No Way Out by Fern Michaels (great books for teens .TXT) 📗

James played football in high school and went on to the University of Missouri, where he studied architecture. After graduation, he married an engineering major, Ophelia Larson. They were both interested in urban planning. Unfortunately, neither Columbia, where the University of Missouri was located, nor Hibbing afforded them many opportunities in their chosen field, so they packed up and moved to Arizona, where they were offered positions with the city of Tucson.

Jeanne was very unhappy with their decision to move. “But it’s hot out there!” she exclaimed when James and Ophelia told them about their plans.

In unison, they replied, “But it’s a dry heat.”

Neither Jeanne nor Frank were thrilled with the idea. They thought James and Ophelia could find work somewhere close. Somewhere within a few hours, at least. But Tucson wasn’t a hop, skip, and a jump. It was a good twenty-two hours, or a bad twenty-five, on the road, depending on construction.

They were both turning sixty-two and felt it was time to start doing things they enjoyed. They planned trips to visit family and to travel to places they actually wanted to visit.

After being gone a month, they were due back from Arizona. It was a good thing they had not been around the night the police came for Mitchel. Frank would have been on Mitchel’s butt in a heartbeat. Even though the houses were over a hundred feet apart, Mitchel’s cursing and shouting would have brought Frank over with both barrels loaded.

Despite his background in the military, not to mention his imposing size and demeanor, Frank was actually a likable, easygoing guy. Still, one did not want to piss him off. Don’t let him see someone bullying anyone or being cruel to another human being or an animal. Jeanne was also feisty in her own way.

Both had seen enough death over the years, which gave them an appreciation of life and living. If they weren’t gallivanting about, they would host cocktail parties in the winter and barbecues in the summer. Frank was the supreme grill master, and Jeanne’s potato salad was matchless. Guests would bring side dishes, beer, wine, or someone’s latest alcohol concoction. Hector’s family would arrive with special Cuban delights, and his father would provide Afro-Cuban and salsa music. It was always a festive occasion.

Jeanne would joke that it was her potato salad that brought so many guests, while Frank would boast it was his special barbecue sauce. But most of their guests agreed that it was Emilio Cordoba’s swinging group of musicians that drew the crowd.

Ellie would watch from her loft as people arrived, carrying their hostess gifts and food. But leave it to Jeanne to fix a plate for her and send it over via Hector, who would leave it on the back porch.

Ellie would follow up with a thank-you note that Hector would deliver to the Chadwicks. Everyone on the block accepted Ellie’s absence from all activity without judging her. She didn’t come across as strange or weird other than the fact that she never left her house. People would wave in her direction, never sure if she even saw them. It became very normal for everyone who lived on the block.

A week before Frank and Jeanne were to return, Jeanne would give Colleen a heads-up. While they were away, Colleen would take in their mail, and Mitchel would keep an eye on the house. Once a week, he would run the faucets, and after a big rain, he’d check for leaks. Of course, Mitchel’s role ended after the domestic disturbance.

Colleen was glad the Chadwicks would be home soon, although she was distraught that she was going to have to explain what had happened the night Mitchel had gone bonkers. She knew that Frank would blow a gasket and Jeanne would have a fit. But she also knew that the information had better come from her, rather than anyone else. It wasn’t as if Andy would say anything, and Ellie wasn’t going to blab it to anyone. Who would she tell who didn’t already know? Frank was very fond of the Haywood family, especially Colleen and Jackson. He wouldn’t think twice about hunting Mitchel down and giving him what-for, though he wouldn’t lay a hand on him unless Mitchel threw the first punch. That was highly unlikely if Mitchel knew what was good for him. No, Frank wouldn’t touch Mitchel. Instead, he would put the fear of God in him.

Colleen knew that Frank and Jeanne were due back that day. Before she went to the store, she brought in the mail and opened the windows. Her grocery list for the Chadwicks was usually milk, eggs, bacon, bread, coffee, juice, cheese, and crackers. She would check to see if they needed beer and wine. A bottle of Chardonnay and a six-pack. The only thing she didn’t do was change the linens. At one time, she had actually given it some thought. But then she realized that was getting a little too personal. The Chadwicks appreciated the gesture. It was nice to walk into a house that didn’t smell like it had been locked up for weeks. It was also nice to open the refrigerator and have some basic supplies, including a bottle of wine and a six-pack of beer.

As she was emptying the grocery bags, Colleen heard their car enter the driveway. She had hoped to be finished with the sprucing up before they got back, but that’s not how it went down.

Colleen opened the front door as they were getting out of the car! “Welcome home!”

She walked over to Frank, and he gave her a big bear hug. “How’s our young lass and her tribe?” Colleen stiffened a bit. “Everything all right?” Frank asked.

“Fine! So glad to see you!” Colleen said. “And look how tan you are! Play a lot of golf, did you?” she said, addressing Frank.

Jeanne walked over to Colleen and gave her a big hug. “I’ll have you know that I beat him in