Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [121]
“Not really but I guess I owe you some kind of explanation. Something happened a long time ago. Jane and I were getting our master’s at Boston University . . .”
Ten minutes later, she finished her story. “They never found the money.”
“I remember hearing about that. You’re right, it was a long time ago.”
“Then a year or so later, maybe it was two,” Annie said vaguely, “the money was returned. Half of it. Not too long ago, the rest was returned. Plus interest. That wasn’t the end of it, though. Newman kept after the three of us. Just recently the kid, well, he’s a man now, got out of prison. Newman called to warn us that the bank robber was, for want of a better word, after us. The guy seems to think if the money had been returned, he would have gotten a lighter jail term. He boasted that he knows what the three of us do, twenty-four hours a day. I think it was him following me the other night, and I sure as hell think it was him early this morning. Who would want to blow up my house? Who doesn’t care about the lives of innocent people? No one I know, that’s for sure. That’s where it all is right now.”
“Is the case closed?”
“It’s been closed. The insurance company and the bank signed off on it. To my knowledge, no one lost a penny.”
“That’s some story.”
“Story, my foot. Try living it. Turn left here and just stop by the Delta door. I can manage, and don’t lecture me. This is something I want to do. The stewardess that’s bringing him said she’d meet me at the baggage area.”
“You shouldn’t be walking, Annie.”
“I’m not. I’m hopping.”
Clay reached for a cigarette from the console, his eyes on the wide double doors. He saw her stop for a moment to peer into the little canvas bag. A smile brighter than the September sunshine spread across her face. In that one brief second he wished with all his heart that the earth had moved when he kissed her.
“Oooh, oooh, wait till you see this little guy. Is he precious or what? Oh, look, he loves me. Kisses, kisses. You poor little thing. All that way in that little bag. Want to hold him? Just for a minute. We don’t want him bonding with either one of us. He’s Daisy’s pup. He’s so warm and soft. Look at those eyes. Oh, he’s shaking. I have to cuddle him. Doncha just love him? I want one of these,” Annie babbled.
“I never saw such a tiny dog. How much does he weigh? He’s a fur ball. What do you think, Jake?”
Jake leaned over the seat to sniff the little creature. Then he started to lick the puppy’s head and his paws.
“Guess he likes him,” Annie said. “He weighs about two pounds now and will probably go to five. Just right for a little girl. I already got him a bright red leash and collar with his name on it. It’s Charlemagne. Charlie for short. Oh, look, he came with his own toy and blanket. We’re going to have to wash them first, and there’s a letter from my friend Cher. I guess it’s for Daisy so we shouldn’t read it. Oh, he’s asleep. Okay, we can go now. When we get to Toys Us you are going to have to go in and get the wagon. Try and get one that’s put together unless you want to do it. Well, maybe Tom will do it but he’s not good at stuff like that. He taught me how to hot-wire a car.”
“What!”
“Yeah. I learned all kinds of things from him and his friends. Man they could swear up a storm. They were always getting into trouble. I was a model of decorum.”
Clay laughed. “Tell me where to turn.”
“Right at the next light. Will Jake stay with me?”
“Sure. He knows I’ll be back. He can tell the difference between being left behind and being left in a car while I get something in the store. I told you he was smart. What are you going to do now, Annie?”
“I don’t know. Move to Australia. Europe. Like Scarlett said, I’ll think about it tomorrow. Right now Elmo and Daisy are my top priorities.”
“Listen, Annie, what happened tonight . . . early this morning, is not funny. People could have been killed. I can call some of my old friends from the Bureau. Not active