Read Online Charleston with a Clever Cougar: A Dance with Danger Mystery #6 by Sara M. Barton - Free Book Online
Authors: Sara M. Barton
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wedding!”
“You’ll get it done, Cady. Take a breath and
focus on the mission.”
“Right.” Easier said than done.”
The door to the exam room opened and the cops
came out. Daisy and Carole were still waiting for the final
discharge instructions. Doc and I spent five minutes with a pair of
detectives, giving them our version of events. They were very
interested in the fact that the license plate was taped over and
unreadable.
The emergency room physician released Daisy
just before seven, with instructions to take it easy for the next
few days. Carole was shaken, but Doc managed to convince her that
Daisy would be safe, without giving her any of the details on how
that would get done. He also didn’t want to share with her the
potential that her ex-husband’s custody suit was somehow involved.
We all drove back in Doc’s two-seater van. Daisy and I huddled in
the back, on the air mattress Doc had inflated, his sleeping bag on
top. We talked softly. I told her just a little of my own
experience because I wanted her to understand that I had walked in
those shoes and survived it, and if she needed to vent, I would be
her shoulder to cry on. Daisy had already considered me a confidant
when things got rough with Carole’s cancer, so I felt sure she
would seek me out when she needed to talk.
Dylan had stayed with Lonnie and his wife,
Karen, so we stopped by to pick him up before proceeding to the
Walchuks’ unit.
“You call me if you need anything,” I told
Carole once the family was settled in for the night.
“We will,” she agreed, her arm around her
daughter.
“What time do you leave for school?” Doc
asked Daisy.
“I have to go to school tomorrow?” There was
dismay in the teenager’s voice.
“Sure. How else will your friends hear about
your ordeal? Besides, do you really want the bad guys to think they
have you beat?”
“But....” Daisy started to protest.
“Do you want to spend the rest of your life
hiding?” he demanded.
“I guess not,” she decided reluctantly.
“What time do you want me to pick you up?”
Doc’s behavior was bordering on pushy, but I realized what he was
doing. If we were going to catch the bad guys stalking the
teenager, she had to get out in public.
“Quarter to eight. Does this mean I’m going
to work, too?”
“Absolutely. Any reason you shouldn’t?” I
watched Daisy’s reaction as she stood talking to Doc. She seemed to
relax a little at the thought that life would go on and she would
resume doing the things she normally did. There was something about
him, gruffness and all, that seemed to instill confidence. It had
been a long time since Doug had been a regular member of the
Walchuk family, and that masculine energy was clearly missing from
the family dynamics. She needed a male role model, someone
protective and strong. For all her teenage angst and attitude, she
was really just a scared little girl underneath it all. Carole’s
cancer had shaken her faith and forced her out of her comfortable
life. Coming on the heels of the divorce, it created instability
for Daisy at a time she needed stability most.
“Call me if you need me,” Doc told Carole,
“day or night. Let me give you my number.”
As Carole took out her cell phone to add it
to her contacts list, Daisy pulled me aside.
“Cady, I’m scared. What if those guys come
back? What if they break in and hurt me, Mom and Dylan?”
“Honey, it’s hard to let go of the fear. But
you have to make the effort. You make sure the doors and windows
are locked. Sometimes it helps to leave on a light or two. You can
call me, even if you just need to talk because you’re afraid. We’ll
help you get through this. One day at a time.”
“What if it’s three in the morning? Can I
call you?”
“Even if it’s three in the morning,” I
assured her.
Carole saw us to the door, thanking us. Doc
saw the unspoken question in her worried eyes.
“It will be okay,” he said firmly, as if he
could
“You’ll get it done, Cady. Take a breath and
focus on the mission.”
“Right.” Easier said than done.”
The door to the exam room opened and the cops
came out. Daisy and Carole were still waiting for the final
discharge instructions. Doc and I spent five minutes with a pair of
detectives, giving them our version of events. They were very
interested in the fact that the license plate was taped over and
unreadable.
The emergency room physician released Daisy
just before seven, with instructions to take it easy for the next
few days. Carole was shaken, but Doc managed to convince her that
Daisy would be safe, without giving her any of the details on how
that would get done. He also didn’t want to share with her the
potential that her ex-husband’s custody suit was somehow involved.
We all drove back in Doc’s two-seater van. Daisy and I huddled in
the back, on the air mattress Doc had inflated, his sleeping bag on
top. We talked softly. I told her just a little of my own
experience because I wanted her to understand that I had walked in
those shoes and survived it, and if she needed to vent, I would be
her shoulder to cry on. Daisy had already considered me a confidant
when things got rough with Carole’s cancer, so I felt sure she
would seek me out when she needed to talk.
Dylan had stayed with Lonnie and his wife,
Karen, so we stopped by to pick him up before proceeding to the
Walchuks’ unit.
“You call me if you need anything,” I told
Carole once the family was settled in for the night.
“We will,” she agreed, her arm around her
daughter.
“What time do you leave for school?” Doc
asked Daisy.
“I have to go to school tomorrow?” There was
dismay in the teenager’s voice.
“Sure. How else will your friends hear about
your ordeal? Besides, do you really want the bad guys to think they
have you beat?”
“But....” Daisy started to protest.
“Do you want to spend the rest of your life
hiding?” he demanded.
“I guess not,” she decided reluctantly.
“What time do you want me to pick you up?”
Doc’s behavior was bordering on pushy, but I realized what he was
doing. If we were going to catch the bad guys stalking the
teenager, she had to get out in public.
“Quarter to eight. Does this mean I’m going
to work, too?”
“Absolutely. Any reason you shouldn’t?” I
watched Daisy’s reaction as she stood talking to Doc. She seemed to
relax a little at the thought that life would go on and she would
resume doing the things she normally did. There was something about
him, gruffness and all, that seemed to instill confidence. It had
been a long time since Doug had been a regular member of the
Walchuk family, and that masculine energy was clearly missing from
the family dynamics. She needed a male role model, someone
protective and strong. For all her teenage angst and attitude, she
was really just a scared little girl underneath it all. Carole’s
cancer had shaken her faith and forced her out of her comfortable
life. Coming on the heels of the divorce, it created instability
for Daisy at a time she needed stability most.
“Call me if you need me,” Doc told Carole,
“day or night. Let me give you my number.”
As Carole took out her cell phone to add it
to her contacts list, Daisy pulled me aside.
“Cady, I’m scared. What if those guys come
back? What if they break in and hurt me, Mom and Dylan?”
“Honey, it’s hard to let go of the fear. But
you have to make the effort. You make sure the doors and windows
are locked. Sometimes it helps to leave on a light or two. You can
call me, even if you just need to talk because you’re afraid. We’ll
help you get through this. One day at a time.”
“What if it’s three in the morning? Can I
call you?”
“Even if it’s three in the morning,” I
assured her.
Carole saw us to the door, thanking us. Doc
saw the unspoken question in her worried eyes.
“It will be okay,” he said firmly, as if he
could
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