Cold feet(24)
Author: Brenda Novak

Madison paced the floor of her living room, with the movie Chocolat on her DVD player, wondering what she should do. She felt a headache coming on, was exhausted from her busy day and her lack of sleep the night before, but she couldn’t let herself rest. Neither could she concentrate on the movie. She had to make a decision about that box before her mother’s neighbor started clearing out the crawl space.

House for sale…Nightmare in the making…

Madison rubbed her temples, hoping to ward off her headache. Her mother’s neighborhood was a mixed bag of brick, wood and stucco homes, the timeless and well-maintained next to the old and dilapidated. But it was close to the university, had appealing narrow streets, rows of tall shady trees and, like the ivy-covered, redbrick buildings of the campus, gave the impression of traditional values and old money. Her mother’s place should sell right away–except for the fact that it was the home of an alleged murderer and the location of a suicide. That would draw more curiosity seekers and ghouls than serious buyers.

The telephone rang, startling her. Snatching up the receiver so the sound wouldn’t wake Brianna, she murmured a soft "Hello?" She’d expected it to be Danny again. Brianna had called him before bed to tell him about the praying mantis. Caleb was letting her keep it in her room until Monday, when she planned to take it to school to show the class.

"Sorry to bother you." It was Caleb Trovato. Madison knew instantly because of the flutter of excitement in her belly. "I saw your lights on and thought you might be hungry," he said. "I just ordered a pizza. Would you like to share it with me?"

Instinctively, Madison moved toward the window to peer through the wooden shutters she’d closed when she heard Caleb pull into the drive an hour or so earlier. She saw him standing at his living room window, one hand holding the phone to his ear, the other propped against the wall as he gazed out. She knew he’d seen her peeking at him when he smiled and gave her a small salute.

Closing the shutters, Madison stepped quickly away. Attractive didn’t begin to describe Caleb Trovato, which was a big problem. She couldn’t afford to get involved with anyone right now, least of all someone so smooth. Earlier this afternoon, he’d neutralized Brianna’s resentment of him in just a few hours. And he’d charmed them both at the ice cream parlor. Given enough time and privacy, imagine what he could do with a lonely divorcee….

"I’ve already eaten," she said. "But I appreciate the offer."

"I was actually looking for company more than anything," he replied. "It’s Saturday night, after all, and I don’t know anyone in the immediate area."

Plotting to cover up her father’s misdeeds was by nature a rather solitary endeavor, Madison thought sarcastically. "It’s getting late…."

"It’s only ten o’clock."

She could tell that "no" wasn’t an answer Caleb heard very often. But she wasn’t particularly concerned about his potential loneliness. She was more worried about insuring her life and Brianna’s remained on a calm and even course. No extreme ups and downs. Just thoughtful decisions, solid parenting and a strong work ethic–no matter how good he looked standing in that window.

"Let me be honest, Caleb," she said. "You’ve been very nice, and…and I really appreciate all the work you did in the yard today and the ice cream and all that. But I’d prefer to compensate you for your time and effort in rent or meals rather than feel obligated to you in…other ways."

"Obligated to me?"

He obviously didn’t like the sound of that. Perhaps determination had prompted her to state her position a little too bluntly. "I feel bad turning you down after what you’ve done," she said. "But my life’s a bit complicated. I’m a single mom, trying to run a business. I’m not interested in seeing anyone."

"I’m not asking for a relationship," he said, his tone slightly affronted. "I’m moving back to San Francisco at the end of my lease, so I won’t be around long, anyway. I was just hoping we could be friends while I’m here."

She thought of how much she’d enjoyed their time together in the yard today and later at the ice cream parlor, and had to admit that being Caleb’s friend was pretty tempting. Most of the friends she’d known growing up had either abandoned her or turned on her when the investigation destroyed her father’s good name and reputation. Rhonda, her best friend since grade school, had hung in through the initial years–until the police became more and more convinced that Ellis was indeed their killer. Then she’d started pressuring Madison to assist in the investigation. She’d said she owed it to the women of Seattle. But when Madison had refused to do anything that could hurt her father, even Rhonda began to distance herself.

"You don’t have any problems with being friends, do you?" Caleb asked.

"Of course not," Madison said. "I just don’t want to mislead you. As long as you understand my feelings, I’m perfectly okay with hanging out once in a while."

"Good. Sounds like we agree. So how ’bout a slice of pizza? It should be here any minute."

Madison smiled, thinking a distraction might actually be good for her. She couldn’t do anything about that box at her mother’s house until Brianna was staying with her father next weekend, anyway.

"Bring it over whenever you’re ready," she said.

CHAPTER EIGHT

THAT COMMENT HE’D MADE on the phone about being friends really bothered Caleb. He took friendship seriously. Most of his friends had outlasted his two marriages. But at this point he had to use every avenue available to him to get close to Madison. Susan’s life was possibly hanging in the balance, and Caleb was getting desperate. After spending a couple of hours down at the station with Detective Gibbons this evening, he’d learned that, so far, the hair and fiber analysis from the samples collected at Susan’s apartment had yielded exactly nothing. All the hairs belonged to Susan or Holly or someone else who had a reason to be there. No unusual fibers, foot imprints or fingerprints offered any clues. And the forensics team had sprayed the apartment with luminol and determined that there wasn’t any blood there, either.

Whatever happened to Susan had probably happened elsewhere. That fact had to be established, of course, but it was a very small step forward when they had no body, no crime scene, no suspect and no leads. They hadn’t even found Susan’s car….

A knock at the door told Caleb that the pizza had finally arrived. He handed the deliveryman thirty bucks, grabbed the pizza box and a bottle of wine he’d purchased on his way home, and headed directly to Madison’s. With Brianna in bed asleep, he hoped this might be a good time to talk to her mom. Maybe he could persuade Madison to have a glass of wine, relax….