said.

  He went into the bedroom to change, and Heather closed her eyes. Tomorrow, and every day for the next month, she’d be standing on this landing alone.

  At that moment, a strange thought hit her. What if Abi was right? What if she had healed Blane with her love? What if loving was enough?

  Heather smiled to herself.

  She’d just love him, and hope it was enough. Nodding to herself, she went to join him in bed.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Thursday night — 10:05 p.m.

  Sandy was so terrified that she’d gotten up from the living room and come into the kitchen. She leaned against the counter and stared at the ceiling.

  What was she going to do?

  They said they’d “try” to protect her, but nothing was foolproof.

  And if it wasn’t her, it would be precious Rachel. Aden got so angry when he heard that threat that he’d taken the kids and left their apartment. Sandy wished she could leave. Leave and take her family to Timbuktu or some other safe and out-of-the-way place.

  Jill came into the kitchen and hugged Sandy. Jill didn’t have to say anything. Sandy knew she understood by the way Jill looked at her.

  But there was nothing Jill could do.

  Men had paid money to see Sandy or her baby assaulted in the most horrible way.

  And that was all that mattered.

  “Sandy?” Seth stuck his head into the kitchen. “I think you should come out.”

  “Why?”

  “Just come out,” Seth said.

  Jill held out her arm, and Sandy tucked herself against her friend. She could feel the pulse of Jill’s positive and powerful energy. The mood in the living room had changed.

  “We took this situation to our supervisor,” Raz said. “We’ve received the resources we need.”

  “What does that mean?” Sandy asked.

  “It means that Patty will stay in jail,” Colin said.

  “How . . .?”

  “Paperwork snafu,” Colin said. “Weird how that happens. That will give us the weekend. We also have access to the satellite feeds for the day of your mother’s death. We’re confident that we’ll find something to match our surveillance footage.”

  “And that means?” Sandy asked.

  “They’ve found something interesting,” Seth said. “They won’t tell us what.”

  “You remember the guy from ICE?” Colin asked. “Charlie talked to him about the rape case.”

  “He’s with the Department of Homeland Security, too,” Sandy said. “He said they couldn’t figure out how the videos were sold or track the money. He said they were ‘looking into it,’ but Charlie thought he was full of it.”

  “That’s because they were able to pull the website,” Raz said. “Delete the connections by removing the server from the Internet. There wasn’t anything for them to track. But now . . .”

  “This situation is new, and active,” Colin said. “The site will lead us not only to the sellers but the buyers too. This is really good. It’s led us everywhere . . .”

  “Everywhere?” Sandy asked.

  “To the current rape case — where the images were sold and how — your case, and . . .” Raz smiled. “He said to tell you that when they found the site the computer crimes guys screamed out loud. It’s a big day.”

  “What does this mean?” Sandy asked.

  “We’ve got them,” Seth said.

  “What about tomorrow?”

  “We have to walk it through,” Raz said.

  “So my daughter and I are still at risk because of this detective guy,” Sandy said. “The guy who killed my mother and arranged my . . .”

  Sandy cleared her throat.

  “I’m afraid so,” Raz said. “We’ll protect you, of course, but I’m not going to insult you by saying that nothing can happen.”

  Sandy gave a vague nod.

  “But if we catch them?” Sandy asked.

  “It’s over,” Seth said. “For good.”

  “For you, and lots of other girls,” Raz said.

  “Other girls?” Sandy asked.

  “The man you thought was your father managed a network of sites and girls,” Raz said. “That’s why he made so much money. He had girls all over the country, videos, pictures, and live feed. If we can shut these guys down, we can stop an operation that’s been going on a long, long time.”

  “I hear what you’re saying,” Sandy said. “And I know you mean well. But I also know that Detective Red Bear probably didn’t get the memo. He’s out there right now planning to . . . And there’s nothing any of us can do about that.”

  She swallowed hard.

  “I need
some ice cream,” Sandy said.

  She walked out of the living room and back into the quiet kitchen.

  Chapter Two Hundred and Ninety-two

  Not what I planned

  Friday morning—7:35 a.m.

  The doorbell rang at Sandy’s hair studio. Sandy had come to the studio early because she felt so nervous about today. Charlie had agreed to spend the day with her, but he wouldn’t arrive until the other kids were off to school. Sandy hadn’t been able to sleep a wink. With the hope that a little time to herself would get her ready for today, she’d packed up Rachel and left for her studio before anyone at the Castle was up.

  The doorbell rang again. Sandy came out of the back and saw Erin Hargreaves standing outside the door with her daughter, Grace. Sandy jogged to the door and opened it.

  “Oh, Sandy,” Erin said. “Thank you so much for making time for me.”

  “I . . .uh . . .” Sandy scowled. She was booked all day with her usual Friday clients. “I’m sorry, Erin, did we set something up?”

  “I thought we did,” Erin said. “Or at least Alex said we had.”

  “It’s no big deal,” Sandy said. “You’re always welcome. I’ll just fit you in.”

  “I don’t want to be too much trouble,” Erin said. “Grace needs her first haircut, and I was hoping maybe you could cut some of my split ends.”

  “Let me check my schedule to see how much time we have.” Sandy stepped back and let Erin and Grace inside. She was about to close the door when Matthew, Erin’s partner, slipped inside. “Just a second.”

  Sandy looked at her iPhone and scowled. Her schedule had changed. She looked at Erin, and Erin smiled.

  “I don’t know what’s going on . . .” Sandy said

  Sandy felt a little dizzy. Had that scum Detective Red Bear manipulated her schedule?

  “Are you okay?” Matthew asked. He put his hand on Sandy’s elbow to steady her.

  “I . . . um . . .” Sandy said.

  “They didn’t tell you?” Erin asked.

  “They canceled your clients,” Matthew said with a smile and a nod.

  “Who did?”

  “Technically, I think it was Raz, but it could have been Troy.” Matthew nodded.

  “But . . .?” Sandy started.

  “Our team sergeant contacted everyone to reschedule,” Matthew said.

  “But . . .” Sandy started.

  “It’s unnerving, I know,” Matthew said.

  “Drives me crazy, but . . .” Erin gave Sandy a wincing smile. “Is there any way . . .?”

  Erin nodded to the child in her arms, and Sandy smiled. Grace looked like she’d just woken up. She gave Sandy a groggy look.

  “Of course,” Sandy said. “Where are my manners? Come in! Come in!”

  Sandy smiled.

  “I’d never trust anyone else to give Grace her first haircut,” Erin said. “I’ve been putting it off, you know, because . . . I guess I’m already fighting her growing up.”

  “I know what you mean,” Sandy said.

  The doorbell rang again. Sandy looked through the glass to see the small woman who worked with Matthew. She was Native American and, outside of a yearly trim, she never cut her hair.

  “Why don’t you settle in?” Sandy gestured to her salon chairs. “Matthew, there’s coffee and hot chocolate in the back.”

  “Great,” Matthew said.

  Sandy went to the door.

  “Hi Sandy,” the woman said. “Margaret.”

  “Hi Margaret,” Sandy said. She stepped back from the door.

  “I know it’s weird,” Margaret said. “But I was assigned to keep track of Rachel today.”

  “You were?” Sandy asked.

  “I was,” Margaret said. “Do you mind if I hang out with you here? Or should I take her to our house?”

  “I’d really rather that she was . . .” Sandy started. “I mean, it really makes no sense, but . . . I’d really rather she was with me.”

  “I’d feel the same way,” Margaret said. “Is Rachel in the back?”

  Sandy nodded. Margaret smiled and walked with purpose to the back of the shop. Sandy went to the salon chairs where Erin was sitting with Grace. Matthew was walking around the edge of the studio looking at the walls and floor.

  “Drives me crazy,” Erin said under her breath.

  “What does?” Sandy asked in the same low tone.

  “Just that they control everything,” Erin looked at Sandy in the mirror. “But honestly? They’re always right. Which you know?”

  “Drives you more crazy?” Sandy asked.

  Sandy heard a sound. When she turned to see, Matthew was talking on his cell phone.

  “Exactly,” Erin said.

  “What did you have in mind for Grace?” Sandy asked.

  Grace had fallen asleep against Erin’s shoulder. Erin held her out for Sandy to take a look at Grace’s hair.

  “Just a trim,” Erin said. “She has my crazy curly red hair and Matthew’s massive hair volume. We’re lucky she doesn’t grow a beard!”

  Sandy laughed.

  “Do you want to hold her?” Sandy asked. “Or shall we set her up in a booster?”

  Sandy looked up and saw Matthew letting a man and a woman into the studio. He said something to them. They nodded and left.

  “Those are agents,” Erin said. “Matt’s helping assign them to effective locations.”

  Erin nodded.

  “I’m not supposed to know, but I do,” Erin said.

  “What do you know?” Sandy asked.

  “Matt was up all night last night,” Erin said in a conspiratorial tone. “They made a plan to keep you safe, but it requires a lot of finagling.”

  “Finagling?” Sandy asked.

  “Making sure people don’t screw it up.” Erin nodded.

  “Who’s making the plan?” Sandy asked.

  “Who else?” Erin nodded. Sandy smiled as if she knew what Erin was talking about. Erin laughed. “What did they tell you?”

  “Nothing,” Sandy said. “Last night, I heard . . . and . . .”

  “Did they tell you they had to check with their boss?” Erin asked.

  Sandy nodded.

  “Do you know who their boss is?” Erin asked.

  Sandy shook her head.

  “My sister,” Erin said.

  “Samantha?”

  “The other one,” Erin said.

  “Alex is Raz and Colin’s boss?” Sandy whispered.

  “She’s kind of boss of the entire world.” Erin rolled her eyes.

  “Oh.” Sandy looked down.

  “Did I say something wrong?” Erin looked at Sandy.

  “They said they talked to their boss and got help that they didn’t have before and . . .” Sandy started.

  Erin shook her head.

  “That wasn’t true?” Sandy asked.

  “My sister is the nosiest person on the planet,” Erin said. “She’s got her fingers in everything. There’s no way she wasn’t all over everything Raz did, let alone Colin. They were probably just waiting for a reason to roll out all the stuff they’d already planned.”

  Sandy nodded.

  “Did you really want Grace’s hair cut?” Sandy whispered.

  “If you could,” Erin said. “It’s her first cut and . . . But I don’t want to be selfish. I understand if you don’t have time or just don’t feel up to working today.”

  Sandy looked at her schedule on her iPhone again.

  “They filled the whole day and some of the night with soldiers!” Sandy said. “Agents. Police officers. Seth’s even on here.”

  Erin nodded. Sandy crossed her arms for a moment and shook her head.

  “You know what?” Sandy shrugged. “I don’t care. Having the team here is always a really fun day. Plus, they tip well.”

  “And Grace?”

  “Of course,” Sandy said. “Do you want me to touch up your hair? We have time.”

  “We do?” Erin beamed. “Do you mind?” />
  “Sounds fun!” Sandy said.

  Matthew came over to them.

  “I was going to get some coffee,” Matthew said. “Can I get you ladies anything?”

  Sandy heard the lie under his casual tone. Rather than confront it, she smiled.

  “Sounds great,” Sandy said.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Friday morning—11:35 a.m.

  “So I couldn’t get in,” Heather said.

  She was standing in Tanesha’s kitchen in the little yellow house. Tanesha had taken the day off school to be available in case Jeraine or her mother needed her. Heather hadn’t found out what was happening with Sandy until this morning when she’d stopped by her studio for her usual Friday coffee. She wasn’t allowed into the hair studio.

  “Did they tell you why?” Tanesha asked.

  “MJ said that it was too dangerous.” Heather nodded. “They’re using Sandy to try to catch that police detective.”

  “Like bait.” Tanesha shook her head with disgust.

  “Right,” Heather said.

  “What did you do?” Tanesha asked.

  “I went away,” Heather said. “I mean, what can a good girl like me do?”

  Tanesha grinned.

  “So then what did you do?”

  “I called Jill,” Heather said. “She doesn’t have any powers anymore because she had the babies, but they don’t know that.”

  “What did she do?” Tanesha laughed.

  “She ‘stopped by’ with Katy,” Heather said. “Sandy seemed relieved to see a friendly face. Katy charmed everyone, of course.”

  “How’s Sandy?” Tanesha asked.

  “Scared,” Heather said. “But I think having those soldiers and stuff around helps.”

  “At least she’s not alone,” Tanesha said.

  Heather nodded.

  “Is Jill staying with her?” Tanesha asked.

  “Uh huh. I’m supposed to take her place in an hour,” Heather said. “Do you want to come?”

  “Sure,” Tanesha said. “The hospital is keeping Jabari, so there isn’t much any of us can do, or specifically anything I can do.”

  “But he’s okay?” Heather nodded.

  “He’s better.” Tanesha nodded.