Hazards on the Hardwood (Hazards and Hijinks) (6 page)

14

Willie had to get something to eat. He was growing hungry as he waited outside Sasha’s apartment. He’d been there all night and it was cold out there. He was glad he’d thought to wear his heavy coat. He would love to hear the conversation. No doubt, Sophie was throwing him to the curb. He knew that she hated him by now. But he didn’t care. That wouldn’t make one bit of difference. He would grab Zoe and head back to Vegas. He had a nice little house in the rear of one of his high rolling buddies’ estate. It was just big enough for him and Zoe to make a life. He loved the thought of being a dad. He had to line up the lawyer that his friend had spoken with and tie up the loose ends as soon as he could. He didn’t want his money to run out before he could buy a ticket for him and Zoe to Vegas. Sophie wouldn’t know what hit her. He’d been planning this ever since she left.

While he was outside watching, he saw Sasha coming out the front door. That meant that Sophie and Zoe were left alone. They would be in for a while so he could go get some breakfast and get back here to keep an eye on things.

Sophie was busy feeding her sweet daughter her morning bottle. Zoe cooed as her mother rocked her softly. Her eyes looked up lovingly at her mom. It gave Sophie a warm feeling inside. After feeding her, she laid Zoe on the soft rug and took the bottle to the sink to rinse it out. At the kitchen window, she glanced out and saw a familiar face on the street corner. Willie! “Oh no! What should I do?” She thought. Her mind was frantic. Should she leave by a back stairway or just stay put. She decided she was somewhat safe in the apartment for the time being. She cautiously pulled the sheer curtain back to see if he was still there. He’d vanished. Where could he have gone? Her heart was racing but she didn’t want Zoe to sense her fear so she grabbed a cup of hot coffee and went back to the couch to think about what her next move should be.

Zoe had fallen asleep so Sophie put her down in the crib Sasha had bought. Her sister was such a wonderful person; always helping those that needed assistance. It was sad that they had drifted apart for a bit. They used to be so close. This had brought them back together and that made Sophie feel good.

Willie made his way down the street looking for a restaurant…a cheap restaurant. He needed to have some food and take time to think about his situation and how to lure Sophie out away from Zoe. The cops would be hot on his trail with a charge of kidnapping once he grabbed Zoe. His Vegas buddies would know how to go about this. They knew every scheme in the book. Many of them had scrapes with the law and some were even ex-cons. Rough guys but to him bosom-buddies!

Sasha met Taffy later that morning at Starbucks and while they were talking a message popped up on Sasha’s phone. A name that sounded familiar was displayed as the caller, Nicholas Kincaid. “Now why does that name sound familiar?” Sasha thought.

“Hello?”

“Is this Sasha O’Neill?” Nicholas asked.

“Yes.” She answered.

“This is Nicholas Kincaid and you might remember me from a few of the ballroom dancing competitions that I participated in. Recently, I have received a bit of disturbing news that concerns you and your sister. I felt the need to warn you of some trouble that might be headed your way.” His voice speeded up.

“If you are talking about my sister Sophie’s ex-hubby, Willie, I already know about him. He’s been tucked away supposedly out of sight on a darkened street corner opposite my apartment for a couple of days. To tell the truth I’ve been thinking about calling the police.”

“It might be a good idea to at least have a patrol car drive by and see what the loser’s up to.” Nicholas wasn’t usually a crime fighter type guy. He preferred his confrontation to happen from the pulpit on Sunday mornings.

“Do you remember a ballroom dancer by the name of Landon Mills? He’s the one that contacted me from Vegas. The arms of knowledge reach far and wide in “Sin City.”

“That name sounds vaguely familiar. What’s he got to do with all of this?” Sasha’s curiosity was building.

“He visits the casinos frequently if you catch my meaning and heard some gossip over the black jack tables. He said the guys mentioned Willie O’Brien having trouble with his ex; something about a baby daughter and custody. It was all third person kind of stuff. But what I got from it was that Landon heard that Willie had asked some of his high rolling hoodlums to help him out if he needed them. He was going to try to snatch the baby himself and if he ran into trouble he’d call in some help. It sounded rather serious and he contacted me to at least warn you and your sister.” Nicholas had done his good deed and prayed that he didn’t say too much and get himself in some hot water, as well.

At least Sasha knew the plan of attack. She’d suspected it in her mind but Nicholas had just cemented her worst fears.

“Thanks so much, Nicholas. I appreciate you calling with the warning. I will tell Sophie to be on her guard. My intuition tells me that we need to seek out a local family law lawyer and get the ball rolling on the custody issue. Sophie doesn’t have much in the way of funds. I’ll have to pay the retainer and speed up the process if I can. See you soon…maybe at the Lakeside Dance Competition?”

“Yes, Sasha, I intend on competing and will see you there. In the meantime, you and Sophie need to be watchful. Use caution when you leave your apartment. Make sure that evil man isn’t following you. Talk to you soon.”

With that, Sasha hung up the phone and breathed an apprehensive sigh. She’d do anything to protect her sister and her niece. Family was important and no one was going to mess with hers!

Taffy had been listening to Sasha’s half of the conversation. She could only imagine what was going on with the other end of the phone call. She was full of questions but didn’t want to overstep her bounds. Sasha would tell her all when she was ready. But there was a definite look of concern on Sasha’s face. Something serious was happening and Taffy knew part of it had to include Sasha’s sad excuse of a brother-in-law.

Sasha finally broke her silence. “That was Nicholas Kincaid. Do you remember him Taffy? He was one of the competitors in a few of the contests we participated in. He had some very interesting news regarding Sophie’s worthless ex-hubby. It seems Willie has decided that he would be better at parenting than Sophie and plans on grabbing Zoe and taking off back to Vegas to raise her himself. Willie also has it in his deluded mind that if he has trouble getting the job done, he will enlist some of his hoodlum Vegas buddies to help him. So the ‘slob and the mob’ together. Not a healthy situation for sure!”

Sasha was in panic mode by now and tears were starting to stain her lovely ivory face. Her voice was shaky and her hands were fidgeting. She had to stop this jerk from kidnapping her precious niece. When she returned home, she’d look up a lawyer immediately and put in an overdue alarm system. That creep wasn’t going to invade her territory without a huge fight!

Taffy knew that Sasha had her work cut out for her and hoped to be of help somehow.  The question that needed to be asked; how would she?

Sasha got up out of her chair and had a worried look on her beautiful fair face. “I’ve got to go, I’ve already left Sophie and Zoe alone for too long.”

“That’s fine, Sasha. I understand your worry and concern. I will try to find some way to help you. I’ll call you later. Try not to worry too much and by all means, keep your doors locked. There’s no telling what that creep will try to do. The cops should be called at once if you see him lurking around your street. Don’t mess with him. Let the police handle it.”

Sasha darted out the door and hailed a taxi and sped off. Taffy’s shift was beginning and she went into the back and clocked in. Putting on her green apron, she smoothed her hair, checked her makeup and went to the front counter. Her day was going to be a long one. Her friend was already intruding on her mind with worry.

15

Willie finished his egg and sausage, paid the check and went back out onto the bustling street. People everywhere, practically nowhere to walk. He had to get back to his surveillance mode. Keeping tabs on Sophie was his main concern. He knew she probably hadn’t left the apartment since she had the baby and probably little or no money. He had her right where he wanted her; broke and practically homeless. If it wasn’t for that “busybody” sister of hers he would have already had Zoe in his possession. “What’s so hard about taking care of a baby anyway?” He grinned as the thought came into his head. “They just sleep, eat and dirty their diapers.” Well, he could certainly do without that last thing. He hadn’t ever changed a diaper in his life but how hard could it be?

He rounded the busy corner, trying to blend it with the other people and it was turning pretty chilly. The north wind was blowing briskly and he had to put up his hood and shield his face from the chill. He looked up to the window and the curtain was closed. He couldn’t see anything from this vantage point. He searched for another window in their apartment but it was difficult to tell where one apartment ended and another one began.

A cab drove up across the street and out hopped Sasha. “Well now isn’t that great. Big sis has come home to rescue her little family.” He smirked as he stood on that breezy corner, shivering some but full of venom.

Sasha moved quickly up the stairs. She had to tell Sophie about what she’d learned from Nicholas’ phone call. She hoped Sophie wouldn’t panic too much and would let the police, if necessary, do their job and not try to fix this herself. Her one concern would be to take care of Zoe and keep her safe.

She opened the door and found Sophie sitting on the couch with Zoe on her lap. Zoe was looking up at her mommy smiling and cooing. What a precious intimate moment, Sasha almost hated to intrude.

“Sophie may I talk to you for a moment? I learned some important information over the phone today while I was with Taffy at Starbucks.”

“Sure Sasha. What happened?” Sophie had a sound of worry in her voice.

“I talked to a man named Nicholas Kincaid. He’s a pastor but also a dance competitor. We met a few years ago at a competition. He received some information from a man in Vegas by the name of Landon Mills. Evidently this Landon guy overheard Willie spouting off to some of the gamblers at the table about how he was going to get custody of Zoe. That he was coming back to New York to snatch up your precious daughter and high tail it back to Vegas. Landon told Nicholas that not only would he do this but if he had any trouble from you he would get some of his hoodlum guys to help apply a little pressure. I’m sure it would be illegal pressure. We cannot wait to see what he does. We know he’s been outside watching the apartment and is probably out there still. We need to call the police and let them know what is going on. Hopefully, they can patrol regularly until you have a chance to talk to a lawyer about custody laws. My buddy Taffy knows several good lawyers and is going to try to get one to take a small retainer and help you through this.” Sasha had a sound of anxiety in her voice.

Sophie just stared blankly at her sister for a minute. Obviously, it hadn’t sunk into her brain yet. She had a great deal to process. Should she get a job to help pay the lawyer? Lots of thoughts ran through her mind. A sudden fear filled her with tension as she thought about the idea of hoodlums invading her life and trying to kidnap her precious baby girl. She would protect Zoe no matter what! Mothers were fearsome when someone messed with their young.

Sasha discreetly looked out the sheer curtain to see if Willie was watching. She saw someone move quickly as if to be hidden from view. He was there! He was hiding and waiting for his opportunity. She reached for her phone and dialed the local police.

“Manhattan Precinct. This is Officer Mullaney. How can I help you?”

“Officer Mullaney, this is Sasha O’Neill at 455 West Sixty First Street. I want to report a suspicious person, possibly stalking my sister, Sophie O’Brien. He has been on the street corner across from my apartment building off and on for several days. He has made threats that were overheard by friends that his intent is to kidnap my niece. He and my sister, Sophie are legally separated and she has temporary custody. He’s got a gambling problem and resides in Las Vegas. He has ties to mobsters back in Vegas. I’m very concerned for my sister and niece’s safety. What can I do?”

Officer Mullaney sighed on the other end of the phone and then spoke, “Has your sister got a restraining order? Has she contacted a lawyer? These are important things she needs to do in order for us to step in. There’s not a lot we are allowed, by law, to do if she hasn’t got a restraining order. He has every right to visit his daughter. The only way to get around that is to go through a lawyer and get sole custody and then he has to sign away his parenting rights, too.” Officer Mullaney was very knowledgeable and went right to the point.

“Thanks Officer Mullaney. I am retaining a lawyer shortly. But is there no recourse other than to just let him walk in here and take the baby?”

“If he tries to break in or attempts bodily harm, then we can pick him up and take him into custody. As long as he stays away from your sister and niece and does nothing…there’s nothing we can do. However, I will send a patrol car around to check him out. Do you see him currently out there on the street corner?”

Sasha peeked out the curtain and saw he was still out there. He was talking on his phone.

“Yes officer. He is out there and is talking on his phone. He’s got a red hooded sweatshirt on and jeans. He’s about five feet-seven inches tall. Slightly balding.”

“Okay thanks, I’ll send out a patrol car immediately and have the officer question him as to his intentions and why he’s been camped out on a street corner for a few days. We’ll be in contact. I need your phone number, please.”

Sasha gave him her cell number and ended the call.

She had a feeling that things might work out after all.

“The officer said they will send out a patrol car and have them question Willie as to his reason for being out there on that street corner. He also said that they cannot haul him in unless he causes problems; either by afflicting bodily harm or by breaking and entering. He advised us to retain a lawyer and get a restraining order. In other words, it has to get bad before it gets better.” Sasha had hopes that Willie would do something stupid but not harmful to them so he would be thrown in jail, at least for a while so things would improve somewhat.

“Come on, Sophie, let’s try to relax and wait for Taffy’s call. She will let me know if she was hopefully able to consult with a lawyer while at work.”

“Thanks so much, Sasha. I’m so scared. Zoe is so very precious to me. I don’t know what I’d do without her in my life. She’s the very reason for me to live. I have a definite purpose now. I prayed last night that the Lord would keep us safe and that Willie would be caught and thrown in jail.”

“How about we watch a good movie and try to get our minds off this whole thing until Taffy calls? We could use a diversion and it looks like Zoe might need a nap.”

“Good idea Sasha! I’ll go put her in the crib and you choose a movie. I don’t care which one. It’s been a long time since I watched anything other than ‘Judge Judy’ – I always watched court TV so I would have an idea how to handle Willie if he tried to hurt me.”

Sophie got up from the couch and picked up Zoe gently and took her to her crib. Zoe was a calm child. She never made much noise other than an occasional cry when she needed something. Most of the time she either cooed or smiled. Sophie lovingly put her in the crib and turned on the Noah’s Ark mobile above her head. She wound it good and tight so “Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep” would play for a longer time. It always soothed Zoe and she usually fell asleep pretty quickly. Her mother adored her.