CHRIS
“Breathe, Keith, breathe. Everything’s going to be okay. We’ll find Layla and Faith. What happened?” I asked.
Keith was sitting at his kitchen table with his head in his hands.
“I had very specific instructions at the daycare that I’m the only one who is supposed to pick Faith up. I guess Layla showed up before lunchtime, saying she would take her to lunch and then bring her back. They have a new girl who just started, and she let her have Faith. They realized when lunch was over what happened and contacted me right away,” Keith explained.
“I guess that girl is going to lose her job,” I said. “The authorities are working on it. She couldn’t have gone far.”
“Knowing Layla, she is hidden away in some abandoned warehouse awaiting her next hit. This isn’t about wanting her daughter. It’s about getting back at me for leaving her,” Keith told me.
“I know. And getting money to support her bad habits. We’ll get Faith back. Think long and hard about where you think she may have taken her. The police have checked, and she hasn’t used her credit card anywhere,” I said.
“What about that little diner that Layla loves so much? Remember, she used to take us there for lunch all the time because she loves the rice pudding they make,” I suggested.
Keith’s eyes grew twice the size. “I really think that might be it. I’m going to call the investigator and have them check that out. We may even be able to get her today because it’s only 12:00 p.m.!” He smiled when he said this.
“Let’s hope she still loves that rice pudding,” I said.
An hours later, Keith and I were eating the burgers that I picked up for us when someone knocked on his door.
Figuring it was the police, I opened the door, and there stood in front of me a police officer and Faith. She squealed when she saw me and jumped into my arms, kissing my whole face.
“I guess she’s happy to see you,” the officer said, smiling.
“Not as happy as she’ll be to see her dad,” I said as I hugged her. “Let’s go see your daddy, okay?”
“Daddy!” Faith cried, and I walked her into the kitchen, where Keith stood up after hearing her call his name.
I put her on the ground, and she ran to my brother, who took her in his arms. I’ve only seen my brother cry a handful of times, and this was one of those times. I honestly don’t know what Keith would have done if anything happened to his precious Faith.
“If there is a silver lining, this will help your case,” I told Keith.
He smiled, still hugging Faith, and said, “Let’s hope.”
I looked at my phone and saw that it was 1:30. I knew Marilyn’s court case was at 2:00 p.m., and if I left now, I could make it. She was probably pulling her hair out right about now.
I explained it to Keith. “Go, of course, go. I’m sure she really needs you.”
“Thanks, brother. I appreciate it. I’ll come by and help you with dinner later,” I told him. I turned around and took Faith in my arms. “We were worried about you, sweetheart.”
“Mommy,” Faith said as she squeezed my nose.
“Yes, you saw your mommy. That’s great. Be careful you don’t take my nose off!” I swung her high and plopped her on the sofa, and we both laughed.
I drove as fast as I could to the courthouse without getting my car impounded by the police and made it there at exactly 2:00 p.m. Court had already commenced. I made my way to the room and slipped inside as quietly as I could. I slipped a note into the guard’s hand, and he delivered it to Marilyn. I just wanted to let her know that I was there if she needed me.
She looked over her shoulder at me and waved. I waved back and smiled. Somehow just seeing her made my day better, and she didn’t seem too upset with me. I’m sure she wasn’t happy that I took off without talking to her about it at all, but I knew she would understand once I explained everything to her.
About an hour into it, Marilyn sent a note back to me that some important files were still in her office, and would I please go get them? I sent her a thumbs up and drove to the office. I felt like this was Deja vu from the first case I helped her with. I couldn’t fail her this time. I found the folders easily and scooped them up. I was halfway out the door when I remembered to open them up and check to ensure they were the correct ones. They were. When I got back to the courthouse, I could see that Marilyn was in a panic by the wildness in her eyes and the sweat on her brow. The judge slammed his gavel down, announcing there would be an hour of recess and everyone was to be back by 4:30 p.m., so Marilyn came back and took me to a private room where we could go over the files.
“Thank you so much, Chris. You’ve saved my life. Let’s see what you’ve got,” she said.
A big smile appeared on her gorgeous face, and she jumped up to hug me. I took her in my arms, and when she went to back up, I wouldn’t release her. We stared into each other’s eyes, then I released her. We both looked away. I wanted to kiss her so much, but I needed her to make the first step in that direction.
“Listen, Marilyn. I’m so sorry I cut out on your last few days of relaxation, but something came up, and it was really important,” I said.
I noticed that she flinched, and darkness overtook her features. Odd.