“Sorry, Mr. Wainright. I didn’t mean to offend.”
“No offense taken. It’s just that the books on that shelf are in very delicate condition. I wasn’t sure you were aware of that.”
A glance passed between the two detectives. Harry wasn’t sure if he’d said something inappropriate. He realized he sounded pretty snobby.
Screw them, Harry thought, my house, my rules. I don’t want them touching my stuff.
“Look.” Harry opened his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “I wasn’t trying to be evasive about anything yesterday. We were all shocked and saddened when we heard about Julie. It seemed surreal. I just didn’t think her death could be work related. It still doesn’t seem likely to me. And I don’t believe it was.”
The detectives sat silently for a moment. “Very good,” said Scanlon, rising from the sofa. “We wanted to get your perspective. If anything else comes to mind, please call us. We want to solve this as quickly as possible, for everyone’s sake.”
“I understand and appreciate your efforts. I’m sure you’ll find Julie’s killer.” Harry knew he sounded like Commissioner Gordon from Batman, but he just wanted them gone. Harry rose, led the detectives to the front foyer and escorted them outside. The cool October breeze dried the sweat at his temples.
“We’ll be in touch,” Scanlon said as he waved and walked toward the car.
“I look forward to it,” Harry mumbled under his breath. He closed the door and rested his head for a moment against the jamb, taking a deep breath. As he turned, he saw Sandy waiting in the kitchen. She stood with her arms crossed and an annoyed look on her face.
I better fill in the details for her, Harry thought. No sense in waiting.
Chapter 14
Monday, October 27
Kaspar was on a rampage. Apparently he had also heard from the police, who had been asking questions about the Sierra Health transaction and Julie Monroe. He tried to feign ignorance, but he wasn’t sure they’d bought it. Harry already had three messages from his boss when he arrived at the office.
“You better call him first thing,” Harry’s secretary scolded. Nancy looked like she already had her fill of Kaspar for that day, and it wasn’t even 8am yet.
“I will,” Harry promised just as the phone rang. As he reached for it, Harry could see it was Kaspar. He took a deep breath and said hello.
“Where the hell have you been?” Kaspar’s voice was low and threatening. This was even worse than one of his typical loud diatribes. Kaspar was most dangerous when he wasn’t yelling.
“Sorry, the traffic was terrible this morning. A truck jack-knifed on the Pike and only one lane was getting by.”
“I don’t give a shit. What is the status on Sierra Health? Do we have a plan for fixing this fiasco?”
“We do. Stern identified a solution and we’ll be resolving the issue before month’s end. That’ll limit the impact to our customers.” Harry was being deliberately vague because he knew Kaspar didn’t want to know the details. Future deniability was always on his boss’s mind.
“Fine.” Kaspar slammed the phone down. Harry hung up more slowly and sat down. He was really beginning to question his choice of career. The money was great, but the daily pressure sucked.
Harry’s phone rang again. He groaned inwardly and reached for it.
“Hey there! Ready for some more sushi this week?” Harry sat up straighter when he realized it was Nora.
“No way,” Harry replied. “Something thick and juicy is what I had in mind. We agreed I could pick the next lunch spot.”
“Oh, okay,” Nora sighed. “I’m sure they have good salads. How does your schedule look for this week?”
“Let me check.” Harry logged into his online calendar. “It looks tough. I have meetings each day that are likely to spill into the lunch hour.”
“That’s unfortunate.” Nora sounded glum.
Harry really wanted to see her. “I can get free late on Thursday. How about an early dinner at Darby’s? They have great steaks and martinis. And probably salads.”
“That sounds great! I love pomegranate martinis! And maybe I’ll try a bite of your steak.”
“I don’t mind sharing – the steaks are so huge they could feed two easily.”
“Sounds like a plan, Stan,” Nora joked. “Hey, I sent you something through interoffice mail. Did you get it yet?”
“I haven’t checked today. Want me to look?”
“No, it’s nothing important. It was just a little thank you for a great lunch last week.”
Harry wondered if Nora was referring to the kiss in the elevator.
“Let’s plan to have as good a time this Thursday,” Harry replied, willing her to get his meaning.
“I think we will. We are two peas in a pod.”
Harry chuckled. “Always thinking healthy, aren’t you?”
“I guess so,” Nora laughed. “I hope you enjoy what I sent.” They agreed to talk on Wednesday to firm up their dinner plans.
After hanging up, Harry stepped into the outer office to check on the mail. In his box he saw a large gray envelope with a bulky shape inside. Harry picked it up, brought it into his office and closed the door.
Inside the envelope was a card with a forlorn looking bear on the front, with a saying beneath it that read, “This is the way I felt the day before we met...” Harry opened the card. Inside was a happy looking bear, with a line underneath that read, “And this is the way I feel now!!” It was signed ‘Until our next lunch! Nora’. He reached inside the envelope and pulled out a small stuffed bear. Harry was touched.
I need to find a way to show her my appreciation, he thought. I have until Thursday to come up with an idea.
Chapter 15
Thursday, October 30
The week was a blur. Meetings with the portfolio analysts took most of Harry’s time. The company’s chief economist, Benjamin Fogle, had opined that higher interest rates were looming on the horizon. The firm reacted by reducing many of their current stock holdings in interest rate-sensitive stocks, like banks. These equities were replaced with more defensive consumer stocks, like Proctor & Gamble and Coke.
Harry barely had a moment to finalize dinner plans with Nora on Thursday. The only people he hadn‘t met with during the week were the police, but Harry hadn’t given it a second thought. The tempo slowed a bit on Thursday, and he headed out the door just after 4pm as planned. He made the short walk up the block to the restaurant in less than five minutes.
Harry saw Nora standing inside the lobby as he approached. When she saw him, her face lit up with a big smile.
“I’m so glad you made it. I was worried,” Nora said. “I know how busy you’ve been this week.”
“Yes, it’s been crazy. I’m ready for a couple of drinks—actually I’ve been ready since Tuesday.” Harry wondered briefly how Nora knew he’d been so busy, but the touch of her hand on his forearm pushed that thought from his mind. “Ready to sit down?”
“Yes!”
They got a table in the far corner away from the entrance. It was one of those semi-circular booths that had become increasingly popular with upscale restaurants in town. The waiter approached quickly and they ordered their first martinis.
“Let’s have a toast!” Nora exclaimed after the drinks were delivered.
“Okay,” Harry replied hesitantly, “you come up with the first one.”
“Let’s see.” Nora thought for a moment. “Alright, I have one. Here’s to new friends, new experiences, and new happiness!” They clinked and drank from the oversized glasses. “Wow, that’s strong, but good.” Nora smiled at him. Harry found her eyes intoxicating.
The next two hours flew by. By the third round, Harry and Nora were not feeling any pain. Even the steaks didn’t seem to dent the effect of the strong drinks.
Nora told Harry more about her past. She’d attended Swarthmore College near Philadelphia on a partial scholarship. That’s where she’d met her former husband Gary. The
y married six months after graduation. Nora worked for a small company for a year, and then joined Bank of America as a junior officer in their Compliance area. By then her marriage was already failing.
Harry noticed a dark cloud pass over Nora’s face when she mentioned her husband. Bad memories of that time in her life still affected her. She finally left him and moved home to Connecticut to be with her mother. Nora had taken a full year off from working.
Although they had started dinner sitting a couple of feet apart in the booth, Harry realized they had moved much closer to each other as the evening went by. By now, Nora’s thigh was resting against his under the table. Her perfume enveloped him like a sensuous bouquet. He wanted to lean over and kiss her neck.
Harry looked up and realized Nora had stopped talking. She was looking closely at him.
“Yes,” she said.
“Yes?” Harry asked.
“Yes, you can kiss me,” Nora said softly. “Please.”
Harry leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. Nora’s lips parted slightly and her tongue flicked against his teeth. Harry felt her hand move under the table and slide up to his crotch. She moved it gently against him.
“Oh god, Harry,” she spoke softly in his ear. She sucked on his ear lobe while continuing to move her hand under the table. Harry slid his hand along Nora’s back and under the waist band of her skirt. Nora moved forward slightly to give him more room. He caressed her lower back and moved his hand even lower. Nora’s breath was coming more quickly, as was his.
Harry looked up when he heard a throat clear. Their waiter was standing near the table with an uncomfortable expression.
“Is there anything else I can get for you?”
Nora and Harry tried to disentangle as unobtrusively as possible.
“No, just the bill, thanks,” Harry replied. The waiter walked quickly away.
Nora burst into laughter. “Oh my, that was so embarrassing. I think I need to cool down.” She took a sip of her water. “I’m going to go to the ladies room.” She leaned close to Harry and kissed his cheek. “Don’t go anywhere,” she whispered.
She scooted out of the booth and practically ran to the restroom. Harry sat back in the booth and tried to compose himself. He also wanted to go to the restroom, but he needed a moment for certain body parts to settle down. Harry looked around the restaurant. It was starting to get busy as the after work crowd filtered in. Harry saw a couple of guys sitting at the bar who worked in the accounting firm upstairs. He immediately realized it would be best for them to leave before any tongues started wagging.
Harry paid the bill and met Nora as she was returning from the restroom. “I think we should get going. This place is getting crowded.”
“Oh, so soon?” Nora pouted as they grabbed their coats and headed for the door.
“Hey Harry!” Harry heard his name called from across the bar. He turned and saw Jerry Haskins, the operations manager, raise his beer mug in salute. Harry waved in response. He wondered how long Jerry’d been sitting there. From his vantage point at the bar, Jerry had a perfect view of the booth that Nora and Harry had been sharing. The smug smirk on Jerry’s face told volumes.
Shit, Harry thought to himself, I’ll have to find out what he saw.
Nora and Harry walked slowly to the parking garage. It was almost 7:30pm. A brisk east wind blowing in from the harbor gave the October evening a December chill. Debris swirled along the gutters. Nora shivered and held Harry’s arm as they crossed Franklin Street. Both of their cars were parked on the fourth level.
They stopped at Nora’s car first. “Are you okay to drive?” Harry asked her.
“Yes, I think so.” She looked up at him with wide eyes. “I had a wonderful evening.” She slid her hands inside Harry’s open coat and gave him a hug. Harry felt his body respond again as it had at the restaurant. Nora turned her face towards him and he put his hand behind her neck. Her lips looked soft and inviting, but Harry was feeling very nervous after running into Jerry at the bar. He kissed her briefly and pulled away.
“Is something wrong?”
Harry paused. “No, not really. I’m just a bit spooked after seeing Jerry at the restaurant.”
Nora looked away. “You don’t want to be with me?”
“It’s not that. Maybe we just need to take this more slowly.”
Nora looked sad. “Okay.” She unlocked her car and sat down. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said wistfully.
Harry watched her drive off. Damn. The night didn’t end the way he had hoped it would.
Chapter 16
Thursday, October 30
The weatherman predicted showers, but what fell from the sky was a veritable downpour.
Five minutes after Nick left the house, the cold rain was pelting him, plastering his windbreaker to his back. He crossed Day Boulevard and stepped onto the wide sidewalk that bordered the L Street Bathhouse. The long brick building provided some respite from the wind-swept rain that blew in from the ocean. Nick didn’t mind running in bad weather, but today was borderline wintry. He figured if it were a few degrees colder the rain would surely turn to sleet.
Shit, he thought, I’m out here. I may as well finish.
He ran past the front bay windows of Kelly’s Landing restaurant. He saw the owner, Meg, moving about through the open kitchen door. Her family had owned the restaurant for over forty years, but Meg had told him that she might be the end of the line. She had no children, and other family members had moved away or weren’t interested in running the place. Nick rapped on the window and waved a quick hello. Meg looked up, smiled, and waved back.
Nick ran towards Carson Beach and Pleasure Bay. The rain made it difficult to see more than twenty feet ahead of him. As always, thoughts of Ellie took hold.
I wasn’t sure we would run today. The weather being what it is.
This is the best part of my day, Nick thought. When I get to spend time alone with you.
Reminds me of the day we ran despite a hurricane being just offshore. I was sure the waves were going to sweep us right off the causeway! Would you have jumped in to save me?
Of course he would have, he thought. I would have died before letting any harm come to you. He pushed what had really happened from his mind.
I knew it, Nicky! You do love me!
Always, Nick thought.
He ran in silence for a few minutes. Other early runners would usually be out by now, but the weather had dissuaded them from leaving the comfort of their beds this morning. Only the ever-present seagulls provided company. Some floated in the breeze above his head while others perched on the rusted chain link fence that bordered the path, protection that kept children from stepping off the pavement and falling onto the rocks or into the water.
Cat got your tongue? You’re being awful quiet.
Nick smiled. ‘Cat got your tongue’ was one of Ellie’s favorite sayings. She knew it helped him to stop internalizing, stop brooding for a few minutes, and rejoin the world around him rather than the world in his head.
Sorry, Ellie, he thought. My mind is tied up with work stuff. The Jordano investigation is heating up. A subpoena will be executed at their office later this morning. I’m nervous about it. Pete has put me in charge, and I don’t want to screw up.
You won’t screw up, Nick. You’re too good at what you do. Have faith in yourself! Like I do.
Nick wished he had that confidence.
Let’s talk about something else. How about that cute girl on your team? Have you asked her out yet?
Strange how the mind works, he thought. The juxtaposition of memories of Ellie mixing with new thoughts of Devon. She’s really too young for me, Ellie. She’s only twenty-four or twenty-five.
And you’re only thirty-three! That’s not too much of an age difference, at least not in my book. I was six years younger than you when we met. You were fine with that.
Yeah, but you had an old soul. Made us compatible. Nick’s feet pounded the
slick asphalt.
An old soul! What drivel! Ask the girl out, Nicky. Use what God put between your legs for once.
Nick laughed silently. Ellie never minced words. He knew she was right. He was very attracted to Devon. But he always backed down when a private moment at work presented an opportunity to ask her on a date.
Some Army Ranger I am, he thought derisively. What a pussy. Scared of asking a girl on a date.
Alright Ellie, he said in his head, I’ll ask Devon out. Will that make you happy?
Promise me. No time like the present, my mom used to always tell me. The early bird gets the worm, she would say. Remember that, Nicky.
“I promise to be the early bird,” he muttered under his breath.
Good.
Nick wiped the rain water from his face. The shell of Fort Independence rose against the dark sky as he crossed the bridge and headed towards Castle Island. He watched a black cat scamper across the path ahead of him, breakfast still wiggling in its mouth. He ran thoughtless for a few minutes, trying to focus only on the running. The grayness of the breaking dawn closed in around him, making him feel like he was the only person in the world. The heaviness of the rain and the solitude of the island invaded his mood and made him feel somber and lonely. Nick remembered quiet times with Ellie, on wintry Sunday afternoons when they would languish in bed, lying under the comforter, sometimes talking, sometimes not, but always touching each other with soft caresses, or holding hands. Nick missed it so much. He ached for that sense of comfort with another person when nothing more is needed except to be in their presence.
How long will we keep meeting like this, Nicky?
I’m not sure, honey. I like it.
I know you do, sweetie. But I’m not sure if it’s the best thing for you. Our visits may be keeping you from moving on.
Nick didn’t want to think about moving on.
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