Michael Baden - Skeleton justice

While she searched the control panel folder, the printer disgorged the second sheet. It paused, but now Manny knew it was just catching its breath. She took her eyes off the printer and went back to canceling the second print order. The digesting sound came again, followed by a horrible crackling and crunching. She looked up at the printer in time to see the final sheet of paper being sucked into the machine at a thirty-degree angle. The computer began to beep and a message window appeared. "A paper jam has occurred. Clear the paper path and resume printing."

She glanced at her watch. Eight minutes gone, and now she had to repair a friggin' computer.

She took a deep breath. You can do this. You're good with electronics. A woman who's figured out every feature on her cell phone can figure out this printer. But the stupid machine was nothing like the printer she had at home, or the one in her office. She couldn't even see how to open it up. She tugged at the jammed paper and only succeeded in tearing it. Another deep breath. Focus. Look at it. See how it's put together.

And then, for the first time since she had entered Paco's room, Manny heard a sound from outside the door.

"Hi, Mama! I'm home!"

For at least the hundredth time since Manny had left the room, Jake checked his watch. Eight minutes and forty-three seconds had passed. At the five-minute mark, Senora Sandoval had glanced up from the binder of animal photos and cast a quizzical look at the powder room's door. Jake had delivered the explanation about Manny's sudden bouts of nausea, and, amazingly, Senora Sandoval had murmured sympathy and gone right back to perusing the photos. Now, the sound of a door opening made both of them pause.

Jake immediately focused on the dimly lighted hallway that led back to the bedrooms. If Manny emerged from there, he hoped to hell she'd have a plausible explanation to offer their hostess. But there was no movement from that direction, giving him hope that she'd already made it out of Paco's room and was about to make her grand reentry from the powder room. But when his glance flicked to the powder room's door, he saw that it was still closed, a band of light visible at the bottom.

So what door had opened?

"Hi, Mama! I'm home!"

Jake felt sudden chest pain and tensing of his leg muscles, a spontaneous headache on his left side, and a racing heart. This was not supposed to happen. Paco was supposed to be on the senior social studies field trip all day.

A slender young man with dark, wavy hair appeared in the foyer and looked into the living room.

"Paco, darling. This is a surprise. Why are you home so early?"

"The field trip was dismissed early because of the rain."

"Ah, que malo. Come here and meet Mr. Rose. He is talking to me about the animal-rescue efforts on the Gulf Coast. You must see these photos, darling. They are so tragic!"

Jake locked eyes with Paco, willing him to come into the living room and join them on the sofa. "So many young people volunteer in our organization," Jake said, trying to keep his voice casual. "Paco might like to learn about the opportunities we offer."

Paco smiled, a dazzling flash of white in his handsome olive-toned face. "Oh, yes. I love animals. I would like to hear all about it."

Jake's heart rate began to slow down.

Paco extended one foot. "Just let me put away my school things and change my socks. I stepped in a puddle on the way home."

It took every ounce of self-control Jake possessed to keep from leaping up and shouting, "No! Come here right now."

He watched in dread as Paco turned toward the long hallway. What would the kid do when he discovered a strange woman in his bedroom? What would Manny do when that bedroom door opened? Was she even aware that Paco had arrived home? Did she have some lame explanation to offer up, or, cornered, would she just blurt out the truth?

The truth might work for her. Senora Sandoval was clearly kindhearted. Manny could throw herself on the woman's mercy and explain that she was an overly dedicated defense attorney just trying to save her client from harm. But what excuse could he possibly offer for why a deputy medical examiner of the City of New York was aiding and abetting her? He was already skating on thin ice with Pederson. This would be all the justification his boss would need to get rid of a troublesome employee who brought shame on the ME's office.

He could no longer see Paco, but he heard the click of a door opening. He held his breath and waited for the calamity to follow. This was the spot in the movies where the intrepid heroine would duck behind the flowing draperies to hide out. Except the rooms on movie sets never had simple tailored valances and matching Roman shades. Manny glanced around the ridiculously tidy room for another place to hide. The bed was a platform-style one with a solid base that sat directly on the carpet. She considered diving into the closet, but what good would that do? Paco would notice his computer was on, see the paper jammed in the printer. When he opened the closet door, she would be right there, cowering like a trapped animal, with no justifiable excuse for her behavior.

More was at stake here than just being embarrassed. If Senora Sandoval suspected she and Jake were scam artists, she'd call the police. And when she found out who they were, the shit would really hit the fan. The vision of a disciplinary hearing before the Bar Association appeared in startling detail in her mind's eye. Then she saw herself in prison garb. Even though they'd discontinued the old black and white horizontal stripes-a nightmare for the hips-the new neon orange jumpsuits just wouldn't accessorize with her Chanel.

There were no workable defensive positions open to her. Her only option was a bold offense.

Manny flattened herself against the wall next to the bedroom door and waited.

The seconds crawled by. She heard voices but couldn't make out what they were saying. Maybe Paco wasn't going to come into the room after all. Maybe Jake had found some way to keep him out there. Maybe she was squandering the few seconds she had to get out of the room unseen. What to do? Her heart felt huge in her chest, hammering against her ribs, pressing the air out of her lungs.

Indecision was intolerable to her. Manny decided she would open the door a crack and see what was happening out there. Anything was better than just standing here waiting.

Manny stepped forward and faced the door. Tentatively, she reached out and touched the knob.

A floorboard creaked on the other side of the wall. Instantly, she pressed herself against the wall beside the door again.

The door opened.

Paco stood two steps in front of Manny, oblivious to her presence. She estimated that he was only three inches taller than she, and very lean. Still, a young athletic man would be stronger than a female lawyer who visited the gym half as often as she intended to. All she had in her favor was the element of surprise. Hesitate, and all would be lost.

Paco closed the door behind him. Manny sprang.

She jumped right on his back and wrapped her legs around his hips, like a kid playing piggyback. Placing one hand tightly over his mouth, she steadied herself with the other across his chest. He staggered slightly under her weight but kept his balance. "Don't say a word," Manny whispered into his ear. "I read the document you wrote about Travis. I want to know where he is. When I let you go, you're not going to scream. If you do, I'll show the letter to your mother. Understand?"

Paco nodded.

"All right. I'm going to get off you. Don't say a word until you've turned on some music. Go." She slipped off his back.

Paco headed toward the music system on his bookshelf, glancing over his shoulder as if trying to keep an eye on the unpredictable three-headed alien threatening to abduct him.