“CATHY! CATHY, WHERE ARE YOU?”

“I’ll be right back,” he said to Amy as he opened his door, “it looks like there’s a car behind us, I’m going to ask him for directions.” “Wait Ed!” said Amy in a trembling voice; “What if this guy behind us is a police officer? I told you that my ex-husband used to pay the cops off to avoid being arrested. Do you remember me telling you that? How do we know that he didn’t pay this guy off too? “Relax Amy, not every cop is on the take, I’m just going to go back to ask the driver for directions, nothing more. Besides, maybe you are over reacting. How would anyone even know that we are down here except to visit family? Honey, don’t worry, I’ll be right back,” he reassured Amy. “Wait just a minute Ed, what do you think you’re doing, you can’t just get out of the car in the middle of the street and leave it here, don’t you think you should park by the curb first?” Amy asked. “No don’t worry about it, I’ll just be a second, and besides, there’s no other traffic around here, it’s as if they roll up the streets at night down here!” laughed Ed. As Ed got out of the car and headed back toward the car that was behind him, he saw that the man was in a police uniform. The officer was out of his car already and approaching Ed. The police officer was the first to speak, saying, “Good morning, Sir, may I help you?” It was only then that Ed realized the car behind him was indeed a marked police car. “Good morning, Officer.” replied Ed in a somewhat soft tone. “My wife and I are lost, and I was hoping that you might be able to provide me some directions to the street I’m looking for.” “You’re here looking for the little girl,” replied the police officer.” Ed was actually very startled by what he had just heard, and he replied by telling the police officer, “I’m sorry officer; my wife and I are down here to meet some friends and family members. Perhaps you must have me mixed up with someone else. Like I just said, my wife and I just flew in from Chicago and we are looking for our motel. I just thought that since our motel is nearby…at least that’s what Mike told me when he made our reservations that we’d take a quick drive by to see where he lives!” “Ed,” responded the police officer in a reassuring tone, “you can be truthful with me, I’m here to help you, you just need to have continued trust and faith.” Now Ed is shocked after hearing what the police officer just said. Did he really call me Ed? How did he know my name? Questions were racing through Ed’s mind. The only thing he could have done was run a license plate check, and that would only show Hertz as the vehicle owner. Ed wondered if Amy’s ex-husband knew that we were coming down to get Cathy. He could not believe the situation that he was in now. “I’m sorry, Officer,” replied Ed as calmly as he could, “but I really don’t think that I understand what you’re talking about.” Calmly the police officer said, “You do Ed, and we both know you do. What you need to do now,” directed the police officer, “is take my card, it has my name and my personal telephone number on it, so if you need any help, call me, and I’ll assist you any way I can.” “Well, thank you officer, that’s really kind of you, but like I said, the only real assistance I need is to find this street and my motel.” As the police officer then extended his right hand, reaching out to give Ed his card, he said, “Ed, take my card anyway, and place it in your left shirt pocket near your heart.” Ed looked down at the card and then back at the officer’s face in astonishment. “How do you know my name?” he asked the officer. The police officer just looked at Ed without saying a word, and Ed was now even more shaken and nervous about what was happening, but he took the card and held it in his hand, as he walked back to his car. As Ed turned, back to return to his car and only walked a few feet, when he heard his name called out. “Ed!” called out the police officer, “Place my card in your left shirt pocket so that you will have it near your heart and do not remove it unless you need to phone me.” Ed stopped, turned back to face the police officer, who was now smiling at him, so he placed the card in his left shirt pocket as instructed, without saying a word. Ed then turned again and started back to his car. “Ed,” called out the police officer yet again, “don’t you want to know where El Camino Real is?” Ed stopped and turned around again to look at the police officer, still in somewhat of a state of shock. “Ah, yes, I do, where is it?” asked Ed. The officer pointed up to the street sign and smiled without saying a word. Ed turned to see where the police officer was pointing, and it was El Camino. Ed was now even more shocked after what just took place. Without turning around or saying anything more, Ed walked slowly back to the car, as if in a daze.