Part Two.
Gabriel stared, unseeing at the packing slips before him. He tried to focus on business but found that his thoughts kept returning to the sad, dirty face of the little girl that had captured his heart just three days earlier. It seemed no matter what he did, he wondered if Dianna was doing well. As Sara had held him that cold morning, she had sworn that she would try to find a way to get Dianna back to him. He knew that she would but he also knew that society frowned on young single men having a child live with them.
Tossing the papers aside, he stood and stretched. Looking around the shop he decided that it might be time to try to sleep, although he knew when he closed his eyes, the tear stained face of Dianna would invade his dreams. He was about to make his way to the bedroom when a loud rapping came from the door. Looking at it suspiciously then at his watch, he took a deep breath and peered through the peephole.
"Sara?" He opened the door quickly and ushered the detective in. "What in the world are you doing here this time of night? Is everything all right?" He wanted to ask if something had happened to Dianna but couldn't find the courage.
"Nothing's wrong Gabriel." She took a deep breath and looked uncomfortable. "Just thought I would drop in and give you the latest."
"You found her family?" His hopes soared. If Dianna couldn't be with him, he wanted nothing more than the girl to be with her family.
"Yes and no." She saw Gabriel's confused look. "I found someone who knows where they are, but getting a message to them might not be that easy. They are running some kind of retreat and can't get calls for about five more days." She looked over his shoulder. "Got any coffee?" He nodded and proceeded to pour two cups, offering her one. "Thanks." She took a slow sip and sat down, waiting for him to do the same. "I've also been talking to some people I know with Child Services…"
"It doesn't look good does it?" He felt disappointment seep into his entire body. "Damn, it's not fair."
"I know it isn't Gabriel." She tried to find the right words to say to her friend. "I'm so sorry that I…" Another knock echoed through the room. "You expecting someone?"
"No." Confused, Gabriel sat the cup down carefully and made his way to the door to see who was there. Stepping back he practically glared at Sara. "Ms Lopez." Swinging the door opened fast he growled. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Mr. Bowman…I…."Gabriel saw tears in her eyes as she stammered. "I…"
"GABRIEL!" Before the woman could say anything else, a bundle jumped from behind her and into his arms. "GABRIEL!"
"Princess what are you doing here?" He scooped up the child in his arms and hugged her tightly. As she cried out in pain, Gabriel softened his hold and looked into the small face. "Did I hurt you baby?"
"Gabriel wait a minute." Sara walked to them and carefully lifted the child's shirt revealing welts running up and down the small of her back. "Put her down Gabriel."
"That's what I wanted to ta…" Ms Lopez started but was cut off my Gabriel's glare.
"Dianna, why don't you let Sara take you into the bedroom and get you something to sleep in. I have some great shirts that I think would fit you just fine." He pushed the child toward Sara carefully. "Would you mind? They are in the dresser next to the bathroom, second drawer. I think Ms. Lopez and I need to talk alone for a few minutes."
"Sure." Sara took Dianna's hand and headed out of the room, carefully closing the bedroom door behind her so that Gabriel could speak freely.
"So, you want to tell me what happened to her? Why the hell does she have those marks on her?" Gabriel's eyes flashed the rage his heart felt. "All she wanted was a safe place to stay until her Aunt could come and get her. I could have given her that. She's just a little girl!"
"I know that Mr. Bowman." Ms. Lopez shouted then composed herself, tears still standing in her eyes. Taking a deep breath she continued. "I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was taking her to a nice Christian…"
"Ms. Lopez, did you bother to find out anything about that child? Did you bother to ask what that book was she was so bound and determined to give me for safe keeping?" He saw the confusion in the woman's face. "It was her mother's Book of Shadows. Do you know what that means?" Ms Lopez shook her head slowly. "That means her mother was NOT a Christian."
"But they are good people Mr. Bowman."
"I'm sure they are." He suddenly realized he must look like a raving lunatic to the woman and forced himself to calm before he continued. "Look, I know that you try to screen all your foster parents. But something went wrong this time." She nodded and seemed to relax. "I am not here to pass judgment on anyone."
"Will you still care for her Mr. Bowman?" She pleaded as she stared into his eyes. "It's so late and I couldn't think of anyone else."
"Ms Lopez. I wanted to take her to begin with, to take care of her and keep her safe. What she went through was horrible. I haven't changed my mind, but I will be damned if tomorrow you suddenly show up here and take her away from me again. She will remain in my care until her Aunt can be found, which my friend Sara says might be five days or more."
"Your friend has found them?" She looked at Gabriel suspiciously. "How?"
"Sara has her connections, and I don't ask about them, but if she says she found them, then you can rest assured that she has." Gabriel crossed his arms and looked down for a moment. "I'm sorry that I was so rough when you came through my door." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card, writing something on the back before offering it to the social worker. 'Look here is every number you can possibly reach me at. The one on the back is my personal cell number. Call me night or day. You'll see that Dianna is safe and very happy."
"Thank you Mr. Bowman." She took the card and placed it in her purse. "Here are her things. I stopped by the office and picked up a couple of suitcases for them." She gave Gabriel the two bulging cases and started to turn. "Gabriel?" She looked back at him. "I am so sorry that happened." She hesitated a moment longer. "I'll keep in contact in case you need anything."
"Thank you Ms. Lopez." He waited till the woman was out of sight before closing and locking the heavy door. Leaning against its coolness, he ran a shaky hand through his hair and let out a deep shuddering sigh, staring at the closed bedroom door.
Finally he moved to it and silently opened it, stealing glances of Sara and Dianna on the bed. Either Sara or Dianna had found the most obnoxiously bright tie-dyed shirt in his collection. As he surveyed the way the material swallowed the young child, he wondered just what in the world he had been thinking when he purchased it.
"Miss Sara?" Dianna fingered the bracelet on Sara's wrist. "Why do you think that man killed Mommy?"
"I don't know honey." Sara felt the question hit her hard. "I guess sometimes people are just evil and hurt others because of it."
"I think I know." Her small fingers circled the red stone carefully. "I think I know why he killed her and it was all my fault."
"Why in the world would you think that?" Gabriel couldn't help but feel the same shock that Sara apparently did.
"Cuz he wanted me to come and live with him and Mommy wouldn't let him." Her words were delivered innocently as only a child could do. "He told her if I came and lived with him, he would buy Mommy a big house and give her lots of money. Mommy got really mad at him and told him to go away." She sighed and leaned into Sara's shoulder. "When he came back he kept hitting Mommy and screaming at her to tell him where I was and where the book was."
"The book?" Sara glanced up at Gabriel. "You mean the one you gave to Gabriel?"
"Yeah." This was all that Dianna said. Suddenly she changed the subject. "Are you the Lady of Justice Miss Sara?"
"The Lady of…" Sara didn't have a chance to finish her sentence.
"You are way to full of questions tonight young lady." Gabriel suddenly came in grinning. "Guess what? Ms Lopez says you can stay with me until Aunt Lydia gets here."
"Really?" She looked at him questioningly, almost afraid to believe his words. "I can stay?"
"Really." He turned the sheets down and patted the pillow for her to lie on. "Come on, we can talk about it tomorrow, you are way too young to be nocturnal."
"Why would I want to be a knock turtle?" She yawned and looked at Sara. "I don't even know what a knock turtle is?"
"Not a knock turtle," Gabriel started to explain, "nocturnal…it means…"
"Gabriel, don't you think that can wait till in the morning?" Sara pointed to Dianna who was yawning again and almost asleep.
"Yeah, I guess it can." The warmth in Gabriel's smile filled Sara with joy. "Goodnight Princess." He bent down and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Don't let the bed bugs bite." He and Sara started for the door softly as the child began to nod off.
"Fairies and Unicorns guard your dreams Gabriel." Came a sleepy reply from the bed, which brought an even bigger smile to Gabriel.
Careful not to make any noise, he closed the door behind them and walked to the two suitcases. Opening them he began rummaging through the items and suddenly looked up at Sara confused.
"What's wrong?" Sara asked softly. "Do you have everything you need for her? Do I need to get anything?"
"That's it. I just realized I don't know what a little girl needs?" His face was sincere but comical.
"Well just the usual suspects. Comb? Toothbrush, underwear, clothes," as she named each item he raised it high, "tampons." Suddenly he looked up at Sara horrified.
"At seven?" His voice cracked.
"I'm kidding Gabriel." She laughed as he blushed. "Really, looks like you have the necessities. How about food? Can I get you anything?"
"Nope, I'm good. Got milk, bread, cereal, the good sugary stuff." His grin had returned.
"What am I not surprised."
"Got a lot of things we can eat and we can always go out." He stood finally and hugged Sara tightly. "Thanks for coming by and thanks for all the help."
"Anytime Gabriel." She headed for the door to leave. "Just keep that kid safe. I've put in a lot of good words for you. Don't make a liar out of me."
"Wouldn't think about it." He opened the door and waited for her to exit. "Hey Sara?" She turned toward him with a smile. "Fairies and Unicorns guard your sleep." She nodded and turned to walk away. Gabriel waited until she was gone before he closed and relocked and bolted the door. On his way back to the bedroom, he picked up the book Dianna had given him. Quietly he entered the room and made sure that the girl was sleeping deeply before moving to a chair across the room. There he sat and turned on the small lamp and began to read the flowing words of the now dead woman.
Gabriel stared, unseeing at the packing slips before him. He tried to focus on business but found that his thoughts kept returning to the sad, dirty face of the little girl that had captured his heart just three days earlier. It seemed no matter what he did, he wondered if Dianna was doing well. As Sara had held him that cold morning, she had sworn that she would try to find a way to get Dianna back to him. He knew that she would but he also knew that society frowned on young single men having a child live with them.
Tossing the papers aside, he stood and stretched. Looking around the shop he decided that it might be time to try to sleep, although he knew when he closed his eyes, the tear stained face of Dianna would invade his dreams. He was about to make his way to the bedroom when a loud rapping came from the door. Looking at it suspiciously then at his watch, he took a deep breath and peered through the peephole.
"Sara?" He opened the door quickly and ushered the detective in. "What in the world are you doing here this time of night? Is everything all right?" He wanted to ask if something had happened to Dianna but couldn't find the courage.
"Nothing's wrong Gabriel." She took a deep breath and looked uncomfortable. "Just thought I would drop in and give you the latest."
"You found her family?" His hopes soared. If Dianna couldn't be with him, he wanted nothing more than the girl to be with her family.
"Yes and no." She saw Gabriel's confused look. "I found someone who knows where they are, but getting a message to them might not be that easy. They are running some kind of retreat and can't get calls for about five more days." She looked over his shoulder. "Got any coffee?" He nodded and proceeded to pour two cups, offering her one. "Thanks." She took a slow sip and sat down, waiting for him to do the same. "I've also been talking to some people I know with Child Services…"
"It doesn't look good does it?" He felt disappointment seep into his entire body. "Damn, it's not fair."
"I know it isn't Gabriel." She tried to find the right words to say to her friend. "I'm so sorry that I…" Another knock echoed through the room. "You expecting someone?"
"No." Confused, Gabriel sat the cup down carefully and made his way to the door to see who was there. Stepping back he practically glared at Sara. "Ms Lopez." Swinging the door opened fast he growled. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Mr. Bowman…I…."Gabriel saw tears in her eyes as she stammered. "I…"
"GABRIEL!" Before the woman could say anything else, a bundle jumped from behind her and into his arms. "GABRIEL!"
"Princess what are you doing here?" He scooped up the child in his arms and hugged her tightly. As she cried out in pain, Gabriel softened his hold and looked into the small face. "Did I hurt you baby?"
"Gabriel wait a minute." Sara walked to them and carefully lifted the child's shirt revealing welts running up and down the small of her back. "Put her down Gabriel."
"That's what I wanted to ta…" Ms Lopez started but was cut off my Gabriel's glare.
"Dianna, why don't you let Sara take you into the bedroom and get you something to sleep in. I have some great shirts that I think would fit you just fine." He pushed the child toward Sara carefully. "Would you mind? They are in the dresser next to the bathroom, second drawer. I think Ms. Lopez and I need to talk alone for a few minutes."
"Sure." Sara took Dianna's hand and headed out of the room, carefully closing the bedroom door behind her so that Gabriel could speak freely.
"So, you want to tell me what happened to her? Why the hell does she have those marks on her?" Gabriel's eyes flashed the rage his heart felt. "All she wanted was a safe place to stay until her Aunt could come and get her. I could have given her that. She's just a little girl!"
"I know that Mr. Bowman." Ms. Lopez shouted then composed herself, tears still standing in her eyes. Taking a deep breath she continued. "I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was taking her to a nice Christian…"
"Ms. Lopez, did you bother to find out anything about that child? Did you bother to ask what that book was she was so bound and determined to give me for safe keeping?" He saw the confusion in the woman's face. "It was her mother's Book of Shadows. Do you know what that means?" Ms Lopez shook her head slowly. "That means her mother was NOT a Christian."
"But they are good people Mr. Bowman."
"I'm sure they are." He suddenly realized he must look like a raving lunatic to the woman and forced himself to calm before he continued. "Look, I know that you try to screen all your foster parents. But something went wrong this time." She nodded and seemed to relax. "I am not here to pass judgment on anyone."
"Will you still care for her Mr. Bowman?" She pleaded as she stared into his eyes. "It's so late and I couldn't think of anyone else."
"Ms Lopez. I wanted to take her to begin with, to take care of her and keep her safe. What she went through was horrible. I haven't changed my mind, but I will be damned if tomorrow you suddenly show up here and take her away from me again. She will remain in my care until her Aunt can be found, which my friend Sara says might be five days or more."
"Your friend has found them?" She looked at Gabriel suspiciously. "How?"
"Sara has her connections, and I don't ask about them, but if she says she found them, then you can rest assured that she has." Gabriel crossed his arms and looked down for a moment. "I'm sorry that I was so rough when you came through my door." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card, writing something on the back before offering it to the social worker. 'Look here is every number you can possibly reach me at. The one on the back is my personal cell number. Call me night or day. You'll see that Dianna is safe and very happy."
"Thank you Mr. Bowman." She took the card and placed it in her purse. "Here are her things. I stopped by the office and picked up a couple of suitcases for them." She gave Gabriel the two bulging cases and started to turn. "Gabriel?" She looked back at him. "I am so sorry that happened." She hesitated a moment longer. "I'll keep in contact in case you need anything."
"Thank you Ms. Lopez." He waited till the woman was out of sight before closing and locking the heavy door. Leaning against its coolness, he ran a shaky hand through his hair and let out a deep shuddering sigh, staring at the closed bedroom door.
Finally he moved to it and silently opened it, stealing glances of Sara and Dianna on the bed. Either Sara or Dianna had found the most obnoxiously bright tie-dyed shirt in his collection. As he surveyed the way the material swallowed the young child, he wondered just what in the world he had been thinking when he purchased it.
"Miss Sara?" Dianna fingered the bracelet on Sara's wrist. "Why do you think that man killed Mommy?"
"I don't know honey." Sara felt the question hit her hard. "I guess sometimes people are just evil and hurt others because of it."
"I think I know." Her small fingers circled the red stone carefully. "I think I know why he killed her and it was all my fault."
"Why in the world would you think that?" Gabriel couldn't help but feel the same shock that Sara apparently did.
"Cuz he wanted me to come and live with him and Mommy wouldn't let him." Her words were delivered innocently as only a child could do. "He told her if I came and lived with him, he would buy Mommy a big house and give her lots of money. Mommy got really mad at him and told him to go away." She sighed and leaned into Sara's shoulder. "When he came back he kept hitting Mommy and screaming at her to tell him where I was and where the book was."
"The book?" Sara glanced up at Gabriel. "You mean the one you gave to Gabriel?"
"Yeah." This was all that Dianna said. Suddenly she changed the subject. "Are you the Lady of Justice Miss Sara?"
"The Lady of…" Sara didn't have a chance to finish her sentence.
"You are way to full of questions tonight young lady." Gabriel suddenly came in grinning. "Guess what? Ms Lopez says you can stay with me until Aunt Lydia gets here."
"Really?" She looked at him questioningly, almost afraid to believe his words. "I can stay?"
"Really." He turned the sheets down and patted the pillow for her to lie on. "Come on, we can talk about it tomorrow, you are way too young to be nocturnal."
"Why would I want to be a knock turtle?" She yawned and looked at Sara. "I don't even know what a knock turtle is?"
"Not a knock turtle," Gabriel started to explain, "nocturnal…it means…"
"Gabriel, don't you think that can wait till in the morning?" Sara pointed to Dianna who was yawning again and almost asleep.
"Yeah, I guess it can." The warmth in Gabriel's smile filled Sara with joy. "Goodnight Princess." He bent down and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Don't let the bed bugs bite." He and Sara started for the door softly as the child began to nod off.
"Fairies and Unicorns guard your dreams Gabriel." Came a sleepy reply from the bed, which brought an even bigger smile to Gabriel.
Careful not to make any noise, he closed the door behind them and walked to the two suitcases. Opening them he began rummaging through the items and suddenly looked up at Sara confused.
"What's wrong?" Sara asked softly. "Do you have everything you need for her? Do I need to get anything?"
"That's it. I just realized I don't know what a little girl needs?" His face was sincere but comical.
"Well just the usual suspects. Comb? Toothbrush, underwear, clothes," as she named each item he raised it high, "tampons." Suddenly he looked up at Sara horrified.
"At seven?" His voice cracked.
"I'm kidding Gabriel." She laughed as he blushed. "Really, looks like you have the necessities. How about food? Can I get you anything?"
"Nope, I'm good. Got milk, bread, cereal, the good sugary stuff." His grin had returned.
"What am I not surprised."
"Got a lot of things we can eat and we can always go out." He stood finally and hugged Sara tightly. "Thanks for coming by and thanks for all the help."
"Anytime Gabriel." She headed for the door to leave. "Just keep that kid safe. I've put in a lot of good words for you. Don't make a liar out of me."
"Wouldn't think about it." He opened the door and waited for her to exit. "Hey Sara?" She turned toward him with a smile. "Fairies and Unicorns guard your sleep." She nodded and turned to walk away. Gabriel waited until she was gone before he closed and relocked and bolted the door. On his way back to the bedroom, he picked up the book Dianna had given him. Quietly he entered the room and made sure that the girl was sleeping deeply before moving to a chair across the room. There he sat and turned on the small lamp and began to read the flowing words of the now dead woman.