Chapter 16

"Katie? Yoo-hoo, Katie!" Goren looked up and saw Lisa standing over her, waving her hand in front of her face.

"Oh, sorry, Lisa."

"You're really spaced out lately, aren't you?" Lisa said, dropping into the chair across from her.

"I just… have a lot on my mind." Katie shrugged and stirred her coffee before giving a quick glance around the room.

"Only a few more days until that Prom. Did you pick out a dress yet?"

"No, Mom is coming tomorrow, we're going to go looking. You?"

"I found one in the vintage shop. It's fabulous!" She went on to describe the dress, and Katie's mind wandered again. "Katie!" Lisa said. "You're not listening."

Katie shook her head again. "Look, Lisa… I guess I'm not feeling so well. I'll call you tomorrow, okay? Maybe we can get together, show off the dresses."

"O-okay." Lisa watched her friend grab her purse and quickly walk out of the coffee house.

He was making a real effort to control his obsession, but he still wasn't sleeping. Alex woke up for the hundredth time as he rolled over and threw his arm over his face. She turned to her side and rested her arm across his chest.

Bobby put one hand over her arm and stroked it gently, trying to focus on the comfort there, rather than the worries that were plaguing him.

"You can come with me, you know," she said quietly.

"N-no, dresses, you know, that should be a mother-daughter thing. Besides, I promised Andy I would come look at the children's room he made at the shelter."

They lay in silence a few moments, enjoying each other's touch. "I made a mistake, Alex."

She pushed up on her elbow and looked down into his eyes.

"I… I was cold to her… I didn't… I didn't give her any, you know… encouragement."

Alex smoothed her hand across his chest.

"I just… I kept thinking of Frank and I… guess my emotions got the best of me." He looked her in the eye. "I'm glad you'll be with Katie today. I just don't know how Nicole will react. She sounded… hopeless."

He sat up and pulled himself back in the bed to lean against the headboard. "She said she never hurt Katie because she didn't want to hurt me." His face contorted with worry. "After tonight, she may want to… hurt me."

Katie noticed the minivan across the street and stared for a moment. She ticked back through her mind, trying to figure when she'd first seen it and how many times she'd seen it in the last few weeks. She was unable to see the driver from her dorm window, but she could tell there was a person in the vehicle. Occasionally, she glimpsed a hand reaching out over the dash. A woman's hand.

Fear got the better of her. She drew the blinds shut tight and double checked the lock on her door, then went to bed.

Katie gave Alex a long hug, which she gladly returned. When she finally pulled back, Alex looked at her daughter. She was shocked to see how much she looked like Bobby. Not in the usual sense; she'd always taken after him. There was something in her eyes. There was something reigning in the enthusiasm that was the mark of her personality. Her spark was dimmed.

"Are you all right, honey?" Alex asked her, concerned.

Katie nodded uncertainly, then her eyes filled with tears. "I think she's stalking me," she whispered.

Alex's mother bear instinct kicked in. "Show me," she commanded.

"It's still in one piece," Bobby teased, running his hand along the hood of his car.

"You should see Andy drive it," Mike said. "I've never seen him take such care of anything."

Bobby grinned at his old friend.

"All right, I'm ready," Andy said, locking the door as he stepped out on the stoop. He walked over to the passenger door and waited for someone to unlock the car so he could climb in.

Bobby and Mike shared a knowing look, then Bobby walked over and pressed the keys into Andy's hand. "I'm too tired to drive," he said.

Andy's heart nearly stopped. He hurried over to the driver's side and the three of them piled into the car.

Bobby was pleased with Andy's driving, and with the way he babied the car. After a nice parallel park on the street, the men got out, and Andy dutifully returned Bobby's keys. The older men followed Andy inside the shelter.

"Bobby!" the director cried, giving him a firm handshake.

"Good to see you, Phin," Bobby said, and gave him a pat on the arm.

"This young man has done a lot of work here, that's for sure," Phin announced. "You should be proud of him," he said to Mike.

"I am," Mike replied. He looked to Andy. "Let's see it," he said. With the director's blessing, they walked down the hall and Andy proudly threw open the door.

The room was transformed. The walls were cheerful with the rainbow mural, and there were now low bookshelves all along two walls, and a play kitchen on another. There was also a toybox overflowing with toys.

"Andy, this looks terrific!" Bobby said, giving his shoulder a squeeze.

Andy beamed. "Now I just have to get the books on the shelves, and the kids can start using it tonight."

Mike rolled up his sleeves. "Well let's get to it," he said. Bobby rubbed his hands together, eager to help, too. Andy turned and showed them where the boxes were stacked, containing the donated books.

Alex texted Bobby with the information about the van, and after a good brunch, she and Katie turned their minds to the task of dress shopping. By 2:00, they had one, a sapphire blue floor length dress with spaghetti straps and a sexy slit up the side. They stopped for a late lunch before heading out to find shoes.

"You got my text?" Alex said into the phone.

"Yeah. I sent it all over to Lichter. It's registered to Lucille Merck. She's got her people searching for her. How's Katie?" he asked.

"Shopping was a good distraction."

"She's afraid."

"Of course she is. And she's overthinking it. She takes after her father that way."

"You've been known to do your fair share of worrying too, my love."

Alex smiled. "Let's just lock her up once and for all and be done with her."

"They found Anna Drake's body in the Hudson."

"That's another notch in her purse," Alex said dryly.

"I'm going to the ME's office with Lichter in a few minutes. Maybe we'll be able to get her on this one."

"I hope so, Bobby. I hope so."

"I love you, Alex."

"I love you, too."