Best Defense by Randy Rawls Page A

First thing, if the kidnappers had not made contact, would be to go by Ashley’s school and conduct some interviews. Maybe I could unearth something the police had missed, or trigger some forgotten detail. After that, I could canvas near the school with the picture, hoping the woman stopped somewhere along the line and would be remembered. Meager plans, but all I had.
    After drying my hair, I slipped into a large T-shirt and a pair of men’s boxer shorts, my favorite sleeping attire. Not what I’d use if David were there, but he was in California, and I was in South Florida. I might as well be comfortable. A few minutes later, I was in bed, and sleep pushed everything away.
    _____
    Somewhere far away church bells rang, and the sound irritated me. I wanted to shut them off, to tell them to quit clanging those damn clappers. There they went again. Shrill—too shrill. Not church bells.
    My eyes flew open, and I registered the sound again. My bedside phone. I squinted at the caller ID and recognized Mom’s number.
    â€œMom? What is it?”
    â€œI … I’m sorry to wake you. I just don’t know what else to do, who else I could call. I can’t bother Harve. I mean, he has to go to work in the morning. He needs his sleep with that tough job he has. And you know Dolores is no help. She’s a sweet daughter-in-law, and she gave me two wonderful grandchildren, but—”
    â€œMom. You’re babbling. What’s wrong?”
    Harve is my brother, Delores his wife. They are Mom’s favorites, even though they live in Wisconsin. And, of course, his job was more important than anything I did. They had two kids while all I had was a failed marriage to Sonny-the-Bunny. The divorce was the reason I was in Florida. Texas wasn’t big enough for the two of us.
    Sonny-the-Bunny? I nicknamed him that because of our bedroom encounters. You can fill in the blanks. But that’s not why we divorced. I caught him playing his rabbit tricks with a doe other than me. I’m big on monogamy—especially in a husband.
    â€œI misjudged him, Beth. He acted like such a gentleman at first.”
    â€œWho, Mom? Slow down and tell me the whole story. Take a deep breath and start at the top.”
    She inhaled, then exhaled into the mouthpiece, causing me to push the phone away from my ear. “The man I’ve been dating is sitting in his car outside. We’ve been out three, no four times. He’s nice, fun to be with, but not … well, not someone I have that kind of interest in, if you get my drift.”
    I got her drift. No sex.
    â€œAnyway, tonight he wanted to come inside when he brought me home. I said no. We both knew what he wanted, and I didn’t want to play. He got mad and said he wasn’t leaving until I put out . Now he’s parked across the street, a couple of houses down the block. He’s been there for three hours.”
    I looked at the clock—three a.m. That meant he’d been there since eleven, Dallas time. “Call the police. Tell them you have a stalker. They’ll flush him out.”
    â€œBeth, I’m not a stupid teenager. I did call. They sent a patrol car, but when it came down the street, Lanny drove off. Thirty minutes later, he was back.”
    â€œLanny? That’s his name?”
    â€œYes. Lanny Strudnocker. And don’t start on me. It’s a perfectly good name.”
    I muffled a snicker. When this was over, I’d make sure she paid for this one. Imagine, my mother out with a Strudnocker. I’d never let her live it down.
    â€œAnd he’s there now?”
    â€œYes, and I’m afraid he’ll break in. He …” She took a deep breath. “He had a bottle in the car. If he’s drinking … What do I do if he tries to force his way in?”
    Time for me to pay better attention. Mom was serious. “Do you still have that .38 revolver in your nightstand?”
    â€œYes …