Courting Alley Cat (12 page)

              Justin held tight to the dog’s harness and, along with the police officer next to him, followed at an unsafe speed over the debris in the overgrown field they found themselves in.

              He hated this part. He hated not knowing if they would find the girl alive or dead. He knew the odds were against finding her alive. But either way, they needed to find her. The sooner they found her, the sooner they could find who did it.

              The smell was overwhelming. He wasn’t sure if it was rotting animal carcasses or animal waste. He hoped to God it wasn’t human.

              Maybe he wasn’t cut out for this kind of work. He didn’t mind working with the dogs, but this part he could do without.

              And besides, he didn’t like being sworn to secrecy. He hadn’t even been able to tell Alley where he was going. His parents knew, but they could be trusted. They would never break up with him and use the knowledge against him.

              It wasn’t his idea to keep his behaviors secret from the woman he was seeing. But he had signed a waiver and if he did tell her and she let the knowledge out, he could not only be expelled from his Civil Duties, but he could actually go to jail. And he didn’t care so much for that idea.

              So, instead, he found himself making up stories about where he disappeared off to. It really hadn’t been an issue until now. He hadn’t dated anyone enough to have to worry about it until Alley.                           

              The dog, Sammie, began pulling him toward an overturned car. He sensed the dog’s excitement. They were about to discover something. He felt his spirits sink. It was almost better to never know the outcome of these cases. After all, the dogs were in the business of recovering bodies, not people.

              The dog began barking and soon had the attention of the dozen people who were there with them. Justin held Sammie back. Sammie had done her job.

              “We need to get inside this car,” the captain barked and three men dashed forward to begin cutting away the windows.

              Justin commanded Sammie to sit and she quieted. The only sounds came from the glass breaking away. Then they were pulling away tarp from inside the car.

              Justin groaned silently. There was no way anyone could survive inside that car in this heat.

              “We’ve got something,” one of the men said.

              No one said anything. They were all thinking how futile this was.

              Then they were pulling her out - a thin, lanky teen-age girl. Unconscious. Or worse.

              The medic leaned over her - everyone waiting with little hope. “I’ve got a pulse,” she announced.

              There was a collective exclamation of disbelief and relief.

              Justin bent down to scratch Sammie’s head, “Good girl,” he said into her ear. Sammie seemed to smile in response.

              They began to sprinkle the girl with water to cool her off. Then she was on a stretcher and was being carted off to a waiting ambulance.

              “Good job,” the Captain said, coming up to stand next to Justin.

              “It was all Sammie,” Justin said. “And the detectives who got us out here in the first place.”

              “Maybe so, but you got it wrapped up quickly.”

              “Yeah,” Justin said, looking down as he kicked at a discarded Dr. Pepper can.

              “What’s eating at you?” Captain asked.

              Justin looked up, but shook his head. “It’s nothing you can do anything about.”

              “Try me.”

              “I’m having difficulty disappearing without a good explanation.”

              Captain studied him for a few minutes. “Your parents know what you’re doing.”

              Justin nodded.

              “You’ve started a new relationship with someone.”                           

              “You’re quite perceptive.”

              “It’s my job,” Captain said. “So, what have you told her?”

              “Nothing.”

              “When do you think you’ll tell her the truth?”

              Justin considered that. It wasn’t a simple question and he knew it wasn’t intended to be. “You want to know how serious the relationship is.”

              “That’s something you have to know before you can know when to tell her.”

              “I plan to marry her.”

              “Then it sounds like a clear-cut answer.”

              Justin shook his head as he watched the girl being carried off on a stretcher. Though her face was concealed by an oxygen mask, she had her eyes open. He exhaled slowly. That, at least, was a relief.

              “Not for her. She doesn’t know it.”

              Captain grunted with a knowing expression. “When do you plan to tell her?”

              “Doesn’t matter. We may not be on speaking terms after this.”

              “I don’t understand. Is she difficult?”

              “Not at all,” Justin said, glancing at his watch with a wry expression. “There’s just the little matter that I stood her up tonight. Again.”

              “Oh,” Captain acknowledged. “I see.”

              They were silent as they watched the ambulance disappear and the crime scene unit went to work on the area.

              “So, I think I’ll go put Sammie to bed and head on in.”

              He was almost to his truck when Brenda called out to him and jogged toward him. He stopped and watched her approach. He’d never really looked at her, but now as he studied her, her marveled that Alley would ever have thought he could be interested in her.

              Brenda was scarecrow thin and her hair was brittle and thin. He had thought before that she might be anorexic, but it wasn’t for him to worry about.

              “How’s it hanging?” she asked, rushing up slap him on the shoulder.

              Besides, she was the most uncouth woman Justin had ever met. He never knew if she was going to plant a kiss on his lips or punch him in the shoulder. He honestly preferred the punch to her kisses. In fact, her lips were often chapped and flaky. He shuddered.

              “It’s going well,” he answered. “We found her.”

              “No shit!” She slapped him again.

              Justin rolled his eyes, but she didn’t even notice. She was doing some kind of robot-like dance. He sighed.

              Alley really needed to meet this woman. He didn’t mind a little jealousy once in a while, who did, but for anyone at all to even suggest that he might have something going on with Brenda really just disgusted him.

              Then she was kneeling and hugging Sammie and Justin remembered why it was they worked together with SAR dogs. She may not have been all that great with people, but she was a one-of-a-kind with the dogs.

              “Want me to take him back?” she asked.

              “Sure, that would be great,” Justin said, and watched as woman and dog scampered away to her jeep.

              Justin pulled into his driveway and wondered why there were no lights on in Alley’s house. He corrected himself - Granny’s house. No matter the technicalities, he was coming to think of it as Alley’s house. He checked the clock - it was only fifteen after nine. He had expected to see her tonight – not that they had anything planned, but…

              He got out and slammed the car door. Maybe he should have called her. He knew not calling was a cop-out. He had to figure out what to tell her sooner than later. He couldn’t just keep standing her up.

              He stood outside, not going inside, not going to Alley’s door. Maybe she had turned out the lights to watch television. Or maybe she had gone to bed. He went to her back door and considered. If she were gone to bed, he didn’t want to wake her. If she was upset with him, maybe he should let her cool off before calling.

              Or maybe not.

              He knocked on the back door.

              No answer. He rang the doorbell. And waited. No answer.

              He took his cell phone and scrolled down to her number. Then he sighed and put his phone away. He didn’t blame her for wanting to be alone.

              Deciding to leave it be for now, he turned and went back to unlock his own door. He missed Alley. He wanted to share the events of his evening with her. To tell her the missing girl had been found and he had helped to find her.

              But since he couldn’t, it was just as well.              

              Alley sat tucked into the oversized chair next to her father’s hospital bed. She had made it into Dallas just as he was coming out of recovery. She’d had to take Charlie by her parents’ house before going to the hospital. She had shown up with nerves frayed to the very end. It had been the longest drive she had ever made. Her dad had been having gallbladder trouble for some time, but had been putting off getting the surgery until it was too late. There were always risks with surgery and that knowledge had made her a nervous wreck.

              She had marveled at her mother’s coolness. She remembered wondering if her mother really loved her dad. If she did, how could she be so insanely calm about the whole thing? Then her mother had taken her aside and said the words that kept Alley going ever since.

              No matter what happens, your dad will always be in my heart and me in his. True love is that way. There are no questions. No doubt that we’ll be together even when we’re apart.
                                         

              Her mother had gone on to explain that they took turns being strong for each other. Now was her turn. And she wouldn’t let him down.

              Alley watched the monitors that measured her father’s life and thought about Justin. She had felt a connection with him - something unexpected and exciting. Without it being reciprocated, however, there was nothing to do about it. She had to put it behind her and move on. She knew it would be awhile before she would be fit to date again. She was emotionally drained and her heart was filled with Justin.

              Dad stirred and opened his eyes. Alley felt tears spill over and run down her cheeks.

              His expression immediately turned to alarm. “What’s wrong, Kitten?”

              “I’m so relieved that you’re ok.”

              “It’s something else. What’s wrong?”

              “Nothing,” she said, wiping her eyes and trying valiantly to smile. “I was just so worried about you.”

              “I know, Kitten,” he said, seeming to accept her answer. “Where’s your mom?”

              “She went down to get us coffee. She’ll be right back.”

              “You didn’t have to drive all the way over here, you know.”

              “Are you kidding? How could I not be here?”

              “I’m glad you’re here anyway. Maybe you could get me something to drink.”

              “The nurse said no water, but you can have ice chips.”

              “I’m so excited.”

              Alley laughed, feeling a sense of relief sinking in that he would be ok.

              Her world seemed to shift back into place and, though there was still an achy place where Justin had been settling in, she knew that, somehow, everything was going to be ok.

              The next afternoon, Justin broke into Alley’s house. It hadn’t been hard to do. He knew where Granny kept the key outside - in a crevice in the window pane in the back yard. He had never used it. And he hadn’t planned to ever do so. In fact, he had almost forgotten all about the key.

              When Alley had not opened her blinds that morning or that afternoon, he had gotten worried. She hadn’t come to the door when he had knocked and rang the doorbell - repeatedly.

              He stood in the kitchen and called her name, feeling the sense of panic all through him. What if she had been accosted - or killed?

              They may have found the missing girl, but the perpetrator was still out there.

              He called out for Charlie. He needed to check the whole house.

              He was terrified to do so.

              Her work supplies were still spread out on the dining room table along with her notebook computer. She hadn’t gone far - or willingly.

              He steeled himself and went into the living room. There were no signs of struggle. The front door was secure. So far so good.

              As he walked toward the bedroom he marveled at how far they had come. He had known her forever and he had known her only a few days. Life was short. Too short to waste time when he could be building a life with the right woman.

              He stood at her bedroom door and breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t there. At least, that could be a good thing. Then it hit him - the bathroom. Hadn’t some of the most gruesome murders taken place in bathrooms. Like in Psycho. And Dexter!

              He slowly moved into the bathroom, holding his breath, and found it empty. Then he checked the other bathroom.

              Calling for Charlie, he checked under all three beds, in the closets, though he wasn’t sure why, and looked behind all the furniture a cat could hide behind. He wasn’t sure where Granny kept Charlie’s carrier, but he didn’t see it anywhere. There was uneaten cat food in his bowl in the kitchen.

              With a sigh he gave up and sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his head.

              Alley was not here. Neither was Charlie.

              He didn’t know whether to be relieved or to panic. He needed to break into the garage to see if her car was there. But even if he knew the answer to that mystery, he still didn’t know what to think. If her car was there, the only explanation was that she left with someone. She didn’t know anyone in Hanover other than him. It wasn’t likely she would go willingly. If her car wasn’t there, it still didn’t help. She could have gone to Dallas, but she could have just as easily been abducted and then they left in her car.

              He was trained not to panic. He wouldn’t allow himself to do so. If only she would answer her cell phone.

              He dialed her number again and it went straight to voice mail. On impulse, he sent her a text message, “Please call. Urgent.”

              She had probably gone to Dallas. That was the only thing that made sense. It wasn’t likely that she had been kidnaped. What were the odds?

              She was ok. She had to be.

              He had to do something. He wasn’t trained to do nothing. He was trained to act. To help others solve problems. On a flash of brilliance, he went to the kitchen and began searching for Granny’s address book. After he’d gone through everything she had, not without a certain level of guilt, he decided she must have taken it with her on the trip.

              Maybe his parents had Alley’s parents’ phone number. For emergencies, in case something happened to Alley.

              Locking up behind him, he hurried back home. He had to catch his parents before they left for the day. Otherwise, he’d be searching through their things and he had had enough searching for one day.

              He paused as he passed the garage. It might be a good idea to check there first. On impulse, he checked the door. Surprisingly, it opened. Granny always kept the garage door locked and he was pretty sure Alley did, too.

              He pushed it open, holding his breathe, with gruesome images in his head. Except for the usual crates, lawn mower, etc., the garage was empty. No car. No Alley.

              He almost could have been satisfied that she had left normally, except that the door was unlocked. That nagged at the back of his mind. Either she had been distracted, in a hurry, perhaps. Something.

              Locking it up, he continued onto his own house. 

              “We were just about to leave for lunch,” his mother said.

              “I don’t know where Alley is,” Justin blurted.

              “Really, Dear, she doesn’t have to tell you everything.”

              “I mean, she’s missing.”

              “How do you know,” his dad asked, looking up from his newspaper.

              “Her car is gone. Charlie is gone....”

              “Maybe she took him to another vet,” his dad suggested.

              “Ha. Ha,” Justin said. “I’m serious. Something is wrong.”

              “What can we do?” his mother asked.             

              “We have to find her,” he said.

              His dad got up and, without a word, walked into the living room.

              “What’s up with him?” Justin asked.

              His mother frowned and looked after her husband. “I don’t know. I thought he was ok.”

              “Has he been having any symptoms?”

              “I haven’t noticed anything unusual. We were just about to meet the Rhinos for lunch.”

              “And he was willing to go?”

              “It was his idea,” she said, turning her attention back to Justin.

              “Odd,” he said.

              “The only phone number I have is Granny’s.”

              “She never gave you her son’s number? In case of an emergency?”

              “No. I guess she has other friends for that. Did you call her cell?”

              “Of course. It just seems like she would have given you some way to contact her family. With you being right here.”

              His mother shook her head. They heard the printer running in the next room.

              “What’s he working on?” Justin asked.

              “Who knows.”

              “Here’s the phone number for Alley’s parents,” his dad said, coming back from the living room with a sheet of paper in his hand which he handed to Justin, then sat down and put his nose back in the newspaper.

              Justin saw that his dad had googled Alley’s parents and, as he said, had printed out their home phone and address - complete with a map.

              “Wow,” Justin said, with a smile. “I’m impressed, Dad.”

              “I don’t know why you didn’t think of it. With all the time you young people spend on the computer, I’d think it was the first thing you’d think of.”

              “I guess I panicked.”

              His dad looked up from his newspaper and studied his son. “You really are worried about her.”

              “Dad, we found the kidnaped girl.”

              “I know.”

              “So, yes, I was worried.”

              “Wait until tomorrow. Then call her parents.”

              Justin watched his best friend, Tad, and his girlfriend, head out to the dance floor. It had been ages since he’d been out with them. But when Tad had called this afternoon, the timing had been just too strange.

              He’d decided to follow his father’s advice – wisdom did have its advantages and give Alley until tomorrow before alerting her parents. If she just needed some time alone, there was no need in scaring them unnecessarily.

              Anyway, if he went to her, he would have to explain. And he knew he was bound not to explain. Not yet. Soon.

              “Come on Justin,” Tad said, coming up to sit next to him. “You’re not yourself tonight. In fact, I can’t remember ever seeing you like this.”

              “Well,” Justin said, taking a swallow of his drink, a drink that was much too strong and went against his better judgement. “Sometimes it just doesn’t pay.”

              Tad exchanged a worried glance with his girlfriend. “I’m concerned about you,” he said.

              “No need to be concerned. I’m sure I’ll be good.”

              Tad reached over and slid the drink away from Justin. Justin gave some thought to resisting his friend’s good intentions, then decided it wasn’t worth the effort. Even with his head buzzing from too much alcohol, he knew he wasn’t helping the situation any. He would wake up tomorrow and the Alley would still be gone.                                          

              And drinking himself stupid would do nothing to help him figure out a way to get her back.

              “Let us drive you home,” Tad said.

              Justin nodded and took a deep breath. No sense in being stupid and trying to drive himself home.

              After he was buckled in and Tad set off on the interstate, his friend started in on him. “So, spill the beans.”

              “What beans?”

              “Who is she?”

              Hell. Had he been that obvious?

              “Nobody gets this bent out of shape except over a girl. Besides, I know you.”

              “You think you do.” But in truth, he knew his friend did know him. Better than most. He and Tad had shared their experiences since their fist double date with the Maxwell twins back in high school. Mandy was a nurse now and Sandy was a college professor - either math or physics, he couldn’t remember, but she’d always been brainy. With her interest in science and Mandy’s interest in health, he couldn’t have gone wrong with either one of them. Besides, they had been eye candy and it was his understanding that they had only gotten better with age. Tad knew about them - knew that he had been attracted to both of them and wouldn’t have stood in his way whichever one he had chosen. However, he’d never quite felt that pull with either of them that would have had him pursuing a relationship.