Chapter 28
We walked towards my office where Chris had set up the food onto the pool table. Maureen and Carol were waiting for me and they looked like they wanted to talk.
"Hey Cowboy can we steal my sis from you for a second? We need to talk to her. You know, girl talk."
Now I was curious.
He dropped the arm that was around my shoulder, "why don't you guys get your lunch and eat out on the terrace, I want to talk to Hoyt to see what progress they've made and we'll fill him in on what's been going on. CJ don't forget we need to stop by your house to talk to Too Mean regarding your safe room and get to the hospital by 4 to see our little man."
That was going to be the highlight of this awful day, me getting to hold and see Jake.
We started to fill our plates.
Star was avoiding Michael. She knew right away he was the police and didn't want to start any conversations that might get her taken in. She was beyond nervous but held onto Beast's leash. Beast could tell she was agitated and knew it was due to Michael. He would growl when he got to close and Will stood between them to act as a buffer.
"Ummm I'm going to take my lunch and head downstairs with Beast. He's being a bad dog and I'll take him out to do his business once we are done. He might want to take a walk also so if you'll all excuse us."
She took her plate and Will had brought lunch for Beast and went to go set it up downstairs.
Michael asked about Star and what she was doing with us on a Sunday afternoon. Houston said she was a neighbor's kid that Beast had taken a liking to and was doing him a favor by keeping the Hound from Hell tamed.
Carol changed the subject and asked him how the wedding was and Star was forgotten. If he did start to ask questions we would have to be very creative with our answers. He could take her in at any time since technically she was a runaway.
Uncle Roy started to ask Michael how Jake's case was going. We excused ourselves and went outside and sat down. I asked them what was so important and if it had anything to do with my love life I was walking back inside.
Maureen looked at Carol and they both looked at me.
"How much do you know about Star? What do you know of her step father? Her family?"
"Why? What's going on you two?"
Carol said she had gotten up this morning wanting to run to clear her head and workout some of that cake she had last night. Maureen decided to go for a walk since she was put off of doing any strenuous exercise. They had gotten up and asked Will if there was any news from us regarding Jake he nodded no. They told him that they were going out and would be back. He said he'd make them breakfast and if no one had called they'd all go to the hospital.
"Carol took off and I was just strolling enjoying the sun taking my time and Carol made it back to where I was and we decided to grab a juice when we saw Beast and Star and they looked like they were in a hurry. We decided to follow them and they went all the way down to where the old pier is, you know the not so friendly part."
I looked at both of them and pushed my plate away.
"Why was she there? Where did she go?"
"She went to a bar; it didn't look like a place she should be going to. Well she got there and went to the back door and banged on it and someone came out and started to yell at her. This man tried to grab her and Beast wasn't having any of it and he lunged at him. Star pulled him back and the man was so angry."
Who was the man? Why was she at that bar? It didn't make sense.
I told my sisters what information I had gotten from Star. She had no family but a stepfather that Houston and I would be having a conversation with as soon as we found him.
They went on to tell me that Star had gone to the back of the bar with another man that look as big as a mountain who was friendlier and seemed to know her very well. He was getting the outside patio ready by pulling tables and benches they had found out the bar had Bar B Que on weekends and live music.
Others started to show they said but Star had not come out and the man that had yelled at her was waiting outside and when she appeared he closed the door and grabbed her.
"Sis I nearly went over there to beat the crap out of him. She looked terrified but before I had a chance this tall drink of water came out of the bar yelled then punched the jerk out cold. Star ran back to the bar and opened the door and Beast barreled out of there the other guy that looks like a mountain grabbed his leash and Star called out to Beast to sit and he stopped and did as she said."
Maureen nodded, "Yeah Star's hero threw a pitcher of water over the piece of garbage and he woke up. He proceeded to yank him by his shirt and threw him towards what we assumed was his car. He fired him and said to never come back if he ever came back or harassed Star he would find him and end him."
Carol said, "He then went to Star and they talked. He wiped her tears and gave her a hug. She then grabbed Beast's leash and started back to Houston's house."
"Do you think that piece of garbage was Star's step dad? Who are these people and why didn't you want Houston to know?"
"Were you not here when he punched the reporter for hurting you? What do you think he'll do if he finds out someone actually grabbed Star and I'm sure left marks on her arms? We wouldn't be here right now we'd be down at the police station."
They were right. No matter what they said or how they worded it Houston would be in his car speeding towards the old pier and having words with these men. Not to mention he'd get the name from Star and find the piece of garbage that had hurt her and hurt him 10 times as bad.
I closed my eyes. This day kept getting better and better.
"I told you we should have handled this Maureen, we should have just confronted them when we saw it happen. She is our responsibility so we need to shield her and keep her safe."
I grabbed their hands, "No you did the right thing we will go there when I get back from the hospital we'll go down there and do some investigating. I spoke to Star at the hospital. Houston and I laid out a plan on how we were going to convince her to stay with us instead of on the streets. She seemed receptive. I really hope she decides to take us up on our offer and if she does I'm going to need both of your help to convince her."
Carol said they had waited till Star had passed them before heading to the house. They had decided not to confront Star till they talked to me and Houston not letting Will and Uncle Roy what they had found out. When they got to Houston's Uncle Roy was telling Will about Jake's surgery and how well it all turned out. Beast was eating his breakfast as was Star. She asked where we had gone to we said for a jog on the boardwalk. She had stammered but we said we had only gone down half the way and stopped and got a juice at the café. She relaxed and said she couldn't wait to go to the office to start to go through the tapes to find Jake's momma.
"We're sorry for dumping this on you it's not that you haven't had a crappy day already but, Star is just as important to us as she is to you. She's like the little sis I never had and I will do everything in my power to keep her safe. I'm sure Maureen feels the same way."
I looked at both of them, how did I get so lucky to be friends with such beautiful intelligent women? We would figure out a way to keep Star safe and if it was handling these bar flies on our own then so be it.
Houston walked out to the terrace and saw I hadn't eaten much and crossed his arms over his chest.
"CJ do I need to force feed you? You haven't ate anything since this morning, you have to keep your strength up Jake's care depends on it so please just take a couple of more bites and we have to get going if we are going to make it to the hospital on time."
I looked down to my plate. I had not eaten anything but with all that had been happening I really didn't have an appetite.
Houston looked at Carol, "Hey doc how about some help here I thought you guys wanted to talk and eat but it looks like all you did was talk. What's going on because I know the only time CJ doesn't eat is when she's upset so spill the beans what other catastrophe do we need to tackle."
I looked at my sis and slightly shook my head. I did want him to know what we had discussed.
"We were discussing Ms. Jacobs and your past history with the female species. Boy cowboy you really know how to pick em."
Houston looked at me, "I already apologized to CJ and I'll apologized to both of you that should never have happen and I'm going to quit while I'm ahead. CJ take a couple of bites I want to see you eat something. Or we are going to be late getting to Jake, he'll understand I made a promise to keep an eye on you for him and well I keep my promises."
I picked up my fork took a mouthful.
"That's one 3 more and I'll be happy right Doc?"
Carol laughed, "I'm not even going to fight him on this you need to eat CJ he's right as much as it pains me to admit it so 3 more or Cowboy here might have to spoon feed you himself."
He smiled and waggled his eyebrows, "I get to kiss you awake and now I get to spoon feed you? What else do you want me to do for you CJ I give great massages and I have had experiences with sponge baths."
I started to feel the heat on my cheeks and wouldn't look up.
"Calm down Casanova stop giving my sis a hard time and no she will not be taking you up on any of those suggestions. Jeez do I need to hose you down?"
I giggled and finished half my plate.
"Satisfied Houston?"
He looked at my plate then to my sisters, "Offer still stands. Just let me know. I'll wait for you inside Uncle Roy is coming with us as is Star."
They looked at me and I told him I would be right in.
"I'll see what I can find out but won't push too hard I don't want her to think we were spying on her she is still a little leery of us but I will get to the bottom of this. So come over to Houston's after I have tons of Mama Novelli's food she put in my freezer and the spare one she made Houston buy so any request? Lasagna, Raviolis, Chicken Marcella or Pizza?"
The both said yes to all and said they'd pick up dessert and don't worry about my plate they would clean up before leaving our office.
I came into the office petted Beast and Star stood up.
"So boss lady how are you feeling good I hope it's been a heck of a day, is it always this crazy with you guys?"
I hugged her as we walked to the elevator.
"Not always. But when we get involved we don't hold back. So you are going to get to see my house wow it's like your like family you might even get to spend the night some time."
She looked at me and a smile graced her face.
"You'd let me stay at your place?"
"Of course we can have a girl's night in and invite Carol, Maureen and Chris it will be fun. Imaging a sleepover and what it all entails."
She looked down. "I never went to a sleepover so I don't know what to expect."
My heart skipped a beat forgetting the hardship she had been through and her having to grow up so quickly. I was lucky I had sleepovers with Julia she had no one to lean on only herself.
"Well definitely we will be having one sooner than later and you will be the guest of honor. Wait till I tell my sisters they will go overboard I'm seeing manicure, pedicures, facials and pillow fights in PJ's."
Houston spoke, "Pillow fights in PJ's am I invited? It could be just us two CJ."
Star rolled her eyes and punched his shoulder, "Eww stop this has nothing to do with guys it's gonna be a girl's night in. Girls Boss man no guys so sorry."
She went to tell Uncle Roy of our upcoming date.
Houston came to me put his arm around my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "I might have to crash that party what type of PJ's do you wear CJ cause I usually sleep with a smile only."
He wagged his eyebrows and I looked at him batted my eyes, "a long flannel up to my neck with a bed cap."
He laughed as did I, "Come on Cowboy let's get to my house and see how much closet space Too Mean wants to take from me and then go see my number 1 guy I miss him and can't wait to see him"
He took my hand and kissed it. "I thought I was your number 1 guy but I will give up the title to Jake but remember you're my number 1 girl. Always. Come on let's go see what Too Mean is doing the go see our boy."