Faith in the Dark, Chapter 7

7:15am. The next day.

Peggy stretched the stiffness from her arms and legs while Elliott opened the car door. He took her hand as she got out of his two-seater sports car. They walked slowly toward the front door of her house. Elliott stopped her with a gentle tap on the arm as she fished for the door key.

"Can I call you when I get back?"

Peggy smiled. "If you want to. I'd like that." She tried to capture the right words to say good-bye. "Elliott, I really enjoyed last night. Thanks for understanding."

"Hey, I should be thanking you." He held her hands now. "You didn't have to spend the whole night with me on the boat listening to my arrogant ramblings."

"You were not arrogant, you were.sweet. I feel like I wasted your last night in Portland." Peggy shook her head to stop him from disagreeing. "Seeing the sunrise on the lake was fantastic. I'm glad you talked me into it. I'm also glad that we met and shared so many good times. You've been very patient with my.hesitation. I wish.I don't know what I wish. I just want you to be happy. There, how's that for clichés and heartless sentiment."

Elliott pulled her to him. His hug was intimate and sad. He spoke softly. "You are far from heartless. You're honest and I can't express how much that means to me. Peggy, last night I was trying to seduce you. It seemed so right. But I knew you were moving in the opposite direction. I felt it two dates ago. Yeah, I tried to convince you otherwise." He held her at arms length; "You deserve to be "head over heals" in love. It can happen again, Peggy. You're not just a young widow. You're a beautiful, sexy and smart woman. Like I said last night, your so called buddy, Declan, is seeing all that and more."

Peggy almost denied his last statement but held her tongue. She watched his eyes offering her understanding as he tried to resign himself to their imminent separation. "Declan has been nothing more than a friend. He's emotionally complex and good at covering his feelings when he's deeply effected by events or---"

"Okay, Dr. Fowler," Elliott cut her off, "He's just a 'guy'. A guy who has a lot of faith in you. I think I know a little something about you, Peggy. You don't go traipsing all over the world with just anyone. Think about that, you'll see I'm right." He let her go and took a step backward. He looked toward his car and then back at Peggy. "When I get back from Guam in November, I'm going to call. Bet on it. Dunn had better make his move before I return to Portland." Elliott suddenly reached for her. Peggy hugged him and did not hesitate when his lips sought hers. She breathlessly wondered what she missed last night. When Elliott finally let her go, he sighed and turned toward the street.

She watched him walk to the car. "I will miss you, Elliott." She called after him, "Be safe."

He offered a grim smile and then opened the car door. "You too."



Peggy entered her house on the third ring of the loud kitchen telephone. After a mad dash and spilling the contents of her purse on the floor, she answered it. "Hello?"

"Peggy? Thank God. You're okay?"

"Yes, Miranda. Sorry about canceling last night---"

"Look, Peggy, Declan has been trying to call you and he's convinced you've been kidnapped or left for dead somewhere. The police told him you haven't been gone long enough to be a missing person but you know Declan---"

"The police? Where is he now? I'll call him. I'm sorry, Miranda; I should have let somebody know I'd be gone all night. I do have the hospital beeper on me and no one called from there. I left the cell phone in my car."

"Call Declan before he goes to the local news station and begs for your safe return. He's at the hospital trying to convince your boss that you're missing."

"Oh no. Thanks. Talk to you later."

"Oh yes you will. I want to know what Elliott was doing while you were incommunicado last night, mmmnnnn?"

Peggy sighed, " He was with me and we behaved ourselves."

"Good. Call Declan." Miranda hung up.

Peggy immediately bent to pick up the scattered items from her purse. As she reached for her keys, the telephone rang again. She let out a frustrated groan and snatched the phone from the cradle as soon as she stood.

"Hello?"

"Peg, you okay?" Declan was amazed at his calm and casual delivery when the relief at hearing her voice weakened his knees. He listened to her sigh before answering.

"I'm fine. Nothing terrible happened. I was with Elliott." Peggy tried to slow the pounding of her heart whose betrayal spun her out of control again. Despite the rush of emotions, she concentrated on the annoyance and anger that sprung from Miranda's account of Declan's needless worry. "I'm old enough to be out all night. Did you need me for something?"

:: Ah, that stung.:: Declan thought as he leaned into the hospital telephone stall to block out the suddenly noisy corridor.

"Sorry. I wanted to make sure you were all right. I guess I got used to our habit of checking in with each other. You know, like friends do when they live alone." He did nothing to hide his irritation. Her attitude startled him. Declan remembered that she had been out all night and was probably tired. ::Spending the night with Elliott.:: His irritation grew due to his own sleepless night. "Forget it. You're a consenting adult. Look.there's a new person involved in the Douglas investigation."

"Oh?" Peggy yawned. She forced herself to let the consenting adult crack go.

"Yeah. Get some sleep first. Miranda and I can fill you in later. Take advantage of your day off."

"How did you know I had the day off? Oh, I forgot you've been investigating me half the night."

Declan let out a long slow breath. "I said I was sorry. I didn't mean to let my concern embarrass you."

"I'm not embarrassed. I'm a little annoyed that my friends think I can't be out on a date all night. Like I need constant supervision or something like that. Okay, I should have called like we usually do. But you can't just run all over town looking for me when I've only been gone a few hours."

"We didn't even know you were with Elliott! Dammit, Peg, you're being ridiculous-"

"Who else would I be with? Nobody went looking for you when Emma was in town."

"Yeah right, you and Miranda just called Emma's cell phone when you wanted to find me."

Peggy fumed at the tone of his voice and was alarmed at how angry they both had become.

"Declan.what's new with Ann and Davey? That's more important than arguing about my night out."

He was unprepared for the change in topic. "They're fine. It's just.Peg, this can really wait. It's not an emergency. Miranda and I will call you later."

Peggy remained quiet for a few moments as she contemplated her response. She felt drained. " Fine. Good-bye."

Declan heard the soft click and shook his head. When he finally hung up the pay phone, someone spoke behind him.

"I guess the doctor won't be coming in, huh buddy?" Ben Tall Tree asked. Ann and Miranda were standing slightly behind Ben, who smiled at Declan's discomfort.

"Hey, Declan." Miranda said quietly. "Ahh.Ann called my cell.we came here hoping to catch you and maybe Peggy but. ah."

"Declan, I'm sorry to bother you. Believe me, I wouldn't intrude like this if it weren't important. I think it is." Ann stepped forward as she spoke. "I found something in Davey's room last night. I wanted you and Dr. Fowler to know. "

Ben wrapped an arm around Ann's shoulder. " I have to explain what it is that's why I came along. Ann wants to talk to Davey about it but your psychiatrist friend could be a big help."

Declan focused on the people standing in front of him. His head had finally stopped spinning. "Where's Davey?"

"Still over his friend's house. I asked them if it was all right for him to spend the morning with them while I straightened out a problem. They're nice. I have to approach this with Davey the right way. That's why I need Dr. Fowler." Ann folded her arms across her chest. Her eyes never left Declan's

Declan looked at Miranda who was staring intently at the nurse's station at the end of the hall. He hoped she was kicking herself for ratting him out to Peggy. " Peggy will be available this afternoon unless this is urgent. What's up?"

" Let's go sit in the lounge." Miranda directed Ben and Ann toward the sunny alcoves reserved for hospital visitors. Declan walked directly behind her and leaned close. "Thanks, Miranda. Peggy doesn't want to see me for the rest of this decade. You're a true pal."

"I thought she would be flattered at your concern." Miranda hissed. " I'm sorry. I'll talk to her and-"

"Don't you dare. I don't want her to take out a restraining order against me."