Wake the Dawn

by Lauraine Snelling

  “You think I’d go without my K-9 partner?” And Jonas used exactly the same inflection.

  Ben nodded. He and Jonas were the only two with patrol dogs in their region. “Maybe today will be our lucky day. Let’s keep in contact.”

  Carol, one of the two women on their team, sidled closer. “You just be grateful you are far away from this office.”

  “Bad, eh?” Jonas had developed the skill of hardly moving his mouth while talking.

  “I sent in a grievance.”

  “Wow. For what?”

  “Asking the higher-ups to find us a human being for our new chief. Surely this man is an android.”

  It was all Ben could do to not laugh out loud. Instead he headed for his SUV and his waiting K-9 partner.

  As soon as his vehicle cleared the outskirts of town, Ben’s mind flitted to Esther and her behavior of the last couple of days. Why could she not admit she suffered from PTSD? It wasn’t like a contagious disease, nor was it something she chose. If she would just talk with him about it, talk to anyone about it, she might get some relief.

  After all, he’d been there, too, but probably nothing as severe as hers. Or maybe women react differently than men do. Wondering what had caused the disorder to attack her, he became aware of the warm glow that seemed to visit him when he allowed himself to think about her. Yes, they were friends, but he was beginning to realize he wanted their relationship to be more than that. After Allie died he’d been sure he’d never feel this way again.

  On the way north, Ben spoke notes and reminders into his cell’s recorder. While he used to be able to call Jenny and ask her to set things up for him, now he didn’t want to get her in trouble, either. “Call Lars and have him set up an appointment with Aptos and Esther—see if we can get him to extend the ninety days. Two: Talk to art department and drafting class re exterior of new clinic. Three: Thank-you notes to Livingston and Ho. Four:…” Bo’s whining stopped his taping.

  “You’re right, big dog, we’re almost there.” Ever since they’d turned onto the dirt road, Bo had left off snoozing and kept his nose pressed to the window. It would seem this was his favorite zone as well. Ben slowed the SUV, watching both sides of the road for anything odd. The storm had created a disaster scene that, were it in town, would take years to clean up. Some trees were snapped off ten feet above the ground; others were only held up by the limbs of the surrounding trees. The water table was even higher than usual, leaving more open water than he had ever seen before in this area. No longer did this qualify as a bog. It was now a lake bed.

  Chief Harden had believed that their very presence, driving the roads without any schedule, was a deterrent. Surely that would discourage smugglers of any kind. And now they’d need a boat to get through.

  At one point he stopped, thinking this was where he’d parked before, but everything was changed and Bo didn’t react. He hit Jonas’s number. “See anything?”

  “Water water everywhere.”

  “Yah, the water’s almost up to the roadbed here. No wonder the river is still flowing high. Let me know if you see anything.”

  “I’m turning around,” Jonas called. “The bottom is going out on the road.”

  “We need to get in here on horseback or ATVs.” He didn’t want to turn around and get stuck in the soft shoulders. Now what?

  Ben spotted something snagged on low bushes just off the road—a red plastic bag or something. “I’m stopping.” He stepped out of the vehicle and Bo bounded to the gravel, his nose to the ground immediately. Tail waving like a flag, he veered off the road and right to the crimson bit. He sniffed at it and shot Ben a hurry-up look over his shoulder.

  “I’m coming.” Once again Ben wished he were in better shape. He’d nearly blown his lungs out keeping up with a woman who spent even less effort to keep in shape than he did. Early-morning runs had ceased to exist, the more he drank. But that was over. He really did have to get back into fighting shape again.

  He pulled a plastic bag from the pouch on his vest and scooped the silk scarf into it. He’d bet anything it was foreign-made—but then, what wasn’t anymore? No one with this kind of scarf wore it out into the brush like this, even if it was hunting season. Bo stopped sniffing at the water’s edge and stared out across the lake.

  If only Ben had some idea where they could pick up the trail again. He eyeballed the expanse of water. Diagonal would be the most direct; if they had a boat with a shallow draft, they could go a long way. He called into the office. “Jenny, how about asking His Lordship if he could request a flyover, chopper to keep it low. Perhaps some interagency assistance with the air force base?”

  “You found something?”

  “I did, or rather Bo did. A bright red silk scarf snagged on a low bush. Nothing else in the area. Bo tracked someone to the water’s edge, then sat and stared across the water. I’d sure like to know every place on the shoreline where people have walked since the storm.”

  “I’ll make the suggestion, but…”

  “I know, the cost. Wish we had some of those drones they have in Afghanistan. Silent and can fly at night.”

  “Right. I’ll try.”

  “Or I’ll talk with him when I get back.”

  “Or both.”

  Ben shook his head as he clicked off. “Come on, Bo.” Interagency cooperation? How about a little cooperation within the station?

  “But, sir…”

  “So you found a red silk scarf caught on a bush. It probably blew out of a car window. Women all over the country wear red silk scarves made in China or wherever. That’s not enough to go on.”

  Out a car window? On a dirt road that went nowhere, except to the border. Then another thought struck. Had Perowsky read the reports and heard that Bo found the baby in that same area? A baby, a scarf, other than catching a snakehead with his cargo in tow, what did he expect? Ben realized it was a good thing he had learned to keep his face from revealing his emotions, thanks to the marines.

  “Have you ever driven up there, sir?”

  “No, that’s your job.”

  Ben nodded. “Yes, sir. That it is.”

  Perowsky leaned forward, loosely clasped hands on the desk blotter. “Look, James, this whole sector was way, way over budget before and it’s not going to happen on my watch, so just do as you’re told, and we’ll all get along better.”

  Ben stared at the man behind the desk, who had not a wrinkle in his class A uniform. He started to say something then nearly bit his tongue, clamping his teeth so hard and fast. His heart almost jumped out of his chest; the fight-or-flight adrenaline kicked in instantly. His eyes slitted, but he raised his chin and gave a curt nod.

  Once out in the hall, he kept himself from sending a fist through the wallboard and strode on out the front doors, straight-arming the latch bar. He threw his jacket on the seat, called Bo out, and the two of them took off running down the street. Anything to work off the adrenaline.

  When he was still shaking after a mile or so, he slowed to catch his breath, resolving that from now until it was too cold to breathe safely, he would run every day. Heck, a kindergartner could outlast him.

  Back in his rig and officially off the clock, he made the phone calls he’d put on his prompts list when driving.

  Yes, the art and drafting departments would be delighted to produce the building workup.

  Lars was not nearly as delighted. “It’s gonna be a waste of time, but I’ll set up a meeting for the first possible date. You realize, Ben, that Aptos is badgering his cronies to commit to large amounts of money also?”

  “I know. Even though Hazel was real cautious about revealing financial assets, I got the feeling there is more money right here in Pineville than anyone realizes.”

  Lars snickered. “Not sure what some of them are saving it for, but we can be real thankful old Aptos is spearheading this. Who’d have thought that nearly dying would make such a change in that man? Far as he’s concerned, Esther walks on water and the clinic earn
ed every dime he can raise. He and his wife were both altruistic, but most of the town doesn’t even know all they did. They were always adamant about not being recognized. Strange isn’t it?”

  Ben nodded and then realized Lars couldn’t see him. “That’s for sure.”

  Ben sat at the meeting table feeling frustrated. Esther on his right looked just as frustrated. Lars sat at his left with an I-told-you-so smugness. Behind them, maybe twenty or thirty people sat around listening. This was an open meeting, but not too many people seemed interested this time around.

  Across from them, the spidery Mr. Aptos sat back, adamant. “The challenge stays. If I was to take the pressure off, this might just slide right back into the apathy we’ve seen for years. People understand a challenge, and I don’t see nothing wrong with it.”

  Ben and Esther swapped looks.

  Aptos even looked rather pleased. “Some of them are hoppin’ mad, but that’s good, too. Gets ’em charged up to do something, you see, and the energy keeps building. Pineville folks are real good at getting hot and bothered and then doing the right thing. I should know; I’ve lived here all my life. I’d say I’ve become an expert on Pineville.” He leaned forward and smacked the flat of his hand on the table. “Let’s just do this and let the Lord lead as the ninety days draw to a close.” His grin closely resembled that of a leprechaun Ben had seen in a picture. But the light in his eyes held nary a hint of deviltry.

  “Do we have any choice?” Lars asked, his tone dry as pine needles.

  Aptos paused. “Lars, you know me. You know I try to let God lead, sometimes more so than others. But I’ve been praying on this. The way that young woman there brought me back to not only living but wanting to really live again, I do believe that was her being willing to be used of our God. He has blessed me beyond measure and many others in this town. Now it is our turn.”

  Ben blinked and blew out a breath. He glanced at Esther, who appeared to be even more shocked than he was. Lars muttered something, obviously struggling to come up with a comment, but finally just threw up his hands. “What can I say?”

  “You can say praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.” Mr. Aptos stood up again. “I have another idea, too, so that more of our people can take part in this. I talked to Hazel, and she said it can be done. We sell bonds of various amounts that will be redeemed at staggered times. That way we will have the cash up front and people here will get a return on their investments.” He studied each of those in the room, nodding all the while. “Another God idea. I never would have come up with that one on my own.” He puffed out a breath. “Any questions?”

  “Not right now, but I’m sure you’ll have answers when I do. Did I hear you right that you said we’ll let God do the deciding as the ninety days draw to a close?”

  “You did. I believe He will come up with whatever extensions, if we need them.”

  Lars nodded. “I remember when one of the churches held a bond sale like this for their building fund. They found it very successful. But I don’t remember them having such a tight time line.” He wiped his glistening forehead with a white handkerchief. “Why do I feel like I’ve just been run over by a Great Northern train?”

  Aptos sat down, a chuckle drifting into the corners of the room. “How do you think I feel? This wasn’t exactly what I had planned for these next months, either. I thought to go visit some friends in Florida, and now I’m trapped here to see this through, and winter at the door. By the way, we have two more commitments of a million each. Any idea how much this clinic is going to cost?”

  Esther nearly choked on her snort, which morphed into a coughing laugh. “No, none. I move we name it the Aptos Memorial Clinic.”

  “No. It will be the Paul Harden Memorial Clinic. He made a world of difference in this town through the years, an impact on everyone, one way or another.”

  And I miss him more than I ever dreamed possible. Lord this is all in your hands. “I’d say we best get the committees appointed and get this ball rolling.” Ben pushed back his chair and stood. He checked his cell and saw Amber’s name on the screen. What could she be wanting? He thought he knew. And it wasn’t going to happen.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  To call or not to call was more a dilemma than a simple question.

  Esther took her cell out of her shirt pocket—again—and sucked in a deep breath. Ben was a friend; girls could call friends. Still, her mother’s dictates rang in her head. Nice girls do not call boys. Even back then her mother had been hopelessly out of date. But Esther had believed her whether she planned on that or not. You are a grown woman now, Ben is a friend, and it is okay to call him. She flipped to contacts and tapped Ben James’s cell number. After all, he was still at work. As the phone rang she nearly hung up. His comment about the new super being death on calls or anything during work time that was not work-related made her feel guilty. Not a difficult thing to do.

  “Hi, Esther, what’s up?”

  She had to swallow to find her voice.

  “Esther, are you all right?”

  “Yes. Pardon me.” She coughed and cleared her throat. “Sorry, swallowed wrong. I’m calling to invite you to come with me to my parents’ house for Thanksgiving.” She knew she was speaking too fast but better that than dropping the phone or something stupid. “I’ve put them off for the last couple of years and…you could bring Dawn. My mother loves babies.”

  “Yes.”

  “And we don’t have to stay through all the football games if you don’t want to.”

  “Esther, hold it.”

  “And…oh sorry.” You crazy woman. What’s come over you? “I’m holding.”

  His chuckle sounded even better than she remembered. Not that she’d been thinking about him unduly or any such thing. “Sorry.” Her mind made a screeching halt. “What did you say?”

  “I said yes.”

  How to make a fool of yourself in three easy steps. Not that she even needed three. “You will?”

  “Yes, if you are sure that they are expecting you plus two others.”

  Esther heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you. My mother and father love to have a big crowd on Thanksgiving. My baby sister Jill is going home with her college roommate and my other sister, Andrea, has to go to her in-laws this year so Mom was disappointed. There will be my brother Kenneth and family, Gramma, and us.” She was babbling. Taking a deep breath she shook her head. “Sometimes my aunt and uncle come, too. They remember you from your football days.”

  “What time do we need to be there?”

  “Anytime, maybe noon. It’s a little more than four hours’ drive.”

  “From something you said, I thought you grew up nearer to Thief River Falls.”

  “Nope. Sorry to bust into your day like this. You won’t get in trouble?”

  “I doubt it. Bo and I are scouting the backwoods.”

  “Find anything else since the scarf?” He’d told her about that before the meeting with Lars and Mr. Aptos.

  “No so far. Helped a farmer out of a ditch. Said he swerved for a raccoon and nearly ended up in the lake. The shoulders are still soft from all that rain.”

  Barbara tapped on the door. “Phone for you.”

  “Gotta go. More later.” She paused only long enough for his good-bye and snapped her phone shut before picking up the office line. “Dr. Hanson.” The day was truly under way, but at least she had accomplished the most difficult thing first.

  Thanksgiving was less than two weeks away. She needed to call her mother and find out what she was supposed to bring. “No, thank you. We aren’t in need of any of those right now. No. Really. I’m sorry. No.” How had that vendor slipped past Barbara’s method of screening calls?

  She left the building at three for her regularly scheduled appointment with her counselor. Halfway there, her phone chimed and she was told that Dr. Phillips had a last-minute emergency and she would need to reschedule. Puffing out a sigh, she turned around at the next driveway and headed back
to Pineville. Since she had no scheduled appointments, perhaps she could get to the bottom of the catch-up pile.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked Barbara after letting herself in through the side door.

  “Same as you, catching up. I put some more paperwork on your desk, things that I needed to figure out first.”

  “Thanks heaps and bunches.”

  “Anytime.”

  Back in her office, she called and rescheduled her appointment, then attacked the stack that had grown larger in her absence. She was sure that two sheets of paper touching each other bred more during the night. In the daytime, the stack had Barbara’s help. When the outbox was nearly full and the inbox empty, Esther leaned back in her chair. The files on patients treated during the storm were woefully inadequate. Those treated by others, like Ben and Rob, needed their input. Barbara had put sticky notes on the pages with the name of the one who’d given the immediate treatment.

  Esther sorted the remaining stack into separate stacks so that the correct person could go over the file before Barbara consigned them to the file cabinets along the walls. Whatever could not be remembered or filled in—well, that was the way it was. Her concern was those who weren’t documented. She pushed the button for the front desk.

  “What do you need?”

  “I thought you went home hours ago. Flipping through these I remembered those two little kids who came to us, the ones whose mother had died. What happened with them?”

  “Yvette took them over to the church to the shelter and their father picked them up two days later. The women at the church made sure they were taken care of.”

  “And their mother’s body?”

  “Dennis and Yvette took it to the morgue as soon as they could. We didn’t want that poor man to have to deal with her decomposing body when he walked in the door.”

  “Thank you. What other things fell through the cracks that I am not aware of?”