Side by Side

57

Sean Massey answered the phone on the third ring. “Hello?”

“Sean, it’s Alexa Keen. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“Hello, Alexa. Anything wrong?”

“No, everything’s fine,” Alexa assured her. “I was just wondering if you’d heard from Winter this evening.”

“He called earlier when I was putting Olivia down. Maybe two hours ago. Why?”

“I’ll tell you in a minute. What exactly did he say to you?”

“He told me he loved me and asked about Rush, Olivia, and Faith Ann. Said you guys had split up. Said it wasn’t dangerous, which I naturally assumed was a lie designed to make me feel better. That’s about it. Tell me why you’re asking. I can handle anything but not knowing.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing. He called me earlier to say he was going to make a couple of stops, then come back here to the Westin. It’s been over an hour, and I can’t get him on the cell phone I gave him. He has extra charged batteries, but the one in it may have run down and he might not know it’s time to replace it. I know he has a second cell phone, his own. I don’t have the number.”

“He forgets things,” Sean said. She gave Alexa Winter’s cell number. “Alexa, tell him to call me as soon as you talk to him?”

“Sean, don’t worry. Winter can take care of himself.”

“I know,” Sean said. “I’ve seen that firsthand.” She said good-bye, hung up, and looked across the room where Hank Trammel sat in an armchair, frowning. A wool blanket was over his shoulders.

“I haven’t seen that sour-ass Trammel look since the day I met you,” she told him. “God, you can be a scary fellow until a body gets to know what a pussycat you are.”

“Polecat, you mean.” Hank smiled. “I remember when I had you handcuffed. You looked like something out of Oliver Twist. Hell, I didn’t know whether to turn you loose or shoot you. What did Miss Alexa Keen say?”

“Alexa says he didn’t show on schedule.”

Hank said, “I have a feeling she’ll see him soon enough. He has a way of turning up when you least expect him to. Reckon I’d best get moving.” He tried to stand.

“Hank,” Sean said, putting her hand on his shoulder. “You’re going to stay here.”

“Bull,” he said. “Help me make it up. I’ll be fine once I get moving.”

“Let’s cut the crap,” she told him. “I’ll go see Judge Fondren.”

“No way. Winter would have my ass. He entrusted me with this errand.”

“Is it dangerous, knocking on a front door in Myers Park?”

“No, I don’t expect it is.”

“I walk up, ring the bell, deliver the message. Then I’ll get in my car and come back home.”

“I feel so dad-burned worthless.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“I can’t call Judge Fondren,” he said. “Winter said the wrong people are tapping phones. He said he couldn’t call anybody who could help because the bad guys could be monitoring anybody he might turn to. I’m the only person he was sure they wouldn’t think he’d turn to.” Saying that hurt.

“No, Hank. The only thing to do is what Winter said to do.”

“It’s not a good idea,” Hank insisted. “He didn’t call you for a reason. Winter’ll freak out if you go into a dangerous situation. I’ll go. I know Fondren.”

“Come on, Hank. We’ve discussed this. You know I can take care of myself.”

“I still don’t like it.”

“Faith Ann knows where Olivia’s bottles are. If the baby wakes and won’t go back to sleep, sing to her. She likes ‘Do you believe in life after love,’ that Cher tune.”

“She’ll have to settle for ‘Desperados Waiting for a Train.’ You be real careful. If you see anybody watching the judge’s house, keep going. Call me from a pay phone and I’ll call Shapiro. Agreed?”

Sean stood, slipped on a coat and a baseball cap, then kissed Hank. She knew Shapiro, the director of the U.S. Marshals, and he would do anything to help Hank or Winter.

“You be careful,” Hank called after her. “I’m about as experienced taking care of infants as I intend to be.”