Wounded at the Lake

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  “My husband and I wanted to adopt Dirk, only we had to find his dad to sign the papers, so we hired a PI. It took six months, but he signed without a single question. Dirk is my son.”

  “So Dirk is your son and Coop your grandson?”

  “Yep.”

  “Amazing. The third son? How did he enter the picture?”

  “Let’s continue this in the kitchen; you must be tired of staring at these walls.”

  Lori loved the space with its wide counters, the stainless steel appliances. She opened the cabinet to see boxes of tea haphazardly thrown in a jumble on the shelf. Her heart fluttered in a low thrum of fear. Light-headed, she realized it was a fear of someone who would cause her pain if everything wasn’t pristine and in its proper place. How did she know this? It was only a feeling, but she did know she was right, and wondered who that person was. Even though her fear was of some unknown person who couldn’t possibly see the mess right now, she would straighten and sort soon. Going to the stove, she made another cup of tea before they sat at the table. “I’m fascinated. Tell me more.”

  “Matt is an entirely different story. The boys met Matthew Montgomery in middle school. He went to a fancy private school while my two went to the public school. They met by chance when their teams played against each other at a basketball game. Matt was the best player on his team. It was a toss-up between Dirk and Coop who was best. For some reason, the kids at the private school didn’t like Matt. Whether it was because his family had more money than anyone else, or because he was so good at everything he did, I don’t know. It didn’t take but five minutes into the game for Coop and Dirk to figure it out. One of the boys on Matt’s team tripped him and made it look like an accident. Coop saw them give Matt the elbow when the referee was looking the other way—other things that made my boys madder than two wildcats.

  “After the game, which, by the way, my boys won, they went to introduce themselves to the youngster. I’ll never forget what they told him. Remember, they were kids who caught on that another kid was being mistreated. A kid who was out of their league, so to speak.”

  “What did they say?”

  “They never mentioned the game or how they saw what was going on. They struck up a conversation and slipped in…’How would you like to go fishing this weekend? We have this pond full of catfish and wouldn’t mind the company.’” Shorty chuckled. “I wish I could have heard them.”

  Lori was fascinated. Three unrelated boys who ended up being brothers. It was the stuff books were made of.

  “You won’t believe what happened that Saturday?”

  “Tell me.”

  “Matt pulled up in this fancy car. His driver opened the back door. Matt stepped out in a pair of nicely pressed khaki slacks, a button-down shirt, and spit-shined loafers. The chauffeur handed him a brand new fishing pole. Matt had a smile on his face a mile wide.”

  “His parents didn’t mind?”

  “Pshaw His parents were never home. Matt lived with a houseful of maids, a driver, and a couple of groundskeepers.”

  “How sad. Where were his parents?”

  “Jet-setters. They were in Europe one week—the Mediterranean the next. Matt seldom saw them. Anyway, the boys never did get to the pond. After they talked Matt into changing into a pair of Coop’s shorts, an old T-shirt, and a pair of worn sneakers, they practiced basketball. He changed immediately after and they went to their room to play computer games. The day was over all too soon. They begged the driver to bring him back the next day. You should have seen the chauffeur’s face beam. I think he knew how lonesome Matt was and was eager to see him have friends. Matt spent lots of nights and every weekend with the boys after that. He was a good kid. Quiet, loyal, and as honest as they come. He became my boy then and still is.”

  “Did he ever use that rod and reel?”

  “Are you kidding? As banged up as it is, he still does. Claims it’s magic. I guess in a way it was—it helped the three boys bond. I think their lives were destined to entwine.”

  Shorty got a faraway look in her eyes.

  Lori leaned back in her chair and sighed. “What a beautiful story. Are his parents still alive?”

  “They were killed in Paris. According to Matt, they loved to take chances. I guess they took one too many. By then the boys were in college, right before they graduated, and joined the Navy.”

  “Does he have any other family?”

  “A cousin. But he seldom sees or talks to him. He tells me we are all the family he needs.”

  “They’re fortunate to have you.”

  “I’m the fortunate one. I could have lost them all.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Shorty shook her head. “That’s another story—their story, one for another time.” She patted Lori’s hand. “Now, I’m going to do a little shopping. You’ll be all right with Thor. He’ll keep you safe.”

  “I’m sure he will.”

  “Why don’t you take a little nap while I’m gone.”

  Suddenly, Lori was tired. Definitely tired of her brain working overtime to figure out who she was. “I think I will.”

  When Shorty walked out, Lori went back to her room and went to bed. Thor padded over and lay on the floor beside her.

  She reached down and rubbed a hand down his back. “You do make me feel safe, you know.”

  Thor let out a low growl.

  Her thoughts were on three young boys who became brothers because of their love for one another.

  “How beautiful,” she breathed. Did anyone love her? Did anyone miss her?

  A chill settled around her heart.

  Was it because she didn’t know, or because she did, and didn’t want to remember?

  ****

  The Wong apartment was on the East side of town. The apartment complex had been there so long the bricks were starting to crumble. It hadn’t seen a can of paint in too many years. Only the poorest lived here. Coop parked a block away and walked to the rundown building. He didn’t want anyone to remember his pickup. There were few people about. No one looked his way and he wasn’t stopped as he walked up to the sisters’ door and knocked.

  Sweat dripped down his back and across his forehead. He didn’t like doing this. Not surprised when there was no answer, he looked around. The hallway was clear, and there were no surveillance cameras. Using his picks he unlocked the door, went in, and shut it quietly behind him. It was dark inside. After making sure the blinds and drapes were pulled shut, he turned on a lamp. Except for a light covering of dust, everything was neat and clean, but sparsely furnished. A dim light showed a couch, table with a lamp, a TV so old it would be a miracle if it worked. He moved to the bedroom. A closet held several uniforms. The same type the women had worn on the surveillance tape. There were also a few dresses, pants, and jackets. All were second-hand quality.

  He checked the pockets of their clothes. He was about to give up when he found a piece of paper with a phone number in a jacket pocket.

  He put it in his billfold and continued his search.

  In the small kitchen he saw a coffeepot on the counter. Nothing else. Opening the antique fridge, he realized there was little food in the house other than some ramen noodles in the cabinet. The sisters certainly didn’t live well. By all accounts they were at the poverty level. Even with minimum wage, there were two of them. They should do better than this.

  After a thorough search, where he didn’t find anything to point him to their hiding place, he went out and locked the door. He looked around carefully in case anyone was watching before he went to his truck.

  It had been a full day, but so far he’d found nothing that would lead to Christie’s abductors.

  Unless the phone number gave him a clue, he’d batted zero.

  He had to do better.

  Taking the sisters’ photo as well as Harper’s, he scouted the area, stopped a few of the homeless to ask if they’d seen them. Yes, they’d seen the sisters, but not for a while. It was getting late
when he was forced to quit. He had to get back for a training session.

  He caught the traffic. It was an hour and a half before he pulled in at the training grounds. Sergeant Jeff Lonnigan was waiting at the pens. “Sorry I’m late. Traffic.”

  “Not a problem. I’m enjoying this interlude.”

  Coop chuckled. “Don’t blame you. You’ll probably go overseas when you get back.”

  “Only the higher ups know that.”

  “I remember those days.” He opened the pen. Kava walked out and went over to Jeff. “The two of you have bonded.”

  “I hope so.”

  So did Coop. Kava could very well save the soldier’s life. “Did you practice your German?” Instead of English, they gave the dogs their commands either by hand or using German. It made it more difficult for the enemy to understand the signals.

  “Hardest thing I ever did, but check me out. I think I’m catching on.”

  They moved to the training field. For the next hour Coop put both man and dog through their paces. Then stood back and watched as Jeff gave signal after signal—verbal and by gesture. Kava obeyed every one.

  Coop called a halt. “After tomorrow I’ll give you your walking papers. You’ll be good to go.”

  “I’m going to miss this place. I’m getting accustomed to the peace and quiet.”

  Jeff put Kava back in his pen while Coop took Kuna out and headed back to the field. “See you tomorrow.”

  Dirk arrived and helped finish the training and exercising.

  “Any luck today?” Dirk asked when they were finished.

  “One thing I need to check out, other than that, nothing. How about you?”

  “I’m frustrated. I believe Harper’s wife when she tells me her husband would never leave her and the kids. I’ve checked with their neighbors and they have nothing but good things to say about him and his involvement with his family. So where is he? Is he hiding? Or dead?”

  “Don’t give up. We’ll find out.”

  When they finished, Dirk turned to go to his modest, brick house that stood several hundred yards in front of the training facility. To the left was a small bungalow where the handlers stayed when they were on-site to learn the signals for the dog they were to pick up.

  Out of sight, but to the right of the homestead was Matt’s two-story, five bedroom house. He’d turned an upstairs room into a state-of-the-art gym where the three brothers religiously pumped iron.

  The homestead was in the center.

  Coop chuckled when he remembered the day the three of them walked into the homestead their first day back from Afghanistan. Shorty had broken down in tears of joy and relief.

  Before she sat them down to a huge celebration meal, she’d handed each the title to fifty acres, dividing the property she and Gramps had owned for years between the three of them. The homestead was in Coop’s fifty acres.

  They were equally stunned and pleased. It took Dirk and Matt months before they decided what to build on their section.

  Coop spent that time designing changes to the house. He’d added a big master bedroom and bath, along with a completely new kitchen.

  It was perfect.

  The three brothers were content with their choices.

  By the time Coop got to the house, it was late. But there had been no urgent phone calls. The couple of times he’d talked to Shorty convinced him that at least for now, Lori was okay.

  There was no one waiting up for him, so he grabbed the plate of food he knew Shorty had in the fridge, nuked it, and went to the table.

  The food was gone in minutes, but his mind was churning.

  He had no idea how to find who Lori was without either her memory returning or discovering someone who was looking for her.

  Today, neither event had happened.

  His thoughts went to Christie’s case and he remembered the slip of paper in his billfold.

  Quickly, he pulled it out and, using his cell phone, dialed the number. An automated voice informed him that Bill’s was closed and was open from ten to ten every day except Sundays when it was open from ten to three.

  Who was Bill? What was his business?

  Fatigue sent him to the shower.

  He’d search the computer and figure it out in the morning.

  There wasn’t a doubt in his mind where he’d be tomorrow at ten o’clock.

  Chapter Five

  The previous day had dragged for Lori. She’d rested, taken Tylenol every four hours, and talked with Shorty who obviously adored her three boys. No matter what Shorty told Lori, the guys were lucky to have her.

  Now it was a new day.

  She hadn’t seen Coop since breakfast yesterday and found herself missing him, so she got out of bed early and dressed hurriedly in her new jeans, T-shirt, and walking shoes. She owed Shorty big time and would pay her back as soon as she could.

  Her new clothes felt good. She didn’t feel constricted. Then wondered why the feeling persisted. Something from her past she couldn’t remember, she was sure.

  She quickly tied her hair in a short ponytail and left the room. Breakfast smells led her to the kitchen where Coop was wolfing down eggs and biscuits.

  “Just in time.” Shorty smiled.

  Coop stood and came to take her arm. “How do you feel? Does your wound hurt?”

  “I’m good, thank you. It only hurts if I touch it.”

  “We’ll change the bandage later,” Shorty reminded her. “Sit and eat. Biscuits and eggs are still hot. Want some?”

  Lori removed her arm from Coop’s grip and went to the stove. “You said I could help myself today.” She’d wanted his hand to stay where it was, but didn’t think it a good idea. She was entirely too attracted to the man.

  After preparing a cup of tea, she grabbed a banana from a bowl of fruit on the counter before joining Coop at the table.

  “Not much of a breakfast,” he mumbled.

  “It’s fine.”

  “Memory?”

  “Sorry.”

  He shrugged and her breath caught in her throat. She knew how comforting those arms and broad shoulders could be.

  Putting his fork down, he sipped his coffee. “You can’t help it. But it would make it a lot easier to find your relatives if we had a name.”

  “If I knew, I wouldn’t be here.”

  Coop winced. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “You’ve been wonderful. You, Shorty, and Doc have taken good care of me and I’m grateful. I just hate being a bother.”

  “You’re not a bother,” Shorty exclaimed. “I enjoy the company. The boys are so busy I’m alone most of the time.”

  “Rub it in, Shorty.” Coop grinned.

  She patted his shoulder. “I didn’t mean it that way. You boys have important work.”

  “Work that’s going nowhere.”

  “Still nothing on Christie’s case?”

  “Not yet. Maybe later.” He stood to leave.

  “Where are you going?” She shouldn’t have asked. It wasn’t her business where he went or what he did, but she was curious.

  “It’s time to exercise the dogs, then I’m off to work.” He looked at his watch. “I have two hours before I have to be at the office.”

  Lori’s brow wrinkled. “What do you mean, exercise the dogs? Do you have more than one?”

  Thor hadn’t been in her room this morning when she awoke. Coop must have taken him out. Sure enough, there was scratching at the back door. Coop went over to let Thor in.

  The big dog bounded over to Lori and sat down. She rubbed his head as he looked at her with his big brown eyes.

  “Thor and several other dogs are in training for the military.”

  She gasped aloud. “Thor isn’t here to stay?”

  Coop shook his head. “His training is almost at an end. That’s when he’ll get a handler and most likely go overseas.”

  “You sell them?” If Thor was her dog, there was no way she would ever let him go. How could Coop do t
his?

  He chuckled. “Can’t do all this work for free.”

  She sank to the floor next to Thor. Putting her arms around his neck, she buried her face in his fur before she looked up. “I’ll buy him.”

  “You have money? I thought your memory was gone.”

  How could she explain? She wanted this dog in the worst way. “It is. But I must have money. Shorty told me the clothes and shoes I had on when I got here were expensive. When my memory comes back I’ll pay you.”

  “Sorry. It doesn’t work that way. Thor is already promised.”

  Lori blinked back tears. She had no idea if she’d been a dog lover in her other life. She only knew this beautiful Belgian Malinois was important to her.

  Taking a silent breath, she stood. “Can I go with you?”

  Coop headed to the door. “To see the dogs?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know, maybe see what you do with them.”

  “I don’t think you’re ready. You should rest another day.”

  “I’m fine. Let me get my jacket.” Thank goodness Shorty had thought to pick up a flannel-lined windbreaker.

  In less than thirty seconds Lori was back. Coop was going out the door. “See you later.” She waved at Shorty and followed him out.

  As Lori stepped outside, the quiet wrapped around her like an embrace. “It’s going to be a nice day,” she said when she got into Coop’s pickup and strapped herself in.

  “It is. But it’s cold. Are you sure you want to do this? Once I start the lesson, I won’t stop. If you decide you’re too tired or bored, you’ll have to find a place to rest and wait it out.”