Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Laura's days passed in a haze of unease and loneliness. James’s absence weighed heavily on her heart, yet she remained steadfast in her decision to keep her distance. The constant questions from her father and Suzie only served as reminders of what she was trying to avoid.
Every time they brought up the subject, Laura's stomach tightened. She knew that her family cared about her and wanted to help, but the thought of reaching out to James was unbearable. It felt like a betrayal to herself, a surrender of her independence and pride.
After one of their family gatherings, her dad broached the topic once again. “Laura, I really think you should consider calling James. He's a good man and he cares about you,” he urged.
Laura felt her frustration rise. “Dad, I appreciate your concern, but I've made my decision. I don't want to involve James in this. Please, let's drop the subject,” she pleaded.
Suzie, ever the persistent sister, joined in the conversation. “You know he's always been there for you. He supported you during the tough times with Jake. Don't you think he would want to help you now?”
Laura's patience waned. “Sis, I've asked you before, and I'm asking again. Please, stop bringing up James. I need to figure this out on my own. I can't rely on someone else to solve my problems,” she asserted, but her voice trembled. Realizing the toll the conversation was taking on her, Laura made a firm promise. “If either of you mention James again, I’m leaving. I need space and time to work through this on my own. I love you both, but please respect my decision.”
The silence that followed her words weighed heavily on her, amplifying her sense of isolation. Laura longed for James's comforting presence, his unwavering support, and the reassurance he always brought. But stubbornness held her back, locking her in a self-imposed solitude.
“Okay, okay.” Suzie held out her hands as if Laura pointed a gun her way. “We’ll let it go.” She exchanged a glance with their dad, who just shook his head, sadly.
Days turned into nights, and Laura tried her best to maintain a semblance of normalcy, pushing aside thoughts of James and the turmoil that surrounded her.
Then, on a Thursday night, as Laura found herself lost in her thoughts, the piercing ring of the phone cut through the silence of her empty home. Her heart skipped a beat, as anticipation and trepidation flooded her senses. With trembling hands, she picked up the phone and answered, “Hello?”
The familiar voice on the other end of the line greeted her with those two dreaded words, “Mrs. Taylor?”
With a deep breath, Laura steadied herself and forced herself to confront the shadows she had been trying so hard to avoid .
“Is that you, Mr. Jones ? Do you have a problem calling people by their correct names?”
Silence ensued on the other end of the line, then Smith grated out a nasty chuckle. “All right, all right. Mrs. Turner, then. You’ve made your point. I want you to bring the money to The Frog on Wornall Rd., south of 55 th St., Saturday night, nine o’clock.”
Laura immediately objected. “You’ve got to be kidding. That’s the other side of town and I don’t have a car.”
“I’m sure you can find a way to get there. You won’t like the consequences if you don’t.”
Unwilling to back down, Laura pressed her point. “I don’t owe you a damn thing. What Jake did after we divorced is not my problem. I don’t care what you and your boss think. And it’s ‘Ms.’ not ‘Mrs.’ for your information.”
“We’ve been through this already, Ms. Turner,” he sneered. “Your name is on the IOU, whether you put it there or not. It’s your debt now.”
“Oh yeah? Well bring it over. I’ll write Mickey Mouse’s name on it and you can get the money out of him. At least he can afford to pay it.”
“Look, lady, I’ve been really nice about this so far, but my patience will only last so long. I’ve given you the terms. Be there with the money or else.”
Before Laura could formulate a counterargument, the line abruptly went dead. Frustrated and determined to put an end to this predicament, she wasted no time in reaching out to Detective Cagney. Sharing the details of the conversation, she received his congratulations for successfully capturing Smith's incriminating statements.
Det. Cagney's voice resonated with assurance over the phone as Laura listened intently. “Here's what we can do, Laura,” he proposed. “We can equip you with a wire to record the entire conversation when you meet with Smith. It'll ensure that everything is captured and provide us with valuable evidence.”
Laura's grip tightened around the phone. “I want this over. I’ll do whatever it takes. No loan shark is going to intimidate me,” she declared with more determination than she felt.
Det. Cagney's voice held a note of admiration as he responded, “That's the spirit, Ms. Turner, thanks very much.”
Laura could almost picture the approving nod on his face. She nodded in agreement, though he couldn't see the gesture, and almost missed his next words.
“Let's meet tomorrow to go over the arrangements. How about the Starbucks again? Would 10 o’clock work for you?”
Laura glanced at her calendar, mentally confirming her availability. “Sure. I’ll see you then,” Laura replied. It was time to take control, face the challenge head-on, and reclaim her life from the clutches of fear and intimidation.