Finding Isadora(110)

“Sure, I’ll— Wait a minute. Tonight?”

Frowning, he glanced in my direction and I mouthed, “It’s okay.”

He studied me for a long moment, then smiled warmly and turned back to the man. “Can’t make it tonight. They’re safe, right? No immediate danger. And you’ve already outlined the situation, so I know the basic facts. Let me make some calls on Monday, when everything’s open, then we’ll get together and see where things stand.”

“Sure, that’ll work. I’ll tell them I’ve got the best lawyer in town working on their case.”

“We’ll keep them safe,” Gabriel said with certainty. “Assure them of that.”

And I knew that, if he’d said it, it would happen. He might use the law, he might use the media, he might use grass roots tactics like my parents would. But he’d keep his word.

Gabriel’s home phone rang, and he went to answer it. “DeLuca.” Then, “Sorry, Miki, I was in a meeting and turned the cell off, and I haven’t had a chance to check messages. What’s up?” He listened a moment, then said, “What? Well, shit!”

His excited tone got everyone’s attention. He turned a grinning face toward us and put a hand over the receiver. “Someone turn on the TV. Local news.” Then, into the phone, “Got it. Thanks, Miki.”

We clustered in front of the small television as the camera zoomed in on the female anchor of the five o’clock news team.

“There’s been a new development in the fire at Cosmystiques cosmetics plant in Port Coquitlam.” The anchor’s attractive dark-skinned face was replaced on screen with a shot of the smoking ruins of the Cosmystiques building. It was followed by a news clip of Jimmy Lee, chained to a logging truck, arguing with the police. We all groaned as the anchor continued, “Police charged a local activist, Jimmy Lee Wheeler, on charges of arson. Those charges have now been dropped.”

“Dropped?” Grace echoed disbelievingly.

Gabriel held up a silencing hand and turned up the volume.

On screen, police were ushering a stork-like man with a bald head into the back of a police car. The anchor said, “J.A. Luce, President and CEO of Cosmystiques, is now charged with burning his own plant.” The man cast a baleful look at the TV cameras, but didn’t attempt to shield his face from their scrutiny.

When the anchor switched to another story, Gabriel flicked off the television.

“Goddess be praised!” Grace said, hugging Jimmy Lee.

“Apparently there’s a story in the evening paper, too,” Gabriel said. “With more facts about the company’s financial situation and ownership. Plus the fact they were violating environmental regulations and would have had to spend a small fortune to bring themselves into compliance.”

“Miki told you this?” I asked.

He grimaced ruefully. “Seems the newspaper reporter was trying to get me all day, but I’ve had my cell turned off and my home number’s unlisted. Finally he tracked down Miki, so she called to tell me what was going on. This guy’s been looking into Luce, and when he got enough information he gave it to the cops, timing it so his story would come out right after the arrest.”

A man slapped Jimmy Lee on the back. “Hell, man, you’re going to owe that reporter a beer!”

Jimmy Lee grinned at Gabriel. “Looks like I’m not going to need you after all.”

I opened my mouth to protest, to say it was Gabriel who’d put the reporter on the right track.

My lover caught my eye and shook his head.

I shrugged. If he didn’t want the glory, that was his business. I went over to my dad and threw my arms around him. “I’m so relieved.”

“Me too, Izzie.”

Grace said, “Let’s pick up a newspaper then go home and celebrate.” She leaned close to say in my ear, “Isadora, I’d invite you, but I’m guessing you have other plans.”

“Gabriel and I have dinner plans.”

She grinned. “Is that what you call it these days?”

“No, honestly, it’s dinner. He says there’s this Portuguese place and…” I trailed off as her grin grew wider and wider.

“So, everyone’s about ready to leave?” Gabriel said, his tone offering a strong hint.

“You could come along with us for a celebration dinner,” Grace said sweetly.

He glared at her and she laughed, then gave him a quick hug. “You two be good to each other.”

When the door closed behind the last person, I said, “Oh, Gabriel, that’s such good news about Jimmy Lee.”

“Yeah, it’s great news.” He grabbed me by the shoulders and kissed me, hard. “God, woman, this afternoon has been torture.”

All right, there would be lots of time to talk about my father later. “Have your batteries recharged?” I asked Gabriel sweetly.

“You tell me.”

He pulled me up against him, but I stepped back, eased down his zipper, and reached inside to grip him. “Recharging nicely, I’d say.”

His phone rang, but he said, “No way. We’re going to bed.”

And so we did. His bedroom was furnished as sparsely as the rest of his apartment, but he did have a queen-sized bed. He flicked aside a striped duvet and tossed me down on navy sheets, then stripped off my clothes. I lay waiting, watching hungrily, as he shucked his own, and came to me.