“I know what you did last night, Sandra. It cost me a lot of money to replace the four tires you sliced.”
“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”
“Okay, forget last night; I know you confronted Gabrielle and you need to stop bothering her. She is my girlfriend and you have to realize nothing will change that.”
“How many times do I have to hear that, Jonathan? I know you don’t want me.
God forbid you’re the last man on earth and every woman has to fight over you—well get over yourself! I don’t want you!”
“What the hell is going on with you?” He asked stunned.
“Nothing is going on with me. In fact, I don’t think I want you around my daughter anymore.”
“Why are you punishing her, Sandra? She enjoys being with the other kids at the rec center.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “How do I know that’s where you really take her?”
“You’ve been where I’ve taken her on more than one occasion. People have seen you at the rec center. And, don’t forget Anthony is a youth director.”
“So what; I’m a parent that isn’t comfortable with my 10-year old daughter spending so much time with a grown ass man; especially a man that’s not related to her.”
“Okay, then give me her father’s name; I call and ask him if he’s comfortable with his daughter living with an unstable mother. Let me tell him how his daughter’s mother is stalking me and vandalizing my car because I won’t give her the time of day!”
“Don’t you have a vivid imagination; I’m not stalking you or vandalizing your precious car! What proof do you have, Jonathan!”
“I have proof on tape, Sandra. There are cameras installed at the fire station.
Why were you at the fire station the other night?”
“I wanted to talk to you about Amira but your girlfriend beat me to you,” she said snarling her lip.
“Why would you need to talk to me about Amira every single day? You always know where I am, Sandra?”
“My daughter keeps in touch with you; I have never called you personally.”
“You’re forcing Amira to call. You have that child checking to see if I’m with Gabrielle or actually working?”
“Now who is calling whom crazy? Why would I do that?”
“You knew I had other plans yesterday, yet Amira called me asking me to come over. When I asked her why she needed me, she couldn’t say. Why didn’t you finish feeding her the lines to say to me, Sandra?”
“She didn’t talk to you yesterday.”
“Yes she did. I told her not to tell you because I knew you would keep hounding me to come over.”
She rose slowly from the recliner, clinching her teeth. “Get out of my house! Get out!”
“I’m going, but I’m taking Amira with me; there is no way in HELL I’m leaving her with you,” he said walking backwards and not turning his back on her.
“You will not take my child anywhere! I will call the police if you drive off with her.”
“You do that. Tell them I’m taking her to the fire station and they can meet me there.”
“I’m not playing with you! If you take my kid I will call the police.”
“I want you to call them, Sandra! The fire house is a safe haven and Amira will be safe from you. I will not let you hurt her anymore.”
“Get out! Get out of my house!” She picked up the glass ashtray throwing it at him. He was able to deflect the blow with his arm. “Go! Take her to that bitch therapist you were fucking yesterday! I don’t need you or Amira; that damn kid is weighing me down. She’s just like her no-good father! She doesn’t appreciate me or what I do for her, so good riddance!”
Jonathan left the house quickly walking to his truck. “Buckle your seatbelt, Amira.”
“Why was my mom yelling,” she asked softly.
“Don’t worry about it, sweetie; just know you will be safe from now on,” he said backing from the driveway.
*****
“Jonathan, I have to call the police. She can’t stay here and you can’t take her home with you.”
“I know, Lieutenant. I couldn’t in good faith leave her with that woman. The shit she was saying was enough to make my blood run cold; can you imagine how that little girl feels?”
“I agree you did the right thing and with Ms. Rhodes house fire under
investigation; you probably saved the kid’s life again.”
“I don’t want Amira put in the system to get lost.”
“What about relatives; does she know anyone?”
Jonathan shook his head. “She doesn’t know her father or grandparents. I can’t go to Sandra’s job expecting to get any personal information either; it’s going to be up to child welfare to get answers about her background.”
Mr. DeMinico?” A woman dressed in a black suit carrying a briefcase entered the command room with another man dressed equally the same.
“Yeah, that’s me,” he replied raising his hand.
“We’re with Child and Family services; can we chat?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Chapter Seventeen
Gwen began to clear the table after having dinner with Gabrielle and Melanie.
“Ladies, you don’t have to help me.”
“Nonsense, Gwen,” Gabrielle said filling the dishwasher. “You cooked a lovely meal, the least I can do is help you clean.”
“Jonathan raves about your cooking; maybe we can exchange recipes.”
“I would love too. Um, Melanie, do you cook,” Gabrielle asked not wanting to leave her from the conversation.
“Not like Gwen. I do okay with simple dishes.”
Gwen dropped the sponge in the sink and grabbed a bottle of white wine from the fridge. “Come on ladies, sit. Melanie, we go way back but Gabrielle is new to the group. So, tell me, Gabrielle, are you and Jonathan in love? Anthony won’t part with any gossip.”
Sipping the wine she could feel the warmth flowing in her veins. “Yes we are. I love him so much and never dreamed I would ever meet a man like him; not after the nut cases I’ve been with.”
“Jonathan is a sweetheart and I’ve prayed so long for him to find the right woman to settle down with; much like Anthony and Melanie.”
“We haven’t had much time to relax and be together like a real couple should.
He has so much on his mind with Amira and now with Sandra missing; he’s really high-strung.”
“I can’t imagine the last couple of weeks being easy for either of you. Sandra surprised me. She seemed a little odd but very outgoing. I actually liked her after I got to know her better, but deep down I knew she wasn’t right for Anthony.”
“Geez, thanks, Gwen,” Melanie said twitching her lip.
“Oh, girl, you know I wanted you with my brother and I’m glad you’re together finally.”
Gabrielle swirled the wine in the glass. “Sandra fooled a lot of people. I thought Jonathan would have an aneurysm when he found out she wasn’t a columnist but worked in the copy room.”
Melanie asked. “Gabrielle, aren’t you scared going home alone knowing she is on the loose. She knows where you live.”
“Jonathan installed alarms on the doors and windows, and my neighbors keep an eye on the house when I’m not home. But, honestly, I don’t think she would show her face around my place; she knows the cops are looking for her.”
“It can’t be easy living like that,” Gwen said draining the last of her wine.
She sighed. “It’s been hell, Gwen. But Jonathan is at ease knowing Amira is safe with you and Kevin and not with strangers.”
“We love having her and the girls adore her. Gabrielle, when I saw the bruises on her body, I cried so hard. She is an innocent child that only wants to be love.”
“She seems to be adjusting well to her new family.”
“She cried for her mom few times, but I held her until she fell asleep.”
Melanie chimed in on the convers
ation. “I read about that happening. There are a lot of abused kids that hold a soft spot for their abusing parents.”
“Kevin and I are going to love her so hard; she’ll forget all about that skank and the hell she put her through.”
Gabrielle got up the table. “Well, I should be going home. I have to work tomorrow and I want to be home when Jonathan calls tonight.”
Melanie folded her hand under her chin batting her amber eyes. “I remember when I couldn’t wait for Anthony to call before I went to sleep at night. Now, I’m lucky if he even remembers to call while the sun is shining.”
“Thank you both for making me feel so welcome. I had a great time, and the next girls night will be at my house. I’ll invite my friend Pam; she will have you all in stitches with her stories.”
Walking Gabrielle to the door, Gwen hugged her. “Great! We can make this a midweek ritual.”
*****
Jonathan and Anthony sat outside the fire house chilling. The night was calm and warm and it was too early to turn in. Anthony leaned back in the plastic chair balancing it against the brick wall. “I think I’m gonna do it, Jon.”
“Do what?”
“I’m gonna ask Melanie to marry me. Will you be my best man?”
Jonathan nodded his head smiling. “Seriously! Hell yeah, I’ll be your best man; congratulations, man!”
“She might say no but I’m ready to settle down and have a family.”
“She’s good for you. You’ve been together a long time and I can’t see you with anyone else but her.”
“I’m 37-years old, Jon. I have to be a man and stop pretending to married. We are living together I might as well make it legal, right?”
“Are you asking me or looking for validation? Anthony, if she’s not pressuring you to get married, then I wouldn’t; but if you are ready, then do it.”
“I’m ready. I want a kid maybe two.”
“That’s great, man. The playa is hanging up his gloves. Can you hear the hearts of millions of women breaking?” Jonathan joked.
“Well it’s not like I can send them your way now that you’re taken. Can you imagine the stories that Gwen is probably filling Gabrielle’s head with?”
“Nope because Gwen likes me.” He paused then looked at Anthony with a
worried face. “You don’t think she would tell her everything do you?”
“You know when Gwen gets on a role, she holds nothing back.”
He pulled his cellphone from his pocket. “I think I’ll call Gabrielle and make sure she made it home.”
“Bullshit, you’re checking to see what Gwen had to say; but I don’t blame you.”
He clicked off the phone. “She didn’t answer.”
“They’re probably still yapping away or she’s driving home. Give it few minutes and call back.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he said with worry.
“Jon, did you tell her yet? Gwen asked me but I didn’t know the answer.”
“Huh?”
“Did you say those magical words to Gabrielle, yet?”
He nodded his head grinning. “Yeah and she returned them. It was the best feeling in the world, Anthony. It came out so easily.”
“My dawg! Anthony said slapping him on the knee. “What will the women do?”
“Move on to bigger and better, I suppose.” He fiddled with the cellphone in his hand. “I wish she would call me back.”
“You have that look and sound of worry. She’s okay, Jon. Sandra is on the run; she would be stupid to stick around Cleveland.”
“She’s crazy, Ant. She won’t think like a rational person.”
“You have to remember her beef is with you! If Sandra wants revenge, she got you where you can’t run; trapped at the firehouse.”
“You’re right. She’s knows where I am and what days I work.” He walked a few feet into the open space of the driveway. “Why isn’t she coming after me?”
“A sick mind has to have a devious plan. If she’s looking for revenge; she has to plan it first.”
“She is sick, but whoever got her pregnant had to see it and didn’t think about the danger he was leaving his kid with. For ten years Amira had to suffer at the hands of a mentally ill woman.”
“There is help for Amira. She won’t suffer the same fate as Sandra; she has a chance for a normal life.”
“I would love to adopt her, Anthony.”
“Phew…might be hard, dude. You’re a single man, working a dangerous job, with complicated hours. If you had a wife it would make it a lot easier.”
Jonathan turned his lip. “Don’t get any ideas in that head of yours. Just because cupid has bit you in the ass to get married; don’t push that idea on me.”
“You already dropped the ‘ I love you’—isn’t marriage the next step?”
“Not a next step we have to take right away. I want to give it some time.”
“Time has a way of passing quicker than we think. I’m going to bed. I have a feeling the alarms will go off late tonight.”
“I’m coming after I call Gabrielle again.”
Chapter Eighteen
Millie went to the Radiology department in search of Pam. She heard her voice coming from behind the closed door and decided to wait for her to finish with the patient instead of intruding.
A few minutes later, Pam exited the room rolling the patient’s gurney into the hall. “Okay, Mrs. Crump; an Orderly will be to get you shortly.” She turned to see Millie standing against the wall. “Good morning, Millie.”
“Good morning, Pam. I have to talk to you,” She said non-emotionally.
“Okay, come on in, I have a minute before my next patient arrives.”
“Pam, have you heard from Gabrielle?”
“I haven’t talked to her this morning. Millie, what is going on?” Pam saw the uneasiness in Millie’s face. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know,” she said shrugging her shoulders. “She hasn’t shown for work and won’t answer her cellphone.”
“What time is she scheduled to start? She might be running late?”
“Gabrielle is always on time. I’m worried, Pam; this is unlike her.”
“She has a new boyfriend; she could be a little distracted.” She said wiggling her hips.
“Can you call him?”
When Millie failed to follow the humor, Pam realized the seriousness of the situation. “I don’t have his information—oh but I know who does! Keep an eye on the department for me,” she said racing to the elevator.
Nick used the bar across his bed to lift his body up and down. He used this as a method of exercise to regain strength in his arms and upper body and to keep from getting bedsores. A light knock on the door interrupted him. “Come in.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Barona. My name is Pam; I work in the radiology department.”
“I didn’t know I had to take x-rays or I wouldn’t have got all sweaty exercising.”
“You don’t. I’m a friend of Gabrielle King’s and she mentioned you were friends with Jonathan DeMinico.”
“Yeah we work together.”
“Well, we can’t seem to reach Gabrielle. I was wondering if you could call Jonathan and ask if he’s talked to her.”
Nick wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Yeah, I’ll call him,” he said reaching for the phone.”
*****
Jonathan put the mop in the bucket to answer his phone. “Nick, what’s up?”
“I’m not sure, Jon. Pam asked me to call you.”
“Pam? Oh Gabrielle’s friend. Okay, what does she want?”
“She’s concerned about Gabrielle; she can’t get in touch with her and want to know if you’ve heard from her.”
His blood curdled in his veins. “Put her on the phone.”
“Hi, Jonathan, please tell me you are with Gabrielle.”
“I’m at work and haven’t talked to her today at all. Pam, can you go to her house? I’ll call the police and ask them to meet you there.”
>
“Jonathan, you’re scaring me; is Gabrielle in any trouble?”
“Pam, please get to her house and call me soon as you get there.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.”
Jonathan’s heart pounded against the walls of his chest and sweat beaded across his forehead from the anxiety attack striking him suddenly. He sat on the rear of the ladder truck fidgeting.
Anthony and Gordon came in to the garage laughing and talking. Anthony saw the distress on Jonathan’s face and went to apply first aid. Gordon immediately called for Lieutenant Murad to come and assist.
“Jon, breathe,” Anthony said pulling the oxygen and triage kit from the truck.
Connecting the oxygen, he strapped the mask across Jonathan’s face. Are you having chest pains?”
Jonathan shook his head, removing the mask from his face. “I’m okay! Leave me alone!”
Lieutenant Murad sat beside him. “Jon, calm down.”
“I’m not having a fucking heart attack!” His voice boomed loudly throughout the garage. “Gabrielle is missing! She didn’t show up for work this morning. Anthony—
she got her.”
“Jon, are you sure?”
“Pam called wanting to know if she was with me. She’s on her way to her house.”
“I’ll call police,” Murad said rushing to the command room.
Anthony called Gwen. He wanted them out of the house and somewhere safe until Gabrielle was located. “I called Gwen and told them to leave. Jon, we’ll find Gabrielle.”
Jonathan’s eyes shifted with worry. “What is Pam going to find at her house, Anthony? What if she’s dead and I wasn’t there to stop it.”
“No, she’s not dead! The police will find her and she will be okay; you’ll see.”
He covered his face with his hands to hide the despair and praying Pam would call with good news.”
*****
Pam drove up to the house as a Mayfield Heights patrol officer got out of his car.
“Ma’am did you call for a wellness check?”
Smoke Page 16
