Just Cause

by Susan Page Davis

  “That’s cute on you,” Judy said.

  Dan’s said nothing, but his heart ached.

  “Maybe frilly-feminine is good,” Laurel choked. “But I’ll have to shop up there in that case. Oh, what am I doing? It’s not going to matter.” She burst into sobs, and Judy hurried to embrace her.

  “Honey, honey, it’s okay.”

  Choked up himself and sensing the two women needed some privacy, Dan went back to the kitchen and leaned on the smooth countertop. He hated how hopeless he felt for not being able to alleviate Laurel’s suffering. He’d tried to handle all the details of the trip for her, and everything had come together: the leave of absence, the private investigator’s license, the reservations, the timing. He had five hundred dollars in his pocket, a gift from his father. He’d hung his uniforms away in the closet, packing only his civilian clothes.

  Until now, it had almost seemed he and Laurel were planning an enjoyable outing together. But the reality of her uncertain future and the stress it caused her could no longer be ignored.

  Judy came in from the next room, and he tried to smile, but it slipped into a grimace.

  “Is she okay?” he asked.

  “She needs a good night’s sleep. Why don’t you go finish your arrangements and come back tomorrow?”

  “We could leave when I get off work tomorrow if she wants to.”

  “No, let Laurel sleep here and start out early Saturday. You’ll both be rested, and you’ll have a whole day ahead of you to drive. Less complicated that way.”

  He nodded. “I’ve got a few things to take care of.”

  “Did you pack your violin?” Judy asked.

  He smiled. “Yes, but do you think that’s a good idea? I won’t have time to practice.”

  “You’d better. I want us to do that Haydn piece this fall.”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  Judy patted his cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow night. Plan to have supper with us.”

  *****

  Dan got out of his truck at the police station on Friday. The late May morning promised warmth and clear skies. He whistled the first few notes of the Beethoven they’d played in the concert, but squinted as he turned. A man sat on a bench in the little park across the street. A civilian, peering at Dan over the top of his newspaper. Probably nothing. Even so, he called Laurel before joining Jessica in the duty room, to warn her to stay in the house and keep the drapes drawn.

  He and Jessica were called to the scene of a minor automobile accident that afternoon. The driver Dan questioned was too inebriated to give coherent answers, and he put him in the back of the squad car. As he shut the door, his cell phone trilled. He ignored it, but grew more anxious as it continued. He walked to the front of the car and checked it. Judy. He’d only given her the number after the thugs had threatened him and Laurel at her house Saturday night.

  “Judy, what’s up?”

  “I’m so sorry to call you at work, Dan.”

  “No problem. What’s happened?”

  “A man came to my office asking about Laurel. Dan, you’ve got to move her tonight. He threatened me.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, and I called security. That’s why he left.”

  “Good. Make a police report.” Dan leaned back against the hood of the squad car. “What did he look like?”

  “Five-ten, 220 pounds, Caucasian, dark hair and eyes,” Judy said.

  “You’re good. Call Laurel and tell her to have her things ready. I’ll pick her up as soon as I can. No, wait. Send a cab around for her.”

  “To take her where?”

  Dan sighed. “We need to get her to a safe location right away. The question is—where?”

  “Marcia Smith’s house? It’s out of town.”

  Jessica put her hands on her hips and glared at him. He could tell she was annoyed at the interruption.

  Dan straightened and headed for the passenger door of the squad car. “Sure, if you can set it up. Make sure you’re not being tailed by anyone suspicious. I’ll pick Laurel up there, but I may not be able to get away until after five.”

  He shoved his phone into his pocket and got in the car.

  “Personal life interfering with the job?” Jessica murmured, eyeing him anxiously as she stowed her gear.

  “Just a bit. I’m sorry.”

  “If you really need to leave, I can handle this,” she said.

  “It’s okay.”

  She shook her head. “I told you, you should have let the P.D. protect Laurel.”

  “Let’s just finish up here, okay?”

  Jessica frowned. “She wouldn’t have called you if it wasn’t important. What do you need?”

  “Nothing. Just … can we dump this guy at the station and drive by my house?”

  “I’ll book him. You take a run over there.”

  “Thanks, Jess.”

  “I’m going to miss you while you’re away. Send me a postcard.”

  *****

  At 4:30 Dan pulled his pickup in to Marcia’s long gravel driveway. The llamas in the pasture crowded the fence to look at him.

  Marcia met him at the door smiling. “I like your girl, Dan.”

  “Thanks.” He bent to kiss Marcia’s cheek. “Sorry to drag you into this.”

  She brushed that aside and took him to the living room where Laurel waited. He was surprised to find Judy there as well.

  Laurel jumped up and hurried to him.

  “All set?” Dan asked.

  “Yes, if you are.”

  “My things are in the truck.” He nodded at Judy. “You all right?”

  “I’m fine. I hope you don’t mind me coming to see you off. I took a cab and was extremely careful that I wasn’t being followed.”

  He smiled, hoping his friends hadn’t drawn Laurel’s stalkers once more. “You kept your wits and put the police on that fellow. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve got him already.” It was a bit of a stretch—he’d checked before leaving the police station, and the man who had accosted Judy was still at liberty. But that had influenced Jessica to urge him to leave early.

  “We’re going to miss you and Judy something fierce,” Marcia said. “The quartet is going to go to pot this summer, with both our violinists taking extended vacations.”

  Dan smiled. “You and Joe can get together and practice. You’ll be way ahead of us when we come back.”

  “Well, I hope the police catch that fellow.” Marcia shook her head at the audacity of it. “Coming to your office to bother you, Judy.”

  “If any strangers show up here, you call the cops immediately,” Judy warned her.

  Dan picked up Laurel’s bag, and Judy went out with them to the truck. Marcia stood in the doorway watching them.

  “Should we meet you somewhere when you come to Maine?” Dan asked Judy.

  “No, I’m flying to Portland and renting a car. I’ll call your cell phone when I get to the lake.”

  Laurel clung to Judy for a moment. “I’m sorry I was such a crybaby last night.”

  “Shh, forget it. Take care of Dan. And remember, for the next few days, you’ll be the only one there to polish his armor.”

  Laurel smiled and kissed her cheek, then slid into the truck.

  Judy went to Dan, and he threw his arms around her in a huge hug.

  “You’ve done so much. Thank you,” he said.

  “She’s all yours now. I’ll pray for the best.”

  *****

  As they drove away from Marcia’s house, Laurel felt the cloud of fear lift. They were on the way together, to face whatever lay before them. She determined not to brood the whole way. She wouldn’t talk about the case; there would be time enough for that later. Instead, she would focus on happier topics.

  “Tell me more about your family.” She settled her purse and sweater on the seat between them. “I want to hear it all. Little League, first puppy, sibling rivalry. I expect to know everything about you by the time we reach Maine.” She touched hi
s arm, and Dan smiled at her. “Tell me all the details. What did your first lunchbox look like?”

  He laughed. “Sorry, I was a hot lunch man.”

  “Oh. What was your favorite meal at the cafeteria?”

  Dan pulled out onto a state highway and looked in the rearview mirror. His face tensed, and he floored the gas pedal. “Hang on.”

  She looked out the rear window and saw a low blue car momentarily drop behind them, then put on speed to overtake them.

  Amazing how quickly the fear returned.

  He approached a crossroad swiftly, then braked and tore around the corner with the truck on two wheels.

  Laurel gasped and held on to the gun rack in the back window, watching behind them. The blue car followed at a slightly more prudent speed.

  “Cell phone.”

  Dan’s words were clipped, and she could read the tension in his face.

  “Where?”

  “Shirt pocket.”

  She pulled it out, then looked at him. “Who am I calling?”

  “Nine-one-one.”

  She gulped, dialed, and handed him the phone. He slowed down a little and took it. The blue car closed the distance between them.

  “I’m on the County Road, and there’s a vehicle pursuing me. Can you send an officer out here ASAP?”

  The blue car came on fast.

  “Danny! He’s going to hit us!”

  Too late, Dan floored the gas. The thud on their rear bumper made the pickup bounce and swerve, but Dan regained control. He threw the cell phone toward her, but Laurel wasn’t able to catch it, and it fell to the floor.

  “Hold on,” he yelled.

  The car crept up beside him, and Dan began to brake.

  “Is he passing us?” Laurel pulled her seat belt tighter.

  “She. And don’t bet on it.”

  Dan braked hard, and Laurel was thrown forward. The car’s impact came on Dan’s door and the front fender, throwing the light truck toward the shoulder and triggering Dan’s side air bag. They veered off the pavement, and Dan clung to the wheel, his face set like granite as he struggled to keep control.

  Laurel closed her eyes and braced herself. The truck bounced and lunged, then came to rest. Slowly she opened her eyes. They sat on the edge of a hay field, facing the road. The blue car was parked on the shoulder just beyond, and walking rapidly toward them was a slender, dark-haired woman in a red silk blouse and jeans.

  *****

  Dan watched in amazement as Laurel unfastened her seat belt with trembling fingers and leaped from the truck, her face livid.

  “I always knew you were crazy, but this beats all! You idiot!”

  “Who you calling crazy?” the woman demanded. “I’m smart enough to find you, and smart enough to know who my friends are.”

  “Friends?” Laurel shrieked. “Oh, pardon me. Haven’t you heard? Friends don’t assassinate friends.”

  Against his better judgment, Dan stepped between them. “Ladies, ladies.”

  Laurel shouted, “She almost killed us!”

  The second woman turned to him. “The minute she gets a chance to run back to her rich friends, she forgets who took care of her!” She rounded on Laurel. “You owe me big-time, girl!”

  “Renee Chapin, I presume?” Dan said dryly.

  The angry woman looked toward him and paused in her diatribe. “That’s right, sweetie.”

  Dan smiled. Renee’s volatile personality coupled with Laurel’s tightly coiled nerves had produced an explosion worth watching, but it was time to defuse the adversaries. “Was it necessary to run us off the road, Miss Chapin?”

  “You coulda pulled over nice and easy.”

  Dan laughed. “Beautiful.”

  “Why, thank you.”

  He turned away, unable to hold in his amusement. She actually batted her false eyelashes at him. She couldn’t know he was a cop. She wouldn’t try something this blatant if she knew.

  “What do you want?” Laurel screamed, and Dan was slammed back into the real world as he realized Laurel still teetered on the brink.

  “Yes, Ms. Chapin,” he said, “what do you want?”

  “Same thing I always wanted. Just grease my palm, honey.”

  “Good grief,” Laurel said in disgust. “I told you and told you, I am not rich. My friends are not rich.”

  “Oh, right. You lived in a mansion back in Maine, and you stay with friends out here who live pretty high. Doctors and such. You made me a promise, and I intend to see you keep it.”

  Laurel shook her head. “I never agreed to that. You threatened me, and you assumed I’d accept your terms, but I can’t, even if I wanted to. I have nothing. Nothing. What don’t you understand?”

  “You got nice clothes.”

  “All at least two years old. I haven’t had a new dress since my husband died. Renee, I can’t help you. You’ve wasted the last month, chasing around after me—” Laurel stared at her. “How did you find me, anyway?”

  Renee laughed. “You’re not so hard to find. Some things are public record.”

  “Not my residence. That was confidential.”

  “Tell that to my parole officer,” Renee shrugged.

  “He got my address?”

  “Just the town. I came out here and put my ear to the ground, so to speak.”

  “But—” Laurel stared at her.

  “Then I found out I wasn’t the only one looking for you. That cute guard at the hospital put me onto it.”

  “Troy?” Laurel asked.

  “Whatever.” Renee shook her head. “I don’t know who those other guys are, but they look mean. They tracked you by your car, found your apartment and all. That’s a guy thing, following a car.”

  “And how do women do it?” Dan asked. Laurel looked at him in surprise, but Dan had decided it was to their advantage to keep Renee talking. If he could stall her long enough, his hasty 911 call would pay dividends.

  “I let them do the work and followed them, of course.” She laughed. “You’re just the cutest thing. I saw you twice at Laurel’s place. The apartment, I mean. And you were packing up her things last week. Seemed personal.”

  “You’re the one who broke the window that night,” Dan said.

  “What window?” Laurel asked, looking from him to Renee.

  “Sorry,” Dan said. “I didn’t want to worry you. I’ll explain later.”

  A minivan came down the road. The driver slowed the vehicle and put down his window. “You folks all right?”

  “Yeah, we’re fine,” Renee called. “Tow truck on the way.”

  The man nodded and was off. Laurel stared after him, but Renee picked up the conversation where she had left off.

  “Once I learned those two jerks were on your tail, it wasn’t hard to find you again.”

  “Sort of a modified cherchez la femme,” Dan said with a half wink. “Very clever.”

  Laurel frowned at him.

  “Oh, cherchez la garbage,” Renee said. “I found you, didn’t I?”

  “How have you been living all this time, if you have no money?” Laurel demanded.

  Renee raised her shoulders slightly. “Best if you don’t know.” She smiled at Dan. “So, anyways, here we are. That truck ain’t much, but I figure you’ve got a bank account, or at least some credit cards. You can let me have some honest money.”

  “Extortion isn’t honest, Renee,” Laurel said bitterly.

  “Hey, hey, you don’t want to talk like that!” Renee’s head jerked suddenly, and her eyes lost their focus. Dan listened and was rewarded by the sound of an approaching siren.

  “Don’t tell me!” Renee glared at Dan.

  He turned his palms upward in a gesture of innocence. “We didn’t know it was a friend chasing us. What can I say?”

  Renee swore as the patrol car pulled up behind her sedan and an officer got out.

  *****

  Laurel stared at the approaching officer. Dan’s on-duty partner, Jessica. Perfect. Maybe she could c
lean this up quickly.

  “Hello Dan,” Jessica said. She looked at each of them in turn and nodded at Laurel. “Hello again.”

  Laurel nodded. Renee kept quiet, but eyed Jessica warily.

  “What’s up, Dan?” Jessica asked.

  He gestured toward Renee. “This woman followed us out here and ran us off the road. Then she tried to extort money from us.”

  “Classic carjacking.” Jessica took out her notebook.

  “Hold it!” Renee cried. “We’re old friends, Laurel and me.”

  “Really?” Jessica looked her over in distaste. “You should take some lessons in fashion from her. Although that blouse isn’t bad.”

  Laurel choked back a laugh, wondering if Dan had told her about the stolen blouse.

  “She really whacked your truck, Dan. Too bad. You’ve only had it since January.”

  Dan shook his head with a tight smile. “I’ll have to call my insurance company.”

  Jessica ordered Renee to stand next to the squad car and patted her down, then put her into the back seat and went to the blue sedan.

  Dan approached Jessica and said something to her before returning to where Laurel was standing. “I tipped her off that Renee is a convicted felon.”

  Laurel nodded. “Good. Dan, I’m sorry. I thought we’d made it. We were leaving all this mess behind us, and then there’s Renee, hungry and loaded for bear.”

  He slipped his arm around her. “It’s all right. Jess will sort it out. Come on, let’s see if I can get the truck back up on the shoulder without a tow.”

  By the time the pickup was out of the field, Jessica had finished her preliminary work. She approached the truck, and Dan got out.

  “Can you hold her?”

  Jessica nodded. “You want to sign a complaint?”

  “Not really. We were headed out of state.”

  “Well, she doesn’t have a valid license.”

  “Give us two hours, Jess. Please?”

  “I’ll give you more than that. I called it in, and they’re checking for outstanding warrants in Maine, but I can put her down for no license, no insurance, and reckless driving. And her name doesn’t match the registration. They’re looking to see if the car’s stolen. I can keep her tied up in red tape at least until morning.”