The Lady in the Park

PROLOGUE

Anna Fisher lives in the exciting City of Atlanta, Georgia, where darkness not only brings out those who prey on others but the young, fearless, adventurous residents and visitors from all walks of society who party all night. Anna’s life exists in a very small section of the city where she works and lives. Her dreams are haunted by the man who fathered her child. A few afternoons a week, she sits alone on a bench in the park and allows herself to see her child playing there. The child calls Anna the sad lady in the park. To Anna, the little girl is my stolen child.

CHAPTER 1

In a secluded area of the park, Anna sits alone on a wooden bench with her book opened appearing to be reading. Only a very observant individual would catch the occasional fervent look as children entered and left the park. Anna was hoping to see the golden-haired little girl who would soon be five. She knew that fall was fast approaching with winter following and she would see less and less of the child. She called her Angel to herself but dared not to tell anyone her thoughts or where she was three or four afternoons a week. It was not always convenient for her to be away from the office at this time of day, but she always tried to have her telecommunication appointments set where she could be at the park at the right time.

She was employed by Conglomerate Inc. in Atlanta to manage and maintain their computer systems with offices spanning the globe managing vast amounts of money and properties. In every major city around the globe, there was someone doing the same job that Anna did in Atlanta keeping the huge company ahead of its competitors. She studied Hyper Transport Technology, Genetic Algorithm, Elliptical Curve Cryptography, but most importantly Hyper Transport Technology. She was isolated away from others not having to interact or talk about her life or family. Most if not all of her co-workers found her aloof and only interacted with her if absolutely necessary. Behind her back she was called the Genius Geek or Ice Maiden. Anna made no attempt to change their minds dressing in clothes too old and too large for her twenty years wearing her thick blonde hair in a tight bun at the nape of her neck. She wore no adornments, fragrances or makeup. She wore large rimmed glasses which had no prescription but no one knew this. She kept them on all of the time and when she stepped in the sun they darkened to protect her eyes from the sun and prying eyes.

Anna had spent the last three years of her life looking for Angel. At first she had no idea how hard it would be to find Angel. She searched birth records for the date of Angel’s birth but even with her knowledge of computers she was blocked access to all adoption records. It looked as if the little girl had never been born. Anna knew where she was born or where her parents said she was born. General Hospital showed no birth records for a girl who was adopted on that date. Her father had given her a sedative, supposedly to help ease the contractions which were already five minutes apart, before leaving the house for the hospital. She remembered little about the ride to the hospital or the short stay in a sanitized room with a nurse hovering over her before and after delivery. She had heard the baby cry and remembered asking to see the infant. She heard her mother and father whispering or had she dreamed that. There was another voice asking, Hey, Dad, do you want to cut the cord? She was trying to talk. She heard her dad say, Anna, the baby is fine and healthy. Sleep now my little girl. Then darkness enveloped her in its warmth and nothingness.

The weeks preceding the birth, her dad had watched her closely monitoring the baby’s heartbeat. He had arranged for an obstetrician who was a friend of his, Dr. Wheeler, to come by and check Anna monthly and then weekly. Her mother and Louise made sure she ate right, took her prenatal vitamins and rested. Anna could not understand how her parents could insist that the baby be adopted. They both listened to every heartbeat smiling and laughing when the bumping thumps of the monitor were loudest with the baby’s movements. The two of them smiled even more and laughed more often. They would often sit on Anna’s bed using the monitor to hear the beat of the little one’s heart. Louise would stand at the door listening but would not join the three of them on the bed.

Her parents and Louise lavished Anna with more attention and small gifts of expensive jewelry making plans for her return to college. Anna had her own plans but she did not share them with her parents. She would never be a lawyer as the baby’s biological father had passed his bar exam and she never wanted to be in the same room with him again. She could not bring herself to tell her parents that she wasn’t going to be a lawyer. She loved her parents and hoped they would change their mind about the baby. When they returned home without the baby, Anna’s attitude changed. She knew at sixteen she could be emancipated and she would no longer be Anna Watson.

Six months ago, Anna had finally hired a private detective, Joe Barnes. He was fifty-five, slightly overweight, a former police officer who definitely drank too much but he had found Angel in less than a week. He still had connections with the local police department and said he was in a long-term relationship with a FBI agent, Jean.

Joe never told her how he found Angel just that connections pay off and never burn any bridges. Joe just wanted her to call Joe and often encouraged her to meet him at a bar assuring her that Jean would be there. She insisted that they meet at his messy office. He had a computer, desk, multiple shelves containing God’s know what he said, two phones, fax machine which never rang as faxes were a thing of the past much to his dismay and a trash can that always needed emptying. He had two well-worn chairs facing his desk but the chair behind his desk had definitely seen better days. Joe told her that he had outlived his usefulness in the police department having solved multiple cases but did not like the computerized systems taking over. He said the higher in rank the lengthier the reports that he had to write. Joe said he had retired about six years ago and has been happier than he has ever been. He said he uses the best computer he has, his brain, always laughing loudly when he said that.

Anna’s first visit to Joe’s office was not what she expected. When she entered the office, Joe was cursing and punching around on his computer. She had knocked and heard, Come on in. Damn it to hell. She entered the room and Joe said without looking up, Have a seat. I will be with you in a minute. Damn it… this damned piece of Japanese machinery. Anna spoke, Maybe I can help. I work with computers all day. Joe looked up seeing a young woman trying very hard to look much older than she actually was. He eyed her speculatively and thought well, well look what the cat’s drug in. Standing he stuck out his hand not waiting for her to extend hers, I’m Joe Barnes and you must be Ms. Fisher. He felt her hand shaking in his firm grip which he held for a moment longer feeling that she needed a moment to regain her composure. I know I must be a sight and I apologize for my language. Me and this here machine just don’t gee horse.

Anna withdrew her hand and said, If you will exchange places with me, I will look at your computer. Joe came around and she moved behind the messy desk. Anna moved some papers aside seeing her name scribbled on one. She sat down in the chair that squeaked as she swiveled to get to the computer. She simply went to the programs and files finding the Norton Virus protection which had expired. She brought up the Internet and found Norton installing the update using her own credit card information. Anna never carried her card but had memorized the necessary information. Anna said, Mr. Barnes this may take a few minutes. You have several viruses including Malaware, keeping her eyes on the computer which had begun cleaning files.

Joe said, Well I be damned. When Anna looked up, he said, Sorry, Ms. Fisher., I just get so frustrated working with electronics. Why don’t you sit where you are and you tell me what I can do for you?

Anna looked at his face which had at least two-day growth of beard, lines around his eyes that twinkled with intelligence. She had read that police officers had to know as much about the law as lawyers and she chosen Mr. Barnes as his ad indicated that he had retired from the Atlanta Police Department after twenty-five years.

She still felt nervous and fidgety about discussing her private business with a complete stranger and each movement caused the old chair to squeak louder and finally asked, You don’t happen to have any WD40, Mr. Barnes? Joe said I can’t seem to remember it until I sit down in the infernal chair. I bought all of this furniture including a couch in the other room from the old man who used to sell insurance from this office. The only thing I bought new was that infernal computer that is now three years old.

With you squirming around in that chair we won’t be able to hear each other, why don’t we change seats again. It tends to squeak less with more weight, Joe suggested.

Anna found herself facing him again and started fidgeting with her handbag. Joe said, Look, Ms. Fisher, I have heard it all so whatever you have gotten yourself into at your young age won’t shock me. One thing I demand of my clients is honesty. If you can’t agree you best find another detective.

Anna nodded, Mr. Barnes, I am twenty and work for Conglomerate Inc. I am in charge of the computerized part of the company. My work is demanding but I refuse to leave the country and so far that has not been a problem. Should I choose in the future, I could relocate in a foreign country which may be something I will consider once my problem has been resolved.

Mr. Barnes said, Okay let’s start off with you calling me Joe and me calling you Anna. It is easier to open up on a first-name basis. So what is it you need from me, Anna?

Anna continued to fidget with her purse and finally Joe stood up and propped himself on the side of the desk. He said, It can’t be that bad. Come on tell me, Anna. What’s cooking in that little head of yours?

Anna spoke softly and said, My parents, Louise our housekeeper, Dr. Wheeler, and I are the only ones who know and now you. On September 13th five years ago, I gave birth to a little girl. I want to know where she is and I want to see her. I was fifteen when she was born and the delivery was so secretive that I cannot locate adoption records that she even was born. Anna had tears running down her face. My parents said I was too young to be a mother and I should give the baby to people who would love and cherish it. They said it was not really my decision because I would still be 15 when she was born.

Joe said handing her his handkerchief, What about the father? Have you maintained contact with him?

Anna answered, His name is Chad Adams. I have not seen him since the day the baby was conceived. I want nothing to do with him. He doesn’t know about the baby.

Joe cleared his throat and said, Was this a consensual event? Yes, Mr. Barnes I mean Joe it was. I was a junior in college and he had no idea that I was only 15. He passed the bar exam and came by on Christmas Day with a gift thanking me for helping him study. It was a class assignment and I was naïve not realizing that he was even attracted to me. I never went through the stages that other girls my age did. I wasn’t into boys, Hollywood stars or singers. If that day hadn’t happened, I probably would not have gone through those stages as I was an introvert. I had never even kissed a boy before. A congratulatory kiss on the cheek led to a pregnancy is as far as I will go.

Joe said, I see. Let me jot down your name, your parents, date of birth of the child and the name of the child’s father. Anna said, Chad doesn’t know about her and I don’t want him to know. He works for a large law firm and is a very prominent attorney in Atlanta.

Joe said, Yeah, I recognized the name. Do you follow his career? Anna stated firmly, No I see him in the paper occasionally usually with an attractive female. I won’t read the articles as I don’t want to remember him. Joe stood up saying, "Okay, Anna, I will get back to you hopefully within two weeks.’

Anna asked, Don’t you want a retainer? Joe laughed and said, You have already paid me a retainer. You used your own information to fix that infernal machine. I am more observant than one might suspect. They shook hands and Anna left.

Anna gave him her business card along with her home number and cell number. She didn’t want to miss a call. She would email the secretaries that any calls from a Mr. Joe Barnes were to be transferred to her immediately. She speculated that some of them would eavesdrop so when he called she would answer and then call him back immediately on her cell phone. She guessed she should have made an effort to be closer to the staff but people who were close to her seemed to be the ones who hurt her.

CHAPTER 2

Her first call came from Joe in less than a week. He insisted on seeing her and suggested a pub nearby her office. She said she had rather meet him in his office so that’s where they met. Anna had never been inside a bar and even now she would be considered underage. She knew Joe wasn’t thinking about that.

Joe must have been listening for her as he opened the door