He smiled. “Don’t you like pancakes?”
“Well, yes,” I answered. “But, you didn’t have to make them if you weren’t going to eat any.”
“That doesn’t matter. I don’t get a chance to cook very often and I figured that you ladies deserved a good breakfast.”
“Thank you,” I said, picking up my fork. “It looks amazing.”
“You’re welcome. Emma, what do you think of my pancakes? Are they mean enough for you?”
“They are big, big meanies,” she answered, smiling. “Look at this one’s face.”
I looked at her plate and noticed she’d rearranged her strawberries to look like a mad face. I laughed. “That is definitely the meanest pancake I’ve ever laid eyes one.”
She cut into it with her fork and took a bite. After she was done chewing, she smiled. “It looks mean but it tastes pretty sweet, actually.”
Thane smiled at me. “You’ve got yourself a witty little girl there, don’t you?”
“She sure is.”
“What does witty mean?” asked Emma.
“It means that you have a way of making people smile. And it’s not just because you’re beautiful, like your mom.”
My cheeks turned pink.
“My mommy and I used to be prettier,” said Emma. “But, we had to dye our hair.”
“Emma,” I warned, not wanting to get into that conversation.
Her eyes lowered to the table. “Sorry. I forgot.”
Thane looked at me. “You dyed both of your hair?”
I sighed. “Yes.”
“What color is it normally?”
“Daddy always said it was the color of honey,” said Emma.
Funny, he once told me it was the color of baby poop, I wanted to say. “It’s a dark blondish color.”
“Kind of like yours,” said Emma. “I think. Mommy, when can I have my old hair color back? I don’t like this brown color. Billy Johnson told me it was the color of a witch’s hair.”
My jaw tightened. “It is not. He’s just being a mean little boy.”
“He obviously has a crush on you,” added Thane. “When boys pick on you, it means they like you.”
She grimaced. “Really? Billy Johnson likes me?”
Thane laughed. “Of course. I used to tease all the girls in school that I had crushed on. Especially ones with pretty hair and eyes like yours.”
Emma blushed. “You did?”
He nodded. “So, the next time he teases you, just ignore him. He wants your attention and doesn’t know how else to get it. Did you ever hear that saying – What are little boy’s made of?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Rats and snails and puppy dog tails,” I sang. “That’s what little boys are made of.”
Thane stared at me in surprise. “Wow, could you sing that again? You have a very nice voice.”
I laughed. “See, Emma. When they grow up, they learn to compliment you, instead of insult you.”
“But, daddy didn’t do that. He always said mean things to you.”
My smile slipped away. Emma never missed a beat.
“Some men just haven’t figured out the technique quite yet,” said Thane, quickly. “It just takes them longer to learn how to flirt and stop being a mean old booger.”
She laughed. “Does that mean you’re flirting with me and mommy?”
Thane winked. “I flirt with all the pretty ladies, cutie. I just can’t help myself. Especially when they’re as cute and witty as you.”
She smiled again and began eating more of her breakfast.
Thane’s eyes drifted to mine.
“Thank you,” I mouthed.
He looked at me like he had no idea what I meant and stuffed a piece of bacon into his mouth.
Smiling to myself, I began to eat. Curiously, I should have been frightened, knowing that Ray was still hunting for me. But, being with Thane, all I could think about was how safe he made me feel. Safe and pleased.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sera
After Thane and I took showers and then got dressed, we dropped off Emma at school, and headed towards the salon.
“What should we tell people?” I asked, staring out the window.
“About what?”
I turned to him. “About us. Driving in to work together.”
He grinned wickedly. “Let’s give them something to yack about. We’ll tell them that I stayed overnight at your house and see what everyone is saying, by the end of the day. Hell, you’ll be pregnant, with our child, and dragging me to the alter, before closing time, with the way those ladies gossip.”
I frowned. “No. I definitely don’t want them thinking that we’re sleeping together.”
“Who said they’d think we were sleeping?”
“Ha, ha… Funny.”
He chuckled. “Fine, I’ll just tell them that your car needed to be fixed and you called me to get a ride.”
“Okay. That sounds good.”
“Although, it might be wise to give them a heads-up, in regards to Ray. If he actually does show up, I don’t want any of them getting hurt.”
I put my hand on my forehead and closed my eyes. “I don’t know if I can do that. They’re going to ask me all kinds of questions and I hate talking about Ray or the things he’s done. I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about him now.”
“I’m not asking you to get into every sordid detail about your life together. Just let them know you have a nutty Ex who might show up at the shop. One that might be dangerous. It’s not fair to leave them in the dark. You wouldn’t want to be.”
I put my hand down and looked at him. He was absolutely right. “Yes, you’re right. We should probably post a picture of him, too.”
“I’ll print one out.”
My eyes widened. “From where?”
“The internet. It’s amazing what you can find there.”
My phone began to ring.
“It’s Fred,” I said, staring at the screen. I answered it.
“Everything okay at home?” he asked.
“Yes, Fred. We’re fine. Did you find Sam?”
He sighed. “No. I talked to Dooly again this morning, and he’s going to put out a Missing Person Alert in the next couple of hours if we still don’t hear anything.”
“Thank goodness,” I replied. “It’s ridiculous that they wait so long. We already know that he’s missing.”
“Believe me, I’ve argued the same thing all morning, but, it’s procedure. It’s like that everywhere. Even when I was an active cop, it used to get my goat. The waiting. Anyway, I’m going to try and round up some folks to start searching the woods, near his home.”
“That’s a good idea,” I said quickly. “Especially near the water.”
“Water?” he repeated. “You mean near Lake Union?”
“Yes. Lake Union.”
“You… you getting some kind of premonition about that?” he asked, sounding a little choked up.
I cringed. I hated hurting Fred and decided to play it off. There was still a chance that I was wrong. “Not really, but if Ray did do something to Sam, he’d probably try to throw him into the lake. To get rid of the evidence.”
“I see. Yeah, you’re right. Uh,” Sniff. “Could you pardon me for a second, Sera?”
“Sure.”
I could hear him blowing his nose. He got back on the line after a few seconds. “So, you don’t know for sure if he’s dead?”
“No. Maybe. I don’t know,” I replied, feeling frustrated. Thinking about it, shielding Fred from the pain now wasn’t going to do him any favors in the long run.
“You’re confusing me, Sera.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Look, I do feel like water has something to do with Sam’s whereabouts. Whether he is alive or dead, I’m not really sure.”
“Emma thought he was dead,” he said in a quiet voice.
“Well, Emma’s still just a little girl. One with a big imagination.”
“And a momma who is a psychic.”
I sighed. “If that’s what you really want to call it.”
“That’s exactly what I call it.” He sighed. “Listen, I’ve got a call coming through on the other line. I’ll get in contact with you later today and let you know if we find anything. Call me if you hear anything more from that jackass, Ray.”
“Okay,” I said, biting my nail. I stared down at it and frowned – here I was responsible for making other people’s nails look pretty and mine looked like crap because of all the stress.
At least you’re alive, I thought. And so is Emma.
“Take care, Fred.”
“You, too. And stay close to Thane.”
I glanced over at him. Thane was practically a stranger, but right now, I felt more protected and safe than I ever had with my husband. “I certainly will.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Thane
When we arrived at the shop, Sera and I walked in together.
“Where is everyone?” I asked Felicia, who was standing at the front and talking to one of the part-time receptionists, Mindy.
“Tiffany won’t be in until one,” she replied. “Sinclair is in the back, somewhere. And the others should be walking in any minute.”
“Okay, we need to have a quick meeting when everyone is here. I just need a couple minutes of your time.”
“Sure. So… was that you two kids pulling into the parking lot, together, in your car, T?” asked Felicia, with a gleam in her eye.
“Yes. Sera’s car is in the shop and she asked me for a ride.”
Felicia snapped her fingers. “Damn, and I thought maybe you two were getting your freak on together, or something.”
“Like we’d tell you if it was true,” I teased.
Sera’s jaw dropped. “Thane! Don’t listen to him, Felicia. Our relationship is strictly… platonic. He just wants to start some gossip.”
Felicia looked at me and smirked. “You want us to start some gossip? You’d better be careful for what you wish for, Mufasa.”
“Believe me,” I said, walking past her. “I know I need to be careful around this place. In fact, I’m going to shut myself inside of my office for the next couple of hours.”
“You do that while we come up with something steamy to spread about you,” she hollered. “Don’t worry, Sera, we’ll leave you out of it.”
I sighed, wondering what I’d gotten myself into now.
Women.
“Thane?” called Sera, catching up with me.
“Yeah?”
“So, do you really think I should tell them about Ray?”
“Definitely. Like I said, I’m going to print out a picture of him and we’ll make sure everyone sees it.”
She suddenly looked very tired. “Okay.”
I offered an encouraging smile. “Hey, it’s going to be okay.”
“I hope so. I’m more frightened for Emma than anything, Thane. I’m afraid he’s going to find her and,” she blinked back tears. “Take her away from me. To think of that happening scares the living hell out of me.”
My smile fell. “Listen to me, Sera, that’s not going to happen. In fact, I’ve been thinking – maybe you should stay with me for a while. You and Emma.”
She bit her lower lip. “I don’t know. Fred will be back soon. He can watch over us. Besides, Emma wouldn’t understand and I don’t want to frighten her any more than she already is.”
“Well, then maybe we should try and talk Fred into getting a real security system. He can’t be there all the time and he has to sleep.”
“Maybe. Doesn’t that cost a lot of money?”
“Not that much. Besides, can you actually put a price on either of your safety?”
“No. You’re right. I’ll talk to him about it. He’s going to sell me his house, anyway. Maybe I’ll just pay for it myself now.”
“You’re buying his house?”
“Yes. He’s marrying Arlene and moving into her place, next door.”
I grinned. “That’s fantastic. I’m happy for both of them.”
“Me, too. They’re a nice couple.”
“Sera, Jenny Frater is here,” said Felicia, stepping behind the partition.
“Thanks. I’ll be right up,” replied Sera.
Felicia walked over to her chair and began rummaging through her supplies. Something told me that she was paying more attention to us, then what was in her drawers.
“We can talk more about this on the ride home,” said Sera. “I’d better put my things away and take care of Jenny.”
“Good idea. And, I’ll be in my office if anyone needs anything,” I said loudly, walking away.
As I neared the restroom, the door opened and Sinclair stepped out.
“Hey, Sinclair.”
“Hi,” she said, avoiding my eyes.
“You okay?” I asked, noticing that her nose was red and her eyes were slightly swollen.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just allergies,” she said, forcing a smile.
To me, it looked like she’d been crying. “Huh. Do you take medication for it?”
“Medication?”
“Yeah, you know… Allergy medication.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, yes. Sometimes.”
“You really okay?”
“Yes. Thanks for asking,” she replied, clearing her throat. “I’m going to get ready for my nine-thirty appointment.”
“Okay. Just… if you need someone to talk to. I mean, I’m sure I’m not your first choice when it comes to… talking about your personal life, but, my door is always open. Also, I can give you a male’s perspective on things. If, you need to discuss something that has to do with a man, that is…” I said, stumbling on what I was trying to say. “Uh, I might be able to shed some light on things. Especially if they fuck-up. I’ve got a lot of experience in that area.”
She smiled. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. By the way, I’d like to have a short meeting, around one o’clock. Just need two minutes. So, try to schedule your lunch around that, if you could.”
“I brought my lunch, so I’ll be here regardless.”
“Okay. Let the others know as they get here, if you wouldn’t mind?”
“I’ll let them know.”
“Thanks,” I replied, walking into my office.
An hour later, as I was researching security systems on the internet, my cell phone rang.
It was Fred.
“Fred. What’s happening?”
“Well, I’ve got some very good news and some not so good news.”
“Why don’t you start with the very good news.”
“Actually, it’s more like a damn miracle. Ray Daniels was pulled over for drunk-driving, a couple of hours ago. Just found out about it from Sheriff Dooly.”
My eyes widened in shock. “You’re kidding. Where?”
“In Fort Lewis.”
“I’ll be damned. Are they sure it’s him?”
“Oh, it’s definitely him. He even admitted it. I guess they’re going to question him on Sam’s disappearance and hopefully they’ll be able to get him to talk, or… find some kind of evidence of foul play.”
“So, I take it the fact that you don’t know where Sam is yet, is the bad news.”
Fred sighed. “You got it. But, at least they have Ray in custody, and hopefully we’ll get some answers here, real soon.”
“I hope so, too, buddy.”
“I’ve got to go, someone’s beeping in. Could you tell Sera? I tried calling her but she didn’t answer her phone.”
“We’re at the shop and she’s probably with a customer. I’ll let her know, Fred.”
“Thank you. I’ll call you later.”
“Sounds good.”
I hung up the phone, feeling as if a large weight had been taken off of my shoulders. Now that Ray was in custody, Sera and Emma were both safe and we could breathe a little easier. Hopefully, they could pin something on hi
m and the asshole would be locked up for a while.
I walked out of my office and went to Sera’s booth.
“What’s up?” she asked, behind her mask. She was filing a younger woman’s nails as the client listened to her iPod through ear plugs.
“Come see me when you’re done. I have something important to tell you.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Okay.”
I turned around and walked towards Sinclair and Felicia, who had their heads bent together. As I approached, they both straightened up and I could tell that they were fighting laughter.
“Okay, what’s so funny?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Oh, just a little gossip around the shop. You know how it is,” said Felicia, with a shit-eating grin.
“Oh, believe me - that is one thing that I do know.”
“So we’ve heard. Now, you just go back to your little office in back, where it’s… safe,” said Felicia, waving her long painted plum-colored nail. “And we’ll keep things running smoothly in the shop for you, T.”
“Good. I appreciate that, Felicia,” I answered, turning away. I started walking and then stopped, as if forgetting something. I turned around and smiled. “By the way, let me know if a prostitute by the name of Kiki Divine stops in, looking for me. We’re going to order a bunch of toys, from your website, have ourselves a little party in back, maybe video tape it. Hell, I’ll give you a copy when we’re done, if you’d like.”
She snorted. “Right. You do that.”
I winked and went back to my office. I then quickly called my niece and asked her to make a phone call for me. When I hung up, I sat back in my chair and waited. Three minutes later, there was a knock on my door.
“Yes.”
Felicia stepped inside. “Uh, I have a message for you.”
“A message? Really? What is it?”
She folded her arms under her chest. “Kiki called and said she’d have to reschedule your appointment.”
I frowned. “She did, huh? I told her to never call me on the business line. I must have forgotten my cell phone. Well, that’s too bad,” I replied, trying to keep a straight face. “I was hoping to relieve some tension this afternoon.”
“This is a joke, right?”
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