Always Yesterday (9 page)

“Are you being financially compensated in any way?” Eli’s voice was compassionate and caring, not harsh and demanding as some cops often were. Every day he moved a little deeper into her heart, and Delanie knew she wouldn’t leave this case unscathed.

Brandi fidgeted with the drawstring on her PJs, ignoring Eli.

“If you’re getting money for that baby, I’d better know about it.” Her mom was yelling again.

This poor kid had no one on her team who cared about her. She’d be easy prey for any compassionate person, even just a doctor and a lawyer pretending to be compassionate. She might not be savvy enough to know they weren’t really on her team.

“Brandi, just give me a name, and you’ll never see me again.”

“George.” Her tone was laced with sarcasm. “The baby’s name is George.” She turned to go back into the house.

“Wait.” He grabbed her arm to stop her forward movement. “Another girl, even younger than you, was murdered just after the birth of her baby. These are not nice people.”

She glared at the hand holding her arm.

Eli released her, and she disappeared into the house. He handed her mother his card, though all Delanie could see was her arm. “This is serious, not to mention illegal. Please talk to her and call me. All I need is the name of the doctor or lawyer she’s dealing with.”

The door shut, and Eli let out a long, deep breath. His head drooped, and several seconds later he turned and moved toward the car. She wished she could comfort him but knew she must keep her distance, so neither spoke when he hopped into the car.

They drove to the police station, and Delanie followed Eli to Joe’s office. He rapped once on the half-closed door, and Joe hollered, “Yeah?”

Eli pushed the door open and stood back to let Delanie enter first. They each plopped into a green vinyl chair.

“What’s up?” Joe pushed aside his paperwork and focused on them.

They reviewed the case notes with him, and Delanie asked both men, “So what’s next?”

“Let’s put a twenty-four-hour tail on her for the next couple of weeks. Can you guys cover twelve?”

Eli nodded.

Delanie hesitated.
There goes my life. I’ll have to see if Hank and Junie can stay at Mom and Dad’s during the day.

“Delanie?” Joe raised his brows.

“Sure.” Though she felt far from sure. She and Eli together twelve hours a day, seven days a week, crammed into a car for most of it, held zero appeal.

“Which twelve do you want?” Joe asked, his gaze flitting from one to the other.

“Nine to nine—the daylight shift,” Eli answered.

There go evenings.

“That okay with you, Delanie?” Joe focused his full attention on her.

“I was hoping more like six to six. That way we’d still have our evenings.”

Joe’s gaze returned to Eli.

“The reason I thought nine is because the girl was still sound asleep at seven this morning. We’d be sitting for several hours doing nothing. Plus I’d like to get a pulse on her evening activity.”

“All good points. Delanie, why six?” Joe asked.

“The youth center. I’m scheduled there three evenings a week.”

Eli gave her a pointed stare. “Maybe your life is better suited for the regular hours a patrol car provides.”

“Still hoping to rid yourself of me?” She returned his look with one just as pointed, then looked at Joe. “Nine to nine will be fine.” She smiled sweetly at Eli.
You’re not winning that easily.

“Why don’t you both take the rest of today off? We’ll start the stakeout at nine tomorrow morning. I’m going to issue you a different car in case they spotted the Nova. Eli, if you want to hang around, I’ll send you home with it today. Then you can just pick up Delanie each morning and drop her at the end of the day. Save you both the extra time of coming here.”

Delanie wrote out the directions to her place for Eli before she left. Eli said he’d turn in the equipment they’d used today.

What do I do with a day off in the middle of the week?
Delanie exited the police station and headed for her car. Feeling restless and needing to process everything going on inside her, she glanced at her watch. Barely midmorning. Jodi would be tied up with her first graders for several more hours. Courtney was pulling a twelve-hour shift at the hospital. Kristen might be able to catch an early lunch. She pushed the number 8 on her cell phone, and the call went to Kristen’s cell.

“Hey, D, you don’t normally call me in the middle of the day. Everything okay?”

“You want to grab an early lunch? I’m free for the rest of the day, and then life as I know it will end for two weeks.”

“That sounds like enough enticement to get me to drop everything. Where?”

“Where else?”

Kristen laughed. “Bertha’s. I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

Delanie decided to walk, clear her head, and grab some fresh air. She’d probably get there about the same time as Kristen.

The host led her to a small booth with a red tablecloth and brown vinyl seats. She faced the lone rock wall inside the place. All of the others were wood paneled. Kristen joined her. Neither even bothered with the menus. They both ordered their old standbys and would share.

“So what’s up, girlfriend, and why are you disappearing for two weeks?” One of Kristen’s arched brows rose.

“Eli and I will be doing surveillance for the next fourteen days—nine to nine.”

“There goes your life.”

“Yep, and possibly my sanity.” Delanie sipped her iced tea the waiter had just dropped off.

“Sanity?” Kristen’s brow wrinkled.

“I cannot tell you how attracted I am to this man. I think I’m falling in love with him. I mean, is that even possible in such a short amount of time?”

“You’re asking the wrong girl. I’m still waiting, so I don’t even know what falling feels like.”

“Me either, having never done it myself, but he is always popping up in my thoughts.”

“Always on my mind—sounds like a country western song my dad used to like.” Then she proceeded to sing the chorus.

Kristen could always make her laugh. “He is always on my mind. I fall asleep praying for him. I wake up thinking about him. When he smiles, my heart does this little flutter thing.”

“You sure it’s not a heart attack?” Kristen quipped.

The waiter delivered their food, and they did their usual swapping. After praying, Kristen said, “I’m sorry, D. I know this is hard for you, but laughter is good medicine. I’ll be good. Pinkie promise.” She held up her pinkie like they did as kids. “Finish your story.”

“He’s just this incredible guy with character and integrity and everything I’d want in a man—everything except Christ. Sad to say, but he’s better than most Christian guys.”

Kristen’s face showed concern. “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing. What can I do?” She took a bite of her taco. “But for the first time in my life, I understand how easy it would be to fall for an unbeliever. I’ve always been all smug, thinking it could never happen to me. But it could. It is.”

“I guess it’s not whether it happens, but what you do when it happens that matters.” Kristen’s eyes held compassion, and her words held truth.

“Yeah. I’m learning it’s easy to have the answers until the rubber of life meets the road of faith. Anyway, pray that I’ll stand firm. Some days I just want to chuck all my ideals and grab hold of life, but I know in the long run the cost would be too high. I don’t want to rob myself of God’s best.” Delanie sighed. “Enough about me. How are you?”

“I’m fine. Status quo and all.”

“I’ll miss not seeing you guys at the youth center, at church, at Bible study.”

“It’ll be weird, that’s for sure.”

“I’m also worried about all that intense time with Eli, so don’t forget to pray for me.”

“I will. Every day.” She held up her pinkie again. “Promise.” They both chuckled.

“I have another favor. . . .”

Kristen glanced up from her food.

“Can you get me a list of lawyers who do adoptions?”

Kristen nodded. “Sure—no problem.”

“Can you also do a little fishing? See if any of the partners in your firm have heard of anyone arranging—shall we say—some very high-priced adoptions.”

“Ooh, intrigue, mystery—I love it. I’ll see what I can find.”

“Discreetly.” Delanie felt the need to tack that on.

“Are you saying I lack discretion?” Kristen feigned a hurt expression.

“You’re funny, you’re direct, but sometimes. . .”

“I know, I know—a bull in a china shop. I’ve heard that one before.” Kristen wasn’t afraid to laugh at herself either—a great quality.

“One more request,” Delanie said while searching through her wallet for a tip. “This is really out there, but can you make me a list of all the attorneys with George in their names? First, last, middle—doesn’t matter.”

“George, huh?” Kristen frowned and shrugged. “Okay.”

“Unless you come across pertinent info, I’ll just get all this from you when my two weeks of torture end.” Delanie laughed and slipped from the booth. “We won’t be checking out attorneys until then.”

After paying their bills, they hugged and said their good-byes.

❧

Eli suffered through being in Delanie’s presence day in and day out. She’d been quiet and withdrawn—said very little and asked no questions. He wasn’t sure which was worse—the energetic, talkative Delanie or this one. He was thankful their two weeks were almost over. One more day after today. The whole stakeout had been a complete waste of time.

The kid was a couch potato to the max. They’d tailed her to the mall a couple of times, but other than that, she watched TV and played video games. He knew that from the bug Sarge had planted. He’d obtained a warrant, and while Delanie and Eli trailed Brandi last week, Sarge sent a crew in to do the job.

Today was no different. Here they sat watching, waiting, bored to tears. He missed his junior high brood. This assignment certainly wasn’t worth giving up his time with them.

At Sarge’s request Delanie had worn her pregnant teen getup the last couple of days, in case Brandi hit the mall again. Delanie didn’t complain, but he knew from watching her that the bulky thing was uncomfortable and probably hot.

She’d laid her seat back and grabbed a few minutes of shut-eye. They took turns with the afternoon siesta. For a little thing, she was tough as nails. She’d earned his respect in so many ways, but most of all for her performance as a cop. And she read him like a book. He hadn’t had a partner he’d been this in sync with since Gus, and that was more than five years ago.

She opened her eyes and caught him gawking. When she smiled up at him, he nearly forgot to breathe.

“Welcome back to the wonderful and exciting life of an undercover cop.” He had to say something, or they would have gaped at each other forever. Sometimes when he stared into her eyes, he was certain she was crazy about him, but her actions never supported his theory. Not that he cared anyway. Things were better off this way.

She pulled the lever on the side of her seat to return it to the upright position. “Who knew what I’d been missing all these years?” she joked. “Eighty-four hours a week in a car. It’s like being back on patrol, but we never move.”

Eli laughed.

“She’s coming out!” Delanie pointed to the house.

“I’ll follow on foot. You hang back in the car.” Eli raised his pant leg and checked his pistol. “Our wire should work for about a block or two, so you’ll have to stay fairly close.”

Delanie nodded and went around the car to the driver’s seat.

“Be careful and watch your back.” Eli closed the car door and started a casual stroll down the street. As he rounded the corner at the end of the block, he heard Delanie start the car and glimpsed her rolling forward. Eli kept his eye on Delanie about a half block back, and Brandi was about the same distance ahead.

As expected, Brandi led them to the mall. Eli kept her in sight while Delanie parked the car. He instructed Delanie where to enter the mall so she’d be in Brandi’s path. Brandi’s first stop was the food court, and Delanie stepped into line right behind her.
This couldn’t have worked out better.
Eli settled at a table in the back corner.

“So when are you due?” Delanie asked in a casual tone.

Brandi turned. “You scared me. I didn’t know anyone was behind me.”

“Sorry.” He couldn’t see Delanie’s face, but he imagined her warm smile winning Brandi’s trust. “This is my first baby, and I have a million questions.”

“Me, too!” Brandi said.

“Next!” the man behind the counter yelled.

Brandi moved forward and ordered.

“Get her to lunch with you,” Eli spoke softly. Delanie gave a slight nod, and he knew her receptor was working.

“Next.”

Delanie ended up at the register beside Brandi. “Hey, are you here by yourself?”

“Why?” The one word was riddled with suspicion.