Initiations by Barbara Winkes

Author:Barbara Winkes [Winkes, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-05-05T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Ellie spent most of her afternoon dealing with a car accident—a hit and run, in which fortunately no one got hurt—and a small fire that was set by a drunk neighbor who confessed on scene. The last call came from a woman whose boyfriend had pulled a knife on her out of the blue. Like the amateur arsonist, he was drunk, but showing a lot less remorse. She had to jump aside, or he would have spat on her.

“Precious,” Casey said as they put the cuffs on him. “Makes me want to go back to the coffee shop.”

“I can’t. I have plans.” Ellie didn’t want to go into details as they were still on the job, but she was looking forward to the spontaneous invitation and a dinner with Jordan and the couple she considered her real parents, the ones who had shown up for her.

Jack and Pauline were kind and easygoing people, and Ellie felt comfortable with them. They were also fairly interested in grandchildren. Who knew? She and Jordan might make that decision.

Casey had brought their charge to the car, while Ellie assured herself that the woman, a college student named Beth Jeffries, was all right.

“He didn’t hurt me, thank God,” she said, shuddering. “You arrived at the right time. I hope he’s not going to get out so soon.”

“Did he do anything like that before?”

Beth shrugged. “He gets a little intense when he drinks—but he never freaked out like that before. Something he saw on the news, I think. This is it. I’m going to change the locks on him.”

Ellie didn’t blame her, though she hoped this was really the last time either of them had to deal with him—given the circumstances, he might be out not long from now, if no malicious intent could be proven. She wondered about Lilah Strickland, risking everything to prove that the Prophets weren’t all that holy, but dangerous criminals and abusers instead.

“Is there someone you could call to come over, or stay with tonight?”

“Yes…I think I’m going to call my friend. He’s really staying in jail overnight?”

“Yes, you don’t have to worry about that. You can call that friend now? I can wait.”

That earned her a small smile. “Thank you. I didn’t know you guys did all that.”

Ellie didn’t tell her that she’d feel bad going back to her own, almost perfect life without making sure Beth was taken care of. She wanted the day to end on a good note.

When she made it to Jack and Pauline’s house, Jordan was already there, the family having a cocktail outside on the deck. Pauline got up to get her a glass, and Ellie followed her.

“Thanks so much for having me tonight. I have to ask though, is there any special occasion?”

They’d had dinners with Jack and Pauline before, usually on a weekend. It hadn’t occurred to Ellie until now that this exception might mean it was an anniversary or someone’s birthday.

Pauline gave her a surprised smile. “I was going to ask the same question—not that I mind.

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