SHOT IN THE DARK Chapter 5

5



         It didn’t take Josiah long to find her house or the key where she said it would be.  Sophie began to bark and growl on the other side of the door as soon as he inserted the key.  He very carefully opened it, and saw her with teeth bared.  “It’s all right girl.  I’m here to take care of you.  Your mistress is in the hospital.  That is why she’s not here.”  He kept his voice calm, so Sophie would calm down also.  He placed his hand down so she could sniff it, and pulled it away when it looked like she would bite it instead.  He repeated the process several times before the dog calmed enough to sniff his hand, and backed away from the door as he came through.  “Good dog.”

         She growled as he went through the house, watered her plants, brought her mail in, checked on the fish, and gave her more food and water.  She growled as she followed him everywhere he went.  If he had stepped out of line, he would be in need of some medical attention himself.

         He found evidence someone had tried to break into the house, but was quite certain it was because of Sophie that there wasn’t more damage, and as she had said, Sophie had not messed in the house.  He found the back door with the pet door that enabled her to go outside whenever she needed to.  It was a nice sized yard, completely fenced in.  She had flowers all around it, which reminded him of a picture of an English cottage.

         By then Sophie lay in the doorway to the living room, unconcerned.  She looked up as he went to leave and followed him to the door.  “I’ll see you again tomorrow.  You be good and don’t let anyone else in here until Sarah can come home.”

         He locked the door, pocketed the key, and returned to the hospital as promised.  He found her asleep with the Bible open in front of her.

         She opened her eyes as he was about to leave.  “You’re back.”

         “Yes.  It took Sophie and me, a little bit to get to know each other.  You were right, she is territorial, and she hadn’t destroyed anything.”

         “I told you she wouldn’t.  What about the house?”

         “Someone tried to break in.”

         “How bad?”

         He couldn’t deny the fear in her eyes at his simple statement.  “Some flowers were stomped down, and it looked like someone tried to open a window, don’t worry, it wasn’t broken.  I think Sophie stopped them.”

         “I’m sure she did.  She’s good at sounding the alarm anytime someone comes by unexpectedly.  So how easy was it for you to get in?”

         “It wasn’t, but she eventually let me in.  I had a look around with Sophie’s eye on me the whole time.  I assure you, everything is just as you left it.”

         She breathed a sigh of relief.  “Now all I have to do is contact the bank and get my checking account taken care of.  I’m sure that won’t be quite so easy.”

         “Have you thought about what we talked about earlier about who any of the gang members were in the park?”

         “No, and I don’t know if I can.  As I said, it was dark.  The only person’s name I heard was Georgie.  I heard a lot of shouting, and then they started shooting at each other.  I hid behind a tree so I wouldn’t get hit, but that didn’t work out so well.”

         “You’re alive, and that’s the main thing.”

         “Yes, it is.  I want to thank you for taking care of the house and Sophie.  I really appreciate it.”

         “Hey, I was glad to do it.”

         “Just so you’re not casing the joint and getting Sophie used to you so you can go back and clean me out.”

         “Dr. Quimby vouched for me, but that wasn’t always the case.  I write about the gangs because I was part of that scene once, and it was because someone saw something in me, that I’m a new person.  I know how to play the game.  I know what to look for, and I know the questions to ask.  You don’t have anything to fear from me.”

         “I hope so.  I have enough to worry about where the house is concerned.  I’ve complained so many times to the landlord about the faulty wiring, it isn’t funny.  It won’t take much for that house to go up in a puff of smoke.  I just hope I’m not in it when it goes or Sophie either.”

         “I’ll go over more often just to make sure everything is okay until you get out of the hospital.  Did Dr. Quimby give you any idea of when that will be?”

         “No, and since I flat lined shortly after I woke up, I don’t think it will be soon, but he did say it would be up to me, and I’m not to get excited about anything.  He did manage to talk to Willard about my job, so I haven’t lost it.  I was certain I had.”

         “I know their reputation for high turnover.  If you want to change jobs, I have connections.  I might even know an outfit that could help you with your dream.”

         “Thanks, but you don’t know me.”

         “No, not yet, but that’s bound to change with me going over to take care of your house and Sophie until you get home.”

         “Just so long as you understand I didn’t ask you.  I don’t have the means to pay you for your help.”

         “I didn’t ask for any.  I’m happy to do it.”

         “I’m going to find out what I can about you before I see you again, which because you’re taking care of my house, I suspect will be often.”

         “At least until you get out of here, and who knows, maybe longer.”

         “Hey, I’m not looking.”

         “And I’m not saying, but seems to me, you could use a friend.”

         She turned away from him and he had a good look at her profile as she stared out the window.  He understood her instinct to keep to herself.  He had been that way the whole time he had run with the gang.  “Say look, I’ll leave my card.  If you need a friend or at least a friendly face to talk to, just give me a ring.”

         She turned back to look at him.  “Thanks.  Maybe.”

         “That’s all I ask.  I’ll leave you to rest so you can get out of here sooner for your sake as well as Sophie’s.  Oh, before I leave.  I kept the key to your house so I can go over and take care of Sophie and things while you’re stuck away in here.  Hope you don’t mind.”

         “I should, but I know the house and Sophie won’t take care of themselves.  Thanks.”

         “My pleasure.”

         He left her and went home to his own dog.  Dickens was very happy to see him, and danced around him for a special treat.  “That girl we found in the park is in pretty bad shape.  I hope she makes it.  She has a dog just like you.  Yes, I know you can smell her I just came from her place.  Her name is Sophie.  I took care of her and saw that everything was all right.  Now I have to get some things done, then we’ll go for a walk, all right?”  The dog danced at the mention of a walk, then settled down on the rug near his workstation.

         As he sat at the computer and typed in the notes he had taken at the hospital, he had a lot to reflect on.  “Georgie Baskum.  Well, well.  You surfaced at last.  Your parole officer will be happy to hear that.”

         As he put in the few details he had about her description of the events of Tuesday night, he found his thoughts traveled back to her at every turn of thought.

         He typed in - Sarah Whitaker, age 28, Architect.

         Height - Unknown.

         Description - Slim.  Face - high cheekbones, slim straight nose, translucent jade green eyes, reminding me of a cat, short blond hair, could be natural, no make-up, doesn’t look like she needs any.  Hands - long slim fingers, talks with her hands, especially when she’s nervous, which was the whole time I was there.  Figure - she’s slim judging by the outline of her body under the bedcovers.

         Miscellaneous - Christian if wanting a Bible is anything to go by.  Check into other job possibilities.  Questionable - doesn’t trust easily, understandable given her home location, and job situation, insecure, but I worked my charm and I bet I can find out more about who was in the park that night as well.

         He saved his data, and looked at Dickens.  “Ready for your walk, I think we’re going to do some snooping in the old neighborhood.”

         Dickens was ready.  His ears perked up as soon as he stopped typing, and was on his feet heading for the door.