Guardian Angel

by Andrew Neiderman

  “Are you coming home for dinner tonight?” his mother asked the instant he emerged from his room.

  “No, Ma, not tonight, not tomorrow night, not the night after. Maybe not ever again.”

  “What? What kind of talk is that?”

  “I might as well break the news to you now, Ma. I’m moving out very soon.”

  She stood staring at him as if he had said the dumbest thing.

  “What?” he demanded. “You’ve been after me since Julia’s death to get a life, haven’t you?”

  “Yes, a sensible life,” she retorted.

  “That’s what I’m doing. Get that through your thick head. Believe it,” he said, and turned and walked out.

  Twenty minutes later, the phone rang. He’s probably calling to apologize, she thought. She decided she wasn’t going to be so forgiving. He wasn’t too old to be taught a lesson.

  “Yes?” she said sharply after she picked up the receiver.

  “Mrs. Wallace?”

  “Yes.”

  “This is Matt Lowenstein. Steve there?”

  “He just left. You can get him on his cell phone, maybe.”

  “No need. Just give him a message for me. That’s the last time I’ll recommend him for any job in the state of California, or anywhere for that matter,” he said, and hung up.

  She held the receiver for a moment and then looked toward the front door.

  What was he doing? Why was that stranger’s wallet in his pants?

  She raised her eyes toward the ceiling and mumbled a short prayer.

  “Lord, please spare me,” she said, and cradled the receiver.

  On his way to the hospital, Steve stopped to buy a box of fancy candy. He perused some get-well cards until he found one he thought appropriate. Although it didn’t specifically say it was coming from a husband or boyfriend, the sentiment in it couldn’t be mistaken for much else. It was perfect. He paid for everything and casually drove to the hospital.

  As luck would have it—and Steve did believe in luck and fate and the power of coincidence—Scott Lester got out of his car just a few spaces down and headed for the hospital entrance. Steve watched him walk quickly, practically jogging. Then Steve got out of his car, went to the trunk and took out what he needed to, as he would call it, seal the deal. Yep, he thought, everything happens for a reason. Whenever something helped him and his cause, it reconfirmed in his mind that all this was meant to be.

  He was as familiar with car alarms and locks as he was with house alarms and locks. In only minutes, he did what he had to do. Then, after he felt a sufficient amount of time had passed, he too headed for the hospital entrance, only he didn’t walk as fast; he didn’t jog.

  Time was on his side, as was everything else.

  Patience was indeed a virtue.

  Scott practically tiptoed into Megan’s hospital room. Her head was bandaged and there was an IV hooked up, but she looked fully awake. How her sister Clare had gotten here so quickly, he didn’t know, but there she was, sitting at Megan’s bedside and holding her hand. They both looked at him with an angry, accusatory expression. Normally, there wasn’t all that much resemblance between them, Clare being nearly eight years older, but at the moment, they looked like twins.

  “I didn’t do this,” he said before either of them could speak. “I don’t know how I could even be a suspect.”

  Megan’s lips began to tremble. In fact, her whole body began to shake. Clare felt the tremors in her hand and stood up instantly. She waved at Scott.

  “Outside,” she ordered. “Outside!”

  He backed up and waited.

  “Clare, this is crazy,” he said the moment she stepped out, closing the door behind her.

  She leaned against the door and folded her arms, looking like some sort of palace guard. Clare was a good three inches taller than Megan and bigger-boned. She looked more like their father and didn’t have Megan’s dainty features.

  “Didn’t you threaten her last night?”

  “It was only…I was angry, yes. She’s been seeing another man. He was there. We just began this damn divorce action. How could another man be so close to her already?”

  “You’re accusing my sister of adultery? Megan?”

  “All I know…” He paused. He didn’t want to bring up his returning to the house and seeing the lights out but the man’s car parked across the street. It was no time to make accusations.

  “Look, this is way off the topic right now, Clare. Our daughter is missing and Megan’s going to delay any real search and investigation with these accusations.”

  She didn’t relent, but she relaxed her posture.

  “She has a severe concussion. They don’t want her falling asleep at the moment, so she’s just on some Tylenol. What she doesn’t need is any more tension and aggravation. She’s terrified for Jennifer.”

  “So am I.”

  “Then go look for her. You’re not going to help the situation by getting her into an argument now.”

  “You can’t believe I’m capable of this, Clare.”

  “What I believe isn’t important, Scott. It’s what the police will come to believe.”

  He lowered his head. Maybe he would talk about the other guy.

  “I wouldn’t bring him around right now either,” she added, nodding past him.

  He turned to see his father coming up the corridor.

  “Just go, Scott. I’ll call you and tell you how she’s doing.”

  “What’s going on?” his father demanded.

  “Relax, Dad. I’m handling it.”

  “Yes, Mr. Lester. Scott’s handling it,” Clare said, and went back into Megan’s room, closing the door behind her.

  “What the hell…? That’s her sister, right?”

  “Yes, Dad. You’ve seen her enough times to know that.”

  “Well, what’s going on?”

  “She’s suffered a severe concussion. Right now, she’s still too upset to speak with me.” He thought a moment. “I want to get that private-detective agency back. The police don’t believe me because Megan doesn’t. I need to do my own investigating.”

  “Oh, I do have another reference and…”

  “No. I want this guy,” Scott said, and started to walk away. His father caught up and started to pour out his advice. They should call Taylor Stewart, a very well-known criminal attorney, right away. There was someone his father knew who worked for the FBI and he would contact him to make sure the case wasn’t left to these clowns in Beverly Hills. Scott should return to work to keep himself from thinking too much about Jennifer. On that one, Scott stopped and turned.

  “Thinking too much about Jennifer? That’s been my problem all along—not thinking enough about her. How can a father think too much about his daughter at a time like this?”

  “Don’t get hysterical on me.”

  Scott glared at him and then turned and walked faster. When he reached the lobby, he paused, but not to wait for his father to catch up.

  Coming through the door was the man who had been in his house last night, the man Steve, whom Megan was seeing. He braced himself for another confrontation. This time he would not only stand his ground, he would go at him as well, the devil be damned.

  But the guy didn’t pause.

  He simply smiled at Scott and, carrying a box of chocolates, went immediately to the elevator. Scott started to go after him when his cell phone went off.

  “Scott Lester,” he answered, watching the man get on the elevator. Steve turned to smile again as the doors closed. Scott listened as his father caught up. “We’ll be there,” he said sharply, and shut the phone.

  “What?”

  “Call Taylor Stewart. They want us at the police station at two o’clock. I guess they’re trying to spook me, all right. They said the only prints on the statue belonged to Megan, our maid and me. They have more questions to ask and claim they need them answered to go forward with the search for Jennifer.”

  His father’s
eyes narrowed.

  “Why did you return to the house after you left the dinner? Maybe someone on the street saw you. Did you park, go in?”

  “No. I did exactly what I told them I did and nothing more.”

  “So you came right home after you went to that dump in West Hollywood? You didn’t work yourself into some kind of rage because you had seen that guy’s car still near the house?”

  “Thanks, Dad. That’s exactly what I need right now—suspicion from my own father.”

  He hurried out, his compassion and sympathy in a state of confusion. Jennifer had to be the priority, but he did feel sorry for Megan, and now he was beginning to feel even sorrier for himself.

  And he hated it.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Clare came to the hospital-room door.

  “Can I help you?”

  “How is Megan?” Steve asked.

  “She’s resting, but not comfortably.”

  He nodded.

  “And you are?”

  “I’m Steve Wallace,” he said, trying to look past her into the room.

  “Oh, you’re the one who sent the beautiful flowers.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Clare Tremont, Megan’s sister.”

  She offered her hand and he shook gently.

  “Who is it?” Megan called.

  “It’s Steve Wallace.”

  “Let him in, Clare.”

  He smiled and she stepped back.

  “You poor kid,” he said as he walked in. “I don’t know if they’ll let you have any of this, but…“

  Clare took the box of candy.

  “But her sister certainly can. Thank you.” She looked at Megan. “You know what? I think I’ll go offer some to the nurses. That’s always a good idea.”

  “Yes,” Megan said.

  Steve watched Clare leave and then turned to Megan.

  “How did you find out so quickly?” she asked.

  “First thing on the local news this morning. My mother heard it first and I rushed out to listen and watch when I heard your name. How long after I left did it happen?”

  “Hours. Tricia remained behind until I couldn’t keep my eyes open.”

  “What did the doctor say?”

  “Concussion.”

  “Are you in a lot of pain?”

  “It just throbs right now.”

  “Sorry,” he said.

  “I don’t care about myself. My Jennifer…“ she said, her lips quivering. “She must be so frightened. I know if Scott had anything to do with this, she’s not in any physical danger, but no matter what, I can’t imagine the terror she must have gone through and is still going through.”

  Steve nodded.

  “I saw him leaving just now.”

  “Scott? He tried to come in here, but I don’t want to see him.”

  “Don’t blame you. This is just the sort of situation that cries out for a guardian angel,” he said. “A man’s first priority should always be the protection of his family. There is no excuse, no reason to ever justify doing anything that in any way harms any of them.”

  Megan smiled through her tears.

  “How come you’re so family oriented, Steve? You haven’t told me all that much about your own. You don’t have any brothers or sisters. What about close relatives?”

  “My mother’s only sister died last year and my father was like me, an only child. I have cousins on my mother’s side, but they live on the East Coast.

  “Sometimes, when I have spare time, especially on weekends, I go to the parks and watch parents and their children and try to imagine what that would have been like for me if my wife, Julia, had lived and had given us children.”

  “Hopefully your life would not have been like this,” Megan said.

  They heard a knock on the door and Tricia walked in with another woman, shorter, stouter. Steve thought the woman had her hair cut way too short for her plump face and wore too much makeup. Occasionally, Julia had put on too much makeup and he’d forced her to wash it off.

  “Megan, how are you, sweetie? I didn’t know anything until the Beverly Hills police called to question me about last night,” Tricia said, rushing to her side. “Pat here heard it from a friend whose sister is friends with your neighbor, Sally Rosenfield.”

  She kissed her cheek and then looked at Steve. “Hello, Steve. How did you find out so quickly and beat me up here?”

  “I was just telling Megan that it was on the morning news,” he said, eyeing the other woman, named Pat.

  Pat moved to Megan’s side, cutting right in front of him.

  “I’m so sorry for your trouble, Megan. The phone’s ringing off the hook. All the girls are planning on visiting and doing whatever they can.”

  “Thanks, Pat. This is a friend of mine, Steve Wallace,” Megan said.

  Pat nodded at him and Steve worked a tiny smile around his lips. He had been hoping to spend all his time alone with Megan. He had much to say, proposals to make. Time was important here.

  “Is there any news about Jennifer?” Tricia asked.

  “Nothing yet.”

  “Well, what does Scott have to say about it all?”

  “I don’t know. He tried to come in, but I didn’t want to see him.”

  “You really think he had something to do with this?” Pat asked incredulously.

  “I don’t know,” Megan said. She turned to Tricia. “You saw how he was last night.”

  “Yes.” She looked at Steve. “We all did, and that was what I told the police, too. They’ll probably call you, Steve.”

  “I’ll just tell them what I saw and heard,” he said.

  “Now don’t you wish you never got yourself involved?” Megan asked him.

  “No. Now I see what’s happening, I’m glad I did,” he replied.

  The three women smiled at Megan.

  “Well, what do they have on Jennifer’s abduction?” Pat asked.

  Clare returned.

  “You remember my sister?” Megan said. Pat and Tricia greeted her.

  “Clare spoke with a police detective this morning. She still hasn’t told me all of it,” Megan said sharply.

  “Megan…”

  “I’d like to know what you know, Clare. I have a right to know.”

  They all looked at her.

  “They have the weapon,” she said. “A statue of an angel. They’re checking it for fingerprints.”

  “Both Scott’s and my fingerprints would be on it, and our maid Lourdes”’, I imagine.”

  “They’re going over the house carefully for any evidence at all,” Clare added. “Megan reported that whoever took Jennifer made sure to take her favorite rag doll as well.”

  “But left the flashlight you gave her behind,” Megan added. “She was using it to do just what you said, drive away the moments of fear in the darkness.”

  “How sweet,” Pat said smiling. “Have there been burglaries in the neighborhood lately?” she asked.

  “Not that I know of,” Megan said.

  “Someone is always first,” Clare said.

  “But didn’t you have an alarm on?” Pat asked Megan.

  “I did. I was very nervous, so I know I didn’t forget to do that. Whoever entered to attack me must have disarmed it.”

  “How can anyone do that?”

  “Strangers can’t,” Steve said. “Why would any ordinary burglar attack Megan and take Jennifer anyway?”

  “Yes, that’s right. Anything else missing?” Tricia asked, and looked at Clare.

  “Well, Megan can’t confirm anything right now, but as far as we know, no. She told me where she had some money, and that money is still in the drawer, not hard to find. In fact, the police tell me not much else was disturbed. No doors or windows broken.”

  “You didn’t forget to lock up, did you?” Pat asked.

  Megan shook her head.

  “I know I set the alarm. Only one other person knows the code.”

  They were all quiet. Meg
an closed her eyes. Her body started to tremble. Clare started for her, but Steve seized her hand first and she looked at him.

  “Hold yourself together,” he said. “I’m sure this will work out all right. You and Jennifer will be together again real soon.”

  Clare froze next to the bed. Megan smiled again and took a deep breath just as the doctor and a nurse entered.

  “We’ll need you all to leave for a while,” the nurse said.

  Clare leaned over to kiss Megan. Tricia and Pat did as well. Steve lifted her hand to his lips and with his eyes opened, kissed it. Then he followed the women out.

  “I must have had a half-dozen conversations before I left the house,” Pat said in the hallway after the door was closed. “No one can believe this. I mean, no one can believe Scott would do such a thing.”

  “You didn’t see him last night,” Tricia said. She looked at Steve for confirmation. He nodded.

  “He was pretty damn angry. I thought he was going to slug me or you.”

  “Really?” Pat asked her.

  “Steve’s right,” she said.

  “I’ve got to go. I have some things to take care of immediately,” Steve said. “You girls give her comfort,” he told them as if he were in charge of everything.

  They watched him walk away.

  “Who is that guy?” Pat asked.

  “He sent her those roses and brought candy this morning,” Clare said. She looked at Tricia. “Megan never mentioned him to me. When did she meet him? Is he some old friend or something?”

  Tricia smiled. “No, no, nothing like that. Megan and I had gone out after the divorce petition was filed. I took her to the Cage in Beverly Hills. It’s a hot dance club,” she told Clare. “She was pretty down about it all. I was trying to cheer her up. She has such an unjustified low view of herself. I left her alone at the bar for a few minutes so I could dance with someone. She was being annoyed by some creep at the bar when Steve came to her aid and like Batman or something took out him and his friends.

  “It was quite a wild scene for her first night out. I never really got to see much of him because he left before the police arrived. Megan said she told him he was her guardian angel. Anyway, he came around afterward and took her to dinner the night of the earthquake. He’s been looking after her ever since and was the one who discovered Scott and his father had hired private detectives to spy on Megan.”