P-W-S-7-1-8. Maddie chanted the license plate on the car as she walked off her jog. She struggled as her mind crept back to the man sitting in the car rather than committing the plate to memory. Scruffy dark hair and strong jaw was about all she caught from the glimpse of his profile. Don’t look over there.
The cheerful song of several robins in the large oak tree in her front yard serenaded her. The air was still and muggy adding to her difficulty in catching her breath. If she lived closer to the water and the wonderful ocean breezes that cooled much of Charleston, the humidity wouldn’t be as stifling, but she’d lose the quiet she enjoyed out here.
She glanced at her watch. Still had some time before the kids would get home. Before she climbed the steps to the porch, she stared back toward the man sitting in the black Acura. I’ll find out who you are soon enough.
When she opened the door, she heard the phone ringing. She hurried into the family room and answered, “Hello.”
She scooped the kids’ shirts off the back of the couch and headed to her bedroom.
“Maddie, its Andy.”
“How did you get my number?” She asked dropping the t-shirts in the dirty clothes hamper.
“I chased it down. Listen, I have to tell you something.”
My number is unlisted, how did you get it? She let that go for now wondering what was so important. “Okay.”
“Somehow, Clara found out we met at the coffee shop.” He fell silent.
“We didn’t meet, we ran into each other.” Why would he say it like that? Why did she care?
“I don’t know how she found out, but she’s gone ballistic.”
“Try telling me what’s going on.” She cradled the phone against her shoulder so she could open her drawers. She tossed clean clothes onto her bed for after her shower.
“She threw lots of accusations around. Look, she said...well...this is hard to say...”
“Just spit it out.”
“She accused me of having an affair. That is, an affair with you.”
“That’s ridiculous. We haven’t seen each other for years. I’m surprised she’d even know who I was, let alone jump to that kind of conclusion.”
“I don’t really know what to say, Maddie. She asked me who you were and how I knew you. I told her about you and she just started in on the accusations.”
The hair on the back of her neck prickled. He lied. About what she wasn’t sure, but he at least held back the full truth of the matter. She’d interviewed employees suspected of stealing from her clients and instinctively knew when they lied or told only half truths. Normally she could see it in their eyes, but the tone of voice could give it away too.
With Andy, she couldn’t be sure if her reaction was from lies or the absurdity of the situation.
“This is ludicrous. You set her straight didn’t you?”
“I tried, but she didn’t seem to be listening.”
“Then you need to make her listen.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll straighten this all out. I just wanted to warn you.”
“I hope things work out for you.”
“Me too. Thanks. Bye.”
“Bye.” She pressed the off button on the phone and tossed it on the bed.
She turned the water on in the shower. She noticed her notepad on counter. Tough to keep up with a to-do list when it’s left in the bathroom all day. She read the top sheet.
Update Mr. Barnsworth on case status
Wash and pack kids’ clothes
Tears rushed to her eyes. Her hands gripped the counter and breathed deeply.
She used a hand towel to dry her hair while she waited for her computer search to finish. A beep and flick of the screen later, she had what she was looking for.
A 2002 black Acura RL was registered to Eric Russo of Charleston. She made a few clicks and accessed more of his driving record. Three speeding tickets were listed over the past year, but nothing else. Eric Russo’s address, birth date, height and weight were also listed in the file.
“Mmmm, the rest of you should look as good as the few parts I saw.”
What did he want? She could still feel his eyes boring into the back of her neck after she passed his car on the way back to the house. He stared at her and with an intensity that made her think he could see right through her.
She shook her head. Her mind ran away with her imagination. The guy was probably harmless. For all she knew he could be a security guard hired by one of her neighbors.
Right now, she couldn’t worry about it. The kids would be hopping off the bus anytime. She slipped on her sneakers and headed out the door.
***
Maddie was at the corner just two houses down when the bus drove up. The bus door folded open to show the heavy-set driver, Anice. Her smile was in its typical place – ear to ear. She waited for Casey and Sarah to climb off the bus, then hugged them both close when they came up on the sidewalk.
“The children were a joy again today, Miss Cooper,” Anice said.
“Thank you, Anice. They were read a pretty good riot act after the last time. It’ll be awhile before they cause any new problems.”
“Those angels don’t cause problems, just sweet diversions.”
Maddie laughed. “Your memory is short.”
“In this seat, it has to be. You have a good one, Miss Cooper.”
“You too, Anice. See you tomorrow.”
The bus lumbered down the road. Maddie took the twins’ hands and listened to them tell her all about their day at the same time.
***
“Mommy?”
Casey stood in the doorway to her office. He was tall for six, easily the tallest in his class and a good six inches over his sister. His hair remained a light brown, but grew darker every year. She still marveled at his eyes, though. They were big and round and blue. Sarah’s eyes had changed a couple years ago to match her hazel eyes, but Casey’s were a clear, crystal blue.
“Yeah, honey, what’s up?”
Casey walked across the room and leaned his elbow on her desk. He glanced at the papers strewn in front of her, then turned his expressive eyes to her and said, “Have you found your numbers yet?”
Maddie smiled. Casey looked so big and grown up. Time for her to discover how to stop her children’s growth. “No, I haven’t found my numbers yet, but I’m getting close.”
Casey just nodded at her and crossed his arms over his chest. “What number are you looking for? I can help you find them.”
“It’s not just one number, sweetie, but lots of numbers put together.” She paused and stared at her six-year-old son. “What do you say we go get some pizza? I’m done with work for now.”
“Gopher Gus?”
“Gopher Gus. Now go get your sister, so we can get going.”
Casey spun around and raced out of the room yelling “Sarah!” as he went.
Maddie returned to the windows. She found the black Acura in the same place it’d been all day. He hadn’t moved.
“What are you looking for, Mr. Russo?”
11:57:07 AM 
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