by Claire Fogel
I nodded. “This week, I’ve been trying to figure out how to take a shower without putting down my knives.” I snorted. “Silly, huh?”
He chuckled. “Not really.”
Lieutenant Fox brought an extra-large pizza for dinner, which put a big smile on Gavin’s face. “Hope you two are hungry,” he told us with a grin.
We were. The pizza disappeared quickly.
The lieutenant had been watching me. “You seem to be in a better mood, Cara. I guess we can thank Gavin for that.”
I nodded as I chewed up my last slice of pizza. “Speaking as a prisoner, it’s been a lot easier having some company full-time.”
The Lieutenant gave me a regretful smile. “Wish I hadn’t had to work, Cara.”
I looked at him. “I know, Aidan.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gavin watching us.
After the Lieutenant left, Gavin asked, “Are you and the Lieutenant more than friends now?”
I thought about it. “Not really. I’ve thought about it, but my heart belongs to someone else. Unfortunately.”
Gavin’s voice was soft as he asked, “Would you undo that if you could?”
I looked into his understanding blue eyes and sighed. “Probably not.”
I was too tired to stay up for another night of poker, so I went to bed at ten o’clock, leaving Gavin on the couch watching TV.
During the year Gavin lived with me, he had spread his sleeping bag in my studio where the doggy door was located. We were both accustomed to hearing the soft sound of the door flap whenever Ralph went out and came back in. It had become as familiar to me as Gavin’s scent of pine and evergreens.
But something was slightly different that night, and I didn’t sleep as soundly as usual. I vaguely remember feeling Ralph jump off my bed and hearing the sound of the doggy door flap. A little later I heard the sound of the flap again, which was normal. But I never felt Ralph jump back on my bed, which was odd.
I was more than half asleep, but I thought there was a strange odor in my room, the unpleasant smell of unwashed male. Suddenly alarmed, I opened my eyes and rolled over to see a figure bending over me. I screamed, heard a grunt, and heard the figure—I assumed it was a man—hit the floor with a heavy thud.
The overhead light was suddenly turned on and I saw Gavin standing by the wall switch, staring at something on the floor next to my bed. I looked down and gasped. Nick Romanov lay on his back, a large dagger in his hand and another knife sticking out of his chest. His eyes were wide open in a look of shock, and I knew he was dead.
I leaped out of bed and ran to Gavin, who wrapped both arms around me tightly. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“I’m fine. You?”
“I’m okay. I heard him come in, smelled him too. I’d been resting on top of the sleeping bag tonight, too warm to sleep in it. I waited until I could see him clearly. When he was close to your bed, I threw my knife.”
“Gavin, you saved my life.”
“It was my privilege, Cara. I couldn’t fail you again.”
I hugged him until I calmed down, grabbed my phone from my night table and called Lieutenant Fox.
I heard his groggy voice mutter, “What’s wrong, Cara?”
“Sorry to wake you, Aidan, but Romanov is on my bedroom floor with a knife in his chest. He’s dead.” I was rather proud of how calm I sounded.
The Lieutenant woke up in a hurry. “I’ll be right there, Cara. Go to the front door and call the officers in. Don’t touch anything. You and Gavin should go and sit in the kitchen until I get there.”
I took Gavin’s hand and led him out of the bedroom. “One of us should make coffee,” I said, hoping he’d offer. My hands were shaking.
He started pouring water into the coffeemaker as I went to the front door and yelled. Both officers who’d been sitting out there all night jumped out of their car and ran to me.
“Lieutenant Fox is on his way. There’s a dead body in my bedroom,” I told them.
They rushed to my bedroom door and stopped. One walked over to Romanov’s body and checked for a pulse. He shook his head. “Nada. He’s gone.” He returned to the doorway and told us, “You’ll have to stay out here until the crime techs do their jobs inside. Are you both okay?”
I nodded, wrapping my arms around myself.
Gavin handed me a cup of coffee. “We’re fine. Help yourselves to coffee.” He led me to the breakfast nook and we sat down to wait for Lieutenant Fox.
In less than five minutes, Birch Street was full of police cars, as well as an ambulance. I didn’t think Nick Romanov would need one.
Miss Williams came downstairs in her bathrobe to find out what was going on, and she joined us in the kitchen. Gavin poured her a cup of coffee just as the Lieutenant rushed in, looking relieved when he saw Gavin and me, both of us obviously unharmed.
He looked at me. “We’ll talk in just a few minutes, Cara.”
I nodded.
He walked a few feet into my bedroom and stopped, taking in the whole scene. “The crime scene techs will be here shortly. I’m afraid you’ll have to remain out here until they’re done and the body has been removed.”
Gavin asked, “Coffee, Lieutenant?”
Several of the officers had taken us up on our offer of coffee, so Aidan got the last cup.
He sat down with us and pulled a notepad out of his jacket and asked, “How’d he get in?”
Gavin said, “The doggy door.”
It suddenly hit me. I jumped up. “Ralph went out, but he didn’t come back in! We have to find Ralph!”
Laurie said, “There’s a door to the backyard at the end of the hallway.”
Aidan said, “Stay here, Cara. I’ll go look for him.”
“No, Aidan. I’m coming with you.” I followed him out of the apartment, through the hallway to the back door. I called out, “Ralph! Time to come in!” There was no answer.
We walked into the yard until we saw a dark lump on the ground at one side of the yard.
“No, oh no, Aidan, not my dog.” I was already in tears before we reached Ralph. I put my hand on his side; he was warm. “He’s alive, right?”
Aidan was checking my dog’s pulse. “His pulse is steady, Cara. I think he’s just asleep. Romanov must have given him something to knock him out, probably a piece of meat laced with an anesthetic. We’ll probably find it once it’s light out here. For now, let’s just get him inside where he can sleep it off.”
I stroked my dog’s smooth head and rubbed his velvety ears. Aidan lifted Ralph in his arms, grunted—Ralph was no lightweight—and carried him inside, putting him down on my soft couch. I didn’t want Ralph waking up on the hardwood floor.
Gavin sat down on one side of him with Laurie on the other side. Everyone was fond of Ralph, but no one was as relieved as I was. I knew if Romanov had killed my dog, that would have been it for me. I would have packed up and gone home to Thornewood.
I sat on the floor, right next to Ralph, while Aidan took the blue chair and began asking questions and writing down everything we were able to tell him.
Aidan asked, “Whose knife is that in Romanov’s chest?”
Gavin said, “Mine.”
The Lieutenant nodded. “Good thing you were here, Gavin. If Cara had been alone, she would have been badly injured, if not killed.” He shook his head and looked at me. “Even with this house virtually surrounded, Romanov found a way in. He must have crept through all the adjacent yards; most of them are unfenced.”
The E.M.T.’s came through the room with the gurney carrying a body bag. No one said anything until we heard the ambulance doors close and the van pull away. They were followed by the crime scene techs, who had photographed and measured everything, just the way I’d seen it done on TV.
One of them said, “You can use your bedroom now, miss. We’re done in there.” They left, and we heard another van pull away. Before long, there were only two police vehicles left in front of the yellow house on Birch Street. Just as the s
un began to rise, the neighborhood was quiet again.
When the Lieutenant had all the information he thought he’d need, he smiled at me. “On my way over here, I called Chief O’Donnell to update him. I’m guessing your parents will be here very soon.”
I had to laugh a little. “Yeah, probably. We’d better make more coffee.”
Laurie went back upstairs after telling me she was happy we were all okay, and that the threat I’d lived with was over.
Aidan had to leave too. His shift was about to begin. He looked really tired.
He hugged me longer than usual at the door and said he’d call me later. “I think we finally have something to celebrate,” he said with a tired smile.
I agreed.
We were both smiling when he left.
As Aidan pulled away from the curb, we heard the prolonged squeal of brakes as another car pulled up in front of the house, tires bouncing off the curb. I peeked out the window.
My father had arrived.
My father rushed out of his car and ran to the house where I was waiting at the open door. Grabbing me and lifting me off my feet, he held me for a few minutes, then set me on my feet gently. “You weren’t hurt?”
“No, Dad. I’m fine. Very thankful Gavin was here. He saved my life.”
My father raised his head, clearly surprised. “Gavin’s here?”
Gavin was standing in the living room. He raised his hand. “Hi, Mr. Blackthorne.” His face was noticeably pink. He probably wasn’t sure whether he was in trouble for being in Syracuse when he hadn’t been told to come.
One arm still around me, my father went to Gavin and wrapped his other arm around him. “You came on your own? Why?”
Gavin’s face was red now. “Well, Amy spoke to your wife. She told me Romanov had escaped from prison and that Cara had received a warning. I left right away.”
My father looked at me, then at Gavin, and asked, “Which one of you killed him?”
Gavin took a deep breath. “I did. And I’m not sorry. He was a threat to Cara. It had to end.”
My father nodded. “I agree. Thank you, son. We’re all in your debt.”
We went into the kitchen for more coffee as Gavin told my father everything that had happened that night. I could see my father slowly begin to relax. He’d arrived with a full head of steam. I didn’t want to know how fast he’d driven to get here.
“How come Mom’s not with you, Dad?”
“Uh, well, I was upset when we got the Lieutenant’s call. Your mother thought she should do the driving. I refused because your mother drives too slow; she never goes over the speed limit, Cara.”
I was trying to keep a straight face. “I know, Dad. Mom’s a very safe driver.”
He snorted. “Under the circumstances, I felt getting to you quickly was more important than the speed limit.”
I had to hug him, this wonderful, loving father who thought I was more important than speed limits. I leaned my face into his shoulder and muttered, “I love you, Dad.”
For the first time that night, he finally smiled.
Ten seconds later, my phone rang. I knew it would be my mother.
“Hi Mom. Yes, he made it here in one piece. I know, Mom. I’m fine, Gavin’s fine, Romanov’s dead. Everything’s fine.” I handed the phone to my dad.
My father’s side of the conversation was brief: “Yes, dear. Of course. You’re right. Yes, dear. She’s fine. I will. I love you too.”
Gavin and I looked at each other, both of us trying not to laugh. My father was obviously being read the riot act about his driving. He finally hung up, looking satisfied.
He smiled at us. “Alicia worries too much.”
“Dad, I’ve been saying that for years.”
The next couple of hours were spent with more pleasant conversation as we enjoyed a breakfast of Sunrise Specials and herbal tea. We’d all had entirely too much coffee.
Gavin was supposed to begin teaching Art in Elvenwood the next day. “I guess I should ride back with you, Mr. Blackthorne. Uh, you’ll be driving a bit slower, right?”
My dad chuckled. “Yes. I won’t take any chances on the way home. I don’t want to give Alicia any more reason to scold me.”
He looked over at me. “Cara, would you like us to stay a bit longer?”
“Of course, Dad. I love having you here, both of you. My plans for today include rest and maybe a nap this afternoon. Nothing else. My classes start tomorrow.”
We spent the rest of the morning together, talking about all kinds of things. I could tell that Gavin had just become one of my father’s favorite people.
After I made sandwiches for lunch, my father and Gavin were ready to leave for Thornewood. I hated to say goodbye to them, but I was half asleep already and desperate for a nap.
In another week, I’d be driving home for the weekend so we’d see each other very soon. Dad invited Gavin to join us for Sunday brunch, which put a big smile on Gavin’s face.
After I hugged them both, we said goodbye. I smiled when I heard my father leave rubber in front of the house on Birch Street. I knew it wouldn’t be long before my father bought himself a bigger, faster car.
I was still smiling as I stumbled into my bedroom and sacked out, fully dressed. Life was good again.
It was late afternoon when I woke up to Ralph nuzzling my face.
“Hi, Ralph. You feeling all better now?” He licked my nose, giving me his Boxer smile.
He ran to his doggy door and stopped, looking back over his shoulder at me
“You want me to come outside with you?” I asked him. His answer was a soft whine.
I was sure he was remembering the confusing time he’d had the previous night, so I walked through the apartment to the hallway and went out the back door as Ralph popped through the doggy door. I walked along the fence line, all around the backyard, but didn’t find anything suspicious. Ralph stayed right behind me.
When I’d completed a thorough examination of the yard, I told Ralph, “I think it’s safe out here now. And I hope you now know better than to eat something you find on the ground. Right?”
His big brown eyes looked up at me as if to say, “Yeah, Mom, I’m not that stupid.”
I couldn’t help laughing. Ralph and I understood each other perfectly.
My phone was ringing as I walked back in the house. Ralph had decided to enjoy the grass and the trees a bit longer, and I left him in the yard, sniffing everything.
I answered the phone. “Hi, Aidan. Did you get any sleep yet?”
He laughed. “Yes, I did. I got home about an hour ago and passed out. But I’m up now and extremely hungry. How about you?”
“I took a nap after my father left with Gavin. I’m hungry too. What did you have in mind?”
“Well, what are you in the mood for? Burgers or something Italian? And I’m not talking about pizza!”
“Mmm. Italian sounds great. I’m already missing Mom’s cooking.”
“There’s a little Italian restaurant near the station that has fantastic food. It’s called Bella’s and the owners do all their own cooking. Their veal parmesan is out of this world! How about I pick you up in thirty minutes.”
“Sounds great. I’ll be ready.”
I barely had time for a quick shower, so I rushed through one, blew my hair dry as quickly as possible, grabbed a new pair of jeans and my one green silk shirt that matched the jade earrings my father had given me. I had just pulled on my boots when I heard the doorbell.
When I opened the door, Aidan took one look at me and actually whistled.
“Cara, you don’t look like the same exhausted girl I left early this morning. Wow! What a transformation.” He grinned at me.
Ralph was behind me, whining again.
“Come in for a minute, Aidan. I think Ralph needs a little reassurance that we won’t be gone long and that everything is back to normal.”
Aidan came in and got down on the floor with Ralph. He’d changed out of his usual
suit and tie and was wearing khaki’s and a pale blue plaid shirt that matched his eyes. In a word, he was gorgeous. Paula’s eyes would bug out if she could see him now.
Aidan played with my delighted dog for a few minutes, then got up off the floor and asked me, “Will he be okay by himself for a few hours? He seems a little unsure.”
I thought the same thing. “Maybe Laurie would like some doggy company this evening. Give me a minute to run upstairs.”
Laurie was delighted to dog-sit for Ralph. I called him and he practically galloped up the stairs to Laurie’s apartment. “He’s always welcome, Cara. We’ll keep each other company tonight.”
I thanked her and ran back downstairs to Aidan.
He drove us to Bella’s, which looked like a little hole-in-the-wall, but turned out to be completely charming on the inside. There were the usual red and white checkered tablecloths, candles stuck in wine bottles on each table, murals of Italy on the walls, and soft music that sounded like opera playing in the background. The food smells from the kitchen had my mouth watering immediately.
“Aidan, this place is great. And it smells fantastic!”
He smiled as he pulled out my chair and then sat down across from me. “I’m glad you like it, Cara. You’re gonna love the food.”
After we placed our orders, I couldn’t help noticing that Aidan seemed kind of different than the times he’d taken me out to eat before.
“Aidan, I don’t want to assume anything, and I really don’t want to offend you, but I have to ask you a question.”
He nodded as he munched on a breadstick, looking across the table at me with those pale blue eyes. “Shoot.”
I gestured to the restaurant, the candles on each table, the slightly romantic environment. “Something feels different tonight. Is this a date?”
He looked amused, obviously stifling a smile. It was a look I was familiar with.
“Well, do you want it to be a date?”
I should have known he’d answer my question with another question.