Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
Chaney felt giddy as she got ready to go see Dr. Saunders. There was so much she had to talk about today because so much had happened in the last week. She didn’t know if she could fit it all into an hour session. After getting ready, she sat down and tried to jot down the most important things she should talk about with Dr. Saunders. But she also knew that her therapist would guide the discussion and they may not even get to most of it this week.
Finally, she tucked the piece of paper in her jeans pocket and finished brushing her hair, before going downstairs. Rawlins was waiting for her, and they left.
“You’re quiet this morning,” he said as he drove.
“Lots on my mind,” she replied.
He turned on the radio. “Maybe a little music will help distract you.”
She laid her hand on his and squeezed. “Thanks for the thought.”
Fifteen minutes later he found a parking spot and they got out. She went into the building alone and went upstairs to Dr. Saunders’ office. She pressed the waiting button to let her know she had a patient in the outer office and took a seat.
The door to her office opened a few minutes later and Dr. Saunders greeted her. “Chaney, please come in. I’m glad to see you today. When Hannah called and said you’d been hospitalized I wasn’t sure we’d be keeping your appointment today.”
“Then you know I’ve run into some trouble,” Chaney said.
“Yes. But you look well. How have you enjoyed volunteering?” Dr. Saunders asked.
“It’s been good. I think I overstepped and got a little too involved with Josie’s problems and that resulted in my getting stabbed. But I had already stepped back by that point and it still happened. Roger still blamed me for being moved from the shelter.”
Dr. Saunders nodded. “Hannah explained all of that to me. Why do you think you connected so strongly with Josie? Your situations as I understand it are two different ones.”
“They are,” Chaney agreed. “She was being controlled by Roger. I saw myself being controlled by my parents. I am still being controlled by them. My mom called yesterday wanting an answer from me about returning to Baltimore. I found myself lying to her that I had a paying job and that I was supporting myself. That I didn’t need them doing it. I gave them the go ahead to break ties with me.”
“How did that make you feel?” Dr. Saunders asked.
“I cried afterward. Because I had lied. I don’t do that to them. Not because I wouldn’t have their support. I do plan on getting a job other than volunteering. As soon as I’m fully recovered, I will be applying. But my father was quick to get on the phone and point out that I am unqualified and no one in their right mind would hire someone like me.”
“That was cruel,” Dr. Saunders said. “It must have hurt for him to say that.”
Chaney shrugged. “I told him that was the way things were done out here.”
“Good for you. I’m proud of you. That shows tenacity. You have shown them you can stand on your own two feet regardless of what they are wanting for you. I’m sure they mean well with their intentions, but it is unclear why they want to shelter you. You are at an age when you should be able to support yourself. Most parents are cutting the apron strings and yet, they are tightening them.”
“But what if I can’t do it?” Chaney asked.
“Get a job and support yourself?” Dr. Saunders asked.
She nodded.
“You take what you can get at first and then you keep looking. It might be rough for a few years, and you might have to go to college part-time to finish your degree while you work. But in the end, I have a feeling you will be happy with the outcome,” Dr. Saunders said. “And just because you don’t have your parents’ support doesn’t mean you have to go into debt to get your education. You don’t have to take out loans. You can apply for financial aid.”
“I’m sure I wouldn’t qualify for that,” Chaney said.
“Take the time to research it. You might be surprised at what you qualify for on your own without your parents’ support,” Dr. Saunders said. “It’s not like financial aid is welfare.”
“I didn’t think it was, but I don’t want to take it away from someone who truly deserves it either. I mean, I grew up with money after all. Wouldn’t that count against me?”
“Like I said, explore your options. All they can say is no if you apply and don’t qualify.”
Chaney nodded and they moved onto another topic.
Rawlins was lounging on a bench in the park across the street from Dr. Saunders’ office when his cellphone started ringing. He looked at the caller id and was surprised to see it was his twin calling him. “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing.Justwanted to check in with you. See how things are going with Chaney.I thoughtmaybe the two of you might want to grab lunch today. If youhaven’talready got plans.”
“She’sat a session with Dr. Saunders right now. She should be out soon. We could meet you after that,”Rawlins said.“Are you certain everything is okay? Chaney told me howJustus’rental was broken intoand thatshe’sstaying with you now. Youdidn’tmention that to me when we texted. Anything else happen that I should know about?”
“Her dog was almost puppy nappedifthat is even a thing. Not sure yet if the guyis connectedwith the other men, but all of these incidents are happening too close together for my comfort.”
“I hear you,” Rawlins said.
“Anything happening on your end?”Rafferty asked.
“We’vebeen dealing with shit from her parents.They’rea real trip,”Rawlins explained.“Which makes the fact that Chaney turned out so great is a credit to her character. No wonder she is fighting so hard to stay out here. Ifwe’dhad parents likethem,we’dhave run for the hills.”
Rafferty laughed.“Sorry to hear that for Chaney.We’regoing to take For All to the condoandthenwe’llmeet you at the park near Dr.Saunderswhere we can decide where to go for lunch. How is that?”
“Either thatorwe could just come to the condo and order a pizza?”Rawlins said.“We could grab our swimsuits before coming over and just hang out at the pool afterward and make an afternoon out of it.”
“Idon’tknow, bro,”Rafferty said.“Justus had a meltdown when she tried on her swimsuit because of thembeing forcedto wear bikinis and high heels during their abduction. Idon’tknow if going to the pool would be a good ideaor not. Chaney might not handle it well either.”
“Ididn’tthink of that,”Rawlins pointed out, then he recalled Chaney probably wouldn’t be able to get into pool either.“You might be right. Webettergo to a restaurant then. Just meet us in the parkandwe’lldecideonce we aretogether.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
After the call ended, he checked his watch and saw it was almost time for her to come out from her session. He got up from where he’d been sitting and walked back across the park toward the building to wait for her.
A smile was on her face when she exited the building and sprinted toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Wow. Was your session that good?”
“Uh huh.”
“Maybe I need to schedule one with Dr. Saunders if she gives these results,” he said.
“She makes a person feel like life isn’t so hopeless, especially when I feel like I don’t know which way to go where my parents are concerned and paying for college.”
“I see. Well, you aren’t alone. I’m here for you,” Rawlins said. “And I have a surprise for you.”
“You do?” She cocked her head to the side. “What is it?”
“We’re going to meet up with Justus and Rafferty for lunch. They’ll be here soon so we can decide where to go eat. In the meantime, I think we need to discuss how much of what has been going on with you we are going to share with them. Do you want Justus to know you are changing majors? Volunteering at The Village? That you were stabbed?”
Chaney pulled away from him and blew out a breath like a deflated balloon. “Gee, thanks for bringing me down. But those are good questions. I don’t want to get into it with her. Not that I won’t eventually share, but right now, The Village and changing majors is mine. Does that make sense?”
“It does.”
“And I can’t tell her about getting stabbed or about Josie and Roger because then I’d have to tell her about The Village. It’s a little catch 22,” Chaney said.
“You’re right,” Rawlins agreed, taking her hand in his and walking her over to the park bench where he’d been sitting. “So, we will get together with them and get caught up. All I told Rafferty is that we’ve been dealing with your parents.”
“Good,” Chaney said. “That is enough for us to talk about if they should bring it up.”
An hourlater, Rawlins and Chaney slid into one side of a booth while Rafferty and Justus were sliding into the other.They’ddecided on an Italian restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs. The girls werechattering awayinstead of looking at their menus and it took longer than necessary to order in Rawlins’ opinion.
Once the waitress brought their drinks, they were finally able to get the girls to stop talking long enough to give their orders.
“Ican’tbelieve anyone would try to snatch For All away from the groomers,”Chaney said.“You must have been terrified when you got that call.”
“Iwas,” Justus said. “This is just one more reminder as to why Ican’twait until the trial is over and we can get on with our lives.”
“Me either,”Chaney agreed. If only you knew half of it, my friend.
“Does that mean you want tobe ridof us?”Rawlins teased, looking down at her adoringly.
Chaney smiled at him.“Nowdid I say that?”
“It was sort of implied,” he replied.
“Never,” Chaney said.
Justus reached across the table and grabbed her hand drawing her attention away.“Come with me. I need to go to the ladies.I’drather not go alone forsafety'ssake.”
“Sure,”Chaney reluctantly agreed. She could have sworn they’d just shared a moment and she regretted that Justus wanted to pull her away right this very minute.
“Five minutes or we will come after you,” Rafferty warned.
“Five,”Justus repeated, holding up her hand and spreading her fingers for emphasis that she understood.
Once the girls were gone, Rafferty looked at his twin.“Is there something youaren’ttelling me about the two of you?”
Rawlins shrugged. “Not sure. Maybe. There’s been a building flirtation.”
“She’s your assignment.”
“Iknow that.”Rawlins fiddled with the straw wrapper on the table. Thenlookedup at his brother.“Are you telling me youhaven’tgot something similar going on with Justus?Isn’tthat the reason you called me today? I heard the hesitation in your voice.You wanted to say something to me,butyoucouldn’tbring yourself to spill it.I know you like the back of my hand.”
A slow grin spread across Rafferty’s face, and he nodded. “She’s the most confusing girl I’ve ever met. She started out hating me and now she’s warm and friendly. Then today, she’s holding my hand and looking into my eyes at the groomers, all for show mind you, but it felt so real.”
“Or you wanted it that way,”Rawlins said.
“Maybe.”
Rawlins chuckled.“Play it cool. Let it simmer and see where it goes. That is whatI’mdoing.Notsure if what is going on with Chaney will turn into anything either. It might just be her nature to flirt, or maybe she really is interested in me. Only time will tell. But Idon’twant to lose my head and jeopardize protecting her becauseI’mlovesick over her.”
“Ihear that,”Rafferty said, glancing down at his watch. “I justkeep rememberingwhat Kenneally warned us when we signed on about meeting‘the one’while working a case.”
“I know,” Rawlins said. “I’ve replayed that conversation several times in my head.”
“He was so smug about it too and how he’d never met ‘the one’ yet,” Rafferty said.
“It’s hard for him to when he isn’t out in the field working cases,” Rawlins said. “But one day he’ll fill in when we’re all booked up or come across someone when he least expects it.”
“You sound like a hopeless romantic there, bro,”Rafferty said.
Rawlins shrugged again.“Maybe I am. Nothing wrong with that.”
“You still doing your breathing treatments?”he asked him.
“Yeah. I am. Are you doing your PT exercises?”
“Daily before I start my day,”Rafferty assured him.
“Good,”Rawlins looked at his watch.They had less than thirty seconds. “Where are they? How long can it take?”
Rafferty pointed behind Rawlins,andhe turned to see them coming toward the tablestillchatting.“I guess they have a lot of catching up to do.”
“They must,”Rawlins said, shaking his head.“Can you imagine if this is how it is after only one week of not talkingwhatit would be like for one year?”
Rafferty laughed.“I do not want to see that.”
After lunch, they said their goodbyes, but Chaney and Justus were reluctant to part. They hugged one anotherandneither seemed to want to let go, until Rawlins stepped up to pull Chaney away from Justus.
“Call me,” Chaney said.
“I will,” Justus promised.
“We’ll get together again,” Rafferty said. “If we can.”
“Yeah,” Rawlins agreed.
“I hope so,” Justus said.
“Me too,”Chaney called as Rawlins led her away to his car. She liked the way it felt to have her fingers entwined with his as they walked in the parking lot. “Have you ever thought of staying in Colorado after your assignment is over?”
He slowed his stride as if it took effort to come up with an answer to her question. “I really hadn’t thought about it, but it is always a possibility I suppose. Kenneally does move his guys around from one point to another from time to time. I could always be asked to work in this area if there were assignments here. Although, I suppose since Rafferty and I are on loan for this assignment to Hank Patterson, Kenneally may not go for the idea of a relocation. He may say that there are enough of Hank’s men in the area. He doesn’t need to send his own into it too.”
Chaney sucked in her breath and nodded.
“But I’d need to ask first. I wouldn’t want to assume Kenneally would say or do anything without hearing it from the man himself,” Rawlins said. “Why?”
“We get along so well. Don’t you agree?”
“We do,” he said, pressing his key fob to unlock the door. He opened it and she got inside and closed the door behind her as he ran around to his side. They drove back to her condo making plans on what they were going to do for the rest of the day. Deciding whether they needed to do any grocery shopping while they were out or not.
Rawlins decided he’d run out later if they needed anything since he didn’t want Chaney to overdo it on her first day out after surgery and she was grateful.
“I am feeling a little tired,” she agreed. “I didn’t realize therapy and eating would drain me so much.”
“It’s the excitement of seeing Justus and the frenzy of discussing all that emotional stuff with Dr. Saunders,” Rawlins explained. “That is what has zapped you of energy.”
“I guess you’re right. I’ll feel better after a nap,” she mused.
“I see a pattern forming. A nap a day makes Chaney a glowing girl,” he teased.
“Absolutely,” she said. “Absolutely.”
Somewhere across town…
Leland Warshafsky picked up his cell phone and saw thatFelty’sassociate, juniorpartner,TateLandrywas calling him. He almost dreaded answering his phone, but he swiped anyway.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Warshafsky.It’sTate Landry. I have bad news, sir. One of your associates, DrakeMinchin,hasbeen arrestedfor attempted dognapping.I’llbe representinghim at arraignment if you can post the bail.”
It seemed hedidn’thave one man on his payroll these days who could keep himself from being locked up.
“What the hell? Have my men gone crazy?”Leland shouted into the phone.“Whose dog was he trying to steal?”
“Justus Killion’s.”
“Really? Did he get her address?”
“Afraid not. Other than getting fingerprinted and booked, he has little else to show for his endeavor.”
Damn.
“Call me back when you know the amountandwe’llget him released. I should let him rot in there for failing miserably.”
“Y–Yes, sir,” Landry said. “I’ll be in touch.”
Leland threw his phone across the Chieftain, cursing. He turned over the plush chairs and kicked the cushions as he saw red. Then he ran his fingers through his neatly combed hair, growling in frustration. Why was this happening? Where had things started falling apart?He’dbeen in this business for years without any trouble until recently. Who was the weak link in his operation? He needed to find that piece and pluck it out before his corner of the operation collapsed.
He’dbe damned if he was going to be known as the brother in the Four Corners of this southwest human trafficking ring where things fell apart.He’dnot let whoever was doing this makeColorado’sbranch the tenuous member while Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico thrived. If hewasn’tafraid of drawing attention to his location,he’dreach out to his brethren for assistancein ferreting outthe culprit. But what if he brought them down with him? Hecouldn’trisk that. Not until he knew for sure his inner circle was secure.