| Chapter Seven The days flew by and still there was no word from Mrs. Bixby or the police from her hometown. Sara tried not to worry about it, but found that she couldn't rely on the old addage 'No news is good news'. After sliding another sheet of cookies into the oven, she sat at the kitchen table with her hands pillowed in her hands. The events of the past month and a half played themselves over in her head. 'There has to be more that I can do' she thought in despair. It didn't sit well with her to just sit idlely by and wait. With determination firming her resolve, she picked up the phone and dialed her home. She waited impatiently for the phone to be answered, praying that Mrs. Bixby would be home. "Hello" the familiar voice greeted. Tears instantly sprang to her eyes and fell down her cheeks. She hadn't realized how homesick she had been until she heard Mrs. Bixby's voice. "Hello, is anyone there?" "Mrs. Bixby, its me, Sara. I'm sorry I didn't answer right away, it..well to be honest I was hit by a wave of homesickness when I heard your voice." "I miss you to Sara. The house just isn't the same without you" the housekeeper said. They talked of umimportant things for a while before Sara brought up the real reason she had called. "Have you found anything yet?" "No dear, not yet. I've gone through his room and I'm just starting on his office. Why don't you give me the number where you're staying and if I find anything I'll call you." Sara hesitated as she weighed all the consequences of giving her the phone number. Finally she said, "Its area code is 407-625-1172." Mrs. Bixby repeated the number to make sure she written it correctly. "Please, don't give this number to anyone" she urged. "I won't child. Oh before I forget, Mr. Blakely woke for a few minutes yesterday, before falling asleep again. The doctor's think this is a good sign" she informed Sara. "Thank God. I was so worried. Let me know how he's doing and if you find anything" Sara requested before saying her goodbyes and hanging up the phone. ~~****~~ A couple of days later, as Mrs. Bixby was returning from the store, she met Mr. Parker as he was arriving at the house. "Mrs. Bixby, how are you?" he asked politely. "I'm just fine. How about yourself?" she asked as she pulled the bags of groceries out of the car. After exchanging pleasentries, he announced, "I'd better get going. I just thought I'd drop by and see how you were." He tipped his hat and climbed into his car, a sinister smile playing upon his lips. 'That was odd', she thought, 'he didn't even ask about Sara or when she was coming back like he usually does.' Shrugging her shoulders she carried the bags into the house and put the groceries away. Feeling edgy, like she was missing something obvious, she decided to go through the rest of Mr. Parker's office things as soon as she had the time. "You get over there, and search that place from top to bottom. She knows where Sara is, I'd stake my life on it" Jeffery said, all the while imagining what he'd do to his great niece when he got a hold of her. ~~****~~ "Something smells good" AJ said as he entered the kitchen. Sara smiled and offered, "I'm baking cookies. Want one?" Instead of replying, AJ took a couple of cookies and sat down at the table. "Have you heard anything?" he asked as he bit into his second cookie. "I called home today and found out that Mr. Blakely woke up for a few seconds yesterday and then fell back asleep. The doctor's seem to think its a good sign. Other than that, nothing. Mrs. Bixby didn't find anything when she searched his room. Its just so frustrating, all this waiting and not being able to do anything" she said with a sigh. "I've been thinking. Maybe you should talk to a lawyer and see if there isn't anything that you could do to change the will." "I never thought about that, maybe there is something I can do after all" she said with a smile beaming from her face. CHAPTER 8 A few days later with AJ and Kathy along for moral support, Sara stepped into the offices of Sabrina Jones, Attorney at Law. "I'm here to see Ms. Jones, my appointment is at one thirty" she told the receptionist. "Have a seat. Ms. Jones will be with you in a moment." Sara smiled nervously and moved across the room to sit next to AJ. "Are you okay?" he asked, seeing the nervousness in her eyes. Sara nodded her head and replied, "I'm fine, I just wish this was over with." "Ms. Parker, Ms. Jones will see you now" the receptionist announced. She led them into Ms. Jones' office. "Ms. Parker, please have a seat" Ms. Jones said as they entered the room. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice" Sara said as she sat in front of the desk. "It's no problem, why don't you tell me what's brought you here and I'll see if I can help." Sara launched into a long drawn out explaination, including everything from the will, the strange look she had received from her great uncle, the feeling of distrust, all of it. "What I want to know is this: Is there anything that I can do to get around this?" Sabrina Jones sat quietly at her desk, her hands folded in a steeple, thinking over everything that she'd been told. "There is nothing that can be done to change this. You could give the property away, but when you die, the property would be given back to your great uncle. Unless, of course he signed away his rights to the property. But from everything you've told me, he's not going to do that." Sara sighed in frustration. "Thank you for your help. I wasn't sure that anything could be done, but I had to try." "It was my pleasure" Ms. Jones said as she rose from her desk. When the three friends got to the car Kathy asked, "What are you going to do now?" Sara shrugged as she answered, "There's not much I can do, but wait and see if Mrs. Bixby finds anything." "Don't lose hope Sara, I'm sure she'll turn up something" AJ said as he started the car and began the drive home. ~~****~~ "I think you're going to be very happy with me" the man said as he entered Mr. Parker's office. "Why? What did you find?" he asked as he watched the gleam shine in the lackey's eyes. "I found a phone number on the old housekeeper's nightstand. I didn't want to arouse suspicions, so I memorized the number. Its 407-625-1172" he announced, proud of himself for finding the number. "You went all the way into her room?" Jeffery asked incredulously. "Yes sir. You told me to search the whole place. But this is the best part. I called the phone company and checked the area code. Its from Orlando, Florida." An evil sneer made itself welcome on his face. He'd found her, finally. Now nothing stood in his way. "What are you going to do now boss?" "Right now nothing. I need some time to think about this and come up with the best plan. You lay low for a while and I'll call you when I'm ready." The man nodded his head and left Jeffery to his scheming ways. ~~****~~ CHAPTER 9 AJ sat on the deck, waiting for Sara to come out. It had been there ritual for the last few weeks to sit out under the stars and talk. They had shared stories of their growing up years, their family, and their friends. He looked up as he heard the door creak open. "Hey you ready to stare at the stars?" he asked. Sara held up a blanket and walked down the stairs of the deck with a smile on her face. She spread the blanket in what she had affectionately called 'their spot'. AJ waited until she was situated before moving to lay next to her. Tonight was different, and they both could feel it. No words were spoken as they looked up at the night sky. AJ turned his head and allowed his gaze to linger on her features. Her dark hair was spread out in a fan under her head, her dark brown eyes shinning with the reflection of the moon and the stars. His gazed traveled over her high cheekbones and pert nose to her full kissable lips. Feeling his gaze on her, she turned her head and found herself nose to nose with him. He reached his hand out and moved a tendril of hair back behind her ear, letting his hand caress the smooth skin. His touch sent tingly sparks shooting through her. Nervously, she licked her dry lips and watched as his eyes followed the movement. As if they were moving in slow motion, they moved towards each other and their lips met in a soft, gentle kiss. His hands framed her face, holding her still as he lavished her with kisses. She brought her hands up to his chest, letting her hands roam over his shoulders and into the hair at the nape of his neck. When they mutually broke the kiss they were breathless. Panting heavily they smiled shyly at each other. "I've been wanting to do that for a long time" he admitted. "I have too" she said as she nuzzled the hand that still rested against her cheek. AJ pulled her to him, and she rested her head on his chest, as they watched the stars twinkling in the inky blackness of the night sky. The days were spent just like the rest, with Sara working in the store and helping around the house. AJ spent alot of his time at his grandparents, getting to know Sara better. The feelings he had for her were powerful and they were undeniable. And that's what brought him over this day. He wanted to spend some more time with Sara and he had an invitation to give. "Hey Kathy! Where's Sara?" he asked as he entered the house. "She's upstairs taking a shower. Why? Aren't you glad to see me?" she asked faking a pout. "Bono, you know I'm glad to see you. Actually what I have to ask her is extended to you too" he said, driving her crazy with the suspense. "What is it?" she asked, quickly loosing the playful pout. "Uh-huh you'll have to wait until Sara gets down here." "Hey are you two at it again?" Sara teased as she came into the living room. "No. We were waiting for you to come down. AJ has something he wants to ask us" Kathy said. Sara turned her full attention to AJ and waited for him to begin. "Well Nick is having a party this weekend and I was wondering if you would like to go with me and meet my friends" he said looking straight at Sara. "I'd love too. I haven't seen Nick in weeks." "What about me?" Kathy asked. AJ laughed and replied, "I was told not to even bother showing up without you!" he said with a wink. Kathy smiled at her cousin and they sat around watching television and making plans for the weekend. ~~****~~ "Here's what I want you to do. Go to Orlando and get to know her schedule, her movements. Then when the time is right kill her. She's interfered long enough. And don't come back until its done" Jeffery said with a meanacing glower. The little man swallowed hard and nodded his head as he backed out of the room. |