A Place to Call Home

by Sharon Sala

  Charlie paused in the middle of her sentence to stare at the pair coming out of the doorway a half a block ahead. Judd turned, following her gaze. It was Judith, and she had Davie by the hand.

  “Charlie, I’m glad I found you. We need to clear something up,” Judith said. “Davie knows you weren’t trying to take his clock, don’t you, Davie?”

  He ducked his head and nodded.

  Judd saw a fleeting expression of pain come and go in Judith’s eyes, and then she was all business.

  “We’re on our way to the police department. Davie found something that doesn’t belong to him. He wants to give it back, don’t you, Davie?”

  Again, Davie nodded, but Judd could tell he was doing it reluctantly. His heart went out to the man, trying to imagine what it must be like to live in an adult’s body, expected to cope within the parameters of an adult world, yet not able to understand the rules.

  “That’s great, son,” Judd said quietly, and patted Davie on the back. “Mind if I walk with you?”

  Davie gave Judd a nervous glance, but when he saw the smile on Judd’s face, his expression lightened. He glanced at Judith.

  “Can he, Aunt Judy? Can he walk with us?”

  Judith shrugged. “If he wants.”

  The morose expression on Davie’s face lightened considerably, and when Charlie patted him on the arm, he broke into a smile.

  “I’m sorry I scared you, Davie. I didn’t mean to,” Charlie said.

  “It’s okay, Charlie girl. You can still be my friend.”

  Tears came to Charlie’s eyes. “Thank you, Davie. You are a good friend to have.”

  Happy that all the earlier turmoil was behind him, Davie impulsively threw his arms around Charlie’s neck and gave her a hug.

  “Charlie is my friend!”

  Judd watched the way Charlotte Franklin hugged the young man, gentling him with her touch as well as her words.

  “That’s good, Davie,” he said softly. “You don’t want to lose friends like her.”

  Again Judd’s voice wrapped around Charlie’s senses, making her long for something unnamed. When Davie let Charlie go, she had to fight the urge to place her cheek against Judd Hanna’s heart and let those strong, able arms hold her close, just as she’d been holding Davie.

  A couple of minutes later, they entered the front of the police department, just as Wade came from the back.

  “I’d better get Rachel,” Charlie said, and headed toward the dispatcher’s cubicle where the strident sound of a little girl’s chatter was mixing with thumps and laughter.

  Judith strode forward, taking the initiative.

  “Wade, Davie has something he wants to give you.”

  Wade stood, waiting for Davie to come forward on his own, but his mind was racing. The dispatcher had told him what had been happening. This was the first clue they’d had regarding Shuler’s disappearance. If only Davie was able to remember the details of where he’d found it, it could be the break they’d been waiting for.

  “Hello, Davie. Let’s see what you found.”

  Judith took the watch from her pocket and handed it to Davie. With only a slight reluctance, he handed it over.

  Wade’s eyes widened. It was, indeed, Shuler’s watch. Considering it was the only Rolex in town, it wouldn’t have been hard to identify. Not only that, but he’d been at the Shuler’s anniversary party when Betty had presented it to Raymond. He turned it over, running his thumb across the words engraved upon the back.

  “Well, now, this is fine, just fine,” he said. “You did a good thing, did you know that, Davie?”

  Davie’s eyes widened and he grinned. Only a few minutes ago, he’d been in trouble, but now someone was telling him he’d done a good thing. He wasn’t sure how, but he liked this much better.

  Wade took Davie by the shoulder and led him to a nearby chair.

  “Where did you find it?” he asked.

  Davie started to look nervous. He glanced at his aunt Judy. She was frowning. That meant he’d done something bad again, only he didn’t know what.

  “I don’t remember,” he said, and ducked his head.

  Wade sighed, masking his frustration, and came at the questioning from a different angle.

  “Could you show us where you found it?”

  Davie’s lower lip slid forward and he began picking at a button on the front of his shirt.

  “He just said he doesn’t remember,” Judith said. “So how can he show you if he doesn’t remember?”

  Wade gave Judith a wary glance, wishing he could tell her to take a hike. She was making Davie nervous. Hell, Wade thought. That frown she’s wearing could make anyone nervous, even him.

  “Was Shuler wearing the watch when he disappeared?” Judd asked.

  Wade looked up, a little surprised that he hadn’t thought to check that fact himself. If he hadn’t been, then where Davie found the watch was moot.

  “He was never without it,” Wade said. “But I’d better check. Everyone sit tight for a moment while I make a call.”

  He disappeared into his office, leaving the others to wait.

  Davie glanced at Judith Dandridge. “Aunt Judy, am I in trouble again?”

  “No,” she said shortly. “And I don’t see what all the fuss is about. He found something. He came to give it back.”

  “The fuss is all about solving a crime,” Judd said.

  “What crime?” Judith asked. “I understand no money was exchanged and that Shuler was let go loose without harm.”

  Judd frowned. “I wouldn’t call abduction or branding harmless.”

  She sniffed. “I suppose, but it’s not as if he was disfigured in any way. It was on his butt, for God’s sake. If he keeps his pants on, no one will ever know.” Then she turned away, as if refusing to discuss the incident any further.

  Judd frowned. In his opinion, that last remark was full of innuendos regarding Raymond Shuler’s inability to do just that. Shuler had claimed faithfulness to his wife and Judd had believed him. But what if the man was lying? What if there were people in this town who knew something Betty Shuler didn’t? He made a mental note to himself to talk to some other people about Shuler’s private life. The possibility of an angry husband was still a good theory.

  But before he could pursue the thoughts any further, Wade came back into the room.

  “Shuler was wearing the watch when he was abducted,” Wade said. “He’s on his way down to the department to identify it.”

  Judith took Davie by the hand. “We’ve done our duty. If there’s nothing else you need, we’ll be going now.”

  “Wait,” Wade said, and then added, “Please.”

  Judith frowned, ready to argue, and then Rachel came running into the room with Charlie right behind her, and Davie’s fears were completely forgotten in his joy at seeing the little girl.

  “Rachel! Look, Aunt Judy, it’s Rachel!”

  He dropped to his knees and hugged Charlie’s daughter. Judd watched, amazed at the transformation. The gentleness with which Davie held her was evident. Rachel had a handful of crayons in one hand and a coloring book in the other. She thrust it in Davie’s face and grinned.

  “Color?”

  Immediately, they sprawled on the floor with the coloring book between them.

  “Sorry,” Charlie said. “I can take her on home if—”

  “No, that’s fine,” Wade said, grinning. “In fact, it’s perfect. We needed a diversion.”

  Judith Dandridge’s ire disappeared as she stared at the backs of the two children’s heads. The fact that almost twenty years separated them in age was moot, because their delight was still the same. She drew a deep breath and then looked away.

  But Judd was watching her, trying to imagine the strength of character it would take to care for someone who would forever be a child—especially when it was not a child of your own. His estimation of the woman rose. Obviously, her attention to Davie ran far deeper than duty. Despite the fact that he’d been her
parents’ foster child, in her own way, Judith Dandridge had come to love him.

  Chapter 8

  Raymond Shuler entered the police department, walking with the aid of a cane. His limp was pronounced and so was the frown on his face. Everyone scattered to make room for his entrance, including Charlie, who scooped Rachel off the floor, and Davie, who ran to stand behind Judith.

  “What’s this about finding my watch?” he announced.

  Wade held it out. “This is just a formality, but I need you to identify this for me.”

  Shuler all but snatched it from Wade’s fingers, then turned it over. His face reddened as he spoke in an accusatory tone.

  “It’s mine, all right! Where did you find it?”

  Wade pointed to Davie. “He found it,” Wade said. “He and Judith just turned it in.”

  Raymond’s gaze scanned past Davie as if he didn’t exist.

  “Where did you find it?” he asked.

  Judith frowned. “I didn’t, Davie did. It’s him you’ll be needing to thank.”

  Raymond looked flustered, obviously resenting the fact that he’d committed a social faux pas. He stared at the lumbering man-child standing beside her and tried not to let his true feelings show.

  “Yes…well…thank you for finding my watch.”

  The man’s angry voice seemed frightening. Davie turned his face against his aunt Judy’s shoulder and refused to look at him.

  Raymond flushed, taking Davie’s behavior as a personal affront, and started to leave, muttering beneath his breath that people like him should be put away.

  Judd heard just enough of what Shuler said to get mad.

  “I suppose it’s a damn good thing he wasn’t or you wouldn’t be standing there with that watch in your hand.”

  Shuler glared at Judd, but Judd held his ground. Finally Shuler relented.

  “Yes…well, I apologize. I didn’t mean to speak out of turn, but this hasn’t been a good week for me, you know.”

  Judith drew herself up to her full height of nearly six feet and took Davie by the hand.

  “If you think your life is tough,” she snapped, “try walking a mile or two in Davie’s shoes.” Then she headed for the door.

  Judd felt bad, both for Judith and for Davie, who had started to cry.

  “Hey, there,” he said, patting Davie on the back. “You weren’t going to leave without your reward, now, were you?”

  Davie blinked. He wasn’t sure what that meant, but the man’s voice was nice.

  Judd took off his own watch and then slipped it onto Davie’s wrist.

  “How’s that?” he asked. “Does it fit okay?”

  Davie smiled widely and quickly lifted the watch to his ear to listen for the tick.

  Judith Dandridge sighed. “That wasn’t necessary, Mr. Hanna.”

  Judd shook his head. “I disagree. I think it was very important that Davie be rewarded for his honesty.”

  Raymond Shuler realized too late that the offer should have come from him. He reached for his pocket and pulled out his wallet in haste.

  “Yes, of course,” he said, thrusting two twenty-dollar bills in Judith’s face. “Here, buy the boy something nice.”

  Judith backed up from the money as if Raymond had tried to hand her filth.

  “That’s what’s wrong with you, Raymond Shuler. You always did think that money could buy anything, including a good reputation.”

  Then she turned and walked away, taking Davie with her.

  Shuler flushed angrily, then stuffed the money back in his wallet.

  “Damned woman,” he muttered. “She’s always been a cold bitch. It’s no wonder she never married.”

  “Known her long, have you?” Judd asked.

  Shuler snorted beneath his breath. “We were in school together,” he said. “Always thought she was better than everybody else.” Then he patted his pocket, making sure his watch was still there, and nodded to Wade. “I don’t suppose that retard could help you any with my case?”

  Wade flushed angrily, but held his temper. “Davie didn’t remember where he’d found the watch, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Figures,” Shuler muttered. “Well, I’ll be getting on home now. I’m not supposed to overdo it, you know.”

  “Wait a minute, Raymond,” Wade said. “Technically, your watch is evidence. I need to keep it in—”

  “Whatever for?” Shuler snapped. “You’re never going to find who did it.”

  Judd jumped on the comment before Shuler could leave. “Why do you say that, Mr. Shuler? Do you know something we don’t?”

  Shuler pointed his cane at Judd with an angry jerk.

  “I don’t like what you’re insinuating, mister.”

  Judd refused to comment, leaving Raymond to think what he chose. A few moments later, he stomped out of the office, leaving a wake of anger behind.

  The moment the door slammed behind him, Wade pivoted and threw his keys across the room where they hit the wall with a splat.

  “Sometimes this job is hell, and keeping my opinions to myself, even harder. That son of a bitch. Whoever took him should have branded him with an A for asshole, not R for Raymond.”

  Charlie was at the window, watching the banker making his way across the street toward his car. Calmly, she turned, giving the two men a cool glance.

  “In my opinion, they could have gone either way and still been right. The two are synonymous with Shuler. As for changing the brands, that would have been stating the obvious all over again. Raymond—asshole. Asshole—Raymond.”

  Judd pivoted suddenly, staring at Wade and Charlie in disbelief.

  “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  “What?” they both echoed.

  Judd pivoted and headed toward the file of notes he’d laid on his desk.

  “What she said. Maybe that’s what we’ve been missing.”

  “I don’t get it,” Wade said.

  But Charlie immediately tuned in.

  “I think I do,” she said. “What Judd’s saying is that we’ve never considered the fact that the R on Raymond’s backside might stand for something else.”

  Judd grinned, pleased that she’d caught on so quickly.

  “You’re good,” he said. “Maybe Wade should have hired you for a detective and sent me on my way.”

  “No way,” Charlie said. “Now, I’m going to take my daughter and myself home and leave you two to your work.”

  “See you this evening, sis,” Wade said, and gave Rachel a quick kiss. “Judd, we need to talk. Wait here while I tell Martha we’re leaving.”

  He left, leaving Charlie and Judd momentarily alone. Rachel was almost asleep on Charlie’s shoulder, and when Charlie turned, the afternoon sunlight caught in the curls on the little girl’s head.

  “Damn,” Judd whispered, unaware that he’d spoken aloud until Charlie stopped and turned.

  “What?” she asked.

  He just shook his head and then reached out and touched their heads—first one, then the other—lightly palming some of Rachel’s curls before running his hand over the sleek ponytail Charlie had made of her hair.

  Charlie’s heart skipped a beat. At that moment, if she hadn’t been holding Rachel, she would have hurled herself into this man’s arms and damned the consequences later.

  “Why did you do that?” she asked.

  There was a knot in his throat that made his voice tremble.

  “Just then…you and your baby…standing in that sunlight.” He tried to smile, but it wouldn’t come. “You look like a painting I once saw. I think it was called Madonna with Child. “

  Charlie’s breath caught at the back of her throat.

  “Oh, Judd, I—”

  He put a finger across the curve of her lips.

  “Don’t.”

  Charlie closed her eyes, absorbing the feel of his hand on her mouth, then she inhaled slowly, masking a moan.

  The abrupt tap of Wade’s boot heels on the floor signaled his ret
urn. They turned away. Judd pretended great interest in the papers he’d picked up, and Charlie readjusted her hold on Rachel as she started toward the door.

  “Okay, I’m ready,’’ Wade said.

  Charlie was halfway across the room when Judd noticed the way she was walking.

  “Charlie!”

  She turned.

  “You’re limping again.”

  She shrugged. “It’s just been a long day.”

  “Here,” Judd said, taking the sleeping baby out of Charlie’s arms. “At least let me carry her to the car for you.”

  As they passed the baby, their gazes met, then momentarily held. Judd could see his own reflection in the pupils of her eyes, and the image of his own vulnerability was startling. Then he gritted his teeth and settled Rachel upon his shoulder.

  “Lead the way, Charlotte. It’s time to get this little curly-head home.”

  * * *

  Long after Charlie was home and had put Rachel down for her nap, she kept thinking about the gentleness of Judd’s hand on her hair, then the pressure of his finger upon her mouth. But no matter how hard she tried, the images wouldn’t go away. She knew what was happening and it scared her to death. She was falling in love with Judd Hanna.

  * * *

  Raymond Shuler watched his wife leaving for her afternoon club meeting, then turned away from the window and hobbled to the door, making certain she’d locked it behind her. He was tired, so tired, but there was no way he was going to lie down until he was sure that he was safely locked in.

  A few minutes later, he made it to the bedroom and stretched out on their bed, careful not to put pressure on the healing wound on his hip. As he closed his eyes, the events of the afternoon began to replay in his mind, from receiving the phone call about his watch, to the dressing-down that he’d received from that uppity stranger Wade had taken into his office. What was his name? Oh yes, Hanna. Judd Hanna.

  Raymond frowned. He didn’t like the way Hanna had talked down to him, and first thing the next morning he was going to give Wade Franklin a piece of his mind. After all, he’d been part of the city council who’d voted to hire Franklin. He could be fired just as well.

  A slight breeze was moving the limbs of one of Betty’s shrubs up against the house. The scratch, scratch, scratch reminded him of the sound his fingernails had made as he’d clawed against the hard earthen floor. He shuddered, then carefully rolled over onto his belly, pillowing his cheek against his hand. In another part of the house, Betty’s grandfather clock chimed the half hour. It was half past three.