Chapter Four
The Spangler Home
He redials the phone number for the tenth time, no answer. "Son of a bitch," the phone meets the wall. He takes a swig of his drink, the ice cubes in the glass have melted diluting the alcohol, "God damn you, you bitch." He dumps the water on the rug and refills his glass.
As he tilts the glass back for a sip he sees her face in a photo that was taken last year, she never smiles. He crosses the room, picking up the photo, raising it to the ceiling, "You are mine, you will always be mine!"
The phone rings, he turns quickly dropping the photo on the floor, he picks up the receiver, "Jackie," he says gasping.
"No it's your mother."
He stands erect, "Yes mother."
"Yes mother indeed, are you drunk?"
"No, no Mother."
"Then what is going on? Where is your wife?"
He holds the phone down, clutching it tightly, he exhales before speaking, "We had a disagreement and she left."
"Good riddance to her, I told you she wasn't good enough for you." Silence, "Charles!"
"Yes Mother, was there a reason for your phone call?"
"Yes Charles, I am leaving for Europe in the morning, or have you forgotten? And I've been waiting here for over an hour for you to take me out for my bon voyage dinner."
"I'll be there in an hour."
"Never mind, never mind. You are useless to me tonight. Go and find that wife of yours." He hears the phone click.
"Find her, I'll find her." He powers up the computer, clicking onto the internet and then email. He clicks new message to send an email to Rachel's account and Jackie's. Your phone is not on; maybe you will check your emails.
He finishes the gin in the glass and begins to type.
Jackie,
You have made your point. I want you home now. You will just be lost out there. You have no family or friends, no one to turn to and nowhere to go.
Who would want you?
No one but me.
He continues typing.
The Goren Home
"I must say that I have never seen that look on your face before Alex, you look like a cop."
"I am and not just when I'm on duty, always." She leans forward, smirking, "I know when someone is not telling me everything." She suddenly starts to laugh.
Surprised at her friends' reaction, Jackie frowns, "What?"
"I could get Bobby in here. I'm a pretty good interrogator," she sits back in the chair as a look of admiration crosses her face. "He's the best." Alex opens her arms, Jackie embraces her, then they laugh, "Please Jackie, tell me"
"Mom!" they hear a shrill from Rachel.
Jackie is up and down the hall within moments, Alex close behind.
"What's the matter honey?"
Alex turns as Bobby approaches, "What's going on?" He asks.
She shrugs her shoulders, whispering, "I don't know."
"It's an email from Dad."
"Let me sit there?" Jackie says, slowly pulling the chair back. She takes a long cleansing breath as she sits down. Her hand starts to shake as she grabs for the mouse. Gently she feels a hand on her shoulder. She looks up. "I'll do it." Bobby says softly but firmly.
Jackie not accustom to someone coming to her rescue hesitates for a moment, and then nods her head. "Thank you."
Alex places her arm around Rachel's shoulder, squeezing her gently. "You want to get out of here?" Rachel nods, "Come on, let's get a snack."
Bobby sits as Jackie looks over his shoulder. He clicks the message open. Jackie reads it aloud.
"Jackie,"
"You have made your point. I want you home now. You will just be lost out there. You have no family or friends, no one to turn to and no where to go."
"Who would want you?"
"No one, but me."
"You are just being foolish, how will you earn a living? You have no skills, you with a High School education."
"Remember the pre-nup you signed. You left me, you will not receive a dime in alimony and you will need money to take care of her, I have the money and they will have no choice but to give me full custody. I also have the help of my mother and her connections."
"So stop acting like a child and come home, where you belong."
"I will not wait long Jackie, I will hire someone to find you and bring you home, you know I will."
"He's using the feelings you have for your daughter against you," Bobby rubs his chin. "He certainly sounds very sure of himself."
"I can picture him sitting at the computer," Jackie says solemnly. "He's drunk." She rubs her eyes. "He thinks that if he threatens me I'll go back. But I can't, I can't go back there."
Bobby stands, removing a few tissues from the box, "Jackie, you need to talk to someone, a lawyer."
"I can't afford a lawyer Bobby," he hands her a tissue. "Thanks," she wipes her eyes.
"I'll call a friend of mine; all he handles are cases like these."
"Charles and his family are wealthy and they have many, many influential friends."
"Jackie, I know we just met but I have to say this. You cannot do this alone. Just from reading this," he points toward the computer screen. "Charlie seems to me, to be the sort of man who will fight dirty."
Jackie looks past Bobby and clicks off the monitor. "Yes, he is that sort of man."
"Alex and I will do all that we can to help you and Rachel, just ask."
"Thank you very much." She bows her head; he touches her chin gently, "You want to say something but you're afraid, aren't you?"
She shakes her head, "No, nothing." Raising her head slowly, she gazes into those soft brown eyes, frowning. "You're a very perceptive man, you and your wife. Next time I run away I'm not coming here, gees." She chuckles, "Two cops in one house."
Bobby chuckles softly as Alex returns, "Rachel is in your room changing into her pajamas."
Jackie turns to her friend smiling. "I should go up."
"Jackie," Bobby says her name sternly, as she turns toward the door.
"What's going on?" Alex inquires.
Bobby crosses his arms. "Jackie was just about to tell me something, something no one else knows." He leans down to catch her eye. "Is that right?"
She looks from Bobby to Alex fully aware that one-way or another they will find out her secret. She takes a tight hold of Alex's hand.
Alex pats her hand in return, "Tell us, Jackie please tell us. We want to help."
"I….I have cancer, pancreatic cancer, it's in the late stages. I found out the day before I left. I am to begin treatments next week and the thought of leaving Rachel in the same house as that man; I had no choice, I had to leave." Her eyes fill with tears, "I have never said the words to anyone."
Alex pulls her closer, they embrace. "When the doctor told me all I could think about was my daughter, all alone in a house with her," she scoffs, "Father." Jackie steps back touching her forehead, "Oh I feel…." She says with a shaky voice, Bobby takes a firm but gentle hold of her arm, helping her to sit. Keeping her head down she says, "You were right Alex I never planned this, I just left." She lifts her head then straightens up in the seat. "I am so glad that I….thank you, the both of you. Just being here I know that things will turn out for the best."
"Why wouldn't you tell him?" Bobby asks.
"Tell him that I am flawed, no I have to be perfect. One day I was sick with a cold and he cursed me for looking that way."
"Mom," Jackie stands as she hears her name. She pats Bobby's arm as she passes. "Thank you for being there, both of you. I'm coming Rachel," she calls out to her daughter.
"Jackie," Alex calls to her, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Jackie takes a step forward and the two old friends hug, tighter than ever.
"Mom," Rachel calls to her again.
The tears start to flow, "I'm coming," Jackie says. They release their embrace, wiping away each other tears.
The Next Afternoon
Jackie and Alex stop off at a local café for lunch, after a morning of shopping.
"Good afternoon, my name is Sophia," the tall blonde says. "May I get you a cocktail?"
They pass on alcohol and order ice tea. Minutes later Sophia returns with the tea, "Are you ready to order?"
"Yes we are," Alex says. "I'll have a grilled chicken sandwich." She places the menu on the table.
Sophia turns her attention to Jackie, "And for you?"
"Roasted turkey," Jackie hands her menu to Sophia.
"Nice little place, you come here often?"
Alex picks up her glass of tea, "From time to time."
"Peter," Jackie says as she stirs the ice cubes in the glass with a spoon. "This Peter Jordon, do you know him?"
"Yes I do, Peter is a good person. You can trust him to do right by you and Rachel. He will bend over backwards to get you….what you deserve." Jackie keeps her head down. "Jackie," Alex says her name firmly, "Talk to me."
"Last night after every one was asleep I went downstairs and I must have read that email twenty times." Alex remains silent placing her chin on her hand, "Bobby didn't tell you what the email said?" Jackie asks sounding surprised.
"No, not that I didn't ask."
Jackie hesitates for a moment then repeats verbatim the words of her husband's email.
"Jackie," Alex hesitates. "I have to ask this. About the pre-nup, how are you going to afford the medical treatments? Because if you can't I'm sure Peter will…."
Jackie holds her hand up, "I found a copy of it the night before I left and he has to pay for my medical bills for up to five years or until I can get medical insurance on my own." She takes a small bite of her sandwich. "I think that gave me the courage to leave. Maybe when he finds out about the cancer he will leave me alone….but Rachel, if I know Charles Spangler and I do, he does not make idle threats, he means exactly what he says. Reading that email last night I can see him, he's becoming deranged in his own little mind," Alex pats her hand, "I'm scared Alex and yet I'm happy, happy that I have found you."
The Goren Home
"So Rachel what flavor ice cream do you want?" Bobby asks as he rubs his hands together.
"Can I have strawberry and vanilla?" she asks shyly.
"Of course," he sets the gallon containers on the table, handing her the ice cream scooper. She stands as she scoops out the ice cream into a bowl, "Now for the toppings, caramel, hot fudge or marshmallow?"
She hesitates, "Ah," she bites her lip, "Hot fudge."
"Good choice," he places the jar into the microwave. Seconds later, it beeps. "You want to pour it?"
She nods, "Yes Bobby, can I."
"Of course, here," he hands her a pair of oven mitts. "You have to use the oven mitts. The jar is hot." She slowly pours the fudge onto her two scoops of ice cream.
Bobby asks, "You want nuts?"
"Yes," she says excitedly. "Walnuts and whipped cream." He opens the jar of nuts, sprinkling them over the ice cream.
"Now," he rubs his hands together, "Time for the whipped cream."
She laughs as she watches the mountain of whipped cream grow on top of her ice cream. "Don't forget the cherry." Rachel says giggling.
He tops it off with a cherry, "Alright, little guy, which one." Robby points to the chocolate. "You always pick chocolate; I don't know why I even ask."
The front door opens, "We're back," Alex says as she closes the door behind her.
"We're in the kitchen," Bobby responds.
Alex raises her eyebrows at the sight, "What happened in here, an ice cream explosion, my God Bobby how many gallons did you buy?" She glances around the kitchen, along the counter are, she counts, "Five."
"We couldn't make up our minds so we…." She smiles then kisses his cheek. "You two want some; I have all the fixing for sundaes."
Jackie enters the room, "I can see that," she sees a look in her daughters' eye, a sparkle that she has never seen before. She pats Rachel's back. "That looks good."
Rachel nods her head, "It is Mom and its fun to make them yourself."
Alex picks up the gallon of butter pecan, "What did you have for lunch?"
"Lunch?" Bobby smirks then bows his head, "Oops."
"Bobby!" she exclaims. "How could you forget to fix lunch?"
He tilts his head and smiles, "I….I don't know. We saw a commercial for Breyer's ice cream and before I knew it we were in the store loading up the cart."
"I'll have vanilla ice cream, caramel and walnuts," Alex says. "But first I have to put these things away. Be back in a minute." She snaps her fingers, "Don't forget the whipped cream." An impish smile crosses his face that only Alex can see, "In your dreams Bobby."
Jackie follows Alex through the living room toward the stairs. "He's adorable," Jackie says as she and Alex ascend the stairs.
"Yes that he is, sometimes he acts just like a big kid. I don't mean that negatively. You should have seen this place Christmas time, decorations inside and out. He made Robby's first Christmas a memorable one. He had so much fun…." She chuckles. "And so did I."
"Something as simple as sitting in the kitchen making ice cream sundaes is so sweet. If Rachel and I did that and Charlie came home, you know what he would have said?" Jackie does not wait for an answer from her friend. "What the hell are you doing making them here, just go to Dairy Queen for Christ sake." They reach the top of the stairs walking slowly down the hall, "His childhood sucked, didn't it?"
Alex turns slowly to face her friend, "Now whose perceptive? Yes, for the most part it did. There are, I'm sure, some things that I don't know and probably will never know."
Later that Day
After doing a load of laundry Jackie is folding her clothes, she hears a knock at the door. She turns as she says, "Come in." The door opens wide. "There is someone on the phone that wishes to speak to you," Bobby says as he holds the phone to his chest. Realizing his choice of words from the reaction of fear on her face, he holds his hands up, "No Jackie I'm sorry. It's a friend of mine….Peter Jordon; he's an attorney I have told him a little about your situation."
"Thank you Bobby, I was trying to get up the nerve to ask you to call him," she smiles as she reaches for the phone
"Hello, this is Jackie Spangler."
"Good afternoon Missus Spangler, Bobby has filled me in a little of your situation. I would be more than able and willing to help. Can you meet me here in my office tomorrow?"
"Yes I can, when?"
"Two o'clock."
"Mister Jordon," he cuts her off.
"Peter, please call me Peter."
"Peter, Alex had mentioned to me about going to get some of my belongings, is that alright to do?"
"Yes but needless to say do not go alone, bring the police with you and since at this moment you are living with two of them." She covers her mouth as she laughs. "I will have the proper papers drawn up which I will have signed by a judge to allow you access to your home."
"Thank you Peter, I'll see you tomorrow."
The Office of Peter Jordan
"Jackie, I want to be perfectly honest with you, a great deal of what Charlie said in that email, is true. We both know it." He sits down next to her, "Now it isn't carved in stone, that the parent with the larger income retains custody of a minor child. However," he wags his finger. "You will need to find a permanent residence and a full time job. I will file a motion that Charles must pay for support of your daughter. But first I have drawn up papers which will allow you access to your home to retrieve your belongings and Rachel's as well."
"Peter, I would have thought that Bobby told you everything."
"Only that your husband was abusive and you were in need of legal help."
"First," she stands. "I have cancer," she takes a quick glance at the red-haired, blue eyed attorney expecting a surprised look. His face is expressionless. "I am scheduled to start treatment next week, on an outpatient bases. The reason I left is that as long as I am alive Charles and his mother will never raise my daughter. Why they want Rachel? Because to them, especially Hannah, Charlie's mother, she is….is a trophy, something that Hannah can display in front of her friends, just to be able to say that she has a granddaughter. Those two people have never, ever hugged her; spend any quality time with her. No wait…." She wags her finger. "Once in public, Hannah had a photo taken and the photographer asked her to put her arm around Rachel. They will probably throw that in my face to dispute what I have been saying."
"Jackie, you must remember something. Rachel is a child yes but she is not a baby she has a memory and she has an opinion and she will be able to confirm all that you say."
"She's a very bright little girl, a very sweet little girl who shouldn't have to go through this."
He nods his head as he stands, "First things first, let's get your belongings out of that house."
A Few Days Later
Moments after Bobby pushes the bell the door opens, Charlie sees no one on the steps but Jackie, "It's about time," he grabs her arm. "Get the fuck in here."
A hand grabs his arm, he looks up, he has to look up. "Charles Spangler, I'm Detective Goren this is Detective Eames we have come here with your wife for the sole purpose of retrieving some of her and your daughters belongings." Bobby hands Charlie the legal document, signed by a judge to allow them access.
Charles reads it, then folds the paper in two, he reluctantly opens the door wider and steps off to the side to allow them entrance. "She is only allowed to take her belongings and Rachel's," he says as Jackie, followed by Bobby pass him. He takes a closer look at the female detective, Alex notices his intense stare.
TBC