Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story (54 page)

They lay entwined, without disconnecting.  He closed his eyes, completely content for the first time in months.  She cuddled against his chest, her fingers drifting about his torso with no destination in mind.

“You know our first anniversary is coming up soon,” he said softly, toying with the strands of her hair.

“Yes, I know.”

“I think we should go away and celebrate.  We can go anywhere you want: Paris, Rome, Tokyo.  You name it and I will make all the arrangements.”

Annie tipped her head back and studied his face.  “Does it have to be so far away?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’d rather not travel out of the country with the baby.  Could we stay closer to home and her doctor?”

“I suppose so.  We could head north to Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine.”

She smiled.  That’s sounds a lot better.”

“Okay.  I’ll make some calls.”

“You don’t mind if we stay local, do you?” she asked.

“I don’t care where we go as long as you’re with me.”

The next day, Michael set the wheels in motion for their anniversary trip.  Annie didn’t want to go for a full week so a long weekend was planned instead.  He had the travel agent his band used reserve a secluded cabin in New Hampshire on a lake beneath a mountain.  Wanting the destination to be a surprise to Annie, he kept the final arrangements to himself.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

On the event of their first wedding anniversary, Michael, Annie and Sammi headed north.  For four glorious days they lay low, ate gourmet meals prepared by an on-site staff, took long walks with the baby and made love until Annie begged for rest.  And they bonded as a family; which was the most important of all.  It was perfect.

But, the joy they shared over that weekend came to an abrupt end as Michael took the turn down the street to their home.  Outside the iron gates that led to the estate, two unmarked police cruisers waited.  A knot in Michael’s stomach quickly formed.

“Oh shit,” he said, slowly pulling his Land Rover up to the security system beside the gate.  He pressed the number code into the call box and waited while the iron gates swung open.

“What’s the matter?” Annie asked, craning her neck to see better.

“We’ve got company,” he answered, watching his rear view mirror as the police cars pulled into the driveway behind him.

“Who?  Fans?” she asked, knowing it wasn’t the first time cars were seen lurking outside their gate.

“No, it’s the cops.”

“The police?”

Michael parked the Land Rover in front of the double mahogany doors, stepped out of the vehicle and went around to help Annie.  After helping her from the car, he handed her the house keys.  “Here, take Sammi inside.  I’ll see what they want.”

Annie quickly pulled a sleeping Sammi from the back seat and headed toward the front doors, and disappeared inside.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Wade,” the first detective greeted as he approached Michael.

Michael tossed him a suspicious nod.  “What can I do for you?”

“We’ll get right to the point, Mr. Wade,” the second detective said.

“I wish you would,” Michael replied, his patience already waning.

“When was the last time you saw Brian Lofgren?” the first detective asked, pulling out a small note pad to scribble any information Michael might supply them.

Michael shrugged his shoulders.  “I don’t know…last Thursday, I think.  Why?  What’s he done now?”

“Statutory rape and attempted murder,” the second officer announced flatly, without making eye contact with Michael.  “And that’s just for starters.  I’m sure there’ll be more charges filed,” he added with sarcasm.

Michael shook his head.  “That doesn’t sound like something Brian would do.  He’s not the violent type.”

“You can call him whatever you like, Mr. Wade, but this time, your friend has got himself into some deep shit.”

“The kind of shit even your fancy New York lawyers will have trouble tap dancing around,” the second detective added with a smirk.

“Well, that’s your opinion, Detective.  As far as I’m concerned, until I talk to Brian, no crime has been committed.  I believe the word you use is ‘alleged’.”

“So you said you haven’t seen Mr. Lofgren since last Thursday?”

“That’s right, I’ve been away,” Michael answered evasively.

“Where were you?”

Michael eyes narrowed in anger.  “New Hampshire, not that it’s any of your business.”

“Were you alone?”

Michael’s back stiffened.  “No.  I was with my wife.  Look, am I a suspect or something?”

“Don’t get an attitude with us, Mr. Wade.”

Michael’s eyes burned into the detective’s and held a silent stand-off until the second officer broke their trance.

“So, you didn’t see Mr. Lofgren all weekend?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”  Michael shifted his weight.  His anger near the boiling point.  “I’ve already told you, I haven’t seen or heard from Brian since last week.  So, unless you’re here to arrest me for something, I’m going inside.”

The detective handed Michael a business card as he pushed his way past him.  “Here – take this.  It has my telephone number on it.  If you should
happen
to hear from your pedophile friend, call me.”

Michael’s fist coiled back, as if to punch the detective.  The man made no attempt to move, and instead, provokingly smiled.  “Don’t even give me a reason, Mr. Wade,” he chuckled, pushing a pencil behind his ear.  “Arresting you for assaulting an officer would be the highlight of my day.”

“Fuck you,” Michael muttered under his breath.  He flicked the paper card into the air as if he were discarding a cigarette butt, and headed toward the house.

“Oh, and Mr. Wade, let me remind you, aiding and abetting a criminal is a felony.  So, don’t do anything stupid.  Okay?”

Without replying, Michael slammed the door behind him.

“Brian’s in big trouble, Michael,” Annie cried, hurrying to his side.  “It’s all over the news!”

Michael stepped beyond her and into the kitchen.  The television was releasing another updated report on the attack.  He listened carefully before shutting it off and nervously raked his fingers through his hair.

“I’m going to go over and talk to Barbara,” he announced, reaching for his car keys.  “She’ll know what really happened.”

“I’ll come too,” Annie volunteered.

“Annie, the last thing you need to do is get stressed over this.  Besides, in case Brian calls, someone should be here to answer the phone so he doesn’t get the machine.”

He kissed her quickly on the cheek.  “Relax, babe.  I’m sure it’s not as serious as the press is making it out to sound on the television.  You know how reporters love to blow a story like this out of proportion.  They hear the names involved and suddenly it becomes national news.”

Annie sighed.  “I hope you’re right, Michael.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he smiled, opening the front door.  “Call me at Barbara’s if you hear from him.”

The unmarked police cruiser remained parked outside the gates.  Michael cursed loudly as he watched them pull in behind traffic to follow him.  Never leaving his sight, they stayed on his tail until he came to a stop outside the call box at Brian’s front gate.

“Who is it?” Barbara’s maid asked.

“It’s Michael Wade.”

A few seconds later the gate slid open and Michael sped his car up the long driveway toward the house.  Before Michael could knock, the door flew open and Barbara jumped into his arms.

“Jesus, where the hell have you been?” she asked, tears distorting her voice.

“Annie and I went away for our anniversary but I’m beginning to think we shouldn’t have.”

Barbara reluctantly released her grip on him and stepped away, rubbing at her eyes.

“Are you alone?” he asked.

“Yes, except for the maid.  She’s been trying to retain some sense of control around here.  Between the phone ringing and the front gate buzzing every five seconds, I can’t take any more of this!  Everyone else is at my nanny’s house.”

Barbara began to pace like a caged animal.  “You know the police have the phone’s tapped and they’re watching the house.  Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had your phone lines tapped too!  I’m not sure what they expect.  Brian’s not that stupid to come back or call here anytime soon.”

“I was followed here,” Michael casually added, pushing his hands into his pockets.  “Wanna tell me what the hell happened?”

Barbara stopped and slouched against the refrigerator.  Her swollen eyes stared out the back window.  “Apparently, Brian was screwing my sister’s step-daughter,” she spoke somberly, suddenly making eye contact with Michael.  “She’s fifteen, for Christ sakes!”

“And you know this for fact?” Michael asked, remembering the conversation he had with Brian about the very same girl, just days earlier.

“Michael, she’s pregnant.”  Barbara rolled her eyes and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“Are you sure it’s his kid?  I mean, she wouldn’t be the first fifteen year old to lie to her parents about something like this.”

“Trust me, we’re all sure it’s his,” she sighed.  She crossed the room and plunked herself down on the barstool beside Michael, then laid her head down onto the countertop.  “She came here to tell him she was pregnant.  When she refused to have an abortion, he tried to strangle her.  She has the bruises on her throat to prove it.”  Barbara sniffed loudly.  “I can’t believe this is really happening.  I’ve known for years he’s had a thing for younger women - but not fifteen-year-olds and certainly not someone from our own damn family!”

Michael reached out and stroked Barbara’s back.  He tried to think of the right words to say but nothing came to him.  It was all surreal for him; like something out of a bad movie.  Yes, he knew Brian was no angel when it came to cheating on Barbara and Michael had long since give up trying to get him to change his evil ways.  But, this was clearly the actions of a man he did not know.

“Has anyone heard from him?” Michael mumbled.

Barbara propped her head up on an elbow.  Tears made her cheeks glisten in the sunlight.  “No,” she sobbed.  “And I hope he never comes back either.  He can rot in jail for all I care!”

Michael stepped between her legs on the stool and embraced her in his arms.  “You really don’t mean that, Barb.  After all the years you two have been together and the shit you’ve survived, this is just one more bump in the road.”

Her arms slid easily around his waist.  She pressed her face against his chest and exhaled.  For several minutes she held on tightly while Michael tried his best to offer her solace within his arms.  His body was firm and lean, much like Brian’s, but with more muscle tone and he smelt heavenly.  For one very brief moment, her thoughts focused on Michael.

“Do you think he’s all right?” she asked, a faint quiver in her voice.

“I’ve never known Brian to lay low for very long.  He’ll surface soon enough, then we’ll get his legal counsel armed for bear.”

Barbara tipped her head back to meet his gaze.  “You know he’ll never survive prison.”

“I know.  But it won’t come to that.”

“I hope you’re right.”

The days passed at a snail’s pace.  Michael split his time between Barbara’s house and the main office of the band.  Still, Brian remained at large.  It was usually after midnight by the time Michael crawled into bed each night.  Those few hours were the only time Annie had with him and even then, he was distracted with thoughts of Brian.

A patrol car remained outside the gates to their house, making Annie feel like a virtual prisoner.  They were living through a nightmare.

It was after ten o’clock on the fifth day when Michael’s cell phone rang in the pocket of his leather jacket.  Once again, he was holding vigil at Barbara’s house.  He reached for his ringing phone believing it to be Annie.  Instead the distraught voice of Brian greeted him.

“Where the hell are you?” Michael asked.

“I really need you, man,” Brian choked.

“Tell me where you are and I’m there.”

Michael listened carefully to the address.  “I’ll be there within the hour.  Don’t do anything crazy, okay?”

“I’ll sit tight,” Brian replied quietly.

Barbara’s eyes were wide with worry.  “Where is he?  Is he okay?  How did he sound?”

Michael paced the floor of the kitchen trying to figure out a plan to meet Brian without a police escort.  “The only way I can do it, is if I call a taxi, have them meet me at the gas station out on the highway and go from there,” he stated, matter-of-factly.  “That way the cops won’t see me leave in my own car.”

“And how do you plan on getting to the gas station?”

“I’ll run through the woods.  It shouldn’t take me more than a few minutes.”

“It’s pitch black out there, Michael.  You could trip and get hurt and no one would be able to find you!”

“Do you have a better plan?”

“No.”

“Look, we both know if I take my car I will be followed.  Is that what you want?”

She shook her head.  “Can I ask where he is?”

“He’s at the old Harbor View Motel.”

“Can I come with you?”

Michael shook his head.  “I think it’s best if I go get him alone.”

She nodded.  “Should I call our lawyer?”

“Not yet.  Lets wait until I get back, okay?”  Michael slipped on his coat and headed toward the back door.  There was nothing but thick woods between the house and the main thoroughfare.  Reluctantly, he called for a taxi and the plan was set in action.  “With any luck, I should be back with Brian in a couple of hours.  I’ll call you when I get there.”

Barbara hugged him tightly.  “Please be careful, Michael.”  He smiled reassuringly and disappeared out the back door.  It took less than fifteen minutes for him to make it to the main road, and except for a few cuts and scratches from the underbrush, he was none the worse for wear.  As he came out of the woods, the taxi was pulling into the gas station.

Michael quickly flagged down the driver and jumped into the back seat.  He gave the man the address and asked him to hurry.  Then he called Annie.  At last, she saw an ending to the nightmare and sighed with relief.