by Hope Ford
They asked if I’d come along on a call that might need some detective work. I dressed quickly when I heard the call was about an incident that took place in the parking lot that was shared by Patty Cakes and the gym, Get Fit. Being in such proximity to Aunt Patty’s, Carrie’s, and Carrie’s friend Chrissy’s places of business, I rush, not bothering to do more than gargle mouthwash and run a hand through my hair.
My tie is still untied, hanging at my neck when I pull into the parking lot. I am relieved to see that it isn’t anyone from my family or Carrie’s friend Chrissy.
There’s already a police officer parked in the lot as I pull in. It’s not someone I recognize. I park my truck and show the other officer my I.D. and badge as I approach.
“I was told you might could use some help?” I say to the other officer.
“Yeah, I’m coming off the night shift. If you got this, I’ll just leave it to you,” the officer says. “I’ve got the statement for my records. Thanks, Detective.”
I clear my throat, trying to conceal some of my surprise at how quickly the officer took the chance to get out of there. It must have been a long night shift.
“I’m Detective Baker,” I say looking at the guy who was making the statement a bit closer. “You’re not Logan Marrow, are you?” I ask, recognizing Logan as one of the new kids in town when I was in my senior year of high school.
“That’s right, and you’re Carrie’s big brother, aren’t you? I thought you were a big city detective. What are you doing here?”
I don’t want to share my reasons for returning and get people nervous, and the sheriff said he’d keep my reasons to myself. “Trying to see the folks more, but I told your sheriff I’d be happy to lend a hand while I’m in town.”
“Great,” Logan says with a nod and looks back toward his car.
I follow his gaze. The car door was left open. The leather interior looks like it caught the wrong side of a grizzly bear’s claws.
“Go ahead and tell me everything you can about this incident,” I say, taking out my notepad and pen.
Logan says that he finished his shift around two in the morning. He points at the sign for Get Fit, so I’m assuming he works there. He says he was tired, and the parking lot is dark, really dark at night. He got in his car and drove home. He reports saying he felt like he was getting pinched by the seat but didn’t bother to look closer into it. He didn’t see that his interior had been slashed up until this morning and realized it must have been the pinching sensation that he’d felt the night before.
I finish writing and ask, “You have any problems with any customers at the gym?”
He shakes his head. “Okay, anything suspicious happen lately? Anything out of the ordinary?”
Logan says “no,” all the while shaking his head, but he looks like he’s holding something back.
“Ya know, there’s a lot of women that come into the bakery and into the gym I’m sure. If you know anything, it’s better that we catch who this is. So if you know anything, anything at all, I’d appreciate you telling me.” I know he’s suspicious, I can tell by the way he’s looking around, wondering if anyone can hear us or not. Obviously, the policeman that questioned him first didn’t pick up on it.
Logan takes a step toward me and in a low voice says, “Chrissy’s ex-husband David is back in town again and picked up Chrissy last night. David never liked me much.” He holds his hands up in front of him. “I don’t want to add to Chrissy’s grief, and I have no proof. Maybe it was just kids?”
I write it all down as if it’s news to me, but I had already figured that David had something to do with this.
Chrissy
I didn’t sleep well because I was up worrying about Katie going to stay with David if he does ever decide to take the visitation that was agreed upon with our divorce. I honestly don’t think I can let her go with him, but right now I don’t have a legal leg to stand on.
Since I still don’t have my car, I ask my mom to drop me off at the gym when she comes and picks up Katie.
“Where’s your car?”
“At the gym.”
She looks at me, about to ask the next question, but I wave her off. “Long story.”
Katie is in a good mood and excited to spend the day with her grandma. I don’t want to alarm my parents, but I know I have to say something. “If David comes around, call me right away, and I’ll deal with him.”
“Katie, honey, I put your favorite movie on,” my mom says to Katie as she turns up the sound. Katie lifts her head, excited to be able to watch a show from the backseat of her grandma’s minivan.
My mom leans toward me as she stops at the light on Main Street. “What is going on, Chrissy?”
But I just shake her off. “Everything is fine. I’ve got it all under control.”
I put on a brave face, but inside I’m worried as can be. I saw a whole new side of David last night, and I don’t know what I’m going to do about it.
“Thanks for the ride, Mom.” I jump out of the front seat and open the back door, giving a quick kiss to Katie. “Be good for Grandma. I love you, honey.”
“I love you too, Momma.”
She kisses me and goes back to her show. With a wave, I tell my mom bye and walk into the gym.
When I get to work, I note that Logan is in early, having worked the late shift. “Hey, what are you doing here? I thought I was opening the gym this morning.”
He looks embarrassed and a little flustered. “Well, I was already here so I thought I’d help get everything on before you got here.”
“Thanks…” I start to say and then notice we’re not alone. I recognize Bart and almost trip over my feet just seeing him standing there. He’s the same as I remember, but he’s also different. He’s bigger, filled out more than he was in high school. The young boyish frame is now all muscles and hard planes. “Uh, hey, Bart.”
The way my heart is racing and I’m stuttering my words, it’s obvious that I’ve never really gotten over my crush on my best friend’s older brother.
5
Bart
“Hey, Chrissy.” I almost reach out to hug her and realize quickly that wouldn’t be appropriate. Shaking hands is too formal, so instead, I dig my phone out of my pocket as if I’m reading a text.
“So, uh, what’s going on? Are you here to work out? Or am I missing something?” she asks. She always was one to get straight to the point.
I admire how she’s grown to be even more sexy since the last time I saw her. Ignoring her question, I ask about her. “How have you been?”
Her eyebrows dip. “Uh, I’m fine. How about you, how have you been?”
I hate to do it, but I want to hear the status of her relationship from her. “I’m good. A detective now… in Knox.”
She smiles and walks behind the counter, putting space between us. “I heard that. Carrie mentioned it. She says you’re loving the big city life too.”
I nod my head but don’t comment. Actually, I’ve missed Forest Grove since I left it. I left to get away from her and to make something of myself. Now I work fifty plus hours a week and don’t have a lot of free time. “I hear you’re married now and have a daughter.”
“Divorced, actually. And yes, I have a daughter. Katie is four.” She seems unhappy, but I’m not sure if it’s because she still loves David, or if it’s because she’s afraid of him.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” I lie to her. I know what a piece of shit David is, and she definitely deserves better than him.
“So let me tell you why I’m here. While I’m in town visiting I’m helping the local PD.” I rub my chin awkwardly because that’s the second lie I’ve told her now in about five minutes. “And, well, we got the call about Logan’s car.”
“What happened to your car, Logan?”
Logan, who has been talking to people as they come in to work out, stops and looks at Chrissy. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to tell her, causing me to believe that he doesn’t really
think it’s just some kids. On some level, he knows that her ex-husband did this.
Chrissy
When Bart tells me he’s helping out the local PD while he’s in town visiting family and got called in because someone slashed up Logan’s seats, I know it had to be David. I am thinking about how I’ll replace Logan’s interior but keep the fact that it was David who did it to myself. I remember him putting the knife away yesterday when I walked outside. Why didn’t I ask him about it?
“So Logan mentioned that your ex-husband has been coming around lately and that he’s had a few run-ins with him in the past. Do you think David could’ve done this?”
Surprised, I look over at Logan. “You didn’t tell me that. Why didn’t you tell me that he’s been bothering you?”
Logan stands up and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Uh, because I can take it. I’m not afraid of him, and I didn’t want to put more stress on you. I know you’re dealing with enough with the divorce and Katie. It hasn’t been a big deal.”
Deflated, I answer Bart, although not with the whole truth. “David was here to pick me up yesterday, and he was angry about me talking to Logan when I met him. I thought at the time it was harmless jealousy.” I shake my head, leaving out the fact that I know he has a knife. Surely, he wouldn’t have done that. Why would he? I’m so embarrassed that I ever married such a low-life.
“You may want to consider getting more security put into the place.” Bart is looking around the room and obviously notices the lack of cameras.
I cross my arms over my chest and nod my head. Heck, he’s probably right. After the way David acted last night at the end of the night, I’m going to maybe need more than a few cameras. I’m going to need a really good lawyer too.
Bart is looking at me with concern; no doubt he can see that I’m nervous. “Are you worried about your safety concerning David?”
I hesitate briefly but shake my head. “I’m not.”
He keeps watching me, and I know he knows I’m lying. Thankfully, he doesn’t question me. Always the reassuring and kind guy, he takes a step toward me. “Call me anytime if you find yourself needing me for anything.”
I take the card he’s holding out and put it into my pocket. “Thanks,” I mutter.
“Logan, you too. You need anything, let us know. We’ll get this figured out.”
Logan thanks him and then tells me he’s going to go, and he’ll be back later for his shift.
I know he’s upset about his car. He saved for that thing forever, and it’s been his pride and joy. One way or another, I’m determined that I’m going to get his seat fixed for him.
“Chrissy…” Bart starts but is interrupted when Leah, one of the women that frequents the gym, walks up to him.
“Bart! Bart Baker, is that you? What are you doing back in Forest Grove?”
I don’t stick around to wait on his answer. I excuse myself and walk over to one of the other women that is working out. She’s new, just signed up last week, so I ask her about how it’s going.
I had to get away. There’s a part of me that just wanted to tell Bart everything and let him help me. But already I’m mortified. I mean, this is beyond embarrassing. He has to think I’m such a loser. He didn’t ask why David was picking me up last night even though we’re divorced, but I’m sure he was wondering about it.
I hear Leah laugh and look over. She and Bart are still standing in the same spot talking. I thought I could walk away so I wouldn’t have to witness her flirting with him. Shaking my head, I walk back toward the desk and start going over invoices on the computer. I’m not even going to ask myself why it still bothers me thinking about Bart with another woman.
6
Chrissy
When I finally make it home, I have Katie clean up her toys while I get her a snack ready. I’m a wreck at this point, trying to figure out my next move. I called the divorce attorney today, but he still hasn’t called me back. It’s killing me that in the span of twenty-four hours I went from giving David another chance to now trying to figure out how to stop his visitations with our daughter. I should have known better.
The doorbell rings, and I’m drying my hands as I open the door. Too late, I find that my ex is at my door, so I crowd it, not wanting him to come in. I may have some strength from working out at the gym, but it’s nothing compared to his. “What are you doing here?”
He puts his foot on the door to stop me from closing it and pushes it all the way open as I back into the house. “What are you doing trying to get me in trouble with the cops? I didn’t mess with anyone’s car.”
I know he did it. After thinking about it most of the day, I’m almost positive of it. “You can’t just show up here without calling. We aren’t married anymore.”
He smirks and takes a step toward me, crowding me against the couch. I don’t dare let him know that I’m scared. That’s what he wants. “I should have told the cops about the switchblade I saw you putting away because that would have clinched it.”
He shows me the knife again, asking me, “You mean this switchblade?” He’s looking at me for a reaction, and I can see he wants to see fear. I refuse to show it even though I’m scared out of my mind. All I can think about is our daughter. Surely, he won’t hurt his daughter. I never would have thought so, but now I don’t know.
“Put it away, David. Our daughter is in the other room,” I plead with him.
“Or what? What are you going to do about it?” he asks, edging closer to me with the knife.
Katie comes in right at that moment. “Dad, what are you doing with a knife?”
I jump away from him while he’s got his attention on Katie and run over to her, picking her up and putting her on my hip. I stare him down, hoping that he realizes there is no way I’m going to let him hurt our daughter.
David puts away the knife and walks toward us. He leans in and gives Katie a kiss, and I try to stand still so I don’t alarm my daughter. “Be a good girl. I’ll be getting to spend some time with you really soon. I just came into a lot of money and bought a new car.” He looks at me then before he continues. “And I just got a bigtime lawyer. In no time, you’ll be living with me, honey.”
Katie turns her head and wraps her arms tightly around me, burying her face into my neck.
I’m sick to my stomach. But I know I can’t argue with him now, not with Katie in my arms between us. He’s proven that he’s unstable already, and I can’t put my daughter in danger.
“Knock, knock,” someone says, and as David turns toward the door, I take Katie and move around him and closer to the door.
“Bart!” I say, surprise and gratitude thick in my voice.
His hand goes to my arm. “I’m just dropping by to check on you.”
Bart
I knew David was here. I was sitting outside across the street as he pulled in and parked his car on the lawn. I told myself that I was just going to follow up with Chrissy about Logan’s seat, but I know that’s not the truth. I wanted to make sure she made it home okay. After I finally got away from Leah at the gym today, I couldn’t get Chrissy alone to talk to her after that. And really, my business was done, so I had no right to insist she talk to me. She just looked frazzled and a little worried. I was itching to soothe her… even if it wasn’t my place to do so.
The longer I sat outside waiting for David to leave, the more antsy I got until finally I said, “Fuck it!” and jogged across the street and up to the front door. When I saw that it was open, I knew instantly something wasn’t right.
Chrissy looks surprised and even a little happy to see me, but I can see that David doesn’t like the fact that I stopped by even before he starts talking. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Chrissy, why don’t you take Katie into the other room?” I give her a gentle nudge and a smile for Katie. The little girl has her hair up in pigtails and is looking around at all the adults in the room like she doesn’t know what to make of any of it. She’s not smiling, and I hate that
she’s having to see all this.
David moves in front of Chrissy and Katie, and I act on instinct, putting them behind me.
He looks at me, then back at Chrissy. “Oh, is this how it goes? You’re a whore and a slut. The ink on our divorce papers is barely dry and already you’re opening your legs for another man.”
I hear a gasp behind me, and I’m hoping that Chrissy is covering Katie’s ears. No one needs to hear that drivel from him.
“Watch your mouth. And the reason I’m here is because you parked halfway on the lawn, and I was concerned something was wrong. Where’d you get a fancy car like that anyway?”
“Don’t you fuckin’ worry about me! You don’t even know me,” he yells and moves past me. He’s moving toward the door, and luckily Chrissy and Katie have moved farther into the house.
“And you!” he yells, pointing at his ex-wife and daughter. “I’ll be seeing you soon.”
7
Chrissy
When David leaves, I gasp as if I’ve been holding my breath this whole time. How could I have been married to that guy?
“Momma, what’s wrong with Dad?” Katie asks, her small hands on each of my cheeks.
“I don’t know, baby. But don’t worry about it. We’re going to be okay.”
She nods, but I can tell she doesn’t really believe it. I can’t believe he acted like that in front of her. Heck, I can’t believe he acted like that period.
I lift my head and look at Bart. He’s staring at Katie, and I know he’s just giving me time to comfort her before he asks the question.
“Thank you, Bart. Thank you for stopping by to check on Katie and me. You’ve got good instincts. I don’t know what would have happened if you weren’t here.” I know he gets where my thoughts are going, but I don’t want to say more in front of Katie.
