Lasting Shadows

by Bonnie Gardiner

  “Good.” He squeezed her hand. “So what will you do with the rest of your day?”

  She sighed and looked at the floor.

  “I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe he’s right. Maybe I’m clinging too tightly to something I never wanted.”

  “The restaurant,” Quinn asked. “Or him?”

  She gasped turning to him. She stammered a few times.

  “The way he’s treating you, Carol,” he said. “At the very least the two of you need counseling.”

  “I’ve tried bringing that up before.” Her shoulders drooped. “He launches into a tirade. Lost three pieces of my best china that way last time.” She frowned.

  “As long as you didn’t get hurt,” he said.

  “No, he’s never gone that far,” she said. “Though I can’t say I’ve ever made him that mad. He’s been plenty mad at everything else though.”

  “I’m afraid that’s because you always give in. You let him have what he wants to keep the peace,” he said. “I wonder what happens if you hold your ground?” He shook his head. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you, Carol. You’re a kind, sweet, intelligent woman. Pretty enough to have any man you want.”

  “Oh, pfft,” she said, waving a hand at him. She rolled her eyes and looked away. “Now you’re just being silly.”

  “Am I?” Quinn tilted his head to the side. “You’ve got me interested. I assume there must be more.”

  She blushed so deeply it made him grin and look away, licking his lip.

  “You didn’t think I saw how lovely your legs are?”

  “Quinn-”

  “The scent of your perfume?”

  He lifted her hand to his nose, breathing in the skin of her wrist before turning and nuzzling a little closer to her. He felt her tremble. He moved to whisper in her ear.

  “The softness of your skin?” He ran his open lips over her ear and cheek to her neck. “Your hair, your eyes, your… lips.”

  She turned to him, looking in his eyes.

  “I wasn’t kidding when I said I wish you weren’t married, Carol,” he whispered. “And if I feel that way, there must be others who’d feel the same.”

  He looked from her eyes to her lips. Her breath caught. She seemed to try to back up, but he only lowered her to her back on the bed.

  “Quinn… You should stop.”

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  She stared into his eyes.

  “No,” she said. “But-”

  He kissed her.

  ***

  They made love in his bed until the afternoon train passed on the north track. He found her fascinating in a way he had not expected. She let him explore her in ways he hadn’t even managed to convince Gin to let him do. He found himself truly admiring this middle-aged woman, trying to plot ways he could see her more often.

  “I have to get back,” she said. “He’ll know something’s up if I’m not there at closing time.”

  “That gives you what? About three hours?”

  “Yes,” she said. “But I do have things to do at home before he gets there.”

  He nuzzled her hair, his hands still caressing her bare skin beneath the covers. He kissed her neck.

  “I want to see you again, sweetheart.”

  She shook her head.

  “We’ll just have to see how it goes,” she said. “I don’t think I could invite you for dinner again now.”

  “Why not? He falls asleep. We could have a wild romp right on the kitchen table while I help you with the dishes.”

  She laughed a little. He kissed her and sighed. In the distance, he heard the jingle of his phone.

  “I know you have to get back,” he said, letting his head drop to her chest. “And that ringtone you hear is probably my agent. I’m supposed to be working right now.” He smirked at her as his hand caressed her.

  “Then you should get up and answer that,” she said. “I don’t want to cost you a sale or something.”

  He laughed. She touched his cheek, staring into his eyes. He kissed her bare skin.

  The phone sang again. He groaned.

  “I guess that’s the alarm,” he said. “Time to get up.”

  He slid from the bed, pulling on his clothes as she watched. Just as he stepped from the room he glanced back, seeing her stand and begin to dress. He half hopped down the hallway, picking up his phone.

  Kate. Oh god, not now.

  He turned off the phone and set it aside.

  “Was it important?”

  Carol stepped into the room straightening her clothes.

  “Just as I thought, I’ll call back after we say goodbye.”

  She sighed as she turned to the kitchen.

  “That sounds so permanent.”

  “And you sound so sad when you say that,” he said, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

  She patted his arms.

  “I have to go, Quinn.”

  “I know, sweetheart.”

  She picked up her purse and turned around, looking up at him. He kissed her lips once more.

  “Have a lovely evening, Carol.”

  “You too, Quinn.” She clasped his hands. “And thank you.”

  He opened the door for her and she bounded down the steps, slipping into her car. She waved once and backed out, the blue crossover curving across the tracks and out of sight.

  “Miranda knows.”

  A sharp stab seemed to jerk in Quinn’s heart. The old woman across the street stood by the fence, peering between the leaves.

  “Miranda knows what you are.”

  He squinted at her.

  “Miranda knows what-”

  “Shut up, bitch.”

  He mumbled the words, mostly to himself, but she stopped her chanting to stare back at him. He slammed and locked the door.

  ***

  His good mood crushed by the old woman across the street, he marched, with a limp, into the living room, dropping into the recliner. He snatched up his phone, switching it on. The ringtone jingled as he did.

  “What is it, Kate?”

  “Quinn?”

  “What is it?”

  “You sound so angry.”

  “It’s that damned old woman across the street…Ugh. Look, why are you calling?”

  “It’s Jack, Quinn.”

  He sighed deeply, rubbing his face with his free hand. The old woman across the street still chanted. He heard her through the closed window.

  “What about him, Kate? Did he try to move back in?”

  “No,” she said. “But he’s been stalking me. Watching everything I’m doing.”

  “He’s just worried about you Kate.”

  “No, Quinn. He’s gonna hurt me again. I just know he is.”

  Quinn stared at the floor.

  Do I tell her I know or do I let it go?

  He closed his eyes.

  If I tell her will she run away from me too? Accuse me of something? Or worse?

  Hell no. Not getting that started.

  “Alright, what can I do to help?”

  “Can you call him? Maybe talk to him again? Get him to leave me alone?”

  He sighed again.

  “Kate…”

  “Please, Quinn. He left me alone after you spoke to him before.”

  He groaned.

  “Alright. But after that, I really have to get back to work.”

  “I know, Quinn. Thank you.”

  Before she could blurt out what he knew she wanted to say he ended the call.

  He stared at his phone.

  I really don’t want to do this.

  He tapped Jack’s name.

  “Quinn.”

  “Jack. Kate’s begging me to ask you to stop stalking her. Interrupting my work. Calling constantly.”

  “Yeah, she’s been bugging me too,” Jack said. “Kept telling me she’s seeing me behind her in line at the store, watching her through the aisles. That kinda thing. The thing is, Quinn, I never left the hotel in
Kolten Springs. Met a nice girl here. Completely by accident. Got to talking, and now… well, I might end up relocating.”

  “Oh my god, that’s great man!”

  “Not to Kate though,” Jack said. “I tried to explain it, but man, she isn’t listening. She’s bat shit crazy.”

  “Which is why she’s claiming you’re following her,” Quinn said. “She’s reacting badly.”

  “Yeah,” Jack said. “I gotta say, I think I’m done trying to help her, Quinn. But that leaves you in a bit of a mess.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Look, I’ll help however I can. I still love her, man. She’s just got problems. Problems I think I’m done dealing with. Hell, she could get me thrown in jail when I haven’t even laid a hand on her.”

  “Yeah, probably smart to stay away.”

  “Took some emergency leave from work, but it might end up being permanent,” he said.

  Both of them fell silent a few long moments. Thoughts raced through Quinn’s head.

  “You might be in for it, Quinn,” Jack said. “Once she gets it in her head that I’m not coming back, she’s gonna be latching hard onto you. Be careful. I know what she’s capable of. She’s gonna have you believing half the shit she comes up with. You’ll start wondering if you really did sleepwalk in the bedroom and punch her. She gets in your head. Messes you up.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Anyway, I’m off. Alice is waiting for me.”

  “Alice is the new one?”

  “Yes, sir. My age. We went to the same high school but never in the same circles. Divorced. Two cute little kids. Instant family.”

  “Nice. Well, good luck, Jack.”

  “You too, Quinn. Let me know how it’s going, yeah? She’s blocked my number.”

  “Right. Later, man.”

  “Yep.”

  Quinn ended the call, staring down at Kate’s name on his phone. He tapped it.

  “Quinn! Did you talk to him?”

  “Hi Kate, yeah. Look, you don’t have to worry about him anymore, okay? He’s out of your life.”

  “You convinced him to leave me alone?”

  “Kate…” He groaned. “Jack found someone in Kolten Springs. He met her right there in the hotel.”

  “No.” She huffed. “I’ve seen him twice just today. Once by my car and the other time on the way here. He lied to you, Quinn. He’s so good at that.”

  Quinn rubbed his face with his hand, suddenly feeling very tired.

  “Kate-”

  “No, Quinn. Jack is lying. He’s done this before. He’s going to sneak into the house and hurt me again. I just know it.”

  “If you’re that worried, why don’t you call the police? Get them to keep an eye on your place when you’re home.”

  He heard her clicking her ballpoint pen.

  “Just relax Kate. Give it a few days. If he doesn’t come home then you’re safe, okay? If you don’t feel safe, call someone to stay with you.”

  “I wish you weren’t so far.”

  He shook his head, smirking a little.

  Thank God I am.

  “Yeah, a shame,” he said. “Alright, so feeling any better?”

  “A little, I guess…” Her voice did not sound convincing. “Quinn, when you come back, since Gin kicked you out, what if you come to live with me? I have that big house all to myself and-”

  “Let’s worry about that after this stay in Nock, alright? Plenty of time, babe.”

  She sighed this time.

  “Oh, okay. I love y-”

  “I have to get back to work, Kate. Talk to you later, okay? Try to relax. And listen, I swear to you, Jack’s still at that hotel. You are free from him, for now. So have a good rest of the day.”

  He ended the call without waiting for her reply.

  “My god, I have to find a way to get free of her.”

  He stared at his phone for a long moment. Lily’s name caught his eye. He frowned at it.

  Stupid bitch. Probably no better than Gin.

  He stared at Tamara’s name.

  “Punish me…” He half laughed.

  His eyes landed on Megan’s name. He opened the photos she sent through Tamara.

  Bad girl. But she might be just what I need right now. A female without any ties, not looking for more than a good fuck.

  But the thoughts of what infections she might be carrying put him off again. He lowered his phone to his lap.

  “Back to work,” he said aloud, though as soon as he said it, his thoughts drifted over Carol and the wild lovemaking they had earlier.

  “You were definitely a surprise, sweetheart.”

  He lifted his phone and tapped her name.

  “Just thinking about you,” he typed, sending it with a winking face.

  She immediately sent him a reply.

  “Been thinking about you too,” she said.

  He watched and waited for her to say the words he wanted to see.

  “I really like you a lot, Quinn. You make me feel like a woman instead of your mother.” He heard her laugh in his head as he read it. “But I know this isn’t forever. Anyway, he’s due home soon, so I’m turning off my phone. Goodnight, Quinn.”

  “Goodnight sweetheart.”

  She’s gonna fall in love with me.

  He smiled to himself and settled back into his work.

  ***

  A knock woke him from proofreading. He jumped a little and eased up, slipping to the window without making a sound. A sleek black sedan parked by his. A little tug at the back of his head nagged at him.

  “Looks familiar.”

  Another knock startled him from his thoughts.

  “Mister Tilman?”

  He heard a man’s voice, a little high pitched, that again seemed vaguely familiar, though who it belonged to eluded him. He took a deep breath and limped to the door, cracking it open just a little. Ben, the tall, blond, pretty boy clairvoyant stood there, flashing his white and perfect smile at him.

  “Mister Tilman! I am so glad to see you. I was hoping you’d call but-”

  “Dropped your card. Found it a little while ago.”

  “May I come in?”

  Quinn sighed.

  “I’m working at the moment.”

  “This is related to your work, actually,” Ben said. He grinned and froze as if posing again. Quinn half wondered if there was a camera somewhere he couldn’t see. “Just thought I would stop by and bring my shadow boxes over.”

  He motioned to a crate resting on the porch by his feet.

  “Perhaps do a little interview? I hear you do a lot of those.”

  A shock rattled through Quinn. He blinked.

  “I guess the rumor mill-”

  “Spreads like fire, Mister Tilman,” Ben said, grinning. “I hear Carol’s been telling you stories in the graveyard, and Lily at the church, and Rosie at the post office and Tamara… well, Tamara has a truly sad story to tell, I know.”

  The old woman across the street started laughing. Quinn tensed even more, his back aching. Ben turned and waved at her, getting a wave back in reply.

  “Mrs. Bitters, hello! How are you, sweet Mary?”

  “I’m alright, Benjamin. You should come around more.”

  “I should, dear heart. Been so busy lately though.”

  “Mike would love to hear your stories again.”

  “I would love to tell them,” Ben said. “You tell him, next time he’s up for company you want to see me, okay? I’ll be glad to come around. I’ll bring whatever you need. Alright?”

  “I certainly will, Benjamin.” Her voice dropped back to a loud mumble. “Fine young man. Good boy. Good sweet boy.”

  Ben waved, though she had already fallen back into her usual self. He turned back to Quinn. Quinn’s mouth hung open. He motioned for Ben to come inside. Ben grabbed up his box and stepped into the kitchen.

  “How did you do that?”

  “What?” Ben smiled at him.

  “Get he
r to carry on a conversation. Since I’ve been here she’s done nothing but bitch at me about everything I do. Calling me a bad man, criticizing everything.”

  Ben’s face seemed to darken. He squinted at Quinn.

  “She calls it as she sees it,” he said. “And if she says you’re a bad man-”

  “I’m no better or worse than any other man.”

  He felt Ben staring at him as he limped over to the fridge.

  “Would you like something to drink?”

  Ben was all smiles again.

  “Water if you have a spare bottle?”

  “Right here.”

  He handed one over. Ben touched his fingers as he took it, a little flash of concern coming over him. He put the box by the table on the floor and the two of them sat. Ben seemed distant as if reading something in his head. He glanced over his left shoulder toward the living room.

  “Something bothering you?” Quinn watched his face.

  Ben’s eyes slanted to him a few seconds before turning back to the doorway.

  “She’s nervous,” he said.

  “Who?”

  “Miranda,” Ben said.

  Quinn groaned.

  Great. Another nut case. Of course, what did I expect? He’s a ‘clairvoyant’.

  “She doesn’t like you much,” Ben said.

  “So I gathered from the old bat across the street.”

  “Bat? No, she’s-”

  “Look, I’m sorry to be rude, but I need to get back to work,” Quinn said. “I lost some time today and I’m playing catch up. Can we do our discussion with the shadow boxes now?”

  “Carol Lambert,” Ben said. He nodded with a deep sigh.

  Quinn felt another shock rip through him.

  “What?”

  “You spent some time with her earlier today,” Ben said. “At least I assume she was here. I found this.” He pulled the scarf she had worn the other day in the cemetery from the crate. “It was lying in your driveway just now.”

  Quinn blinked at it.

  “Tim is a very violent and selfish man,” Ben said. “And I know she’s a lonely woman.”

  Blood rushed to Quinn’s face. Ben patted his hand.

  “I’ll keep your secret,” he said. “Trust me on that. But I can’t say the same for anyone else in the town. I know just about everything that happens here. Just like Mary across the street.” He rubbed Quinn’s hand. “On that note, I have a request.” Quinn pulled his hand away, staring back at him. “Stop seeing Tamara, Mister Tilman.”