Always Yesterday (2 page)

Eli slipped on his helmet and straddled his bike. Pulling out onto Second, he headed for Virginia Street, making himself a promise: Delanie Cooper wouldn’t be the fourth woman on his list to fail him. The next fiasco might cost him his life, and he wasn’t willing to pay that high a price. A few mess-ups and he’d be rid of her. Eli Logan never broke promises to anyone, and he wouldn’t break this one to himself either.

❧

Delanie glanced from Joe to the door and back again. “Well, your warning that Eli might resent my assignment as his partner now seems a bit understated.”

“I told you he had issues.” Joe settled back into his chair.

“Issues? The man’s a woman-hater.” Delanie claimed the green vinyl chair facing Joe.

“He’s really a great guy. Has a lot of strength as a cop. Probably one of the best on the force.”

“You couldn’t prove it by me.” Delanie shrugged. “But I don’t think I’m the answer to your dilemma. How am I going to help him?” She leaned forward, waiting to hear.

“You’re not the answer, Delanie. God is. The police psychologist believes the only way Eli will get past his fear and find true healing is to pair him with a strong, dependable female partner. I chose you because you not only fit the description, but you also have a strong faith in God. You see, I only agree with the psychologist to a point. True healing comes from one source and one source only—God. You can barely get through a sentence without your faith spilling into the conversation. Eli needs a strong dose of what you have to offer.”

“That’s a big order, Joe. What if I fail him? What if I let him down, too? I’m only human and have lots of room for error.”

“I prayed long and hard about finding the right partner for Eli. I’m convinced you’re the one for the assignment, so I’ll trust that whatever happens is part of God’s plan to draw Eli to Himself.” Joe tapped his pencil against his desk several times as if to underscore his words.

“I sure hope you’re right.” Delanie let out a long, slow breath. This assignment looked as if it would be the toughest one she’d had to date. Not the police work, but the friendship evangelism assignment that came with it. How could a woman befriend a woman-hater and lead him to Christ?

God, this one is up to You. I’m willing, but You’ll have to handle all the details. And, Lord, I’m sorry I let Eli goad me into a contest of wills. So far on this assignment I’ve crashed and burned. I failed as a shining light pointing to You.

“I’m going to take off. I’ll see you in the morning.” Delanie rose and strode to the door. “Do you think he’ll be here?”

“Eli—he’ll be here, all right. He’s a cop through and through. It’s all he knows, and frankly, it’s his whole life.”

The news made Delanie a little sad. Being a police officer was a great job, even a wonderful ministry, but someone’s entire life? She needed to know more about Eli. An idea formed.

“Where does he live?”

“Eli?” Joe’s wrinkled brow verified his confusion at the abrupt subject change.

“Yeah, Eli.” She grinned at Joe’s perplexed look.

“What difference does that make?” His brows drew even closer together.

“I want to get a feel for him. Drive through his neighborhood and try to understand this new partner of mine.”

“He won’t appreciate you snooping around.”

“Too bad. He’s not willing to sit down with me, get to know me, work out our differences.”

“He lives in an apartment—off Ralston just north of I-80.”

The news surprised her. “Why? I know the pay’s low, but not that low. He could live in a better area than that.”

“Two reasons. To keep a pulse on the drug activity in the area and to befriend young boys in his neighborhood, hoping to help keep them off drugs and out of gangs.” The admiration in Joe’s voice was apparent.

“So Mr. Logan has a caring side.” Delanie considered this new information. At least it made him almost human.

“Not for you.”

“No, not for me, but at least for someone.” She turned to leave; now she had a plan. “See ya,” she called over her shoulder on her way out Joe’s door.

Delanie took the stairs to the second floor, pondering her new partner. She let out a long breath, feeling overwhelmed by the man. He was so negative, so antiwoman, and yet she couldn’t deny the interest she felt, the chemistry when their hands touched. It would take a lot of prayer to maintain a good frame of mind around him.

She popped in to say hi to her dad and obtain more information regarding Mr. Logan. With her other partners, she’d spent time with them over coffee so she could get to know them. That wouldn’t be the case here. Whatever she wanted to know, she’d have to ferret out on her own. Her dad said little, except that Eli was a good man and a good cop. He did, however, provide her with Eli’s address.

Leaving the precinct, Delanie drove straight to Eli’s stomping grounds. After a little searching, she found parking curbside a half block or so from his apartment building—the place Eli called home. It was old and somewhat decrepit, certainly in need of work. Parking down a bit, she smiled as she thought how conspicuous she was in a sports car, even a white one. Hers was not a nondescript surveillance car at all. She watched people come and go. Many were Hispanic and young kids.

Eli exited, wearing sweats and a sleeveless shirt and bouncing a basketball. A group of ten or so boys who looked to be junior high age surrounded him. His hair, almost black and slightly too long, glistened in the sun. Laughter filled the air as he and the boys wrestled over the ball. The scruffy beard that looked like several days’ growth still covered his jawline and chin, but somehow it added to his rugged attractiveness. For Delanie, seeing his playful side and watching his interaction with the boys made him all the more appealing.

He glanced in her direction once but apparently didn’t see her. Delanie waited until he was a half block away, then followed on foot. At Eleventh Street Eli and his entourage made a left. Delanie jogged to catch up. Unfamiliar with the neighborhood, she had no idea where they were headed.

Just before she rounded the corner where Eli had turned, someone grabbed her from behind. Muscular arms wrapped around her neck and waist, holding her in a choke hold.
Don’t panic! Stay calm!
Immediately all of her senses were alert, alive. She sucked hard to take in a breath; the arm across her throat made it difficult. Why hadn’t she been paying attention to her surroundings? As a cop, she knew better, especially in this neighborhood. She’d wait. Sooner or later this guy would make a mistake, and she’d make her move. Heart pounding, she prayed for help.

Chapter 2

Sarge didn’t tell me your nickname was Coop the Snoop.”

Eli knew the moment Delanie recognized his voice—some of the tension left her body, and she relaxed a little, but not completely. He loosened his hold the slightest bit, and she inhaled a gulp of air. He didn’t want to notice the smell of her—clean with a hint of lavender—or the touch of her—small and soft in his arms—but neither eluded him.

What is it about this woman?
He released her, needing to put space between them. She swung around and, using her legs, swept his out from under him. He hit the ground—hard. Dazed, he replayed the last few seconds. One instant he was contemplating her femininity, and the next he was sprawled out on the pavement with a throbbing head and an aching back, listening to a group of boys chuckling somewhere nearby. He’d never hear the end of this from them.

“Man, she’s quick,” he heard Miguel say.

“Did you see the way she knocked his feet right out from under him?” Oscar asked in a loud whisper.

Delanie reached out her hand to help Eli to his feet. Groaning, he accepted her offer, and she pulled him up. “Don’t ever misjudge your opponent.” She raised her eyebrow, tilting her chin upward. Turning, she faced the group of boys. “Can anyone play, or is it guys only?”

“Guys only,” Eli answered, brushing the dirt off his sweats. He figured he’d cut her off before any of those awestruck teens could invite her into the game.

“But since you’re tougher than most of the guys we know”—Miguel shot him a meaningful glance, his brown eyes glowing with mischief—“we can make an exception for you.”

“Why, thank you.” Delanie dazzled them with a smile that might possibly shame the sun. His little mob of junior high boys surrounded her like bees around a honeycomb, and they walked toward the court while he straggled behind completely forgotten. She joked with them, and they joked back, admiration written across each young face. Great. His little posse abandoned him for the first pretty girl to come along.

“Where do you guys play?” she asked.

“Peavine Elementary,” Miguel said, “down on Grandview.”

Delanie checked out the yellow school with bright, colorful doors—some blue, green, and red. It looked happy with vines growing up the side of the building, and to her surprise she saw no graffiti. She followed the guys around back to the playground where a full-size basketball court awaited them.

Oscar tossed the basketball to Delanie, and she tossed it to Eli. “Hope you don’t mind a girl in the game.” Her Caribbean-blue eyes mocked him. She knew he did mind, but she obviously didn’t care.

“As long as you’re not on my team.” He threw the ball back to her—with force. She caught it, and from the slapping sound against her palms, he knew they had to sting, but she didn’t even flinch.

Stopping at the edge of the court, Delanie asked, “So whose team am I on?”

“I’ll take her,” Miguel offered gallantly. She was shorter than most of the boys, so they all knew she was more of a liability than an asset.

“I’ll take Eli.” Oscar grinned, and Eli knew the chunky boy still pictured him sprawled out on the pavement and could barely contain his laughter. While Miguel and Oscar took turns choosing team members, Eli evaluated his opponent. She’d pulled her hair back into a ponytail, and in her navy tank top, shorts, and tennis shoes, she’d come to play. How did she know he’d be home or even where home was?

Okay,
he grudgingly admitted,
she has a cop’s nose. And she is spunky—definitely spunky.

Each team gathered in a circle at opposite ends of the court, discussing strategy, but he only half-listened. Delanie Cooper had unquestionably earned an ounce of respect from him today—she was a fast thinker, quick and strong, and he wouldn’t underestimate her again, nor would he lose his focus. He’d been thinking of her womanly wiles instead of keeping a clear head. Well, no more. No, sir. He’d pay no more attention to the smell of her, the touch of her, the sound of her, or anything else about her.

Both teams met center court, and Eli flipped a coin. Delanie called heads, and heads it was, so they had the basketball first. His team got into defensive positions while Miguel threw the ball to Delanie. She dribbled down court, weaving through his players. He planted himself between her and the basket. She collided into him, with more force than he expected from someone her size, and lost control of the ball.

Oscar grabbed the loose ball and passed it to Jorge, who dunked it, and they took the lead 2-0. Miguel threw the basketball back in, and Delanie carried it down court again, this time sinking the shot, making the score 2-2. The teams were evenly matched, and the game stayed close. Delanie played tough, and Eli grudgingly noted his admiration had moved up another notch. When they were all drenched with sweat and thoroughly exhausted, they called it quits. His team managed to pull off a three-point victory.

“So now that we’ve shared a game of hoops, do I get an introduction to your friends?” Delanie asked, walking off the court. She took a gulp of water from the bottle he handed her, and he realized he’d already started taking care of her, watching out for her, even though he’d promised himself not to fall into that role.

“Sure. Guys, this is Delanie Cooper, better known as Coop the Snoop. Coop, the guys.”

Delanie rolled her eyes and shook her head, but the smile she shined on him caused his heart to trip over itself. He shifted his gaze away from her.
I won’t warm up to her. I will not!

They all sat in the grass next to the court, chugging water, and each junior higher introduced himself to Delanie. Then they rehashed the best plays of the game. “Did you see the steal Eli made right out of Delanie’s hands?”

“Yeah, that was some play, E. A clean lift—all ball.” She was actually proud of him, and the thought made him feel warm inside.

He cocked his brow. “E?”

“Hey, if I’m Coop, you’re E.” She shrugged. “Take it or leave it, dude. It’s either Delanie and Eli, Cooper and Logan, or Coop and E.”

“Coop and E it is.” Eli decided to get her riled. “You know, Coop, for a girl, you don’t play half-bad.” He stretched out on the grass, leaning on his right elbow.

She only laughed. “Thank you. And for a guy, you don’t play too bad either—though my brothers would put you to shame.”

“Brothers, huh? I knew you had one—Frank Jr.”

“Yeah, since Frankie’s on the force, I figured you knew him. He’s the oldest. Brady is next, then Cody.”

“And where do you fall in the lineup?”

She smiled and hung her head. “The baby.”