by Donna Hill
“I know. I was sure we would have found something by now. Even I’m beginning to get impatient.”
“Maybe we’ve been looking in the wrong places?”
“Any ideas?”
“What about the hospitals? That’s where they snatched my sister. Everyone knows that even with precautions, hospital security sucks, especially in urban and low-income areas.”
“If we took on the hospitals, that would expand our search exponentially. We’re talking hundreds of metropolitan hospitals and thousands of employees, not to mention patients and their guests.”
“True.” She blew out a long sigh, her small bubble of hope bursting in her ears.
Elliot stole a glance at Ashley and saw the disappointment that pinched the corners of the mouth he loved to kiss. He reached across the gearshift and grabbed her hand. “We’ll map out a plan, starting with the most likely hospitals and work our way through them.”
She turned to him.
“Your sister is out there somewhere. If we can find the source of the abductions, I believe it will lead us to your sister. Don’t ask me how I know.” His eyes creased in concentration. “It’s just a gut feeling.”
Ashley swallowed over the sudden knot in her throat. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Don’t thank me yet. And don’t go getting all teary on me, we have some partying to do tonight.”
She sniffed and her expression brightened. “That we do.”
When they arrived at Justin’s they were met at the door by a tuxedoed security guard who checked their names off on the VIP list before handing them over to the hostess to seat them. The setting was straight out of E! Hollywood. A red carpet ran from the door to the center of the space. Multileveled seating gave the invited guests a good view from any location. The stage was set up on a center platform and Whitney’s band was in place, warming up with mini renditions of some of her hits. Just a quick look around attested to the who’s who that had come out to support “The Voice.”
“I’m totally impressed,” Ashley said, as Elliot helped her into her seat.
He kissed the back of her neck. “That was my secret plan all along.”
Within moments a waitress came to take their drink and dinner orders. The show was scheduled to start in less than an hour and the feel of anticipation electrified the air. Even the celebrati were awed by the chance to see her up close and personal after such a long absence. What made it extra special was that it was not televised, there was no media, just friends and devoted fans.
Their drinks arrived first and just as Ashley was taking her first sip of her apple martini, she squinted into the muted lighting and swore she spotted Gail Hastings sitting on the far side of the room.
“Is that Gail, the case worker from Happy Homes?” she asked, trying not to point, but steering him in her direction with a lift of her chin. “Over there on the second tier.”
Elliot turned halfway in his seat.
“She has on the mint-green dress.”
Elliot stared a bit harder. “You’re right, it is her.”
“Guess she has friends in high places, too,” she said half in jest, partly in curiosity.
“Hmm,” Elliot murmured. The hair on the back of his neck began to tingle the way it did when he was within inches of his target.
They didn’t have time to focus on it any longer. The lights dimmed, the MC came to the mic and introduced one of the greatest voices of her generation.
For the next hour the audience was mesmerized and transported as the diva took them from her early work, to everything in between, up to her latest album. Intermittently she would share a little anecdote about how she’d come to sing a song or the first time she sang it. And before anyone was ready to let her go, the show ended to a thunderous standing ovation.
“Oh my God, that was incredible,” Ashley gushed. “I can’t begin to thank you for this.”
He winked at her. “I can think of a few things.”
She swiped his arm. “Naughty boy.”
“You spoil me.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it.
“Hey, there she is.”
Elliot still held her hand but turned in his seat. He pulled her up to her feet. “Get your purse.”
She took her purse and let Elliot lead her over to the bar.
“Gail?” she said, dipping her head to the side.
Gail turned from the bar and the surprise on her face was camera-ready. “Oh…Mr. and Mrs. Morgan.” She pressed her hand to her chest and looked around as if the answer to their sudden appearance was somewhere behind them. “What a pleasant surprise. Did you see the entire show?”
“Yes, we did. Pretty hard to get tickets,” Elliot said. “You’re one of the lucky ones.”
A tall, silver-haired gentleman came to stand by Gail’s side. He stuck out his hand. “Dr. Ettinger.”
“Most people don’t know we’re married,” Gail said softly, allowing Elliot and Ashley in on their secret. “It just makes things messy at work. You understand.”
The bulb went off in Ashley’s head. This was the Dr. Ettinger who actually owned and operated the agency. She’d run across his name and picture in the files.
“Of course,” Elliot said and flashed a grin. “Your secret is safe with us.”
“So you two are in the market for adoption,” Ettinger said, looking from one to the other.
Ashley linked her arm through Elliot’s. “Yes, Doctor, we certainly are. Talking with your wife…Gail really gave us a lot of hope.”
“I know you two are eager,” Gail said, “but I’m confident we’ll find a baby for you.”
“Yes, I’m sure we’ll be able to help you,” Dr. Ettinger added.
“Thank you, Doctor,” Ashley said.
“Have they had their home visit yet, dear?” the doctor asked.
“No, they haven’t.”
“Well, why don’t we at least get that ball rolling while we finish up the background check.”
“Of course.” Ashley turned to Elliot with excitement in her eyes. “We’d welcome a visit. It brings us closer to our dream.”
“Good. You should be hearing from us this week,” Gail said.
“Thank you so much,” Ashley gushed.
“Of course. Our job is to bring good people together with beautiful children who need a home. Unfortunately, it often takes some time to find a good match,” Dr. Ettinger said.
“We, uh, totally understand that this whole process can be…costly,” Elliot said, “but we’re willing to pay whatever is necessary to bring a healthy baby into our lives and make a home for him or her.” He spoke directly to Dr. Ettinger.
He clasped Elliot’s shoulder and patted him. “We won’t even concern ourselves with that right now. Let’s just get you two through the maze of paperwork and take it from there.”
Elliot bobbed his head.
“We better get going, sweetheart,” Gail said, “Jackson and Phyllis will be wondering what happened to us.”
“We’re meeting friends for a late drink,” Dr. Ettinger offered by way of explanation.
“Sure. Good night. Thanks for talking with us. We don’t want to hold you up.” Elliot stuck out his hand and shook the doctor’s and then Gail’s hand.
“You should get a call this week about scheduling a home visit,” Gail said as she turned to leave.
Elliot and Ashley watched them as they walked out, and neither could deny the unsettling feeling that Dr. and Mrs. Ettinger had left behind.
Chapter 16
“Jazz, I need you to do a full background search on a Dr. Thomas Ettinger,” Elliot was saying into the phone as he looked over the brochure from Happy Homes Adoption Agency.
It was Jazz who’d designed the kits that the ladies used, that came complete with micro cameras disguised as lapel pins or magnetic disks, bubble bath that could knock out a horse, dusting power that was actually to lift fingerprints and a host of other necessary gadgets. In addition to which she was a m
aster researcher and software developer. If there was any dirt under the fingernail of a subject, Jasmine could find it.
“Not a problem,” she said, “I’ll get on it. As soon as I have something I’ll let you know.”
“Oh, and Jazz, look, this is just between us, but I need you to take a look at a cold case…”
“So how is everything going between you and Elliot?” Mia asked as they prepared a PowerPoint presentation for a client.
Ashley smiled. “I wish I could complain but I can’t.”
“You actually sound happy.”
She turned to Mia. “You know what…I am. For the first time in a very long while, I feel happy inside, Mia. I look forward to the end of the day, the nights, the mornings. We enjoy each other, in and out of the bed,” she quickly added. “And as much as I hated to admit it, he’s damned good at what he does and we work well together.”
Mia nodded as she listened to her friend gush about her blossoming relationship, and dared to ask the question that sat in the room like a third person. “Are you falling in love with him, Ash?”
“I know it sounds silly and so romance novel cliché but I’m already in love with him. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”
“And what about Elliot? Do you think he feels the same way?”
Ashley blew out a slow breath then looked at Mia. “I don’t know.”
Mia leaned forward on the desk and linked her fingers together. “Ash, I know you’re a big girl and you can take care of yourself in a street fight, but this is different. There are feelings involved. What are you going to do when this case is over and they send him off to who the hell knows where for months at a time? Are you prepared to deal with that?”
Ashley pushed back from the table and stood. She turned her back to Mia and slowly paced the floor. For a moment she glanced up at the ceiling as if the answer may be somewhere in the heavens. “It keeps me awake at night,” she said, her voice distant and thin. “Sometimes I wake up in the morning with this paralyzing feeling that he’s gone. And I can’t move until I check every sound in the apartment, and hear his footsteps, or his off-beat humming, or the shower.” She swallowed. “Just something to let me know that he hasn’t left me, at least not yet.” She turned and faced Mia. “But whatever happens I’ll deal with.”
“I know you will, sis.” She waited a beat. “On another note, how is the case going—any leads?”
“We’re not really sure but of all people to run into the other night…” She told Mia about their encounter with Gail and her husband Dr. Ettinger.
“It could be something or nothing at all. This is New York and you’re liable to run into anyone. She could have been nervous for the reason that she said, most people don’t know that they’re married.” She shrugged. “What’s your gut telling you?”
“I can’t put my finger on it. But their demeanor changed somehow during the course of the conversation.”
“What do you mean?”
“They just all of a sudden wanted to bend over backward to accommodate us.” She focused on Mia, trying to convey the sense of something awry to her.
“Could be that it eased an awkward situation or that they want you to help them keep their little secret if they help you.”
“I suppose. One good thing came out of it all.”
“What’s that?”
“We got our appointment for a home visit. Tomorrow, 10:00 a.m.”
Elliot and Ashley finished taking a last look around the apartment. Even though Ashley spent most nights in Elliot’s bed, for the purposes of the visit they’d moved all of Ashley’s belongings into Elliot’s room leaving her room as the guest room or potential nursery.
The doorbell rang at precisely 10:00 a.m. Ashley looked to Elliot. “Ready?”
“Yes, dear,” he teased, giving her rear a gentle love tap.
“Not in front of company,” she said, leaning up to him and kissing him full on the lips. She used her thumb to wipe away the residue of her lip gloss.
Ashley buzzed the front door and watched on the lobby camera as a young man and woman approached the elevator.
“They’re on their way up.”
Moments later their front doorbell rang. Ashley and Elliot answered it together. The team introduced themselves as Wendy and Glen. They showed their identification along with a printout on Happy Homes letterhead indicating the appointment time and place.
They were young—in their late twenties to early thirties, very social-service-looking—serious about their work. They came complete with a checklist of questions, forms and a digital camera. While Elliot and Ashley filled out forms, Glen took photographs of the apartment.
“Is this where you plan to live?” Wendy asked, but it almost sounded like an accusation.
“Yes. Is that a problem?” Elliot asked.
“No.” She made some notes. “Are you planning to work, Mrs. Morgan, once you get the child?”
“No. My plan is to stay home and raise my baby.” She looked to Elliot for confirmation and he nodded in agreement.
“I see,” Wendy said, but clearly she didn’t, as she sounded, once again, disturbed by their answers.
Glen returned to the living room. “All done,” he announced. “You have a beautiful place.”
“Thank you,” Ashley said.
Wendy shot Glen a look of reproach. His pockmarked face reddened.
Wendy closed her leather folder with a snap and stood. “I think that covers everything.” She reached into her wallet and took out a business card. “If you have questions, you can call. Thank you for your time.”
“How long will the process be now that we’ve had a home visit?”
“Every case is different,” she said noncommittally. “Good luck.” She turned and walked toward the door with Glen trailing behind.
Elliot walked with them to the front door and let them out. “Thanks again,” he said, shutting the door behind them. “Feel a little chilly in here to you?” he asked tongue in cheek.
“That is one cold sister,” Ashley said. “Not a smile, not a kind word.”
“No personality.” He flopped down on the couch. “Can you imagine parents who are really looking to adopt and have to deal with her?”
Ashley shook her head. “After all we’ve been dealing with this past month and a half I almost feel like I am trying to adopt.”
Elliot made a sound in his throat. “I know. Weird. I feel the same way.”
Ashley curled her legs beneath her and adjusted her body in his direction. “You ever think you’ll have kids of your own?” she asked and the instant the question was out of her mouth she wanted to snatch it back.
He clasped his hands behind his head and leaned back against the couch cushions. “The kind of life I lead, there’s never been room in my life for kids, family, settling down. It just wouldn’t be fair.”
Yet he’d been willing to settle down once before, with Lynn, Ashley thought. But apparently not with her.
“Hey.” She popped up from her seated position. “Wanna check out a movie tonight, if you don’t have plans?” she asked to change the direction of the conversation. She didn’t need him to see how his answer had affected her.
“Hmm, sure, why not. Doesn’t that new Jamie Foxx movie start tonight.”
“Yeah, I think it does.” She swallowed over the burn in her throat. “I’ll check.” She walked off to the spare room where she’d kept her laptop. She sat down at the desk, covered her face and cried.
“Hey, Jazz,” Elliot said, “hang on a sec, I’m driving. Let me pull over.” He signaled and moved into the far-right lane and pulled to a stop in front of an outdoor café. “What do you have for me?”
“Not as much as I would like. I checked your Dr. Ettinger every which way but loose. Based on everything I’ve come up with he’s a straight shooter. He’s been running that clinic for just about ten years. Before that he was Chief of Staff at Methodist Hospital.”
“Hmm, than
ks, J.”
“There is something else.”
“What’s that?”
“Prior to twenty years ago I can’t find a scrap of anything on this guy. It’s like he didn’t exist.”
“What?”
“I’m still checking but prior to 1984, the good doctor was a no-show.”
Elliot frowned. “Keep checking, Jazz, and keep me posted.”
“I sure will.”
He disconnected the call. Who are you, Dr. Ettinger?
When Elliot got back to the apartment later that evening, he walked in on a ringing phone. It wasn’t quite six. He didn’t expect Ashley back until much later. She and Mia had a dinner meeting with a client. He tossed his jacket on the couch and walked into the kitchen, snatching up the phone on the fourth ring.
“Morgan residence,” he said, and kind of liked the sound of it.
“Mr. Morgan?”
“Yes. Who is this?” He glanced at the caller ID and it showed Anonymous.
The caller cleared her throat. “It’s Gail, from the adoption agency.”
He pulled out his PDA from his jacket pocket, connected the USB cord to the phone and pressed record. “Oh, hello. How are you?” He looked at the dial on his PDA and saw that it was recording. “Do you have news for us?”
“I may have a child for you and your wife.”
“That’s wonderful! This is the news we’ve been praying for,” he said, bursting with feigned enthusiasm.
She cleared her throat again. “I was hoping that we could meet, privately, away from the office.”
Bingo. Elliot felt the adrenaline rush through his veins. “Uh, a private meeting?”
“With you and your wife, of course.”
“Of course. When did you want to meet?”
“Tomorrow evening. Eight o’clock at Bombay on East Seventy-second Street and Riverside Drive.”
“I know the place.”
“Good. I’ll make reservations and see you and your wife at eight.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Good night, Mr. Morgan.”
“Good night.”