by Pat Warren
Fallon had trouble believing that this sort of thing went on even today, although she knew it did. “This bully that picked on Daryl at school, could you find him and get something done about such an unprovoked attack?”
“I could, but Daryl doesn’t want me to. The bully has friends and he’s afraid they’d go after him in retaliation. The poor kid lives in constant fear, and I can’t seem to ease his mind. I offered to see about getting him transferred to another school or to look into a foster home in a better neighborhood with a family I personally check out. But he just sat there staring at me with those world-weary eyes.”
“Damn, it’s so unfair.”
“Yeah, it is. Which brings us back to Laurie. She’s afraid of something, Fallon. Just like Daryl. And, because she’s young and doesn’t know what else to do, she runs. She doesn’t feel safe.”
“But I offered her safety. No one would hurt her if she was with me. I wouldn’t let them.”
Michael let out a sigh. “No one can protect another person a hundred percent of the time. I’ve offered relative safety to Daryl. He wants to believe and even buys into it for a while, until the next bully comes along. Then he’s afraid again, reliving the nightmares again.”
“But what on God’s green earth is Laurie afraid of?”
“That’s the big question. Yet sometimes, like with Daryl, even if you know, you can’t make the fear go away. I’m arranging today to get counseling for him—someone more trained than I, someone not as close to the situation as I.” He shrugged, feeling uncharacteristically downhearted. “Maybe it’ll work, maybe not. I’ve got to try. Laurie might open up to a counselor.”
“If she’d come back, I’d certainly be willing to try that.” Fallon shook her head. “To think that when I first came here, I thought all I’d have to do is walk up to her, tell her I love her, that everything will be fine, and she’d happily climb on a plane and return with me. How naive can you get?”
Michael knew that I-told-you-so’s weren’t necessary. Fallon had learned a lot and changed even more. “Don’t blame yourself. There’s no right or wrong way, here. We try this or that, and if it fails, we try something else. People problems can’t be solved like crossword puzzles.” He had to ask, and was annoyed with himself that he dreaded to hear her answer. “What do you plan to do now?”
“I’ve got to call Craig Miller, my store manager. I thought I’d be flying back today with Laurie in tow, getting her settled and going back to work. Craig is relatively new and not nearly as human as our old manager was. He goes by the book and is always politically correct, but not very understanding of the people under him.”
Michael felt a weight slip from his chest. She wasn’t leaving, at least not now. He would deal with later later. “Then, you’re planning on staying awhile yet?”
“I have to find her, Michael. I was so close, so very close. I have to give it one more shot. If this time, Laurie tells me she doesn’t want to return, not to Mom’s or to my place, I’ll have to accept it. But I have to hear it from her.” She slipped her arm around his shoulders and met his eyes. “That is, if you don’t mind my staying on. I could rent a room somewhere and—”
“Mind? I want you to stay.”
“Good, because I’m going to need your help again.”
“I need yours, too. I think it’s time we looked into this bearded guy who’s masquerading as a P.I., the man who just might have poked a hole in the van’s brake line.”
The project seemed insurmountable to Fallon. “How on earth will we find him?”
“I’ve got a few ideas. A friend of mine’s a police artist. I’ve done him some favors. I’m going to ask him to meet with Rollie and Sherlock, to take down the man’s description and make a sketch. Then I’ll take it to Sam and get copies distributed.”
“I thought Sam was in the Juvenile Division?”
“He is, but he’ll direct my request to the right people.”
“You think our impersonator’s a local man?”
“Could be. There certainly aren’t two Raymond Tompkinses in Colorado Springs. How do you feel about trying Roy again? Maybe if you confront him, we can learn something.”
“Right after I call Craig.” Two phone calls she didn’t want to make. The day was shaping up beautifully. For a brief moment, she shifted closer to Michael, absorbing his strength.
He buried his face between her breasts, inhaling the wonderful womanly scent of her. He knew how awful she felt, which was only one reason why he’d promised to help her. Yet he was reminded that once she found Laurie again, Fallon would have no more reason to stay.
And he found himself hating the idea.
Fallon kissed him lightly, then got off his lap.
Michael stood. “I’m going to meet with Opal and Sukey and see if there’s anything I’m needed for while you make your calls. Come find me when you’re finished, okay?”
“I will.” Fallon slipped onto his desk chair with a heavy sigh. Nervously, she picked up the phone.
There were always details waiting for Michael’s approval, especially when he’d been away awhile. He signed some checks, talked with Paul from the kitchen phone about medication for one of the kids, approved a food order for Sukey and checked over Opal’s paperwork. Then he called Sergeant Damien and updated him, mentioning the bearded man he suspected of tampering with his car. Sam had been interested, as Michael had hoped, and took down a detailed description, then told him to get the artist’s sketches over to him as soon as possible. He promised to put a good man on the case.
Nearly an hour had passed before he realized that Fallon hadn’t emerged from his office. He went looking.
She was sitting in his desk chair, her back to the doorway, staring out the window, utterly motionless. He stepped closer. “Fallon?”
Slowly, she swung around and looked up at him. “He fired me,” she said in a low, defeated voice.
He stepped around and leaned a hip against the edge of the desk. “Who, your manager? He fired you? On what grounds?”
She waved an impatient hand. “He rattled off a whole string of them, but the gist of it is that, and I quote him verbatim, ‘You can’t run a tight ship when your top people take off in an irresponsible fashion every time they get a notion.’ End of quote.”
“Can you go over his head and challenge his decision?”
“I suppose.” She shoved both hands through her hair, leaning back. “But I’m not going to. I don’t want to work for a man like him and even if I did, can you imagine what it would be like after I’d gone over his head? I’ve got a degree and four years’ experience. I can find another job. But I have to admit, I feel as if someone just yanked the rug out from under me.”
“Someone did, and unfairly at that. He could have offered you a leave of absence without pay — something.”
“Could have, should have, but he didn’t.” Fallon shook her head as if to dismiss the whole incident from her mind. “It’s probably for the best. I can concentrate fully on finding Laurie without worrying about Craig and his pettiness.”
He wasn’t sure if he should ask, but he had a practical nature. “How are you set for money?”
“I’m okay for a while. My rent’s paid up and I’ve got enough savings to get me by until I find another job.” Provided the search didn’t take too long. “I’ve made some good contacts at a couple of other stores. I’m not worried about getting another job when I’m finished here.” And even if she were concerned, she wouldn’t want Michael to know.
She checked her watch. “I called Roy at work and they said he’d be back from lunch in forty minutes. I’m going to give it another try. I didn’t want to leave my name in case the creep’s trying to avoid my calls.”
Michael moved to the chair across from his desk. “You don’t mind if I listen?”
“Of course not.” She dialed quickly and was put through almost immediately this time. Her stepfather’s voice, as always, was controlled, authoritative. “Hello, Roy.
It’s Fallon.”
“Fallon, where are you? Why aren’t you back home? Your mother told me you called when Danny was home for a visit. I can’t believe you’re still off on this wild-goose chase.”
How did he know she wasn’t calling from her home in Denver?
And why hadn’t he asked if she’d located Laurie? Maybe it was time to shock dear old dad. “I found Laurie,” she said, dropping the bombshell.
Roy was slow to respond. “You did? What reason did she give for leaving?”
Not how was she, but what was her reason for running away. Interesting. “We can talk about that later. Something’s very fishy here. Laurie stayed with me only a short time, then walked away again. I found her to be confused and troubled. I got the impression that something happened at home before she left. She absolutely refused to go back to your house. Any guesses?”
His reply was uncharacteristically hesitant. “Did she say something had happened?”
Answer a question with a question — an old ploy to put the onus on the other person. Two could play this game. She simply wouldn’t answer his question at all. “Roy, why did you lie to me? I talked with the private investigator named Raymond Tompkins in Colorado Springs whose card I have. He never heard of you or Laurie. What’s going on?”
Roy cleared his throat noisily. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I heard about Tompkins through someone at work here and hired him to ease your mother’s mind, as I told you the last time we talked. How dare you accuse me of lying? If anyone is, it must be Tompkins.”
Highly doubtful, Laurie thought. What motive would Tompkins have? And he’d sounded genuinely surprised by her call. “Fine. When I return, you and I together with Mom will have to pay Mr. Tompkins a visit at his office so we can get to the bottom of this.”
“Listen, young lady, I don’t like your tone.” His tone was sharp and growing more annoyed by the minute. “It’s time you stopped worrying about your thoughtless sister, stopped playing detective and got your fanny back to Denver before you lose your job. Or are you suddenly as irresponsible as she?” Roy made a disgusted sound. “I should have known you’d both turn out this way, considering what your father was like.”
Fallon sat up so swiftly, her chair all but tipped over. “You leave my father out of this. Something’s going on, Roy, and I’m not going to quit looking until I find out what it is. There’s a man here who’s assumed Tompkins’s identity. He’s tall with a dark beard and drives an older Cadillac. He’s been seen with Laurie, giving her an envelope of money. A great deal of money. What do you know about this person?”
Roy’s voice was brusque. “Did Laurie tell you about him?”
“Stop answering my questions with questions. You’re not going to shake me off this trail by being evasive, Roy.”
“Don’t you threaten me, young lady.” Roy was indignant. “I know nothing about anyone of that description. Obviously, Laurie ran away from you, too. Because she’s reckless and undependable. Your mother and I have had it with coddling her, spending money on her. I’m through, finished. Don’t call me about this again.” The receiver slammed down.
“Damn him!” Fallon hung up, wishing Roy was in the room so she could tell him exactly what she thought of his attempt at righteous indignation. “Him, of all people, badmouthing my father. At least my father had integrity.”
Michael went to her, tugged her to her feet and took her into his arms for a comforting hug. Then he listened while Fallon repeated Roy’s lies. “If he’s lying,” he told her, “and it looks like he is, we’ll trip him up, Fallon. I heard you tell him that you’re not going to quit until you get to the bottom of this. I want you to know that I’m with you, all the way.”
Fallon looked into his sky blue eyes and felt a spreading warmth that drained away her anger. She wanted so badly to tell him how much she loved him — for supporting her in this, for all that he did for the kids who wandered through his life, for the man he was. But she held back the words and instead stepped closer into his arms.
For some time now, she’d avoided men who liked to take charge. But now, today, she was truly grateful for Michael’s comforting presence. She felt tired and defeated, ready to let him take over. Just once, just this one time. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I really needed to hear that right now.”
He kissed her, feeling that quick flash of excitement that came every time his lips met hers. She opened to him, needy and willing, despite her worries.
He ended the kiss and noticed the fatigue in her face. “I’ll bet you didn’t sleep well last night, thinking about taking Laurie back to Denver. Why don’t you go upstairs and rest while I track down a couple of leads on our bearded P.I.?”
Fallon shook her head. “I couldn’t sleep. I need to go with you. This is my problem. Besides, two sets of eyes and ears are better than one.”
He took her hand. “All right, let’s go.”
It turned out to be a very long day. Michael located his friend, Will Martin, but the artist wasn’t available till two. They grabbed a quick lunch, then picked up Will before heading for Balboa Park. Fortunately, Sherlock wasn’t difficult to find and, for another folded bill that disappeared like lightning into the pocket of his shabby jeans, he described the man who’d called himself Tompkins thoroughly enough that Will made several sketches. Michael didn’t mind paying, for he felt they were on the right track.
From there, they went to the Rodeo Bar and got lucky again. Rollie had come in early to catch up on his beverage orders. He gave Will a description that matched Sherlock’s to a T. Studying the sketches the artist had made in the park, Rollie nodded emphatically.
“Yeah, that’s him. That sure is him, right down to the bolo tie.”
Michael dropped Will at his place and they just made it to a print shop before closing. They had fifty copies of each of five sketches made, posted some in several neighborhoods as dusk approached, then dropped the rest off at the police station in an envelope marked to Sam Damien’s attention.
Evening shadows were falling as they climbed back into the van. Michael noticed Fallon yawning behind her hand as he buckled himself in. “I think we’re going to call it a night. What do you say?”
She wanted to keep going, to search each and every street, restaurant, park and bar, to look for Laurie so she could get the truth out of her this time. Fallon knew she wouldn’t rest until she heard an explanation from Laurie’s own lips. If something had happened at home — and she was beginning to believe it had — she was going to learn what it was. And she wanted to find the man who’d tried to harm Michael and her by sabotaging his van.
But not tonight, she realized. Before tackling anything more, she needed to rest, to regroup. They both did.
“I say you’re absolutely right.”
She’d given in without a hassle, which told him just how low her energy level and spirits were. He would try to raise them. As they drove toward his beach house, he picked up the car phone to let Eldora know they were on their way, hungry and tired, and then checked in with Opal to let her know where he would be.
Fallon laid her head back on the rim of the hot tub in Michael’s backyard, stretched her legs out and slowly drew in a steamy breath. Overhead, stars filled a peaceful night sky and a restless breeze stirred the palm trees that formed a natural fence around both sides of the sloping lawn. King marched along the perimeter, sniffing occasionally at small creatures in the grass, guarding his territory.
Inch by inch, she relaxed, letting the tension flow from her, letting the burbling water steal away her fatigue. When they’d arrived, Eldora had had steaks sizzling on the grill, a Caesar salad tossed, crusty bread heating and a tart wine chilling. The woman was a wonder.
“I don’t pay attention to the white-wine-with-fish and red-with-meat rule,” Michael had said as he’d uncorked and poured. “I drink the wine that appeals to me at the moment.”
Hadn’t she known he would be unconventional, even in that? She’d e
aten more than she had in a single sitting since that huge hamburger a couple of weeks back, then he’d suggested a dip in the hot tub to get out the kinks. Like two delinquent teenagers, they’d waited until Eldora had gone to her room on the far side of the house, then stripped and lowered themselves into the steaming water. Heavenly!
Fallon wiggled her one outstretched foot and felt Michael take it in hand, massaging with his strong, lean fingers. She smiled, feline-like, at the delicious sensation of a foot rub. Michael had lighted several chunky candles and their soft glow delicately danced and swayed in a soft breeze, the vanilla scent teasing her nostrils. From inside the house through the screened patio door, low, throbbing music drifted out from the stereo. A hazy half-moon played hide-and-seek with a few wispy clouds out over the restless waves that rolled tirelessly onto the sandy shore. On the cool deck alongside the hot tub sat two chilled glasses of wine. She couldn’t think of another place on the planet that she would rather be.
She let her lazy gaze slide over him, his damp hair gleaming in the candlelight, his eyes more gray than blue, looking mysterious and seductive. Droplets of water gathered on his sleek chest and dripped from the curly hair nestled there. Then he shifted closer and she could feel his arousal against her wet skin, hear the sharp breath he drew in at the contact.
“I wanted to be alone with you tonight, just the two of us.” He slipped a golden poppy he’d plucked from the flower bed earlier into her hair. “I hope you want that, too.”
“Mmm, I do.”
He scooped water into his palm and dribbled it down between her breasts, watching with a fascination he thought would never end. “We’ve been on the move, with people, for days now. I felt we needed some alone time.”