Awaken My Heart

by Maria K. Alexander

  Damon stopped typing and reached forward. “You’ve been redeemed.” He took a sip and sighed. “Best damn part of my day. Who died?”

  “No one.”

  “You look like shit for someone who should have rested after the three days we had.”

  Nick snorted. “My plan for sleep got hijacked by my ex.”

  “Divorce final?”

  “Got the signed papers yesterday. The day went to crap after that.”

  “What happened?”

  “On my way home I got called to Gina’s school—another incident with vandalism.”

  Damon winced. “That’s rough. She get suspended?”

  “Saturday detention for the next month.”

  “You do the crime, you do the time.”

  “I wish Franny shared that opinion. She was more upset Gina will miss her dance lessons,” Nick said.

  “Ouch.”

  Nick had been disappointed in Franny’s reaction. When they were married, they’d mostly seen eye-to-eye on the raising of their kids. Both Gina and Joey were taught to respect people and property. Her behavior was unacceptable, and if it was up to Nick, Gina would have been punished at home as well. When he was growing up, being grounded was a standard practice.

  “I convinced the principal to let any kids in detention help at the Habitat project Jamie is managing.”

  “A little sweat and physical labor may teach them to appreciate what they have,” Damon added.

  “Exactly. And we get volunteers.”

  “Genius.”

  Nick shot off a quick text to Jamie to give him a heads-up he had a couple volunteers lined up, then nodded at Damon’s monitor. “What’ve you been up to?”

  “I’m finishing our report for the chief. He’s not going to be happy Bennie bit the dust,” Damon said.

  “At least we have a potential lead with his pal, Randy,” Nick added.

  “You want to do the run on him?”

  “With pleasure.” Nick hunched over his keyboard and clicked keys.

  When the computer finished its search, Nick smiled. “Bingo. Randy Johnson’s been a bad boy. Multiple accounts of aggravated assault, possession, armed robbery, underage drinking, and even a few DWIs.”

  “Last known address?”

  “Says he lives with his parents. Got an address, but doubt we’ll find him there.” Nick scrolled through the rap sheet. “We may have more luck with the girlfriend, Tanya Struthers.” Nick clicked more. “She’s nineteen and living in a home for unwed mothers. Looks like Randy forgot to practice safe sex. Place is called New Beginnings.”

  “That’s a start,” Damon said.

  Nick picked up a baseball from his desk and shuffled it back and forth between his hands. “We don’t have much besides a dead mole and a strung-out junkie.”

  “Bennie was trying to tell us something. His last words were ‘Find the ram,’ ” Damon said.

  “What the hell does that mean, anyway?” Nick asked as he tossed the ball in the air. “Maybe a minor league baseball team or the name of school mascot. It would tie into using students as dealers.”

  “That’s possible,” Damon said.

  “I’ll start searching.” Nick dropped the ball on the desk and reached for his keyboard. “Why don’t you look through the old files for anything related to a ram or using a school mascot in a drug ring.”

  “I’m on it.”

  Two hours later, they had a list of three minor league teams and thirty-two schools between Pennsylvania and New Jersey that used a ram as a mascot. While their focus was Pennsylvania, they didn’t want to rule out the Garden State.

  “I think that’s all we can do for now.” Nick shoved back his chair.

  “Let’s grab lunch and swing by the parents’ place, in case we get lucky,” Damon said.

  Nick grabbed his shades and hooked them in the collar of his T-shirt. “Then we can visit with Tanya at New Beginnings.”

  ****

  Ashley studied her list, pleased to have been able to cross off a few items after a productive morning. Rising, she grabbed a clipboard and headed downstairs.

  The partially finished basement hadn’t been much when Ashley first started working at New Beginnings. She had a vision of how to utilize the space, and one of the first projects she took on was making it functional.

  Now it was divided into two rooms. The main room was carpeted with a drop ceiling and lights. An assortment of donated folding chairs encircled four round tables. Two free-standing whiteboards were stationed at the front of the room, one of which contained the list of workshops planned for the next two months. The walls had been painted a sunny yellow, and Ashley had worked alongside the girls and a few volunteers to paint a flower garden on one of the walls.

  The second room housed maternity and baby clothes plus formula, diapers, wipes, and baby equipment. Most of it was acquired by donations from Chartwell Academy and area churches. Ashley was looking into applying for grants that would provide formula and baby supplies for a period of time after each woman gave birth. Every bit helped.

  She unlocked the boutique door and checked the shelves against her list. With one girl ready to deliver within the next few weeks, Ashley wanted to make sure they were well-stocked on baby supplies.

  Sylvia poked her head in through the doorway. “Hey, boss lady. The police are here. They want to talk to Tanya.”

  Ashley frowned. The house was located in a decent enough neighborhood. Sure there was the occasional sketchy character who wandered through, but for the most part, Ashley felt safe.

  “Did they say why?” Ashley asked.

  Sylvia shook her head. “I came to get you before I went upstairs to get Tanya.”

  “Good thinking.” Ashley grabbed the clipboard and locked up. “Let’s find out what this is about before we bother her.”

  Sylvia fanned herself. “And let me just say they are two pretty fine-looking cops.”

  Ashley followed Sylvia up the stairs and had barely processed what she’d said before she was face-to-face with their visitors.

  She let out a small gasp. “Nick?”

  He’d shaved. The beard that covered his sexy jaw yesterday was now a slight scruff and showcased his olive complexion and the deep dent in his chin. Dark brown hair hung down to the bottom of his neck and held the slightest of waves—and hell if her fingers didn’t itch to run her fingers through it. He wore a plaid short-sleeved button-down shirt over a navy blue T-shirt that hugged a broad chest before disappearing into the waistband of dark jeans.

  Her breath caught and dammit if her lady parts didn’t react to the way the denim hugged his long legs—not to mention the other fine parts of him. Lucky denim.

  They stared at each other a moment before he recovered his voice. “Ashley. What are you doing here?”

  “I’m the director here at New Beginnings.” She shifted her gaze to the man next to Nick. He was a few inches shorter with mocha-colored skin and closely cropped black hair. Sylvia hadn’t been exaggerating about their looks. He was watching her and Nick, a bemused expression on his face.

  “I’m Detective Morales,” the man said. “And it appears you know my partner, Detective DiFrancesco.”

  Yeah, you could say so.

  “I’m Ashley O’Neil. What can I do for you, detectives?”

  “We’re here to talk with Tanya Struthers. This is her last known address,” Nick said.

  “What is this in reference to?” Pretty faces aside, Ashley wasn’t allowing them to talk to Tanya until she had more information.

  “We have a few questions about her boyfriend, Randy Johnson,” Detective Morales added.

  “Randy is her ex-boyfriend,” Ashley said.

  “He’s a person of interest in a case. We’re hoping Tanya can help us locate him,” Nick said.

  As much as Ashley didn’t want to subject Tanya to questioning, perhaps it was in her best interest given she’d run into Randy twice. They didn’t need any trouble.

 
Ashley nodded at Sylvia, who moved to the stairs. “We’ll get Tanya. Why don’t you follow me into the living room.”

  The men fell in step behind her, and Ashley was hyperaware of Nick’s piercing gaze. Maybe he had superpowers like Superman and could see through her clothes? If so, he’d see her heart was pounding.

  From nerves or excitement? She wasn’t sure. Maybe a little of each.

  The living room was small and tidy, with a couch, two mismatched chairs, a coffee table, end tables, and a used piano. Ashley had tried to spruce it up with a new slipcover for the sofa and cheap framed art for the walls. One of the girls had made an arrangement of silk flowers that sat in the middle of the coffee table. The overall effect was shabby chic.

  Ashley gestured to the two chairs and sat on the couch to wait for Sylvia and Tanya.

  Nick took the chair closest to her. “How long have you worked here?”

  “I started at the beginning of the summer. I was hired when the previous director retired.”

  “How many girls live here?” Detective Morales asked.

  “Eight girls plus Sylvia and her husband. They’re house parents and are here round-the-clock.”

  “Other staff?” Detective Morales continued.

  Her gaze shuffled between both men. “Am I under suspicion for something, detectives?”

  Nick’s lips twitched. “Not unless you have something to hide.”

  Chapter Three

  Nick asked the question in a joking manner, but she missed the sarcasm and looked away. He was trained to read people, and Ashley was acting like someone who did have something to hide. But what?

  She fiddled with the hem of her skirt. This one was dark red and almost as short as the one she wore yesterday. Her long legs were bare except for a pair of tan heels. The front of the shoe was open, and he could see a peek of red-painted toenails.

  Fire-engine-red toenails that reminded him of another time…

  “Someone needs to find a way to make heels both pretty and comfortable.” Ashley sat down at a table in the back of the ballroom.

  “I can help with that.” Nick slid one four-inch sandal off and pressed his fingers to the inside of her arch, admiring her pretty red toenails.

  Fuck if he’d never forgotten how turned on her moan had driven him, making him hard and imagining all kinds of other ways he wanted to make her moan.

  Nick shifted in his chair and away from Ashley’s sexy shoes. Now was not the time to remember what had once been the start of foreplay and had led to more…a lot more.

  “Asking questions is our job, Ashley. You giving us background information helps and will mean fewer questions we’ll have to ask Tanya,” Nick said.

  Her cool green eyes met his and held a beat. “Fair enough.” She licked her lips before continuing, causing another jolt to rush to his groin. “I mentioned Sylvia and her husband, Walter. Sylvia does the cooking and takes care of the house. Walter does the shopping, maintains the grounds, and coordinates with Sylvia to drive the girls to appointments. We have six women who volunteer part-time and assist with fundraising and serve as birthing coaches. They also help me with evening programs we run. Many of the girls never completed high school. We provide personalized tutoring so they can get their GED as well as group sessions on how to search and apply for a job and resumé writing. We also teach classes on how to care for a baby.”

  “Sounds like a well-organized operation,” Nick said.

  From the hallway, Sylvia cleared her throat. A small girl stood next to the older woman and gave Nick and Damon a nervous glance. Nick knew Tanya was nineteen, but with her light brown face clear of makeup and long hair fixed into braids, she could have passed for several years younger.

  Ashley stood and walked over to her. “Sorry to bother you, Tanya. These detectives are here to ask you questions about Randy.”

  Tanya shrugged. “Fine, but I don’t know nothin’.”

  Nick and Damon remained seated in order to not appear intimidating. They were trained to know they needed to be firm but gentle with this girl.

  Ashley led her to the couch while Sylvia hovered by the doorway. They both were protective of the girl. Was that the case for all the girls or just this one?

  “I’d like to stay,” Ashley said.

  Nick cast a glance at Damon, who nodded.

  “I’m Detective DiFrancesco, and this is Detective Morales. Thanks for agreeing to talk with us, Tanya.”

  Tanya shrugged and studied the flower arrangement.

  “Tell us how you know Randy Johnson,” Nick began.

  “We went to school together until he dropped out senior year,” Tanya said. “That was over a year ago.”

  “When was the last time you saw Randy?” Damon asked.

  “I hadn’t seen him in six months. When this happened.” She put her hands on her stomach.

  “Did you used to party together? Maybe get a little high or use?” Damon asked.

  Tanya looked at Ashley for reassurance. At her nod, Tanya continued. “Just a little weed and booze for fun.”

  “Ever see him selling?” Damon asked.

  “I never saw it, but I know he did. Used to brag when he had a big score and say how it was gonna make him rich. He was nice during those times,” Tanya said.

  Damon leaned forward. “He hurt you?”

  “He didn’t rape me, but he liked to use his fists.” She shuddered, and Ashley put an arm around her.

  “We know this is hard for you, Tanya. It would help us if you could tell us when you last saw him,” Nick said.

  She pressed her lips together before responding. “It was two weeks ago when I was leaving the library and waiting at the bus stop. He was surprised, especially when he saw my condition.”

  “What happened?” Nick asked.

  “He started yelling about me keeping his child a secret,” Tanya said.

  “How did he know your baby is his?” Nick asked.

  “He asked, and I told him no. But he didn’t believe me. Wants to get one of those paternity tests. Said he’d take care of me and the baby,” Tanya said.

  “Did you believe him?” Damon asked.

  “Hell no. I could tell he was using, and he looked worse than I’ve ever seen him look.”

  “What did you do?” Nick said.

  “I ran back into the library and called Miss Sylvia to have Mr. Walter come and get me.”

  Smart girl.

  “That was real good, Tanya. Have you seen Randy since then?” Nick said.

  “Yesterday, he was waiting for me outside the library again, but this time Mr. Walter was there.” She smiled. “Mr. Walter scared him real good, too. I don’t think Randy will be back.”

  “We’re taking steps to make sure Tanya either goes to a different library to study or is accompanied by Walter. He used to play football and is built like a linebacker,” Ashley added.

  “What did Randy want?” Damon asked.

  “He wanted me to go with him, but there was no way I was doing that.” She looked around the room. “I like it here. I feel safe thanks to Miss Sylvia and Miss Ashley.”

  “Did you tell him that?” Damon said.

  “I told him to get away from me and that my baby and me don’t need someone the likes of him,” Tanya said. “Then he got really angry. He grabbed my arm like he was going to take me somewhere. That’s when Mr. Walter came by.”

  “Do you know where he’d hole up?” Nick asked. “Who would he stay with if he needed somewhere to hide?”

  “He mostly hangs with Hank and West. I can tell you their address, but I’m not sure if they’re still there.”

  “No worries. We’ll check it out,” Nick said.

  Damon pulled a picture out of his jacket pocket. “You ever see Randy with this guy?” He placed a picture of Bennie on the coffee table and slid it toward Tanya.

  Tanya picked up the picture and studied it. “I’ve seen him at parties. Randy’s bought stuff from him. What’d he do?”

 
; “He pissed off the wrong person and got himself killed,” Nick said.

  ****

  Ashley knew the girls who came to New Beginnings had difficult lives, but knowing someone from their past could bring any of them harm didn’t sit well with Ashley.

  It was her duty to keep the girls safe and prepare them for motherhood. She’d do whatever she needed to ensure Tanya and the others were protected.

  “I was going to look into getting a restraining order,” Ashley said.

  “You’d have to file a PFA, Protection from Abuse Order,” Nick said. “It would mean a court appearance and could take a few weeks to put into place, unless it was an emergency.”

  “And without an address, we wouldn’t be able to serve him,” Damon added.

  “There has to be something I can do,” Ashley said.

  Nick exchanged glances with Damon, who nodded.

  What did they communicate telepathically?

  While Damon copied down contact information from Tanya, Nick pulled Ashley aside. “What kind of security do you have here?”

  “We have a basic system.” Ashley walked over to the keypad by the front door. “We only set it at night because it’s wired to the police department, and we don’t want to accidentally set it off.”

  He opened the door and studied the outside lock. “Until we find Randy, I’d start setting it during the day, too.”

  Ashley furrowed her brow. “Do you really think we have to be worried about Randy coming here? Tanya said she didn’t tell him where she lived.”

  “The one thing I’ve learned about criminals is not to underestimate them,” Nick said. “Would you mind if I check the rest of the windows and doors on this level?”

  “Sure.”

  Ashley led the way through the kitchen to the back door. He unlocked and opened it, checking the outside lock for tampering. He did the same with the screen door, running his hand along the doorframe.

  “The locks are secure enough, but I’m serious about keeping the alarm engaged during the day.”

  “Okay.”

  Ashley led Nick from room to room while he unlocked, opened, and examined each window. The last room was her office. A tremor of panic hit her as she remembered she had a picture of her and Sean on the desk. While he was finishing up in the family room, she slipped in and slid the picture into a drawer.