A Case of the Heart (18 page)

“Well it sure isn’t because of the guys we’ve dated.” Brenda found the paramedic who brought the baby in to find out more information.

“How much does she weigh?” Liz stared at the tiny chest expanding and contracting.

“Almost four pounds,” the paramedic answered as she wrote some notes on a folder. She set the clipboard on her large chest as she wrote.

“Do you think she’ll be all right?” Liz asked hopefully, still looking at the baby.

The medic let out a breath through her big red painted lips. “She has a chance, but with little body fat, no clothes and the moisture from the last snow, she’s lucky someone found her so quickly, or she wouldn’t be here.”

She started writing again, and Liz watched the little bundle as she waited for Brenda to find out where the mother’s room was. “She’s in 204, and her parents are in the waiting area. I knew you’d want to speak to her alone.”

“Thanks, Brenda. How’s she doing?”

“Not well. She gave birth alone in a field. She walked to the nearest road to get a ride to the hospital. She’s weak and scared.”

“Okay, I’ll try not to take too much time with her. I know she needs her rest.”

“Yes, but you need some answers.” Brenda pointed in the direction of the room and went to the nurse’s station.

When Liz walked into her room, the girl opened her eyes. She was hooked up to a monitoring system and an intravenous bag.

The dark-haired girl was a little heavy, maybe from the pregnancy, but it looked like that was her natural body structure. Her eyes had large dark bags under them, and her face was drawn.

Liz introduced herself and started in with questions. “How are you feeling, Megan?”

“Better. Thanks. How’s Christina?” A slight smile appeared hesitantly, as if she didn’t know if she should have said the name.

Liz was surprised and glad to hear she’d given the baby a name. That was a good sign this girl had been scared, not heartless.

“You’ve named the baby?” Liz took a few steps closer to the bed.

“Even if I don’t get to keep her, she still needs a name.” Megan waited for Liz’s response with unwavering eyes.

“I agree.” Liz gave her a warm smile, feeling Megan’s sense of uncertain motherly instinct.

Megan’s shoulders sagged as she let out a breath of relief. Liz sat down on a burgundy cushioned stool with wheels and asked her more questions, going through the whole incident to get all the details.

“I just panicked when the baby actually started to come. It was like it was finally real, I’d been ignoring it, wishing it away until I felt the pain.” Megan rubbed her face. The exhaustion showing in her dark eyes.

“Why did you leave her?”

Megan hesitated, and Liz waited quietly. “I didn’t know what to do.” She looked away, but Liz remained silent. “And I didn’t want to embarrass my parents. They’re both lawyers, and they’re never home.”

“Where’s the baby’s father?”

“He goes to my school.” Her eyes misted, and she looked down. “But he doesn’t want her, or me. I don’t know what to do.” She looked up at the ceiling as tears rolled down her face.

“I don’t know either, Megan. But there is one who does.”

Megan blinked the tears away and looked at Liz.

“Do you ever pray, Megan?”

“I don’t know. No. We don’t go to church much, only holidays like Christmas. I don’t know how I could pray now. Especially now.”

“This is the perfect time.” Liz smiled and patted her hand. Megan returned the smile and leaned her head back against the pillow. Liz knew it was time for her to go.

“The police will be here at some point and we’ll all work together to help you figure out what’s best for you and Christina.”

Liz was just finishing her conversation with the teen mother when Dixon walked in, all six-feet-two-inches of him with full gear and a toothpick firmly between his teeth. Liz groaned. She took a deep breath and turned to him.

“I’ll take it from here, Adams.” Dixon moved his hand up to her arm and moved Liz out of the way to walk past. It was a small thing, but it was enough to make her take a stand. She didn’t want Megan to become any more upset than she already was.

Liz took a step toward him. “I’m in the middle of something here, Dixon.”

“We’re supposed to do the questioning together,” he answered in a condescending tone as a feral grin seeped across his face, and his eyes narrowed.

Liz was in no mood for any grief from Dixon. She felt Megan needed someone with a softer touch to talk with her about her situation. “I’m almost finished. Then you can question her, but she’s tired so make it fast.”

The look of shock on his face gave her great satisfaction. His eyebrows lifted and he actually moved back a bit. She’d never spoken bluntly to him. Maybe she’d learned how to earn some respect from the crotchety old cop.

Liz turned back to Megan, trying to regain composure. “I need to talk with your parents so I’ll let Officer Dixon ask you a few questions, if you’re up to it.” Megan nodded wearily, and Liz left to find her parents.

Megan had told her they knew nothing of the pregnancy. She had carried the baby for over seven months without their knowledge. The mother, an attractive brown-eyed blond, held a certain prominence that demanded respect even as she grieved over the situation. Her father, much the same in his demeanor, had dark hair and eyes.

“Mr. and Mrs. Page, I’m Liz Adams from DSS. The police called me because the baby was left unattended. I’m glad your daughter came in to receive treatment for herself and the baby.”

“We would have gotten treatment sooner had we known.” Mrs. Page commented without making eye contact.

“If you need anything further, please let me know, I’d be glad to help.”

“I wish she would have told us.” Mrs. Page wiped her red blotchy eyes.

Mr. Page patted his wife on the back, his face taunt and eyes strained. “I think it would be best if they both just came home for now, although I don’t know how we’ll manage with a baby in the house.”

“The baby will be here for a while. Maybe that will give you all some time to prepare before they come home. I suggest your family gets some counseling to get you all through this.”

Mrs. Page cried and her husband tried to console her, whispering in her ear and rubbing her back.

“Thanks,” he said to Liz. His voice caught as he turned away.

Liz gave him her card and encouraged them to call, then left them alone.

Brenda and Liz walked to the nurse’s station. Liz told the head nurse to notify the Department of Social Services if anything happened before the social worker assigned to the case came the next morning. Liz decided it would be best to just exchange write-ups with Dixon. It was time the PD knew her feelings about working with him.

Liz made some calls. She found a space in a home for unwed mothers and contacted an adoption agency just in case either was needed.

Her cell phone rang and she recognized Alex’s number.

“Did we have plans tonight?” she asked in a hopeful tone.

“Not officially, but I was hoping, until I heard you got the call at Denver General. How’s the baby?”

She sat by the nurse’s station and slid down into the seat, half listening to Brenda and the nurse talk about Dixon. “Not so good. At least they found her as quickly as they did. She’s got a chance if she’s a fighter.” Liz paused. “You’re doing well keeping tabs on me.”

“Until you can stay out of trouble, I’ll have to.”

“It might be a little tough tonight.”

“Why?” His voice was controlled but anxious.

“I’m working with Dixon on this case.”

“When will you be done?”

She could hear something sizzling on the stove and the game playing in the background. She wanted to be there with him. “I shouldn’t be too long. I’ll call you when I’m through.”

“Just hang in there and stick to business. And stop by on your way home.” He wasn’t asking, he was telling—especially the part about Dixon.

She’d never been to Alex’s apartment before. Everything they were doing made it appear as though they were exclusive. Liz didn’t know if she was ready for that.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Alex lived in an older neighborhood past the Capital Hill area, south of downtown. Driving through the Cheeseman Park area and further east, she saw manicured landscaping, small homes and apartments. Some were stucco, others large stone or painted brick. They were all unique and well cared for.

Liz found his building and walked up to the enclosed foyer then punched his apartment number on the keypad. She was starting to feel comfortable getting together with him. She was beginning to know what to expect of him and herself when she was with him.

He buzzed her in, and she took the elevator to the top floor.

There were only two apartments on the top level. The door was slightly open, but she still knocked before walking in.

Alex greeted her and shut the door. “Can’t be too safe. You never know who might walk through your door,” he teased. “How’d things go?”

Liz took off her jacket and looked around the room. “Good, everyone’s taken care of—for now anyway. Dixon was on his best behavior.”

Liz was impressed with Alex’s decorating taste. A bit surprised, in fact. A huge L-shaped leather couch sat in the middle of the family room, in front of a big screen where the Nuggets game was blaring.

He turned down the volume, then went into the kitchen where he was cooking up something that smelled of garlic and a hint of lemon.

Liz was already in the next room before she comprehended that her curiosity had gotten the best of her. “Mind if I take a look around?”

The modern kitchen had overhead lighting and white cabinets with glass doors. He’d made the spare bedroom into an office decorated with fine wood furniture. She ran her hand along the side of the big oak desk, scanning the Denver sports team pictures on the walls and a case full of books. He had everything from Edgar Allan Poe to the Avalanche hockey team winning the Stanley cup. At least he was diversified.

It was too dark to get a good look, but his ceiling to floor windows faced the mountains and she bet the view was spectacular.

“You’ve got a talent for decorating. I bet you have a great view.” She looked out toward the mountains as if she could see them. It was pitch black except for an occasional light tower from the top of Lookout Mountain.

“I have to admit it is stunning in the daylight. But it has a different view at night that’s equally amazing.” He walked over to the wall and turned off the lights in the kitchen and family room. Then he came over and stood next to Liz, touching her arm as he pointed.

Her senses awakened drawing more of her attention to his closeness rather than what he was describing. They looked down to the parking lot, twelve floors below. The cars looked like toys from that height. No snow was falling, but small drifts stood at the edges of the spaces where cars had parked.

Alex pointed upward. Liz looked up to see a million stars twinkling down in the night sky clear and black as velvet.

“That’s beautiful,” she whispered, admiring the still blackness of the night sky.

“Come sit down. It’s ready,” he announced proudly.

“What’s for dinner?” Liz situated herself onto a barstool. She had the comfortable feeling of being a wife just getting home from a hard day’s work.

“Taste for yourself.” He handed her a plate with sautéed shrimp and mixed vegetables. Liz was famished and didn’t hold back, enjoying every bite.

“I had the impression you were a good cook.” Liz stirred her broccoli. The small infant in the hospital popped into her mind. “That baby looked so small in that dark, lonely room.”

“We do what we can, Liz. That baby and mother couldn’t have been in better hands with you on the case.” His smile was genuine and his words were exactly what she needed to hear.

They finished the dishes and went to the couch. She took off her shoes and curled her legs under her. Liz wondered for the hundredth time why such a great guy would still be single. The unknown made her imagination go wild. For whatever reason, Liz felt she had to know.

“Alex, why did you move back to Denver?” She had averted her eyes but now looked up. His large, baby blues held on hers. “I don’t mean to pry. I just want to know about you.”

He studied her face, then looked to the floor. “I want to keep my life in Chicago there, where it belongs.”

“I’m sorry, Alex. It’s none of my business.”

He shook his head, looking at her with sad eyes. “No, it’s okay. Your reason for wanting to know is for the right reasons. I’m so used to all the gossip. I’ve tried to keep my private life quiet.” He looked deeper into her eyes. “And I trust you.”

She gave him a small, tender smile and remained quiet.

He moved his elbows to rest on his thighs and leaned forward. “Her name was Sharon. We met through mutual friends and hit it off right away. I had never felt so good about a relationship before and was considering marriage. I thought she felt the same way. Her job as a buyer for an upscale department store kept us comfortable while I finished college, and after I got a job with the police department, things seemed perfect.”