PS01 - Tall, Dark & Lonely (23 page)

she doesn’t like owing anyone anything especially a man. He told her it’s a gift and not to worry about it and that she didn’t

owe him anything. She’s hell bent on having a fight about it and he’s too thick to see that. It’s not complicated and it doesn’t

compare to my problem, now give me a damn cookie I think I earned it,” Jill snapped.

Chris grinned like it was Christmas morning. “Yes, you did.” He brought her a cookie. “Very good, my young one. You’ve

made Chris very happy with this little tidbit of information.”

“You have a very big mouth, Jill, did you know?” Ephraim asked.

“Yes,” she said unashamed.

Chris rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Now, let’s see. You had a fight over money. I take it she doesn’t have much

being a single woman who put herself through college and raised two kids for a few years, that’s understandable and even

commendable. And then we have the dashing young police detective-“

“Please you’re making me blush,” Ephraim said dryly.

“Who lives in a boarding house, drives a state car, and has no real financial responsibilities, so I’m guessing he has a decent

amount of money and he wanted to help you.”

“Chris,” she warned.

He ignored the warning. “Obviously something happened last week that put a great financial strain on you and he stepped up.

He probably didn’t want to see you struggle anymore. It was a very nice gesture, one that can be seen in many different ways,

but I doubt very much that he expected anything from you or did it to hold it over your head.” He ended with a shrug and

another bite of cookie.

“Oh? And pray tell o’ wise one how you have come to this conclusion.”

He swallowed loudly. “Just common sense. He’s a good looking guy, not as good looking as me of course.”

“Of course,” Ephraim agreed. Chris winked at him. “He moved here three years ago and obviously has had money since then or

before then. There are plenty of women in town, beautiful women I might add, who have expressed an interest in warming his

bed.”

“Chris!”

He held up a hand. “All I’m saying is he’s not lacking in looks or offers. If he was the type of guy who was just interested in

sex he could have gotten that from anyone. He’s not trying to control you and seems laid back. I’m just saying I don’t think he

did it to hurt you. He should have talked to you about it I’m sure, but I have to say he meant no harm.”

“Thanks for the help, Chris, but I think you just got me in a boat load of shit,” Ephraim groaned.

“Why? I’m just saying how it is. If you ask Jill I bet you she would come to the same conclusion.”

“And why is that?” Madison couldn’t keep the irritation out her voice.

Chris shrugged. “Because she’s female and she doesn’t think it’s a big deal. Usually females that are prone to drama can sniff

out a problem if there is one and blow it up. She clearly doesn’t see one.”

Jill nodded.

“You both suck,” Madison said bitterly.

“Hey, can you say that to us?”

“She just did,” Ephraim pointed out.

“Okay then.” Chris said happily, grabbing another cookie.

The door flew open and Principal Mason stepped inside. He came to an abrupt halt when he saw Ephraim.

“Detective Williams, to what do we owe the pleasure?” His greeting was cordial, but his tone was cold.

Without missing a beat Chris spoke up, sensing his favorite teacher might get in trouble for a social call. “Detective Williams

is here for me.”

“Oh?” He eyed the white bakery box and cup.

“He’s trying to butter me up so I’ll talk, but I’m not telling him shit.” He finished off the last cookie.

“Watch your mouth, boy,” Mason warned. He turned his attention to Ephraim. “In the future please remember to let my office

know you’re here.”

“I signed in as a guest, Mason. I'll remind you as a State Detective I can come and go on state grounds as I wish.”

“Fine.” He knew Ephraim was right. He was still angry about losing the support of Mike’s parents after the conviction.

“Well, it’s clear he’s not going to talk and there’s still an hour of detention left. So, if you’re done…”

“I’m afraid you’re right.” Ephraim stood up. Chris dropped his head back and groaned.

“Another hour, if she starts crying again I’m jumping out the window. I’m sure Principal Mason will join me, seeing how he

hates the sound of a woman crying,” he said a little loudly.

Jill picked up on the non-too-subtle hint and began crying again in earnest. Mason looked flummoxed. “I’ll just go now. It

seems as if you have this under control, Miss. Soloman.” He leveled a look on Ephraim. “Detective.”

A long shrieking sound came from Jill that sent Mason running for the door. Jill immediately stopped once the door shut behind

him.

“Well well well, I do believe I’ve found someone that Mason hates even more than me,” Chris said thoughtfully. “Good to

know.”

“Jealous?” Ephraim chuckled.

“Puhlease.”

Ephraim straightened his tie and bent over Madison’s desk for a kiss. She backed up. He sighed, “So, I see Dr. Phil here was

correct. You are mad at me.”

“No, I’m not. I’m at work Ephraim.” She avoided his eyes.

“Don’t you see that I care about you too much to stand by and watch you suffer?”He was reaching the end of his rope. Six days.

Six days of nonsense over money of all things. He couldn’t believe it.

“Ephraim, please just go. I’ll see you tonight at dinner, okay?”

He backed off. “Don’t count on it.” He left the room at a quick pace.

She dropped her face in her hands and took a deep breath. This was not turning out to be the best birthday ever. This couldn’t

get any worse.

“Unfucking believable.” Chris shook his head in utter amazement. “I’m stuck with two drama queens.”

Chapter 14

“Detective Williams, is everything okay?”

Ephraim turned his attention from the shop window to the elderly man. “Everything’s fine, Mr. Watson. Is my order ready?”

Mr. Watson smiled. “Both of them are in fact.” He opened the large shop safe and pulled out a small velvet box and a long thin

wooden box and laid them on the counter. “I wish you luck, my boy.

Ephraim placed the boxes in his jacket and nodded. “Thanks again.”

“No problem, my boy. You have a good night.”

“No chance of that happening,” he mumbled to himself.

He walked past the line of shops to the parking lot. Today was not going as he planned. He hoped she was over this so he

could give her a good birthday, but she clearly wasn’t. Chris was right. She was looking for a fight. He wanted to avoid one at

all costs. She didn’t understand and now he was pissed off.

How he was going to smile through the next three hours of her surprise party he didn’t know. One thing was for certain, she

wasn’t going to be happy with the gift her bought her. She’d just see it as an attempt to buy her.

His hand froze on the door handle of his cruiser. “Shit,” he muttered. He dropped his hand and turned around. A hand shot out

to strike him. Ephraim caught the very feminine hand before it made contact.

“What the hell do you want?” he growled.

The small petite blond just smiled and pulled back her hand. She looked him over slowly. “I see the years have been very good

to you, Ephraim.”

“What are you doing here in Rascal?” he demanded.

She gestured casually. “This and that.”

“Uh huh, why don’t I believe that?”

Eve placed a hand to her bosom. “Me lie?” She gave him a wicked smile. “Never.”

His eyes narrowed. “It’s just a happy coincidence that you’re here.”

She stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Why? Didn’t you miss me?” She pulled him down and pressed

her lips firmly to his.

*******

to take eye contact as a signal to start crying. “I think your mom forgot to pick you up again, buddy.”

Chris threw the pebble he’d been toying with across the school’s front lawn. “She didn’t forget, Miss. Soloman, no need to

soften the blow for me. I told you a half an hour ago not to worry about it. You could have gone home then. You didn’t have to

wait.” Chris' usual calm tone was gone.

She considered him for a minute. He did tell her not to worry about it. Normally he practically browbeat her to sit with him

and wait for his mother. His mother was either late or sent someone else to pick him up, usually whatever loser she was

sleeping with at the time. This was the first time he told her not to worry about it.

He’d been in a good mood until she mentioned his mother. Then he slowly sank into himself. “You knew she wasn’t coming,

didn't you?”

“Yeah, so what?”

“Where’s your mother, Chris?”

“Doesn’t matter,” he mumbled.

“Chris.”

“Just leave it alone, Miss. Soloman. I’ll be fine.” He stood up, brushing his hands off and tried to walk past her. She grabbed

his arm.

“Chris.”

“Let me go.”

“Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t give me nothing. Where is your mother?”

He turned his head and rubbed the back of his sleeve across his face. “Nothing,” his voice broke.

She gently cupped his chin and turned his face. He was crying. She never thought she’d see the day when Chris cried. He was a

tough kid. He had to be with his upbringing. A mother who abandoned him on a whim and no place to go but foster homes as

rumor had it where he wasn’t treated very well.

“What happened?” she asked softly.

“Nothing.” He wiped his face again and tried to walk away. “Nothing important anyway.” He forced a smile. “Did I forget to

tell you that I’m a man now? Yeah, good old Mom declared two weeks ago that I was a man now and didn’t need her. She was

just waiting for the right moment. Of course it didn’t hurt that the right moment came when Eric Bell left his wife and decided

to shack up with her. Fortunately for me on that very day I suddenly became a man. Good thing too because Eric didn’t want me

around. Isn’t that great timing?” he asked bitterly.

“Oh Chris.” She released his arm and pulled him into a hug. “Where have you been staying?”

He took in a deep breath. “The trailer. It was paid up until last weekend.”

She pulled away. “Where have you been staying since?”

“Here and there.”

“Chris, you need a home. You need food.” She looked him over. “You didn’t eat today because you didn’t have any money not

because you were in the office. Mason might be a jerk, but he wouldn’t starve you.”

He shrugged out of her hold. “It’s fine. I have a line on a job. I can manage until I have enough money for my own place.”

She shook her head. “No, you’re sixteen, Chris. If you start work now you’ll quit school. No, you need a home. Does anyone

else know about this?”

His tone turned harsh. “I’m not going into foster care.”

“No, I wouldn’t send you there. Is your mother still in town?”

“Yes, she’s staying with the bastard in the same trailer park. Can you believe that?”

“No, I can’t,” She sighed and looked at Jill. “Well, it’s time to go home.”

Chris mumbled, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Madison grabbed his arm. “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?” Chris asked cautiously.

“Home. Congratulations, Chris, you’re now a boarder.”

He smiled weakly. “Really? I’ve always wanted to be a boarder. Do we have any special powers?” he asked jokingly, but she

could hear the tremor in his voice.

******

“Because my mommy doesn’t love me and you won’t stop bitching. Now sit back and let me enjoy shotgun.” Chris gently

pushed Jill back with a finger to her forehead.

“Jerk.”

“You know it.”

“Will you two please stop it?” Madison was getting a headache. For the past hour she had to deal with this bickering. Of

course that wasn’t as bad as dealing with the manager of the trailer park who confiscated all of Chris’s things when he kicked

Chris out a week ago.

She had to kick herself. If she’d been at work last week she would have noticed he was wearing the same clothes every day.

When she asked why he didn’t smell he nearly fell over with laughter. Seems Chris was sneaking into the school every morning

to take a shower.

After threatening the landlord with child services the manager bitched and whined, but cowed. A large thrash bag full of his

clothes now kept Jill company in the back seat.

His mother was another issue. She didn’t know what possessed her or if it was even legal, but Madison refused to leave until

the woman wrote a letter handing over custody to her. God she was an idiot. Eric Bell and the manager were only too happy to

sign it as witnesses. She groaned. What was she supposed to do with a sixteen year old boy?

“So, I was thinking since you’re my new guardian and all I should call you Madison. Just seems more natural don’t you think?”

She waved a hand. “Whatever, just not at school.” She wanted to go home and curl up in bed and forget this day.

“Of course, Madison. I would never call you Madison at school, Madison.”

“You’re enjoying calling her Madison, aren’t you?” Jill asked.

“Yes, I believe I rather am,” he said with a sniff.

“Oh my god, Madison, pull over!” Jill shrieked. Both Chris and Madison jumped.

Madison hit the brake, bringing the Jeep to an abrupt stop in the middle of the street. She looked around the street. Oh no, did