Hazards on the Hardwood (Hazards and Hijinks) (12 page)

Back in the hotel room, the cops had finished rummaging through the place, finding the backpack and its contents. Not much to go on but they were convinced that Willie was capable of kidnapping the little O’Brien girl. They had evidence that suggested that he wasn’t going to pull this job off alone. Names of some rather unsavory people were listed in the address book.

“This Willie guy isn’t too bright!” The officer smirked. “He laid everything out nice and neat for us to find. How convenient for us.” He laughed.

“Yah the guy’s elevator doesn’t reach the top floor that’s for sure!” The other detective said.

They took one more look around the room, closed the door and walked down the hall.

“Where do you think our Willie has disappeared to? I think he’s runnin’ scared.” The detectives walked toward their car and entered the information in their laptop and called to check in with their boss.

22

Taffy was thinking about her upcoming dinner date with Nicholas. As most ladies do, she thought about where they would be going and what she would wear. She felt like she was back in high school. “I barely know Nicholas. But my nerves are about to get the best of me.”

Earlier, she had been busy sorting through various catalogs of dancewear. “Now to get down to business and find just the right gown and shoes for the competition.”

Going online was her best bet for finding what she needed as far as a gown and shoes. She found a few gown choices she finally made a decision on a beautiful flaming red chiffon and sequined dress from dreamdance.com and some beautiful Capezio pumps. Now she had to find her Latin dance gown. There was a perfect gold sequined, slit to mid-thigh, dress that would work great. “All set!” She gave herself a pat on the back and took in a deep breath. She was ready!

Hearing her phone ring she went to find her handbag. Her heart jumped a little as she thought, “Maybe it’s Nicholas.”

“Hello.”

“Taffy? It’s Nicholas. Are you able to talk for a minute?” His voice sounded so strong.

“Yes Nicholas it’s so good to hear from you. I was just ordering my clothes for the dance competition.” Hoping she didn’t sound too excited. “Slow down, Taffy” she said to herself.

“How about going to Italian Inn in the Village for dinner? Would Friday night be good for you?”

“That sounds wonderful! I’ve heard the food there is great. What time would you want me ready?”

“How about we meet there at around six? Does that work for you?” Nicholas’ voice was so pleasant.

“That’s great! I will meet you there at six. I’m looking forward to it!”

Nicholas ended the call and Taffy went into daydream mode for a moment. She was having dinner with a preacher. She giggled to herself. “What would Francois say to this one? Ah Francois the peacock. He probably isn’t even thinking about me at all these days except when it comes to winning his precious trophy!”

She sat for a while thinking about Nicholas’ smile and his compassionate voice. “No wonder his congregation loves him.”

Now she had to phone Francois and talk about their upcoming practice session. “Oh goody! That’s top on my list for today.” She laughed.

Picking up her phone she called Francois. “Zees is Francois, how may I help you?”

“Francois you amaze me. Do you always have to answer the phone in that terrible fake French accent? I need you to figure out when you are able to rehearse the dance routine. Will tomorrow night work for you?” She had come right to the point; with Francois that was how she had to handle him and his arrogant nature.

“Zat is fine vith mois.” Oh boy, he was laying it on thick, Taffy thought.

“Okay see you at the studio tomorrow night at, say, seven? Does that work for you?” Taffy asked.

“Yes zat will be fine for mois!” Taffy quickly said her goodbyes and ended the call exasperated at his manner. “What a complete faker he is.” She stifled her giggle. She knew him too well.

Looking at her phone once more, she thought she should call Sasha but it was getting late. She hadn’t heard anything so maybe that was a good thing. “No news…” Taffy said, as she poured a cup of hot tea to soothe her. Putting on her pajamas and curling up on the sofa, she grabbed the remote and turned on her favorite show, “Project Runway.” Oh how she loved that show. Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn were a hoot!

She fell asleep on the couch and a few hours later woke up and glided into her bedroom and flopped down on her soft comfortable bed for a good night’s sleep.

As she crawled into bed content with thoughts of Nicholas on her mind, she heard a faint ringtone. “What on earth?” She said groggily.

She pulled herself from her cozy place and stumbled back into the living room to find her phone. “Where is that thing?” She was muttering, half-asleep.

“Hello.”

“It’s me, Sasha. Did I wake you? I’m so very sorry. But I needed to talk to you.” Sasha didn’t slow down. Something was really on her mind.

“Sasha tell me what’s going on.”

“Well I received a voicemail from the officer that was handling the case and he thinks Willie is out of commission. He said the police have lost track of him. They think he’s laying low or something.”

“Did they say anything else, Sasha?”

“No just that if they heard anything they would phone me. But in my gut I feel like maybe Willie’s guys from Vegas snatched him up and put him somewhere away from the cops; they might try going after Zoe themselves. It’s just awful! Sophie and Zoe are going to need a safe place to stay until Willie is found and is behind bars.”

“What do you want me to do Sasha? My apartment is a pretty roomy two-bedroom with a cozy den, as well. Do you want her and Zoe to stay with me for a while? I can make room for them if you need me to. It’s the obvious option and the only one for now, unless you have somewhere else in mind.”

“I was hoping you would offer but I didn’t want to take advantage of your hospitality. You are one of my best friends and I just didn’t want to rely on you or put you in a difficult situation. Do you want to think on it for a while?”

“No way, I will gladly take them in. Do you think it’s safe to bring them over? Won’t someone be watching your place?” Taffy was worried about people trying to seize Zoe while they made their way to her apartment.

“We will notify the cops of the move and have them posted around the entire block. Sophie and Zoe can exit through the back and I will go through the front. Those guys will think that I’m leaving by myself.”

“Okay that sounds like it might work.”

“I will call the police in the morning and let them know where we are going. They can dispatch someone out then and I’ll call you once we’re out of the apartment. How’s that sound?”

“It sounds good. Tomorrow’s my day off so that will work fine.” Taffy was glad to help. She had a tender heart when it came to Sasha and her sister.

Now Taffy had a mission. She was on the job and this was her watch. She would protect little Zoe and her family at all costs.

Sasha woke up Sophie quietly and told her of the plan, hopeful that Sophie would go along with it. She knew Sophie was weary and scared of anything that might upset Zoe. Zoe needed warmth, love and comfort. She was, after all, just a baby. Her needs were simple.

Taffy would clean out the extra bedroom in the morning and get it ready for her guests. “A baby in the house…” Taffy was nervous. She hadn’t lived in that kind of situation ever. This was all new to her. But this was her friend’s sister and niece. She would sacrifice everything for them to be secure and safe.

The morning came and with it came a few snow flurries and then it changed to a light rain. Sasha woke up and started the coffee brewing. She woke up Sophie. “Wake up sis we need to get going.” She spoke quietly so she wouldn’t frighten Zoe who was still sleeping. Gently, Sophie touched her baby girl. “Wake up dear Zoe. How about giving your mommy a big hugs?”

Zoe cooed quietly and gave a little smile to her mom. She was such a sweet child.

Sophie got her bottle ready and fed her. There was little packing to do since Sophie hadn’t brought much with her. She grabbed the few things in the room and put the diaper bag and suitcase on the sofa. Then she grabbed the collapsible cradle and folded it up. She wasn’t sure how she was going to carry all of this stuff, plus Zoe down the back stairwell. She would find a way! Then the thought occurred to her that Mrs. Garwin was probably up and about. She slipped out the door and across the hall to Mrs. Garwin’s apartment. Quietly knocking, she heard a cheerful voice on the other side of the door, “Who’s there?”

“It’s Sophie, Mrs. Garwin. May I ask you a favor?”

“Wait just a minute and I’ll unlock the door.”

“Yes, child, what is it that you want me to do?” Mrs. Garwin asked.

“Could you possibly carry Zoe down the back stairway for me, while I manage the other things? We are headed out to a friend’s home since we are in danger here. The front entrance is probably being watched so the back way is probably the safest way to exit.”

“Yes dear, I will do that for you.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Garwin. We should be ready in about fifteen minutes. When we get settled I will call you and let you know the number and address where we are staying.” With that, Sophie walked back to Sasha’s apartment.

Fifteen or so minutes later, Zoe and her mom were joined by Mrs. Garwin. Sasha, being the “decoy” headed down to the front entrance. She discreetly looked up and down the street to see if anyone suspicious was lurking about. She phoned Sophie, “It looks like no one is around watching my apartment right now. Go ahead and start down the back way and I’ll meet you around the corner. And Sophie, please be careful, we don’t know what these guys are capable of.”

Sophie was shaking as she carried their stuff down the stairs. All she could think of was keeping Zoe safe from these monsters.

Zoe was nestled safely in Mrs. Garwin’s arms, looking up at her with her baby face. “What a little darling.” Mrs. Garwin thought.

As they came to the back entrance, Sasha was there to meet them. She had phoned the cab company and a taxi was waiting by the rear door. They said their “goodbyes” to Mrs. Garwin and climbed in the cab. Sasha gave the taxi driver a good tip and told him the address and they drove off hopefully without anyone tailing them.

Taffy had prepared everything for her guests. Anticipation and a little nervousness were present in Taffy as she did one more glance around the extra bedroom. “Everything is seems to be in order,” She muttered to herself.

* * *
*

A knock at the door gave her a start and jolted her back to the moment. She looked through the peephole and didn’t recognize the hooded face that stared back through the little opening.

“Who is it?” She asked. No answer. Her heart started beating rapidly. Again she repeated, “Who is it?” There was still no answer. This wasn’t good. She expected Sasha and her family there any minute.

“I’m going to call the police if you do not identify yourself and what you want.” Her voice was shaky but firm.

There was a thud against the door and then the sound of someone running down the hall. Her intuition told her to wait awhile before opening the door. She had no idea who was just at her door, but her hands started shaking and she needed to calm down.

Realizing that Sasha and her sister would be there soon, she had to make sure that it was safe. She walked into the kitchen for a moment and put on some water for tea, still shaking. She knew she couldn’t put off opening the door for too long but she needed to make sure the person had left before she opened the door.

“What if I call the police,” she thought. “He might still be watching my apartment.” She would wait for a moment…

23

Francois had started his day by ordering a new pair of dance shoes. His tuxedo was cleaned and he just needed to practice a few dance steps and he was set for the competition. “Now if my lovely partner would just commit to a few hours of practice, we’d be all set to win!” He glanced at his full length mirror thinking, “My goodness I’m a handsome dude if I do say so myself.” He grinned conceitedly at his image in the glass. “Dashing I must say!” He laughed and went the kitchen.

“Hum, is it too early in the day for a glass of wine? I wonder what Taffy is doing today? Maybe I should give the lovely lady a call.” He thought.

Picking up his phone, he pulled up her number and tapped his fingers as he waited for her to answer. But it went to Taffy’s voicemail.

“What is going on? Why wasn’t she answering? She must be screening her phone calls. That little hussy!” He said gruffly.

Taffy’s voicemail alert displayed on her phone. She ignored it. She had other things to be concerned with.

After several more attempts at calling Taffy, Francois’s blood was boiling, “I’ll fix her! I’ll just head over to her apartment and bust up whatever little ‘private’ meeting she’s got going with her secret admirer!”

At this point, he’d lost all reason and just grabbed his keys, wallet and phone; calling a cab while
marching out the door with a determined step and an attitude to match. He had his pride and nothing would stop him from showing her that he was still in the game, oh yes, he was STILL very much in the game alright!

“What could she do about it?” He mused. “She will have to talk to me if I show up at her apartment.  I will NOT be ignored!”

As a rule, Francois didn’t take rejection well. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. “Typical Taffy. She’s just playing me. She thinks I will come running to her anytime she ignores me. Who does she think she is? Come running, my eye!”

It didn’t take long before the cab arrived and he hopped in; realizing that “yes,” he did come running…plenty!

He was getting more irritated by the minute, watching the buildings fly by.

“Maybe Taffy is some kind of trouble. She always makes me wait but then after she’s through playing her little game, she usually answers the phone. With all that’s been going on with Sasha and Sophie lately, what if there’s something more serious going down?” He thought.

Francois got himself worked up in quite a dither worrying about her. Thoughts rushed into his head. He was getting close to Taffy’s apartment and he hoped to get to the bottom of her latest reason for ignoring him.

He practically idolized Taffy but knew that in her eyes, he was, let me see, how’d she put it…oh yes, “a gutless, pompous prancing poser.” Yep, that was how she described him when she was in one of her “TAFFY” moods.

“Why doesn’t she fall madly in love with me?” He thought as he glanced into the cab’s rearview mirror. “I’m the only man made for her. We are a perfect match!”

Get yourself together, Francois. You don’t know yet, if she’s in trouble…she could be leading you on another goose chase.” He thought as he glanced once more out the cab window.

The taxi slowed down and stopped in front of Taffy’s apartment. Francois paid the driver, climbed the front steps and entered the lobby. Heading toward the elevator, he only had one thing on his mind; Taffy and her safety, if she was indeed, in trouble.

The elevator doors opened and he started moving toward her floor. It stopped and the doors opened, and almost bumping into a hooded figure, he absent-mindedly walked down the blue-carpeted hallway. As he got closer to her door he looked down and noticed an envelope propped up against her door.

“What on earth?” He exclaimed as he drew nearer, “That must be from her secret admirer!” He looked around and no surprise, the envelope found its way into his shaking hands. He would have to be very fast and just a small peek into the envelope. He opened it slightly, saw what appeared to be a family photo and a note attached. After taking a quick look, he heard noise inside Taffy’s apartment and against his better judgment he impulsively knocked on her door and shouted, “Taffy I know you’re in there. It’s me, Francois! Let me in. I have urgent news, Mon Cherie!”

* * * *

Taffy unlocked the deadbolt and watched Francois strut in. “This man makes my blood boil.” Taffy fumed under her breath.

“Taffy my darling I’ve come to warn you. A man is going to be waiting for you at the docks on Riverfront tonight. I don’t want you to worry. Francois (he loved to talk in the third person) is on watch duty! I called the cops and told them to be there. Well? What do you say to your knight in shining armor now?

Taffy’s mind was whirling; how in the world did Francois get mixed up in this caper?

“Oh you stupid man! Let me see that envelope, now!” Grabbing the envelope from Francois, she opened it and saw a picture of Sasha and her family. Also a very poorly scribbled note was enclosed.

The note read, “You are all in danger. The people that are tailing you have done very bad things and are prepared to do the same to you and your friends. You need to meet me at 255 Riverfront Avenue on the docks at eleven tonight. Bring no one else. Your friends’ lives depend on you doing this. Do not inform the police either. I will be watching.”

Her phone rang…it was him!

“I hope you got my note, I want to make sure that you are aware of the danger you are in. Please read it to me so I know you understand that you CANNOT, under any circumstances, contact the police. These people are serious about harming you and your friends. Do you understand?”

She had read the note out loud so the person on the phone could hear her. “Yes. I will meet you at eleven at the docks. How will I know you?”

“I will find you. Please trust me on this.” It sounded as though he was disguising his voice somehow.

“I’ll be there and yes, I do understand.” Taffy was trembling as she ended the call.

Maybe the cops were watching, since the episode with Willie was still ongoing. They said they would be patrolling frequently.

* * * *

“Francois, you oaf, you could have just blown the entire thing. What in the world possessed you to get involved? I had it under control and you most likely have blown it entirely! That fellow could have seen you pick up the envelope. I could just wring your wretched fake French neck!” She stomped into the kitchen for a moment, not able to face the little snake!

“But my adorable creature I did it for you. To save you from the clutches of an evil man. You don’t know what that person may have planned to do to you. I am at your service. Francois loves his dancing diva!”

“Get out of here immediately. It remains to be seen if I ever dance with you again. You stupid, stupid man! I don’t want to see you for a while. Get out of my sight!” And with that Taffy opened up the door and pushed Francois out into the hallway.

“My darling don’t worry our love will conquer all!” He was singing some French love song as he hastened his way down the hall.

“She loves me,” He said to himself as he all but waltzed down the stairs. “Oh yes, she definitely loves me!”

Taffy was still fussing after Francois had exited her apartment. “I would kill that little man if it weren’t for the competition. What a complete idiot! I didn’t even find out how he knew about the meeting tonight. Now who’s the fool?” After calming down she figured out he read the contents of the envelope…HER ENVELOPE!  Infuriated, she said to herself, “Nosy poser!”

Against her better judgment, she phoned the cops and let them know about the mysterious note and phone call. They had been watching her apartment and mentioned seeing two different people entering her building.

“Ah yes,” She thought to herself, knowing the first of those characters would have been “mystery man” and the second was the “idiot of all idiots, Francois.

* * * *

Francois had a plan of his own. He was formulating it in his head as he climbed back in a cab. “Why didn’t I think of it before? I will show up at the docks around eleven. I could just be an innocent bystander taking a leisurely walk for exercise. No one needs to know I’m there to watch and protect my lovely Taffy. She will adore me after that. She will sing Francois’ praises! I will scoop her up in my arms and her grateful heart will sing to me of love!” Francois was, once again, getting carried away. He liked the thought of Taffy running into his adoring arms.