Part 20 (1/2)
Back at the church, we thanked him for his help. As we walked toward Crusher's truck, he called after us, ”Dis guarde.”
On the drive home, I suddenly remembered what the groundskeeper had said. Dax Martin had argued with one of the parents who wore a baseball cap and had a stutter. Was that what Graciela meant by a ”funny voice”? It was too late to ask her.
We stopped at a drive-through and brought our dinner home. Crusher unwrapped the food at the kitchen table while I set up my laptop and pulled up the Beaumont School website. A smiling head shot of a handsome, older man displayed. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell how tall Jefferson Davis was, but his silver hair did qualify him as a suspect. I showed the picture to Crusher and closed the computer. ”I'm starving.”
I attacked my burger with enthusiasm. Crusher looked up from his second double-double. ”I'm spending part of the night with you.”
I remembered his offer to ”make it better” from earlier in the evening. No way was I going to let anything happen between us. ”What do you have in mind, exactly?”
He raised one eyebrow. ”I'm your bodyguard, babe. Remember? I'll camp out on the sofa until the next guy comes to relieve me at two in the morning.”
Heat warmed my cheeks and I ducked my head so, hopefully, he wouldn't see my embarra.s.sment. ”Let me get you a pillow and bedding.”
”I won't be needing those. I plan to stay awake and alert. You, however, should go to sleep. Go on. You'll be safe with me.”
I looked up at the gentle giant before me with-what had he said on Shabbat?-hidden depths. What did I actually know about him? Nothing. Yet I knew I could trust him.
”Good night, Yossi.” I turned and walked down the hall.
How did this happen? I'd lived alone successfully for years, happily doing without any man in my life. Now there were two. The one I thought I loved made me very sad, because I was sure I'd lost him; while the other kept reminding me he was more than willing to step in the breach.
Heaven help me, what was I going to do? Thank goodness tomorrow was quilty Tuesday. I hoped Lucy and Birdie would help me figure things out.
CHAPTER 32.
When I woke at eight, Carl was sitting in my kitchen. ”The guy who was supposed to take over from Crusher last night couldn't make it, so the big dude crashed on your sofa. He filled me in on everything when I got here at six.”
”Want a cheese-and-egg-white omelet?”
”Cool. Very healthy.”
I grated cheese and chopped onions, mushrooms, green peppers, and tomatoes. Twenty minutes later, I topped two steaming hot omelets with slices of fresh avocado and salsa and served them with b.u.t.tered toast and coffee.
So much work and the food was gone in thirty seconds. That's why I hated to cook.
As we left the house, Sonia hurried across the street. ”Hi. Did you hear about the Army Corps of Engineers destroying the wildlife reserve the day after we were there? What's going on?”
She didn't wait for an answer. ”I saw the cops at Ed's house yesterday. Then I saw Yossi's truck. I noticed he stayed quite late.” Her words hung in the air like dirty laundry.
”We can't really stop to talk now, Sonia. Ed's been arrested and I've been threatened by someone in the engineer corps. Yossi stayed as my bodyguard only.” I emphasized the last word and gave her a meaningful look. She seemed to relax.
”Because you were part of the giveaway on Sunday, you might even be in danger. You'll probably be okay, but just be careful.”
Sonia's eyes lit up. ”I know exactly what to do. I'll ask Ron Wilson and the Eyes of Encino to activate the EAP.”
”What in the world is that?”
”Enemy attack plan. It's an armed patrol with spotters. Ron will post people on roofs at night to serve as lookouts. Then if anyone comes after us, they'll radio HQ, which is Ron's living room. Ron will then direct the armed patrol to the scene. He knows all about combat stuff. He was in the army special forces.”
”Yeah, but that was more than fifty years ago. Haven't military tactics changed since then?”
”Don't worry. Desperate times call for desperate measures!” Sonia power walked back to her house.
We waited until ten; then Carl drove my car to Birdie's house for our weekly quilting bee. I pointed to the bulge under his black leather vest. ”Are you carrying Ed's gun?”
He looked at me and gave me a half smile. ”I prefer my own piece.”
”Do you have a license to carry?”
I got the other half of the smile. ”Gotta do what a man's gotta do.”
First of all, as far as I was concerned, Carl was barely old enough to be a man. Second of all, I wasn't happy he was breaking the law. I had the urge to send him to his room.
”Carl, shouldn't you be at school or something today?”
He laughed. ”Dude! How old do you think I am? I've got a degree in computer science from Caltech.”
My mouth dropped open. Caltech rivaled MIT as the top science university in the nation. You had to practically be a genius to get in.
He laughed again. ”I work with Ed, man. He's a big deal in fraud detection and prevention software. You didn't know that?”
”No.”
”Well, the sooner he gets out of jail, the sooner we can start working on our project again. We've got a gig right now with the SEC.”
I was speechless for the rest of the short ride to Birdie's place.
Birdie gave a little shout of joy when she saw Carl. He scooped her up off the floor in a bear hug and gently swung her around, being careful not to b.u.mp her slight body. She laughed as he set her back on her feet.
”This is a big surprise. Why are you here today, dear? I'm guessing it's not about quilting.”
Lucy wore red capris and sandals, a red-and-white striped blouse and red b.u.t.ton earrings. She pointed at Carl, but she looked at me. ”It's always something with you. What now?”
”They arrested Ed last night, and I was threatened yesterday by the United States Army!” I filled them in on the events at the wildlife reserve and the threat from Lawanda Price.
”Yossi arranged for me to have bodyguards around the clock. Carl's my guard today.”
Lucy scowled. ”Are we safe? Do you think they might come after you here?”
Carl gave her a boyish grin. ”Don't worry. I made sure we weren't followed.”
Birdie's face glowed. ”Well, you just sit right down and I'll bring you a nice piece of cake.”
He chose a chair facing the door and the front windows and absently patted his vest. A minute later, Birdie gave him a plate with a double slice of applesauce cake and a big gla.s.s of milk.