Just Cause

Two years later"I'm sorry, but we can't offer you the position. I'm sure you understand." The interviewer eyed Laurel over the top of her glasses.Laurel breathed deeply to control her disappointment. She understood, all right. The hospital couldn't have someone like her on the front desk, meeting the public. The question "Have you ever been arrested?" always wrecked it for her."We have a part-time evening position, however," the hospital's personnel director said. "You seem to be qualified to maintain our Web site..."Laurel hesitated. "I might be able to do that."The woman handed her a sheet of paper. "Why don't you look this over. If you're interested, call me tomorrow before five."Laurel folded the paper. "Thank you." It was better than a stark dismissal, but not much. Twenty hours or so a week, at minimum wage.The sun was sinking as she climbed the concrete steps to the upper level of the hospital's outdoor parking lot. She passed a group of visitors approaching the building and averted her eyes.She'd been in Ohio for two weeks and had been turned down for more than a dozen jobs. She supposed she ought to take this one, although she'd never used her computer skills professionally, and it wasn't the type of job she would have chosen. Her funds were dwindling fast. The trip, the deposit on her modest apartment, groceries... She'd had the phone connected right away--court's orders. If she didn't find some income soon, she wouldn't have enough money to stay afloat.She glanced ahead toward her dark green Toyota Camry and caught her breath. A ruggedly built man was opening the driver's-side door.She wanted to call out, but fear silenced her and she clutched the railing.They found me! Somehow, they found me, and they're going to send me back to prison.But that was irrational. She had permission to be here.She hauled in a huge breath and strode toward the aging sedan. "Hey, that's my car!"The man straightened and looked in her direction. Their eyes met for an instant, and she shuddered at his feral, hunted expression. That's how I look, she thought. He slammed the door and ran before she had a chance to react further.When he was out of sight, Laurel dashed to the car and leaned against the driver's door, looking in. The glove compartment gaped open. She trembled as she reached for the door handle."You all right, ma'am?"She jumped and whirled around. A tall man in uniform stood behind her. On his gray shirt pocket hung a badge with his photograph that identified him as Dan Ryan, Security."A man was in my car."The guard looked around the parking lot. "Where is he?""He ran that way." She waved toward the woods that edged the back of the lot. "He's gone now."He nodded. "Did you lock your car, ma'am?""Yes, I'm sure I did."Ryan examined the edges of the window on the driver's door. "He jimmied it. Did he take anything?""I'm not sure." Laurel gulped. "I don't think there was anything valuable in there."Ryan peered into the passenger compartment. "Why don't you take a quick look and see if anything's missing."Laurel hastily inventoried the car's contents and stood up beside him. "I think everything's here."His gray eyes, almost the color of his shirt, were serious and thoughtful. "Did you get a good look at him?""He was thirty or so. Light hair, I think, but he was wearing a baseball cap. Dark jacket. Jeans." She realized suddenly how tall and good-looking the guard was. "He wasn't your height. He was standing by the car, and he didn't look that tall. Heavier, though.""Okay, we'll watch in case he comes around here again." He looked into her eyes and smiled. So few people had smiled at her lately. It made the burglar seem less frightening somehow. "If you're sure you're all right..." He waited, as if he didn't want to end the conversation, but felt it was his duty.She nodded. "Thank you for being here." She wanted tDavis, Susan Page is the author of 'Just Cause', published 2008 under ISBN 9780373442768 and ISBN 0373442769.