Fire in the Blood

3. Chapter Three – Dreaming with a Broken Heart-2

Los Angeles

Teddy arrived at Dorcas’s home a little early but didn’t wait for the appointed time to be buzzed in. Expecting to see Fliss, he was taken aback to see a new woman coming toward him. She didn’t smile. “Mr. Hood. You’re early.”

He pointedly checked his watch. “By about two minutes. Where’s Fliss?”

“Ms. Chambers has been replaced at the request of Ms. Prettyman. She felt the young lady was not a good influence on Dinah-Jane.”

Teddy clenched his jaw in irritation. “And why was I not informed or consulted?”

Was he imagining it or was there a slight smirk on the woman’s face? “You would have to ask Ms. Prettyman.” She mimicked him checking his watch. “You can see your daughter now.”

DJ was quiet, subdued and Teddy could tell she was upset about Fliss. “Why did Fliss have to go away, Daddy?”

“I don’t know, sweetie, but I’ll be asking Mommy.”

DJ’s eyes slid away from his at the mention of her mother, and suddenly Teddy’s heart clenched. He shot a look at the supervisor. “Monkey… is anything wrong?”

DJ shook her head, cutting her eyes at the stranger, and Teddy knew she didn’t want to say anything in front of her lest it get back to Dorcas. He was haunted by the same thought again. God, please… not that…

Was Dorcas abusing DJ? Was she taking her anger out on her child? Teddy held her tightly. He couldn’t ask her in front of the supervisor, nor could he examine his daughter for bruises. “Sweetie…” He made her look at him. “You know you can tell me anything, right? Anything?”

“I know.” The way her voice quivered made his heart shatter. DJ hugged him tightly.

It was a somber hour together, and Teddy had to fight back tears leaving her behind. Dorcas hadn’t made an appearance, wisely avoiding the anger he felt like unleashing on her. Strange. Usually she would use that to smear his character further, especially if she had witnesses.

It was only after he’d gotten home that he found it. He pulled the screwed-up piece of paper from his pocket and opened it. His already fractured heart gave another c***k as he read the childish scrawl.

“Daddy, please help me. Mommy is angry all the time.”

“Oh, God…” Without thinking, he snagged his cellphone and called his agent, asking for the phone number he needed now.

When she’d given it to him, he didn’t wait, dialing the cellphone number. When the call was picked up, he didn’t bother with hellos. “God, please… this is Teddy Hood… you have to help me…”