Unforgettable (32 page)

“Patrick, please,” he said, dismissing the use of his formal name.

“To really understand any of this, you’d have to know Frank,” Breezy told them.

“He’s quite an exceptional conman, Patrick,” Carl explained.

“He comes across as very likable, at first. He’s cunning, charming and elegant when he needs to be. He could make you believe almost anything, which is exactly what makes him so dangerous. He earns your trust and your sympathy and then feeds on it like a parasite. Once he gets all you’re willing to give him, he takes the rest by force and then punishes you for making him do it by any means he deems appropriate. If he can’t take what he wants, as in Breezy’s case, he disappears and then strikes when you least expect it in revenge,” he continued.

Most people just didn’t understand how slick and intelligent criminals like Frank could be. He was probably a borderline genius and just too sorry to work for a living. No doubt he found the normal way of living boring and got some kind of sick thrill out of hurting and deceiving people. Criminals like Frank teetered on the edge of genius and insanity.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to come down to the station with me to file a complaint and fill out reports. I’d put it off if I could but, under the circumstances, the sooner we get the information you two have, the better it’ll be,” Carl insisted.

“I understand. I was expecting as much. Let’s just go and get it over with, as soon as possible,” Breezy sighed wearily.

***

After filling out a formal complaint and a mountain of paper work, including witness statements, and telling their stories more than a dozen times each, it was late afternoon before they could make their way to Susan’s house.

“Come on in, sweetie. I have a pot of coffee brewing and then you can take a long, hot bath,” Susan said as she met them at the door.

“That sounds wonderful. I keep smelling smoke…it must be embedded in these clothes,” Breezy smiled tiredly.

“Well, you’re covered in soot, Breezy. I went out and bought some clothes for you while you were at the police station. Don’t even give me that look, girlfriend. You
will
accept them. You don’t have anything else, right now,” she insisted, fully expecting her to put up an argument.

“I wasn’t going to argue, Susan. I was going to say thank you. As hard as it is for me to admit, I don’t have much choice, right now. So, thank you,” Breezy chuckled softly.

Susan beamed, pleased that she was accepting her help without her usual protest.

“I’ll get those clothes washed and dried while you’re in the tub and you should try to take a nap. I’ll come wake you when your clothes are dry,” she promised.

Breezy nodded, too exhausted to resist her mothering nature.

“I bought clothes for you, too, Patrick. You can shower in the guest bathroom,” she told him, giving him a look that dared him to argue with her about it.

He put both hands up in surrender, acknowledging that this was one battle he’d surely lose.

“I’m taking her to my apartment once she’s had a bath and time to rest. She can stay with me until we figure out what to do,” he told her.

“I don’t want to put you out, Susan. You’ve got enough on your hands right now, with the babies and all. This pregnancy has been hard on you and you don’t need to be fretting over me at the same time. It may be a while before I can come up with a new place to live. In the meantime, Patrick and I have already agreed that I’ll be staying with him, for now,” Breezy explained.

“For as long as it takes and as long as you need,” he corrected.

“I’ll stay there for now,” she corrected him. “I’m not going to be a burden or dependent on anyone.”

“It’s no problem or burden at all, Breezy. Don’t you worry about me and these babies. You do what you feel is best for you and what you feel you are capable of handling. Tom, Patrick and I will help out any way we can. You’re not alone in this, you know. We’re all here for you! We’re your friends…your family, and we’ll help with everything,” Susan scolded gently.

“That goes double for me,” Patrick said.

“Thanks, guys. I don’t know if I could handle this on my own. What I do know is that I need a bath, some time alone to clear my head and get organized, and then I’ll need coffee…lots and lots of coffee!” Breezy said, her attempt at humor falling somewhat flat.

She was trying her best not to let this get to her and drag her down. Most of all, she didn’t want them to worry about her. She’d faced hard times before and she knew that, as long as she kept her spirits up and looked for the good in everything, she’d get through this, but right now, she couldn’t see what good there was in digging through the ashes of her life. She tried to smile as she left the table to go take a bath, but didn’t quite make it. It came out a little crooked.

Patrick watched as she disappeared up the staircase.

“How in God’s name does she keep going? How does she keep smiling? Where does she find the courage to go on when she doesn’t know where to go from here?” he wondered out loud.

“I told you before she was the last of a dying breed…a true lady. When there’s no hope and nowhere left to turn, when everyone thinks she’s beaten, she’ll just lift her chin, square her shoulders, dust herself off and come back with more strength, courage, determination and the warmest, most heart-felt smile than anyone thought possible,” Susan replied.

“She hasn’t shed a single tear,” he said, a hint of awe and worry in his voice.

“I can believe that. She’s still trying to be strong right now…probably for us, truth be told. But the tears will come soon. It’s going to hit her hard and fast and, when it does, she’ll cry her heart out,” she said softly. Her heart ached for her friend and what she knew Breezy would soon have to face.

“She looks so frail and delicate, yet she’s faced one hardship after another without becoming bitter. Anyone else would have turned cold and twisted, but not her. She’s still the kindest person I’ve ever known. Did you know she was more upset over the fact that I might’ve been killed than she was over losing her own life, everything she’s worked so hard for her whole life, as well as losing her home, all combined?” he exclaimed.

“I’m not the least bit surprised, Patrick. With Breezy, everyone else matters first, especially those she loves. And she’s in love with you, which makes you more important to her than anything. She finds the good in everything, no matter what. Just when you think there isn’t anything anyone can do, there she is, doing whatever it takes to make people happy. Always putting others first, to the very end. I’ve always admired her for that. I’ve always wished I could be like that,” she sighed.

“You know, there was a moment, when we were trying to get out…Susan, she stared back at the fire with the strangest look on her face. I thought maybe she was just so tired of life kicking her down that…”

Patrick couldn’t, wouldn’t say the horrible things his mind had conjured up.

“You thought she’d give up and run back in? End it all?” Susan supplied for him.

Still unable to look her in the eyes and say the words, he nodded and hung his head.

“Let me guess, she didn’t…because of you, right?” she asked gently.

“I made her promise to stay with me,” he whispered, swallowing hard around the lump in his throat.

“She would have without the promise, Patrick. Suicide is a selfish act and there isn’t a selfish bone in her body. She was just hurting and needed to know someone cared,” Susan explained.

“Do you believe this?” Tom asked, tossing a notebook onto the table and taking a seat. He looked exhausted and exasperated.

“What’s this?” she asked, picking up the notebook.

“Those are messages from people all over town. They want to know what they can do to help Breezy. The entire tablet is full. I finally had to turn my phone off before I lost my voice,” he explained.

“Are all these people serious? There must be at least one hundred and fifty names here,” Patrick gasped.

“One hundred and seventy three, to be exact. And that’s not all. Shoot, half the town hasn’t heard yet. Wait till the news starts to travel…it’ll blow the phone lines to kingdom come!” he snorted.

“Starts to travel? It sounds like the whole town already knows!” Patrick exclaimed.

“Not even close, my man! Most of those folks live right here in this neighborhood. You mark my words; it hasn’t even begun, yet. Those there…they’ve offered money, food, clothing, building materials to rebuild, and more. They’ve offered their time to help clean up and rebuild, run the shop, and other errands…everything you could possibly imagine.”

“And you really think they’ll…?” Patrick began.

“Are you kidding? Just try and stop ‘em. You won’t be able to beat them off with a club, not when it comes to Breezy,” Tom laughed.

“Why, Patrick? What’s going on in that head of yours?” Susan wondered.

Patrick just smiled broadly and wiggled his eyebrows.

“If I’m right, Breezy’s future,” he grinned wickedly.

***

Three days after the fire, Carl finally called to tell them they could go to the “crime scene” and salvage a few items. The words “crime scene” instead of “your house” sent chills down Breezy’s spine. Carl told her he would meet them there. He’d be off duty but, if they found something useful to the investigation, he wanted to be close by. They all agreed to meet up at Susan’s house before heading over to Breezy’s.

Paul was on his way over with his truck and some boxes to haul her stuff in, not that she expected there to be a truckload full of anything to haul. She still hadn’t slept much, or talked much, nor had she cried at all, and Patrick was beginning to get very worried about her. She was keeping everything bottled up inside and it was going to catch up with her, eventually.

He stayed by her side every minute, accompanying her to the bank, the insurance company, and all the other excruciatingly bureaucratic appointments she needed to make. When he absolutely had to attend to his own business, Susan was with her. Breezy kept herself busy doing what she could, but there were moments when she ran out of things to clean, errands to do, or tasks to make up. It was during these moments that Patrick and Susan would catch her staring off into the distance. If they tried to comfort her, or even get her to cry…to let it all out, she’d smile at them, pat Susan on the arm, or kiss Patrick’s cheek, and say, “I’m fine really.” Then she’d start another task or chore that just
had
to be done. She was running from the pain and hiding from the hurt. Eventually, there’d be nowhere left to run and it was all going to come crashing down on her like a ton of bricks.

“Well, I think I’m done here for now…at least until I go through the house,” Breezy said.

Susan was leaning against the sink holding a cup of coffee and smiling. She and Tom had both perked up considerably over the past three days. They’d been all somber after the fire and now they were all smiles. Even Patrick seemed changed somehow, more…alert. That was an odd way to put it, but it was the only word that fit. He watched every move Susan and Tom made and kept a close eye on her, as well.

“What’s going on, Susan? Did Frank die or something?” she asked.

“No! Of course not! Why would you even ask me that?” Susan exclaimed.

“Because you’re grinning like a well-fed cat and the only thing I can think of that would make you that happy right now would be to see him croak!”

“Breezy! Really!” she scolded, shaking her head.

“Well you and Tom are both very cheerful, and Patrick is watching every move we make…or the two of them are holed up in Tom’s office. What have I missed?” Breezy demanded.

“Nothing, Breezy. It’s Christmas Eve. Despite all you’ve lost, sweetheart, you and Patrick are alive and that’s all that really matters. Plus, I know all your insurance papers and things of any real value are in the safe in the basement. As an added bonus, Frank has been caught and, by the time the law gets done with him, he’ll rot in prison,” she said cheerfully.

“Okay, I’ll let you get by with that for now, but what’s up with Tom and Patrick? Why are they hiding out in Tom’s office?” Breezy asked.

“Don’t ask me! Tom’s been acting weird ever since he found out I was pregnant,” she exclaimed, holding up both hands.

“Uh-huh, sure he has, and I saw a pink and purple giraffe walking down the street not five minutes ago,” Breezy scoffed. She didn’t buy a word of that story… not one minute of it. She watched Susan suspiciously. They were up to something big, but she knew from experience that she could plead until doomsday and still get nothing out of her.

Patrick and Tom suddenly emerged from Tom’s office.

“Carl and Paul are here. You guys ready?” Patrick asked.

“Not really, but we might as well get this over with,” Breezy said with a sigh. She looked at the three of them smiling at her. “Are you sure you guys are feeling all right?”

“Fine!”

“Great!”

“Let’s just go!” Patrick growled, rolling his eyes at Susan and Tom.

Chapter 17 “Out of the Ashes”

What was left of Breezy’s house lay mostly in ruins. A weird, spiraling tower of ash reached skyward while the rest lay smoldering at their feet. The blackened tower went from what had once been Breezy’s living room up into the remains of a large portion of her bedroom. Everything else was just…gone. The gasoline and explosion from the two cars had completely decimated her home.

The six friends stared in shock at the spiral tower, wondering how it was still standing. The only things that appeared to have survived were the contents of Breezy’s curio cabinet, which was still questionable since it now lay on its back, and perhaps some of the items in her closet. Patrick’s original plan had been to send everyone off in pairs so they could get this done quickly. He’d wanted to spare Breezy as much grief as possible. Now, however, it appeared there was nothing for the others to do but offer moral support.

“Oh, Breezy! It didn’t look this bad in the dark the other night,” Susan whispered.

Too devastated to speak, Breezy just patted Susan’s hand absentmindedly. She attempted a smile, but her face muscles were incapable of holding it in place.