Chapter Thirty Five

Another place I have to be
Put on my face no time to see my reflection

Or hear the sounds
Of poetry philosophy and all the things that make you wonder

How this world goes round

Patty Medina – Still Life

The door swung open as soon as my knuckles touched it.

"Jordan?!" Louise's worried face appeared at the crack at the door. I gave her a resigned finger wave, concerned about her expression.

"Sorry. It's me Carmen Devine. We met at your husband's funeral." I reminded her. Louise nodded before opening the door and seeing Taylor standing there.

"She's a friend of mine. We were in the neighbourhood and I wanted to stop in, see how you and Jordan were doing." I half lied. Louise regarded me wearily.

"Actually, I was thinking about calling you." Louise notified me quietly, opening the door fully to beckon us in.

I stepped into the hall way, my eyes rooming as she lead us into the living room.

"Do you need my help?" I asked getting straight down to the point. Louise looked at me, dropping her guard.

"I think so." She said softly. "Let me make us some tea and I'll explain everything."

Louise left the room with me and Taylor glancing at each other.

"What's he doing?" I whispered.

"Who?" Taylor asked confused.

"Eddy!" Taylor glanced sidelong at the couch.

"He's really just sitting there, oh wait, now he's pointing at his tattoo."

"He wants us to ask about Jordan?" I asked as quietly as I could, hearing Louise clinking about in the kitchen. Taylor turned to the couch, staring thoughtfully at it.

"Apparently so." We both dropped down to sit on the couch as Louise entered carrying a tray full of tea. She offered the mugs to me and Taylor. We took them; I felt Taylor squirm uncomfortably as I leant closer to the coffee table that was now between us and Louise.

"So how's Jordan doing? I don't see him around," I said going with Eddy's prompting. Louise's gaze turned to Taylor who was wriggling a little on her side of the couch, before responding to my comment.

"I was going to call you because…well…Jordan hasn't come home yet." Her cheeks flushed red in shame. I stared at her. I could understand why she was concerned.

"He was supposed to come straight home from school, but he hasn't come home yet. Since his dad died he's been getting into fights." Louise bent her head.

"The other kids have been calling his dad a narc and obviously it's getting to him." Louise shook her head sadly. I stretched out my hand, ignoring Taylor who was still squirming next to me, and touched Louise's gently.

"Kids can be cruel sometimes. I'm sure they'll let up on Jordan soon. What time does school let out?" I asked her.

"Three." I glanced at the clock on the mantle piece. It was five thirty.

"Does he have any friend's houses he usually goes to?" I asked thoughtfully. Louise rubbed at her eyes.

"I've called all of them; he's not at any of them." Tears were in Louise's eyes now; I could tell she was as worried as hell for her little boy. I started thinking more like a cop instead of a mother.

"Can you give me their addresses? You'll be amazed what you can do by flashing a badge," I confided in her. Louise nodded, allowing me to take my note book out of my bag and scribble each one of the kid's names and addresses.

I felt Taylor shift against me, she'd been squirming for the past five minutes and it was really starting to get on my nerves. I elbowed her in the ribs as Louise's attention began to focus on her insistent movement.

"I have allergies," she muttered, trying to shrug it off. Louise gave Taylor a bewildered nod as I twisted my head towards her open mouthed.

"Anyway…" I stated trying to break the awkwardness that was now erupting in the room.

"I'll check out the addresses you've given me and talk to a few of Jordan's friends and see what I can come up with. I'll give you a call as soon as I get something," I said, attempting to reassure Louise. I rose to my feet, Taylor following suit, she let out an audible sigh of relief as she left the sofa.

Louise's gaze started towards her, I closed my eyes for a brief second.

Lord give me strength.

"Thanks for the tea." The words tumbled out of my mouth as I opened my eyes and followed Louise to the front door of her home. Louise saw us out, before thanking me profusely.

I waited until I heard the front door shut behind us on the way back to the car before I turned on Taylor.

"What the hell was that about?" I snapped at her quietly. Taylor shuddered for a moment before replying.

"I sat on him," she murmured looking sheepish.

"On who?!" I demanded before it dawned on me. "Oh."

Taylor rolled her eyes at my idiocy, crossing her arms over her chest.

"That is the first and last time I will ever sit through someone again, it was like being dunked in freezing cold water, over and over again," Taylor whined, still shivering. I patted her arm gently.

"I should have realised, I'm sorry," I said shaking my head. Taylor opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by the insistent chirping of her cell phone. We were at the car now; I stepped off the curb and moved around the car towards the driver's side. I leaned my arms on top of the car as Taylor snapped her phone shut, a scowl crossing her face.

"I'm going to have to love and leave you. The bitch from hell…I mean, work, wants me in to discuss changes in the column," Taylor told me resting her own arms on the top of the car and narrowing her eyes enraged.

"You considered working for another paper?" I asked her, studying the expression on her face.

I knew Taylor had been unhappy in her job ever since Alex had retired as editor just after New Year. She was currently stuck with a boss who seemed to hate her and didn't make allowances for the problems that Taylor faced occasionally. I had to say considering all this I thought Taylor was handling her boss quite well, yet you could tell that the whole situation was getting to her.

Taylor tilted her hair as I brushed the hair from my face before she answered.

"It sounds weird, but I think I'm just sick of working for the paper to be honest. The deadlines are getting harder and harder at the moment. Hell, maybe I'll quit and write a book, I certainly have the connections for it," she said playfully with a wink. I grinned at her from across the car.

"I think that's a good idea, I'd love to read a book written by Taylor Turner, besides you have a fan base to carry you. Matt told me about that woman coming up to you in the park and trying to get a picture with you," I remarked. Taylor grimaced at this reminder as we both opened our car doors.

"That was a little too weird for me," she informed me as we both ducked in to the car shutting the doors behind us.

"I don't blame you." I told her as we both fastened our belts.

"I'll drop you off at the office on the way to one of these addresses," I said as I turned the engine on and checked the review mirror, before pulling out.

"By the way, how's Bernie? He out of his chewing phase yet?" I asked referring to Taylor and Matt's three month old pup.

"He ate Matt's sneakers the other day and then gave Matt this pitiful look when Matt found them. He's quite clever; he hid them under the bed." I found myself laughing out loud. There was a comfortable silence between us. Something that I'd meaning to ask Taylor for a while popped into my head.

"Does Matt know about the ghosts?" I asked her, my eyes still focused on the road.

"He's known for a while now, since just after we moved in. I tried to keep a secret, but I spent half of the time jumping, vomiting or rushing out at odd times. It's hard to explain without the truth, and I wanted the relationship to work so I told the truth." Taylor explained.

I raised an eyebrow.

"How did he take?" I glanced sidelong at Taylor, who snorted.

"A lot better than you did. He said it made a lot of sense," she informed me. My mind was stunned for a moment.

"Wow." That was all I could muster.

"I couldn't believe it either." Taylor admitted. She looked as if she was still surprised by this.

"It's nice having someone to talk to about it you know? Besides you guys of course," she told me honestly. I gave her a warm smile as we drew up to a set of traffic lights.

"What are Flack and Thomas doing today?" Taylor asked curiously as traffic began to move again.

"Danny had Thomas last night for Valentine's Day; Flack's going to pick him up a little bit later before Danny goes on shift. Flack said he had something he had to take care of today. I have no idea what." I confessed pulling up around the corner from Taylor's offices.

"This ok?" I asked.

"Great thanks…Call me later to let me know how it goes with the kids?" Taylor asked, opening the car door and grabbing her bag.

"Of course. Hey remember, I'll help you hide the body if worst comes to worst with you boss." Taylor laughed at my joke, shutting the door and giving me a finger wave. I waved back before getting out my note book andfocusing on the task at hand.

READ GOTHAM'S HEROES!!!!

Bluehavan4220: lol I wanted to show how close they are, and of course add a little humour into a dire situation. It was very thoughtful of you to do that. Thanks for the review.

Sanghian: lol it gets more interesting. I can appreciate your busy so it's not a problem, I'd like to see what you think as it continues.

Sparkycsi: lol I think everyone's waiting to see what will happen with Gus! I love that chapter because I love the way they are with each other.

Maddy Bellows: I've been waiting for an update on your story for ages, and I still am eager to read what you have cooked up. Lol I've just written chapter 44 and trust me she's defo going to be needing wine and bubble baths. Yay! Go plot bunnies!