Chapter 8
The day after Annie was rescued, Jackson couldn’t concentrate on the financial reports before him. He sat back and let the warm air coming through open windows soothe him. In some ways, he was feeling guilty, though he had tried to save Denzi all those years ago. But she got lured back every time he helped her until his attention to her spooked the gang and they threatened to hurt her if he didn’t leave her alone.
Adam Phillips came to the door. “Hi, Jackson. I hate to bother you with this kind of thing, but I can’t calm Annie’s students. They insist on seeing you.”
“Me, why?”
“Word must have gotten around that you found Annie’s kidnapper.”
“Our team did.” He pushed back his chair. “What can I do?”
“Go talk to them.”
Usually, he jumped at the chance to visit a classroom. Not this time. But he had responsibilities. He left his office and walked to the classroom building. It was a beautiful day and he thought he might take the guys outside, drain off some of their energy.
He found Maisy sitting with them in Annie’s room. “Hey, thanks for coming. They won’t settle down.”
“I’ll handle this. Go take a break.”
Maisy left and six faces stared him down.
He edged his hips against a desk. “Go ahead guys, ask your questions.”
Bryce Lincoln spoke up. “Did you really save Ms. Stefano from a girl in the Cobras?”
“My team rescued her, yes. I was there.”
“Why did she get kidnapped?”
Only the truth would work here. “Do you know about the gang bust a few weeks ago?”
“The police killed everybody.”
“Not everybody. One young girl, not much older than you, was still alive. Her boyfriend was killed in the raid. She took it out on Ms. Stefano.”
“She really cut her?” Quentin’s voice was harsh. Unusual for such a quiet boy. “That’s what the TV said.”
“I can’t discuss her condition with you, except to say she’s going to be fine.”
The guys grumbled so loudly, he said, “Okay, okay, yes she has some cuts. Very shallow. Nothing serious. They’re healing already.”
“Those hurt.” This from Bryce.
“Yeah, they do. But she’s sedated and sleeping soundly. She’ll recover.”
“How long she gonna be out?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
The kids at Pathways usually liked him because he was ultimately responsible for them not going to juvie. “Look guys, I’ll keep answering questions until you’re satisfied, but I think before we do that, we should go for a run.”
“You all dressed up.”
“I got sneakers and clothes in my office.” He walked to the door to Maisy’s room. “Hey, Ms. Shepherd. Can you come in and sit with the guys again? I’m going to change and take them out for a run.”
“Good idea.” Her eyes were soft and approving. She’d been looking at him like that since he saw her at the hospital after he helped get Annie back.
Jackson headed back to his office, none too steady himself.
Why didn’t you get me out… Why didn’t you get me out…
Denzi was right. He failed and hated seeing what happened to her. Man, he needed a long run himself.
* * *
“I can’t believe everybody’s here,” Annie said, trying not to feel bad that she’d excluded Diego from coming to her parents’ house where she went to recuperate. She’d asked him for some time. They all sat in the living room, on a couch where she’d necked with Diego all those years ago.
“Of course we’re here, Sis.” This from Bianca, the sibling she was closest to. “I took the morning off work.”
“How sweet.”
“I have a temp for an hour.” Francesca, who owned a boutique in town, gave her a kiss. “You look remarkably well.”
“It’s good you’re here.” Her mother Lucy spoke up. She and her Dad were hovering.
The boys, Noah and Abe, had also been to see her but returned to work.
“Well, Dad and I are home all day.” Her parents owned a bakery. “We closed the shop.”
Annie gave them a weak smile. “How sweet.”
Bianca studied her. “Are you tired, honey?”
“I’m afraid I am.”
Her mother straightened. “We set up a room down here.”
“Okay.”
Frank, her dad, said, “I’ll take her.”
“Dad, I can walk.”
“Just take my arm, honey.” With arms linked, he led her to the den in baby steps. The room was meticulously clean and fresh air drifted in from the windows.
“You guys didn’t have to do this. I’m only staying a night or so.”
“The boys brought the bed down. Stay as long as you like.”
“Sit with me.”
He helped her into bed. The fresh scents of laundry detergent rose up to her. She wore the knit sweatsuit her sister had gotten for her from home. Her outfit from yesterday was ruined and she told Bianca to burn it.
“Do you need more pain medication?” Dad asked.
“I’m taking ibuprofen. I just had some.”
He pulled a straight chair up to the bed. “Does it hurt?”
“Not a lot. Thankfully they were shallow cuts.” She shivered. “Denzi planned to keep it up for a while.”
Her father swallowed hard. “It must have been a nightmare, honey.”
“Yeah. But it’s over.”
“Thank the good Lord. Your mother said novenas non-stop.”
Annie had a thought. “Have you talked to Diego?”
“He called this morning. He wants to see you.”
“Not yet. I have some thinking to do about everything.”
“Take your time.”
“What about school?”
“We called. Adam Phillips said you can have as much leave as you need.”
“Who’s teaching my class?”
“The bigwig.”
“Who?”
“Jackson Kane.”
“He likes being with the boys.” She stared over her Dad’s shoulder, blindly. “He’s responsible for finding me.”
“I know. We owe him. Too bad the man has everything.”
Annie cocked her head. “I don’t think he has peace of mind, Dad.”
“Really? I only see him on the news. He’s always so confident.”
She yawned and leaned her head back on the pillows. “I think I need to sleep.” She grasped his hand. “Stay until I do, Daddy.”
“I’m right here, baby.” Her father’s voice was soothing, as always. “I’m not going anywhere.”
* * *
“I’m not going anywhere, Lucy.” Annie’s mother walked outside where Diego climbed the steps of the porch. Drizzly rain had just started.
“She doesn’t want to see you.”
“She will, once we talk.”
Her mother plopped her hands on her hips. She was small in stature but a force to be reckoned with. “You always could sweettalk her into anything.”
Feeling wobbly, he grasped the railing on the porch. It felt good to have discarded his sling and wear a pullover shirt with his shorts and sandals. “Lucy, you used to love me. What happened?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Come up and sit down, Diego. You seem weak.”
They took comfortable rattan seats.
Her mother faced him squarely. “I’m not blaming you for your breakup. Annie made a choice. But you were wrong not to give her a bit of freedom.”
He looked away. How many times had he agonized over his part in the breakup? “I know. I regret that more than I can say.”
“And because of you, we lost her for three years.” Her father had already flung that accusation at him in the hospital.
Lucy shook her head. “She couldn’t see you around town, romancing everything in skirts.”
“I waited for her to come to her senses.”
“She didn’t leave until you started flaunting your dates.” Lucy stood. “But I’m done talking to you about this. I’m going inside. Call an uber. If Annie wants to see you, I’ll phone you. Right now, she’s sleeping.”
“Is she still in pain?” His voice cracked on the last word.
“What do you think? Goodbye, Diego.”
Lucy walked into the house. But Diego didn’t leave. He sat on the chair and tried to figure out what to do next. One thing was for certain, he wasn’t giving up on Annie. Not by a longshot.
* * *
Annie looked in the mirror and studied her wedding dress. She wondered why she’d chosen the floor-length, high neck, long- sleeved chiffon. Not a bit of skin was bared. Ah, now she remembered. He liked it.
Her hair was pulled back into a bun. “You’re beautiful,” Maisy said, coming up behind her. The pink dress she wore was the same style as hers.
“I’m hot.”
“Well, these outfits aren’t very sexy but, if you think you’re hot you are.”
“No, temperature wise.”
Her mother came inside, wearing black. Why would she choose black for her daughter’s wedding? “It’s time to go, honey. Your father’s waiting outside the door.”
Annie picked up her bouquet of…roses, not carnations? Why?
The church was jam-packed as she processed down the aisle. But she didn’t know very many of the guests. She reached the altar and smiled at Diego. He wore a black tux but the bow was untied. He met her in the middle.
They took their vows. And he slid the wedding band on her.
After she slipped his on, she looked up into the eyes…Seth. She was marrying Seth! What happened to Diego? Oh, God, she’d married the wrong man.
* * *
Diego didn’t know how long he waited on the porch, but at one point, Annie got another visitor, carrying a big bouquet of Annie’s favorite flower.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Diego spat out.
Seth Sanders gave him the evil eye. “I could ask you the same question. Haven’t you hurt her enough?”
“Annie wants me here.”
“Then you’d be inside with her. Diego, you have to let her go. This is all your fault.”
“Go to hell.”
“Well, she asked to see me so I’m going inside. I hope you’re not here when I come out.”
“Gonna beat me up?”
“Nah, all it would take is a blow to that shoulder. But I’m a pacifist. Too bad.”
Lucy came out again. “Seth!” She hugged him. “What a beautiful bouquet. Come on in. Annie’s awake now.” With a disgusted glance for Diego, Lucy let Annie’s former fiancé in. He didn’t blame her.
* * *
Annie woke with a start. “I married the wrong man.”
Her father came inside and rushed to the bed. “Daddy, I married the wrong man.”
“Honey, you must have had a bad dream. You’re not married to anyone.”
“I’m not?”
“No. Now take some deep breaths. You have a visitor.”
“Diego?”
“You said you didn’t want to see him. It’s Seth.”
Oh, no.
Her mom came inside carrying pink carnations in a vase. “Seth is here, Annie. Look what he brought you.”
“Seth came over on his own?”
“No, I called him.”
“Mom…”
“Hush, it’ll be good for you to see him.”
Seth walked inside, so he must have been right behind her mom. Her gaze softened. He was so sad, so concerned. She wished she’d stayed with him.
Liar .
“Sit down, Seth.”
Before he did, he leaned over the bed, and kissed her cheek. “Hi.” The kiss made her uncomfortable.
“Hi.”
He dropped into a straight chair. “I can’t believe this happened to you.”
“Frankly, I can’t either. I live a pretty sedate life.”
“Well, you did .”
She winced at the sarcasm in his voice. “I know. I put myself in this position.”
“Why, Annie?”
She felt sorry for this man that she once loved, but she needed to be really clear. Remnants of the dream stayed with her. “Because I’m in love with Diego.”
“He’s done nothing for years but hurt you.”
“I’m sorry, Seth.” A sudden wave of exhaustion overcame her. “I don’t think I’m up for this conversation.”
“All right. Want to hear about school?”
“Yes. Maisy said Jackson Kane himself is taking my sessions.”
“He is. I have no idea what’s happening in your classroom, but I assure you he’s not teaching literature.”
“The boys are probably benefiting from his experience. He’s a self-made billionaire. I understand he had a horrific childhood.”
“I suppose.”
They spent the next twenty minutes talking about school and his family. Finally, Annie said, “I need to go back to sleep. I’m sorry, I just can’t keep my eyes open.”
He stood. “I didn’t mean to tire you out.” He kissed her cheek again. “Can I come back?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Especially for your welfare.”
He bit his lip and turned away. Once again Annie wondered why she couldn’t love this decent and kind man.
* * *
After one night at home, Annie decided to go back to her house. Her dad and mom both took her. Her mom filled the refrigerator, and her dad checked all the windows and doors. Then she was blissfully alone.
* * *
Jackson Kane sat in the classroom with the boys, who were wrestling with some vocabulary words, when his cell phone rang.
“Hey, that’s a no no.” Bryce said. “No cell phones in class.”
“Yeah, I know. But this might be about your teacher.” He didn’t recognize the caller ID, though. “Jackson Kane.”
“Mr. Kane, this is Chief Thomas from the Westwood police. I have some bad news.”
As he walked to the door, he said to the guys, “Be good.”
Then into the phone, “What is it, Chief?”
“Denzi Lomax was found dead in her cell this morning.”
Jackson stilled. A vision of the girl swam before him. Her young face. Her sad black eyes.
“Mr. Kane, did you hear me?”
“Yes, I’m afraid I did. Was it a rival gang?”
“No. They think it’s suicide.”
“Oh, God.” He called on every ounce of strength he had to keep his cool. “Sometimes those events are staged.”
“Yeah, maybe. We’re checking on it. But I thought you should know.”
“Thanks.” He disconnected. His hand was shaking. But he made another call. “Adam, I’m sorry. I have to leave school right now. I—I—”
“I’ll be right there, Jackson.”
He disconnected and turned around. All the boys were in a group behind him.
“What happened?” Bryce asked.
He thought he might be sick. “The, um, gang member who kidnapped Ms. Stefano died in prison this morning.”
No condolences. One kid said, “Good.” Another, “Who cares?”
His pulse raged inside him. “Mr. Phillips is coming to teach you. I can’t stay now.”
“You ain’t upset about her, are you?” Frankie asked.
He gripped the edge of the wall for grounding. “Um…”
“Hey, guys. Let’s allow Mr. Kane to go deal with his feelings.” Maisy stood in the connecting doorway. “Everybody, sit down at your desks.”
She crossed to Jackson. “This isn’t your fault.”
“Oh, yes it is.”
“No.” Just then Adam showed up. Maisy said, “I’m going with Jackson. He’s upset.”
“Go ahead, Ms. Shepherd.”
Maisy linked her arm with Jackson’s and led him out of the classroom, down the hall and outside. “Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know.” His eyes were wild.
She led him to a private area on campus where teachers came to unwind. They sat at a picnic table shaded from the sun by a tree.
He couldn’t stop thinking about his failure.
“Jackson, talk to me. Annie told me what Denzi said when you found her. That you should have helped her. What does that mean?”
He buried his face in his hands. All he could see was her as a little girl.
Finally, he raised his head. “I failed.”
“Most of us do sometimes in life. But you’ve done so many good things.”
“It’ll never make up for…” He felt his eyes moisten. “Damn it!” He bolted up. “I appreciate your kindness Maisy but I have to move. I’ve got to outrun this.”
“Maybe you should just deal with it.”
“You’re probably right. I should. Thank you, in any case.”
Jackson strode off and walked to his office to change his clothes again. He couldn’t drive so he’d run on the tracks of Pathways.
Afterward, when he was calm enough, he got in his car and headed out of town. He made one call.
From the other end of the line he heard, “Hello.”
“It’s me. I’m in trouble. Can you meet me at the cabin?”
“Of course. See you in an hour.”
* * *
Diego had gone back home right after Seth left and sat down on his couch. Laid his head back. He calmed himself enough to close his eyes…
“Come on guys. Be quiet.”
“Yes sir.”
“Crawford, stop joking.”
He saluted. They entered the zone where the Cobras lived. They crouched down in front of the half wall. Waited. For some reason Crawford poked his head up.
Gunshots burst out. One went right through the guy’s head. He flopped backward.
“Open fire,” Diego called out.
Pain shot through his shoulder…he fell….
The ringing of his phone woke him. He bolted up. “Crawford?” Then he realized he’d been asleep. And dreamed of death.
The phone stopped ringing. He just sat there trying to suck in air until he could breathe normally.
The phone sounded again. He picked it up and tried to punch in accept, but his hands were shaking. Finally, he managed to answer. “Hello.”
“Hey, Diego. Mick Thomas here.”
“Chief. What’s going on?”
“A lot. Denzi Lomax is dead. In prison. They think it’s suicide but as you know, it could be murder.”
“Oh, my God. Another casualty of that night?”
“Yeah, but any threat to you and Annie Stefano is over.”
He knew that meant a lot of things but right now, he struggled to find them. “Good to hear we’re finally safe. Thanks for calling.”
Diego leaned back and stared up at the ceiling fan which whirred softly. He couldn’t figure out what he was feeling. How could he be happy because a young girl was dead?
Soon, his phone rang again. Caller ID said Annie .
“Hey, honey, how are you?” The endearment rolled easily off his tongue.
“I honestly don’t know. Have you heard the news about Denzi?”
“Yeah.”
“Chief Thomas called me. I think he thought this would make me feel better.”
“At least safer.”
“No, I feel terrible. I, um, I came home this morning. My parents were driving me crazy. Do you, um, feel up for a walk?”
“God, yes. I’ll be right over.”
Though Jon said he could drive this week, Diego didn’t trust himself to do so now. He arrived at Annie’s house in an uber; she waited for him on the porch and came down the driveway. She looked cute in white shorts and a melon-colored Life is Good shirt.
“Still not driving?”
“Jon cleared me, but I’m feeling out of sorts.” They started down her driveway to the walking path not far from her home. “How about you? You’re feeling well enough to walk?”
“It’s been a few days. I’m stronger, though I can’t run a marathon.”
She studied him. “You don’t have your sling on.”
“Nah. I’ve been sprung.”
They let the soft breeze soothe their faces and the warm rays of sun give them calm. Finally, Annie said, “Have you decided anything about going back to work?”
“I’m still not sure I can, Annie. The images of my team dying, the repercussions for you…being a cop just seems impossible.”
“How does Chief Thomas feel about that?”
“I haven’t told him yet. One thing he did say was I could stay on disability until my shoulder’s completely healed.”
“So you don’t really have to decide right now then.”
“No. I’ll wait. But boy, I’m getting stir crazy. I gotta do something.”
“Same here.”
“How are you feeling, querida ?”
“I’m physically better, emotionally tender, though.”
“Understandable. Are you having bad dreams?”
“Yes. Some waking. Like you, I guess.”
“We’re a pair.”
Diego stopped and stared at her. “Can we be, Annie?”
She stopped and smiled. “I’m not ready to give up on you yet. On us. Are you still seeing Caleb?”
“I was until you were kidnapped. We have another appointment next week.”
“Good.”
“You should see someone, too.”
“There’s a counselor at Pathways I can talk to. Gemma Kendrick. She’s great with the kids. And some teachers have seen her.”
“Good idea.”
Annie sighed. “Looks like we both have plans.”
“Not the important one.”
She waited, then said, “About us. For the record, I miss you like crazy.”
“Oh, God, I miss you too.”
“I’m still afraid.”
“Denzi’s dead.”
“Not that. I’m not sure I can survive another breakup with you. You either, Diego.”
“We could take it slow.”
“That might help.”
With that, he reached over and took her hand. They finished the walk with their fingers linked.