by Deanna Roy
Although it’s possible he could recognize something about himself. She has his eyes. Seeing him again confirmed it for me.
We head downstairs, where the gray Mazda waits. Blitz pulls a ball cap low on his face. With his sunglasses, he isn’t recognizable. I wrap my head in a floral scarf and put on my own pair. Now I see why celebrities look like they do.
We drive in silence the short distance to the academy. Blitz approaches it slowly, watching for the green truck.
It doesn’t take long to see it.
“Shit, he’s right there,” Blitz says. He makes an abrupt right on a side street to avoid driving past him.
“You think he saw us?” I ask.
“No,” Blitz says. “He was fiddling with something on the sidewalk.”
“He was out of his truck?”
“Yeah, kneeling on the ground.”
We circle the block and approach Dreamcatcher from the other direction. The green truck is on the opposite side now. Denham is still sitting down low.
“What is he holding?” I ask.
“It’s one of those construction-sized measuring tapes on a reel,” Blitz says. “He’s measuring something.”
We turn into the drive, but I keep my face angled away. “Did he see us?” I ask.
“He glanced up, but he didn’t recognize us in this car,” Blitz says. “He looked right back down again.”
“Did you figure out what he’s doing?”
“The end of his measuring tape was the corner of the parking lot,” Blitz says. He drives around to the back of the building and parks. “I’m guessing he’s making sure he’s outside the zone of the protective order.”
“Is it that small?”
“I talked to Jeff about it when I was in LA. He didn’t think we had enough evidence of a threat to get one, but that was before baby daddy decided to go nuts at a place with children. In Texas, it’s typically two hundred yards.”
“So a couple football fields,” I say.
“Yeah.”
“How could they have served him?” I ask. “He doesn’t have an address.”
“Jeff said he’s on probation,” Blitz says. “Most likely a stipulation of his probation is to maintain contact with an officer. They could serve it.”
“Would getting one violate his probation?” I ask.
“I could call Jeff and ask,” Blitz says.
“That’s okay,” I say. “Danika might know.”
“I doubt we’ll be able to get in the back door today without calling her,” Blitz says.
“Looks like she has somebody back there.” I point to the backstage exit.
Sure enough, a familiar tall man is there. Ted!
We walk up to him. “Fancy seeing you again,” Blitz says. “I was just too good-looking to pass up.”
Ted snorts. “They called and asked for me, since I already knew the place. I rotate with another guy, front entrance and back.”
“Is this door locked?” Blitz asks. “Because lover boy is out front measuring how close he can get.”
“We’re aware,” Ted says. “The funny thing is, we don’t even have an order yet. They’re still working on proving the threat. He’s just being careful.”
“Really?” I say. “Even after he went crazy last week?”
“Yeah, the owner wasn’t able to convince them,” Ted says. “I think they are getting some big-gun lawyer to file it now. Some dude named Claremont.”
“Bennett,” I say, and Blitz nods. Bennett built Dreamcatcher Academy for Danika. He has lawyers on top of lawyers.
Ted turns to unlock the backstage door. “Buzz me if anything happens in there.”
“Will do,” Blitz says with a mock salute.
We hurry to Studio 3, where Janel is already working with Daisy and Marissa.
“Good morning,” Janel says as we come in. “Small group so far this morning. Everybody’s late or skipping.”
I set down my bag. “Did anyone call to say why?”
“No,” Janel says, adjusting Daisy’s arms. “I didn’t hear anything.”
By the time we’ve changed into dance shoes, two more girls have arrived. But no Gabriella.
Halfway through class, Blitz comes up and says, “Did anything seem off with her on Thursday?”
I shake my head no.
“Why don’t you go ask Danika about her?”
I nod. The girls are busily working on how to hold formation during a turn, so I head out into the hall and walk toward the front foyer.
Another security guard stands between the two entrances, looking out the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that make up the front of the academy. I realize how vulnerable we are, so open and easy to see in.
“Everything okay?” I ask him. “I’m Livia, the girl he’s stalking.”
The man nods in acknowledgment. “He just got served the order,” he says. “The officer is still there, making sure he complies.”
I glance out. I can’t see Denham’s truck, as it’s too far down the street, but Denham himself is picking up his measuring tape. A squad car is parked directly in front of the academy.
I back away before he can look this direction. It’s a good distance across the parking lot, and he shouldn’t be able to see me clearly, but I don’t want to take that chance.
Suze is at the front desk, and I wave as I pass. Then I stop and turn back to her. “Did Gwen call about Gabriella?” I ask. “She’s not in class.”
Suze sifts through her notes. “I didn’t talk to her, but she left a message for Danika to call her. Maybe she’s sick.”
“Thanks,” I say. “Is Danika back there?”
“I think so,” Suze says.
I push through the doors to the recital hall. Danika’s office is just inside. She sits at her desk, tapping on her keyboard.
I poke my head in. “Hey,” I say.
“Hello, Livia,” she says. “I take it you came in the back way? Your friend is out front.”
“Yeah.” I sit on the chair opposite her. “I hear you got the protective order.”
“Finally. The officer who came didn’t write up enough to get it through. We had to push it with Bennett’s lawyer. But they got it done.”
“Did he have a probation officer to notify him?”
“Yes, but we didn’t want to wait on that. He was standing right out there. We got it rush-served. Anything for a price,” she says.
“How far away does he have to stay?”
“We got three hundred yards, which is the maximum. But that’s just for our property. He can still follow you.”
“I know,” I say. “Blitz doesn’t want an order in the public record with my name on it.”
“That makes sense. You practically have to give up your firstborn child to get one done.”
I freeze, my breath catching.
Danika quickly says, “I’m sorry. That was a horrible thing to say.”
“That’s okay,” I say. “It’s just an expression.”
She reaches across the desk to grasp my hands. “I think of you as a daughter, Livia. Please know that if you need anything, you can talk to me.”
I’m not sure I can think of Danika as a mother, but I nod. “I came to ask about Gabriella,” then quickly I add, “and Valerie. They aren’t in class today.”
“I’m not sure about Valerie,” she says. “But Gwen heard about the altercation Friday and has put a hold on Gabriella’s enrollment until it blows over.”
“What?” My heart accelerates. “He didn’t even come here on her day!”
“Gwen has some concerns,” Danika says. “She isn’t the only parent who has pulled her child out over that incident. I’ve lost about ten students.”
I can’t believe it. Just like that, Gabriella is out of my life.
Because of Denham!
“I’m so sorry,” I say. “I shouldn’t have come back here once he found me.”
“I’m really not sure it would have helped. He comes here whether it’s yo
ur day or not. He sat out there yesterday while we tried to get the order done.”
“You think Gabriella won’t even do the private lessons?” I ask.
Danika lets go of me and sits back in her chair. “It’s interesting, Livia, that you and Blitz have taken such an interest in her. What motivated you to do that?”
My face flushes hot. I fumble with my answer. “Blitz saw a lot of potential in her when they did the video. She’s really expressive.”
Danika nods. “Well, that is true.” She slides a few of her papers around. “I’ll let you know if she decides to come back. I would assume her private lessons are also canceled for now. But I can check if you would like.”
“Okay, thank you,” I say. But I already know the answer. If Gwen doesn’t want Gabriella to come to class, she won’t want her to come to the academy at all.
Denham is costing me my daughter.
I have to do something.
Chapter 21
I walk slowly back to class. It seems so forlorn in the studio with only four girls. I can’t believe Gabriella is gone. I worked so hard to get her here.
I stand outside the window a moment. They can’t see me there, as the window is a mirror on their side. Blitz is busily helping Janel show the girls a new routine. There’s still twenty minutes in class.
I don’t second-guess what I have to do. I march straight back down the hall, through the foyer, and am out the door before anyone can even say anything.
The police officer is still by his squad car, writing something on a notepad.
I can’t see Denham, but I know where he is. I make it to the sidewalk and look down. Sure enough, he’s moved another block to get outside the three-hundred-yard protective zone.
“Can I help you, Miss?” the officer asks as I pass, but I hold up my hand. Nothing is going to stop me from talking to Denham. I’m so angry. So absolutely outraged at what he has cost me. I can’t believe I ever loved him. He’s my biggest, worst, most absolute enemy at this moment.
Denham messes with the orange reel. Piles of kinked-up measuring tape are resisting going back on the roll. My ballet slippers are whisper quiet, so I’m right up at him when he notices me.
I shove his shoulders. “What is wrong with you? Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
His face is smug. “Y’all are mighty jumpy in there for people who don’t have anything to hide.”
“You went crazy in there! Shouting and carrying on like a psycho. Of course Danika called the police.”
Denham sniffs, his attention back on rolling up the reel. “I aim to find my baby girl.”
“She isn’t at Dreamcatcher,” I say. At least now it’s the truth.
“Then I reckon you better get right on with telling me where she is so I can be on my way. We don’t have to have a thing to do with each other.” He shakes the reel hard to knock out a kink in the tape. “I’m over all that, Miss Fine and Dandy.”
“You cannot mess with her life,” I say. “That isn’t fair. You haven’t been out of jail more than a few months at a time anyway. What is she supposed to do when you go back in?”
The tape unsnarls and rolls up, snapping against the case.
“I’m a changed man. I got obligations now. I intend to live up to them.” He gives me a dark glance. “Not pawn them off on somebody else.”
My head wants to explode. He thinks I wanted to give up my baby?
“I had no choice,” I hiss. “I was fifteen with a father who was off-the-rails angry.” I step forward and poke him again, making an indentation in the black leather jacket. “You were the one who wasn’t there.”
“I believe your father took care of that,” he says calmly. The reel hangs loosely by his side.
“You didn’t even try,” I say. “You didn’t show up at school. You weren’t anywhere. I was stuck with what you did.”
I want to cry now. I’ve never thought this through before. As angry as I had been at Denham, he was the best thing that had happened to me. And even though I never should have been with him in the first place, I had lost him and any help he would have given me with the baby. Maybe even finding the strength to keep her.
“You have no idea what my life became,” I say. “It was horrible.”
“Aww, Livia. Damn. I know. Mine was shit too. On the street. Trying not to starve. What was I going to do? Sixteen and your brother to boot. I had caused enough trouble for you.” He tosses the reel in the back of his truck. The sound of it landing in the metal bed rings down the quiet street.
“I had nobody. And I was stuck. At least you could escape.” I swipe my hands at the tears on my face.
“Come here.” Denham wraps his arms around me. “We can fix this. You and me. Get our daughter. We can work this. See our baby grow up.”
“She’s got a family,” I say. “She’s happy.”
“So you do know where she is,” he says. “I knew you were smart like that. Is she close? Could we go see her now?”
I turn back to Dreamcatcher. The officer is standing there, watching us.
“I can’t do that,” I say. “She has a family. I just can’t.”
I pull my arm from Denham and try to walk away, but he follows.
“Livia, we can do this together. I know we can. I got father’s rights. I’ll let you see her whenever you want. Your guy’s got money. Maybe he can get your rights back too. It’ll work. You just have to believe.”
I shake my head and walk faster. I won’t do that to Gwen. I won’t.
Denham grabs my arm again, and this time I forcibly shake him off. “Stop!” I say. “I won’t be a part of this!”
I don’t realize how close we are to the parking lot until Ted starts running down the steps. “Stay away from her!” he shouts.
This gets the officer in action. “You’re violating the protective order,” he roars at Denham.
Denham reaches for me again. “Livia, it’s not too late to fix this thing.” His hand closes on my arm.
I scream and whip myself away to get free.
Then everything is a blur as the officer and Ted both converge on Denham. I walk backwards, stumble, and catch myself as Ted tackles Denham. The officer turns Denham over and handcuffs him. He’s followed me into the protective zone. I’ve made things worse.
Everything is so much worse.
Chapter 22
I run back to the building. Suze is standing by the windows, her blond hair bright, her face etched with worry. “Are they arresting him?”
I can’t answer, gasping and trying to breathe, half crying. “Can you get Blitz?” I manage to ask.
“I gotta tell Danika what’s going on first,” she says, and takes off in the wrong direction, toward the office.
I turn and lean against the glass. Denham is on the ground, his cheek smashed against the sidewalk. Ted stands a few feet away. The police officer is talking into a headset. His hand is on Denham’s back.
He’s so screwed. On probation. Protective order. Violated. He’ll go back to jail. It’s my fault this happened. I led him right into the zone.
Danika rushes into the foyer, Suze on her heels. She sees me and stops. “Did he come in here? Are you hurt?”
I’m crying too hard to speak but shake my head no.
“Stay here,” she orders and takes off down the steps for the parking lot. Suze puts her arms around me. “It’ll be okay. You want me to get Blitz now?”
I nod.
She moves away.
But she’s only gone a moment when the lights blink. God. The class transition. Everyone will come out and see a handcuffed man on the ground. More students will drop out. The other wheelchair girls. They might cancel the class for good. Gabriella will never come back. I’ll never see her again.
I dash out the door. “Let him go!” I shout. “Please! The kids are coming! They can’t see this!”
When I get to the huddle of people, Danika turns to me. “He’s violated the protective order,” she says. “This is
n’t a choice anymore.”
“I led him down the sidewalk,” I say, frantic now. “Please, don’t arrest him. Everyone is going to see!” I kneel down next to Denham as if I can shield the world from spotting him.
But it’s too late. Cars start pulling in, parents bringing the next round of dancers. Kids start filing out the doors, leaving their classes.
Some of the parents hesitate, holding on to their children and hanging back on the steps. One or two of the cars slow down to turn, then drive right on by when they see the man on the ground.
“That’s more emails,” Danika says. She looks down at Denham. “Are you trying to destroy my dance studio?”
“I just want my daughter,” Denham says, his cheek still pressed to the pavement. “That’s all I want.”
“Quiet,” the police officer orders. “I’m waiting on backup,” he says to Danika. “This was just supposed to be a serve.” He looks down at me. “I’d really prefer you stay away, Miss. I saw him harassing you.”
“He wasn’t…” I say, but trail off. There is no way to explain the complicated events that led to this moment.
“I’ll get in the car,” Denham says. “I won’t cause any trouble.”
“Boy, you have already caused a lot of trouble,” the officer says.
“He’ll do it,” I say quickly. “I know him. Just let him get in the car. Don’t scare everyone.”
“I’ll help,” Ted says.
The officer peers over at Ted. “And who are you?”
“My hired security,” Danika says.
“All right,” the officer says. He pulls Denham up by the handcuffs. “Into the car.”
Denham stands. The officer and Ted lead him over to the vehicle. When he’s safely inside and the door closed, my hands start to tremble. It’s too much. All of it. I wish I had never met him, never talked to him, never let him near me.
I wish he had told me he was my brother, and we’d just been friendly and graduated from the same school. Or even that he hated us all along and ran off with his parts-stealing friends.
The sidewalk bites into my knees. I want to get up and go back in the academy, but I don’t have the strength. The class yesterday. The stress today. I can’t handle it.
