Dave spent the day trailing behind Kip, questioning
if he'd really be of any use if the man who had killed Kip's parents actually
showed his face.
How would I
know it was him until it was too late? According to what Hal taught me, it's
instinctual. I'll sense the danger and act accordingly. But what if he's wrong?
He watched Cass, who appeared to be relaxed while
they were in one of Kip's classes, and on high alert when they were moving
between them. When they got back to Kip's car after his last class, she made
him wait while she checked it out.
She needs a
FIDO. He remembered the time his
boss, Billy, who owned the bar he'd worked at, had lent him one so he could
search his car for explosives. Now, he moved quickly to the car, wondering if
he'd somehow sense it if someone had wired it to blow up.
Obviously no one had, since Kip and Cass drove away
without incident.
So far, so
good. Dave studied the couple from
his seat in the back of the car. He smiled when he caught Kip glancing at Cass
when he thought she wouldn't notice. I
think he's a bit infatuated with her. Of course, under the circumstances, it's
probably not too surprising. Transference, I think the shrinks call it. When
this is over, they'll go back to their separate lives without another thought
to what might have been. Hmm. I wonder if guardian angels are allowed to
meddle in affairs of the heart, because they'd make a cute couple. It wouldn't
hurt for Jamie to have a mother either. No, keep my nose out of it. It's none
of my affair. I'm here to protect him if necessary, not play matchmaker. I'm
not sure how I would, even if I wanted to.
He chuckled softly. Leave roses in her car, so she'll think they're from him? If anything,
she'd probably think someone was stalking her. Naw, I'll leave well enough
alone. But he couldn't get it out of his mind that they looked good
together and seemed to enjoy each other's company, as forced at that was at the
moment.
* * * *
Kip had just set dinner—hamburgers and coleslaw—on
the table, all while listening to Jamie tell him and Mack about his day, when
Mack's phone rang. Kip was amused when he realized Mack's ringtone was the
first few notes from "Dragnet".
Mack walked into the living room, frowning as he
listened to whoever was calling. A few moments later, he came back into the
kitchen.
"We know who the man was who kidnapped the boy
and probably killed your folks," he said to Kip.
Kip's first feeling was one of relief, followed
quickly by worry, because the look on Jamie's face was a mix of interest and
fear. The fear deepened when Kip asked Mack, "Have they caught him?"
"Not so far. It seems the boy's father finally
decided to do the right thing and talk to the police."
"So he hired the man. Does he have a name?"
"Ben Stewart. The boy's father, Mr Wyden, didn't
hire him. But he admitted he knew Mr Stewart and had—only once, according to
him—joked with him about how he was considering taking his son out of state if
his wife didn't stop fighting him about shared custody."
"Why the hell didn't he say something the minute
the boy went missing?"
"His excuse is, he was afraid the police would
blame him for the abduction, which would screw up his custody fight, even
though he was innocent."
"Right," Kip said angrily. "So he tried
to save his hide, and my parents died as a result."
"Dad," Jamie whispered, "is Mr Stewart
going to be arrested?"
Kip sat down in the chair beside his son, lifting him
into his lap. "You bet. They just have to find him but since they know who
he is now, that should be easy." Kip looked up at Mack, seeking
confirmation.
"Very easy," Mack agreed, but Kip could
tell from the tone of his voice and the expression of concern on his face that
the man didn't believe what he'd said. He knew Mack's reply had more to do with
easing Jamie's fears than anything else.
"But what if they don't find him before…?"
Mack took Jamie's just vacated chair. "We know
who he is and what he looks like now, so Cass, Officer Smith, and I will be
watching for him, just in case. But I'd bet he's long gone. He doesn't know
that, until just a couple of hours ago, we didn't know who he was."
Jamie took a deep breath then relaxed against Kip's
chest. "And my angel is watching too," he barely whispered.
"Yes, he is," Kip replied, holding him
tight. "I think you could call all the police your guardian angels."
The expression on Jamie's face when he looked at Mack
said he knew that, but he also knew a real angel was protecting him as well.
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