Common Enemy (3 page)

Jordan set the picture out where Lizzy could see it. Maybe someday it would bring her the luck that Jordan and her mother had never had. She propped the picture against the wall on the table at the end of the hall. The telephone by her hand rang and startled her.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Jordan. I just wanted to let you know I’m still watching.”

“Why are you doing this? Who are you?”

The line went dead.

It was the same man who’d called before. It had to be a prank. Bobby Ray was still behind bars. He had no idea where she was.

Maybe it was a kid with a mature voice, but how did he know her name? Her number wasn’t published. Maybe it was someone she’d known in school. She scanned her memories to come up with anyone who’d given her a hard time back then, but couldn’t think of a single person.

The only people who had her number were Mr. Coleman and Holly. Mr. Coleman was a private person. He’d rather die than give anyone information about her. She’d ask Holly after her friend got off work tonight. When she found out who was harassing her, they’d have hell to pay.

****

Now that the car was finished, Connor set to work on the lawn. He was afraid of the creatures that could be concealed under the tall weeds and debris. Lizzy needed a safe place to play. This part of Florida could hide snakes, rats, and even small alligators. The trees and shrubs were cut back and shaped. The flowerbeds were edged and filled with colorful annuals. Already it was starting to look brighter. He couldn’t resist hanging a wood plank swing from the magnolia tree in the back yard.

Jordan and Connor stayed to themselves until dinnertime when Lizzy insisted he eat with them. He and Jordan were quietly polite to each other. Both enjoyed Lizzy’s animated tales of her daily adventures.

After helping him carry a sofa out to the lawn on Friday morning, Jordan flopped down on it exasperated. “I don’t know how I’m going to get all of this stuff clean again. Everything is so full of dust it’s falling apart. Nothing had been covered to protect it before Gram left. She probably didn’t realize she’d never be coming back. I don’t even know if it can be recovered.”

“Why don’t you just replace it?” Connor asked. “If money is a problem, we could look at some secondhand stuff that’s in better shape than this, and it would probably be newer.”

“I could never do that.” Jordan looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “These are Gram’s things. They belong in her house.”

“Do you mean to say your grandmother never replaced any of her furniture? Was all this here when she moved in?” Connor fought to suppress a smile.

“Well, of course not. As a matter of fact, I remember her redecorating the whole house a few times while I lived here.”

“What do you suppose she would do with this stuff if she were here now?” he asked.

“She’d probably drag it all out to the center of the yard and set fire to it.”

“But you think she’d be offended if you don’t keep it forever?”

“I didn’t say forever.”

“This is your house now. She gave it to you. She wants you to be happy in it. Keep the pictures and books and china, but let the rest go. We’re going to paint every room anyway. We may as well go all the way with this makeover. Can you afford to make a few changes?”

“You’d be surprised what I can afford,” Jordan scoffed. “Gram left me enough money to live on for years. However, I plan to get a job when Lizzy starts school. I’m not a lazy person.” She frowned in thought at her folded hands. “You know something? You’re right. Let’s go shopping!”

“I have work to get done.”

“Who’s the boss, Connor?” She narrowed her eyes.

“You’re the boss.” He bowed and smiled.

On the way to town, they discussed the items that could be kept. Tables and bookshelves, bed frames and dressers. At the hardware store, they pored over paint samples and supplies. They systematically planned each room in the downstairs area of the house. After picking out drapes and rugs, they moved on to furniture. Finally, Jordan was satisfied for the day. “While you finish setting up the deliveries, I’m going to pop over to the grocery and say hello to a friend.”

****

Jordan found Holly stocking canned goods on a shelf at the back of the store.

“You sure look a whole lot better then you did last week,” Holly remarked. “I guess you’re settling into the old house all right. Can you bring Lizzy over for that barbeque this weekend? Maybe I can have Charlie invite one of the guys from work, if you’re interested in meeting someone.”

“I’m only interested in meeting your husband and sons. All other men are out of the question.”

Lizzy tugged on her sleeve. “What about Connor? He’s a man.”

“Who’s Connor?” Holly asked with a sly smile.

“He’s the handyman Mr. Coleman sent over. He really is a godsend. He fixed my car and cleared the lawn. He’s in the middle of getting the outside of the house ready to paint. Today we’re shopping for the things we need inside. We’re just doing the downstairs for now. I’m totally exhausted.”

“He sounds like quite a man.”

“He is,” Lizzy chimed in again. “He’s my friend and he eats dinner with us every night.”

“Maybe you should bring him along this weekend.”

“I could ask him, but I wouldn’t expect him to come.” Jordan shrugged. “He’s really shy about being around strangers.”

“Well that’s just silly. No one stays shy around my tribe for long.”

“I guess he doesn’t feel that he looks presentable.”

“Do you feel that way about him?” Holly asked.

“Of course not.”

“Well, you can ask him anyway and call me when you know. Everyone is welcome. Maybe I could have him look at a few things around my house. Charlie is a wizard on the barbeque grill, but he’s no good with tools.”

“I’ll call you.” Jordan ushered Lizzy toward the cashier.

****

Connor had stayed behind at the furniture store arranging delivery dates and giving directions to the house. The shipping department was at the back of the store at the big bay doors that led out to the alley. On an impulse, Connor took a shortcut through the alley to get to the grocery.

Three young punks wearing old leather jackets were hiding behind a dumpster. The smell of marijuana was strong. The smallest of the group had spiked black hair. The other two must have been brothers. Both looked like underage wrestlers with shaved heads. They were laughing at a dirty white plastic bag lying on the ground. The bag moved.

“What’s in the bag, boys?” Connor scowled at them.

“What’s it to you, Frankenstein?” The smaller boy wasn’t intimidated, and his friends laughed harder.

“Give me the bag.”

“If you want it, get it yourself.” One of the others boys kicked it away.

“Give me the bag,” he repeated.

“You think we’re scared of you just because you’re big and ugly? You can’t take all of us on,” the third boy boasted.

“I don’t intend to. I intend to beat the shit out of you and your brother.”

“Oh yeah? What am I supposed to be doing while you do that?” said the smallest.

Connor looked him in the eye. “You’re what I intend to beat them with.”

The laughing stopped.

The door across the alley opened from the beauty salon. A big buxom blonde woman walked out. “Hey! Aren’t you two boys the Donahue twins? Your momma is coming in tomorrow to have her hair done. I’ll be sure to tell her that I saw you. I’ll be sure to tell her what I smelled out here, too.”

“We were just taking a shortcut home. We’re not doing anything,” one said as they turned and jogged away.

“So what’s going on here?” The woman gazed at the remaining boy.

“I was thinking of taking this boy out for a good beating,” Connor replied.

“That sounds like a great idea. I’ll forget I saw you, just in case they look for witnesses later.”

The remaining boy looked at each of them in panic and ran.

“You’re one mean son-of-a-bitch, McCrae.” The woman laughed.

“How do you know me?” Connor knelt to untie the plastic bag.

“I’m a friend of old man Coleman. Don’t judge me. Even old geezers like him need companionship on occasion. He told me about you.” She held her hand out to shake his. “My name is Joyce Walker. So, what’s in the bag?”

“Looks like a kitten. I don’t think they had a chance to hurt it. Sure is dirty. Smells like pot too.”

“Give me that thing while it’s still mellowed out. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

She returned with a clean fluffy tabby. “Here you go.”

“What am I supposed to do with it?”

“You’re the hero. You’ll figure it out.”

Before Connor walked away, he had to ask, “How did you know how to handle those boys?”

“You’ve never met Mrs. Donahue. She looks just like her boys but with more hair…and a whole lot bigger.”

On the way home Jordan chatted on and on about the plans for the house. Connor nodded and tried to pretend he was listening. In his mind, he kept playing back the scene in that alley, the words ugly and Frankenstein ringing in his head. He reminded himself he shouldn’t let the punks, high on pot, bother him. The truth was, they did. Those boys were uninhibited by the dope. They just said what they saw. That’s how most people saw him. He realized Jordan had asked a question.

“I’m sorry. I was distracted. What did you say?”

“I said, are you okay? You’re staring out the window rubbing your stomach.”

“Oh, I forgot.” He unbuttoned his plaid shirt and pulled out the kitten. He jumped when Jordan and Lizzy squealed loudly.

“It’s so cute. Where did you get it?” Jordan asked.

“I found it. Thought it might grow into a pretty good mouser.”

“What’s his name? Is he a boy?” Lizzy asked.

Taking a quick look, Connor said, “Yep, looks like he’s a tom.”

“I like the name Tom. Can we keep him in the house?”

“It’s Connor’s cat, not ours. He’ll want to keep it with him,” Jordan replied.

“I don’t get too many mice in my van, but it’s your call.”

“Well, if you’re sure, I guess it’ll be okay to let Lizzy take care of him.”

That night at dinner Lizzy told Connor about their invitation to the Douglas’s for a barbeque.

“That sounds like fun,” Connor said.

“You’re coming too, aren’t you?” Lizzy silently pleaded with puppy dog eyes.

“Nope, I think I’ll go fishing.”

“Well then, I’m going fishing too. Do you want to come with us Mommy?”

“No honey. I already told Miss Holly that I’d come to her house. You should come too. She has two little boys for you to make friends with.” She turned to Connor. “She did say you were welcome to come if you’d like.”

“Boss, I think socializing with your friends on the weekend is stepping a little over the line.”

“Connor is already my friend. How is he going to eat if we’re not here?” Lizzy was near tears.

“Calm down, Lizzy.” Connor gently rubbed her head. “I ate for a long time before I started working here. I can make do on my own just fine. Now, you need to make friends with other kids. They’ll go to your school, and they can help you out. I can’t go to school with you, you know. I think it’s important that you meet these guys. Besides that, you can’t make your mom go all by herself, can you?”

“I guess not,” Lizzy pouted.

“You’re better with Lizzy than I am,” Jordan said after her daughter had left the table. “It almost makes me jealous.”

“I’m thinking she may be getting too attached to me. It might be better if I didn’t spend so much time with her.”

“I have to admit the same thing crossed my mind. It’ll break her heart though. I don’t know if I can handle that right now. She’s already been through so much. Maybe after she meets more people she won’t be so attracted to you.”

Connor was surprised by her choice of words. How could she think anyone would be attracted to him? The phone rang.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?”

“No, just let it ring.”

Chapter Four

Connor walked through the parking garage near his office building in downtown Tampa. He’d worked late and was on his way home to his wife. As he reached for the handle of his car door, a man stepped out from behind the support column beside him. Just then, he heard more footsteps close behind. A car passed the entrance. Its headlights reflected off the blade of a knife in the first man’s hand. He looked at the man’s face just before another from behind grabbed him. A third man spoke. “Hand over your wallet.”

Connor forced himself awake. He could still see that man’s face and the knife. The tap on his van window startled him. He sat up to see Jordan standing outside in a long flannel nightshirt. He checked his watch. It was only eleven thirty. He slid open the back door.

“Is everything okay?” he asked. “Has something happened to Lizzy?”

“Yes, everything’s fine. Lizzy is sound asleep. I’m sorry if I woke you.” She looked embarrassed. “I couldn’t sleep. An old movie is coming on. I was thinking about making popcorn. Since it’s Friday night and all, I thought you might like to join me. I’m sorry if I woke you. I’ll go back inside and leave you alone.”

“What’s the movie?” Connor rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

“The Philadelphia Story. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen it. You may not like it.”

“Kate Hepburn, Cary Grant, I’m there. You do have butter for the popcorn, I hope.”

“Of course I do. I even have Coke, beer, or Kool-Aid.”

“What flavor of Kool-Aid?”

“Grape.”

“I’ll take the beer. Give me a minute to get dressed.”

“Why? You’re not naked.”

“Did you come out here to see if I sleep naked?” he teased.

“No!”

Even in the moonlight, he saw her face redden. He stepped out of the van in a T-shirt and running shorts. Putting his arm around her shoulders, he walked toward the house.

“Come on, boss. I’ll take you to the movies. I hear the girl at the concession stand is really cute.”

They sat on either end of the sofa with a bowl of popcorn between them, sipping beer. Connor thoroughly enjoyed himself. He hadn’t had a night like this in years. When the movie was over, he noticed that Jordan was squirming uncomfortably.