In the Shadow of Love (20 page)

“No we don’t,” Morris’ disappointment was telling.   “But, we’re not sure he found it either.”

“So you got a good look at the perp?”

“Afraid not.”  Davis chimed in.

“How about you, ma’am?”  The Sheriff’s eyes were intense, his stare penetrating her personal space and she squirmed in response.

“No, I didn’t.  I only saw him as he was running away.”  Maggie looked to Morris to see if she’d done the right thing, but his expression was gave nothing away.

“Well then, looks like you three had better be on your way if you want to make it back to Chicago before sundown.”

The Sheriff’s words conjured up images of an old western Maggie had watched as a child.  In other circumstances she would have found it amusing.

“I’ll notify the cabin’s owner of the break-in.”  The sheriff’s voice was firm, letting everyone know this was his town and he ran things his way.  Morris didn’t bother to tell the Sheriff that the owner was not reachable.

As a final, yet authoritative gesture, the Sheriff took down their names and other pertinent information for his report before leaving.   Maggie felt like a criminal.

Struggling to put the day’s events as far away from her thoughts as possible she realized how tired she was.  The only thing she wanted to do now was climb into her nice comfortable bed and hide.

“I guess we can discuss the details on the way back to the city.”  Davis’ voice was uncomfortable as he tried to break the silence in the room, eager to leave as well.

“Let’s go.”  Morris guided Maggie out towards the car. 

“I’ll ride in the back,” she offered quickly.

“But I don’t mind sitting in the back.”  Davis was almost apologetic.

“No, no.  This way you two can talk cop business.” Davis didn’t look convinced.  “I plan to sleep the entire way back.”

But as hard as she tried, a deep sleep proved elusive. Bits and pieces of their conversation caught her attention as Morris sped the car back towards Chicago.

Words and thoughts floated through her mind as she finally drifted off to sleep.  Only the sound of Morris shutting off the engine pulled her back.  As he gently carried her inside she drifted back into the comfortable protection of sleep.

Was this a dream?  Or was this for real?  She felt his grip tighten on her and she let herself sink into the feeling of being cared for and protected.  This would be her reality, at least for the night.

For the second time in as many days, Morris had pulled into Maggie’s driveway and helped her into bed.  What would the neighbors think?  Especially old Mrs. Rivers?

In fact, old Mrs. Rivers thought quite a bit of the event and called the one person she thought she could trust with this information – Detective Geridano.

Chapter 14

The next morning Maggie woke once again to a half-empty bed while struggling to take in her surroundings.  Through the fogginess of her mind she heard a piercing noise that reverberated through her head worsening the pain which throbbed without mercy from front to back.

The ringing phone made her roll over as she identified it as the source of her misery.  She answered it with disdain but dead silence greeted her on the other end.  Oh, well, let the damn thing go to voice mail.  She wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone right now anyway.

Then fearing it could be Max or one of her boys, she waited anxiously for the message light to come on.  When it didn’t she relaxed enough to fall back into her pillow attempting to go back to sleep.  Max would have left a message.

Again the phone rang.  Reacting quicker this time, she grabbed the receiver before the caller had a chance to go to voice mail or hang up.

“Hello.”  Silence.  She was about to hang up when the sound of breathing interrupted the eerie quiet on the other end, sending a chill up her spine.  Then the sound of a click as the phone went dead.

Trying to reassure herself she checked the caller id.  It was identified as a private number.  She called Morris, but there was no answer at his office or home.  A call to his cell phone yielded the same results.  She left several messages.  Maybe she was overreacting but he had admonished her before about not telling him the simplest of things and this was anything but simple.  Besides, she needed to hear his voice.  She needed him to tell her once again that everything would be okay.

Heading towards the bathroom she decided that a dousing of water would help her put things in perspective.  Minutes later, as she stepped out of the glassed-in shower the coldness of the air brought a shiver to her body making her feel vulnerable.  After toweling off she anxiously checked to see if Morris had called back – he hadn’t.

Downstairs she tried to eat breakfast but wasn’t hungry even though it was closer to lunchtime.  Nibbling on a piece of toast she decided to get back to work on the only evidence she had – the documents.  There must be something she overlooked.  She cleared her mind to take a fresh look at the papers.

Her only diversion was to check for the mail.  She deposited the stack unread on the entry-way desk.  Coming back into the kitchen area she noticed that the message light was still unlit. She stared at the phone as if she could will it to ring.

 “Come on damn it.  I don’t pay you just to sit there and do nothing.”

Grabbing the receiver she decided to check her messages.  She listened to her previous messages from her boys.  She knew it was silly but she loved to hear their voices when they were away.  Soon they would be back and she could delete the messages but not until they were safely home.  Then the recorded greeter indicated there was a message that was delivered earlier that day.  That was odd.  The message light was never on each time she checked.  It was Morris.  He had returned her call.

He said to call back on his cell phone.  She quickly dialed the number only to hear the message that the cell phone owner was outside the calling area, which didn’t make sense.  Pulling her PDA from her purse, she verified the number.  Turning towards the kitchen window she pressed redial then froze.   Smoke was seeping out of old Mrs. Rivers’ house and it wasn’t coming from the chimney.  Maggie hung up and hurriedly dialed nine-one-one.

As soon as she hung up, the phone rang again and Morris’ voice reached out to her.

“There’s a fire.”

“Call nine-one-one Maggie.”

“I did.”  She cradled the phone in her hand anxious to keep the connection with him.

“I’m on my way.”

“Hurry,” her voice choked out the plea, but he never heard the words as the phone went dead.

Across town, Morris gathered up his coat, his cell scrunched between his ear and his shoulder when the connection dropped.

“Maggie?”

His heart froze.  He hung up and redialed.  The line was busy.

Calling dispatch as he fled from his apartment, his voice was frantic.  “This is Detective Morris, badge number five-six-one-nine.”

“Yes, detective.”

“Full response needed to the intersection of Canyon View Lane and Main.”

“Yes, detective.”  He stayed on the line, the noise of dispatchers talking in the background.

“Detective Morris?  There’s already a unit in the area.  Seems a call was already placed concerning a fire.”

Now in his car, he threw the cell phone on the seat.  Sirens blaring, he broke several laws racing to get to Maggie.

“I should have stayed!”  He pounded his fist on the steering wheel, the hard material bruising the side of his hand.  He didn’t care.  “I should have stayed!”

His car radio was going wild.  Dispatches were being called in every few minutes.  The fire had gotten out of control.  Morris pulled up just in time to see an ambulance pull away.

He could see that Maggie’s house wasn’t burning, instead Mrs. Rivers house was surrounded by fire crews.  He rushed from his car, badge in hand and wove through the fire fighters and patrol officers.

Recognizing one of them he called out, “Rodriguez.”  The younger man turned at the sound of his name.

“Detective Morris.  I didn’t know you were called in on this.”  Rodriguez pointed across the street.  “Geridano and his partner are already here.”

“Geridano!  It figures.”  Morris was beyond controlling what he said.

Rodriguez nodded in understanding.

“The occupant of that house over there,” pointing towards Maggie’s colonial two-story home.  “Do you know where she is?”

“Everybody’s been evacuated and should be in the emergency check area setup by the medics.”  The young fireman pointed down the street to the center of the cul-de-sac, a caravan of ambulances and medics blocking his view.

“Thanks.”  Morris patted him firmly on the arm and walked as fast as he could without attracting attention and headed towards the emergency check area.

“The fire’s not in that direction, Morris.”

Geridano!  The last person he wanted to deal with right now so he ignored him and continued on his way.

As he neared the group of residents standing around, he desperately looked for a red-haired woman.  His heart began to race as he eyed the various faces in the crowd.  “Where is she!”

“Are you looking for someone, detective?”

The feminine but firm voice sounded just below his right ear.  He looked down to see one of the medics – petite but strong.  He had been on other cases where she had been the responding EMT.

“Yes, I’m looking for a woman, er, the occupant of that house.”  Once again, he pointed in the direction of Maggie’s home which stood untouched from the fire that raged across the street.

“Over there, detective.  We’re checking everyone for smoke inhalation and shock.”

“Thanks, Rosie.”  He headed towards the ambulance and walked around to its rear – the door was open with Maggie sitting inside, an oxygen mask covering her face.

When Maggie opened her eyes Morris was kneeling before.  “Are you okay?”

She pulled the mask from her face and leaned forward.  “It was horrible.”  She sobbed into his shoulder.  “Poor Mrs. Rivers.  They’re not sure she’s going to make it.”

Morris held her tight, trying to comfort her.  “I’ll check on her but right now I need to know that you’re okay.”

“I’m okay.”  And then she added, “Now that you’re here.”

“Tell me what you remember.”

Even though his tone was gentle she bristled at the feeling of being interrogated even if it was his job.  She took a deep breath and reminded herself of the image of Mrs. Rivers’ unconscious body being carried away.

“I was talking to you then the phone went dead.”  Tears flowed down her face, sobs racked her body.  “I was so scared.”

Holding her tightly in his arms he comforted her until she was ready to let go.  He knew it wasn’t normal police procedure, but she welcomed it and so did he.

“Detective Morris.”  His name came out of nowhere like a lightening bolt.  “I need to speak with you.”  Both looked up to see a fully-uniformed, older man glaring in their direction.

He held Maggie away from him.  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She lifted a tear-stained face up to him.  “Yes.”  Her eyes, the tone of her voice said it all.  She felt safe with him around.

Morris climbed down from the ambulance and Maggie watched as the two men walked further away from her.   She could tell by Morris’ body language that he wasn’t happy with what he was hearing.

“Excuse me, sir!”

“You heard me.  “I’m putting Geridano in charge of this case.  You’ve lost all objectivity and I want Geridano on the case now!”

Morris looked across the crowded cul-de-sac and saw the other detective standing next to the Lieutenant.  He must have sensed Morris looking his way for he suddenly paused and made eye-contact.  His look said, “Gotcha!”

Looking back at the Captain, “You’re making a huge mistake, sir.”  It was all he could say.

“That’s not for you to decide.  I’ll see you back at the station.”  And with that he left, gesturing for the Lieutenant to follow.

There were actually many things that Morris had already decided, despite the Captain’s warning.  And, one of those things was that he didn’t trust the Captain.  Not one bit.

The EMT gave Maggie a clean bill of health but told her to follow up with her own doctor.

Before she could talk to Morris again he had disappeared.  When she asked where he was a uniformed officer said he was no longer on the case – Captain’s orders.

Returning to the safety of her home, Maggie locked all of her doors and windows in an attempt to feel secure.

Why would Morris be taken off the case?  It didn’t make sense.  Grabbing the phone she started to dial the numbers for Morris that she now knew by heart.  Placing the phone to her ear she encountered the same dead silence that ended her call with Morris earlier in the day.

“Damn!”  It was too late to call the phone company.  It would have to wait until the morning.  Reaching for her purse she dug for her cell phone and called Morris.  She needed to talk with him.  She needed to find out why he was taken off the case.  She just plain needed him.

Maggie paced the length of her living room waiting for Morris to return her call.  The waiting was unbearable.   Finally, the phone rang.  It was working again.  Maggie didn’t stop to analyze why it was working again, she was just grateful.  She grabbed it before it could go to voice mail, her breathing uneven and anxious.

“Morris, I’ve been trying to–”

“Hello, Maggie.”  A deep, raspy and unfamiliar voice on the other end knew her name.

Her heart stopped as she held her breath, afraid she’d explode from fear.

“What’s the matter Maggie?  Cat got your tongue?”

The room started to spin around her.  Her breathing was labored as she looked around the living room, afraid she wasn’t alone.

“Your boyfriend can’t help you now.”

Click.  Silence.  Then the phone went dead again.

Chapter 15