Finding Sarah by Terry Odell Page B

plenty of real-life
stuff to keep me busy.”
    Randy nodded. A new computer and
paying for broadband were probably unnecessary luxuries given her current
financial status. “I know what you mean. I spend enough time on the computer at
work.”
    “Well, I do play a few games. But
not on line. Just me and my computer.” She tilted her head. “What should I be
doing about the break-in?”
    “I suggest tomorrow, first thing,
get a locksmith in here. That lock on your front door is barely adequate and
the one on your back porch is worse. Change them and make sure you get good
deadbolts. And see if the owners will put a security system on the foyer door.
There’s no excuse for such easy access to the building.”
    Sarah nodded.
    “And, I’d like to make sure he
didn’t bug your phone.”
    Sarah’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
    “Another precaution, but if
nothing was taken, maybe something was left. If the landlady can let the techs
in, you don’t have to be here.”
    Her head slumped into her hands. “Whatever.”
    “Look, it’s getting late. You
haven’t had anything to eat, and neither have I. Let’s get some food, and I’ll
tell you what I found out.”
    Damn. He wanted to surround her
and crush her to him, protect her from all the evil in the world. Instead, he
looked at her with what he hoped was a professional expression. “What do you
feel like eating? Italian? Thai? Barbecue?”
    “I don’t know. I’ll let you pick.”
She made no move to get up from the chair.
    Randy stepped beside her and
pulled her up. His hands touched hers and that tightness in his chest came
back. Her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, held that same trust he’d seen
when he first met her. He was a heartbeat away from breaking every rule in the
book when doorbell chimes, followed by Maggie’s voice, shattered the moment.
Thank God. What was he thinking?
    “Sarah? It’s Maggie.”
    Sarah worked her hands from Randy’s
grasp. “I’m coming, Maggie. Just a second.” Swiping the back of her hand across
her eyes, she hurried to the door.
    “Hello, sweetie. I know you didn’t
have lunch today and I figured the two of you would be busy looking for clues,
so I nuked some of my lasagna.” She bustled past Sarah into the kitchen and set
the casserole on the stove. “If you wait two minutes, I’ve got some salad, too.
And some brownies for dessert. Nothing like chocolate to get the brain in gear,
I always say.” She was almost out the door when she turned back and looked at
Randy. “I brought enough for both of you, of course.”
    “How can I resist? It smells
wonderful,” he said.
    “Please join us,” Sarah said. “It
looks like more than enough for three.”
    “Nonsense. I don’t have anything
more in the way of clues to offer. Besides, Othello and I are going to watch a
movie on the tube tonight. Thomasina . He absolutely adores it.” And she
was out the door.
    “She is something else,” Randy
said to Sarah.
    “That she is. But she’s a
wonderful something else. After David died, I don’t know what I would have done
without her. She took care of so much. And she is a great cook. Why don’t
you set the table while I get some rolls?” She indicated a cabinet.
    Maggie was back with the salad
and brownies before Randy had finished laying out the silverware. After depositing
the food with Sarah, Maggie went to the living room and returned with the bowl
of silk flowers from Sarah’s entry. She plopped the bowl down in the center of
the dining table. “You make sure she eats,” she said, giving him a stern look,
then whisked away. Randy stared after her, shaking his head.
    “So, let’s eat,” Sarah said. She
sat down and Randy was glad to see she’d served herself a portion almost as
generous as the one she gave him. The two ate their lasagna, their silence
paying tribute to Maggie’s cooking. When they finished, Sarah suggested coffee
and dessert in the living room.
    “It’ll have to be decaf,”