Forever Beach

by Shelley Noble

“No. I have to find her.”

  “Ilona has called the police. They’ll find her. Sit here and let me get some ice for your head.”

  “But I have to.”

  “We will, but you can’t do anything in this condition.”

  Reesa passed Ilona in the kitchen. And for the most bizarre moment, she wondered if Ilona had orchestrated this. She shook the thought from her head. She needed to stay rational. God knew Sarah wouldn’t be.

  She got ice from the fridge, dumped it into a plastic bag, and wrapped it in a towel.

  When she got back, Ilona was leaning down in front of Sarah, holding her hand. Reesa did a double take; she didn’t get that woman at all. “Here.” She handed Ilona the ice. Reesa heard the siren and she went outside to meet them.

  They all arrived at once, EMTs, two squad cars, and a fire truck. Before they got out of their cars, the sidewalks began to fill with curious people, residents and tourists.

  “Inside, in the living room, possible concussion,” she said to the EMTs, then stayed to accompany the police inside. She identified herself and explained about the possible kidnapping. “We searched the house, it’s the only explanation. The bio mother came and wanted her child. We’re pretty sure she kidnapped her.”

  The officer blew out air. “Can you describe her?”

  “Her name is Carmen Delgado, she’s about five four, one hundred sixty-five pounds, a known drug addict, who we thought had been rehabilitated. According to Sarah over there, she was back on drugs and demanding her daughter.”

  “And she’s responsible for Ms. Hargreave’s injury?”

  “Yes, that is my understanding.”

  He looked past Reesa to the doorway. “I’m sorry, sir, you can’t—” His expression changed. “Wyatt. You have an interest here?”

  “Two interests.” Wyatt said no more, just strode across the room and knelt down by Sarah.

  She started to cry.

  “I heard the sirens. What happened? Sarah”—he said it sharply enough to make Reesa and the officer turn toward him—“pull yourself together and tell me what happened.”

  “So that’s Sarah,” the officer said and left Reesa to listen to what Sarah was saying.

  Reesa followed him over, glad that Wyatt knew so many people in town and that he was well respected. He might get them to move faster on finding Leila.

  The EMT had bandaged Sarah’s head. But when he tried to put her on a gurney to take her to the hospital, she refused. “Don’t ask me to go. I have to find her.” She was looking at Wyatt.

  He motioned for the EMT to step away. After a brief discussion, the EMT returned with a form for Sarah to sign, then they left, taking an empty gurney with them.

  “I told them I would be responsible for you. So I’m sticking to you like glue. No arguments.”

  The police officer in charge came over to Ilona. “And who are you?”

  She told him. He exchanged looks with Wyatt. “You sure fly in high circles,” he said under his breath.

  “Do you know what kind of car this Ms. Delgado drives?”

  No one did.

  “I know she takes the bus to work,” Reesa said. “I wasn’t aware that she had a car.”

  “Probably borrowed. And you didn’t see it?”

  Sarah shook her head, winced.

  He took some more information, sent another officer to run identification on Carmen and with orders to send another unit to Carmen’s house.

  “But if she’s not back yet, and she sees them, she won’t go home. And we’ll never find them.”

  “Yes, we will,” Wyatt said.

  “I’ll send an unmarked to check on it.” The officer took everyone’s cell numbers, including Carmen’s, which Ilona had because she had brought her files with her. He told Sarah to call him if she heard anything and left.

  Sarah pushed to her feet.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To find my keys.”

  “Wait here. I’ll get my Rover. You’re in no shape to be running around.”

  “We’ll never get her to sit still,” Reesa said. “Get her some water. We’ll take my car.”

  “Somebody needs to stay here in case Carmen comes back.”

  Wyatt and Reesa turned to look at Ilona.

  “Not me. You may need legal advice. I’m coming, too.”

  Reesa frowned, nodded. And reached for her phone.

  Wyatt and Ilona began helping Sarah outside.

  Reesa caught up with them at the car. “I called Karen, and she’s on her way over. She’ll man the phones here, and in case Carmen returns, there will be someone Leila knows. The police will leave someone to watch the house. She’ll be perfectly safe.”

  They settled Sarah in the front seat, and Wyatt and Ilona climbed in the back.

  CARMEN LIVED IN a complex of cheap apartments subsidized by the government for people on their (hopefully) way up. They gave a nod to home life by being designed like little box houses attached like paper dolls.

  Wyatt scanned the street. “Which one is hers?” he asked.

  Reesa pointed it out. The neighborhood was marginal at best, but all seemed quiet for a change.

  As they watched, two men in shirtsleeves walked out from behind the complex.

  Wyatt leaned forward. “Cops.”

  “Yeah, I recognize one of them,” Reesa said. “They do a lot of work for family services.”

  “They didn’t go inside?” Sarah said. Her voice sounded weak to Reesa. She hoped Wyatt knew what he was doing by not insisting Sarah go to the hospital.

  “Not without a warrant or probable cause.”

  “Kidnapping is probable cause,” Sarah said.

  “True, but it doesn’t look like anyone’s home. They’ll leave an unmarked to watch the place.”

  The cops walked to the street.

  Sarah reached for the car door.

  Reesa held her back.

  “I just want to ask them.”

  “You’re a civilian and they’ll send you home. Is that what you want?”

  Sarah sat back and looked around to Wyatt.

  He nodded confirmation.

  The unmarked pulled away.

  “But hello.” Reesa rolled down her window as a skateboarder whizzed by them. “Bobby Carter. Hey, Bobby!”

  The kid flipped his board and skated back. Then he saw Reesa, and came to a stop before turning again and taking off.

  “Damn,” Reesa said. “He thinks he’s in trouble.”

  Wyatt was out of the car before anyone could stop him.

  “God, don’t hurt him,” Ilona exclaimed from the backseat.

  Reesa sighed. “Sorry. I scared him. I know him from his foster days. He probably thought I was going to pick him up.”

  The three women watched as Wyatt ran after the skater, calling his name.

  “What’s he doing?”

  “I don’t know,” Reesa said.

  “I hope he’s not planning on physical force,” Ilona said.

  “Shh,” Sarah and Reesa warned.

  Wyatt caught up to the boy and ran alongside him until the skater stopped and flipped his board up to his hand.

  Wyatt nodded in the direction of Carmen’s apartment. The kid shrugged. Wyatt said something. The kid looked around. Wyatt moved in front of him, blocking him from view of the street.

  A minute later Wyatt walked nonchalantly back to the car. The kid dropped his board and skated away.

  “What was that about?” Reesa asked. “Did you buy drugs from that kid for information?”

  “Didn’t have to,” Wyatt said. “I sell diving and surfing equipment, but I keep spare skate parts for the local kids. I didn’t recognize him until you said his name.”

  “What did you find out?” Sarah asked.

  “Carmen’s been seeing a dealer, street name Hatch. Real name DeShawn.”

  “That’s him. Oh God, we have to find her.”

  “Did he know where we can find this Hatch person?” Ilona asked.<
br />
  “He lives in the projects. I don’t have a last name, but the police should be able to run him pretty fast.” Wyatt was already on his phone to his buddy on the case, asking him to run a check on DeShawn, street name Hatch.

  Sarah was looking at him like she had just had a revelation. “Thanks. You’re amazing. You all are.”

  Reesa pulled away from the curb.

  “Where are we going?” Ilona asked.

  “The projects,” Reesa said. “No arguments.”

  No one said anything for the next few minutes, but when they turned down Quincy Street, Wyatt leaned over the seat.

  “You let me out and keep driving down to the end of the block and wait. I’ll see what I can find out. But I don’t want you or . . .” He flicked a look toward Sarah. “Around if there’s trouble.”

  Reesa slowed down. Wyatt jumped out. So did Sarah.

  Reesa stopped the car.

  Wyatt grabbed Sarah as she reached the sidewalk. “Dammit, Sarah, get in the car.”

  “No. I’m going with you.”

  “Then so am I.” Reesa swerved to the curb and stopped in front of a fire hydrant. She turned to Ilona. “Think you can drive this old heap to the corner?”

  “Me? I can, but I won’t. You’re not going in there without me. God knows what kind of trouble you all will get into.”

  “Hell, I do this all the time.”

  Ilona opened the door. “Are you gonna sit here talking or are you going to save that child?”

  “Well, hell.” Reesa jimmied her CP&P card out of her purse, scribbled Dowd removal, and slapped it on the dashboard. She locked the car, not that that would stop anyone wanting to get in, and followed Ilona, who was already running up the sidewalk as fast as her lawyer shoes would let her.

  Ahead Reesa could see Sarah and Wyatt talking to someone who pointed toward one of the doors. Reesa hurried toward them, praying this would not turn out to be a tragedy of déjà vu.

  Wyatt and Sarah entered one of the buildings. Reesa and Ilona rushed to catch up, but the door swung closed before they could get there.

  “Damn,” Ilona said. “Now what do we do?”

  Reesa yanked on the door. It opened. The lock was broken—they always were.

  Reesa barreled inside, not the smartest move, but she was beyond caring. She heard Ilona gasp as they came to a stop in a dank, fetid hallway. “If you’re going to be sick, go outside and wait across the street.”

  Ilona shook her head but put her hand over her mouth and nose.

  The hallway was empty, except for the smell. Reesa took the stairs to the second floor, Ilona clattering up the stairs behind her.

  She reached the next floor and saw Wyatt and Sarah at the far end. Wyatt was knocking on the door, yelling Hatch’s name.

  “Open up now. I want the kid.”

  Reesa ran toward them, rummaging for her identification. “Child Protection!” she yelled through the door. “Open up!”

  No answer. But she knew they were there. She knew it to the very core of her being. “Open this door, or I’ll have to call the police.”

  No answer. Sarah started banging both fists on the door.

  Wyatt pulled her away, then pushed her toward Reesa in a move that made them stumble backward.

  He took a few steps back and kicked the door in.

  It came away in a screech of hinges and screws.

  For a nanosecond the three women stared, then Sarah broke for the door.

  “Where is she? So help me—”

  A man appeared through the doorway to another room. He staggered toward Sarah.

  Wyatt grabbed him by the shirt front. “Where’s the kid?”

  “Yo, man . . .”

  The guy was big, but Wyatt lifted him off his feet and shook him like a rag doll.

  “Where?”

  “Don’t know what cha—”

  Wyatt tossed him halfway across the room where he hit the wall and slid down to the floor.

  Sarah called Leila’s name and began searching the room, looking behind chairs, throwing pillows.

  Wyatt ran into the back room.

  Ilona took the closet and bathroom.

  Reesa was dimly aware of the police arriving, cuffing the perpetrator. And still no Leila.

  A scream from Sarah. They all rushed toward the kitchen alcove where she was kneeling on the floor. And Reesa prayed they weren’t too late.

  Leila was tied to the table with a bungee cord. Sarah was on her knees, frantically trying to untie the cord.

  Wyatt moved Sarah out of the way and began checking for vital signs.

  Leila didn’t move. Reesa felt herself crying and didn’t even try to control herself. She just kept praying please, please, please.

  “Wyatt,” Sarah pleaded.

  “Shh. Call 911,” he called to the cops.

  “Already on their way.”

  “Is she dead?” Sarah whispered, her voice a mere scratch.

  “She’s still breathing, but slowly.”

  Sarah lay down on the floor beside her. “You’ll be all right, now. I’m here. Your mommee is here.” She cradled Leila, quietly crying and humming to the child that lay so still, and Reesa was afraid this time she had really failed.

  She stared at the back of Wyatt’s head as he checked Leila’s vital signs. Felt Ilona moving toward the other room. Heard Sarah humming softly as the tears rolled off her cheek onto her child.

  And Reesa couldn’t move.

  Finally, finally, the EMTs arrive.

  Wyatt glanced over his shoulder. “I think she’s been drugged.” He moved out of the way.

  Sarah didn’t object when he pulled her to her feet. She seemed to know Leila was in good hands. She didn’t seem aware of Reesa at all when Wyatt passed her off so he could free Leila from the cords. But as soon as the EMTs lifted her onto a gurney and started oxygen, Sarah stepped forward.

  “I’m her mother.”

  The EMT nodded and let her follow them down the stairs.

  “Go with her,” Wyatt told Reesa. “I’ll come when they finish up here.”

  Reesa nodded and handed him her keys.

  He took them. “I hope your car is okay. You might have a ticket.” He tried to smile but didn’t manage it.

  “If she does, I’ll take care of it.” Ilona didn’t even try to smile. Reesa had a feeling she meant every word.

  “Go,” he said and turned away.

  SARAH AND REESA were sitting in plastic molded chairs in the hospital waiting room when a doctor came down the hall, stopped, looked around, then walked over to them.

  “Ms. Hargreave?”

  “Yes.”

  “She was given Benadryl,” the doctor said. “She’ll be fine once it’s out of her system.”

  And she’s out of the system, Sarah thought.

  “We’ll keep her overnight, maybe a day or two just to monitor her vital signs.”

  “Can I see her?”

  “She’s sleeping, but of course. Nurse Taylor will see you down.”

  Sarah followed the nurse down the hall to Leila’s room and stopped in the doorway. Leila was in a modified bed, with side bars all the way around it. She looked small and scarily unmoving, hooked up to a battery of monitors and IVs. And there was just one other bed, empty, in the room.

  “I didn’t pay for a semiprivate room.”

  The nurse smiled. “Don’t worry. We happen to have extra beds for the moment.”

  Sarah tiptoed to the bed and looked back at the nurse.

  “Just don’t jiggle her tubes.”

  Sarah bit her lip to keep it from trembling, nodded her understanding.

  “They look intimidating, but really they’re just there to help. She’s breathing on her own, but we’re keeping her on a steady flow of oxygen just to make breathing easier. The IV is simple fluids, and those round things monitor her heart.” She pointed to a screen with green lines. “I can be down the hall and know exactly how she’s doing. So don’t worry. Oh. She ma
y have a little sore throat when she wakes up, from where we administered medication. Just tell her she gets to eat ice cream.”

  Nurse Taylor, Natalie according to her name tag, pulled a chair next to the bed. “Just use the call button if you need anything.”

  “Thank you,” Sarah managed and sat down. She reached to touch Leila’s little hand, gently traced her finger down Leila’s fingers. She didn’t stir. She didn’t move. Only the blipping of the monitors told Sarah she was still alive. She’s going to be fine, she’s going to be fine. She kept repeating the phrase over and over, willing herself to believe it.

  It had been so close. They might not have found her if it hadn’t been for Reesa and Wyatt knowing that skateboarder. Sarah smiled slightly. How weird was that? And she could swear she heard Sam chuckling. He always did enjoy serendipity, and the skateboarder definitely qualified.

  “Hey, sunshine. Mommee is here.” And she began to hum.

  LATER—MINUTES OR HOURS, Sarah didn’t know which—Reesa poked her head in the door. Sarah motioned her in.

  “Everyone is still in the waiting room,” she said barely above a whisper. “You wouldn’t believe I brought out my CP&P ID, since no one has taken me off the roster yet. Ilona identified herself as the advocate ad litem.”

  “Nonie’s here?”

  Reesa nodded.

  “What does she want? Why did she come with us to look for Leila? Is she going to take her away?”

  “No. No. She’s the one who got the stay from Judge Whitaker.”

  “Nonie?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t understand. Why would she do that?”

  Reesa shrugged. “I have no idea. Maybe she had a change of heart.”

  “And Wyatt? He broke the door down.”

  “Yeah,” Reesa agreed. “He’s still a little pumped. Whew. I’ve never seen him so intense. And a bunch of people on staff know him, and others shop at his store. We have our own little waiting area, and people have been bringing us coffee and stale donuts.”

  “You don’t have to stay.”

  Reesa laughed. “Would you stop it? Karen said you’d say that.”

  “Karen’s here?”

  “On her way over. She said to tell you three words.”

  Sarah braced herself.

  “We’re all family.”

  Sarah’s face crumpled.

  “Oh, honey.” Reesa put her arms around Sarah’s shoulders.