Soul Mate (The Mating Series)

by S. Swan

  I read the morning paper and stressed over my job. Ben called. He asked to come over and record a statement. “I have been advised not to make any statements without counsel present,” I said.

  “Then arrange for your attorney to be at your place in an hour,” Ben said, irritated.

  “I don’t know if I can.” Cho left in a huff and probably wouldn’t show up.

  Ben threatened, “Either that, or you’re coming in for questioning.”

  “You can stop with the threats,” I said, angrily.

  “Arrange it,” Ben said. “This is serious Cassandra.”

  “I know it is, but I have other things going on today.”

  I reluctantly called Cho to eat crow. I assumed Cho would decline. He had more pressing issues on his plate than me.

  “I guess you lived through the night,” Cho said. “What do you need?”

  “Detective King is coming over to take a statement. He insists you’re present,” I said.

  “Am I your attorney?” Cho asked.

  “I thought you were.”

  “I charge a seven hundred dollar retainer up front and two hundred-fifty an hour,” Cho said.

  “I can’t afford your fees,” I huffed. “Never mind. I’ll take my chances alone.” I started to hang up the phone.

  “Hold on,” Cho said. “I don’t expected payment, but I want you to understand how much legal fees are.” I heard the flick of a lighter. Cho inhaled and said, “Am I still your attorney?”

  “I guess.”

  “Are you going to take my advice from now on?”

  I sighed. “Yes.”

  “If Jimmy doesn’t make bail today, will you promise to find another place to stay, either at the condo or somewhere else?”

  I groaned. “Yes.”

  “What time do I have to be there?”

  “He’ll be here in an hour,” I said. “I understand if you need to prepare for court. I can figure something else out.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Cho said. “I’m not appearing on Jimmy’s behalf. I’m not licensed here. I had to turn it over to Jay Huber,” he said. “Besides, I need to make sure you don’t say anything to hurt Jimmy’s case.”

  Cho arrived faster than I expected. We crowded in the living room. I still hadn’t vacuumed, but the house was at least clean. Ben sat in the green chair; Cho and I were seated on the each end of the couch, with Mom between us. Occasionally, I noticed Cho looking in the direction of Mom. He couldn’t see her, but he sensed the dense moist air between us.

  “It’s blood,” Ben said, leaning forward in the chair.

  “Who’s blood?” I asked.

  “We don’t know yet,” Ben said. He absently flipped through a small note book. Ben refused to look at me. Another man angry with me. How could I be with anyone besides Jimmy? I had a way of pissing men off.

  “This absolves Jimmy Kim of suspicion,” Cho said.

  “It doesn’t,” Ben said, flatly. “I wish it did, but anyone could have stuck that flyer in Cassandra’s door.”

  “If the blood comes back to one of the victims, it most certainly absolves my client.”

  “Your brother,” Ben corrected. “He’s not your client, Mr. Kim.” Cho glared at him. “It will raise some doubt, yes, but it doesn’t explain why your brother was found standing over Ms. Lazarus’ body.”

  Cho folded his arms and crossed his legs. “I’m not at liberty to discuss that with you,” Cho said, defiantly.

  “I’m not at liberty to discuss your brother’s case with you,” Ben countered.

  “Clearly, Cassandra has been targeted by the killer. If you continue to pursue my brother, her life may be in jeopardy,” Cho said.

  “We’re investigating the intrusion and the flyer,” Ben said. “I can’t say if they are related.”

  “Do you think this is related?” I asked.

  “I can’t make assumptions,” Ben answered, curtly. His body language said that he wanted to tell me something, but he wouldn’t in front of Cho. If I talked to Ben with representation, he wouldn’t tell me what he knew. If I approached Ben alone, he could use anything I said against me or worse, Jimmy. The situation confused me. I was stuck in the chess game between the two men, Ben’s move, and Cho’s move. Cho had an agenda, and it wasn’t necessarily to my benefit, but my well-being worried Ben.

  “I know you can’t divulge information about your case, but do you think I am in danger?” I asked.

  “Yes, I do,” Ben said, frankly.

  “Ms. Williams will not be staying in this apartment from now on,” Cho said. Shut up Cho! He inadvertently told my mom. I hadn’t mentioned it to her. She disappeared after Cho left the night before.

  “What?” Mom asked.

  I explained to Mom without talking directly to her. “I’ll be staying with a friend, temporarily.”

  “What friend?” I couldn’t answer her. “Cho?” Mom asked. I slightly shook my head indicating no. “Then who?”

  “Later,” I coughed, trying to shut Mom up.

  “Where?” Ben asked, and then added “If we need to contact you.”

  “You can contact Ms. Williams via cell phone or through Jay Huber at Huber and Associates,” Cho answered. He sat stiffly. Cho was a formidable attorney. He liked to intimidate people.

  “Why are you being so cryptic?” Mom demanded. I turned pleading with my eyes. I needed her to shut up. Cho looked at me quizzically. He didn’t understand that I looked at Mom, not him. What? Cho mouthed.

  “Nothing,” I said.

  “Am I missing something?” Ben inquired of the exchange.

  “No,” I said. They were all missing something; the 1980-something flight attendant sitting next to me.

  “You’re acting strange Cassandra,” Ben said. “This is the type of behavior that makes you and your boyfriend appear culpable.”

  “Okay, you got me,” I said and leaned close to Ben. “I see dead people. There is one sitting next to me, talking to me.”

  “Cassie,” Mom said and placed a finger over her mouth in a shut-up gesture.

  “What? I’m sick of pretending you aren’t there,” I said to Mom. To Ben and Cho, I spoke to myself.

  Cho choked and began coughing. He tried to quiet me. Ben glared at me with malice. “Do you think this is a game?” Cho continued to cough. His face began to turn red. Is he alright?

  “No, you want to know what I’m hiding. This is it. I knew you’d think I was crazy, so I’ve kept it quiet,” I said

  “I’m not demonstrating my existence to him,” Mom said. “You’re on your own.”

  “Ms. Williams is tired and irritable.” Cho finally managed to say. He wasn’t coughing. He was laughing.

  “This is ridiculous,” Ben said. “I’m trying to help you.”

  Ben, Cho, and Mom spoke over each other. I got up and sauntered out, sick of all of them. I had things to do, and if Ben wanted to fling accusations, I was finished talking. Cho could handle him. I went to the bathroom. I slammed the door, and began to run the shower. I thought Mom would appear, but she didn’t. I began to undress. When I heard the front door bang shut, I draped a towel around myself and crept down the hall. I nearly ran into Cho.

  “What happened to following my advice?” Cho asked, studying my form.

  “He let me know he wasn’t going to talk with an attorney present.” I shrugged. “He doesn’t think Jimmy did it.”

  “How do you know?” Cho asked, propping himself against the wall.

  “Ben told me,” I said. “He thinks the murderer is left handed.”

  “You’re just now telling me this?” Cho glared at me with those dark eyes. I hitched the towel up higher. I felt like little Red Riding Hood, and Cho was the wolf.

  “I’ve had a lot going on since that conversation,” I said.

  “I know you have.” Cho made me uncomfortable. He focused on the towel as if he could remove it with his eyes. Cho continued to stand in front of me without speaking. This man gets off on
making people uneasy.

  “Is there something else?” I asked.

  “Oh…uh?...no,” he said. His eyes darted to my face, my chest, and then up to my face again. “I need a cigarette. Do you mind?”

  “Go ahead. There’s an old ashtray in the first cabinet. I just put it in there.” I pointed to the kitchen. I felt a cool rush of air just above my nipple. I grabbed at the towel, but it was too late, Cho already saw a good portion of my breast. Embarrassed, I flushed.

  “Well then...” Cho lifted an eye brow, and gave me a sadistic smirk. He enjoyed the slip of my towel. It’s like he made it happen. He turned and headed down the hall. I heard him chuckle. Ugh! That man! Wait until I tell Jimmy how rude his brother is. Cho and Jimmy were like day and night.

  After my shower, I popped out to check on Cho. I was securely covered in my fuzzy bath robe. I had on a white tank for extra security. No more inadvertent flashing. I hoped Cho had urgent business to attend to, and left. I wasn’t that lucky. I found him standing on my balcony. Three butts smashed in the ash tray. He inhaled those. I showered for no more than twenty minutes.

  I needed something to calm my nerves. “Can I have one of those?” I asked.

  “You smoke?” Cho asked.

  “No, I quit years ago. I was quite the nicotine addict back in college though.”

  “Jimmy hates smokers.”

  I flashed a smile. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

  “About the cigarette or…” Cho stopped. He smiled and nodded to my chest. Pig!

  “Both,” I said.

  Cho furnished a lighter and lit the cigarette for me. “You’re not bad to look at,” he said. “I know why they both like you.”

  “Who?” I asked.

  “Jimmy and the cop.” Cho said, cigarette dangling from his lips.

  I inhaled deeply. It was menthol and tasted good. I blew out smoke as I spoke. “How do you know Ben likes me?”

  “The way he looks at you...I don’t know…” Cho flipped ashes. “He wants to fuck you.” I narrowed my eyes at Cho’s brazen comment. He shrugged. “It’s the truth.”

  “I don’t get it. He doesn’t even know me, but he’s into me. It’s creepy.”

  “Oh I get it,” Cho said. His tone made me squirm.

  “Funny, I tried to seduce your brother for years with no luck. I finally get Jimmy, and now everyone wants me.”

  “All men want what we can’t have,” Cho said.

  “Being unavailable is desirable to men? I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Trust me Jimmy noticed when you tried to seduce him. It drove him insane,” he said. “You have no idea how nuts it made him.”

  “He never let on.” I said, thinking about how hard I tried to get his attention. I always ended up frustrated.

  “Maybe you should’ve dropped a bath towel.” Cho grinned. He looked so much like Jimmy. For a moment I almost forgot it wasn’t Jimmy sitting next to me. Cho had slight lines around his eye that showed the eight year difference between the two men.

  “I miss him so much,” I said.

  “He’ll get released today.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, my parents are putting up bail.” He took a long drag on his cigarette. “Unfortunately, they’re here to do it in person.”

  “What?”

  Cho looked at his watch. “Yeah, they should be here now.”

  “Shouldn’t you be with them?”

  “Nah, they think I had to help the attorney prepare.”

  “Chicken.”

  “Damn right,” Cho said. “I’ll get an earful when I get to court.” He gave me a sidelong glance. “I’m hoping you’ll create a diversion.”

  “Oh great, feed me to the lions.”

  “That’s my plan.” Cho said, smiling.

  “You’re almost forty, and still scared of your parents.”

  “Just my mom.”

  “You better hope she doesn’t find a way to haunt her kids like my mom,” I said. I hated the thought of Jimmy’s parents being in town, but was glad they made his bail. I could tolerate Park Min for a while to see Jimmy free.

  “Oh God, that would be a nightmare! I don’t know how you stand it,” Cho said.

  “It’s not so bad,” I said. “I kind of like Mom being around, and she doesn’t stay all of the time. It’s no different than having a roommate.”

  “Where does she go when she’s not with you?”

  “I don’t know,” I lied. I didn’t want to go into details.

  “My mom would never leave. She would constantly be there telling me how I dishonor her.”

  “No, she has two other kids to bug besides you. She’d have to haunt Jimmy and Jin too.”

  “Just think if you and Jimmy got married. You’d have your mom and Park Min constantly haunting you.” Cho laughed hard at the thought.

  “Jimmy will never marry me.” I said, sadly.

  “I know,” Cho said, thinking. “I don’t get it. He’s head over heels in love with you, but because of some vision of another guy he tries to keep you at a distance.” He pointed his finger. “He’s going to fuck this up because he’s afraid of a broken heart. You know that right?”

  “I know.” I sighed. “I want to enjoy it while it lasts. I just wish his vision was more specific.”

  “How does he know he even saw you in this lifetime?” Cho asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean reincarnation. We live more than one lifetime. Jimmy can read people’s past and future lives. I was a warrior in one of my past lives that’s why I’m always fighting,” Cho said, proudly.

  “You mean his vision may not even be now…this lifetime?” I never considered reincarnation. It would suck, if I died a spinster waiting on a man I’d never meet.

  “Yes, but Jimmy has considered that. It’s why he decided to hook up, but he’s still going to screw it up.” Cho was brutally honest. Geez! I hated to hear what I already knew. “Thanks for the vote of the confidence.”

  “I’ve known Jimmy all his life. He’s never had a serious relationship. With anyone he dates, he finds a way to screw it up. He is convinced no one can be happy with someone like him. He refuses to tell women about his abilities, and then can’t continue lying. He always finds a reason to break it off.”

  “I know and accept his abilities,” I said.

  “When I heard about you, I thought it was perfect. Then this vision came along. Sometimes, I wonder if he didn’t make it up,” Cho said, lighting another cigarette.

  “He wouldn’t make it up,” I argued.

  “Not intentionally, but sometimes our mind does things unconsciously,” Cho said. “He believes it was a real vision, but was it? Or is it his defenses kicking in?” He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Cho’s words struck me. I had a lot to consider. I didn’t know Jimmy as well as I thought I did. I felt like I needed to be cautious with my heart. Jimmy already wounded me by leaving. I thought I would either be with Jimmy or my irresistible soul mate. I never considered that I could end up alone and broken hearted.

  “Listen Kiddo, my advice, never live your life based on a psychic,” Cho said. He knew his words hurt me. “If you love Jimmy fight for him. Don’t let him give you excuses, call him out on shit.”

  “I will,” I said, not looking at Cho.

  “Let all this stuff blow over first,” Cho said. “He is under more stress than he wants us to know.”

  “I wouldn’t now, but I’ll keep it in mind.”

  CHAPTER 9

  I arrived shortly before the bailiff called Jimmy’s case. Court was already in session which meant Park Min couldn’t speak to me. I sat beside Cho. Mr. & Mrs. Kim sat at the end of the row, giving me the evil eye. Several times, Park Min whispered. Cho quieted her. Jimmy’s mother was noticeably upset, and didn’t want to be quiet.

  The court deputies brought Jimmy in from a side door. He scanned the gallery. He saw his parents and his expression changed from hopeful t
o defeat. It was heart breaking to see him in front of his family in shackles.

  The hearing wracked my nerves. The Prosecutor requested no bail. Mr. Huber, Jimmy’s attorney, asked for a seventy-five thousand dollar bond. The two men argued their points for about five minutes. The judge set Jimmy’s bail at one million dollars. The Kims already arranged bail prior to the hearing. The prosecutor had been played and knew it. I expected more argument from the prosecution, but the attorney stormed out of the courtroom.

  After the hearing, we walked into the hallway. Jimmy’s father spoke to Jay Huber about the bond. Cho caught me before Park Min slapped me with insults and accusations. “Cassie, it will take a while for Jimmy to be released. Why don’t you get your things together and meet us at Jimmy’s?” He glanced at his mom, and then back at me. Cho wanted me to leave so Park Min wouldn’t jump my ass.

  “I don’t have keys or an access code.” I whispered. Park Min couldn’t know about me staying at Jimmy’s.

  “Oh, here.” Cho said, brandishing a silver key.

  “What’s the access code?” I asked.

  Cho smiled. “You really don’t know?” He gave me an amused look.

  “No.”

  “It’s your birthday.” Cho whispered.

  “Really?” I shook my head in disbelief. Jimmy used my birthday as his access code.

  Cho was in a better mood now that Jimmy was free. “I told you, he’s crazy about you.” I got a big smiled.

  “What you smile about Girl?” Park Min called as she approached. Jimmy’s mother was shorter than I remembered. How can a woman who looked like a sweet little grandmother scare the hell out of me? She was a little over five foot, but she appeared just as intimidating as her oldest son. Park Min wore a plain black dress and white pearls. The dress hung long and made her look even shorter. Her hair was a salt and pepper medium length bob.

  “Shit,” Cho said. He pushed my shoulder. “Get out of here.”

  I turned to leave. “Why she going?” Park Min asked. “She dishonor my Gangaji and won’t face his mother.”

  Cho rumbled something low in Korean. Park Min turned on Cho. “I not make scene. What you mean, I make scene?” Park Min huffed, “You dishonor mother.” As I went through the revolving door, I saw Cho wince while his mother gave him an earful. I laughed; glad it was him and not me. Poor guy. I almost felt sorry for Cho…almost.