I'm visiting my father for a week having flown out yesterday to take him a rescue dog he wanted to adopt after his beloved dog died. The new dog, Luna, warmed up to him within a few hours and even now is napping snuggled up next to him. I can't write very fast on my phone, but I should have some time to write at least another chapter on this trip.

22.

I saw no sign of Elizabeth until I reached my car and noticed there was someone in the car beside mine. Well, I didn't really notice that then. It wasn't until I was just opening my door that I caught a sudden movement from the corner of my eye and whirled around, expecting I don't know who, hoodlums, maybe, wishing to steal my car, when she lept out, hurried over and pointed her index finger up at me, her dark eyes blazing.

She yelled, "We are going to have a talk, mister. What do you know about what's happened to Jane?"

I crossed my arms. While on the outside I maintained a facade of calm, indifference even, on the inside I was thinking facing hoodlums might be easier. Although Elizabeth was clearly angry, I couldn't help but find her alluring or help but notice that she was but a foot away from me.

I waited a moment to be sure my voice was as calm as it could be and that I would say naught that I should not, and then replied, "It is not my place to say anything. Just please accept that Charlotte has Jane's best interests in mind and respect that."

"How can I do that?" Elizabeth asked. "Jane is my sister. We always tell each other everything and I don't understand why she is shutting me out."

I uncrossed my arms. "I get that, I do, but don't you trust that Charlotte is trying to help her? Can you try to respect Jane's choices even if you would make different ones yourself? Don't let your hurt make things tougher for Jane than they already are."

Elizabeth started "But I . . ." and trailed off, considering.

"Just want to help? Yes, I gathered that, even if what you did had the opposite effect." The look of hurt in her eyes bothered me so I hastened to add, "I'm sure Jane understands that, too, but she's just not ready to . . ." Now I was the one trailing off as I didn't want to accidentally reveal a confidence.

I had seen as Elizabeth's anger had shifted to sorrow, but the sorrow was now more pronounced, her eyes even appeared quite wet, as if tears might make an appearance at any time. I tried to reassure her, "Just because Jane isn't ready to confide in you now doesn't mean that in a couple of days she won't be."

"I suppose." Elizabeth offered a wan smile and seemed to force down the threatened tears, causing her to have to blow her nose.

Just then, the phone in my pocket buzzed with an incoming message. I welcomed the interruption, saying "Excuse me, I need to check this." Indeed, I did, for it could have been Rick with something new about GG.

But it was not Rick, but Jane.

Jane: Why is she still here? Charlotte needs to go walk her dog. Please make her go away.

I hadn't noticed a dog in Charlotte's apartment, there had been no barking, but I supposed that the dog could be a timid one, or perhaps sleeping.

Darcy: How am I supposed to do that? She seems determined to stay and talk.

Jane: I'm sorry to be so much trouble, but can you please take her someplace else to talk?

Jane: The dog is elderly and will pee in here if she doesn't get walked on the hour. Charlotte has to carry the dog, so Elizabeth might try to get in when Charlotte leaves or comes back in.

Darcy: I'll try.

I put my phone back in my pocket. "Sorry about that. Since you seem determined to talk, let's go someplace we can sit down."

"I don't know," Elizabeth eyes flicked toward the apartment building and then back toward me. That "tell" made me think that Jane certainly knew her sister well. "Why should I bother when it seems like you don't want to tell me anything?"

Sudden inspiration hit, "To be nice to me and butter me up. I could really use a meal as I skipped dinner."

Now Elizabeth crossed her arms and settled herself back against the passenger side of her car and said in a serious tone "Well maybe we should just stay here and see if your hunger will make you come clean."

I couldn't tell for a moment if Elizabeth was serious or not, but then she gave a half grin. "If you could have seen the disappointment on your face! I guess I won't really be that cruel. Where to? By the way, you're buying."

"Lady's choice. You probably know better than me what we're by."

"I guess I'll let you off easy. IHOP."

I knew it wasn't a date, was nothing like a date. besides her challenging me to pay, but I couldn't help but offer "We could go someplace nicer, my treat."

"Yes, it's your treat, we've already established that, but I'm hardly dressed for nicer." Elizabeth gestured to her clothes, a v-necked t-shirt and those pants that come below the knee. I was of course still wearing my suit from work, hadn't even removed my coat or loosened my tie.

I thought she looked lovely and any establishment would be pleased to serve her, but rather than delay our leaving and frustrate Jane and the dog further, I said "IHOP will be just fine. Lead the way."

We climbed into our respective cars and drove off. As we drove I thought about how nice the upcoming dinner could be if it were an actual date. I imagined driving her to a fine French restaurant, a candlelight dinner, her slight moan after tasting something truly scrumptious, casual "get to know you" conversation and a kiss at her door.

But when we reached the half empty IHOP parking lot, Elizabeth hurried past me to open the door herself and walked through it, leaving me to catch the closing door. She asked for a table before I could.

I was reminded of the movie Stranger Than Fiction, a Will Farrell movie with a suprising amount of heart. I'd seen it multiple times. The main character, Harold, starts hearing a voice in his head and comes to the conclusion that he is a character in a novel, but doesn't know what kind. A professor played by Dustin Hoffman advises him to try to develop a possible romance, but when Harold works on that, a checklist that he keeps marking reveals that he is likely in a tragedy.

I felt like given all the recent events in my life, and even this dinner that was not a date, showed that I was in a tragedy myself. I would have much preferred to be in a romantic comedy, where my fondness would be requited. I hardly felt this evening would be an opportunity to do anything to change that.

We were seated at a table for two, but it could hardly have been less romantic given the decor (bright lights, vinyl chairs, plastic menus, rectangular metal baskets of syrups and condiments and a stand of menu advertisements between us). Additionally, a family with several children was having a noisy, messy dinner right across from us. Still, I tried to take pleasure in the fact that Elizabeth was across from me and I would soon eat.

I found we had nothing to say to each other right then, but that was okay with me as I was bracing for a new attack to try to get me to reveal what I knew. This relative peace was welcome.

I said, "Excuse me, but I need to check my phone."

"I ought to do the same" was her only reply. We both pulled out our phones and I was aware of Elizabeth typing a message using both thumbs. I noted I had indeed missed a text from Jane while driving. She simply texted "Thanks." I responded telling her "We are at the IHOP. Don't worry, I won't reveal a thing." Then I checked my email, but there wasn't another message from GG.

I put away my phone and noticed that Elizabeth still seemed to be exchanging text messages on hers from the alert pings and the rapid movement of her thumbs. Rather than be annoyed, I studied my menu and focused on enjoying pondering my choices, the photographs of the food.

The various breakfast selections reminded me going to IHOP with the whole family for brunch and then just GG and I, after our parents died. I tried to focus on the happier times and not the sullen teenager I had taken the last time in December.

After we had ordered, Elizabeth looked at me, studying me I think, and eventually broke our truce of silence by asked in a reasonable tone "Bill, I just want to help my sister. You have a sister, don't you?"

I nodded.

"Has she been found yet?"

I shook my head and something about the ongoing heartbreak of that must have shown in my face in how I reacted.

"I'm sorry." Elizabeth said, looking at me with softened eyes. She reached her hand forward as if to offer some comfort, but retracted it before it went over the dividing line of the condiments.

"Please try to put myself in your place. How would you like it if someone was standing between you and your sister, keeping vital information away from you?"

I didn't think Elizabeth knew anything about what was happening with G.G. but what I had mentioned in my letter. I believed I had written something about not knowing G.G. had been molested for years and that she chose her molester and ran away from school.

"I wouldn't like it at all, but our situations are hardly the same. G.G. is a minor and I'm her guardian. She wants to have a baby with her abuser," Elizabeth's eyes widened with that particular tidbit, "and has not got any sense at all. She is running toward danger, her arms open wide. I want to ensure she is safe, get her help and save her from a lifetime of regrets.

"Jane is your older sister, has all the sense in the world and I understand at least texted to say she is okay. You know where she is at, that she's in no immediate danger, is staying with a trusted friend. I believe that in time she will confide in you. Can't you give her time and trust Jane and Charlotte?"

Elizabeth twisted her lips as she considered. I thought for a moment that I had gotten through to her, but then she squared her jaw and said "I can be a help to her, I am certain of it. And if she messes up things with Chuck over what at this point I can only assume was a vile random mugging, she may well have a lifetime to regret that."

I shrugged. "I shall neither affirm or deny the correctness of your suppositions." I was most desirous to keep Jane's confidence, even while I wished to warn Elizabeth about Chuck. I consoled myself with the idea that she and the rest of the Bennet family were safe enough, although they might regret their continuing association with him now, if they knew.

Just one thing worried me. What if Elizabeth tells Chuck where to find Jane? I imagined that any temporary protective order listed Jane's regular residence and not Charlotte's apartment. I added, "I hope you will respect Jane's desire for privacy and not tell anyone where she is now."

A quick flash of something that might have been guilt crossed Elizabeth face and with a sudden insight I knew. "You did tell him didn't you? And he's on his way there now."

Elizabeth made no reply, but her expressive face said enough. I didn't wait for a reply. I dashed out of the IHOP, nearly colliding with the server bringing our food (and oh boy how good my omelet, hash browns, bacon and strawberry crepes looked and smelled), while making some quick calculations about how long ago Elizabeth might have texted with Chuck and how fast he could reach Charlotte's if leaving from his place. I calculated that if Elizabeth had texted from outside Charlotte's apartment he might be as close as five minutes away, but if not until we reached the restaurant it might be more like twenty-minutes from now.

I wanted to just get back in my car and drive over there, but knew it was more important to warn Jane first. I called and four agonizing rings later, Jane finally picked up.

"Bill, what's going on? Is Lizzy coming back here?"

"Worse. I think she told Chuck and he's on his way to you now."

There was silence and I was about to ask if she heard me when I heard Jane speaking to Charlotte. "Bill says Chuck's on his way here, now. What do I do?"

I couldn't here Charlotte's reply, but offered "I can come back and warn him off."

Jane relayed my offer to Charlotte and then after Charlotte must have made her reply Jane said "We're gonna call the police, but come if you want."

"Okay," I responded and then it occurred to me that I hadn't paid my bill.

I dashed inside, plucking three twenties from my wallet to cast down on the table. The food looked oh so good but I hadn't time for a single bite. However inspiration struck and I exchanged the twenties for my napkin and grabbed my bacon.

"Bill, what are you-"

"Gotta go." I dashed out again, paying no heed to her shouted questions. I figured Elizabeth was smart enough to figure it out.

The time it took to call up my GPS and reselect the address was maddening, but in less than a minute I was on my way. All sorts of scenarios flashed through my mind about what I might find. It took all of my self-control not to go more than five over the speed limit, to stop at the yellow light that had almost gone red. I figured getting pulled over for a traffic violation would delay me further still. At the light I crunched on my two strips of bacon and nothing could have tasted better, but I did regret the lack of water.

I hurried on my way. Would Chuck be there? Was he even now pounding on Charlotte's door and demanding to speak to Jane? Would he be meek and conciliatory, or demanding and half insane? Perhaps he wouldn't come at all, had driven partway and then thought the better of the whole thing. Surely he wouldn't disobey a court order, even a temporary ex-parte one, would he?

The Chuck I thought I knew would have done no such thing, but we were far beyond that Chuck. The man who was helping her sister acquire another victim, who had strangled his fiancee, was a stranger, a complete unknown.