by Tracy Sharp
“Right.” I felt naked under his steely gaze, which revealed nothing of what was behind it. He might as well have been wearing mirrored sunglasses. “Nice chatting with you.”
Neither of them said anything, but they watched me with twin cool, steady gazes.
I turned and went back to my car, glad that Buddy was in there waiting for me. I couldn’t leave Susan Bain’s property fast enough.
* * *
When I pulled into my driveway I was glad to see Jack and Jesse sitting on the patio waiting for me. Jack was in his regular place on the swing and Jesse sat back, chair tilted, with ankles crossed on the table. When he saw my Jeep coming he swung his legs back down.
I shook my head and stifled a laugh. Guys will be guys. “What are you two doing? Waiting for me to get home like a couple of worried parents?”
Jack smiled. “Hell, no. Waiting for you to get home to make lunch. We’re hungry.”
Jesse laughed out loud, his head thrown back. “Oh, you’re asking for an ass-whoopin’, Jack. Brave man.”
I pulled the chain collar off Buddy’s neck and he bounded over to Jack. “Traitor.”
Jesse stood up, stretching. “So how’d it go with Martin?”
“I didn’t learn much except that he put Michael into therapy in some other state for awhile when he was fifteen, for molesting a neighborhood boy. He said he thought Michael was just confused.”
Jack shook his head. “Why do people always think that the child molester in their family is harmless? Every child killer, serial killer or mad bomber had a family, and they were clearly far from harmless.”
I dropped into one of the patio chairs. “Clearly.”
“Well, what’s the answer, then?” Jesse said. “Shoot them after the first incident?”
Jack nodded. “Yeah. Or use aluminum baseball bat therapy, or lead pipe therapy, or whatever. Whatever it takes. Those guys don’t change. They can’t change. It’s wired into them. They need to be taken care of before they kill somebody.”
I scratched Buddy behind the ear, preferring to stay silent for once. I don’t condone killing but there are instances where I do agree with Jack. Sometimes death is the only cure for certain types of monsters.
“Yeah,” Jesse said. “Like the rapists who get out of prison. A lot of them end up killing people. They don’t want to leave any witnesses next time around to send them back to the clink.”
Buddy plopped himself down in front of Jack and rolled onto his back. Jack rubbed his belly with both hands, scrubbing in opposite directions. “Oh, you don’t even want to know how many sex offenders are out running the streets at any given moment. Seriously, man, you don’t.”
I needed the conversation to go elsewhere. I was already creeped out by the visit with Susan Nolan, or excuse me, Susan Bain, and Big Dick. “Well, I know of one who is off the streets now, thanks to a call you made to his parole officer.”
“Damned straight.” Jack looked at me and his brow furrowed. “What up, Kicks? Something’s wrong.”
Jack’s ability to read me better than anyone else ever had was both a comfort and a pain in the ass, depending on the day. I sighed. “I stopped by to see Michael Nolan’s widow on the way back. She’s already changed back to her maiden name. Bain.”
“That was quick,” Jesse said.
“Yeah, she doesn’t waste any time,” I said. “Lover boy was there, too.”
Jack smiled. “Oh, Jaguar boy?”
“Yeah. Guess what he has on his license plate.”
Jack’s smile grew wider. “What?”
“Big Dick.” I told him the exact spelling being a mix of letters and the number one as an ‘I’.
Jack and Jesse looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“Yeah. I’m guessing his name is Richard. He thinks Big Dick is a cool name, apparently. But up close he looks like Plastic Man.”
Jack took a moment to catch his breath. “No big shock there.”
“Yeah.” I chewed a fingernail.
“Something happen?” Jack sat up straight in the swing, going into defense mode.
“No. But I got a really eerie feeling when I was there. Those two aren’t wired right. There’s something ... I don’t know. Missing.”
Jack and Jesse waited for me to continue.
“It’s hard to explain. But when I was there, the two of them just stared at me, and I got the feeling that they’re capable of some pretty spooky shit. Let’s just say I was glad to have Buddy with me.”
“Shit.” Jack stood up and began slowly pacing the patio. “You think they killed Michael?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know, Jack. But I wouldn’t put it past them. I don’t think a guilty conscience would be an obstacle for either of them.”
* * *
Lilly’s birthday party was taking place at The Great Escape. I was nervous as I drove there, and wondered if I should go at all. But Mitch had said that Lilly wanted me there. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings because I was avoiding Mitch. My desire to avoid Mitch had to do with the fact that he was aware of my feelings for Callahan, as glowingly demonstrated by our outburst at the hospital. But all that had nothing to do with Lilly, and I saw no need to wound her by ditching her party.
They were waiting for me at the ice cream shop, as promised. Three girls, including Lilly, and two boys, including Mitch. Lilly was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail. I grinned. She reminded me of myself at that age. Maybe she wasn’t such a girly girl after all. The other two little girls were dressed in matching pastel skirts and tops. On closer inspection, I realized they were twins. Both with a mountain of blonde curls cascading over their shoulders. The little boy looked shy and a little lost.
“You made it.” Mitch’s smile was warm and genuine.
“Of course.” I handed Lilly the birthday bag. “I wouldn’t miss a cool party for anything.”
Her smile would’ve melted an ice burg. “Thanks, Leah.”
“I didn’t know if you’d already opened presents or not.”
She shook her head. She looked up at Mitch, an unsure smile on her small face.
“Go ahead,” he told her. “Then I’ll go put it in the truck.”
She delicately removed the tissue from the top of the bag. Her smile widened when she saw what was inside. “Art stuff! I love art stuff!”
Her smile was contagious, and I found myself feeling lighter because of her happiness. “Excellent.”
After looking at all the items in the bag, she reached up and handed it to Mitch and then turned to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “Thanks, Leah. I love it.”
I was taken slightly aback, but I bent down and returned her hug, patting her back awkwardly. “Oh, you’re welcome, hon.”
“Can we get ice cream now?” the little boy asked, his gaze moving between Mitch and I.
Mitch grimaced a little and ruffled the boy’s dark hair. “I think we’ll wait until you guys are all finished with the ride. You do want to go on some rides, right?”
“Yeah!” they shouted in unison.
“All right. I’ll be right back.” He turned to me. “Can you handle the troops until I get back?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Okay, Leah, this is Joe, and these two lovely young ladies are Mia and Annie.”
“They’re my cousins,” Lilly piped in.
“Hey,” I said. “You all ready to have some fun today?”
“Yeah!” they shouted again, louder than last time. I figured it was going to be a long day.
I was exhausted after the first hour. By the time the kids rode every kiddy ride at least three times, I was ready to go lie down. I don’t know how school teachers do it. I really don’t. By the day’s end I vowed to write every grade school teacher I’d ever had a “thank you” note. But despite all the chaos, I did have fun, and my cheek muscles actually hurt from laughing.
Mitch invited me back to his place for pizza. It was Lilly’s fa
vorite, and she had requested it as her birthday dinner.
She placed her small hand in mine and looked up at me, waiting for my answer. “You like pizza. I know you do, ‘cuz you had some when you came over that time.”
How could I possibly refuse?
So there I was, at Mitch’s house again, feeling completely impressed with his gentle way with children. I was in awe of his patience. I watched the lines around his eyes deepen as he closed his eyes, throwing his head back and laughing, letting it all go.
Soon after dinner I noticed a car pull up into the driveway but nobody came out.
“It looks like you have company.” I cocked my head toward the window.
Mitch looked out the window and nodded. “That’s Lilly’s cousin’s mother. My ex-sister-in-law.”
“Ah.”
I helped him get the twins and their brother ready to go, tying shoes and zipping coats, and making sure everybody had their little grab bags with them. Everybody got some little toys and candies, and a small jar of bubbles. I’d forgotten about those jars of bubbles with the bubble wand underneath the cap. I had a blast blowing bubbles with the kids. Kids have a way of simplifying things. Of making you forget whatever it was that you thought was a big deal before you were with them, even if just for a little while.
I stayed in the house while Mitch and Lilly walked her cousins out to the car. I didn’t think it was necessary to show my face to the sister of his ex-wife, and give her the wrong impression.
When Mitch and Lilly came back into the house, Lilly was yawning and rubbing her eyes.
“Long day, huh, Lilly?”
She nodded but said nothing. She was one tired critter.
“I’ll be right back. I’m just going to get Lilly ready for bed and tucked in,” Mitch said.
“Sure.”
“Don’t go yet, okay?”
I was little surprised by this. “Okay.”
My heart fluttered as I watched him lift his daughter into his arms and carry her down the hall. Her eyes were sleepy and she gave me a little wave.
I waved back, a faint ache forming in my chest.
* * *
“So what’s the deal with your ex-sister-in-law?”
We sat outside on his front steps, each sipping on a beer. It was a clear night. The moon was full, shining down on us, and I could see his face easily.
“Ah. You know how it goes. She doesn’t know what to say to me. I think she’s a little embarrassed about the way things ended.” He looked out into the night.
We listened to the crickets chirping.
“How did it end?”
“I was always busy. She was always alone. You can guess the rest.”
“Sorry.”
He shrugged, but dropped his gaze. “Things happen.”
“Is that why Lilly had a separate party with you? I mean, I assume that her mother had one planned for her as well.”
“Actually, Lilly’s birthday is next Saturday. Marcy and her fiancé are taking her to Disneyland. They leave on Monday.”
“Ah.” Wow. Disneyland. That kind of beats The Great Escape. I felt bad for Mitch. But I still couldn’t seem to shut up. “Doesn’t Lilly have school?”
“She’s home schooled. Marcy runs her own business out of her house. She can be flexible with her hours. Cake decorating.”
I nodded. “That’s neat.”
“Yeah. She enjoys it.”
We were silent. The moments stretched out.
Finally I couldn’t take it anymore. “Well, I guess I should get going. Thanks for everything. I had a lot of fun today.”
“Thanks for coming. Lilly really loved having you there.”
I stood up quickly, not looking at him. He stood up.
“There was so much going on, I forgot to check the mail today.” Mitch headed down the stairs and walked across his lawn to the mailbox.
I headed down the stairs and down the walkway toward the car.
The moment was so awkward. I decided to wait to get into the car until he came back to the house, and try to say something, anything, to clear the air about what had happened between us. But then I changed my mind and got into the car. I slowly backed out, then righted the Jeep and headed out of the driveway.
Mitch was standing beside the open mailbox opening a large envelope. Was he stalling, hoping I’d say something? Maybe he didn’t want to leave things the way they were either.
I put my Wrangler in park and got out, walking toward him. Something had to be said. That was that.
But when I saw the look on his face my blood ran cold. “Mitch? What is it?”
He was staring at an eight by ten photograph. “No way. No. Frigging. Way.”
“Mitch?”
He looked up and me and handed me the photo, panic making his eyes wild.
I could see the photograph clearly under the bright light of the moon.
The picture was taken at The Great Escape earlier that day.
I was looking down at Lilly, laughing, her arms wrapped around a wooden horse’s neck.
Chapter Thirteen
Thanks to me, Lilly was now a target.
Mitch would watch Lilly every waking moment until she and her mother left for Disneyland on Monday. We agreed that it was a good thing she would be out of town for a week. He would also try to convince his ex-wife to let him take Lilly to his mother’s house in Canada after they got back. Considering the circumstances, he didn’t think it would be a problem.
We had another agreement, but it was unspoken. We both knew that any chance of us being together when this was all over was out of the question. He’d decided that I was too dangerous to be around, and he was right. I was. Callahan had left me for the same reason. I couldn’t blame either of them. I was a walking disaster area and it seemed that I put everyone I cared for directly in harm’s way.
Mitch had gone out on a limb to help me. He bowed out gracefully, and I thanked him for everything he’d done for me. I leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek, but he moved away from me. I didn’t hold it against him.
I went home. Jack was there but Jesse was taking care of the shop. I let myself fall onto the sofa and avoided Jack’s eyes, biting my lip and swallowing back the lump in my throat. My entire body seemed to be drooping.
Jack watched me for a moment, his face growing alarmed. “Shit. What happened?”
I swallowed again and blinked back the tears stinging my eyes, then told him about the photo of Lilly taken at the amusement park earlier that day.
Jack scrubbed a hand over his eyes. “Christ. These people aren’t fooling, Kicks.”
“I know. How do I do it, Jack? How do I end up hurting the people I care about when I’m trying to help somebody else?”
He came over to the sofa and sat beside me. He put a huge arm around my shoulders and pulled me to his barrel of a chest. “It’s the nature of the beast. You know how that old saying goes, something about when you look into the abyss, the abyss looks back at you.”
“Yeah. I’ve heard it.”
“Well it’s true.”
“Apparently.” I closed my eyes and fought back the sadness filling my chest. My chin trembled and I pressed my lips together firmly, refusing to give in.
“It’s going to be all right, Kicks. You’ve got to be close to finding something out, because you’ve got the bad guys fighting mad.”
I nodded, too tired and dispirited to reply.
“Mitch will take Lilly out of the country. They’ll both be safe.”
“It’s my fault they have to leave the country in the first place, Jack.”
“Hey.” He pushed me back gently and searched my face. “Look at me.”
I didn’t want to look at him, because looking into those eyes, eyes which have never, ever judged me, caused an ache right in the center of me. I didn’t know if I deserved his unconditional love. And damn it, I didn’t want to cry.
“Leah.” He reached up and placed his fingers under my chin, lif
ting it to face him.
I looked up at him, my eyes filling with tears.
“You’re doing a good thing. Sometimes the fall-out affects people who we care about and who don’t deserve it. Do you want to quit?”
I kept looking at him, and we both knew the answer. I couldn’t quit now.
I still couldn’t back down.
* * *
It was time to talk to the guys in Boy’s Town again. This time, I went with Jack. If they saw me with him they might think I was all right and open up to me. It was still pretty early in the day so there were only a few kids on the street. And that’s what they were, kids. None of them seemed to be any older than twenty, and most of them were most definitely younger than that.
The same kid who had given me the brush-off, but had talked to Jack, was there. I hoped he didn’t clam up because of me. Usually I was pretty good with street kids, but not with this bunch. Maybe it’s because I’m a woman. I didn’t know their reasons, but it bugged me. I was determined to win their trust.
Jack had a couple of CD’s in his hand, which I’d thought he would play in the Jeep, but he hadn’t.
“A bribe?” I asked him.
“Nah. Skid likes blues. I made him copies of my Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Johnny Lang CDs.”
“Skid?”
Jack shrugged. “That’s the street name he goes by.”
I smiled at him. “You’re awesome, you know that?”
He grinned. “Yeah. I do.”
There were only two kids from the usual group there. They’d seen us coming and didn’t seem to know what to do about me. But they clearly liked Jack, so they didn’t turn away and ignore us. A few faces I didn’t recognize gazed out into the street, looking bored and sleepy. The others were probably still sleeping. They probably stayed up until the early hours and had probably just gone to bed not long ago.
The kid who’d given Jack the list, the spiky-haired kid who went by the name Skid, nodded at him, his glance flicking to me.
“How’s it going, bud?” Jack handed him the CDs he’d copied for him.
Skid’s face lit up and for a moment I could see a glimpse of the child he’d once been. “Thanks, man.”