Maternal Harbor (15 page)

The three-story, concrete and steel structure of the West Precinct dominated the Denny Triangle neighborhood.  It was one of Seattle’s latest major expenditure of taxpayer’s dollars – twenty-seven million of them.  Erica stood under one of the tender maples, lining the street in front of it and wiped a film of sweat from her forehead.  The wood-trimmed roof across the front was stupid three years ago and just as stupid today.  Trees and wood might look aesthetic, but why soften the look of a cop shop?  Anyone needing to go inside was either in trouble or making trouble.  Why beatify that?

Erica placed her hat back on her bristled hair and entered a building humming with energy.  A cluster of officers silently appraised her approach.  They returned to comparing stories after she passed.  Several snickers followed her, but she chose to ignore them – this time.

“
Sarge,” called a rookie, sitting at a computer terminal, face flushed and uniform damp at the pits and down the back.  “I need help with this report.”

Erica used a chunk of her limited time to explain how to key information from his notepad into places deemed acceptable by the Brass.  Time pressed, but she stuck with him and made sure he understood.  She would not be bugged again.

Ignoring his gratitude, she crossed to an open computer terminal and tapped a key to cancel the screen saver.  She blocked the room’s hubbub by single-minded concentration and typed in Teagan O’Riley.  The search engine pulled up a driver’s license from the state bureau.  The six-digit number popped onto the screen.  Next, she entered the number into outstanding warrants, hoping for at least a few parking tickets.  She searched for anything that would nullify Teagan as temporary custodian and make certain Jimmy was placed in a foster home.  Then armed with forged transfer papers, she’d take the boy.

She scrolled screen after screen with sharp jabs of the enter key.  “Come on, come on,” she whispered through clenched teeth.  There must be something besides Teagan’s single status.  Years ago, CPS would’ve considered that stigma enough – not anymore.  No traffic violations or accidents turned up either.  Not a blemish against the slut.  Erica closed her eyes and searched her memory for any word Teagan uttered about her life.  Nothing came except the inane conversations among the four of them as they waited at the clinic.

“Back on duty already?”  Captain Schroeder asked behind her.

Her body armor helped hold her ramrod stiff.  Too late to close out Teagan’s name, she turned, placing herself between him and the screen.  Face devoid of any feeling, she said, “I like work.”

His eyes dropped to her empty abdomen.

He wants to say something about Derek, she thought.  Bile tasted sour in her throat.  “Keeps me busy,” she said.  He should already know that.  I would if I were Captain.

“Good to have you back.”  He walked away.

Erica glanced at the ceiling, knowing Iska also saw Schroeder’s weak goatee-covered chin and his bald spot under the comb over; neither ploy worked.  She shared the mirth with her favorite feline.

The curser still blinked in the same spot.  Relieved she didn’t need to start from the beginning, she ran a check on Teagan’s business, bank accounts, and credit cards.  Not much money, but no large outstanding debt.  Clean as a whistle.  How clean is that?  Past mistakes with men wouldn’t show on the computer, but Charlie’s birth record would list the father.  He’d know her dirty little secrets.  And he’d give them up.  Her hand rested against her holster, thumb touching the metal handle of the Glock.  Was there a quicker way to get his name than a trip downtown to the Administration Office?  Maybe Doretta knows.  Should I call her?  Erica dismissed the thought, but desperately needed the information
now
.  A steady pain throbbed in her temples; she closed her eyes, envisioning the sway of seaweed and the melodic surf; her boy ran from the waves, all smiles, but alone.

Call Tracy at the clinic.

Erica glanced around.  No one was within hearing distance.  She pulled her cell phone from her duty belt and dialed Tracy’s cell phone.

“
This is Erica.  I have a gift for Teagan O’Riley’s baby and want to give it to her personally, but she isn’t home.”

“
You expect me to know where she is.”  The voice was hushed with caution.

“
She might be at the father’s house.  He paid the doctor bills.  Check with billing for name and address.”

“
I can’t give you that.”

“
Maybe I better make an appointment with Doctor Allison.  Tell him a few things.  Or don’t you need your job anymore?”

“
You’ll have to hold.”

Erica stored the father’s name and address in her memory, then snapped her cell phone shut.  Her forehead cooled; the thumping in her temples receded.  The phone beeped in her hand and almost fell.  “Thorburn,” she answered.

“Four vehicle accident at Queen Anne and Boston.  Officers requesting assistance.”

“
Five minutes to scene.”  She exited the computer screen.  There was plenty of time to assist the officers before visiting with Charlie’s father and making him cough up something to squash Teagan’s bid for custody.

“
Heck, Iska,” she whispered.  “I might even check to see if she makes her appointment at homicide.  It will take more than one meeting to convince CPS to give her Jimmy.”

Erica resisted the impulse to feed Detective Lutavosky some doubt about the interfering bitch.

Memories of Bryan flooded Teagan’s dream.  Images lingered: tracing her fingertips along his jaw not yet smooth from shaving, kissing his soft eyelids to awaken him, caressing him to arousal.  She drifted from this dreamy state to awareness of light filtering around the drapes on her bedroom window.  Teagan reached out and touched the empty side of the bed, and then remembered Jimmy’s screaming and the officer carrying him away.  She kicked free of the covers and ran to the nursery.

Empty!

She rushed from the room and down the hall.

Doretta sat on the couch with Levi in one arm and Charlie in the other, humming the strains of a melody sung by mothers everywhere.

Teagan sagged with relief.  “I thought Charlie was gone like Jimmy.”

“
Didn’t mean to frighten you.  Only letting you sleep.”

“
Can’t believe I fell asleep.”  Teagan brushed back her tousled mass of titian hair.

“
Even when you’re scared and have tangled bed head bad enough to scare a brush, you’re beautiful.”

Teagan doubted that.  “What time is it anyway?”

“I give you a compliment and I get nothing?”

“
You were the epitome of motherhood singing to Levi and Charlie like that.  Wished I could be so easy with them.”

“
Motherhood
?”  Doretta sighed.  “At least my boyfriends call me gorgeous.  I sure could use a man now.”  She paused, then added, “Didn’t mean what you’re thinking.  I’d put him to tending these boys.  And it’s only seven o’clock, plenty of time before we have to leave.”

Teagan lifted Charlie from Doretta’s arm and sat down beside her.  “How can we be talking like this when Jimmy is God knows where?”

“It’s unbelievable that Pai is gone,” Doretta murmured.  “Jimmy will never know her.”

Teagan stroked Charlie’s head.  “We’ll make sure he knows.”

“I’m going to tell him his mother was a colossal pain in the tush.”  Doretta wiped at a tear.  “I hope she’s sitting on the edge of some fluffy cloud, flippin’ off the world.  It isn’t fair.”

Teagan pictured Pai spending eternity with her middle finger extended upwards.  “I think Pai just heard you.”

“Good.  Maybe she can explain to the angels that you plan to care for two babies and a fish market.”

Teagan again felt inadequate.  She was worried about fulfilling Charlie’s needs and raising him to be complete.  Now Jimmy was added.  “I’ll only have him until Duffy gets home.”

“Getting temporary custody won’t be easy.  I know.  CPS hounded my mother about leaving us girls alone while she worked.  Her nurse’s pay had to stretch, and we helped by taking care of each other like Mama said, but once they almost took us.  I blame my father for it.  He’d show up a couple times a month, then leave, saying Mama could draw more money from welfare than he could earn.  But she never did, said we were fine without handouts.  And we were.”

“
Do you ever see your father?”

“
Do I want to?”  Doretta shook her curls.  “Phew, what a thing to be talking about.  Where’s Pai’s letter?”

“
In my purse.”  Teagan glanced at the library table where she usually dropped it.  Not there?  Startled, she jumped up, plopped Charlie on Doretta’s lap, and scurried into the bedroom.

The bag hung on the door knob of the closet.  Her pulse quieted and she quickly dumped the contents on the bed.  She rifled through a pile of bills, receipts, and ads for the market.  Again her heart raced.

“You okay?”  Doretta called from the other room.

Teagan finally found the letter where she’d tucked it into a zippered pocket for safekeeping.  She pressed it to her chest and went back to the living room.  Her fingers trembled as she opened the flap.

In the event of my death, I give my son, Jimmy, to Teagan O’Riley.  She will protect him until my husband comes home
.

It was signed in Pai’s graceful script and witnessed by the nurse and Doctor Alfred Klassen.

Pai’s words echoed in her mind. 
Protect my son
.  And Teagan whispered, “I will.”  The vow sealed in her heart and mind.  The paper proved it.  Her heart guarded it.

Whenever Teagan passed near the massive marble and cement Public Safety Building, she silently thanked the good, capable people inside the imposing structure for standing between her and the criminals.  Today she needed to convince those officers, who now seemed unapproachable, to grant her temporary custody of Jimmy.  How would she ever convince them?  The promise to Pai was easy to make, fulfilling it might be impossible.

The pedestrian light changed to walk and Teagan adjusted the baby sling.  Charlie slept peacefully, his warmth seeped through the fabric and his weight was solid.  She strode across Third Avenue with purposeful steps to cover her mounting nervousness.

Doretta matched her stride for stride.  “Charlie’s sling looks easier to pack than my baby carrier.  Where did you find it?”

“
Internet.  It’s called a Rebozo, but you won’t calm me down with chitchat.”

“
Would a right hook to your jaw work better?”

“
Probably.”

The two women entered the building through a heavy plate glass door, and joined a line of people waiting to pass through security.  The line moved steadily.  In only a few minutes, Teagan wiggled her purse strap from her shoulder and the bag thudded onto the conveyer belt.  It disappeared into the x-ray machine.  She carried Charlie through the metal detector.

Doretta tripped through.  “Sheesh, I’d just like to try to commit a crime with my arms full of Levi.”

“
Will you come on?”

“
Not my fault. Some people wear something besides serviceable shoes.”  Doretta pulled the strap of her stiletto back up on her heel.  “Well go.”  Her spikes clicked on the tile; Teagan’s Dansko clogs padded softly as they approached a uniformed guard.

“
I have an appointment with Detective Lutavosky,” Teagan said.

“
The Violent Crimes Section is on the fifth floor.  I’ll let them know you’re here.”

A few minutes later, the upward surge of the elevator tweaked Teagan’s already knotted stomach.  She chewed on the inside of her lip and tried to relax by focusing on the floor numbers.  Numeral five was missing.  It was on the tip of her tongue to ask why when she realized the detectives needed protection from a revenge crazed world.  A world she knew nothing about.  The elevator settled and the door whispered open.  Quickly, Teagan stepped out into another marble foyer, glad to be in control again.

Two young men brushed angrily by Doretta and into the elevator.  Both wore baggy, stained clothes, smelled unclean and had red-rimmed eyes.

Teagan shuddered.  “I could’ve done without the creeps.”

Doretta shrugged.  “They’re just scummy roaches feeding on society’s crumbs.” 

Teagan tried to mimic Doretta’s bravado as they approached another bank of elevators and boarded.  The door hardly slid shut before it opened again on the floor where violent crimes were solved.  An officer led them into a windowless room with a table and four chairs.

They waited silently, watching either the open doorway or the big hand on the wall clock jump minutes.  When it jumped to 10:15, Teagan muttered.  “I hate waiting.”

“
Good Morning.”  Lute entered and folded his long frame onto a plastic chair.  It disappeared under him.  “Linda Clark from CPS will be here shortly.  May I see Pai’s letter?”

Teagan handed it to him.  “Shouldn’t I be interviewed at home?”

“Normally, yes.  But an assistant DA wants your statement on his desk this morning.  It’s easier if I get everything on tape.”  He switched on a tape recorder.  Its rotating mechanism hummed clearly in the silence, then he stated the date, time and those present.  “Ms. O’Riley begin with what you know about Ms. Sanders’ family and friends.”

Sounded reasonable, but the tense muscles in Teagan’s stomach remained.  “That’s the problem,” she said.  “I don’t know much, except she was nervous enough to want to stay with me.  I simply don’t know why she felt afraid.”

“Just keep talking.”

Teagan cleared her throat.  “We met at the Swanberg Clinic.”  She described how the friendships developed and then told about the last time she’d seen Pai.  She just finished when a slip of a woman stepped inside the room.

Her tailored blazer was sharp and her petite features just as sharp.  “This is mighty unusual,” she said looking straight at Lute.  “You know I interview prospective foster parents in their homes.”

“
Like I explained last night, Pai Sanders wanted Teagan to care for her son until his father can get here.  This is her paper stating so.”

Linda scanned the paper.  “These things take time I don’t have right now.  Is there any way to get the father’s permission?”

Lute scratched his brow.  “I’ll contact the doctor and see if we can get a message to Duffy Sanders.  Would that lighten your load a little?”

“
You’re that sure about this?”

“
It’s a shame not to place kids where they’re wanted.”  He turned to Teagan.  “Your statement will be transcribed in a few minutes.  We’ll need your signature before you leave.”  He unfolded from the chair.

“
Hold on,” Teagan said.  “What about Pai?  Who did this?”

Lute shook his head.  “We’re working a few leads, but nothing definite.”

Dissatisfied, Teagan watched him leave.  She wanted to know what leads.  And who?  Unconsciously, she hugged Charlie tighter and returned Linda’s silent appraisal.  She felt like a bug on a pin.  “Look, Ms. Clark.  I don’t lie, cheat, or steal.  I only want to take care of my friend’s child.  What more can I say?”  

Linda glanced at her watch and removed a few forms from her briefcase.  “Fill these out and bring them and a copy of the letter to the CPS Building at three this afternoon.  I’ll set up a custodial review.”  She rose and left without bothering to say goodbye.

“That was rude,” Doretta said.  “She could’ve at least said
later
.”

“
Rude is okay
if
she helps with Jimmy.” 

After Teagan signed her statement and Lute assured her that they’d be in touch, she trailed behind Doretta to the elevator.  Leaving without Jimmy was wrong.  “We didn’t learn a flippin’ thing, and I don’t even know if Linda Sharp-Nose really will help.  I want to go back and--”

“And what?  I told you about those broads from CPS.”  Doretta slumped against the wall by the elevator.

Teagan stood rigid.  “I feel so unsure.”

Doretta raised her brows.  “Unsure of what?”

“
I don’t know,” Teagan snapped and regretted the irritation in her voice.  “God, this is a disgusting place.”  And it really was; a huge place stifled by the tight nerves of endless people who left, feeling worse than when they arrived.  Suddenly Teagan wanted to be in her fish shop, waiting on customers, spinning barbs with them and laughing.  Tears gathered and she blinked to keep them from spilling.  

“
Teagan,” Doretta said.  “Will you stop it?  Since we stepped into this building you’ve been acting goofy and you still are.”

Teagan bristled, tears dried and she stepped in the elevator with her chin high.

Outside, they again waited on the corner for the traffic light to change.  The clouds thinned, but the air still smelled wet.  An early morning rain had been heavy enough to wash debris into the gutter, but not enough to flush it clean.  The light flipped to green.  Teagan misjudged the step into the street and her heel squished into gooey mud.  “That’s really what I needed,” she muttered and stopped to rub her shoe against the curb.

Doretta marched down the steep sidewalk, heels rapping, as if glad to be outside in the clean damp air.

People hustled by in all directions and Teagan hurried to catch up.  Suddenly, a uniformed police officer strode out of the crowd.  “I was hoping to see you,” Erica said.  “I helped work Pai’s murder scene.  From the looks of it, she died quickly.”

“
You’re a cop?”  Never would’ve Teagan guessed it; she didn’t like surprises like this.

“
I’m worried about her son.”

Teagan’s Irish dander flared.  “I’m worried about him, too.  It would’ve been damned nice to know you work for the police department.  I just got a big time runaround by an overworked social worker.  She was more worried about her time than helping with Jimmy.  You could’ve vouched for me.”

Erica’s chiseled face remained immobile.  “I offered to help before and I got the big turn down.”  She tipped her hat back and scratched near her temple.  “But what the hell, who’s the caseworker?”

“
Linda Clark.”

“
Don’t know her.  But like I said, I’d be glad to help.  Maybe watch the boys for a couple of hours.”

Why was Erica so determined to sit with the babies?  The same apprehension Teagan felt at the hospital ran along her spine.  “I’m okay with the boys, but I’d appreciate help with CPS.”

A phantom smile brushed the corners of Erica’s lips.  “And I’d be glad to let you know as leads develop.”  She lowered her voice, ““Did Clark mention where they’re keeping Jimmy?”

“
No, just said to be at CPS at three.”

“
I’ll try and be there.  Pai’s son needs to be where he is wanted.”  Erica’s bottom lip trembled and she pressed her lips together.

“
I’m sorry about your baby.”  Teagan wanted to add something about a visit, but the words died in her throat. 

Doretta’s Toyota rolled out of the parking garage and stopped alongside.  “Hi, Erica.  I left a message on your voice mail.”

“I haven’t been returning calls.”  Erica’s eyes narrowed.

“
Come on, Teagan,” Doretta said.  “I’m late for work.  If you gab much longer, you’ll have to explain to my boss, and there ain’t a shred of mercy in her bones.  Give me a man to work for any day.”

Relieved, Teagan shrugged at Erica, hurried around the Toyota, and laid Charlie into his infant seat beside Levi.  When she glanced back, Erica was already gone.

“Will you hurry up and get in,” Doretta grouched.

Teagan obeyed.  “I didn’t know Erica’s a cop.”  She hooked the seat belt.  “Did you?”

“Nope.”  Doretta eased the Toyota into traffic.  “And never would’ve guessed it.  Come to think of it, I hardly know anything about her.  But I do feel bad about her baby.  She really wanted him.”

“
She’s back at work already.  Probably couldn’t stand staying home.  She worked Pai’s murder scene.”

“
You have to be kidding.  Damn.”  Doretta slammed on the brakes for a red light.

Teagan rocked with the jolt.  “Erica told me like it was the most natural thing to say.  She could’ve been talking about a sale at Wal-Mart and I think she didn’t want us to know she’s a cop until now.  That’s strange.”

Green light; a horn blared.  “Aw, shut up,” Doretta yelled and accelerated through the intersection.

“
I actually figured she could’ve put in a good word with CPS.  Then I was right back to distrusting her.  Am I getting paranoid?  I even wondered if she was waiting for us.”

“
You had the impression she was waiting?”

“
I don’t know.  I’m so on guard with her.  Pai felt something too.  Just now, when you stopped beside us I saw her whole face lock.  Her eyes were awful.”

“
Let’s go back and tell that handsome detective.”

“
Tell him what?  That I get the creeps when I’m around one of his fellow officers?”  Teagan shook her head.  “This is silly.  I’m just jumpy.”

But Teagan knew that wasn’t so.  Erica put her on guard.  She hadn’t figured out why, but she planned to stay far away from her.