Memories of Love (14 page)

“I don’t give a fuck who you are.”

Sarah’s eyes widened. “What do you
want with her?”

She saw Detective Shoemaker come up
behind the chubby man, but he moved, turning his back to the wall. The
policeman motioned Cara to stay back, but she shook her head slightly to signal
she wouldn’t and kept advancing slowly.

“You stupid, lady? What do you think
I want with her?” He snickered.

“A little girl?” Then an idea hit
her. A flirtatious smile curled her lips.
Play
the role.
“Wouldn’t you rather have a grown woman instead?” She wiggled her
hips seductively as she approached him. He eased away from the wall.

A S.W.A.T. team arrived. Cara watched
them take command behind the man’s back. The detectives she knew moved to the
sidelines, watching her. Brick made the thumbs-up sign and smiled at her. She
flicked her gaze back to the man, who was trying to watch her and the police at
the same time.

He stopped moving and stared hard at
her for a moment. “Nah. I’ll take her. No crap with the little ones. They do
just as you say,” he said, a dirty laugh escaping his lips.

He’s
not buying it.
Her gaze flashed up for a second to the roof of a townhouse
across the street, where a sharpshooter was setting up a tripod. She spied another
one with a rifle slowly approach a building a few houses farther down.

Cara watched him sneak inside,
undetected by the chubby man. Detective Shoemaker motioned for her to continue.
Ah, keep him busy while the sharpshooters
get into position!
She stepped forward, dropping her jacket. Nerves
shifting into overdrive kept her warm despite the chill in the air. She moved
closer slowly.

“That’s far enough,” the man growled,
raising the knife higher on Sarah’s neck. Cara flinched for a moment, but then
continued to creep closer, baby-step by baby-step.

“What’s your name?” she asked him.

“Don’t matter.”

“Come on. When I talk to a man, I
like to call him by name.”

“Lonnie.”

“Well, Lonnie, the right woman can
give you more than a little girl can. Much more. Look at me.”

“I recognize you. You’re famous. You
ain’t interested in me.”

“Oh, I don’t know. An assertive man
who knows what he wants. I like that.”

“What are you trying to pull?” His
eyes became suspicious. He tightened his arm around Sarah’s middle. Out of the
corner of her eye, Cara saw the second sharpshooter set up his tripod and get
into position.

“A switch. Let her go and take me
instead.” Cara forced a smile on her face.

“You? You don’t wanna come with me.”
He looked skeptical.

“What if I did?” She was wearing an
oxford shirt. Slowly, she unbuttoned the top button, noticing his eyes watch
the movement of her fingers. She had to exert extreme control to keep them from
shaking. After she undid the button, she put her hands behind her back,
clasping them together. The top opened slightly, giving Lonnie a view of her
cleavage.

He licked his lips.

“Like the view? Can’t get that from
her.” Cara’s tone was derisive. The second sharpshooter was in position and
gave a thumbs-up to his commanding officer on the street.

“So what?”

In the background, Cara heard Grant
scream Sarah’s name before Detective Shoemaker quieted him down while Detective
Brick held him back. Sarah’s eyes searched the crowd. Cara couldn’t help but
turn to look for him, too. He waved to her once before the detective talked to
him and he stopped.

“Wouldn’t you like to touch me?” Cara
returned her attention to Lonnie. She unfastened another button, pulled the
shirt open a little, and stepped closer. The cool air hit her breasts, covered
only by a flimsy bra, making gooseflesh rise and her nipples harden.

Lonnie was mesmerized by Cara’s
chest so much that he lowered his hand from Sarah’s mouth a little bit. She
screamed, “Daddy!”

Cara turned abruptly to see Grant
being restrained by the two detectives.

Lonnie slapped his paw over Sarah’s lips.
Cara snapped her head back to train her gaze on the chubby man.
Let her go you bastard!

“Scream again, and I’ll slice your
neck from ear to ear, missy,” he said in a low and threatening tone. Tears
formed in the corners of Sarah’s eyes. “Gonna be quiet now?” She nodded, and he
removed his fingers from her mouth. He held the knife up against her skin while
he wrapped his other arm around her waist, drawing her smack up against him and
holding her there.

“Really, Lonnie. Look.” Cara
finished unbuttoning her blouse. The side flapped slightly in the breeze, totally
revealing her white, satin demi bra. Lonnie’s stare was riveted. Cara moved
closer. She was within twenty feet of him.

“Nice,” he muttered. Sweat beaded on
his forehead.

“How about an exchange? Me for her.
I’ll do whatever you say…and I’ll leave voluntarily with you. The cops can’t
arrest you for leaving with me…not if I go willingly.”

A light gleamed in his eyes. “No,
they can’t.”
Come on, you’ve got him
hooked. Reel him in.

“I’ll tell them to go away. You let
her go, and I’ll take your arm, and we can stroll out of here like a regular
couple.”

“Women are pushy. They tell you what
to do. They want satisfaction…”

“I’m very submissive, Lonnie. You
call the shots. I like a man who takes charge.” Again, she smiled flirtatiously
at him.
Come on, Lonnie. Come on, closer.

She moved up by about five feet. Realizing
she was within grabbing distance, her pulse kicked up.
He can get me from here.
Gotta
risk it.
Sarah
trained frightened eyes on Cara. She reached up and touched the half heart necklace
she wore, that was visible with her blouse wide open. Sarah’s gaze followed
Cara’s fingers and again her eyes widened. She stopped squirming and stood
still in Lonnie’s grip.

“Yeah? Why don’t I believe you?” His
beady eyes narrowed.

“Give me an order. Tell me to do
something.”
Find something. Convince him!

An evil grin spread across his face.
“Blow me.”

“Lonnie, be reasonable. Out in the
open? Besides, there’s a child here…”

“She’d do it.” His smile revealed a
missing front tooth.

“With a lot of screaming and crying.
Now, if I was somewhere more private…”

“You’d blow me? Get down on your
knees, now!” He became agitated.

Cara saw the police train their guns
on him. She walked up to within ten feet of him and dropped to her knees. “Like
this?”
Please God. Help me.

“Yeah. You knew just what I wanted.
Like you done it before,” he smirked.

“You wouldn’t have to tell me what
to do. You know they say all actresses are really whores at heart…well it’s
true.” Cara took a deep breath to keep from retching at the thought of oral sex
with this repulsive pedophile.
Get a
grip! You’re not doing it, just pretending.

“Might be better…maybe. You want me
to believe all you fancy actress women just want to spend the day fucking?” A
look of uncertainty crossed his face. She nodded, cringing inside at all the
harsh words her daughter was hearing.
Lure
him. Come on, do it!

“Want to touch me?” She tasted the
bile coming up in the back of her throat at the idea of his grubby, disgusting
fingers on her chest. She swallowed and kept a tight rein on her nerves.

“Yeah. Get closer.”

“Uh, uh, uh…” She waved a finger at
him. “Not until you let the girl go.”

“Okay, come on. Swap.”

He leered at her breasts again. Running
her hands over them, Cara moved closer. Her heartbeat kicked up, her pulse
beating faster and faster in her ears.
Hang
on. Think, think. Don’t panic.

“Come over here.” He lunged at her,
but she jumped back, just out of his reach.

She shook her head. “Not until you
let the little girl go.”
Steady, girl.

He watched her caress her breasts then
scanned the area. The police stood still, watching. There were a dozen officers
and several patrol cars with lights flashing. Cara spied Grant out of the
corner of her eye but was afraid to look at him. She had to stay in character.
Control. Focus. Don’t get distracted. Life
or death here.

“Hey. Cops! I’m
lettin
’
the little girl go, and this bitch is gonna come with me. She’s
comin
’ on her own. It’s not against the law. She wants to. No
harm, no foul,” Lonnie called out.

He motioned for Cara to come closer.
She inched her way toward him, fear racing through her veins. Sarah’s face was
white as a sheet. Cara smiled at the girl.

“Get over here! That’s a direct
order!” Lonnie was impatient.

Think,
what’s next?
Cara wasn’t sure what to do, but she kept moving closer to
him. As soon as she was within five feet of him, he lunged for her again, this
time grabbing her upper arm with his free hand. He yanked Cara to him, keeping
the blade trained on Sarah’s throat.

“Thought you could fool me, eh?
There now. I got
ya
both,” he gave a dry, sly laugh.
“You think I’m
fuckin
’ stupid?”

Strike
now! It’s your last chance!
Cara picked up her foot and stomped down on the
top of his with all her might, all her weight. He howled, dropping the knife to
rub it. Hopping on one leg, he let go a stream of ugly curses at Cara, who
tried to squirm out of his grip but couldn’t.

“Run!” Cara yelled to the girl.
Sarah took off, racing for her father. Cara glanced up to see the sharpshooter take
aim. Lonnie stood up, putting both feet down and punched her in the face before
picking up the knife.

“Bitch! I knew I shouldn’t have
trusted you.” She stumbled backward and fell to the pavement, on her behind. Rubbing
her jaw, tears of pain ran down her cheeks. An evil grin spread across his
face. “Bye, bye, you whore…”

He moved quickly to her side,
looming over her as she lay on the sidewalk. He raised the knife to stab her.
She put her arms up defensively. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Cara
glanced at the S.W.A.T officer in command and saw him signal. She heard the
sound of the shots as the two snipers fired.

Moving her gaze quickly to Lonnie,
she saw the bullets hit him in the chest. Blood and red matter splattered on
her blouse, face and upper body. Two more shots in the head scattered brain
matter as Lonnie came down, down, down, falling across her thighs, dead.

She turned her face away from him,
but it was too late. One bullet had gone right through Lonnie and into Cara’s left
shoulder. She fell back, her hand flying to the wound, blood oozed down her
sleeve. The police moved in right away, lifting Lonnie’s corpse off Cara and
checking to make sure he was dead.

“Not a wise move, Ms. Brewster,”
Detective Brick said.

“I had to save my daughter.”

“I said not wise, but damn brave.
Nicely done.” He smiled down at her.

She looked up to see Grant running
toward her, carrying Sarah with her legs wrapped around his waist. He put her
down and dropped to his knees. She sat up, but dizziness made her sit still. He
whipped out a handkerchief and held it to her injury.

“Are you okay? You were amazing,”
Grant said, his anxious eyes searching hers.

Sarah said in a shaky voice, “Mom?”

“Sarah, my darling, my daughter.”
Cara reached out with her right hand to touch Sarah and began to cry.

Grant held Cara to his chest and stroked
her hair until the wail of another siren signaled the arrival of an ambulance. When
the vehicle pulled up, Grant called to Jane to take Molly and Josie home. The
attendants bandaged Cara just enough to stem the bleeding and wheeled her inside.
He took Sarah’s hand, and they followed. The medics helped to clear the brain
matter off her skin while they took her vital signs.

“You’re the bravest person I’ve ever
known,” Grant said, squeezing Cara’s hand.

Cara smiled at him. “Had to save our
daughter…” she mumbled.

“You’re not going to die, are you
Mommy?” Tears cascaded down Sarah’s face.

“No, baby. I’m going to be all
right.” She squeezed the girl’s hand.

“You really are my mom?”

“I am.” Cara managed a weak smile.

“She’s going to be in your life from
now on, Sarah.”

“Thanks, G.” Cara shot him a loving
look.

He took her other hand, and they
rode in silence, trying not to interfere with the work of the paramedics on the
way to the hospital.

Cara had tests done and her shoulder
stitched up. Fortunately, the bullet missed any vital blood vessels, as it
passed completely through her flesh. By the time she was ready to go home, it
was late. When she hit the lobby of the hospital, it was thick with reporters.
Cara was exhausted. The newshounds pelted her with questions.

“Is it true you saved this girl from
a crazed pedophile?”

“Is it true you offered to go with
him?”

“Did you get shot by him or the
police?”

“Who is this girl?”

“Who’s this guy? You married to
him?”

Cara tried to answer each question
with one or two sentences. When the reporters found out Sarah was her daughter,
they had another round of loaded questions. Cara raised her hand.

“No more questions tonight. I’m tired
and tomorrow is opening night. I need rest.”

“You’re going on tomorrow night, Ms.
Brewster?”

“You bet I am. Missing tonight was
bad enough.” And with that last statement, she motioned for Grant to wheel her
out of the building. Sarah sat on her lap.

Once safely at home, they all sat
down to a hearty meal of beef stew and noodles that Jane had prepared. Jane had
called Cara’s hotel and spoken to Skip, who dropped by with a bundle of her
clothes and a bouquet of red roses. He stayed for dinner as well, listening
intently to Sarah’s recounting of the tale of her mother’s bravery.