Catch the Girl

by Melinda Woodhall

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  The courthouse was all but deserted as Leo exited the building and made his way to an empty bench outside. He’d waited as long as he could after the hearing was over for the reporters to give up and go away, but the security guards had finally kicked him out, eager to go home and begin enjoying the holidays.

  “You still here, Mr. Steele?”

  Oscar Hernandez stood on the sidewalk. After all the excitement of the day, his shirt still appeared to be freshly ironed, and not a hair on his head was out of place. The only sign that he’d been through a traumatic ordeal was the slightly shell-shocked look on his face.

  “I had to file the official motion for dismissal,” Leo explained, moving over so that Oscar could join him on the bench. “Really just a formality but I wanted to wait for the press to clear out anyway. It’s usually easier to stay out of sight until the fervor dies down.”

  Nodding agreeably, Oscar sat down and took out his phone.

  “I told my old lady to wait for me to call.” He tapped on the phone and put it to his ear. “I didn’t want her and my little boy to be here if things didn’t go my way, you know?”

  Leo nodded, feeling guilty about the two weeks Oscar had spent in jail while he’d prepared the pretrial motion for dismissal and investigated the little evidence submitted by the district attorney.

  “Hi, honey, it’s me,” Oscar boomed into the phone. “I’m officially a free man again. They even gave my cell phone, wallet, and lucky rabbit foot back.”

  Oscar thrust a ball of white fur on a key chain toward Leo, laughing when the lawyer recoiled.

  “I’m waiting outside the courthouse with Mr. Steele right now if you wanna come pick me up.”

  Growing quiet, Oscar held the phone to his ear, listening. He nodded a few times, as if the person on the other end of the call could see him, then let out a deep sigh.

  “It doesn’t matter, baby. I’ll find something else.” Oscar lowered his voice, turning away. “I was getting tired of that job anyway, you know? We’ll be okay.”

  Leo kept his eyes on a file in his lap until Oscar had ended the call.

  “You got plans for Christmas, Mr. Steele?”

  Leaning back against the bench, Oscar stretched out his long legs and crossed his arms over his lean chest.

  “Not really,” Leo admitted. “I’ve been so wrapped up with…well, with your case, that I didn’t make any plans.”

  “You got kids?”

  Leo thought of Hope and Devon, then shook his head.

  “No, none of my own. Not yet, anyway.”

  Tapping on his phone, Oscar thumbed through a few screens, then held the phone toward Leo.

  “That’s my boy. He just turned two in October.”

  A little boy in a tiny suit and tie stared back at Leo from the screen. He was a miniature version of his father, right down to the neat hair and lopsided grin.

  “He’s a handsome boy,” Leo said, hesitating, then adding, “and I’m glad you’re going to be home to play Santa for him tonight.”

  “Thanks to you, man.”

  Oscar looked away, clenching his hands into tight fists on his lap.

  “I owe you, Mr. Steele. If there’s ever anything you need…”

  Leo winced, feeling like fraud. Knowing that he’d somehow failed the young man beside him.

  “I just wish I could have gotten you out on bail, Oscar. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do that. I know what it’s cost you.”

  Anger stirred in Leo’s belly at the memory of Marc Ingram’s testimony in front of Judge Eldredge, who had presided over the bail hearing. The elderly justice, annoyed that the hearing had been delayed by two days, had clearly bought into Ingram’s performance.

  Eldredge probably thought Ingram was going to be the next chief of police, which would explain why he’d listened to the whiny little detective.

  Shaking his head, Oscar turned to Leo, his voice earnest.

  “Don’t apologize, Mr. Steele. I’m glad you didn’t get me out sooner. If I’d been out of jail last night, I’m sure that Detective Ingram would have tried to pin both those attacks on me.” Oscar drew in a shaky breath. “I might have gone down for life!”

  “I wouldn’t have let it come to that, Oscar,” Leo said, but the possibility that Oscar could have been blamed for the second attack wasn’t farfetched.

  I wouldn’t put anything past that weasel Ingram.

  The streetlight in front of them flashed on, and Leo realized the sun was setting. He’d have to decide what he was going to do soon.

  “There’s my ride, man!” Oscar yelled, standing up and waving to a Toyota Camry that was heading in their direction.

  Rolling to a stop at the curb, the Camry’s driver stuck her head out of the window and squealed. Leo could see a boy’s small, excited face in the backseat.

  “Merry Christmas, Mr. Steele. I hope Santa’s good to you!”

  Leo waited until Oscar and his family had disappeared around the corner in the Camry, then stood and began walking toward the parking garage.

  He’d done what he could for Oscar Hernandez. Now it was time for him to go home and figure out what to do about his own life

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  By the time he steered the BMW into his neighborhood, Leo’s stomach was starting to grumble. He’d skipped lunch in his rush to finalize the motion for dismissal, and his breakfast had consisted of a slightly mushy banana and a Venti black coffee from Starbucks.

  Distracted by the question of which restaurants might deliver on Christmas Eve, and how quickly they could get to his house, it took Leo a few seconds to register that a familiar blue minivan was parked on his driveway.

  What in the world is Pat Monahan doing here on Christmas Eve?

  Driving past the van into his garage, Leo could see that the vehicle was empty. He turned off the BMW and hurried into the house, wondering if Pat had decided to go out of town over the holidays and left her van on his driveway for safekeeping.

  He detected the delicious aroma of Italian spices as he opened the door and stepped into the kitchen. Pat stood by the oven, an apron over her work clothes and a potholder in one hand.

  “You’re just in time for dinner.” Pat opened the oven door to reveal a bubbling pan of eggplant parmesan. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  “You have no idea, Pat,” Leo said, his mouth watering. “Although I’m not sure you and I will be able to finish all that on our own.”

  Before Pat could respond, Leo heard a flush coming from the bathroom off the hall. He turned to the door just as Frankie Dawson shuffled in and sat down at the kitchen table.

  “Hey, Leo. What’s up?”

  Looking back and forth the between Pat and Frankie, Leo wondered if he’d forgotten making plans with them. Could he really have been that absorbed in the hearing?”

  “Frankie? Pat? What’s going on? What are you doing here?”

  Spreading butter onto a tray of crispy garlic rolls, Pat looked over at Leo and rolled her eyes.

  “What does it look like we’re doing? We’re making you a meal to celebrate your big win today.”

  “My big win?” Leo repeated, still dazed. “You mean, getting Oscar Hernandez’s case dismissed?”

  Frankie stood up and walked toward the oven, looking at the garlic rolls with hungry eyes.

  “Duh! Of course, we mean getting Oscar Hernandez out of jail. It was a bogus charge, and you proved it. That’s a pretty big deal. I should know.”

  Shooing Frankie away from the oven, Pat nodded her agreement.

  “Yes, if it wasn’t for you, Leo, both Oscar Hernandez and Frankie would still be behind bars for crimes they didn’t commit. I’d say that’s reason enough to celebrate.”

  Leo couldn’t argue with the logic, but there was something about Pat’s behavior that didn’t feel celebratory. The expression on her face looked more like pity than admiration.

  “Okay, Pat. What’s really going on?”

  Dropp
ing her eyes, Pat bent over and pulled the heavy tray of pasta out of the oven, sliding it onto the stovetop with a defiant clatter.

  “Well, if you must know, I didn’t want you to be alone. Not on Christmas Eve.” She busied herself with taking out plates and silverware. “It just doesn’t seem right.”

  Leo frowned and took the potholder from her hand.

  “Why did you think I was going to be alone?”

  Pat sighed and looked over at Frankie, who shrugged.

  “Well, Barb told me that she was making dinner for Eden and the kids tonight.” She hesitated, biting her lip. “And she said that Eden’s ex had come over to eat with them last night, and…”

  “Yes?” Leo asked, his voice deadly calm.

  “And that he was showing around a ring.”

  The silence that followed was deafening. Leo stood still, trying to let her implication sink in. Pat winced at the stricken look on his face. She put a soft hand on his arm.

  “I just…didn’t want you to be alone.”

  Regaining his composure, Leo turned to Frankie.

  “And how did you get involved in this charity event?”

  For once Frankie didn’t make a joke.

  “I stopped by your office to tell you some good news and found Pat all worked up. When she told me why, I thought maybe you’d need a friend tonight. You know, like, to keep you company.”

  Feeling as if he’d swallowed a stone, and that it had lodged in his chest just above his heart, Leo tried to smile.

  “Well, tell me your good news, then.”

  A pink flush colored Frankie’s cheeks, and he dug his hands in his pocket, searching until he found a loose stick of gum. He pulled off the wrapper and shoved it in his mouth, chewing nervously.

  “Helps me with the whole no smoking crap,” Frankie explained. “And, I should really wait until Barker is with me so that we could tell you together, but he’s spending the holidays with Taylor, so…”

  Crossing his arms over his chest, Leo leaned against the counter. There was no rushing Frankie, and in any case, he was no longer in a hurry to eat.

  “What’s Barker got to do with this?” Leo finally asked.

  “He’s gonna be my new partner.”

  Frankie beamed at Leo’s stunned expression.

  “Barker and Dawson Investigations. That’s what we’re gonna call our business. We figure this town needs a couple of experienced PIs.”

  Pat laughed as she arranged the eggplant and rolls onto plates and set them on the table.

  “Well, it certainly sounds…interesting.”

  A reluctant smile emerged on Leo’s face at the idea of Barker and Frankie riding around like Starsky and Hutch.

  “I think it’s a great idea, Frankie. I’ll be the first one to call on you guys for investigative services once you’re up and running.”

  Frankie stuck half a garlic roll in his mouth, trying to talk and chew at the same time.

  “Mates rates for you, Leo.”

  Sitting down next to Leo, Pat looked over with miserable eyes.

  “I shouldn’t have told you about Eden…or the ring,” she said, pushing her pasta around on the plate. “I should have minded my own business.”

  Leo shook his head, not wanting to admit he’d lost his appetite.

  “You should do what you feel is right. And you wanted to help a friend. Don’t feel bad for that. Besides, I knew Nathan was still in town. So, it’s not surprising he’s going over there for dinner.”

  “So, why don’t you go over there, too?” Frankie asked, his plate almost empty. “Or invite Eden over here?”

  The question had been eating at Leo all day: why hadn’t he tried to make plans for Christmas with Eden?

  Leo shoveled a forkful of pasta into his mouth so that he wouldn’t have to respond. It was hard to explain, but something about the last few weeks had planted a seed of doubt that he would be able to make Eden happy. With Nathan in town, doting on her and the kids, and with Leo tied up with the Hernandez case, an uneasy feeling had taken hold, and a terrible idea simmered in his mind like a fever.

  Maybe she’s better off with Nathan. Maybe he can make her happy.

  Leo finished his meal, walked Pat and Frankie to the minivan, then went back into the empty house. He wasn’t prepared to see Eden, even if it was Christmas Eve. He wasn’t ready to face the truth.

  Chapter Fifty

  Eden heard footsteps on the stairs and quickly switched the channel, not wanting Hope or Devon to see the news about the Hernandez case, or to learn that an unidentified assailant had attacked another woman in Willow Bay only the night before. She didn’t want anything to ruin the warm holiday spirit that seemed to fill the house.

  “Can we open a present tonight?” Devon asked, charging into the room, his wide blue eyes hopeful. “Just a little one? Please?”

  Before Eden could respond, Hope joined her brother by the tree.

  “Mom used to always let us open one present on Christmas Eve.”

  Recalling Mercy’s love of Christmas brought a mist of tears to Eden’s eyes. Her sister had adored Santa as a child, and once she’d had children of her own, she had gone all out to make the holiday special for Hope and Devon. Now it was up to Eden to carry on the family tradition.

  “Okay, but just one,” she agreed, smiling at Devon’s shout of joy.

  Hope picked up a small box wrapped in silvery paper, then paused.

  “Should we wait for Leo to get here before we open these?” she asked, watching Eden’s face carefully. “He is coming over, isn’t he?”

  Nodding cheerfully, Eden tried not to show her underlying worry.

  The hearing is over, and Leo won his case. So why hasn’t he called yet?

  She’d seen the news like everyone else and had been thrilled that she would finally get to spend some time with Leo now that he’d gotten the charges against Oscar Hernandez dismissed.

  “Of course, he’ll be here, honey. He’s just been busy.”

  Ripping off the paper around a box of Legos, Devon cheered.

  “Cool! Then Leo can help me put this together when he gets here!”

  A voice from the kitchen called out, accompanied by the warm scent of something baking in the oven.

  “I need a taste tester in here.” Barb stuck her head into the room. “Who can make sure these cookies are yummy enough for Santa?”

  Devon jumped up and raised his hand, running toward the kitchen at full speed, his Lego set already forgotten on the floor.

  “Is everything okay between you and Leo, Aunt Eden?’

  Hope’s voice was quiet, and Eden got the impression her niece had been waiting for the opportunity to ask the question. She decided the girl was old enough for an honest answer.

  “I don’t know, honey,” she admitted. “I thought Leo would be here by now. Or would have at least called.”

  She patted the cushion beside her, motioning for Hope to join her on the sofa in front of the fireplace.

  “He’s been working on an important case these last few weeks, but that’s over now. I guess I was kind of expecting him to show up tonight so we can celebrate.”

  Hope tilted her head and frowned.

  “Why don’t you just call him and tell him to come over?”

  “I guess I thought he might still be busy wrapping things up. I didn’t want to bother him.”

  Eden still felt responsible for getting Leo involved in the hunt for Ruth’s killer, which had prompted him to ask for a delay in Oscar Hernandez’s bail hearing. When Hernandez had been denied bail a few days later, Leo had been devastated. Since then Eden had tried to give Leo all the space he needed to focus on the case.

  But maybe I’ve given him too much space.

  Putting an arm around Hope’s shoulder, she pulled her niece closer, wanting to reassure her that everything would be okay. That she and Leo were good. But suddenly, Eden wasn’t so sure.

  A familiar holiday song drifted over from the television, an
d Eden looked over to see the opening credits for her favorite Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life.

  She remembered watching the movie with her father and Mercy when she was a little girl. How long ago that had been. But the movie was still a classic.

  “I love this movie,” she said, reaching for the remote to turn up the sound. “Although your mother always complained about it being in black and white.”

  Impulsively jumping up, Eden hurried to the kitchen just as Devon was testing another cookie. Duke blinked up from his cozy spot by the door, hoping for an after-dinner walk.

  “You two come in here and watch It’s a Wonderful Life with Hope,” she told Barb and Devon. “Duke and I have an errand to run.”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Leo’s house on Knightsbridge Drive was dark when Eden’s Expedition pulled into his driveway. The other houses in the family neighborhood all seemed to be lit up with strings of Christmas lights, inflatable reindeers, and nativity scenes. A jolly plastic Santa stared at Eden from its position in the yard next door.

  “Come on, Duke, let’s see if he’s home.”

  Opening the back door to allow the golden retriever to jump down beside her, Eden glanced up at the dark windows with a frown.

  Could he still be at the courthouse, or at his office?

  She crunched up the gravel walkway, shivering as a gust of frigid wind blew through her hair. As she knocked softly on the front door, she noticed a stack of unopened newspapers on the porch. A few seconds passed, then she heard the soft metallic click of the deadbolt.

  “Looks like it’s my night for unexpected guests,” Leo said, swinging the door open and motioning for her and Duke to come inside. “Pat and Frankie just left a little while ago.”

  Concerned by the depressed tone of Leo’s voice, Eden closed the door behind her, and looked around the empty room. The only light in the room came from the fireplace.

  Taking Leo’s hands in hers, she looked at him with worried eyes.

  “What’s wrong, Leo? What’s happened?”

  She could only assume something had gone terribly wrong for him to look so miserable when he’d just won a dismissal for his client.