Kim hurried down the stairs, turned the corner, and headed for the kitchen. She stopped suddenly when she saw Mike, Andrew's bodyguard, sitting in the chair in the foyer.
"Good morning, Mike," Kim said brightly. "I didn't expect you back so early this morning. Andrew doesn't leave for school for another hour."
"Good morning, ma'am," Mike replied with his typical stoicism.
"Really, it's Kim or Kimberly. Ma'am just makes me feel old." Kim smiled, but she was beginning to realize that getting Mike to call her by her name was probably a lost cause. It had never worked on Simmons either.
Kim was about to continue her walk into the kitchen when Mike's tie caught her eye. She had noticed it yesterday because she had liked the pattern. But if he was still wearing it today it either meant he had only one tie, or . . .
"Have you been here all night?" Kim asked.
"Yes, ma'am."
Kim's eyes narrowed. If Mike had been there all night, it meant only one thing. "I assume that means that Shane never made it home?" Kim tried to keep her tone even.
"Yes, ma'am."
Kim bit back a retort at Mike's two-word answers. It was not fair to take out her worry and frustration on him. "If you've been her all night, maybe it's better for Andrew to return to school tomorrow. You must be exhausted."
Mike shook his head. "That's not necessary. I'm more than capable of escorting Andrew to school today."
Kim hesitated. She did not want her son's bodyguard to fall asleep on the job, but she also knew how excited Andrew was about going to school. She looked at Mike closely and was unable to see any sign of fatigue. She knew Shane would not have hired him if he was not very good at what he did.
"All right," she finally replied. "Andrew will be ready to leave in about an hour if you want to take a nap or freshen up or something."
Mike again nodded, but remained in his chair. Sighing, Kim walked into the kitchen and found Simmons preparing breakfast. After exchanging pleasantries with Simmons, Kim sat down with her cup of tea and a muffin. She tried to ignore the fear churning in her stomach. She told herself that if something had happened, she would have received a phone call. Unfortunately, her stomach was apparently not listening.
And it was not just fear she was feeling; it was anger. If Shane was not hurt, then he better have damn good reason for not being home. He knew that Andrew was going back to school this morning, and he should have known that Andrew would need his father. Yet, once again, his work was interfering.
She glanced at the clock and then walked over to the phone on the wall. Pulling a slip of paper from her pocket, she dialed the number for Salem Elementary. She wanted to let them know that Andrew would be returning with a bodyguard.
"Good morning," she said when the receptionist answered. "This Kimberly Brady - Andrew Donovan's mother. Is Mr. Brown available?"
Kim waited as her call was transferred to the principal. "I wanted to let you know that Andrew would be returning to school today," Kim said when Mr. Brown answered his line.
"I see," said the principal. "Ahem . . . I'm sure that was quite difficult for Andrew."
"Yes, it has been a traumatic experience for him," Kim replied.
Mr. Brown added, "And for all the children, as I'm sure you know.."
"Yes, I'm sure it was traumatic for all the children." But mine was the one actually shot at.
There was a long pause. "Mrs. Donovan . . . . Um, Detective Carver told me that your boy was the focus of the attack. And they don't seem to know why."
"No, the police department has not determined why Andrew was being targeted." Kim did not like how hesitant the principal sounded. "That's why my hus . . . Andrew's father has hired a bodyguard for him."
"Would this bodyguard be in the classroom?" Mr. Brown asked, sounding almost surprised.
"Yes, I do intend that he will be in the classroom with Andrew." Silently, she added, He wouldn't do much good out in the parking lot.
She listened as the principal talked about the "adjustment" it would take and the potential disruption.
"I realize it will be a bit of an adjustment for the class," Kim said. "But I'm sure Mr. Adams will work with the teacher to minimize any disruption." They're kindergartners . . . How bad could it be to have the finger-painting disrupted?
"This is a highly unusual request," Mr. Brown said.
"Yes, I understand that the school is not accustomed to dealing with this type of situation. But, it's one bodyguard, not an army."
"Was that a joke, Mrs. Donovan?" The man's voice came through the line rather sharply.
Kim fought to keep from losing her temper. "No, I don't think this situation is humorous. Nothing about my son being in danger is funny."
"Well you must understand. . . ." Mr. Brown paused again. "Other parents have expressed concerns about having your son in the school."
"What exactly do you mean when you say that other parents have 'expressed concern'?" Kim drummed her nails against the desk. Now we're getting to the real issue.
"I . . . um . . . I'm sorry, Mrs. Donovan."
"So you're telling me that you aren't going to allow Andrew back at school?" Kim was steaming now. This sounded just like what she and Shane had gone through with Eve. "I want to meet with you and school board - as soon as possible."
She could almost see the man cringe. Kim could tell his type just from the phone call. He was a coward, who caved to pressure. Well, he has not seen pressure yet. "Um . . . yes . . . well I do have an opening at 11-"
"Eleven this morning will be just fine," Kim said. "My hus -Andrew's father and I will be there and I fully expect that we will resolve this so that my son can return to school immediately."
"Um . . . yes . . . I guess I'll see you then."
"Thank you." Kim slammed down the phone. She saw Simmons raise an eyebrow, but he said nothing. Kim knew she had to tell Andrew that he would not be going to school and dreaded the look on his face when she told him. She headed out of the kitchen and into the foyer where she ran smack into Andrew as he was barreling towards the kitchen.
"Whoa there," Kim said. "Where's the fire?"
"I hafta eat breakfast before school, Mom," Andrew said breathlessly.
Kim sighed. Kneeling down she looked in Andrew's sparking eyes. "I'm afraid there's been a change in plans, Andrew. You won't be able to go to school today."
"Why not?" Andrew asked, the sparkle leaving his eyes.
"There are just a few things that your daddy and I need to talk to the school about before you can go back."
"So can I go tomorrow?" Andrew sounded hopeful.
Kim did not want to mislead her son or have him be disappointed if she and Shane could not work things out with the school. "I'm not sure yet, honey. But hopefully it will be very soon." She forced a smile on her face. "Why don't you go into the kitchen and have that breakfast you were talking about? I know Simmons made it special for you."
"No!" Andrew yelled. "If I can't go to school, I don't want it." Turning away from Kim he ran back up the stairs towards his room.
Kim was about to follow him when the doorbell rang. Great. What else is going to happen this morning? Before she could answer, Mike suddenly appeared from the other room.
"Let me get that, Ms. Brady."
"Right. I guess that's what you are here for."
Mike nodded and walked to the door. He looked out the peephole and then cautiously opened it.
"Package for a Ms. Kimberly Brady," the uniformed deliveryman said.
"Thank you," Mike said, signing the paper on the man's clipboard.
Mike took the package and examined it closely. When he was finished he handed it to Kim. "Do you recognize the return address?"
Kim looked at the package. There was no name as a return address, just a P.O. box from New York City.
"No," she said. "But I ordered some things recently from a company in New York. This is probably them."
Mike nodded and Kim carefully opened the package, suddenly feeling paranoid about what she might find inside. When the package was open, Kim looked inside. There was nothing but a bunch of crumpled up newspapers and a set of keys. Pulling the keys out, she saw the "SD" on the key chain. They must be Shane's.
"I guess somebody must have found these and sent them back," Kim said, completely confused. She would have to ask Shane about them later. Remembering that Andrew was upstairs and upset, Kim tossed the keys in her purse and headed up the stairs. She could only hope that Shane would make it home in time to attend the meeting with the school. And if he did not? Well, then, he was really going to have some explaining to do.