I shouted back so he could hear me, "Look out Stan. As you said, 'she's back!'"
Charlie held the phone towards me. "Sweeter words were never spoken, Jenny. I'll call in an hour or so, bye," Edwards clicked off.
"Jenny, you and I tracked down a pedophile with nothing more than a discarded magazine."
"Little things then," I said in my element, and determined to uncover a thread to work into a hangman's rope for Brittney Scott.
I was searching all of our regular search sites and came across a new one, 'Six Degrees'. Brittney had a profile on the site that listed her AOL email account and a few computer clubs she was a member of. There were a few photos posted in her profile that I was able to open.
"Charlie! Look at this," I called to him excitedly. He walked over behind me and looked at my computer screen. Under the title 'Happy Birthday' was a photo of Brittney in a 450 SL Mercedes, a bright red, two door convertible. The photo was taken from a back-left side angle of the car and she was looking over the seat with a glowing smile. The photo just caught the rear license plate. "Tied into money, I'd say."
"That's great, Jenny! We can run the plate through our DMV search." Charlie pointed to the icon on my computer screen. I opened the program and he entered our PI license information. "I'll need to write these passwords down for you."
I entered the license plate number and the California registration came back, Brittney Scott or Henry McBride, 17238 Finedale Road, Whittier, California. "We have a new name to search."
"We need to get that name to Walker as well … " He was saying when a knock at the door drew our attention away from the screen. Charlie walked over and opened the door. Emily moved into his open arms and Eden walked into the office behind her.
"Hello Jenny," Emily called to me. I printed the screen and then joined them just inside the office door.
"It's good to see you both," I told Eden and Emily.
"Looks like Watson Investigations is hard at work," Eden said. Her expression looked apologetic so I opened my arms to extend a welcome.
"Just getting back into that mode, Eden." Then I turned toward Emily. "Emily, I need one of those hugs also."
"Always." She was smiling. I couldn't help getting a little choked up. Emily is a beautiful young lady and besides the gene pool, I had to give Eden even more credit for raising her so well. I looked back as the printer finished and turned to Charlie.
"Should we send that to Chief Walker or Edwards?" I could see he was torn with its potential importance and slighting our guests.
"Let's get Eden and Emily settled first. Edwards may have found the same site." Charlie turned to our guests. "Ready for some lunch? And Emily, I want to hear all about your writing group."
"Charlie, Jenny, I have a huge favor to ask you," Eden said.
*****
Don Richards didn't sleep well. The photo of his daughter, Sandy remained in front of his every thought. He couldn't tell his wife what was happening as it would drive her over that fragile edge of sanity. His first stop at the office after clearing security was the men's room to remove the device. He slipped it into his desk lap drawer and gazed at the photo of Sandy on his desk. His wife and daughter at her high school graduation beaming smiles and honors ribbons draped her gown. He had to succeed. There was no other choice to save his daughter. Even the thought of prison if he failed didn't come close to his daughter's suffering the implied fate in that monster's photo. He turned, setting the graduation photo back down on his desk when he heard people approach.
"Don Richards, this is our new Document Tech, Maria Sanchez. She'll be filling in for Tracy on maternity leave," Grace from Human Resources told him.
"Oh, hello Mary," Don said. "Tracy, yeah. I thought a couple more weeks to complete this project."
"Nature didn't have your schedule, Don. And its Maria not Mary," Grace said.
"Sorry, a lot my mind. Hello Maria."
"Hello, is it Don or Mr. Richards?" Maria asked with a comforting smile.
"Just Don. Welcome. I'd better get back at it." He avoided eye contact and turned back to the folders on his desk. Maria and Grace moved on to the next desk for more introductions. The new girl made Don very uneasy, the timing just too coincidental with his situation. Which side was she on? He wondered, but either way she presented a threat to what he had to do.
Chapter 17
Emily was first through the office door and dashed to Lisa's unit to say hello to Madison as Jenny, Eden and Charlie headed to the downstairs main kitchen to make some lunch. Charlie saw the bridled excitement in Eden as she busied herself building sandwiches. He tried to push memories aside of when he'd seen that spark in her before, many years ago in high school. It was their night. Staying at the school dance another moment was beyond their capability as excited anticipation of expressing their love for each other took them back to the parking lot and Charlie's car.
Charlie had the keys to his friend's family cabin on the lake. He'd spent the day prior to the dance setting the cabin up with fresh cut flowers and candles to make that turning point a memorable leap in their bond for each other. Graduation was a couple of months away and they had waited for sharing that physical side of their love until time was allowed to slowly explore uncharted new beginnings between them. Charlie's parents had long ago stopped tracking their son's movements and Eden was spending the night after the dance with her girlfriend, Sally. The whole night was theirs.
Eden was pressed beside him on the drive to the lake cabin, softly singing along with the tape playing in the car. Charlie was nervous that he'd be unable to maintain the perfection they'd found in their relationship to that point. Eden turned the radio down and kissed his cheek.
"Charlie, I love you so much. I've dreamt of our first time for months and it's finally here for us."
"You know I feel the same about you, I just … want. Well, for it to be as in your dreams."
"You don't understand. It's your loving touch, not experience that I've dreamt of Charlie. A rehearsed playbook in your mind would shatter that dream, our beginning together. We'll fumble, laugh and explore for the first and I hope, not the last time."
"Will you ever stop amazing me with your understanding?"
"Keep one thought in your mind, Charlie. Our first kiss was tender and sweet. Our second kiss started the path to this cabin tonight and I'll become your woman, Charlie."
The porch light was on at the cabin as they rounded the last twist in the gravel road. He parked in the clearing in front of the cabin and turned the car ignition off. Trees surrounded the cabin and the light from a full moon illuminated the car. Night owls and crickets greeted them as they got out of the car and moved into an embrace in front of the cabin.
"It's already perfect, Charlie." She kissed him.
"We always talked about making love in a sand castle. Not disappointed, Eden?"
"Who says we still won't have our sand castle one day?"
They walked up the porch side by side and Charlie unlocked the door. Eden passed through the door and Charlie moved around the cabin lighting the candles.
"Candles and even flowers, my God, Charlie this is perfect." She moved into his reaching arms. Her hands moved up his chest and started with the top button. "Nothing between us now."
Restraint became the obstacle as the last of their clothing found the floor and gentle exploring hands ignited their passion. He pulled her to him as their naked flesh united for the first time.
"Charlie! Did you hear me?" Jenny asked.
Charlie looked up as both Eden and Jenny were staring at him in the kitchen. "Sorry, off in the case." His return to the present was abrupt unsettling.
"Ham or roast beef, Charlie?" Jenny asked again.
"The beef, please." He turned toward the refrigerator, and was dazed in disbelief that he'd drifted so vividly into the past and fought it's consumption of him. "Drinks?"
"I'll have a Pepsi," Jenny said. "We can leave the case in the office awhile."
; "Emily and I are good with Pepsi as well, thanks." Eden added.
Charlie set the three Pepsis on the food prep table and took a long pull from the bottle of the beer he'd gotten for himself. He caught Jenny's inquiring look as he set it down. "I'll go get the girls," he said and left the kitchen.
"I'm sorry again, Jenny. It seems Emily and I needed to give you more time."
"Don't be silly, Eden. Things are moving fast here. I sense there are developments in your life as well." Jenny turned to face Eden with an inquisitive smile.
"It's that obvious?"
"I'm just getting back into this detective thing, but your neon sign leaves little question."
"You met Justin at your party last summer. We've been spending time together since then."
"Serious?" Jenny set the sandwiches down not turning away from watching Eden's face.
"I think so, or at least feel it's heading that way."
"That's wonderful, Eden. Does Emily like him also?"
"He's really great with her. He has a son and daughter from his previous marriage and they all get along so well, Jenny."
"Charlie will be so pleased for you." Charlie entered the kitchen with Maddy and Emily.
"What will make Charlie happier than these two young ladies do?"
"Seems Eden has some good news for us."
"I was just explaining to Jenny, that Justin and I have been dating since your party last summer."
"I did sense a little happy dance, Eden. That's great news."
"Dad, Brandon and Susan already feel like family. You'll think they're great also."
"Brandon and Susan?"
"Justin's son and daughter, Dad. He's fifteen and Susan is my age. We all went to Disneyland before Christmas and had a blast!"
Charlie's face reflected the opposite reaction of the excitement in his daughter's voice and he fought to recover. "That sounds like real fun, Emily. Jenny and I were waiting until Maddy was older for our trip there. Maybe you'll want to go again … then."
"For sure. I'll show Maddy around there."
"She'll love that. Maybe her second birthday." Charlie forced a smile. He was having a great deal of trouble containing a sense of loss. His remembering the cabin and now his new daughter was slipping into another family. He pulled Emily into a hug. "I'll make up for our lost time, Sweetheart."
Emily sensed her father's mood and slipped her arms around him. "Justin's cool, but he's not my dad, you are."
"Thank you, Em. Your dad loves you so much." The room was very quiet and he realized all eyes were on them. He moved out of the embrace with his daughter and looked directly at Eden. "Yes, Emily can stay here anytime you want, Eden. In fact, I welcome our time to catch up, maybe with more frequent weekend sleepovers."
"Emily, our guestroom just became your room. Would you like that?" Jenny asked.
"Oh yeah! I'd love it, thanks, Jenny."
"Seems my favor is no longer a surprise. Justin grew up in New York and has gone home every year to watch the ball drop in Times Square every New Year's. He asked me to go with him this year."
Jenny was visually exploding with excitement for that turn of events. "So you leave when? How many days in New York?"
"We fly out tomorrow night, and back on Sunday for Emily's school Monday morning. Is that alright with you two?" Eden looked back and forth between them.
Jenny moved over next to Charlie and slipped her arms around his waist. "Charlie and I couldn't be happier for you, Eden. Emily is always welcome here."
"Of course. Em can help me pick out some paint for her new room," Charlie added. "It's about time she felt at home here with her own bedroom."
Jenny glanced between Charlie and Eden and picked up the two plates stacked with sandwiches. "Let's eat in the dining room girls." Emily and Madison followed her out of the kitchen.
"Honestly, Eden, I'm very pleased for you and Justin. Finding Emily finally, I couldn't bear to lose her also."
"Also? Charlie?"
"I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry, really. Your happiness and a shot at a real family are wonderful. I'm thrilled and support that completely."
"Charlie, neither Justin or I would ever stand between you and Emily. I'll always love you, also. I can finally reach beyond our cabin door for a life with a man that I truly love." It was a quick hug and glancing touch of lips that brought them to that transition.
"Take it beyond the peak we reached, Eden. I want that for you. He looked pretty good on paper." Eden stepped back and looked at him. "Jenny mentioned you two looked like the beginning of something, and well, his name wound up in a search." He gave her a sheepish smile.
"Thank you for caring. Let's join our expanding family for lunch."
"Works for me."
Chapter 18
Eden shared the plans that she and Justin had for their visit to New York during lunch in the dining room. Charlie found a contentment growing inside of him. Thoughts of bringing Emily closer allowed an easier release of her mother into the past where he knew Eden belonged.
"Sounds like you two need a month there to squeeze it all in," Charlie said.
"They told me, Dad, they needed to find the really cool places to take me to next year."
"Emily, maybe I can tag along next year? I've never been to New York City either," Jenny said.
"That'd be so cool! Dad, did you mean it about my room here?"
"Every word, Sweetheart. In fact, while you and your mom stay downstairs tonight, I figured the paint could be drying upstairs in your new bedroom."
"Really! Can I help paint it?"
"It's required, Em. We'll go after lunch to get paint and supplies. I'm sure Jenny has some coveralls she'll loan you."
"I certainly do, Emily. I may not recall how the paint got on them, but they're all yours."
"Thank you both. This has been an incredible day for us," Eden said.
Jenny looked at Charlie and smiled. "I'm so pleased that bedroom is vacant for her."
Eden looked back and forth between Jenny and Charlie and smiled through a blush. "So it's more than just Watson Investigations back on track. We all have wonderful news to share."
"OK, you two," Jenny said looking between Charlie and Emily. "Anything florescent or that glows in the dark is off limits!"
"Do you believe her, Em? What a kill joy."
"Don't worry, Jenny. I'll keep dad under control."
When they'd all finished lunch and Eden and Emily were getting situated in the downstairs unit, Charlie pulled Jenny into a hug. "You have no idea how much your consideration, giving us that moment, meant the world to me. You are so incredible, Jenny. And then offering a place in our home for Emily, how'd I get so lucky finding you."
"Charlie, I don't have the life changing first love you had with Eden. This accident stole our falling in love from me, but only the first time. I have my recent finding love, and I do understand. I'm also grateful it was only a moment that you and Eden needed because of that same understanding."
"I'm sorry it's been awkward and assure you that the needed moment is also in the past, now. Clarity is finally filling this head of mine and that's only because of you."
"I've felt it also, Charlie. On another note, I'll touch bases with Walker and Edwards while you're picking out paint with Emily."
"You're certainly invited to come with us, Jenny. We can wait until you've contacted them."
"Father and daughter moments are much easier for me. Take them and enjoy your time together."
"Ready Dad?" Emily was in a quick pace toward them.
"You promised to keep him under control, Emily. I'll hold you to that."
Emily laughed and took Charlie's hand. "I'll do my best," They headed toward the front doors.
Charlie held the passenger door open for Emily as he looked down the street. The car was there and anger flashed through him. If Officer Marks wasn't still inside Watson Manor undercover providing protection, Charlie wouldn't be able to leave. He slid into the drive
r's side. "I'm excited to be painting your room here, Emily."
"Me too. I'm no longer a 'love child'." She laughed.
"You, my dear, are a child that’s loved, not a love child. I'm sorry it's taken this long to make a place for you here, can you forgive me for that."
"Dad, I've never felt unwelcome here, by you or Jenny."
"Being just welcome is not the same as Watson Manor also being and feeling like your home, Em."
Emily shifted in her seat to face him. "But, you loved mom before, when I was … made?"
"Emily, that's not what I meant by your not being a love child. I have always loved your mother and I don't expect that will ever change. It was a wonderful day when I discovered that you were my daughter. Now, it looks like with Justin that our family is expanding."
"It's been an exciting year. I should have figured it out before. I mean that you were my dad."
"How would you have possibly done that? Until a few months ago, I had no clue about you, Em."
"The pictures in mom's drawer. you in a football uniform and some with mom. She said you dated but that you were a year ahead of her in high school. Away at college when I was made her senior year. She only said wrong time about my father."
"Has she told you the truth now?" Charlie turned left into the Home Center parking lot.
"Yes and that she hated lying to me all those years."
"Em, your mother knew I wanted to work my way into professional football," He paused pulling into a parking spot and turned off the truck. Facing Emily he continued, "She selflessly thought she was giving me that chance by keeping you a secret. We lost contact with each other, your grandfather moved around a lot with his job."
"Mom said when I was five that she tried to find you again."
"I wish she would have, but I didn't make finding me easy. I left college and a football career with a knee injury then started driving a truck. I was a recluse, hiding from the world for many years."
"Until you met Jenny?"
"Yes, until I met Jenny. Em, the love your mother and I shared even made that possible. Ready to get some color for your bedroom walls?"
Watson Manor My Journey Home (Watson Manor Mystery Series Book 4) Page 9