Heart of Cole

by Micheal Maxwell

  “Hi yourself. What’ll you have?” The woman behind the counter turned and gave Winston a big smile and Hanna the once-over.

  “Gibraltar with an extra shot, and a chocolate rose.”

  “And for the lady?” Tessa asked.

  “The same,” Hanna replied.

  “Better keep it to one shot the first time. You’ll be cleaning house at two a.m.”

  “That’s one way to get it done.”

  “We’ll be out back.” Winston led the way to a door at the back of the building. The sunlight shone brightly through the open door, and Winston motioned for Hanna to go through. To her delight, her new friend brought her to a quiet little charming courtyard full of tables and umbrellas, right in the middle of the city.

  “Surprise!” Winston sang out.

  “You are full of surprises. This is wonderful. How did you ever find it?” Hanna inquired.

  “I’m a detective. Where would you like to sit?”

  Hanna looked around the patio and spotted a corner table under a bright green umbrella with giant yellow daisies. “That looks springy.” Hanna headed toward the corner.

  So are you going to tell me about your name or did you get me here under false pretenses?” She took her seat.

  “It isn’t nearly as interesting as you might think. My father chain smoked Winston cigarettes. My mom hated it. So she named me Winston. She thought it might make him quit.”

  “Did he?”

  “Not until he died of emphysema,” Winston chuckled. “The Salem part is just a wicked twist of fate.”

  “Do you go by Winston? I mean, is there a shortened version?” Hanna wasn’t fond of the formal sound of Winston.

  “Like Winnie?”

  “No, but what did your mother call you?”

  “She called me ‘Honeybunch.’ Would you like that better?” Winston shocked himself with the boldness of his joke.

  Hanna felt her face flush and hoped it wasn’t as red as it felt. “No, seriously.”

  “I am serious. That’s what she called me…unless I was in trouble, but that name’s not proper in front of a lady.”

  “OK, I give up.”

  “Tell me about the girl, Lindsey.” Winston changed the subject.

  “Cop questions? I thought we were having coffee.” Hanna flared.

  “No, it is a get-to-know-you-better question. I was wondering what about this kid appealed to you enough for you to take her in the way you have.”

  “I have been wondering the same thing.”

  “How do you mean?” Winston showed concern and his voice showed it.

  “She’s been through a lot for a kid. She tends to bristle easy. Hates school, she’d rather wander the city writing in her notebook. I don’t know why exactly. My do-gooder side, fear for her safety, you met her mom’s boyfriend. Maybe I was lonely. Whatever it was, I’m not sure.” Hanna paused as if searching for the right words. “Maybe I haven’t thought it through good enough. Now I feel trapped. Not trapped exactly…that’s an awful thing to say. It’s just that she’s…I mean…I…I don’t know what I mean.”

  “You’re conflicted. I get it. I had the same experience with a dog. A big Golden Retriever, beautiful animal. Chewed up my favorite shoes, crapped all over the apartment while I was at work, and everything I owned was covered with hair.”

  “What’d you do?”

  “Shot her.” Winston said.

  “What!”

  “Just kidding. I took her back to the animal shelter.”

  Hanna leaned her head a bit to the right and looked at Winston for a long moment. “Well, it may come to that.”

  “Shooting her?” Winston teased.

  “Here you are,” Tessa interrupted. Two chocolate roses and two Gibralters with an extra shot. Can I get you anything else?”

  “This looks great,” Hanna replied.

  “I think we’re fine. Thanks, Tessa.”

  Hanna looked down at the short clear glass tumbler.

  “Two shots of espresso and milk,” Winston sensed Hanna’s confusion.

  “In a glass?”

  “I don’t like drinking out of a mug. I make it this way at home. Not the espresso part, but coffee.”

  “Works for me.” Hanna reached out and took the glass. “Whoa, that’s hot.”

  “That’s the only drawback.” Winston smiled.

  “How long have you been a cop? Is it OK to say cop?” Hanna winced.

  “Just don’t say ‘pig’.” Winston smiled. “Seems like forever.” Winston was more relaxed now, and very comfortable with Hanna. “I was an MP in the Army for twelve years. When I met Sally-Ann at Fort Hood, I knew I was done with the Army. I left the service when we got married. A buddy of mine was on the force here and, voila! And you? How long have you worked for the famous Mr. Sage?”

  “Almost three years. Best job I’ve ever had. I’m just afraid it isn’t going to last. The newspaper has laid-off so many people. Cole was asking me the other day if I liked where I lived. He’s been acting kind of weird. I really hope he’s not thinking of leaving. He hates the new editor. The old one was a good friend of his, and this new guy is a corporate hatchet man. Not a good combo.”

  “Jake.”

  “What?” Hanna said, taken off guard.

  “That’s what my friends call me. My middle name is Jacob, after my grandfather. Please call me Jake.”

  “I like that.” Hanna said softly.

  They chatted for almost a half hour when Jake got a call. Cutting their time together short, they drove to Lindsey’s school. Hanna ran in with the documents and then went back to the paper.

  “This was very nice,” Jake said as they pulled up in front of the Chronicle.

  “Very.” Hanna smiled.

  “How about dinner next time?”

  “I would love that.”

  The radio squawked and the dispatcher gave the details of a one-eight-seven and an address.”

  “187…a homicide.” Jake offered. “I’ll call you.”

  Hanna opened the door and said, “Thank you. Talk soon.”

  “Soon,” Jake said as the door closed.

  When Hanna returned from coffee, the incident with Stevie was far in the past, that is, until Cole began to grill her. Without actually saying so, his voice and attitude displayed a forceful I-told-you-so. He was genuinely concerned for her safety.

  “Look,” Cole summarized. “This kid has more baggage than a Greyhound bus. You are a single woman. A formidable advocate, and a little more than able to get out of a scrape. But, when is this going to end? Are you prepared to put up with the kind of crap this girl brings with her? Sure, she a terrific kid, and shows incredible talent for someone so young, but geez Hanna, it is a lot to take on.”

  “I’ve really gotten myself into something, haven’t I? What’s the matter? You think I can’t deal with it?”

  “What? Second thoughts?” Cole was surprised by Hanna’s response. “It seems a bit late for buyer’s remorse. Do you want to send Lindsey into foster care? Send her back home? What are you saying?”

  “Well, no. I mean…not that. It’s just…are these crazies going to terrorize us forever?”

  “Well, little Stevie will be going away for a while. Grandma isn’t getting out of her chair any time soon, so no, I think this is the end of it…for now.”

  “What about her screwball mother?”

  Cole smiled, unwilling to say what he was thinking. Lindsey’s mother was still in the mix. Without Stevie egging her on, perhaps she would realize she would lose on every front if, and when, the question of Lindsey’s guardianship ever went to court. For now the storm had passed.

  Hanna went back to opening and sorting the mail. She didn’t mention having coffee with the handsome detective. Cole returned to his office and continued to work the phone. He was committed to writing a strong piece on the state of the Child Protective Services, even if it proved to be his last.

  Chapter Nine

  Hanna pour
ed the coffee into the cup of Cole’s morning mocha mixture.

  “I can’t wait until Friday,” she said to the redheaded man with the lame excuse of a beard standing next to her, pouring the third packet of sugar into his coffee.

  “Almost there. It’ll be TGIF before you know it. So you’ll just have to be happy with sure happy it’s Thursday.”

  Hanna didn’t respond. Just stirred the mocha.

  “Get it? Sure Happy It’s Thursday. Get it?”

  Hanna turned and looked at the grinning redhead and said, “No.” Not wanting to give him any encouragement for his dirty little joke. “How are you enjoying junior high?” She asked as she turned and walked away.

  “What do you mean? I don’t get it.”

  Cole’s smile was worth the daily walk to the coffee room. Hanna loved her job. For the first time in her life she felt like she belonged to something.

  “You’re the best! Have a seat,” Cole smiled.

  “What’s up? If it’s about those numbers Randy gave me, I, well, I’m afraid I failed. Three of them wouldn’t talk, and the others didn’t recognize the number.”

  “Not what I wanted to hear, but, thank you,” Cole sighed. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about all the changes around here, it feels like we’ve been silently dancing around them for days. I know it must be scary.”

  “I’ve been kind of afraid to even think about what would happen if I got a pink slip, for fear it would happen.”

  “Here is the deal. I have been offered a position at Stanford, teaching journalism.”

  “University? Really? That’s wonderful!”

  “I’m as flabbergasted as you are.” Cole smiled. “I will be deciding what to do in the next couple of days. All I have ever known is being a newspaperman. One side of me is terrified. The other side can see the writing on the wall around here. I’m not getting any younger.

  Faraday is such a pompous ass. It’s all I can do to be civil to him. One of these days he’s going to push the wrong button and I’m going to let him know what I really think. That would not be good. I’d be out on the street with no place to go, for a while at least.” Cole leaned forward and put his elbows on his desk.

  “I can’t think of anybody more qualified to teach newspaper stuff.” Hanna struggled for the correct wording.

  “I am really thinking it may be time for me to do a little to ‘pay it forward’ as they say. I have asked if I can bring you and Randy with me.”

  “That’s why you asked about my apartment?”

  “Guilty.”

  “Would they take me, really?”

  “If they want me, yeah. That was one of my conditions: you, my administrative assistant, and Randy as my research assistant.

  “I don’t know what to say. Stanford? Me? Am I good enough to…” Hanna drifted into her thoughts.

  “You’re plenty good enough to go anywhere. You don’t have to answer now. Think it over. You’ll have to move closer to the Stanford, I would imagine. It would be a nasty commute.”

  “I want to go. For you. Well, what I mean to say is, I owe you a lot.” Hanna saw Cole was about to speak. “Don’t say anything, let me finish before I start bawling. You took a chance on me, when you could have just got anybody, somebody, with more background and skills than I. You, and you alone have given me a chance to do things I never dreamed possible. I have learned so much. I can’t imagine staying here without you. So, yeah, I’m all yours. Thank you so much!” Her eyes teared up. As luck would have it, the phone rang at her desk, giving her an excuse to escape. Hanna jumped up and ran out the door.

  “That was easy!” Cole called out behind her as she ran back to her desk to grab the phone.

  Hanna grabbed the phone and cheerfully said, “Cole Sage’s office!”

  “Wow, you do love your job!” Jake Salem said.

  Hanna could feel her face flush red. “Hello.” Hanna replied in a far more professional manner.

  “Disappointed?

  “No, no, not at all.” Hanna tried desperately to not snap back to the overjoyed excitement of the news about Stanford.

  “I was wondering if you would like to have lunch together.”

  Without hesitation, Hanna said, “Yes!”

  “Pick you up at noon?” Jake asked.

  “Can’t wait.”

  “See you in a couple hours then. Bye.”

  “Bye.” Hanna laid the phone down, “Yes! Can today get any better?” Hanna was elated and her voice did nothing to hide it.

  “So what now? Win the lottery?”

  “No,” Hanna said as nonchalantly as possible, “I have a lunch date.”

  “Well, congratulations.” Cole smiled and went back to his desk.

  With renewed energy, Hanna finished her work in record time. She knocked out a pile of old correspondence, and made several return phone calls. The excitement of seeing Jake a second time required several trips to the restroom, to check her make-up, collar, and the crease in her slacks.

  The day’s mail arrived and Hanna went to work sorting, tossing, and making notes for Cole. As she read a request for permission to reprint a column of Cole’s she sensed movement. Standing in front of her desk was Jake.

  “Too early?” he asked.

  Hanna took a quick peek at the clock on her desk, eleven forty-five.

  “Tiny bit. No matter. Come meet my boss.” Hanna stood and moved toward Cole’s office. “Cole, this is Detective Jake Salem.”

  Cole stood and moved to the door where the pair stood. “Hello. I think we met briefly the other day after the ‘altercation’.” Cole offered his welcoming hand.

  “I think so. Nice to meet you…again. You’re Leonard Chin’s buddy. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Jake shook Cole’s hand.

  “Right, I recognize you from the fracas downstairs. I’m not sure how much he told you would be admissible in court. What can I do for you?” Cole asked.

  “Not a thing. Hanna and I are going to lunch.” Jake gave Cole a big smile.

  “Oh, sorry, you’re the lunch date!” Cole said, slightly embarrassed by his mistake.

  “No problem. I imagine you talk to a lot of cops in your work.”

  “Too many, sadly,” Cole replied.

  “Shall we?” Hanna injected, breaking the awkward silence.

  “Yeah, lets… I’m starving.”

  “Try to be back by sundown, would ya?” Cole teased.

  “Yes, boss.”

  “Nice to meet you formally,” Jake said.

  “Enjoy your lunch.”

  Cole smiled as he watched Hanna and her new friend walk away. About time, he thought.

  “I’m in the mood for Salvadorian. What do you think?”

  “Great,” Hanna responded, having no idea what she was agreeing to.

  A short drive and lots of give and take later, they arrived at the San Salvadorian Pupusaria.

  “What’s your pleasure?” Jake asked, as they approached the counter in the small restaurant.

  “You order.” Hanna smiled.

  OK, grab a table before it fills up.”

  Hanna looked around and spotted a table for two in the far corner of the tiny dining room. She left the seat that would allow Jake to have his back to the wall, and sat in the other. She turned slightly so she could watch her handsome lunch date at the counter. She smiled at the possible scenarios that bounced around her thoughts.

  “Good choice.”

  “I have to admit that I’ve been wanting to do this for a couple days. I just couldn’t work up the nerve to call.”

  “Why?” Hanna asked, a bit surprised by his lack of confidence.

  “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t want to seem pushy, or rush things.”

  “I am happy you got up the guts. I have wanted to see you again, too. Promise me the next time you get the urge to call, you do it then and there. Promise?” Hanna gave Jake a sweet smile as she looked him in the eyes.

  “I promise. So…tell me about Lindsey. How is s
he doing? Are you two getting used to each other?”

  “The good news is she was offered a spot for a placement test from a private prep school in Virginia. She could get a full scholarship, room, board, tuition—the whole enchilada.”

  “Lindsey, the street kid? Are we talking about the same person?”

  “Incredible, huh? She’s really smart. Like really smart.”

  “I sense some bad news is coming.”

  “We just don’t get along. She has these moments of sheer meanness, I just don’t know how to react to her, and I usually say the wrong thing. One minute she can be sweet as pie, and the next she’s slamming doors and telling me where to get off.” Hanna looked down for a long moment before she continued. “The thing is, Jake, I’m hoping she wins the scholarship. Not for her sake, for mine. I just can’t do it much longer.”

  “How soon would she leave?”

  “If she scores high, can keep out of trouble, and keep going to school, and pass all her classes.” Hanna grinned.

  “Tall order?”

  “Seems like. If she can do it, I think she’ll leave in time for summer session.”

  “So, like three months,” Jake replied.

  A young Hispanic woman approached the table with a large tray. “Here we are,” she said, setting the first plate in front of Hanna.

  “Let me give you a hand.” Jake took two glasses of soda from the tray.

  “This looks wonderful,” Hanna said, excitedly.

  “Best in the city!” Jake offered.

  “Well, thank you. Can I get you anything else?” the waitress asked.

  “Let’s see, cabbage, salsa, one cheese, one meat and potato, and one loroco flower and cheese! We’re all set.” Jake gave the waitress a big smile.

  “I’ll check on you in a bit.”

  “Thank you,” Hanna responded. “Oh, Jake this is awesome.”

  “Never had pupusas, have you?”

  “No.”

  “Thought not.”

  “This stuff goes on top if you want it,” Jake said indicating the shredded cabbage and salsa. “You can fold it, use your fork, or whatever. Once they’re made I can never figure out which is which, but they’re all great.”

  “Smells wonderful,” Hanna said as she took her first bite. “Hmm, good.”