A Case of the Heart (23 page)

She called him the day after her interviews and left a message, but another day had gone by with no return call. He was hurt, and she didn’t know how to mend it.

The red light on the answering machine blinked, giving some hope that Alex had called. Sure enough, he hadn’t. Instead, the message was from Brenda. She had just turned away from the phone when it rang.

She muttered a hello but only heard a sob on the other end. Only your best friend could possibly know you by your sniffs and sobs. “Brenda? What’s wrong?”

“Can you come over?”

“Yeah, do you need anything?”

“Another Alex.”

“I’m on my way.” That gave Liz a clue as to what she needed to pick up at the store.

Brenda had been involved with what seemed like a good relationship, but Liz had seen signs that this guy might have some of the controlling tendencies that Nick had. Brenda thought she was being overly sensitive, and Liz gave her the benefit of the doubt. But maybe Liz had been right after all.

She drove to the grocery store and grabbed two pints of Haagen Dazs ice cream. When she got to her car, she noticed a piece of paper stuck inside the windshield wiper. Thinking it was just one of those annoying flyers, she grabbed it but noticed it was folded with no writing on the outside. She opened it and took in a breath, unable to release it as she read the note’s contents
.

I have a name. Now I can find the place.

Liz opened the car door, threw the bags onto the passenger’s seat, quickly got in, and locked the doors. Her heart fluttered against her chest as she scanned the parking lot for any sign of someone conspicuous. She didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary and tried to think rationally.

Once again, she didn’t have a founded reason to think it was Pirelli. But even if this was a joke, it wasn’t funny anymore. Alex would want her to call him, and since it was work related she would have good reason to. She hesitated, wondering if he would take her call. But what was one more phone call after all the other unreturned ones she had made to him over the last few days?

It was too late for him to be at the station so she tried him on his cell phone. When it rang a fourth time, she knew it would transfer into his voice mail, so she hung up. This would be a good night to stay over at Brenda’s, which meant she would have to tell her everything. It was time to get it all out in the open anyway.

She made it to Brenda’s in good time and rang the doorbell two times so Brenda knew it was her. Liz walked into Brenda’s perfectly decorated art deco apartment. She was a good decorator, and it showed. Chrome and metal furnishings with vibrant colors were perfectly coordinated throughout every room.

Brenda was quite a sight. Her bloodshot eyes matched the color of her nose. She had already gotten into her comfort clothes, an old tattered sweatshirt with their sorority letters across the front and her weekend blue jeans.

Liz held up ice cream as she walked in, and Brenda instantly started to tear up.

“I’m so glad I’m making you feel better,” Liz teased.

“You already have.” She took Liz’s hand, and they sat on the couch.

She smiled playfully at Brenda. “I got your favorites.”

Brenda’s shoulders drooped, and she started sniffling again. “Chocolate chip cookie dough.” She grabbed the other pint. “And Chocolate Chocolate.”

Before Brenda had the lid off the container, Liz had returned from the kitchen with two spoons. Brenda grabbed one from her and dove into it like an addict needing her fix.

“This is just what I needed.” She flopped back onto the couch and took another huge bite.

“Okay, what happened?” Liz sat back into the love seat with the other pint and waited.

“I should have listened to you.”

Liz nodded. “About Blake?”

“I broke things off with him.” She shoveled in another spoonful of Chocolate Chocolate into her mouth.

“What happened?” Liz figured it would be an argument, not a breakup.

Brenda sat back with a sigh. “He didn’t want to be with someone who put their job before the relationship, exact words. Can you believe it?”

Liz knew she was the same way Brenda was with her job, until Alex came into the picture. And then Liz realized how much time she spent with her clients instead of others in her personal life. “I can see his point, Bren.”

Brenda jerked her head up. “What do you mean?”

“I think we both throw ourselves into our jobs to avoid relationships. I haven’t dated at all, and you date sparingly. We’d rather be involved in relationships we can control and keep at a distance. But that doesn’t mean I totally agree with Blake. You know how I felt about him.”

She shrugged. “You may have been right. I really don’t know why I’m so upset. It’s more than just Blake.” She stuck her spoon in her carton and looked at Liz. “Have you heard from Alex?”

“No.” Liz suddenly lost her appetite.

Brenda put a hand to her cheek, elbow on her thigh. “If he only knew how much you cared about him, and how little you cared about Ken.”

Liz let out a breath and stared at her ice cream. She was actually one of those who ate when she was happy, and couldn’t touch even her most favorite of foods when she was depressed. “He knows I didn’t have feelings about Ken. It just took me too long to figure out that it was the real thing between me and him.”

She hadn’t completely turned it over to God. Keeping that little piece of it had kept her from letting things work out as they should have.

Brenda put her ice cream on the coffee table and sat up. “God knows who we are supposed to be with. It’s just our pride that’s hurting.”

Feeling Brenda’s newfound strength, Liz give up her carton as well. “You’re right. So what are we going to do with ourselves?”

Brenda shrugged. “Same as we always do, I guess. Share ice cream, old movies and Saturday nights together until we’re old and gray.”

Liz sighed. “Could be worse, I guess.”

They sat in silence. Brenda stared at her carton of ice cream, and Liz sat twirling her hair.

It could be worse, but it could definitely be better.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Shoulders slumped with his head down, Alex leaned forward across the table for a bowl of pretzels. Jake sat on a yellow vinyl chair next to him and set his drink on the table. The place was a dive, but they served a good burger and catered to the cops due to the fact that the station was a block away.

Alex looked his way and almost smiled. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were following me.”

“Yeah, well lately I think you need a shadow.” Jake raised his glass. “Here’s to women. Can’t live with ‘em. And you, my friend, can’t live without ‘em, or should I say, her.”

Alex neither raised his glass nor showed any enjoyment at Jake’s repartee. Finding no amusement in his present situation, he preferred to sulk privately. After work was a good time. He could let go of the pretenses and let himself feel the pain.

Alex felt Jake quietly studying him but kept his attention on the nearest TV. He didn’t want to hear any more advice from his friend. It had been days since Alex and Liz had spoken to one another. Although Liz tried to call, Alex wouldn’t reciprocate, and try as he may, Jake couldn’t get him to budge. Alex even turned his cell phone off after hours now. Jake shrugged and turned to the TV as well.

“I wish something would happen,” Alex said, more to himself than to Jake.

Jake turned his head quickly to Alex with a perplexed look on his face. “With the game?”

Alex kept his eyes forward but answered Jake. “No, with Liz.”

Jake turned to him with enthusiasm. “Well, call her back.”

Alex shook his head. “No, I mean on the job. It’s the only time she needed me.”

“That’s not true, Alex. You were both scared, or just stubborn, so you used the situations at work to bring you together.”

Raising his brows, Alex gave a small nod. Actually, he knew it was God that had brought them together, not their jobs or even the need to have a relationship. He needed someone like Liz to remind him how great God is and that He works everything for good. That He hurts when we do, and He wants us to come to Him, not fall away and take the burden alone.

“You’re thinking of it all wrong. You’re the first guy she trusted again in how long, a year maybe?”

Alex nodded again. “I tell you too much.” Alex forced a smile and slapped his friend on the back. “Thanks, Jake.”

Jake looked at him in question. “For what?”

He paused. “Just…thanks.”

Alex got up and threw a few dollars down on the table to pay for his meal. He gave Jake a pat on the shoulder as his way of saying goodbye.

Stepping out into the cool night air, Alex slipped his jacket on and put his hands in the pockets for warmth. He blew out a white cloud into the air and looked up at the distant mountains. The night was clear, defining the peaked silhouette against the moonlit sky.

Alex felt their strength and was amazed in his Creator. His senses buzzed with his rekindling faith. He breathed in as the wind rushed past, cold but invigorating.

“When I am weak, You are strong,” he whispered to God.

He didn’t have Liz, but he had come back to his Heavenly Father.

If that was her only purpose in his life, that was enough.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

As Liz walked into work, she decided she would call Alex and ask him to come over to talk, and she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Liz was figuring out a game plan, garnering her courage when the phone rang.

“Liz, it’s John.”

“How are the boys?”

“They’re fine. But I just got a phone call, someone wanting to confirm who we are. They asked a lot of questions about us being foster parents. At first I thought it was about the license, but within a minute or two I knew better. But I’d already given them some information by then.”

“What made you think it sounded suspicious?”

“They didn’t ask about the kids, just confirmed that the boys were here and our location. They usually ask all those psychological questions about their adjustment and whatnot.”

“It might not be anything, like you said. Maybe this time it was just different than past calls, but it’s good you told me. We should treat it as though it’s something, until we know it’s nothing. Have you called the police?” Her heart hammered but she didn’t want him to sense her anxiety. She tried to mentally calm her nerves.

“No, I wanted to talk with you first.”

“They wouldn’t do anything anyway unless something actually happened. I’ll call Alex and be over as soon as I can. Have the boys packed and ready to go in case we need to move them.”

She asked John a few more questions about what information he gave. It didn’t sound like a routine call from Foster Care so Liz put in a call to check. They could still hope, but they would take all precautions. A caseworker was assigned to find another placement which would take a little time so Liz called Alex’s cell phone.

He picked up after the first ring. The sound of Alex’s voice brought immediate comfort. She had hoped the next time they talked would be under different circumstances. Hopefully that would come later.

“I just got a phone call from John.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It might be Pirelli.”

“I bet he’s still catching some heat for that money.”

“He can’t possibly think Scotty still has it.”

“Scotty would still have the cash if the Bowies hadn’t found it. And if Pirelli’s getting enough pressure, he’ll come looking for it. It’s good John was savvy enough to call.”

“I’m going over to pick up the boys and find another placement for them.”

“Okay, but don’t go in without me. I won’t get there before you do, but stay put until I do.”

She ran out to her car and drove to the Bowies’. She parked in front of their house and waited for Alex. Five minutes later, she got a call from Margie.

“Where are you?”

“Sitting in front of the Bowies’ house waiting for Alex.”

“That’s probably a good idea with your track record. Who is this Pirelli character?”

“A bad guy, Margie. And the last time I saw him, he wasn’t too happy with me.”

“Then be extra careful. I’ll talk to you when this is over.”

The house looked quiet, and she was tempted to get out and go to the door. But this guy really scared her, and if anything happened, Alex would never let her live it down.

She decided to call Brenda while she was waiting. Liz had just picked up her phone to dial when the car jolted. Liz turned to see Pirelli peering in her window, his face flushed and his eyes were narrow slits. Liz quickly turned to push down the lock but didn’t reach it in time.

He opened the door with a satisfied grin. Liz jerked away. “Stay away from me Pirelli. The cops will be here soon and you’re already in enough trouble.”

He ignored her protests and grabbed her by the arm. “Come with me.” he ordered as he pulled Liz out of the car. “You’ll make another nice bargaining chip.”