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gun leveled at the van, barely considering the consequences of
firing his weapon.His training takes over, causing his eyes to
automatically focus on the license plate before the van rounds the corner and
disappears onto Dorchester Avenue. T-H-X-4-R-B-R—got it, I’ll be seein’ ya
soon.
     
    *   *   *
     
    Beth gazes through
the window, watching Elliot bolt across the front lawn. Not what I had in
mind, but it’ll do. Beth opens the closet.She reaches for the boxes
stacked on a shelf above the neatly hung clothing.Opening the boxes,
she finds one with letters and two half photos.Beth takes a picture of
the top item inside each box with her phone’s camera.She retrieves
three rubber bands out of a zippered pocket and then takes the contents from
each box, bands them and stows them in her purse.After closing the
closet door, she checks the bed. Nothing under the mattress. Beth
smooths the wrinkles again and checks under the bed.“Nothing,” Beth
says, sighing.“Not even a cobweb.” I better go check on Elliot.
    “Did you get the
plate?” Beth asks approaching Elliot at the curb.
    “Yeah, take it
down so we can run it.”
    Pulling out her
pad, Beth asks, “What is it?”
    “T-H-X-4-R-B-R.”
    “Hey, do you
realize what this says when it is written down?Thanks for rubber.” Beth
tries to ignore the humor for Elliot’s sake.
    Elliot kicks the curb.
    “Where’s Mrs.
Freedman?”
    “She went back
inside to get you and lock up.” Elliot circles his car, inspecting for damage. Left the siren … figures. The felt pad was still in its place.“She
offered to give us a ride back to the office,” Elliot says, emotionally
disconnected.
    The mirth vanishes
from Beth’s face unnoticed as she screams inside. I’m not riding anywhere
with that woman !
    “I called the
dealership, and they can’t make it out here until four.”
    “Elliot, why don’t
you use the Triple A card?I’m sure if I slipped them extra cash they
would take the car wherever you want,”
    “Are you kidding?No one touches this car but Howard.”
    “Who’s Howard?”
    “My car’s
mechanic.”
    “Unbelievable.”
    Mrs. Freedman
comes out of the house and approaches Elliot to comfort him.
    Surprised it is
possible, Beth feels her frustration rise a level.
    “ There is
nothing more we can do here,” Mrs. Freedman says.“Your car will be
fine; let me take you two back to your office.”
    “We hate to burden
you—Iwill phone a cab.It will be no problem,” Beth says in a
calm, sweet, yet genuine voice.
    “I insist.”
    Elliot nudges
Beth’s arm.“Isn’t that Sarah pulling onto this street?”
    “Yeah,”Beth
answers in awe.“How does she do that?”
    “I don’t know,”
Elliot says.“But it never fails.”
    “Thank you for the
kind offer, Mrs. Freedman, but it appears a friend has arrived,” Beth says,
shaking Mrs. Freedman’s hand while bidding her a good day. Elliot can finish
dealing with her.
    Sarah parks her
truck and jogs across the street to meet Beth. Her long blond ponytail bounces
as her radiant smile beams below her bright blue eyes framed with bangs.She
is wearing an oversized blue sweatshirt and blue jeans. “Need a lift?” she asks
in a crisp New England accent.
    Beth gives her a
curious grin.“OK, ‘fess up.You’ve got a GPS tracking device on
us somewhere.Right?”
    “Yeah, that’s it.Like I’ve got the money for that.” Sarah laughs.
    Beth considers her
friend. She could have lots of money if she would take any of my advice. But
no, not Sarah, she’s got to give it all away.
    “Hey kid!” Elliot
says as he approaches Sarah and gives her a hug.Elliot nicknamed Sarah
“Kid” because she has a sweet innocence about her.Usually, it is only
found in children.“How’d you find us this time?”
    “Normally, I stay
on Columbia, but today I felt an urge to turn right onto Dorchester,” she
explains.“Out of the corner of my eye I saw a shiny red car, and I had
to check it out.”
    “Wow, you