“You’re not here.”
“When are you going to understand that wherever you are, I am?” Weber was beside him now, keeping pace.
“Get the hell away from me,” Caleb snarled, turning the corner.
“We have some major things to discuss.”
Caleb took a gulp of the gin. “You’re not real.”
Weber slapped him on the back. “I’m as real as you are, buddy.”
Caleb stopped walking, shirked Weber’s hand off, and turned toward him. “Listen, you sick son-of-a-bitch,” he said between clenched teeth, “you’re fucking dead.”
“Technically, yes.” Weber flashed a perfect smile.
Caleb started to walk faster. “You are not here. You are not here,” he repeated, starting to sprint.
“Don’t be so immature. It is what it is.” Weber jogged beside Caleb. “Remember when you were a kid and you had those imaginary friends?”
Caleb felt his blood pressure rising. “What the hell are you talking about?” Weber had his attention and Caleb slowed to a walk.
“Come on. Remember? Your mother thought it was cute when she overheard you talking to them.” Weber shook his head. “Your father thought you were downright pathetic. And if I recall correctly,” Weber paused, “he wanted to send you to a nuthouse.”
“Shut up!”
“The voice told you to kill your dad, but you chickened out,” Weber said.
If Weber weren’t already dead, Caleb would kill him right now. “Oh, for Christ’s sakes, you whacko,” Caleb said, picking up his pace again.
“You need me.”
Caleb broke into a run, the pint of gin slapping against his thigh.
“I’m the one who makes the difficult decisions.” Weber’s words echoed down the street.
“Fuck you.” Caleb dropped the bottle, raced down the driveway, up the front steps and into his house. He closed the door and pressed his back against it. His shirt saturated with sweat, he was panting. Was he was losing his mind? He draped his hand over his forehead and looked down. No … it was McKenzie … the asshole who’d just called him … Weber … the stress … trying to protect Ling from finding out what was going on.
But how the hell did Weber know about the voices he’d heard growing up? Caleb had never told anyone about his childhood.
He tiptoed to the kitchen door, and glanced at the clock on the stove. One a.m.? Had he been gone for three hours?
Unable to catch his breath, he bent over and put his hands over his knees, breathing in and out slowly.
When he caught his breath, he quietly started through the great room, his eyes moving to the bar. He’d promised himself he’d cut down, and he would just not tonight.
After he snatched a crystal tumbler off a shelf, Caleb grabbed an unopened bottle of scotch and went out to the deck. Not one damn thing made sense anymore.
He’d heard voices all of his life. In fact, the gambling issues had been brought on by a voice that told him to “go for it.” But that hadn’t been Weber’s voice. Not until now had Caleb been able to put a face to a voice. His head was throbbing. Why was this happening?
He stared down at the glass in his trembling hand. He was dependent on this shit; just like his old man.
“Oh, come on,” Weber said. “It’s not the booze.”
Caleb’s heartbeat quickened as he took a fleeting look around, but couldn’t find Weber. “What else could it be, asshole?” Caleb asked.
“Think about it. You know whose voice it is—who all the voices are.”
What the hell was Weber talking about? Caleb was too exhausted to ask. Ling was leaving tomorrow for Kansas to meet a couple who’d applied to adopt a child. Once she left, Caleb would have some time to figure out how to handle this mess.
He downed the drink and stared out into the star-filled night, lost in thoughts about how he was going to solve yet another problem.
enee glanced at her watch. Ling was due to arrive at 4:45. She needed to be on the road by four in order to park at the airport and get to the baggage claim area where she’d told Ling to meet her. Butterflies danced—although nervous, she couldn’t wait to meet Ling.
Justin had insisted that Ling stay at their house. Jenee had cooked and cleaned for days until Justin had put his foot down, reminding her she’d just had a major operation.
After she’d dropped Baileigh off at pre-school, Jenee had rummaged through her closet for an hour and then decided to wear khaki cropped pants and a sleeveless cotton print blouse. She took a little more time than usual to put on her make-up.
She hurried down the stairs, and fumbling to snatch the car keys off the counter, she dropped them. God, she had to settle down. Jenee drew in a deep breath and let it out. “Breathe,” she told herself, picked up the keys and went out the back door.
Inside the car, she glanced into the rearview mirror and smiled to see if there was lipstick on her teeth. She felt like she had the first time she’d interviewed for a job; anxious, afraid, yet excited.
After she found a space in short-term parking, she turned off the ignition and tried to calm down. What if Ling didn’t like her, she thought when she stepped out of the car. She walked across the drive into the terminal. What if the whole thing was a hoax? But, if it were, why would Ling come to Topeka?
Ling had told Jenee that she had long, dark hair and was half-Chinese. As Jenee glanced around the baggage claim area, it wasn’t difficult to pick her out.
“Ling,” Jenee said, as she approached her. Although Jenee was only five-foot-four and wore a size six, she felt like a giant compared to Ling. In skinny jeans that couldn’t be a size one, with her flawless white skin, and dark eyes, Ling was not just beautiful, but strikingly beautiful.
“Jenee?” Ling smiled.
She held out her hand to shake, but Ling embraced her. “It’s so good to finally meet you,” Ling said.
Jenee relaxed a bit. Even if she and Justin weren’t chosen, Jenee promised herself that she would have fun getting to know Ling,
After Ling put her bag into the trunk, they headed for home.
“It’s so flat here,” Ling said, staring out the window of the 2010 Honda as they travelled along the highway. “I’d welcome taking a walk on land that was level.”
Although it was rush hour, the traffic couldn’t be like it was in San Francisco, Jenee thought. The farmland with honey-colored wheat and thick green grass stretched on forever. “I’ve seen pictures of San Francisco and it does look a bit hilly,” Jenee commented.
“There’s so much open land here. Everything looks peaceful.” Ling turned toward Jenee. “I bet you love living here.”
“I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else. It’s home.”
Ling gazed back out the window. “That’s how I feel about Chinatown.”
When they pulled into the driveway, Jenee held her breath. Although she loved her home, she wondered what Ling would think. Ling and her husband must have a lot of money or they wouldn’t be able to afford all the adoption fees and traveling expenses.
When Ling’s phone rang, she pulled it out of her purse.
“Need to get that?” Jenee asked, and put the car into park.
Ling shook her head. “It’s my husband. He’s a bit overprotective. I’ll call him later.”
Jenee pushed the button on the trunk. “Mine’s the same way.”
Ling stepped out of the car and looked up at Jenee’s house. “This is adorable.” Her eyes scanned the street. “Plenty of children around, too.”
“What we don’t have is a shortage of kids.” Jenee laughed. Ling was easy to talk to.
Justin opened the back door and Baileigh darted out from behind him.
“Welcome to Topeka,” Justin greeted, as he came down the steps to the carport.
“Thank you.” Ling held out her hand to shake. “And thanks for inviting me to stay with you.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Justin let go of her hand and picked up her bag.
Ling looked down at Baileigh. “And this must be Baileigh.” Ling knelt next to the three-year-old.
Baileigh wrapped an arm around Justin’s leg, her impish eyes taking in Ling.
“Baileigh,” Jenee said, “can you say hi to Ling?”
“Ling?” The child crinkled up her nose. “That’s a funny name.”
“I like the name Baileigh.” Ling said. “How about we trade?”
“That’s silly.” The child took Ling’s hand. “I’ll show you my room, K?”
Ling smiled. “I’d like that.”
Jenee glanced at Justin. She could sense his excitement. Rarely did he take off work early, but had offered to stay with Baileigh while Jenee picked up Ling.
When Jenee opened the back door, the smell of sausage and tomato sauce filtered through the air.
“What’s that great smell?” Ling asked, stepping inside.
“I hope you like pizza,” Jenee said.
“It’s yummy,” Baileigh let go of Ling’s hand and circled her tummy with the palm of her hand.
“Pizza is one of my favorites.” Ling pushed her shiny hair behind her ears.
Baileigh grabbed Ling’s hand again and tugged. “Come see my room.”
Jenee followed Ling and Baileigh up the stairs. Justin tagged behind, carrying Ling’s suitcase.
When Baileigh and Ling disappeared into Baileigh’s room, Jenee heard Baileigh telling Ling the names of every stuffed animal on her bed. She looked up and smiled at Justin.
“I think our daughter likes her,” Justin whispered.
“I like her, too,” Jenee whispered back.
“I love your room, Baileigh,” Ling said when she walked back out into the hallway. “I hope you’ll invite me back to play soon.”
“Okay.” Baileigh scampered into the hall and wrapped a hand around Justin’s leg again.
“Baileigh and I will go downstairs so Ling can get settled.” Justin told Jenee, setting Ling’s suitcase inside the small room.
“It isn’t much,” Jenee apologized, as she led Ling into the bedroom. “This was going to be the nursery.”
“It’s perfect,” Ling said. “I really don’t like staying in hotels.”
“Actually,” Jenee said, “it was Justin’s idea that you stay with us. He felt you needed to get to know us as we really are.” She rolled her eyes. “Warts and all.”
Justin had taken the baby bed and Baileigh’s baby toys to the attic. He’d also brought a twin bed from his parent’s home and set it up for Ling. When Jenee had made up the bed, she’d placed the colorful quilt her grandmother had stitched by hand over the sheets.
Ling’s cell rang and she reached into her purse and took it out. “My husband is persistent. I better take this.”
“No problem. I’ll see you downstairs.” Jenee closed the bedroom door so Ling could have some privacy. As she made her way down the stairs, she couldn’t help but hear bits and pieces of what Ling was saying.
“Caleb, stop it,” Ling said, frustrated. “Calm down.”
Caleb probably missed Ling and was worried, like Justin would be if Jenee were out of town.
“Everything okay?” Justin asked Jenee when he walked into the kitchen.
Jenee blew the hair off her forehead. “Ling’s so easy to talk to.”
“Need any help?”
“You can set the table.”
Justin smiled. “Fork on the right or left?”
Jenee put a hand on her hip. “What would you do without me?”
“I don’t want to find out.”
For the next few hours, Ling, Justin, and Jenee sat at the table chatting. Ling told them that when Caleb had won the lottery, he’d made her dream come true as she was able to start the adoption agency; Jenee talked about the tumors that led to her hysterectomy.
Baileigh was quiet throughout dinner, barely touching her pizza.
Ling looked across the table at the little girl. “Do you like pre-school?”
Baileigh nodded.
Justin put his hand over his daughter’s. “I’ve never seen you so quiet. Are you feeling okay, pumpkin?”
Baileigh stared at Ling. “Mommy says you might give us a baby.”
Ling smiled. “Would you like a brother or sister?”
Jenee’s eyes met Justin’s.
“Mommy says we have lots of love to give.” Baileigh’s round eyes grew large. “I would love a baby, too,” she said sweetly.
“You would be a wonderful big sister,” Ling said and pushed back her chair. “How about you and I go up and play in your room?”
“Can I be ‘scused?” Baileigh asked excitedly.
“Sure, honey,” Justin said.
While Ling was in Topeka, Jenee hosted a luncheon for her girlfriends to meet Ling. Ling and Jenee had taken Baileigh to the zoo, and Ling had chatted with Baileigh’s pre-school teachers as an anxious Jenee waited in the hallway. Even though Jenee always received good reports on how well-mannered Baileigh was, maybe the teachers hadn’t told her everything.
Jenee had been surprised that Ling had been raised in a nurturing family similar to Jenee’s. Ling was close to her mother and father, just like Jenee. Ling’s father had owned a dry-cleaning business, and Ling had lived most of her life in a small apartment above the business. It was only after Ling married Caleb that that she’d moved with Caleb to the house in Pacific Heights.
The last night of Ling’s visit, Jenee and Ling headed to see Justin’s band Silver Spurs play. Inside the country western bar, Jenee and Justin’s friends lined up with the crowd on the dance floor and waited for the next song to begin.
“Come on,” Jenee said grabbing Ling’s hand.
“Oh, no,” Ling shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
“Come on, it’s easy, I’ll teach you,” Jenee coaxed.
“Believe me, I’m not a dancer.”
“You know what they say; while in Kansas do what Kansans do.”
Ling smiled. “Never heard that one.”
“Come on. It’ll be fun.”
Ling pushed her phone into her pocket and put her purse under the table. “Okay,” she said and stood, “but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Clap,” Jenee told Ling, who stood in line next to her when the music started. “Step to the side, two, three, four, turn,” Jenee shouted over the music and demonstrated.
Ling was just starting to remember the steps when her phone rang. She took the cell out of her pocket and glanced at the screen. She put her hand up, signaling to Jenee that she needed to take the call, and walked away.
Jenee couldn’t help but notice how frustrated Ling looked as she paced and talked. Several times she stopped walking and tilted her head back.
“Everything okay?” Jenee asked when Ling came back to their table.
“My husband gets a little weird when I’m gone.”
“He misses you.”
“Just cares about me with—” Ling looked up. “How should I say this?” She paused. “With a little too much gusto.”
“That’s not all bad.”
Jenee and Ling made breakfast together when they got home around one-thirty. They’d stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking about everything from old boyfriends, to what they’d wanted to be when they were younger, to what it was like growing up in San Francisco verses Topeka.
Standing at the gate in the airport the next morning, Jenee hugged Ling. “It’s been so fun getting to know you. I don’t want you to leave.”
“Me, too. However, my feet are sore.” Ling put her hands on Jenee’s shoulders and gazed into her eyes. “You, Justin, and Baileigh are exactly what I’d hoped to find. You are such a loving family.” She smiled. “I can’t wait for us to go to Shanghai so you can meet the newest member of your family.”
Jenee took in a short gasp and covered her mouth with her hand. “Are you serious?”
“Totally.”
Jenee hadn’t expected Ling to make up her mind so
soon. Her thoughts fragmented, she blurted, “What do I need to do? Is there something that Justin and I—”
“I left a check on the counter in the kitchen,” Ling interrupted.
“A check?”
“First thing you’ll need to do is get your passports.”
“We can pay for our own—”
“I insist.” Ling grabbed the handle on her bag. “And that’s just the beginning of the interviews, paperwork, and everything we’ll have to do to bring your child back.”
Jenee’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t care how much paperwork or how many interviews it takes.” She put her arms around Ling and hugged her. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Thank you so much.”
he minute Ling left for Kansas, Caleb called a cab. He purchased a pre-paid cell and then contacted Price. Price had been adamant that they meet inside St. Mary’s
Cathedral. Evidently the prick thought it was all right to extort money in a house of worship. Caleb had two days before he met with him—two days to decide what the hell he was going to do.
After long and tedious discussions with Weber, they’d made a decision that the best way to handle this was to put an end to it. Price had to go.
After some research and Weber’s help, Caleb purchased the Boone and Crocker folding Alpha Hunter knife from eBay. He was meeting Price in public and couldn’t chance using a gun. He’d had little experience with knives, but Weber assured him he’d guide him through the process.
The knife used to gut and skin deer would serve its purpose. Caleb had paid extra to have the merchandise over-nighted to the house. Sam and Mei never got the mail, so he wasn’t worried they’d find the package.
The next day, Caleb had the taxi wait for him while he went inside Target. When he’d told the driver to stop in front of the liquor store, he’d paid his tab and stepped out of the cab with his purchases and duffel bag.
The more he thought about McKenzie and Ron Price thinking they were entitled to his money, the angrier he became.
As he walked toward the Tenderloin, everything seemed to be closing in on him. Was someone watching? Following him? Feeling on edge, he glanced in every direction, but didn’t find anyone who looked suspicious. God, on top of drinking too much, and seeing dead people, he was becoming paranoid.
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