The kiss tonight felt different. Cecily’s kiss was warm and gentle. She seemed to enjoy him as much as he did her. Although he’d been hit on countless times, he had always stayed true to his marriage vows. His dad had taught him that—
A picture of his dad, back in his better days, crashed through his brain. Just as suddenly, it was replaced by another, of him gaunt and wasted away. Who will I go to when I need to talk? Why did you get cancer? I’m going to miss you....Don drifted off to sleep.
At just after four in the morning, Stacey finally finished reviewing almost four hundred cases, one at a time. He could no longer prop his eyes open. He flopped down to rest for a moment on the easy chair. Soon he was sound asleep, breathing deeply, his dog at his side.
Sunday mornings in the Jensen home were not the same as week days. Alan would get up earlier than usual and cook breakfast. The smallest children enjoyed the dinosaur pancakes he made.
“Don?” Alan’s voice was heard outside his door.
Don hesitantly answered. “Yes?”
“Breakfast is ready. Come and get it if you like it hot.” Don rolled
out of bed and quickly dressed. He entered the kitchen to find the older children looking much like he did, just out of bed, hair flying every which way. In contrast, Alan was already shaved, showered and dressed in a white shirt and tie, a tattered apron strung around him to cover up the better part of his Sunday clothes. The children were seating themselves around the kitchen bar.
Alan glanced in turn at each of the children. “Let’s see, whose turn is it to pray?”
The towheaded four-year-old raised her hand. “Me! Me!”
“I think you’re right, Kinley. Go ahead,” Alan encouraged.
She folded her arms and looked around to be sure everyone was ready and watching her. Then she bowed her head and spoke a child’s prayer: simple, sincere, to the point. “Dear Heavenwe Fader, tank dee for our day and our food and house. Bess us with da tings we need and bess Don’s daddy he will be okay. Bess Don to feel good, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” She unfolded her arms and waited for the others to do the same.
“Good job, Kinley. All by yourself, too,” Kate praised.
Don turned and withdrew from the room, a lump in his throat so big he could hardly breathe. How was it those simple words seemed to melt his heart? If she knew to pray for his dad, that meant the rest of the family had made him a part of their prayers, too.
Retreating to his room, Don sat on the bed, wiping the tears from his face, asking how such a small child could speak to God as if she knew him, when he himself felt so estranged, so far away. He took a few minutes to regain his composure before rejoining the family, slipping back into the kitchen in time to claim his share of bacon and eggs.
Only scraps of food remaining on the platters, the home transformed into a mass of helping hands as older children helped the younger children bathe, dress and get ready for church. Don again retired to his room to avoid the mad scramble.
“Daddy.” Christina knocked on his door.
“Come in.” She entered, dressed for church. “You look beautiful.”
“Are you coming with us?”
“No...I don’t think so.”
Stacey awoke to the sight of Sig, hovering above him, panting in his face.
“Dog breath!” Sig licked him on the mouth.
“I wish you wouldn’t do that first thing in the morning,” he groaned. He extricated himself from the recliner, wobbled to the kitchen and opened a couple of cans of dog food. Sig wolfed them down before Stacey could return to his computer. “Let’s see, where was I?” he mumbled.
The house was eerily quiet. Don flipped on the TV. No cable...Sunday morning...in Utah. He clicked it off again and glanced around for something to read. Piles of church magazines lined the sofa table. “No.”
He found himself in front of the fridge. I’m not even hungry, he thought, shutting the door. The family had left in such a hurry that they’d left the dishes piled on the counter, so he unloaded both dishwashers, filled one with dishes and silverware, the other with pots and pans. Alan was a good cook, but he sure made a mess of the place. He wiped down the plastic tablecloth.
Looking again for something to read, he opened a drawer near the television. It was filled with scriptures and hymnals. He shook his head and started to close the drawer, when something familiar caught his eye. A Bible, its cover worn, was tucked among the other books. Don picked it up. The book had belonged to his father. Christina must have borrowed it from him. He sat down, opened the cover, and read.
November 11th, 1957I am pleased you have shown such a great interest in me. You’re a wonderful man. I admire your courage coming to this country and working so hard. You have a great love for God. I want you to have this Bible to help you keep in touch with your Savior. I know you had hoped I would marry you, but my parents are old fashioned and won’t allow me to continue seeing you. I love you. The color of your skin makes no difference to me. Christ said, “Come unto me.”
May God bless you. I’ll always remember you. Love, AnnaMelvin pulled into the empty stall marked “Sheriff” and shut off his car. The county courthouse parking lot was empty. He preferred working weekends—only occasionally did anyone come in on Sundays. With a swipe of his card, the rear entrance doors clicked. He pulled the glass door open and passed unimpeded—no security guards, no police, no metal detector.
He was required to work at least 20 hours a week. His previous military security clearance had been helpful in obtaining his parttime job as a janitor, his main responsibility to keep the private offices clean. His supervisor preferred him to come in before work or after everyone was gone. Lately, however, he’d been appearing during working hours.
Retrieving his cart of cleaning supplies, he took the elevator to the second floor, the wheels of his cart clicking on the granite tile, echoing down the empty corridor. He stopped outside the office of “The Honorable Judge Roland G. Demick.” Melvin extended the wad of keys from his side, unlocked the door, propped it open with his cart, emptied the garbage cans, made a quick pass around the room with a portable vacuum cleaner, and completed what little dusting needed to be done. Then he reached under the desk and turned on the master switch for the judge’s computer. The hard drive spun as the main screen appeared.
Password , the cursor flashed.
“Court order,” he typed. It had taken him a week to catch the judge’s clerk entering the password. He knew his way around the judge’s computer, and after a moment had access to the fourth circuit records.
Name, the cursor flashed. Melvin took the rental application from his pocket. “Donald J. Rodriguez, DOB 10/12/69.” The hard drive spun again as the screen lit up.
Rodriguez, Donald Jorel
Address: 700 North 6th West, Provo, UT
DL: UT 900BR173942 Class A Current status: Suspended Weight: 235 Eyes: BRO
Birth Date 10/ 12/ 1969, Place of birth: American Fork, Utah Height: 6’2” Sex: M Hair: Black
Donor: Yes
Father: Rodriguez, Gerardo De La Cruz
Mother: Maria Lopez
Prior Arrests/Citations: 03/03/99 Driving without Insurance Notes: Domestic incident. Wife called to report DUI. Apprehended 1300 South Main. Alcohol level: .02. No arrest. Cited for no insurance. Officer Rick Stacey, Mapleton, Utah.
Current status: Appeared before Judge Roland G. Demick, Fourth Circuit Court, 03/15/99. Cited for contempt. Sentenced to 90 days. Reviewed: 04/05/99. Out on own recog. Any violence, must finish sentence. Scheduled to appear 05/10/99. Driving privileges to be reviewed at hearing. Action pending. Any alleged parole violations, report directly to Judge Roland Demick’s clerk.
Case # 4809281 Fourth Circuit Court
6/22/97: Arrested, wanton destruction of personal property. Posted bond. Notes: Domestic incident. Owner Phillip R. Mendenhall reported his pickup truck was filled with cement. Rodriguez admitted filling truck from Granger Redi Mix Truck. Wife apparently sleeping with Mendenhall. Officer Fred Peterson, Provo, Utah.
Appeared before Judge Roland G. Demick, Fourth Circuit Court, 9/12/
Call from “The Palace.” Fight in parking lot. Officers Dewit and Cowley arrived on scene 11:55 p.m. Rodriguez and other male fighting. Husband claim’s wife is sleeping with victim. Wife denies accusations. No arrest made. Appeared before Judge Max Nielsen, 12/30/96. Fined $500.00; paid 1/30/ 97. Case closed.
Case # 459821, Third District CourtCall from “Cal’s Bar,” 335 West Main, 2:05 a.m. Fighting in parking area. Angry domestic dispute. No arrest. Officers Bukers & Wilson.
Case # 38562, Lehi, P.D.
Call from “Durango’s Bar & Grill.” Assaulted wife’s boyfriend. Boyfriend transported to LDS Hospital, SLC. Bail posted. Appeared 9/7/94 before Judge Ralph Parker. One-week Davis County Jail, $2,000 fine. Officer’s Goodrich & Flack.
Case # 4098361893, First District CourtCall from “Lamar’s,” 225 West Center, 1:02 a.m. Fight in dance hall, angry husband. Officers Dewit and Macfey accosted suspect, were also assaulted. Suspect claims he found his wife with other man. Wife denies claim—said she was dancing. Appeared before Judge Hardy, 9/2/93. Released on O.R. 9/3/93. Fine at $1000.00 and 40 hr. comm. serv. Paid fine 9/ 4/93. Case closed.
Case # 3817456, Fourth Circuit CourtStacey resumed his search, one name at a time. The work was tedious. He tried to not think of each case as a person—just another number. When he took time to reflect on these poor girls’ parents and grandparents, friends and siblings, he felt bad. How much suffering has to happen in the world? he thought.