Quakers of New Garden

by Claire Sanders

  “Please tell me what you saw of the incident. Start from the beginning,” the officer said.

  “Catherine Wall, the victim—” Jaidon swallowed hard. His stomach turned. “Called and told me she would be at the center shortly. I came outside to wait, and she was already there. I saw a young man in a hoodie approach her and recognized him. It was Daryl Jones.”

  “And you’re positive?” the officer asked.

  “Yes.” Jaidon nodded. “He used to come to the center. In fact, only a couple weeks ago he’d been shot—a flesh wound. Miss Wall was his nurse.”

  “So they had previous contact with each other?”

  “Yes.” Jaidon sighed and sat back in his chair. It took every ounce of self-control not to track Daryl down himself and pulverize him for what he did to Catherine. How dare he hold her at gunpoint and rob her!

  “Any chance Mr. Jones could be retaliating for something that happened between them?” The officer’s expression was hard to read, but Jaidon didn’t like his implication.

  “No. Miss Wall is a very caring individual. She was inspired to work with inner-city youth after she helped care for Daryl during his recovery.”

  The other officer who’d been questioning Ariannah came over to them. He stopped a few feet away and motioned for his partner to join him. After a couple moments, the officer who was taking his statement returned. “Thanks to a couple witnesses at the location of the incident, Mr. Jones has already been apprehended. Would it be possible for you to bring Miss Wall by the station when she’s released to make a positive ID?”

  “If she’s up to it I’ll bring her by later. If not, I’ll bring her by tomorrow.”

  The officer nodded and handed Jaidon his business card. “Thank you, Mr. Taylor.”

  “You’re welcome.” As soon as the officer walked away, Jaidon sprang out of his chair and began pacing.

  An hour and a half later, a nurse came out and called his name. “Catherine Wall asked if you could come back.”

  “How is she?” Jaidon asked.

  “I’m afraid you’ll have to ask her yourself,” the nurse said. “HIPAA laws and all, we’re not allowed to disclose patient information.”

  “I understand.” Jaidon’s heart pounded in his chest as he followed the nurse back to Catherine’s room. The nurse left him at the doorway.

  Catherine looked pale. She had a couple stitches on the left side of her forehead; it looked swollen and purplish. Jaidon clenched his fists. Part of him wanted to run over and hug her; the other part wanted to make a beeline for the police station and crucify Daryl.

  At her lopsided grin, he edged closer and gently kissed her on the uninjured side of her forehead. “You don’t know how worried I’ve been about you.”

  With her left hand, she reached up and grabbed his arm, while continuing to hold him to her with the other hand. “Thank you for being there for me.”

  “Always.” And he meant it.

  “They’re keeping me overnight for observation.” Her voice was barely louder than a whisper. “Apparently I have a concussion and the knot to prove it.”

  “I’d be happy to stay.” He didn’t care if it looked inappropriate to the others from his church. Right now he didn’t want to leave Catherine’s side.

  “That’s not necessary.” She nodded and then moaned. Several of her friends were scheduled to work the night shift; they’d check in on her often. “I’ll be okay.”

  He wasn’t so sure of her assessment. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow when they’re ready to release you. I told the police officer I’d take you by the police station when you’re able so you can identify your attacker. In fact you can rest easy. They have Daryl in custody.”

  Catherine struggled to sit up.

  “Whoa. Relax. It’s okay.” Jaidon tried to ease her back against the mattress amid her protest.

  “No.” Catherine swallowed hard. “You’ve got to help him.” “Help who?”

  “Daryl.” Catherine’s eyes were pleading.

  “How can you ask me to do that?” Obviously she was disoriented. “You realize he was the one who attacked you?”

  Catherine shook her head slightly. Crease lines marred her face as she winced. “He had to. He didn’t have a choice. There was—”

  “He had a choice.” Jaidon gritted his teeth. “He figured you were a vulnerable target and attacked you. You’re lucky he didn’t kill you.”

  Jaidon might as well have been the one with the concussion. He was nauseated and felt light-headed. What if Catherine had been killed?

  “Jaidon,” Catherine mumbled as tears brimmed her eyes. “He apologized. Bad guys don’t say they’re sorry when they’re committing a crime.”

  Jaidon clenched his jaw. There was a first time for everything. Maybe D-Dog hadn’t realized he knew his victim when he approached her.

  “Someone was watching him.” Catherine moistened her lips and swallowed. “Jaidon, please. Just go talk to him. I think he needs help.”

  If Jaidon went to talk to him, he would need help.

  “Please?” Catherine pleaded. “Take his case…for me.”

  He groaned. For her? “How can you ask me to help the man who hurt the woman I love?”

  “Love?” Catherine blinked several times.

  “From the moment we met, I knew you were the one.” Jaidon ran a hand through his hair. “I know you made your father a promise, and I’m willing to try going to your church and seeing if we can make this work. If you’ll give me a chance.” Tears trickled down her cheeks. “You would consider changing churches for me?”

  Jaidon nodded. “Just please don’t ask me to help the man who hurt you. I can’t do it.”

  Catherine reached for his hand and brought it to her lips, gently kissing the back of his hand before she clutched it to her chest. “I need you to do this for me. At least talk to him. Find out what really happened.”

  Jaidon ran the fingers of his free hand through her hair and then stroked her cheek gently with his thumb. The smell of lavender and lilacs teased his senses. Her hazel eyes drew him closer to her like magnets. When her lips parted a fraction, his pulse raced, and he closed the remaining distance between them to claim her lips.

  A moan escaped her that only increased his hunger and he deepened the kiss. When he drew back, they were both breathless.

  “Wow.”

  He nodded in agreement and gently kissed her again.

  “I have another favor.” Her breath was still ragged. “Ask Daryl who the man was that wanted me dead—the one in the black Ford Explorer.”

  Chapter 7

  Here are the spare keys to your car.” Catherine’s mother handed the key ring back to her. “Your brother asked a friend to go with him to pick it up. He dropped your car off at my house.” Her mother laid a fresh change of clothes on the foot of Catherine’s hospital bed. “I want you to stay with me until we know you’re safe.”

  Catherine couldn’t argue with her mother. She was too much like her to deny, in both physical appearance and personality type. Catherine was a slender version of her mother, brunette instead of blond, interspersed with minor strands of gray, and both with that same determined streak. She wasn’t afraid of Daryl, but the other guy—it wouldn’t do any good to mention him and concern her mother. A shiver ran down her spine and up her arms just thinking about the look in the man’s eyes— pure evil. “Thanks for letting me stay with you.”

  “You’re welcome, dear. You know I’m always glad to have you around.” Her mother smiled.

  Catherine forced herself to focus on brighter things while she dressed, thankful to be getting out of the hospital. It was one thing to work there and another to stay as a patient. “Can I ask you something, Mom?”

  Her mother paused from gathering Catherine’s belongings. “Sure, sweetheart.”

  “I met someone.”

  Her mother smiled.

  “Before you say anything or read anything into it, let me finish.”

  Her
mother grinned wider and nodded. Guilty as charged. She could tell by the look on her mother’s face she was already making assumptions.

  “Jaidon, the man who is picking me up, isn’t just a volunteer at the center. We’ve been getting to know each other on a personal level and…he said he was willing to consider becoming a Quaker.” Catherine swallowed hard. She watched her mother’s expression change from a huge smile to contemplative. She didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.

  “I wondered why you only needed me to bring you a change of clothing and not to take you home.” She grinned. “I assume he is only contemplating changing for you. Not because he has any personal conviction to change.”

  “Does it matter?” She realized how shallow she sounded. “I really like him a lot, Mom. If he doesn’t change, we can’t be together.”

  Her mother sighed. “I know you made a promise to your father. One he should have never asked you to make.”

  “It’s not like I can go back on my promise. Plus, how would it be for our children if we didn’t go to the same church?” Catherine sighed. She didn’t want to think of a life without Jaidon. She enjoyed his company and friendship. He was kind and caring, putting the needs of others ahead of his own. The way his kiss had the ability to make her toes curl was a perk to the overall package. There was no denying that she loved him. Every day they were around each other, her feelings for him grew deeper. No one had ever made her heart soar like this. It raced just thinking about Jaidon. “I know we can make this work.”

  “I’m sure you both can, but it’s not me you need to convince.” Her mother placed Catherine’s clothes from the previous day in a plastic bag and handed a pair of tennis shoes to her. “You’ll have to get approval from the meeting.”

  Catherine’s breath caught. They were stricter than the other two meetings she attended when out of town on vacation or visiting. Her family had always attended. That didn’t necessarily mean she would be shown any special favor, but she had to try. “I know. I was hoping you would help to put in a good word.”

  Her mother shrugged. “I’ll do what I can, but you know I don’t have as much influence, especially since I’ve been seeing Alex.”

  Would they allow Jaidon to join the church if they found out it was for possibly getting married? Perhaps they should try membership first. After all, he’d only implied he was thinking of marriage. He hadn’t actually asked her. Her head hurt thinking about it. What if she couldn’t get Jaidon read into meeting? Then there was little hope of getting their approval for ever marrying either.

  Jaidon knocked on Catherine’s hospital door. “Is it safe to come in?”

  A middle-aged blond opened the door and grinned. Her facial features, even the cute upturned nose, resembled Catherine’s. “You must be Jaidon.”

  “Yes.” He extended his hand. Instead of shaking it, she hugged him.

  “I’m Evelyn.” She laughed and moved away to allow him to enter. “My daughter was just telling me about you.”

  “Nothing bad I hope.” Especially after the kiss they’d shared last night. He hoped that part, of an otherwise horrific evening, wasn’t a dream.

  “Not terribly.” The smile on her face and gleam in her eyes hinted that Evelyn was teasing. At least he hoped so. “Listen, since we’ve got midweek service tonight and Catherine isn’t working, why not stay for dinner when you drop her off and go to meeting with us?”

  He did say he was willing to go to her church, but he thought he still had several days to build up the courage. The sooner he started, the quicker they could be together—nothing coming between them. Excitement bubbled inside him, in spite of the next task that lay before them. “I’d love to. I’m not sure how long it will take at the precinct. We can call if you’d like.”

  “I like this boy already,” Evelyn said.

  “He’s not a boy, Mom. He’s a man.” Catherine rolled her eyes and sighed.

  “I’m glad you noticed.” Her mother laughed.

  “Mom,” Catherine squealed. She grabbed the pillow and hit her mother with it. “Behave yourself, or I’m going home—to my house.”

  Jaidon frowned. Was it safe for her to go home? Her address had to have been on her license. Was Daryl the only one who knew where she lived? Or did other gang members know, too? Where else could Catherine go?

  Catherine obviously recognized the look of concern on his face. It wasn’t something he could hide. “Mom wants me to stay at her place for a while. Until she’s sure I’m okay.”

  “And this way I don’t have to worry about anyone else coming after her either,” her mother said sternly.

  “Thank you. I agree wholeheartedly.” If he couldn’t watch after her twenty-four-seven, at least her mother could. He was glad she was protective—and insistent.

  After Catherine checked out of the hospital, her mother waited with her at the curb while Jaidon pulled the Hummer around to pick her up. Evelyn hugged Catherine then hugged Jaidon. “Take care of my baby.”

  “Will do,” he promised and waved to Evelyn before pulling off. His stomach knotted as he drove toward their destination. He’d waited to go see Daryl, hoping Catherine would change her mind, and giving himself time to cool off. “Are you sure you’re up to going by the police station?”

  “Yes.” Catherine nodded. “I’m anxious to get this cleared up and make sure Daryl is safe.”

  Was she crazy? He looked at her a long moment. No crease lines on her face, she looked at peace. His eyes focused on the road while his mind struggled to comprehend her attitude. “Why are you so concerned about Daryl after what he did to you?”

  Catherine glanced at him and smiled. “God wants us to turn the other cheek, forgive others as He has forgiven us. I believe Daryl deserves a chance, and I don’t believe he really wanted to hurt me.”

  “Well he had a funny way of showing it.” Jaidon gritted his teeth.

  “Please, Jaidon. Just give him a chance to explain.” Catherine reached over and touched his arm.

  Jaidon relaxed a fraction, lowered his arm so they could hold hands, and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. Her dainty hand felt right in his. He closed his hand tighter around hers and took a deep breath to calm himself. All he wanted to do was protect her.

  “I’ll talk to him,” Jaidon said. And if he didn’t like Daryl’s answers…

  Half an hour later, Jaidon sat in a room at the police station, waiting for his client. It was a choice he was greatly regretting, especially after learning the gun the police had confiscated when they arrested him had been used in a homicide. Jaidon stood and put his hands in his pockets as they brought Daryl in and sat him down at the table.

  “I’m sorry about what happened, Mr. T.” Daryl’s head hung low.

  Jaidon hadn’t realized he’d clenched his fists in his pockets. He forced himself to relax and leaned against the wall.

  “Tell me what happened.” He couldn’t curb the edge in his tone.

  Daryl sighed, his fists balled on the table. “It all started ’cause I wanted out.” There was pain in Daryl’s eyes when he looked up at Jaidon. “Once I got involved with the center, and Bruno saw that it was changing me and Tanesha, he laid claim on Tanesha, even though we belonged together.

  “So Bruno gets himself a new girl and decides I gotta pay for leaving the gang. He gives me an out. Says unless I want to get shot by him at point-blank range, I need to sever my ties with you all at the center.”

  “Why?” It didn’t make sense to Jaidon. What did Bruno care about any of them? They’d never even met him.

  “Bruno knew if I hurt one of you guys, you all would never forgive me, and then you wouldn’t let me back in the center.” Daryl shrugged. “He figured then I’d have nowhere to go but back to him.”

  “Hmm.” In a weird way, it made sense to Jaidon.

  “I saw that nice nurse, figured I could just take her purse and run off, but Bruno put a gun in my hand and told me to take care of things or he would. I didn’t
know what to do. When you came out, I grabbed her purse and hit her.” A tear strolled down Daryl’s cheek. “Tell me she’s okay.”

  Jaidon swallowed hard and clenched his fists again. “She spent the night in the hospital with a concussion and had to get stitches.”

  “I’m sorry,” Daryl pleaded. “Bruno was watching. If I didn’t do something, he would’ve.”

  Jaidon stiffened. He didn’t recall seeing anyone in particular that stood out. Of course his focus had been on Catherine. He faintly recalled a vehicle driving by. It might have been the one Catherine told him about. “Where was Bruno?”

  “Across the street in a black Ford Explorer.”

  The blood drained from Jaidon’s face, and he felt faint. “Catherine said he made a gun with his hand and pretended to shoot her. Would he?”

  “I—I don’t know.” Daryl ran his hand through his hair. “He might’ve done it just to scare her so she wouldn’t talk.”

  “Even if Catherine doesn’t file charges against you, the prosecutor in Indiana will. And by the sound of it, they’re looking to add homicide to the charges.”

  Daryl’s dark skin paled noticeably. “You said she was released from the hospital.”

  “She was.” Jaidon nodded. “The gun was used in another crime. Yours aren’t the only fingerprints on it. If you testify to where you got the gun and the fingerprints match Bruno’s, then the police can arrest him.”

  “What about me? I go to prison, get a shorter sentence that ends in a casket?”

  “I want to help you.” Jaidon was surprised at how much he actually meant his words. If not for Daryl choosing the lesser of two evils, Catherine might be dead right now. “I have a friend who is a criminal attorney. He’s better equipped to handle your case. I’ll give him a call. Perhaps he can work out a deal with the prosecutor if you promise to cooperate.”