Chapter Two

The Next Morning

Bobby finds Alex at the kitchen table, with the laptop open, "Any luck?"

She looks up at him with a gloomy expression, "After a search on the internet and the phone book," she holds up the book with two hands. "It took me awhile to find the book, the only thing I've been able to find."

"You look discouraged," he says as he pours himself a cup of coffee.

"I am, I've been sitting here searching on the internet and then reading through all the Prentiss's in the book then like a bolt of lightening I remembered…" she lowers her head. "That Prentiss wasn't her name any longer."

"So, what's the problem?" he asks as he places two pieces of white bread in the toaster.

"I can't remember Charlie's last name."

"That might make it hard to find her," he smiles. "What about her family? Call them."

"There is no one; she was raised by her mother, who passed away when Jackie was twenty. Never knew her fathers name let alone met him." Holding out her coffee cup, "Could you pour me another cup, please?"

"Sure," he reaches across the room and picks up the pot from the stove.

"Thank you."

"Anytime," he tops off his coffee.

She takes two quick sips, "Her mother was very strict; hell I thought my father was bad. She didn't allow Jackie to date through High School. Jackie told me that her mother was raised in Oklahoma to a very strict and religious family, she got pregnant at an early age and her parents kicked her out of the house. They lived in numerous places before ending up in New York; I didn't meet her until the seventh grade." Alex turns off the laptop, "Well that was a big waste of time."

"Maybe you should use the NYPD data base, Alex?" He looks up as he hears the toaster pop.

"We're not supposed to…." she hits the table with her fist. "Spangler, his name is Spangler." She once again refers to the phone book; she closes the book immediately, "Only one Spangler in the book, John T, I don't remember Charlie having a brother, or a father for that matter."

Bobby sits down and butters a piece of toast. "Alex, do you think that you could finish one sentence before you start another one?" He takes a bite of his toast, "Or two?"

"Oh eat your toast; we are not supposed to log on to the NYPD data base from home."

He leans over and kisses her cheek, "I won't tell, besides its Saturday, you're going to wait until Monday."

Shaking her head, "I don't think I can." She says frankly.

Later That Morning

"Alex, we're leaving."

"Be right down." She hurriedly descends the stairs, "Ready to see the dinosaurs?" She asks eagerly as she holds her son's face in her hands, he nods his head then bounces with elation. She kisses his cheek, "Ok you two have fun." She straightens up, taking Bobby's hand, "Easy on the junk food Daddy."

"For me or him?"

She reaches up and kisses him on the lips, "Both of you."

He nods in agreement, taking his son's hand, leading him to the front door, "Bye Mommy," Bobby says as he closes the door behind him.

With all the resources at her fingertips, finding where Charles and Jacqueline Spangler reside was easy. She thinks to herself, why did I wait so long? During her two hours of investigating she had hope that Charles was no longer a part of her old friends' life. To her dismay he was, they were still married and living in the Bronx. She also uncovered that Charles is the only one named on their bank accounts, she has no money of her own, Jesus, Jackie, who did you marry?

The Spangler Home

She pushes the doorbell, the intercom opens and a male voice speaks, "Who is it?"

Hesitating for a moment she wonders if she should use her title to gain access, she decides not to. "My name is Alex, Alex Eames I'm an old friend of Jackie's…." The intercom clicks off. Moments later the door opens and standing before her is Charles Spangler, she had forgotten how attractive he was, a memory flashes of the twinge of jealousy she and her friends felt that Jackie was dating this 'Hunk'.

He holds the door without inviting her in. "She's not here, we had an argument the other night and she ran away." He scoffs, "Like a child." Releasing his hold of the door, "She took my daughter with her. If she thinks for one minute that she is going to keep me away from my child, she is seriously mistaken."

"Do….do you," she decides not to inquire where he thinks she may be. "When you talk to her, please tell her that I came by."

He leans up against the doorway, wagging his finger at her, "I remember you, now. You were her maid of honor or something like that."

She nods, "Yes I was."

"I'm….I'm sorry," he steps back. "Please, please come in."

She takes a step forward, then instinct kicks in, she stops. "I…." she checks her watch, "I just remembered that I have a doctor's appointment. When you talk to Jackie, tell her I stopped by."

He nods, "Sure." He closes the door.

It is true, beauty is only skin-deep.

Two Hours Later

Alex hears the car, father and son returning from their adventure. Robby is dead asleep in his fathers arms. She follows him up the stairs. Together they change their son clothes and diaper.

They walk softly out of the room, closing the door behind them.

"I did it," Alex says excitedly.

"What? What was it that you did?" Bobby asks as he leads the way down the stairs.

"I found Jackie and I went to her place, but she was gone…"

"She and Charlie are divorced?"

"No, he said that she left the other night and took Rachel with her. He was adamant that he would not let Jackie take his daughter away from him. He was a little creepy, still nice looking," she shivers. "But creepy. Also, I must admit that I was shocked but she has no money of her own."

"So, what's your next move, shelters? You might as well look for an ant in the backyard. No one gives their real name; you'll have to visit each one….and in this city."

"Damn, I don't know usually there is a credit card trail to find someone; I don't even have the luxury of that." She lies down on the couch, putting her feet up on his lap. She suddenly sits up, it startles him.

"What? What's the matter?"

"What if he did something to them?" She swings her legs off the couch, "No, I can't think like that, she left on her own and is….the two of them out there, alone."

The Streets of New York

They spent the night at a run down motel, if Jackie slept two hours last night it was a lot. Rachel is still asleep when the morning sun glistens through the room, she shutters. The room looked better in the dark. She opens her bag, pulling out her wallet. After the food they bought yesterday and the room, she has 120 dollars left of the 200 hundred that she was to use for groceries this week.

Mother and daughter check out at ten-thirty in the morning, she needs to find someplace to sell her jewelry before the day is over. She thinks about retuning home, for a brief moment, when she looks at her daughters' sad face. "Mom," Rachel tugs on her mothers arm. "I'm hungry and I'm tired of walking."

"Me too," Jackie points to her left, "There's a deli let's get a sandwich."

Leaving the deli, Jackie notices a park across the street. "Come on Rachel, we can sit on the bench in the park."

"Mom, where are we going to go?"

"I don't know," she un-wraps her sandwich. "We'll be alright."

Linking her mother's arm, "I know."

They sit quietly enjoying their lunch when a familiar song is heard from a passing car radio, "Oh my God," Jackie smiles.

"What?"

"Hear that song?"

"Yeah, sounds old."

"Very funny," poking her daughter in the ribs. Rachel giggles. "When I was in High School a very close girlfriend of mine would play this song repeatedly." She can feel her daughter staring at her, "Yes Rachel I had friends and a life," bowing her head, "before I married your father."

"What was her name?"

"Alex, Alex Eames, she's your Godmother."

"How come you never see her?"

"Because your father didn't like….he wouldn't let me." She exhales loudly.

"It's ok Mom I understand."

Wrapping her arm around her daughter she squeezes her lightly, "You do? Don't you?"

Rachel removes her cell phone from her pocket, handing it to her mother. Jackie smiles as she takes the phone from her daughter. She flips it open then stops. "What am I doing I don't know her phone number."

"Call information."

She hits the 4, and then stops. "I can't use this phone; your father may find a way to track the numbers that have been called." She suddenly stands, "Look over there," she points. "I'll bet it's the only phone booth left in the city."

Opening the phone book to the E's….Eames, "There are none listed," she says as she closes the book.

"That's weird," Rachel says.

Jackie nods and then suddenly remembers, "No it's not, her father was a cop and so is she."

"What does that mean?"

"Alex told me that police officers have unlisted phone numbers and addresses."

"Why?"

"So the bad guys can't find out where they live."

Rachel nods, "That makes sense."

They have a much-needed laugh, Jackie takes Rachel's hand, "Come on, let's grab a cab. I can't find their phone number but if her parents haven't moved I remember where they live."

Forty minutes later and twenty-five dollars gone they walk up the sidewalk to house that Alex and her family lived those many years ago. Jackie looks around the neighborhood, the trees are bigger but all in all it looks the same. "I spent a lot of time in this neighborhood and this house."

Rachel smiles at the happy expression on her mother's usually sad face. She pushes on the doorbell. "Cross your fingers, Rachel." Jackie says as the door opens slowly and a short gray haired woman answers the door. "Missus Eames," Jackie says excitedly."

"Yes, I'm Sara Eames," she glances at the girl then the woman. She opens the door wider, "Jackie."

Jackie smiles, "How? You recognize me?"

Sara shakes her head, "No you're daughter. She looks as you did when you were a girl, please come in."

"Thank you, this is Rachel. Rachel this is Missus Eames."

"Hello Missus Eames, it's nice to meet you."

"It's very nice to meet you again."

"Again," Rachel says with a puzzled look on her face.

"Yes, the first time I met you, you were a day old."

"A day?" Rachel asks with wide eyes.

"Yes I went with my daughter to the hospital to see you and your mother."

Sara leads the way through the house, "May I offer you a cup of tea?"

"Only if it's ready," Jackie says as she looks around her old home away from home.

"Please sit," Sara extends her arm. "I'll be right back."

Jackie and Rachel sit, but not for long, on the mantle are photos. She immediately recognizes her old friend, smiling with a young boy on her lap. Sara returns with a tray, "Let me help you with that," Jackie reaches for the tray.

"Thank you Jackie, I see you've discovered the photos."

"Yes, either this picture," she removes the photo from the mantle, "Is old or Alex hasn't changed much."

"She hasn't, that was taken last month. That's my grandson, Robert."

"Love the dark curly hair, does his father…." She spots the wedding photo of her friend; she smiles as she lifts it up, "Yes he does have hair like his father." She takes the photo with her as she sits, "He has such a sweet face and…." She looks up at Sara, "Alex looks absolutely radiant." She rubs her eyes, "What's his name?"

"Bobby," Sara pours the tea, "Alex had a glow on her face that day and every day since they got married. They have had some problems but if two people were more perfect for each other I haven't met them, except for John and me." She laughs, holding out a dish filled with pastries. "I must agree with you, he does have a sweet face but that's not all," she smiles. "The rest of him is just as sweet." The women chuckle, "They were partners."

"What?"

"Police, you know partners."

"Are they still on the force?"

"Yes," Sara nods. "Alex took a year off to stay home with Robby, she went back this spring."

They turn their heads toward the door when they hear the doorbell, the door then opens, "Mom."

TBC