Freedom

by Mary Crawford

  Officer Erickson nods. “Of course.”

  “Did I tell you I took notes of the conversation with my brother?” Zoe asks.

  “No, you didn’t. It would be helpful for me to see those too.

  “What are we going to do if this is her brother?” I ask. “What are we going to do if it’s not?” I add as I weigh both possibilities.

  “It’s too early for me to say. We have to do some investigating before I can make that kind of determination.”

  “How long will that take?” Zoe cries.

  “I know you’re scared, Zoe. We’ll try to resolve this as quickly as we can.” Officer Erickson glances over at me. “I will need a copy of your ID. You are the newcomer to the situation. I need to rule you out.”

  “Oh for Pete’s sake! Phoenix isn’t responsible for this. He was standing in front of me when it started to unfold. Even if he weren’t, I’d still know it wasn’t him. Everything I’ve seen from him tells me he’s the polar opposite of my brother or anyone like him.” Zoe asserts. “Besides, he works for Tristan Macklin.”

  Officer Erickson looks stunned. “Well, I guess that'll make clearing his background a little easier. I know that Tristan runs a comprehensive background check on everyone he hires every few months. We’ll compare notes. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything personal by it, it’s just the way I have to work through a case.”

  Reflexively, I grimace under the officer’s scrutiny. “No problem. I am used to the suspicion. It’s not as if I look like an insurance salesman or anything.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ZOE

  I KNOW MY CONVERSATION WITH Cody should’ve made me feel better. But, it didn’t — if anything, it made me more anxious. His words were just one more tangible reminder of how dangerous my brother can be. Even though during the wedding confrontation Katelyn was able to barricade herself in the restroom until Cody could rescue her and Vincent wasn’t able to lay a hand on her, his words were vile and ugly. It doesn’t take much of a leap of my imagination to picture circumstances where a situation between them may have escalated into much more than just words.

  Cody and Phoenix escorted me outside so I could tell them how things are usually arranged in Jessica and Mitch’s yard. When Phoenix removed the flower pot he’d placed over the little miniature campfires to protect them from the rain, I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. I was literally knocked back by the sight.

  About fifteen years ago, our neighbor’s house burned down to the ground. I remember watching from my upstairs bedroom as the neighbor’s plate glass window bulging out like a soap bubble on a bubble wand. I shrieked in horror when it burst and made a deafening sound. I jumped into Vincent’s arms and trembled. I’ll never forget the evil sound of his maniacal laugh as he made fun of my terror. Even though I was scared to death, I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the mesmerizing flames.

  When I learned my friend Lizzie’s grandmother was trapped in the fire and could not get away, I began to have nightmares that I’d die in a fire too. Vinnie thought my phobia was hysterical. He started tormenting me by leaving matches all around the house with my initials carved into the matchbooks.

  A couple of years later, after I told him boys were not allowed at my slumber party, I woke up to find a tiny campfire outside my Barbie castle. It had been a while since I had played with my dolls, so I wasn’t sure exactly when he put it there, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t there when my friends and I went to bed. One of my friends, Rebecca, was making fun of me for still having toys and I remember looking directly at the Barbie castle. I didn’t want to get rid of it because I saved my allowance to buy it all by myself.

  After I discovered Vinnie had been in my room, I wasn’t sure what to do. Mom and Dad told my brother specifically not to be in my room. I was afraid if I tattled, they would take away my privilege to have slumber parties. I never told anyone about Vinnie messing with my stuff. Now, as I study the pictures of the tiny campfires in my yard, I wonder if I should have said something years earlier.

  The screen door creaks and I jump as I gasp and hold my hand to my chest. Phoenix takes off Bruiser’s leash and hangs it on the hook. He walks over to me and looks past me in his odd way. Over the past few days, I’ve become accustomed to him not looking directly at my face. “Are you all right? I didn’t mean to scare you. Bruiser wanted to go out for a walk and you were on a phone call.”

  I shake my head as I swallow hard. “I’m fine. I’m just a little jumpy these days. Did you find anything new outside?”

  Phoenix shrugs. “I didn’t. Bruiser might have though. I was throwing a stick for him and it landed in the bushes. You know — the ones over by the fence on the left-hand side of the dog kennels?”

  I nod my head. “I hope he didn’t get himself into any trouble. A few years back, Lexicon got sprayed by a skunk back there.”

  Phoenix shakes his head. “That’s not the kind of trouble he found. This is human in nature.”

  A chill goes up my spine and I sit up straight. “Do I need to call Cody?”

  Phoenix squats down next to the couch as he says, “It might not hurt. Do you think he’ll be on duty?”

  “Why? What did you find?” I demand.

  Phoenix shrugs. “I don’t even know if this is important or even related to what we found the other day. Bruiser just brought it back after he ran after his stick in the bushes. It might be nothing,” he answers as he holds out something shiny for me to see.

  I lean closer for a better look. When I get a good look at the gold object, the blood rushes from my head and I feel woozy.

  I collapse against the back of the chair and rub my temples.

  “Zoe! What’s wrong?” Phoenix asks as he rests the back of his hand against my forehead.

  “We definitely need to call Cody right away,” I whisper harshly.

  Phoenix pulls his hand away and looks at me in surprise. “Why?”

  I point to the object in his other hand. “Because of that; it tells me everything I need to know. It’s a fourteen-karat gold money clip. I bet if you turn it over, it will have my brother’s initials on the back. My dad got it for him when he graduated from high school because he thought Vincent would take the business world by storm.”

  Phoenix appears somber as he examines the money clip. “We didn’t have much doubt before — but this kind of cements it. The money clip is clearly intended to underscore his threat directed at you.”

  “I don’t understand why my brother is doing this. It’s not my fault he got into a fight with his fiancée in front of me and a bunch of other people. I didn’t ask to be subpoenaed. I can think of a million other places I’d rather be than testifying against my brother. My family will never be the same. I don’t know what he’s thinking!”

  Walking over to Jessica’s pantry, he pulls out a sandwich bag and places the money clip in it. He stops to pour me a glass of sweet tea and grabs a couple of cookies we made yesterday. He pulls the Ottoman up next to the couch and sits down directly across from me. He hands me the tea and cookies.

  “I know this won’t fix everything. I can’t even guess what your brother is thinking. I have a hard time figuring out regular people. People who set out to hurt other people are completely beyond my comprehension. I’m sorry, I wish I understood better.”

  I pat the couch beside me. “Will you sit here? I’m more freaked out by this than I want to be. I need a hug.”

  A look of indecision crosses Phoenix’s face. He swallows hard. “Zoe, you have no idea how much I want to — but that’s just about the hardest thing you could ask me to do. Is it all right if I stay here and just listen?”

  I flush hot with embarrassment. I know from being around Ketki that physical touch is hard for some people. What was I thinking? “Umm, I’m sorry—” I reply.

  Phoenix holds his hand up to halt my speech. “Just because it’s hard for me doesn’t mean I’m not willing to try. How about if I start out small? Can I just hold your han
d?” he asks in a hesitant voice.

  I nod as emotion chokes me. This is so hard for him, so I’m touched by his willingness to try. When I find my voice, I say, “It sounds perfect.”

  Phoenix reaches across the space between us and tries to hold my hand. His brows furrow with concern. “This feels a little weird. It’s like we’re shaking hands before a chess match.”

  I smother a grin at his consternation.

  “I’m willing to try anything once, I suppose,” I joke as I try to ease the tension.

  Phoenix leans on Bruiser as he stands up and joins me on the couch. Not wanting to be left out, Bruiser jumps up on the couch beside Phoenix. He has the typical goofy grin of a lab on his face when his antics knock Phoenix closer to me.

  Phoenix clears his throat. “Thanks for making sure I was cozy, buddy. I appreciate it. He smirks and strokes Bruiser’s ears. Phoenix reaches out with his right hand and links his fingers with mine. “I guess Bruiser here has more faith in my abilities than I do.”

  I smile gently. “Seems to me you’re doing just fine. Thank you.”

  Blushing, Phoenix turns toward me. “This doesn’t seem like enough.” He lifts our clasped hands between us. “What else can I do?”

  I brush my hair out of my face with my other hand, then dig my phone out of my pocket. “Honestly, I’m not looking forward to rehashing this all with Cody. Just having you here makes it easier.”

  Phoenix draws in a sharp breath and freezes in place. “Okay, if you say so. I won’t move.”

  “Umm … Okay … Great. I’m just going to call Cody and ask him what we should do,” I stammer awkwardly.

  Phoenix leans forward and pulls his wallet out of his back pocket. He digs out a business card. “Here — try this. Cody gave it to me and said if we needed anything to call this number.”

  I take the card from him and dial the number. “Erickson,” I hear Cody yell into his phone. The background noise is drowning out anything he may be saying.

  “Cody! I can’t hear you,” I respond, reflexively removing my hand from Phoenix’s and plugging my ear in an effort to hear more clearly.

  “Hold on just a sec!” The background noise becomes quieter and I hear the bells on a door ring.

  I look at Phoenix and shrug my shoulders. “Cody, are you there?”

  “I am now,” he answers. “Sorry about that. Palmer and I were watching the game. We stopped to grab some burgers.”

  “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have called this number,” I hedge.

  “Zoe?” Cody guesses.

  “Uh… yeah. But how did you know?”

  “Zoe, I don’t give my private cell number out to just anyone. I happened to give it to your boyfriend. It didn’t take my finest detective work to figure out who’s calling.”

  “Oh, you misunderstand. It’s not like that,” I protest.

  Cody chuckles. “It might not be at this very moment, but it won’t take long. I’ve seen the way that young man looks at you.”

  “It’s complicated,” I respond.

  Cody laughs out loud. “Isn’t it always?”

  “Probably — but right now, my life is more complicated than most. That’s what I called you about. Things have become more serious.”

  “Just a second, let me get into my rig where I’ve got something to write on.”

  I rest my free hand on my thigh and Phoenix reaches out to grab it again. Gratefully, I lace my fingers through his and hang on tight.

  I hear a rustle on the other end of the phone and Cody says, “It took me a bit, but I’m ready now. What’s going on?”

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to call you back when you’re back at the office?” I offer. “This might not even be anything.

  “It’s okay. My team was losing anyway. I’m not missing much. If you have a gut feeling something is important, I won't ignore that. That’s why I gave your guy my number.”

  “His name is Phoenix Wolf,” I correct.

  “Right. Anyway, I wanted you or Phoenix to call me if anything seemed unusual.”

  “Unusual. That’s one way to put it. Freakin’ scary is another,” I comment dryly.

  “Oh boy! I guess you better start at the beginning,” Cody encourages.

  “While I was ordering supplies for Hope’s Haven, Phoenix took Bruiser outside for a walk. I guess they were playing fetch with a stick and Bruiser found something unexpected in the bushes back by the dog kennel.”

  “If he’s anything like the dogs I grew up with, it was probably a snake.”

  I sigh. “I wish it was that simple. Unfortunately, it’s not. Bruiser found a money clip which I believe belongs to my brother.”

  This time, Cody lets out a groan of frustration. “I guess the forensic team must’ve missed that when they were out.”

  “Either that or my brother has been back on my property again. I’m not sure which is the scariest scenario.”

  “That’s a true statement. I’m off for tonight, but you could still take it in to the station, if you’d feel more comfortable. One of the other officers can handle it for you.”

  I glance over at Phoenix. “I’d rather stick with the same guy,” he mutters under his breath.

  I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding as I respond in a low voice as I hold my hand over my phone, “Me too.”

  Phoenix nods and squeezes my hand.

  Raising my voice I respond to Cody, “We’ll wait until you’re on duty tomorrow. I don’t want to start over with someone else.”

  “Zoe, do you have someone to stay with you until we get a handle on this?”

  Even though Cody cannot see me over the phone, I nod. “Yeah, Phoenix is here.”

  Phoenix flinches, but before I can sort out the odd reaction, Cody answers, “I think that’s good. I’ll see you tomorrow. You guys be careful, okay?”

  “I don’t think I’ll sleep a wink. It’s a good thing we’ve got a bunch of dogs around. It would be nice if we still had a dog like Dozer with all of his protection training.”

  Cody chuckles. “Keep dreaming. I don’t think Darya would ever give him up. After all, he saved her life on multiple occasions.”

  “Oh, I would never take Dozer. I just wish we could clone him.”

  “I understand. He is one cool dog. Take care of yourself and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  I sigh as I end the call.

  “Who is Dozer?” Phoenix asks.

  “He was about the best protection dog we’ve ever had come through Hope’s Haven.”

  “What happened to him?”

  “At the moment, he is guarding Darya. She happens to be a phenomenal police detective, but sometimes she needs a little backup.”

  Phoenix winces. “Speaking of backup, I don’t know how much longer I can stay. I’m so sorry. I’m supposed to be on my way to Oregon. Tristan says this could be a big break for me. I don’t want to let him down.”

  I draw in a sharp breath and try to speak without my voice shaking. “I don’t even know what to say. It’s not really fair of me to ask you to stay. You came here because you were doing a good deed for Bruiser. I guess you’re not responsible for me. I’ll just have to figure out something else.”

  Phoenix pulls me closer to his side. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted you to know. I’m here — for now. We’ll have to sort out the rest of our lives on another day.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  PHOENIX

  BRUISER IS STICKING TO ME like glue. It’s almost as if he's afraid I'll disappear if he lets me out of his sight. I’m trying to help Zoe with her chores this morning, but I keep tripping over the devoted yellow lab at my feet. Feeling frustrated, I grab his favorite dog toy and put him in the dog run with Hope while I fill the dog dishes in the kennel.

  It’s only been a few days since I found him, but without Bruiser’s constant company, Hope’s Haven seems unbearably quiet. As I sweep up the training room, my thoughts tumble around in my brain.

&nb
sp; Reading other people’s emotions has never been a particularly strong talent for me. I would much rather be deciphering computer code. Even so, the look of isolation and sadness on Zoe’s face last night was heartbreaking. I’m not used to people relying on me for support, emotional or otherwise. Sure, my parents try their best to treat me as if I don’t have Asperger’s syndrome. My dad used to spend several hours a day trying to engage me in mundane conversation just so I would develop the skills I need to cope.

  When I saw Bruiser on the side of the road, I never anticipated that I would become involved with his rescuer. Whether I like it or not, I am involved. I have to figure out how to reconcile that with my plans. I should’ve been on my way to Oregon days ago. Yet, I don’t want to leave Zoe — especially since I don’t know the scope of the danger she faces.

  I have put off this call long enough. It’s time for me to face the music. It seems to take forever for Tristan’s executive assistant to transfer my call.

  “Hey! I didn’t expect to hear from you. How’s the open road? Is the weather treating you right?” Tristan asks.

  “Yeah … about that,” I answer with more nerves evident in my voice than I’m comfortable with. “I’m still just outside of Gainesville at Hope’s Haven.”

  “Why? Is there a problem with the dog you rescued?”

  “No, fortunately Bruiser is just fine. He moves a little gingerly sometimes, but the vet says he probably has bruised lungs and he may have pulled some muscles in his hip.”

  “Oh I see. You must be hanging around for Zoe. I can’t say I blame you; she has one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen. She’s pretty cute too.”

  Tristan’s comments surprise me. “I didn’t realize you knew her so well,” I blurt.

  “You know how it goes — friends of friends start to hang out and your circle of friends grows exponentially.

  “I guess I’ll have to take your word for it,” I answer. “However, you’re not wrong about Zoe.”