Indemnity: Book Two: Covenant of Trust Series (34 page)

“
Colin?” Chuck asked gently.

“
I quit my job yesterday.” Smudges of make-up darkened her eyes, and Chuck noticed the wrinkles in her blouse. She hadn’t dressed for work after all. She was still wearing yesterday’s clothes.

“
You can find another one. You’re a good lawyer.”

“
I’m not good at anything,” Tracy muttered. “A total, uh ...” She closed her eyes and tapped the counter. “Mess. There. I’ll keep it G-rated for you.”

“
Have you been here all day drinking?”

“
As far as I know.”

“
You took Jack to daycare, though, didn’t you?”

“
Jack?” She grabbed Chuck’s wrist, panic in her eyes. “You won’t tell him, will you?”

“
Don’t worry about Jack.” Chuck pulled his arm away, and then started opening cabinets looking for a glass. He settled for one of Jack’s plastic cups, and filled it with water from the sink. “Here, you need water, not more bourbon.” He took the bottle from the counter and handed her the cup of water. “Have you eaten today?”

She sipped the water and winced. “I don’t think so.”

“
You got bread?”

“
Yeah, up there somewhere.” Tracy waved a hand in the general direction of the corner cabinet.

Chuck, surprised that she was right, got two slices and dropped them in her toaster. “Where’s your silverware?”

“
That drawer,” she answered, pointing behind him.

He kicked the empty bottle out of the way, and got the margarine from the refrigerator just before the toast popped up. “Plates?”

“
Up here.” Tracy got off the barstool, steadying herself, and reached into the cabinet above her head. She handed Chuck a plate, and eased herself carefully back onto the stool. “You’re gonna make me eat that, aren’t you?”

“
No,” Chuck answered. “But you should.” He buttered each slice of toast and set the plate on the counter in front of Tracy. “Did you drive Jack to daycare like this?”

“
No. I was in pretty good shape this morning.” She took a bite of the toast. “Except for the headache.”

“
You pass out on the couch last night?”

“
You know, I don’t think I want to answer any more questions.” She stuffed most of the piece of toast in her mouth.

Chuck stepped back out into the entry hall, where Glen was waiting. “Call Laurie and tell her Jack won’t be there this afternoon.”

“
How’s Tracy?”

“
Very, very drunk,” Chuck answered. He got the cordless phone from the living room and carried it back to Tracy. “Here. Call the school and tell them Jack’s going home with Bobbi.”

“
Why?”

“
He can’t see you like this, and you are in no condition to go get him.”

She took the phone from him, and blinking to focus, she dialed Stoneburner’s number. “Yes, this is Tracy Ravenna, Jack’s mother. He’s in Mrs. ... uh ... Stillman’s class. I’ve had something come up, and I need him to go home with Mrs. Molinsky instead of ...” She rolled her wrist as she fumbled for words. “Of the ... of getting on the bus. Thank you.” She clicked the phone off and handed it back to Chuck. “Satisfied?”

“
Now what are we going to do with you?” Chuck laid the phone on the counter.

“
Go away and leave me alone, perhaps?” When Chuck scowled, she added, “It was just a thought.”

“
Honestly, I’m afraid to leave you here alone.”

“
Well, you can’t stay with me. I gave you a chance at that seven years ago.”

Chuck ignored her and began picking up pieces of glass, and stacking and straightening the papers. “How many glasses did you break exactly?”

“
Six, maybe. I don’t know.” Although Chuck was trying not to read any of the papers, one letter from the law office of J. J. Dailey caught his eye. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Before he could remember who Dailey was, Tracy spoke. “Look, I’ll be fine, I promise.”

“
Is there any more liquor in the house?”

“
Just that,” she said, pointing to the bottle on the counter.

“
Give me your car keys,” Chuck said, holding out his hand.

“
You’re not serious.”

“
I am. I’ll check on you tomorrow. Maybe I’ll give them back then.”

“
And if I don’t give you my keys?”

“
You’ll get to spend the next seventy-two hours in the locked ward at Christian Hospital.”

Tracy’s eyes narrowed. “You’re bluffing.”

Chuck picked up the phone. “Try me.”

“
You don’t have grounds.”

“
You’re a danger to yourself, and I bet you threatened Colin yesterday, which makes you a danger to others.”

“
It’s your word against mine.”

“
Glen’s here, too. An unbiased third party. A minister.”

Tracy gave him a bleary-eyed stare, and then carefully slid off the barstool. “I don’t even know where my keys are,” she grumbled.

“
You look for them then. I’ll wait.”

“
Are you this obnoxious with your wife or do you save it up for me?” Tracy steadied herself by holding tightly to the counter, and made her way through the kitchen, and out into the hallway. She stumbled and gripped the doorframe. “Mr. Dillard,” she said, holding out a hand. “I’m pleased to meet you at last. Things are not as bad as Chuck makes them sound.” She glanced back at Chuck. “He has a tendency to overreact.”

Glen shook Tracy’s hand gently, careful not to throw her off balance. “Ms. Ravenna, what can I do to help?”

“
Do you see a briefcase anywhere? I think my keys are in it. Chuck is taking my keys away from me.”

“
Over by the couch. Wait here.” Glen brought the satchel from the living room.

“
Ah, yes. Thank you.” She opened one of the outer compartments, and fished out a key ring. “There they are.”

“
Do you want to sit down again?” Glen asked. “You look a little unsteady.”

“
I am quite unsteady, Mr. Dillard, thank you.” She took his hand and he eased her down to sit on the steps. She turned and tossed the key ring to Chuck. “Here, now will you go away?”

“
Yes.” Chuck put the keys in his pocket. “If you promise me one thing.”

“
Always a catch with you. What?”

“
Promise me you’ll be here tomorrow when I come back. Promise you won’t do anything desperate, you won’t hurt yourself, or anything like that.”

“
Chuck ... you’re genuinely concerned, aren’t you?” The sarcastic edge was gone from her voice. She pushed her hair back behind her ears. “I promise. I won’t commit suicide in the next twenty-four hours.”

“
You shouldn’t try to cook anything just yet. You need me to order some dinner for you?”

“
No, I think I can make a phone call.”

Glen handed Tracy a business card. “Ms. Ravenna, call me or Laurie if you need anything. Not just tonight, anytime.”

“
Thank you,” Tracy squinted, trying to read the card.

“
You’re sure you’re okay?” Chuck said.

“
Okay enough,” Tracy said.

“
I guess I’ll take that.” Chuck glanced at his watch. “I need to pack Jack’s suitcase.”

“
I think I did that.” Tracy rubbed her temple. “Check his room.”

Chuck had to give her credit. Jack’s suitcase sat by the foot of his bed, all packed and ready for the weekend. He carried it back downstairs and carefully stepped around Tracy. “Do you want me to bring Jack back earlier on Sunday, since I’m getting him a little earlier today?”

“
I don’t want to start counting minutes. Do you?”

“
You sure you’re okay?”

“
I’m gonna sleep this off. Harmless enough for you?”

“
I’m coming back tomorrow.” Chuck opened the front door, while Glen reached to shake Tracy’s hand one more time before they left. Chuck popped his trunk and threw Jack’s suitcase in. “Thank you for meeting me here. I think we did the right thing.”

“
Yeah, but now what?” Glen asked.

“
Depends on how she is tomorrow.”

“
Do you care if I call and check on her?”

“
No, she needs all the help she can get. Maybe you and Laurie can get through to her.” Chuck opened the door of his car. “I’ve got to try to catch Bobbi, and let her know Jack’s coming with her.”

“
Keep me posted, Chuck, and we’ll do the same,” Glen said as he got into his own car.

Chuck waved and dialed Bobbi’s cell phone. School was out now, so she should answer.

“
So what did you find out?” Bobbi asked without saying hello.

“
Not a whole lot yet,” Chuck answered. “She quit her job yesterday afternoon. That guy she’s had at her house did something. That’s what set her off.”

“
Did she say anything about Jack?”

“
No, but she wasn’t entirely coherent.”

“
Drunk?”

“
Yeah, all day from what I could tell, and probably last night, too. I’ll try talking to her again tomorrow. Did you get Jack?”

“
Yes. I’m glad he’s coming home with me. I don’t want him around her if she’s like that. You think she’s an alcoholic?”

“
One binge does not make her an alcoholic,” Chuck said.

“
No, but I think it merits some consideration.”

“
We’ll talk more tonight. I’ll see you at home.”

“
You’re not going back in?”

“
At three o’clock on Friday? No. That’s why it’s good to be the boss.”

“
Daddy’s home early!” Shannon shouted as soon as Chuck walked through the front door. She wrapped her arms around his knees, while Jack watched. “Can we go out for pizza?”

“
Let me talk to Jack first.” Chuck set the suitcase down and kissed Shannon’s forehead. “Come on, Jack. Let’s go in here.” He motioned the boy into the study, and shut the door.

Jack bounced onto the love seat, and wiggled his feet as they dangled off the edge. “Did you go to my house to get my suitcase?”

“
I went to check on your mom.”

Jack stopped wiggling, and raised his head slowly. “Was she still bad?”

“
She wasn’t feeling very good yet, but you look like you’re feeling better.”

“
Mrs. Dad helped me out,” he said.

“
She told me. That’s why I went to your house.” Chuck knelt down in front of Jack. “Your mom had some rotten things happen at work.”

“
She was mad last night,” Jack said quietly.

“
A little too mad?” Chuck asked, and Jack nodded. “I don’t want the judge to say you can’t stay with your mom because she gets too mad—”

“
Will the judge really take me away from my mom?” Jack asked with wide-eyed terror.

“
If she gets mad, and scares you a lot, the judge might think about it. I don’t want that to happen. Your mom needs you, and you need your mom, so we’ve got to help her out. You need to tell me when she gets like that, okay?”

Jack nodded, but then he grew quiet for a long moment. “Why does God let her get like that?”

Chuck blew out a long breath. “That’s a good question. I think maybe when people don’t want to listen to God, He lets them do what they want until they get themselves in big trouble.”

“
I hope my mom’s not going to get in big trouble.”

“
Me too, Jack. Me too.”

Bobbi pulled her pajamas from under her pillow, thankful to bring this day to a close. Jack seemed fine this evening, ate his dinner, and played hard. Maybe this thing with Tracy was an isolated event. Maybe. But she knew it wasn’t.

A binge drinker isn’t made in a day. She wouldn’t keep that much liquor in the house if she didn’t have a problem. Tracy could hide it from Jack, Chuck and everyone else, but it already owned her, and it wouldn’t let go until it destroyed her.

Then what would happen to Jack?

The bedroom door clicked closed, and she flinched.

“
Sorry,” Chuck said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“
I was a million miles away. So what’s the whole story with Tracy?”

“
I told you all I know. The after-shave guy stabbed her in the back, and she quit her job.”

“
I can’t believe that’s it. It’s too simple.”

“
But she thrives on being in control of everything, engineering situations to her advantage. I think it shook her up to have somebody one-up her.”

“
Maybe last night, but I don’t think that explains today’s binge. Anger should have prompted her to plot her revenge.”

“
Well, Dr. Molinsky, I’ll do a more thorough evaluation tomorrow when I check on her.”

Bobbi smiled and shook her head. “I can’t believe you took her car keys and threatened her with the psych ward. What if she’d called you on it?”

“
I would have been in big trouble.”

“
You know, she needs more help than you can give her.”