Deadly Greetings Part 20

"Do you think that's really necessary?" I asked him.

"Don't want him waking up and catching me off-guard," Bradford said. He gently took the baseball bat from me, then wrapped his arms around me. "Are you okay, Sis?"

That's when I let it all go and started to cry.

After a while, I pulled back and wiped my cheeks. "I swear, sometimes I can be such a girl."

"That's one of the things I love most about you," my brother said. "You surprise me all the time, and I'm not that easy to shock anymore. Why don't you grab some stuff and come home with me? Bring your roommates too. Where are they, by the way?"

"If I had to bet, I'd say they were sound asleep on my pillow. Listen, I appreciate the offer, but I don't want to leave my apartment tonight."

He looked at the door, barely hanging on to its frame, then stared at me. "Jennifer, stubborn is one thing, but this just isn't happening. There's no way I'm letting you stay here until we get a steel door to replace that one."

I looked at the door and realized that he was right. "Just let me get Oggie and Nash. So what are we going to do about him?"

"Jody and Jim are both coming. They'll be here any minute, so they can take Wayne to jail and I can take you home. Let me call Cindy and tell her what's happening. She's worried sick."

As Bradford called his wife, I looked in on my roommates. I couldn't find them at first, but when I glanced over at their carriers, I saw that they'd I crawled inside and were waiting patiently for me. I didn't know what was up with them, but for once I didn't care. It made my life easier, and that was what I counted. I grabbed a change of clothes and a few toiletries, stuffed them into an overnight bag, and by the time I came back out, Wayne was gone.

"They got him already?" I asked.

"He wasn't any problem, and I told them if Wayne tripped a few times, well, we can always claim it happened because he was drunk."

"They're not going to hurt him, are they?" Though I was not one of Wayne's biggest fans, I didn't want to see him beaten up. Well, not any more than I'd already pounded him, anyway.

"No, they're good men, both professional. Don't worry. He won't bother you anymore."

I smiled weakly. "Because of the law, or because of my baseball bat?"

"If I had to guess, I'd say a little bit of both. Do you have everything you need?" he asked as he gestured to the carriers and the bag slung over one shoulder.

"I'm set. If anybody wants what's left, they're welcome to it."

We drove in silence to my brother's place, and I was glad it was dark outside. I couldn't control the shakes, but I'd stood up for myself when it had counted.

Cindy was standing near the door when we got to their modest ranch, and she ran out to hug me before I could even get inside. "I just got off the phone with Lillian and Sara Lynn. They wanted to come over." Bradford shook his head. "You told them not to, didn't you?"

"I said it was your decision, but if you want to stop them, I suggest you call them right now before they can get dressed."

Bradford turned to me and made what I knew was a heavy sacrifice for him. "Do you want them here, Sis?"

I shook my head. "I just want to go to bed and forget this ever happened. Give me your phone. I'll call them."

Bradford said, "Don't worry, I can handle those two."

I waited, my hand outstretched, and he finally handed me the telephone. "I swear I don't know, what I did to deserve so many stubborn women in my life."

Cindy kissed him on the cheek. "You're just a lucky man, I guess."

Bradford laughed softly. "Are the kids still asleep?"

"Are you kidding me? I don't think an explosion would wake them up right now. I just wish I could sleep like that."

I called my sister and aunt, making our conversations as brief as possible. Yes, I was fine; no, I didn't want any company; and yes, we'd talk about it the next day.

Cindy waited until I was finished, then said, "Jennifer, I'm so glad you're okay."

"Me too," I said, the fatigue suddenly overwhelming me.

Bradford said, "There's just a few questions I want to ask you, and then you can go to bed."

His wife wasn't about to stand for that. "Bradford Shane, your sister is our guest. She's obviously worn down to the bone. She'll be here in the morning, so you can ask your questions then. In the meantime, let her rest."

I thanked Cindy, promised Bradford we'd talk later, then walked downstairs to the guest room in the bas.e.m.e.nt. Once I was there, I opened Oggie and Nash's carriers, but the rascals wouldn't come out. Too much excitement, I supposed as I crawled onto the bed without even taking my clothes off.

Sometime in the night they got out and joined me, and when I woke up, I felt two small sets of engines purring against my ribs.

HANDCRAFTED CARD TIP.

Don't know what to say inside your carefully crafted card once you've made it? Sometimes I use lines from my favorite poems, quotations or songs, and there are other times I think simplicity works best. Over the years, I've sent cards that say "Simply Because," You Are in My Thoughts" and "Missing You." In handcrafted-card making, it is, above all else, the thought that counts, and that you care enough to make it yourself.

Chapter 15.

It always throws me off when I wake up in a strange place, not that I've made much of a habit of it over the years. Once I was oriented, I gently nudged Oggie and Nash far enough so I could get out of bed. When I glanced at the alarm clock, I saw that I'd slept in till nearly nine, a modern-day record for me. Ten minutes later I walked into the kitchen, led there by the ambrosia of fresh pancakes.

"Am I too late for breakfast?" I said, stifling a yawn.

Cindy was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper, and Bradford was working at the griddle; my brother had on his police uniform with an ap.r.o.n over it that said kiss the cook. kiss the cook.

"You're just in time. Are you ready for some flapjacks?" Bradford asked. "If you don't like those; we've got pancakes and hotcakes. It's your choice." It was an old family joke, offering me three names for the same thing.

"They smell so good, I'll have one of each." He poured three circles of batter onto the griddle. "Coming right up."

Cindy handed me a cup of coffee when I sat down I said, "You actually let him cook?"

She smiled. "He handles the grilling outside and the pancakes in here, and that's about it. I wasn't about to say no when he offered."

I took a sip of coffee, then asked, "Where are the odds?"

"They've been out playing for an hour," Bradford aid as he flipped the pancakes. "I didn't think you were going to ever get up."

Cindy swatted at him with the paper. "Now be nice, Jennifer had a late night."

"And too much excitement," I said. I started to get up when Bradford said, "Sit back down, young lady, tour breakfast is almost ready."

"I've got too much to do before I open the shop," I said.

"Thanks for thinking of me." Cindy said, "Jennifer, if you think he's going to let it get out of here without breakfast, you don't know your brother very well."

Those pancakes did smell awfully good. "I suppose I've got time for one."

He slid all three off the griddle, then put them on my plate. "If you've got time for one, you've got time for three."

Then he poured more batter onto the grill. "Three are plenty," I protested as I poured some warmed syrup on the short stack.

"These aren't for you, little piggy," Bradford said. "The cook has to eat too, you know?"

"You've already had one breakfast," Cindy protested.

"Hey, I've been slaving over a hot griddle all morning. I deserve a little extra."

She got up and moved in behind him, and I could tell Bradford was expecting a hug. Instead, his wife pinched his love handles. "I'd say you had more than a little extra, wouldn't you?"

"Just more to love, woman," he said. "Tell you what, I won't eat all four of these. I'll show remarkable restraint and just have three."

"One," she said firmly.

"Okay, but you drive a hard bargain. I'll limit myself to a measly two."

Cindy gave him a narrow glance, then said, "Just this time, and only in honor of your sister's visit."

Bradford winked at me as I ate. "You can stay as long as you want; you know that, don't you?"

"So you can keep grabbing extra portions?" I asked.

"Hey, it's a win-win situation as far as I'm concerned."

I took the last bite of pancake, finished off my coffee and stood. "As much as I'd love to hang around, I really do have to get back to my place and find someone to fix my door."

"If that's all you're worried about, Ethan's been working on it since seven. I'm willing to bet that he and his carpenter friend have that new door hung already."

"What do you have on him, anyway?" I asked.

Bradford shrugged, but Cindy said, "Stop trying to be so mysterious. They've been friends forever, though neither one of them is likely to ever admit it."

He rolled his eyes toward his wife, then said, "Either way, you're covered. Do you want these two? I hate to just throw them out."

I glanced at the two orphan pancakes and was ready to give in, despite my promise to cut back, when Cindy said, "Stop picking on your sister. Jennifer, they freeze great, and the kids eat them as after-school snacks. Have some if you'd like, but he'd never just to them."

That helped. "I'm going to stop then, as good as they were." I stood and kissed my brother on the cheek. "Thanks."

"Wow, you're easy. I got a kiss with just three pancakes? I bet you're a popular girl at the breakfast table."

I slapped him gently on the arm. "I wasn't thanking you for the pancakes. I just wanted you to know I appreciate everything you did last night." He put the spatula down and said, "Jennifer, I honestly didn't do much of anything. By the time I got here, you'd handled him all by yourself." I shook my head. "You're the one who taught me a swing like that."

"Well, I'll accept your thanks for that, then. Seriously, though, you don't have to rush off. You and your two roommates are welcome to stay as long as you want."

I looked into my brother's eyes and said, "Thanks, but if I don't go back right now, I may lose my nerve altogether."

Cindy said, "Would that be such a bad thing? How can you live there now after what happened?"

"You'd be amazed what you can deal with if you I lave to," I said. "I was going to ask to leave Oggie and Nash here, but since you've arranged to have my door fixed, we're going home."

Bradford started to say something, but Cindy glanced at him and he shut right up. I swear, those if two had a level of nonverbal communication going on between them that never ceased to amaze me.

Bradford said, "Fine, but at least let me hang out with you a few minutes before you go." He took the ap.r.o.n off and threw it over the back of a chair.

"You can come back while I get the cats into their carriers," I said.

Cindy said, "You two go on. I'll finish this batter." Bradford told his wife, "I expect fresh pancakes after Jennifer leaves. It's the least I deserve."

She laughed. "Do you really want to talk about the least you deserve with me?"

"No," he said. "You're right. Forget I said anything."

My brother followed me back to my room, and as I suspected, Oggie and Nash were still soundly asleep. "Come on, you two, rise and s.h.i.+ne." At least they were pretty docile just waking up, and I didn't have too hard a time getting them back into their camera.

Bradford took one from me, then grabbed my bag, too. "Listen, I really do need to ask you a few things about last night. I'm truly sorry."

"Don't be; it's your job." I took a deep breath, then said, "I was on the couch when Wayne started pounding on my door just after midnight. He tried to get me to let him in, and when I refused, he started banging on the door. That's when I grabbed the bat and called you. What did he use, anyway?"

"He had his equalizer," Bradford said softly.

"What does that mean?"

My brother looked embarra.s.sed, but he admitted, "Wayne used to brag about his personal protection device, a chunk of iron bar he carried around in his truck. I thought he was all bluff and steam, but I was wrong. Jennifer, I'm sorry. I never should have let it get that far."

I touched his arm. "You can't be responsible for his behavior any more than I can control these two cats. Is that all you need from me? I really am running late."

"You're free to go," he said. "I'll take you home." We walked outside and I waved good-bye to Cindy. The best decision my brother had ever made had been marrying her. I wondered if I'd ever get that lucky myself.

Outside, I stowed the cats in the back of his patrol car, then climbed in front with him.