by Ronda Pauley
“Before this marvelous party comes to an end, I have someone I would like to introduce to this group. Some of you may recognize her from photos you’ve seen,” Mrs. Hightower said. She opened the door.
Standing there looking very young was Miss Sobori dressed and made up to look like Maria.
“So nice to see you,” Miss Sobori said with a noticeable lisp as she entered.
Again, there was applause.
Someone said, “Is it possible that she is one of our staff?”
“Yes. Not Maria from the Mexican cantina, but Miss Sobori herself, back from Texas. It is truly amazing what good teamwork can accomplish!” Mrs. Hightower said.
“With that,” Big Sam interjected, “allow me to share a toast!”
Big Sam opened the bottles of champagne. Mrs. Hightower assisted by pouring glasses and passing them around to the staff.
When everyone had a glass of something, the glasses were raised, and Big Sam said, “To the daring and infamous Miss Shoe, and Miss Kowalski who seems to be following in her footsteps, to the antics of Miss Sobori, and a unified taskforce that is unrivaled! Congratulations all of you for your amazing work! And to Mrs. Hightower, thank you and best wishes on your retirement!”
“Hear ye!” the members of the crowd said.
After a sip, Abbi’s mother raised her glass again and spoke, “My deepest appreciation to each and every one of you, and especially a heartfelt thank you to Miss Kowalski and her young assistant for the courageous stuntwork that helped bring about my release.”
“That was pretty cool, mostly!” Abbi said. “And Louise kept watching out for me and tried to keep me in check.”
“Not easy to do!” Louise added.
Several staff members laughed, Lowell especially.
“Sorry about the zipline,” Lowell said. “I used new rope. I’m afraid it was sabotaged and I think I know how.”
Then Mrs. Hightower turned to Abbi and told her how much she appreciated her amazing stunt work. Somehow, Mrs. Hightower had seen it on video.
“Really?” Abbi asked. “I want to see it! Can we send it to YouTUBE?”
That got more laughter than Abbi expected, especially when she turned around and saw Lowell.
“Look here!” he said. Lowell showed her part of his video from a tree. He showed her an action shot of her on the zip line. He also pointed out the Bureau’s sniper whose camouflage effectively hid him from view. Abbi’s mouth dropped open and she choked on her softdrink.
“Fantastic, Lowell!” she said. “I didn’t even know you were there! If I had known you set up the zip line, I’d have been calling you every bad name in the book! And the sniper looks scary! I’m glad I didn’t know.”
Then Abbi thought, Lowell was there videotaping. If Lowell had put up the zip line earlier, that had to require help. Who helped? Maybe Calista? Calista who had already taken a contract with NM2. She looked over and Lowell was watching her, just as she thought. He winced and looked away.
“They definitely wanted to get to Abbi,” her mother said. “I heard some talk.”
Abbi got up and left the room. So many emotions were playing inside her. She felt sudden overwhelming anger at what might have happened and how Lowell had been duped. Tears stung her eyes.
Miss Shoe abruptly changed the subject. Abbi could hear her clearly.
“And Miss Sobori, I would not have known you. You look just like Maria did when I found her! It’s a definite déjà vu. Has Tina seen you?”
“So far, no, but I’m stylin’ cause o’ her,” Miss Sobori said, continuing to talk with a lisp. “I’m not making fun of her. She’s a wonderful girl. I wanted to show you how I had to work to pull this off.”
The jubilant group applauded Miss Sobori’s efforts.
Abbi glanced back and saw Lowell walk over to the door, open the door, close it and then announce in a booming voice, “We have special guests waiting in the hall.”
SIXTY-SEVEN
Mrs. Hightower spoke quietly. Abbi needed to dry her eyes. Too many emotions hit her at once. She went to the back room so that no one would notice her tears but she strained to hear Mrs. Hightower saying to the staff.
“I believe this is Tina and her father. Tina’s not ready for prime time and may never be. We haven’t allowed media interviews and she hasn’t been around large groups of people, but those service providers Sam mentioned are a blessing. We’re just now trying to get her health back and get her established in her new home. Tina is here because she wanted to see you, Miss Shoe. And Miss Sobori, seeing you is sure to be a surprise for her. I hope she’ll take it well. She has been very sick and must return to the hospital tonight. So, no questions, please.”
Mrs. Hightower led Tina, with her newly-tinted red hair, into the room while Tina’s father waited in the hall. Tina timidly motioned to Miss Shoe to come out to the hallway with her.
“You rescued me and gave me a new life. Thank you,” she said. She reached to shake Miss Shoe’s hand, but instead Miss Shoe reached out and gave her a huge hug.
“I’m so happy to see you! They tell me you’re getting along well.”
“Yeah. People have been really good to me, mostly. Tell your staff that it’s not only runaways who get caught up in that awful trap.”
“Yes, that has become very clear!”
“It’s also nice, smart girls who have a happy home. You can be fooled into thinking people are your friends, especially if you’re lonely. After Mom died, I guess I was pretty lonely. I didn’t know how terrible people could really be to other people. But just tell Mrs. Hightower and the others that I thank them. I probably wouldn’t be alive now if you hadn’t come along.”
“I’ll tell them. This is your father? Officer Benson, happy to meet you. I hope you’re enjoying your new home.”
“It’s quite adequate. And I went to the office where I have a new job. This is a good opportunity! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You put your life on the line for my daughter and I know there is no way to repay you.”
“Seeing her here today makes this a great payday! Tina, Miss Sobori is back from Texas and Mrs. Hightower is also here. Do you feel like coming in to say hello?”
Tina thought for a moment and looked up at her father who nodded. Tina followed Miss Shoe into the room. Her father stayed a few steps behind them.
A hush fell over the room.
The first person Tina saw was Miss Sobori.
“Oh, precious mother of Jesus!!!” she said. “You look like me!”
“Isn’t it great?!” Miss Sobori said as she moved toward Tina. “AND it worked. Gopher won’t hurt you or any other girl anymore. He is signed, sealed, and delivered into the hands of the Houston FBI, thanks to your work as my image consultant!”
The instant relief Tina felt caused her to hug Miss Sobori, and they talked privately for a moment.
“You’ll be glad to know that there’s also a raid on the cantina. The girls are getting rescued right now,” Miss Sobori said. “And a bunch of people will help them.”
“Thank God! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Tina said through tears of joy.
“Can you stay for a few minutes?”
“I have to get back to the hospital soon,” Tina said nervously.
“There’s someone else you have to meet if you can stay a few minutes longer.”
“Mrs. Hightower? We’ve met. She’s like my fairy godmother!”
Mrs. Hightower walked over to greet Tina.
“What a pleasant surprise that the doctor let you out! I understand it’s only for a few minutes, but I must say, darling, that you’re looking much healthier already! And your hair is so cute!”
“Yeah! Thanks. Dad helped cut it.”
“I believe we have someone else you might like to meet.”
By this time, Tina could not imagine who it might be. She had met Miss Shoe, Mrs. Hightower, and then Miss Sobori. She didn’t know the others. They just looked at her curiously and it made her feel uneas
y, like leaving.
Then Abbi approached from the back room and their eyes met. It was like she had already met this girl, but in a dream—a girl with a different name, a different look, a different story.
For Tina, seeing Abbi was the same as seeing a younger version of Miss Shoe. Recognition was instant.
“You have an amazing mother!” Tina said, forgetting her shyness. “How’d you get her back?”
“It was tricky. The taskforce is highly skilled. And Mom had on Smart Shoes! As long as she had those shoes on her feet, the team could find her. Getting her out without anyone getting killed was the tricky part!” Abbi said.
The girls moved toward each other. Abbi, slowly with her cast. Tina, slowly out of shyness.
“My name is Abbi.”
They stood and reached out their hands. Tina looked at Mrs. Hightower, then at Miss Shoe, and then back again at Miss Sobori. Then she smiled at Abbi.
“I’m Tina.”
The time had come to leave Maria in the past.
