Cool in Tucson (26 page)

Denny wasn’t making any move to get into it, though—she was standing awkwardly, looking at her toes.  Was she going into shock?    “Would you like to take a quick shower while I dish up the ice cream?  You might sleep better.”

“Okay.” 

Why was she standing by the bed like that, not moving?  Sarah said, “You need any help?”

“No, thanks.”  She shook her head so sharply that her braids swung wide.  Sarah could see she wanted to be left alone to undress.  She walked out to the kitchen, wondering,
Isn’t it a little soon for that? 
The idea that Denny might be approaching puberty, becoming shy about her body, was sharp as a sword in her chest. 
She’s hardly had any childhood yet! Can’t this kid ever catch a break?  

Getting out dishes and spoons, she remembered she’d promised to call her mother as soon as she had news about Denny.  She pushed the speed-dial on her cell phone, pulled the ice cream carton out of the freezer while she listened to three rings, and opened the flaps while a lot of labored breathing sounded in her ear.  Finally Aggie said, just above a whisper, “Hello?”

“Mother, I’ve got her, she’s here with me.”

“Oh, thank God.  Oh, Sarah, is she all right?”

“Yes.  I’d let you talk to her but she’s so tired—”

“I bet she is.  My God, I feel like I can breathe again.  Where did you find her?”

“You’re not going to believe this.  She called me and asked for a ride.”

“She what?  I don’t understand.”

“I don’t understand it all myself yet, but you can hear the whole story from her tomorrow, if you want to.  I’d like to keep her home from school for one day.  But—could you come over so I can go to work?”

“What, you want me to stay with Denny?  Well, I—where’s Janine?”

“Well, Mother, that’s another long story that I don’t think we want to get into right now.”

“Oh, God, she’s run off again, has she?”

“Not exactly, but—the main thing is, Denny’s okay, and I’d really be grateful if you’d spend tomorrow at my house.  Can you do that?”

“Well—of course I’ll come if you need me.  It’s just—”

“What?  Have you got a date?”   

“No, but my car has.  It’s in the garage getting its steering gear fixed.  I should have taken a rental but I got chintzy and said I’ll just stay home a couple of days…and wouldn’t you know, Sam’s gone fishing.  But maybe I can find somebody else in the morning—”

“That’ll be too late.  Can you stand it if I come get you about six-thirty?” 

“Oh, sure, I’m always up early.  Shame you have to do all that extra driving, though.”

“No problem.  I think Denny’s about ready for her ice cream now, so…see you in the morning, okay?”

“I’ll be ready, Honey.  Oh, Sarah, I feel like you gave me my life back.”

“I know.  I feel the same way.  Sleep well, Mother.”  She punched END and stood holding the phone a moment, struck by the change that had taken place in Aggie’s voice between the beginning and the end of the conversation.  She had sounded frail when she answered, but became strong and able as soon as she heard there was work to be done. 
Maybe she needs more that just games. 

The phone rang as she was folding it up.  “Sarah, it’s Artie.  I just left your sister’s house, she’s there.”

“Good.  Was she…all right?”

“I had to pound on the door quite a while to wake her up.  She may have some angry neighbors for a while.  All the dogs started to bark.”

“But she’s okay?”

“Far as I could tell.  She must have had some of that beer after you took her home, she was pretty vague.  But she just shrugged when I asked her about the man you said she was afraid of, so I guess he never came back.”

Sarah had been too busy to think about the man who wrote on the table, so now the big surge of relief surprised her. 
He didn’t come back
.  And right behind the relief, the shadow of guilt that always seemed to hang like a dust cloud between her and Janine.
He could have, though.  I should have
gone back there myself
.  And behind the guilt came the anger:
She’s responsible for her own life
. 
I can’t take care of everything, damn it.

The family two-step. 

“Thanks for checking, Artie.  I know you have more than enough else to do.”

“About twenty calls on the screen right now.  But hey, it makes the time go quick.”

“I owe you a big one, pal.”

“Nah, we pass it around, right?  Talk to you later.” 

Denny came out to the kitchen with wet hair hanging down her back as Sarah was dishing up.  She ate a spoonful of ice-cream, said, “Mmm, good,” ate another bite and said, “How will I get to school in the morning?”

“Well, I’ve been thinking.  What would you say to taking a day off tomorrow?”

“Oh…why?  I’m all
right
, Aunt Sarah.”

“I know.  But I think one day of rest might be a good idea.  Grandma said she’d come over and stay with you.”

“She did?”  Denny frowned.  “Does she have time?”

“Mm-hmm.  She’s looking forward to it.”

Denny put down her spoon.  “Are you worried about the man who took the car?”

“No.  And you don’t need to be.  We’ll find him.  Soon.  With luck, maybe tomorrow.  Our guys have the license number and a full description of the car.”  Denny was watching her with that measuring look she got sometimes.  “You’ve got good grades, you can afford one sick day, right?”

“I don’t want to get marked down for skipping.”

“I’ll call your principal and get you excused.”  Denny still looked dubious so she said, “If he gives me any trouble I’ll sic the Chief of Police on him, okay?”  Finally, that got a giggle.  Pleased by the happy noise she grinned back and said, on impulse, “Boy, it’s good to see you there in that chair.  I’ve missed you around here, Sweetheart.” 

Denny gave her such an odd look, then—what was it?  Dubious, Sarah thought. 
If she were older I’d even call it cynical
. 
What did I say wrong?
  Confused, she fussed with her dessert, scraping the last spoonful as if she was still hungry.   As soon as she saw Denny take the last bite she said, “Are you finished?  Let’s call it a day.” 

“Ah, my good old futon,” Denny said, climbing in. Sarah was already thinking about what she could afford to replace it with, but Denny seemed to think the present accommodations would do fine.  She yawned and stretched in the clean sheets, turned on her side and said, “Oh,
man
, am I tired.” 

Sarah picked up the pile of dirty clothes Denny had left folded neatly on her chair.  “I’ll wash these so you have something to wear in the morning.” 

“’Kay.  Thanks.”  Her eyes were already closed.  Sarah went out and started a load of laundry, came back to check and found her sleeping soundly.          

In the living room, she glanced at the phone, saw she had a message and pressed the button.  The answering tape beeped and then a quiet voice said, “Sarah, it’s Will.  It’s, uh, almost 9:30.  I just saw this story about your sister’s child—is there anything I can do to help you?  Please call me if you have time, I’ll be here at work till 10:30, and home by a few minutes after eleven.  So call me if you can, doesn’t matter how late.”

Her watch said eleven-twenty.  He might be home and he wouldn’t be asleep yet.  Even if he was, she told herself, a cop can go back to sleep after anything.

“Hey,” she said when he answered, “hope I didn’t wake you.” 

“Not even close.  This thing with your niece, anything I can do to help?” 

“Oh, I guess we’re over the hard parts for right now, but thanks.  It’s been a crazy night.” 

“Tell me about it, somebody stole her mother’s car?”

She told him about seeing the story on TV, her run to the store to find Janine, hearing the false report of two carjackers with guns and the way her sister’s story fell apart under scrutiny. 

“Why did she, uh—”

“My sister has substance abuse problems as well as other issues.”  It was a psychobabble summary, but she felt too tired to go into a full explanation. 

He just said, “I see.  So how did you find her child?” 

So kindly, to let a guarded answer lie.  She described her lonely search through dark streets, talking to patrolmen in other cars.  Then the strangest twist of all, Denny’s phone call from the coffee shop.

“What did she say?”

“She said, ‘Um, Aunt Sarah, I’m sorry to bother you, but could you please give me a ride?’ ”

“Wow,” Dietz said, “some kid.”

“For sure.  And some strange kidnapper, Will.  Or car thief, whatever.”  She told the story of the cheeseburger and the movie.  “What in the holy living
hell
do you suppose he was up to in that movie theater?”

“Making phone calls, sounds like. Waiting for something.  Looking for somebody?”

“Uh-huh.  And the question is, did he find that person?  And what are they doing as we speak?”

“In your sister’s car.”

“If we’re lucky.  We still might get him that way, everybody’s looking for it.”

“So…what about tomorrow?  Will your niece go to school?”

“I decided she needed to stay home a day”

“Sounds like a good call.  So you’re taking the day off?”

“No.  My mother’s going to come over and stay with her.”

“You’re sure?  You’ve talked to her?”

“Three times tonight, in fact.  A record for modern times.”

“Uh-
huh
.  And she drives, there’s no—?”

“Like a pro, but her car’s in the shop, so I have to go get her.  I’ll be watching the sun rise for the second time in two days.” 

“Sarah, isn’t that something I could help you with?  Why don’t I pick up your mother?”  As if they were old neighbors who traded favors often.  When Will Dietz set out to give comfort he didn’t skimp.  His voice had no tremor tonight either, come to think of it. 

“Oh, Will…she’s way out in Marana—” Sarah got a sudden distinct vision of Will Dietz helping her mother into the front seat of his car, standing quiet and straight by the door, his hand under her elbow, and thought how much Aggie would like that. 
As who wouldn’t, actually? 
 “Are you serious, could you really do that?”

“Of course.  What’s her address?”

She gave it to him and said, “Can you have her here by 7:30?  It’s going to take about forty-five minutes each—”

“I know how far it is.  No problem.  Will she answer if a strange man rings her bell at dawn?”

“I’ll call her in the morning so she expects you.  This is very kind of you, Will.”

“Not at all.  I’m trying to curry favor with her daughter.”  His voice warmed up a little when he said it—though it was probably said in kindness, she reminded herself, to make the favor seem smaller. 

Even so it made her cheeks flush.  She said, “Well, you know what?  You’re succeeding nicely.”

“I am?  Good, then, let’s have dinner together some night soon and I’ll try to succeed a little more.”

“You will?  I mean, I’m sure you will—”  They both laughed nervously. 
I sound like an idiot. 
“Soon as I get my niece settled—”