Chapter 20

Hawk, Brenda and Mary Beth joined the others in Maria’s room. A few minutes later, a nurse ran most of them out so Maria could get some rest. Mary Beth and Brenda decided this was the right time to start house hunting, dragging Zed along with them.

Jason needed to head back to his place, as he’d made no provision for taking care of his horses, but Andy insisted on staying close to her new daughter. Hawk stayed a while, but decided he needed to take care of some things while Maria was resting.

Unfortunately, when he started out the front door he realized he’d ridden to the hospital in the ambulance. As a result he didn’t have any means to get home. At least he had Maria’s keys in his pocket.

Standing just outside the front door he heard a female voice ask, “How’s your wife feeling?” He turned toward the voice. Though she was in casual dress Hawk quickly realized she was the EMT person who’d assured him Maria wasn’t dead.

“She’s resting at the moment, but Doctor Adams says she will be fine. He’s going to do a D and C plus some repair work next week. My heartfelt thanks to all of you this morning.”

“It’s our job, but that doesn’t mean we don’t like to hear we’re appreciated. Is that Doctor Adams, Maxwell Adams?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then your wife’s in great hands, and don’t let his persona turn you off. Much of his act is to help the patient and her family relax. He’s really a sweetheart.”

“Thank you for the reassurance. Maria’s future mother is a RN and they seem to know each other pretty well.”

“Future mother?”

“Her grandfather raised her. He’s asked Andy to marry him, but she insists Maria will be her daughter, not her granddaughter or stepdaughter.”

“That’s good she has a loving family. When I walked up you looked confused. Are you OK?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I was planning to go back to the apartment, but after I came downstairs I realized I don’t have a car here.”

“Well, if you can wait a few minutes I’ll drop you off. I’ve brought some items for my mother, but I can’t stay. I’ll run upstairs, give them to the nurse, and then take you home. Is that OK?”

“That would be appreciated. My name’s Hawk, by the way.”

“Hi, Hawk, I’m Alicia.”

Hawk sat on a bench looking at a fountain while Alicia ran inside. In less than ten minutes she was back. She led him to her car, a ten-year-old Honda, and headed for Hawk and Maria’s apartment. As she drove, they talked. “So, have you and your wife been married long?”

“About four years, though it seems like only yesterday. How about you? Are you married.?”

“Nope! Haven’t found the right guy yet. Also, this thing with my mother has taken most of my non-work time.”

“What’s wrong with your mother?”

“Breast cancer, and it’s now spreading. That was why I couldn’t stay. I see too many people dying as it is. To watch my mother do the same is almost more than I can take. I still try to spend time with her everyday, but we had a heart attack victim this morning who didn’t make it. After that I knew I couldn’t deal with mom today. We’ve talked about it before, so she understands.”

“I’m sorry. How’s your dad taking it?”

“If he knows, he’s probably dancing a jig. The bastard ran out on us when I was four. I haven’t heard from him since. That’s part of my problem, too. I’m having to go through this alone, and the medical bills are eating us alive, even with the insurance. To make matters worse, with mom not working we’re about to lose our home.”

“Give me your name and number. I might know someone who could help you.” They had just pulled up at Maria’s apartment. She put the car in park and turned to look at him. Hawk said, “Alicia, that was not a pickup line. I do know some people who might help. Besides, even as attractive as you are, I’m not looking for another woman in my life. I’m more than happy with what I have.”

She studied his face for a few moments and finally made a decision. She took a piece of paper from the console and wrote down her name, as well her home phone and pager numbers. As she handed it to him she said, “Hawk, if you rape and kill me, you know I’ll haunt you forever.”

“Please, ‘Miss Haint, ‘ I’s be good.”

She laughed and seemed more at ease as she replied, “And don’t you forget it!”

Hawk thanked her for the lift and headed for the apartment. He got the eviction notice and reread it. Finally, he called Dennis at home. A sleepy Dennis said, “Hello?”

“Dennis, Hawk. I’d hoped I’d waited late enough not to wake you.”

“After our little excursion yesterday I was too tired to get up and go to church with the family. I’ve sore muscles in places I didn’t know I had muscles. I’d no idea I was this out of shape. I think next week I’ll find me a heath club. Now, I’m sure you didn’t call me on a Sunday to just chew the fat. What’s up?”

Hawk summarized what had happened, wanting to know their legal rights. Dennis asked, “Had there been any prior warnings or notices?”

“None that I’m aware of.”

“I’d need a copy of the lease, but I’d say we’d have a strong case of their causing the miscarriage. Do you want to take legal action?”

“I’d want them to apologize for moving so quickly without any investigation or previous notice. I also want them to give us time to find another place, and to make sure there’s no blot on our record, or credit report.”

“I’d say those were reasonable requests. Do you need my presence?”

“Not at this point, but I’m not above giving them hell. Also, that’s something I don’t understand. Dennis, what’s happening to me? I’ve suddenly become a feisty pit bull, instead of an easy-going collie.”

Dennis replied, “I’d say the change would be quite understandable, considering all you’ve been through. Now, what are you planning to do about a new place to live?”

“Brenda, Mary Beth, and Zed are house hunting this afternoon.”

“What and where are they looking?”

“Jason and I talked the other night. We felt we needed a larger place that was close enough to ASU not to be a burden to Maria and Brenda, yet also closer to Jason’s. It needed to be somewhat isolated and unobtrusive, with plenty of privacy. What we’d kicked around was a small ranch. Also, from a legal standpoint, we don’t want it in our names. From outside appearances, Jason thinks, we should appear to be the hired help.”

“I’m following you. How about the house?”

“I told Brenda I wanted at least four bedrooms and three baths. I wanted it to be warm and comfortable, not a showplace. Beyond that, it’s whatever makes my women happy.”

“Then let me call them. I may know of the perfect place, and it’s not even on the market yet. It belongs to a friend of my wife’s from college. She now lives in the northwest and has no desire to move back here. Her father passed away a few months ago, and the estate is facing a huge inheritance tax bill. Their ranch is the least valuable of their assets to her at the moment, and since you could do a cash deal, she might well take less than the property is really worth. That could also help lower the tax bill, as the value of the ranch would be adjusted to what you paid for it.”

Hawk replied, “I wouldn’t want to take advantage of her.”

“Hawk, it could be a situation where both sides wins. She gets the tax people off her back without having to liquidate stocks and other investments. At the same time, you get a good deal on the property. Also, because she hasn’t listed it with a real estate agent yet you’ll be saving her around two hundred thousand in commissions.”

“Then put that way, get off this call and call Brenda immediately.”

“Call me tomorrow and let me know how Maria is. I’ll pass your situation on to the others.”

“Thanks, my friend. Now, call Brenda, and let me go deal with the Apartment Manager.”

After they hung up Hawk decided to get a shower and change. That idea was put on hold when he passed the mirror over the dresser in the bedroom. As he looked at his reflection he realized he displayed just what he wanted; the look of a man who’d been through Hell for weeks. He grabbed the letter and headed to find the apartment office. A few minutes later, he entered the office that was part of the clubhouse.

A young woman was sitting at a small table with a phone and other papers. A computer was on a credenza behind her. She was attractive enough, but she seemed ‘hard’ and authoritarian. It was like she had an important position here, and she expected everyone to bow to her importance. Looking almost disgusted at his appearance, she asked, “May I help you?”

Laying the eviction notice on the desk, he asked, “Who do I need to talk to about this?”

“I’m the resident manager, and I’m the one that issued the notice. Who are you, and what do you have to do with this?”

“I’m Robert Gray Hawk, Maria’s husband.”

Haughtily, she replied. “OK. What did you want to talk about? It’s clear that she broke the rules and the notice should be self-explanatory.”

“Had any previous warning been given, or has their been any prior problems?”

“No, but that doesn’t matter.”

“According to my attorney it does. Now, did anyone discuss the situation with Maria before this was issued? I know no one talked to me.”

“We don’t have to. It’s my responsibility to maintain the standards of the apartment and I felt she needed to be gone. End of conversation.”

“I originally came in to discuss the possibility of a little latitude considering Maria’s condition. Now, instead, I demand a copy of our lease, as well as the legal name and address of both you and the apartment owners.”

Indignant, yet curious, she replied, “What do you need that for?”

“Listen, you little self-important bitch, it’s to give to my attorney. Maria had a miscarriage early this morning. Since the lawyer who’ll be taking this to court is the recent Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arizona I doubt if he’ll have any difficulty in proving a relationship between the notice and the miscarriage. When he gets through with you, you irritating gnat, you’ll be lucky if they’ll allow you to clean the pool.”

“How is someone like you going to get a lawyer like that to help you?”

“Because, I pay him and his partners a half a million a year to make sure my interests are protected. Honey child, I may not look like much, but I could build fifty apartment complexes like this just from petty cash.”

Obviously deflating, she asked, “Then why are you living here?”

“Because, I was out of the country, and your complex was convenient for Maria to attend ASU. We were already planning on moving shortly; we just haven’t found the right property to buy.”

Trying to change the tone and also hoping to pick up another finder’s fee from her sister she said, “My sister’s in real estate. She represents some nice starter homes in Chandler. Maybe, she could help you.”

“I’d doubt it. We’re looking for a small ranch.”

“Around here? Good luck, cowboy, that would cost you all the gold in Fort Knox.”

“Not quite, but I was planning to pay somewhere between three and ten million.”

This last statement was the final straw, and all the air went out of her sails. She’d never encountered a man with such power and money and who acted like this. He’d been respectful, and she tried to roll over him. Instead, her steamroller suddenly discovered that comparatively, it was just a rubber toy. Her next thought was, ‘ow in the hell did that little Indian bitch land someone like this? Life isn’t fair. This was the kind of man I was destined to have! Switching tactics, she suddenly got very apologetic, wanting to know what would make Hawk happy. As she did so she sent out every signal she could she was available. Hawk recognized what she was doing, but just ignored them.

Instead, he said, “I want the eviction notice canceled, along with a letter waiving any penalty for breaking the lease when we do find something.”

“I can do that.” Then seductively she asked, “Are you sure that’s all you want?”

Hawk thought, I want your ass, that’s what I want. Instead, he answered, “No, that would be sufficient. When I have that I’ll call off my attorneys.”

“I’’ll have it for you before I leave here today.”

“Good. I’ll be heading back to the hospital after getting a shower and changing clothes. If I’m not there, could you slide it under the door?”

Hawk returned to the apartment. Shortly after getting into the shower, he heard a noise. He was shaken when the shower door opened and there stood the resident manager, naked as the day she was born. She seductively asked, “Are you sure I couldn’t do something else for you?”

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The Hawk and the Chipmunk

Mike Lowe aka The Scot

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