Meeting Destiny (28 page)

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Were there any cars on the street that you didn’t recognize?”

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No, but I walked to their house and didn’t notice the street. It’s not like I was looking for a parking place or anything. Mr. McMasters was in his front yard watering his flower beds. He went into the house after we talked and got the keys to his car. That was it.”

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Did you go into the house?”

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No, I had been in there on Saturday, but not Sunday.”

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You didn’t notice any strange cars on the street. Did you notice anything about the house that was different?”

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No, nothing.”

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Where was Mrs. McMasters when you were there?”

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Somewhere inside, but I didn’t see her through any of the windows.”

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Did you see any of their neighbors outside?”

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Two houses down from the McMasters I saw one of their neighbors pulling out of his garage, but I don’t know his name.”

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Did you tell the police?”

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No, he could only tell them that he saw me in the front yard. He was gone before I left.”

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Paul, maybe he saw a strange car on the street or someone he didn’t recognize in the neighborhood. I’ve got a feeling that the police believe they’ve already caught their murderer and aren’t doing the usual canvassing of the neighborhood.”

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Why are you asking me all this? Why are you so interested?”

I started to hesitate and decided being secretive wouldn’t do either of us any good. “I get a feeling sometimes about people, and you don’t strike me as a murderer. I want to help if I can, but I’m not certain what the best way to help is. Should I post your bail? Hire you a good lawyer? Hire a private investigator? Call an investigative news program?”

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A feeling? Like what kind of a feeling? Are you psychic or something? If you’re psychic, just tell the cops that you know the truth!”

Trying to beat around the bush with Paul would be useless. I’d just be open and hope he didn’t think I was a fruit loop. “Sorry Paul, it doesn’t work like that, and I’m definitely not psychic. But I did sense danger from you at the mall Sunday. Why would I feel that way if you weren’t dangerous? It just doesn’t make any sense.”

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I had decided that if Rachael wouldn’t agree to a date, I was going to go back to the McMasters’. Nothing I was planning would have put you or Rachael in danger.”

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If you weren’t any danger to either of us, I never would have gotten that vibe, unless…” It hit me. “Unless there was danger posed by taking the car back to the McMaster’s home, and I was getting the warning for you, not from you? I don’t see how, because the second we met you at the mall I was certain that Rachael should stay away from you. I even took her into the bathroom and told her to pick any other guy in the mall but you.”

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A danger vibe, are you serious? Really? What do you mean pick any other guy?”

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Sometimes my skills are helpful at finding people who are fun to hang around with…never mind. But if you were in danger and I was sensing that rather than you being the danger, that explains everything. From the moment the police arrived on Sunday morning until now, I’ve not had any sense of danger around you. It was my responsibility to keep you from returning to the house and I didn’t even see it. As soon as that was accomplished, everything was fine. Oh, my gosh – Paul, you really are innocent.”

His voice was less than thrilled, “A lot of good that does me here. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you don’t believe I’m a murderer anymore, but it doesn’t fix this situation at all.”

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How much is your bail?”

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One hundred thousand dollars, but my mom doesn’t have that kind of money, and she and Mr. McMasters were very close. Even if she did have the money, there’s no way she’d make bail.”

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If I get you out of here, where can you stay?”

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If you get me out of here? Where are you going to find a hundred thousand dollars?”

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Never mind about the money. Where can you stay? It won’t do you any good if I bail you out of jail and you end up staying in a cardboard box in an alley.”

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I think I can stay at my grandmother’s house. I haven’t talked to her, but I don’t think she would tell me no.”

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If I leave now, I should be able to get you out this afternoon.” With that I stood up, reached out my hand to shake Paul’s, and made my way to the door.

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Wait, just like that, you don’t even know me and you’re going to go find bail money for me?” I didn’t answer – I just waved as I headed for the door.

The remainder of the afternoon was a blur. I had remembered seeing a Bail Bond place across the street. Having no experience in this area, I asked them how it worked and basically I had to pay them ten percent of the bail money, they would put up the other ninety percent and keep my ten percent when it was all over. It would cost me ten thousand dollars to spring Paul. I asked them if I could use their phone book to call a cab, and the old man behind the counter offered to give me a ride to my bank. I withdrew the money and got a ride back to the bail bondsman’s office. We filled out the paperwork, and everything I could do was complete by two p.m. The bondsman told me that it would be a few hours before Paul was released. I asked him to give Paul my cell phone number. I looked at my watch and realized there was a real possibility I could make it back to school and give Rachael her driver’s license back before her last class was over.

The cab dropped me in front of the school, and I made my way to the hallway where Rachel’s classroom was. I waited across the hall; she was already grabbing her things to leave for the day when she saw me waving through the doorway.

Curiosity must have gotten to her because she asked, “Are you going to tell me what you needed it for?”

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Don’t worry, I didn’t wreck a car or go gambling or anything.”

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I was stressed about a test and didn’t want to waste time asking you what you needed it for. I saw the interview from last night. Do you really think we weren’t in any real danger Sunday?” I could tell this question had been eating at her all day.

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I’m certain that he didn’t do it, so much so that I just bailed him out of jail.” The look on Rachael’s face was not at all what I was expecting. It was…relief. I’d expected her to be confused, angry, frustrated, any number of emotions, but not relieved that I had just set him free.

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Why’d you do that? You were so….” She didn’t finish her sentence.

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It’s kind of a long story. I guess I could say that I was worried that you didn’t have a date for this Saturday, but that wasn’t the real reason. Honestly, I know he didn’t do anything wrong and my initial impression of him was off the mark.”

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But how do you know?” She was looking for some real assurance, and, obviously, I couldn’t give her anything concrete or tangible.

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Rachael, I just know. I’ve been to the jail, well, technically you went to the jail, but I know when someone is lying to me. When we talked, there was not an ounce of deception in him. With him locked up, the police aren’t looking for the real criminal, they’re just gathering evidence to keep him locked up. The only way to help him was to get him out of jail and maybe hire a private investigator or something. On an unrelated topic, he’s really in to you.” I added the last part just to see what she would think, and her movements gave her away in an instant. She leaned forward with a huge smile, “Really?”

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No doubt about it, he’s going to call me as soon as he’s released. Want me to give him your number?”

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Um, if you’re sure…yes, give him my number and tell him to call me tonight.” Rachael gave me a hug. “I’m so glad you were wrong.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I wasn’t wrong about the danger. I only misinterpreted that Paul was the one presenting the danger, when in reality it was he who was in danger. Rachael was excited and offered to give me a ride home.

Just as we were halfway to Rachael’s car, I saw Max’s huge truck up against the curb and his eyes searching faces of the army of students exiting the building. “Hey, Max is here, let me see what’s going on.” Rachael followed me to Max’s truck.

Max saw me approaching his truck with Rachael a few feet behind. He looked rested and seemed really upbeat when he explained, “I know you said that you had plans after school today, but after last night I wanted to make sure you weren’t pissed. I know it’s pitiful, but…”

I grabbed him tightly and whispered, “Yeah, it’s pretty pitiful, but I’m sooooo glad to see you.” I turned to Rachael, “I don’t need a ride home after all. I’ll call you in a few hours with an update.”

Rachael waved goodbye, fully understanding my cryptic message. Max opened the driver’s door and motioned for me to get in. I climbed in and slid over to the center of the seat and asked him, “So, what’d you do today?”

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Not much. My sleep schedule is all jacked up, so most of the morning I spent snoozing. I got to thinking about our conversation last night. You’re right, regardless of how I feel, it was out of line for me to tell you to check with me before going to the jail or anything else you feel you need to do.”

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Well, thanks,” better to tell him now than let him find out about it later, “In interest of full disclosure, I went to the jail today and bailed Paul out.” Max’s jaw tightened and his muscles went rigid. I could see his knuckles were clenching the steering wheel hard, but to his credit he remained silent.

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I know this may not be how you want to spend your free time, and it’s okay if you say no, but there’s an end of term party called the Class Bash this Saturday. You wanna go?” I hadn’t thought much about it, but this would be a good night out, and with Max’s new found bond with Seth, maybe the four of us could go. I’d have to broach that with Seth later.

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Have you lost your mind?” Max’s knuckles were completely white on the steering wheel, and I could see now that his teeth were still clenched. “You bail a murderer out of jail and the very next sentence you ask if I want to go to a party with you? Never mind that last night you agreed you wouldn’t even see this guy unless you talked to me first, now you’re telling me you went to see him and you made his bail? What would possess you to do either of those things by yourself? You knew I wasn’t working. You knew I didn’t want you to see him alone.”

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Easy Max, you asked me if it was too much to ask for me to call you beforehand. I didn’t say that I would. As far as the party, it isn’t a big deal. I wasn’t going to go, and I didn’t mention it before because I thought you would think it would be silly.”

Max got out of the truck and started walking away. I called after him, “Where are you going?”

He yelled over his shoulder to me, “I need to take a walk…alone. Go ahead and take my truck. I’ll get it from you later.” I sat there watching him for a full minute - he was really just wandering away!

What kind of a bozo storms off like a little kid? Should I let him have his little tantrum on his own? Then I thought about it. I could have called him this morning and told him what I was up to. Heck, I could have told him last night when I started forming my plan. I’ve always liked that I do things my way, on my own, but there wasn’t any reason for me to keep Max out of it. Seth’s been my closest friend my whole life, but he never interfered in any of my decisions. I guess I’ve always been this way. But I can’t put Seth and Max in the same category. There’s a reason I always kept Seth at arm’s length. We were close, but not like Max and me.

Rather than sitting there arguing with myself, I bolted after him. “Max, please stop.” He stopped and looked at me but remained quiet.

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I know you’re angry. I would ask you to give me a chance to explain but I don’t know that there is anything I can say to you in the next thirty seconds that’ll make you understand why I did what I did.

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Lauren, I really think if I just go for a walk, I’ll be fine.”

I pointed to a bench a few feet away and asked, “Give me five minutes.”

Max lowered his head a little, looking at the pavement and nodded. He reached for my hand and I gladly grabbed his. He breathed in deeply and then let the air out, “I’m listening.”

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I know after such a short time together you may still be struggling with this, but you’re not just a boyfriend, you are much more. As far as I’m concerned this is just as much a fact as anything else I’ve ever known. Normally a couple gets to know each other, go on a few dates, meet each other’s friends, find common interests, experience life together for a while before they make this kind of commitment. I’m okay if you want to slow things down to catch your breath; I really wouldn’t even care if you got mad and broke up with me.”