Authors: Jeri Odell
Eli, you’re a good man.
“So you do it for them?”
“Not in place of, but I try to come alongside the parents.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “Why not?”
“Don’t get me wrong. I think what you’re doing is wonderful. I’m involved in a youth program—Cops-N-Kidz. Maybe you’ve heard of it?”
Eli nodded.
“It’s a joint venture between my church and Cops for Christ. A big warehouse downtown was donated to us, so we’ve refurbished it and made a cool place for kids to hang. You’re welcome to bring your crew by anytime.”
“I don’t think so. We’re pretty busy.” He blew off her invitation.
She studied his blue-green eyes that changed with his mood and what he wore. Today his navy T-shirt made them look totally blue, not a speck of green to be found.
“So what keeps you guys busy?” She tried to sound offhanded, uninterested, but she still wanted more information on this enigma of a man.
“How did this conversation get to be about me?” he asked.
Delanie shrugged. Even though he’d deny it, she sensed a change in Eli. “Just curious about your little gang and how you come alongside the parents. At CNK we rarely see a parent, and I’d like to change that. Thought you could offer some suggestions.”
“Still Coop the Snoop, I see.” He made the statement with a slight grin, though, so she pushed for more information.
“For a good cause,” she reminded him. “How did you get started in this endeavor? Was it hard to gain the parents’ trust?”
❧
Eli didn’t jump right in with answers but pondered her questions. He studied her earnest expression. Her petite appearance camouflaged a much tougher woman than people would guess. He’d learned that lesson and wouldn’t forget anytime soon.
As he debated how much to share, weariness settled over him. He was sick of dodging the truth, hiding the ugliness of his past, and closing up to anyone interested enough to ask. Delanie’s openness caused him to wish for the same freedom.
“I grew up much the way they are. My mother left when I was twelve, so it was just my old man and me. He was a functioning alcoholic. Now he’s no longer functioning—spends his days in an alcoholic haze. Anyway, often days would go by, and I’d never see him. He’d leave for work before I was up and stumble in long after I’d hit the sack. It was a lonely existence. So when my dad and I moved into the complex seven years ago and I saw all these young boys with the same kind of life I’d known, I decided to invest.”
Compassion filled Delanie’s expression, not pity. He appreciated that. Her crescent eyes shone with admiration, and that was enough to keep his story rolling. He’d never had a woman gaze at him with the respect he saw on her face. Man, did that make him feel ten feet tall.
“I resolved to fill whatever gaps I could in these kids’ lives. I’m their friend, their greatest fan, and their teacher. I tutor them twice a week, take them to games at the college—”
“Feed them burgers, shoot hoops with them. Sounds like you do all the things my dad did for us.”
A pang of longing hit him. “Then you were a lucky little girl.” Her childhood contrasted starkly with his.
“I was.” Her expression reflected a contentment he’d never known. “But how do you do it? I don’t even think I could remember junior high math, let alone teach someone else.”
“I couldn’t either—had to take a couple of refresher courses at the junior college in order to bring my long-forgotten skills up to speed.”
“You did that? Just for them?” She’d tipped her head to the side a bit, and her voice rang with approval, as if he’d made the greatest sacrifice of all time. “You’re the most giving person I’ve ever known.”
Her smile reached all the way to her eyes and all the way to his heart—it danced to her praise. He’d never received many accolades and had to admit it was nice.
“Maybe my motives are selfish. All I know is I’m determined to do everything in my power to keep these boys in school, out of gangs, and off drugs. It’s their only hope for a halfway decent life. My deepest desire is for them to graduate from high school and make something of their lives.”
“They have a much better chance with you involved.”
Eli smiled. He’d never shared those thoughts with another living soul. Something about her made a man want to be better than he was, do more than he thought he could.
I’m falling for her.
The realization scared the socks off him. Nothing could come of the unfortunate boy from the wrong side of town and the chief’s daughter. Besides, he was a lifelong, card-carrying member of the “I’ll be single forever” club.
Time for us to get back on track. Time for me to get back on track and remember my plans and goals. No women, not now, not ever—too much pain, too little return.
“We have work to do.” He rummaged through his backpack and dug out the copy of the report filed by Mrs. Johnson. Delanie followed suit.
“Julie Johnson was reported as a runaway in April.” He read the file in a low tone. “Four months later, in August, she placed a call to her mother. During the conversation she revealed being eight months’ pregnant. Last week her body was discovered, and the autopsy revealed she’d given birth hours before someone strangled her and placed her in a shallow grave not too far east of town.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “I never thought I’d say this, but in many ways this assignment is more tragic than the drug unit.” His gaze locked with Delanie’s. “There I dealt with criminal masterminds selling drugs but wasn’t face-to-face with death. I mean, murder happens, people OD—but my main job was just to set people up, bust them, and ship them to prison.” He shook his head and knew he’d never get over this young girl losing her life because a greedy person sold the child she carried inside. Human trafficking.
Delanie squeezed his hand. “That’s why we’re cops, right?” She picked up the report. “Here are the bits of conversation Mrs. Johnson remembers.” Delanie started reading. “When she answered her phone in the middle of the afternoon, her daughter said, ‘Mom, I’m sorry.’ Mrs. Johnson remembers the relief that washed over her, knowing Julie was alive. She asked if her daughter was okay. Julie was hard to understand because she was not only crying but also talking very fast and very soft. Her mother struggled to distinguish her actual words.” Delanie took a sip of her diet soda.
Eli continued. “Julie said she was eight months’ pregnant and had been offered a lot of money for her baby, which of course sounded wonderful to a thirteen-year-old girl. After feeling the baby move and grow inside of her, she’d changed her mind. Mrs. Johnson asked where she was and who was going to give her the money. She thought Julie said ‘the doctor’ but didn’t name a specific person. Suddenly she heard Julie scream, some muffled wrestling-type sounds, and the phone went dead. Mrs. Johnson has caller ID, but the call came from a private name, private number. She immediately called the police in hysterics; they were able to have the call traced, but it came from a prepaid cell phone.”
“Every end is a dead end.” Delanie rested her face in her hands. “A young girl wondering if she was pregnant wouldn’t go to a doctor.”
“You’re right,” Eli agreed. “She’d go to the corner drugstore, buy a pregnancy test, and find out for herself.”
Delanie nodded. “Exactly.”
“There has to be a source enlightening young pregnant girls about earning a lot of money by having their baby. I mean, if they’re already pregnant, why not?”
“Turns a negative into a positive, or so it would seem.”
“We’ve got the bait.” Eli focused on Delanie. “At least when you’re wearing your disguise.”
“Now we just need someone to bite.”
“Our hope is that Brandi will.” He pictured the young teen he’d seen in this very spot just the night before.
“If we can find her.”
“Why don’t I pay a visit to her house about 7:00 a.m. tomorrow? Maybe at that time both she and her mom will be home.” Eli started repacking his strewn paperwork into an unzipped pocket on his backpack. “You can wait in the car so she doesn’t see you. I’ll be wired, and you’ll hear everything. Then if the direct approach doesn’t work, we’ll plant you in her path as plan B.”
“Why risk the direct approach? Why not start with me?”
He slid out of the booth. “Plan B can take weeks, if not months.” He watched her gather her things. “It takes time to build a relationship and glean information, but sometimes the up-front method can reap immediate results.” He automatically offered his hand as she slipped out from her side of the table. Something had changed between them this afternoon, and try as he might, he hadn’t been able to resist opening up to her.
She glanced at the plain watch wrapped around her slender wrist. “My dogs are going to hate you for disrupting their run.”
“Dogs, huh?”
“Hank and Junie.” On the drive back to the station, she filled him in on their antics and their need for a daily jog.
When he dropped her off at her car, he said, “Give Hank and Junie my apologies.”
She turned slightly in her seat to face him. “I will.”
The air crackled between them. He had a sudden urge to kiss her. Her eyes told him she had the same urge. He cleared his throat. “Well, see ya.”
“Yeah, first thing in the morning.”
He waited until she was safely in her car before driving the Nova back into the fenced lot.
You’re taking care of her,
a little voice in his head accused. “Shut up.”
Chapter 7
At Delanie’s request Eli parked as close as possible to the Alexander home without the car actually being in clear view of the windows and doors. They were about five doors down and across the street. Her stomach knotted, thinking about sending her partner out alone with little to no backup. She wondered if she’d feel apprehensive with just any old partner or if she felt this way because it was Eli—the man who’d already become dear to her. The guy she prayed for night and day.
“Eli?”
“Huh?” He didn’t look up but reholstered his gun. He’d finished checking the chamber.
“Be careful.” Was that her voice, fearful and apprehensive? She knew she was overreacting and being silly but couldn’t help herself.
He glanced in her direction. “I will. I’m wired for sound, so you’ll know everything that’s going down. Plus with these”—he held up the binoculars—“you can see pretty well.”
Against her better judgment, she reached out and squeezed his hand. “I’ll be praying.”
Handing her the binoculars, he said, “You do that.” Sending her a crooked smile, he was on his way. She focused the binoculars and watched him walk to the third house and cross the street.
The neighborhood was run-down—trash in front yards, old cars with parts lying loose on the ground surrounding them, and weeds growing knee-high. When she heard Eli’s knock on the front door, her heart doubled its speed. She focused on Eli.
“Lord,” she whispered, “give us wisdom and keep us safe, especially Eli.”
“Whoa!” Delanie reacted to the scantily clad woman who opened the door; her audacity surprised Delanie.
“Hello there. What can I do for you?” The woman’s voice purred, and even from where the car was parked, Delanie could tell her body language was flirtatious. Jealousy pounced on her like a mountain lion on its prey.
“Are you Mrs. Alexander?” Eli’s voice was no-nonsense, and relief washed over Delanie.
“Honey, I haven’t been Mrs. Anybody in years. The better question, who are you?”
Eli pulled out his badge. “Eli Logan. I’m a detective with Reno PD. I’m actually here to see your daughter, Brandi.”
“Oh man, what’s she done now? Not more shoplifting. Brandi, you get down here right now!” She screamed so loudly the sound hurt Delanie’s ear.
The mother, whatever her name was, disappeared into the house. Eli waited on the porch. A few minutes later Brandi was shoved out the door. She wore a knit tank top that no longer covered her protruding belly or met her plaid pajama bottoms. With eyes barely open she said, “I didn’t do anything.”
“I’m not here because you did,” Eli assured her. “I wanted to talk to you about your baby.”
Even through the binoculars Delanie saw a mask slip over Brandi’s face, and her expression went from sleepy to alert and guarded. Brandi laid her arm and hand across the unborn child. “What about my baby?”
“I understand the child is up for adoption.”
Her eyes squinted against the rising sun. “No. You heard wrong.”
“I’m not feeding another mouth. I already told you that!” Though Delanie couldn’t see Brandi’s mother, she must have been just inside the front door.
Brandi swung around. “Everything is taken care of.”
“How is everything taken care of?” Eli asked.
Brandi faced him, arms folded over her chest. “I haven’t done anything illegal, so I don’t think it’s any of your business.”
“Baby selling is illegal.”
She glared at Eli but made no response.
“You are selling the baby, right?”
She made a little snorting noise. “I am not selling my baby. For your information, a nice couple is adopting it.”