Still the Best Woman for the Job

by Sharon C. Cooper

  “Well you know,” Craig stroked his goatee and puffed out his chest, “being one of the big men on campus I come in whenever I want. It’s all about getting the job done, no matter the time.” They shared a laugh at the absurdity of Craig’s statement. If they could show up whenever they wanted to, half of them would be no shows. Craig walked to his desk at the back of the room, surprised to see Floyd at his desk, which was positioned in front of Craig’s.

  Craig placed his coffee cup on his desk and shook out of his jacket not missing the deep worry lines across his partner’s forehead. He didn’t know who Floyd was talking to on the telephone, but whoever it was must have given him some bad news.

  “What’s up, man?” Craig asked when Floyd ended his call. “I thought you had some type of recital to attend at Charlee’s school this evening.” Craig sat at his desk and sipped the steaming hot coffee.

  “Yeah, I do.” He glanced at the clock on the wall to the right of their desks. “I have about a good hour before I need to be out of here and heading that way if I don’t want to get chewed out by my six-year-old.”

  Floyd and his wife of ten years had married right out of high school and had three of the cutest little girls Craig had ever seen. He didn’t know if he could handle three girls and a wife, but he definitely wanted to have at least one daughter who was as cute as Toni and had her spitfire personality.

  “I was about to call you.” Floyd glanced around and then leaned forward, his forearms resting on his desk. “I know captain yanked us off Thomas James’s case, but I thought you’d want to know what I just found out.” His hoarse whisper held a hint of frustration.

  Craig already knew whatever Floyd planned to tell him wasn’t going to be good news. So much for walking in feeling as if he’d conquered the world. The unease swirling around in his gut told him that the rest of his day would get worse before it got better.

  He sat his coffee down and leaned forward in his seat, knowing that the captain had warned them that if he found out they were still involved in the case, for any reason, he was going to suspend them.

  “So what’d you find out?”

  “Joyce Sanders is in the hospital in critical condition. She suffered a severe head injury, has a broken leg, cracked ribs and a punctured lung.” Floyd rubbed his eyes and then looked up at Craig. “You don’t even have to ask who’s responsible. Two witnesses said it was her boyfriend, Thomas James.”

  Craig collapsed back in his seat as if someone had punched him in the gut. “Damn.” He gripped the arms of his chair, trying to force air into his lungs as he willed himself to stay seated and not throw the damn chair across the room. “Please tell me they have him in custody,” Craig begged. He didn’t want to think about Thomas still being on the streets.

  Floyd shook his head. “He’s disappeared.”

  Anger sent a wave of heat propelling through Craig’s body and he shot out of his seat, his chair rolling back and slamming into a desk. He clenched and unclenched his fist, the knot in his gut growing tighter as he paced in a circle. He ignored the curious glances. Times like this he wanted to give up his badge and go vigilante through the streets of Cincinnati. Thomas James wasn’t the only bastard out there beating women, but to get even one off the streets was better than none.

  Floyd stood and grabbed his bag. He eased up to Craig and said, “If you’re planning to do something stupid like go after this guy, knowing that the captain pulled you off the case, call me.” He gripped Craig’s shoulder. “At least give me a chance to talk you out of doing something you’ll regret.”

  Chapter Nine

  It’s days like this I hate my job. Toni stared at the opening of the two foot-by-two-foot crawl space. The entrance was larger than some, but still too narrow for most people to fit, especially since the pipe she needed to get to was at least four feet from the opening. She couldn’t even pull rank and send her apprentice into the cramped space.

  She unclasped her tool belt from around her waist and set it on the floor, grabbed her goggles, a stainless steel pipe clamp and a screwdriver from the belt. She checked her small flashlight to make sure the battery hadn’t died, and drummed up the courage needed to enter the dark crawl space. She wasn’t claustrophobic, but she didn’t like tight spaces, mainly because she was terrified of rodents. Even after many years in the trades, she hadn’t gotten use to seeing the vicious little critters that scared the heck out of her whenever they made an appearance.

  “Are you sure there’s no other way to replace the clamp or determine why the pipe is banging against the wall whenever they run the water?” Her apprentice Terrence asked. “I’m uncomfortable letting you crawl in there while I just stand around out here.” He glanced at the opening and then back at her.

  Always the gentleman. Instead of plumbing work, Terrence’s light brown eyes, chiseled jaw, and stop-you-in-your-tracks smile could have easily landed him a modeling contract rather than an apprenticeship. Tall, buffed, with a swagger that screamed I’m the man, he was the vision women saw when they fantasized about hot construction workers.

  Craig’s concern for her safety had prompted her to hire Terrance months ago. He hated the idea of her working alone and going into a customer’s house by herself, not knowing the dangers that lurked inside. At the time, she didn’t want to hear his concerns, thinking that he wanted to control her. The more she thought about the safety aspect, the more she realized he had a point.

  Her heart warmed at the thought of Craig. For the past four weeks, they’d spent every day together, and Toni still couldn’t believe they were a couple again. They had even spent the weekend in Columbus. A ball of excitement bounced inside of her as she recalled their fun and relaxed getaway with his mother, two of his brothers and their families. It was clear that the invitation to travel with him was an expression of his intention and commitment to their future. The love his mother showed her made her wish her own parents were more demonstrative in showing love. She knew they loved her in their own special way, but sometimes…

  “Toni?”

  “Huh?” She shook her head when she realized she’d been caught staring off into space again, but she couldn’t help daydreaming. Thoughts of Craig and her life with him raided her mind at the oddest times.

  “Ah, you’re thinking about the boyfriend again, huh?”

  Toni lowered her head to hide the smile that wrapped her in a silken cocoon of jubilation.

  “Don’t be shame. When my wife and I were dating in high school, I use to sleep in my car outside her house so that I could be the first person she saw when she left for the day. I’m glad her parents liked me. Otherwise, they probably would’ve had me arrested for stalking.” He unwrapped their extension cord and laughed a hearty laugh that would make Santa Claus’s laugh sound weak.

  Toni couldn’t help but laugh with him.

  “Okay, so back to my original question. Is there another way we can secure the pipe?”

  “We could go through the wall behind the sink, but that would cost the customer more money. Since they have a crawl space, I figured we’d try this route first to save them a few bucks. If this doesn’t work, then we’ll go through the wall.”

  “All right, I guess we should get started.”

  Toni made quick work of replacing the clamp that had pulled away from the wall, and then crawled in a little farther to tighten a screw that had also pulled away from the wall. Between the cobwebs and the dust, she couldn’t get out of there fast enough. She wiped the perspiration from her forehead with the back of her hand and blew out an exaggerated breath. It’s days like this I definitely hate my job. Maybe we should have gone through the wall. At least then, I wouldn’t be sweating like I just ran a marathon.

  She shined her flashlight along the length of the wall and stopped when she noticed another screw hanging from a clamp. It was no wonder the pipe was knocking around every time they ran the faucet. There was nothing keeping it in place.

  She laid the flashlight down and picked
up her screwdriver, but froze. A spine-tingling sensation skittered down her back. Sharp claws scratching against plaster sent her heart rate from sixty to a thousand within seconds, and her gaze frantically darted around the tight space trying to find the source of the noise. Okay, don’t panic. It might be nothing. As soon as the thought was complete a small ball of fur zoomed past her outstretched arm.

  “Aarrghhh!”

  A scream flew through her lips, and panic shattered the confidence that she’d built up before entering the space. She bolted upright and banged her head on a steel pipe. A stabbing sensation shot through her head and tears stung her eyes. Twinkling stars clouded her vision as nausea rolled around in her stomach and worked its way up to her throat. Oh God help me. She fought hard to keep the swell of bile from spilling out of her mouth, but the unbearable pounding in her head, she couldn’t control.

  “Toni, what’s happening in there?” Terrence called out, his voice frantic. “Toni!”

  Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, Terrence’s voice faded further and further into the background.

  “Help,” she rasped. Her mouth opened to say more, but no words came out. Instead, darkness descended upon her and pulled her under.

  ***

  Craig hurried through the doors of the hospital, panic rioting through his body as he glanced around the area in search of an information desk.

  “Toni has been rushed to emergency,” Peyton had told him. Her words thereafter were blurred by the crazy thoughts racing through his mind. He immediately thought the worse until she forced him to listen and assured him that Toni was going to be fine, but he wouldn’t be satisfied until he saw her for himself.

  “Excuse me,” he said to the blond with shocking blue eyes sitting behind the counter. “I’m looking for Toni Jenkins. She was brought into emergency about an hour ago.”

  The receptionist typed something into the computer and glanced back at him. “And you are?”

  He flashed his badge. “Detective Craig Logan. It’s imperative that I speak with her.” What good was a police badge if he couldn’t use it for moments like this?

  Seconds later Craig was heading in the direction that the receptionist had told him, remembering all the reasons why he hated Toni’s job. He probably hated her job more than she hated his. Why couldn’t she be a secretary or a computer programmer, something that wouldn’t be physically detrimental to her health? She could easily use her engineering degree and get an office job, but no, she had to work in construction, risking her life unnecessarily every day.

  Craig came to a halt once he reached the area the receptionist directed him to. There were four small areas with beds sectioned off by heavy curtains. He was told that Toni’s bed was behind the last curtain.

  Craig almost laughed at himself when he realized he was holding his breath, unease froze his feet and kept him at the entrance of the space. One would think he didn’t see blood and injured people on a daily basis, but the thought of his woman being hurt was totally different. She meant everything to him and he had to still himself from the anxiousness brewing in his gut.

  He eased to the rear of the room, surprised Toni’s family or at least her cousins weren’t still there. He stopped and stood several feet from her, his heart pounding hard in his chest. Long eyelashes that rested against her high cheekbones flew up as if she had sensed his presence.

  “Craig,” she whispered, her usual bright smile vacant from her lips.

  He studied her, taking in the dark circles around her eyes and the large bandage on the right side of her forehead. He didn’t know the full details of what happened, but he was thankful she was all right.

  “You scared me to death,” he finally spoke. What he really wanted to do was to scoop her up into his arms and hold her tight, but she looked so fragile. He kissed her lips and moved her hair away from her face. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she hesitated. “Who called you? This wasn’t that serious, I just bumped my head.”

  “Anytime you’re hurt or in pain is serious to me,” he choked out, his shaky voice betrayed the calm facade he tried to present. “I called your cell phone and Peyton answered. Besides the slight concussion and the gash near your temple, are you hurt anywhere else? You look as if you did more than bump your head.” He sat on the side of the bed and lifted her hand to his lips, kissing the inside of her wrist.

  “I’m all right, but my head hurts and I want to go to sleep.”

  “Well, it looked as if you were asleep when I walked in.”

  “Martina, Peyton and Christina left a few minutes ago. I was resting my eyes for a minute.” She started to rub her head but halted her hand mid-air as if suddenly remembering she had a bandage there. “The doctor doesn’t want me to sleep yet because I was dizzy and had trouble walking.”

  “What?” Craig stiffened suddenly concerned that Peyton hadn’t told him everything. He glanced over Toni’s body and zoned in on her legs. “Why were you dizzy? Did you fall or something? What happened exactly?” His heart rate kicked up, afraid of what she’d say next.

  She closed her eyes and lightly moved her head from side to side. “Craig, I feel so stupid.”

  “You and I both know you’re not stupid. Tell me what happened.” He attempted to stand, but she held his hand tight, forced him to stay where he was.

  After hesitating, she spoke. “I was reattaching a pipe to a wall inside a tight crawl space and heard a noise. I … I froze.” She opened her eyes and tears rolled down her face. Craig held her hand tighter, encouraging her to keep going with her story. “I thought I heard something, and then I … I saw a mouse.” She shivered. “Just thinking about mice creeps me out.”

  He moved closer and kissed her lips, wiping her tears in the process. “Come on, baby, don’t cry. You’re here and you’re safe. That’s all that matters right now.”

  He knew she was deathly afraid of rodents. He had gained that bit of knowledge first hand when he hired Jenkins & Sons to do some plumbing work at his house and Toni showed up. Once he got over the initial shock of her being a real plumber, he hired her to fix the issue with an upstairs toilet and a pipe that ran into the basement. Unfortunately, while in the basement, she crossed paths with a squirrel and totally fell apart. He’d never forget the fear he felt when he walked into the house and heard her crying and screaming, only to find her in the basement standing on top of his dryer. That moment led to them falling into to bed and making love. He’d been madly in love with her ever since.

  “You know I can’t handle it when you cry,” he whispered and kissed her cheek.

  “I know,” she mumbled, trying to pull herself together. “I’m sorry. I know it seems stupid to cry over seeing a rodent, but I just can’t help it.”

  As Craig continued to wipe her tears, he wondered if bumping her head caused her to pass out or if it were from her phobia.

  “Hey Toni, it looks like …” Terrence’s words died mid-sentence when he walked into the tight space and saw Craig. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had a visitor.”

  “Who the hell are you?” Craig rose slowly wondering why some pretty boy was bringing his woman flowers. “And why are you just walking in here as if you belong?”

  “Down boy,” Toni joked quietly and wiped the rest of her tears away. She lifted her upper body but grabbed her head suddenly. “Oh God,” she groaned, her voice hollow from the lightning bolt of pain that pierced her skull. She gritted her teeth, braced on her elbows and eased gently back onto the pillow, inhaling and exhaling slowly to steady her erratic breathing.

  His stomach lurched. Craig couldn’t stand seeing her in pain. Brows furrowed, with the back of his hand, he stroked her cheek. “I’m going to get the doctor.” He turned to leave and his glare shot daggers at Terrence.

  “Craig, don’t. No more doctors. I just need to lie still for awhile.” She closed her eyes for a few seconds and then met his gaze. “Oh, and that’s Terrence, my apprentice.”

  Craig s
tared at her for a moment to determine if she were serious, then he glanced at Terrence. Her apprentice? When in the heck did she get an apprentice?

  “I thought apprentices were usually in their early twenties. You’re a little old aren’t you?” The jagged barb meant to wipe the smug look off pretty boy’s face didn’t seem to faze him.

  “Craig!” Toni gasped. “I can’t believe you asked him that. Apprentices can be any age as long as they can do the work,” she spat out, her stern gaze drilled into him.

  Terrence chuckled and sat the flowers down on the small table next to the bed. “It’s all right, Toni. I get that a lot. As a matter of fact,” he said to Craig, “my wife jokes about my choice of career at this age all the time.”

  Craig glanced at Toni. She no longer pierced him with her disapproving glare. Instead, he saw humor in her eyes and a self-satisfied expression on her face. It served him right for being jealous that she worked with someone who looked as if he should be on the cover of Super Model Today.

  “Craig, nice to meet you finally.” Terrence extended his hand, and they shook. “Toni, I’ll catch you tomorrow. Get some rest.”

  Toni waited until Terrence left before she spoke. “Sometimes I like that you’re protective of me, but this jealousy stuff has to stop.”

  Craig shrugged unfazed by her reprimand and reclaimed his position next to her. “Hey, what can I say? Old habits die hard.”

  “Just because you find me totally irresistible, doesn’t mean every other man does.” She intertwined her fingers with his and he found comfort in having her close.

  “Nah, baby. Any red-blooded man who lays eyes on you probably finds you extremely attractive. I know this because I see the looks you get when we’re out together, and it doesn’t seem to matter that I’m standing right next to you. So forgive me if I turn a little green when some guy is eyeing you. By the way, what did he mean by ‘I’ll see you tomorrow?’ I know you’re not planning to go back to work tomorrow.”