by Eugene, Lisa
It had been hard to figure out his schedule, especially now that he wasn’t working. I remembered, though, that Monday and Tuesday evenings he attended his anger management class. He needed to ask for a refund. If I weren’t so overwrought with jitters, I’d have laughed at the idea. The only thing that would manage this man’s anger was a frontal lobe lobotomy. I’d gone to his class last night and hovered outside just to see if he was still enrolled. The sight of him had made my stomach churn with nausea, but at least I knew where he’d be tonight. I’d waited outside his building for him to leave, then made my way up to his apartment. He lived in a well-maintained elevator building, but thankfully there was no doorman I had to deal with.
Now here, I worried about the soundness of this plan. I knew it was crazy coming here, but it would be worth it if I could find some evidence against him, some clue that could point the police in his direction. I quickly scanned his open living room, then got to work, systematically shuffling through drawers and opening the doors of several desk cabinets. Finding nothing, I checked my watch and then moved to his bedroom. I’d been there fifteen minutes already and my heart was still pounding furiously.
My plan was to be in and out in twenty-five. Josh’s class was forty-five minutes, plus travel time should have him gone for almost an hour. I wanted to be out with plenty of time to spare.
In his bedroom, a partially open drawer caught my eye, and I recalled that he’d used it to store receipts and things he thought were important. I hurried over and opened the drawer fully, my eyes growing wide at what I saw inside. There were stacks of newspaper clippings and articles reporting Ms. Carmen’s death. It was mixed in with accounts of Luke’s arrest and the charges he’d faced. In fact, there were articles about Luke, Davenport Advertising, and a chronicle of his life going back many years.
My brows furrowed as I dug deeper into the pile, and my teeth knocked together when I found a newspaper clipping about the body found on an early Sunday morning under the Brooklyn Bridge. My hand flew to my mouth to stifle my jerky breaths. What the fuck?
There were numerous photos of who I guessed was Roslyn. Torn ads, head shots, and glossy pages displayed the dark haired beauty, and I couldn’t help the brief spike of jealously. She’d been a gorgeous woman. I remembered Luke saying she’d been a model. There was so much stuff, the drawer was almost overflowing. This was more than a mere interest in these events. Each article had sections underlined and highlighted as though they’d been painstakingly combed through, even the articles about Roslyn’s death. Luke had said there’d been a similarity between the recent murders and that of his wife’s. Why would Josh have accumulated all this if not to learn about Roslyn’s murder? Had he been plotting something all along and the perfect opportunity arose that night at Sensations? I knew Josh hated Luke and he’d seemed bitter about Luke’s relationship with his father.
I had been in this drawer a few times and had never seen any of this. I wondered when Josh had started collecting his data and where he had hidden it. Glancing at my watch, I cursed and started shoving the articles back inside. I needed to get out of there. It had already been a half hour. I’d leave everything as it was, preferring for the police to find it. Lord knows what else they’d find if they did a thorough search of his apartment, and the authorities were about to get an anonymous tip.
A loud noise shattered the quiet of the room and my heart rammed my ribs so hard I feared they would fracture. I gasped, then realized the noise was coming from my purse. It was my cell phone.
Shit! I reached a hand in and snatched the phone, my hand so shaky I almost dropped it. Seeing it was Michelle, I sent the message to voice mail. Swearing, I turned off the ringer. I’d almost jumped out of my skin when my phone had rung. I knew Michelle would keep calling. My friend had been leaving voice messages since yesterday, and I hadn’t had a chance to get back to her. Honestly, I’d been avoiding Michelle. I didn’t want her finding out about this desperate plan. Closing the drawer, I made my way quickly back to the living room, the sudden urge to quit this apartment rushing my steps. Goosebumps prickled my skin in warning as my palms grew cold and clammy. I was just a few feet from the door when I heard the lock engage and saw the door push open.
Too late. It was too late for me to find a place to hide. My body froze and my lips parted as a terrified breath flooded my lungs and shivered out of my throat.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
I stood staring into cold blue eyes, again questioning the soundness of my plan.
*************************
Luke
Tuesday night, I exited the cab on Fortieth and Lexington, right in front of Meyer’s Investigation Agency. The evening was cold and damp, and there was a frenzy in the air as commuters rushed to get home. I turned up the collar of my coat and huddled inside, making my way to the door. I’d been working late at the office when Carlos called to ask if I had time to drop by. Carlos had come across a few things about Josh he thought were interesting, and wanted to get my feedback. I still had some things I needed to finish up, but curious about what information Carlos had gotten, I decided the rest of my work could wait until tomorrow. Plus, it wasn’t as though I had plans tonight anyway. I hadn’t spoken to Katie since Saturday. I’d been hoping that work would fill the void she’d left in my life and the gulf she’d dug into my heart.
I shook Carlos’s hand as he entered the office. Carlos introduced me to a few of his colleagues and then ushered me into a smaller office. Carlos was a short, thin man with an animated mustache. On first glance he appeared unassuming, almost too diminutive to be in his line of work, I mused, but the man had come highly recommended. His desk was littered with paper, newspapers, food, and used coffee cups. I wondered vaguely how he could find anything in the mess.
“Have a seat,” Carlos said, sinking into the chair behind his desk. “I won’t keep you. I just have a few questions.”
Carlos shuffled through a precarious stack of papers then opened a folder on his desk.
“There was a deposit made recently into Josh’s personal accounts from a M.W. Industries.”
“That’s Josh’s father’s company.”
“Yes. I realized that. It wasn’t much, but I found it interesting because I went back several years and couldn’t find any other such deposits.”
I frowned. Matt must have decided to help his son out. I wondered why. “Josh just lost his job at my company. I think his father probably gave him a stipend to live on.”
Carlos nodded and scribbled onto a note pad. “Josh just purchased two one way tickets to the Caiman Islands for two weeks from now. You have any idea why he’d want to go there indefinitely?”
I shook my head, surprised at the information. My brain started to hurt as I tried to make sense of it all. Was Katie going with him? I pressed my fingers to my temples and skimmed my gaze over the desk, trying to guess what it could mean. There was an open folder labeled Roslyn Davenport on Carlos’s desk and my gaze immediately fixed on it, my heart starting a slow romp in my chest. In it was a picture of the murder scene, a desolate open space, the abandoned taxi, police tape everywhere, people milling in the background.
Memories came rushing back, branding painful images into my brain. My brows furrowed as I leaned forward to take a closer look at the grainy picture, and I felt the blood drain from my face. The shadowy figure lurking in the crowd was shockingly familiar, and like a giant puzzle, the pieces started interlocking. Roslyn’s murder scene, Ms. Carmen, my arrest, Katie’s earring, role playing with Katie…
“Oh my God!” I rasped, grabbing Carlos’s attention.
“What’s the matter?”
I stared numbly at the detective, my body starting to vibrate. “Oh my God! I know who committed the murders.”
“What?” Carlos’s mustache jumped.
I sprang from his seat. “I need to see the surveillance video from Sensations. Now.”
Carlos stood, flustered. “It’s at Mason�
�s office. I don't think he’s returned it to the court yet.”
“Let’s go! Katie’s in danger.” I was already sprinting through the door before the detective had a chance to respond.
*************************
Katie
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
My feet pedaled backwards, easing me away from Carol’s steady approach. The woman had nothing but contempt in her eyes as she tracked me. I tried to grope for an excuse, any reason for being there. Why would a girl break into her ex’s apartment?
Think! Think!
My hip connected with a coffee table, rattling a small crystal bowl I’d given Josh on some special occasion. I wrapped my fingers around it and waived it in Carol’s face. I could play the little actress too!
“I’m here to collect my shit, that’s what!”
“What?”
I squared my shoulders and painted attitude all over my face.
“I left some sentimental things here—things that belonged to me! And I’m here to get them back,” I said, depositing the small bowl in my bag.” I moved to brush past Carol, praying to God that I sounded credible, that my voice had more sass than shake.
“You can’t just come in here and start taking shit!” Carol shrieked.
“I can, and I did. This stuff belongs to me!” I shot back. “He can buy his own shit with the money he’s extorting from me! Now, get out of my way!”
“You’ve got some nerve, bitch!”
I tried to leave again, but Carol blocked the door. I needed to get out of there before Josh came home. He might not be so quick to believe my excuse.
“Get out of my way!” I ordered again, but it had the opposite effect and Carol got right in my face. Anger replaced my nervous jitters. I was so sick of this woman, this piranha that had made my life miserable for years.
Something inside me snapped, switching to survival mode. Before I knew what was happening, all the anger, despair, and eviscerating helplessness I’d felt since Josh’s visit coiled into one fluid motion and released in the fist that connected with Carol’s face.
She jumped back with a startled cry, holding her nose and howling in pain. I took the opportunity to quickly scoot around her toward the door.
“Guess I’m not as dumb as I look after all, bitch!” I couldn’t help tossing over my shoulder as I fled from the apartment.
My heart was still hammering my ribs when I slipped into a cab outside of Josh’s apartment building. I exhaled the anxious fear from deep in my belly and let my head fall back against the seat. Pulling out my gold keychain, I brought it to my lips and then to my nose, hoping to inhale the scent of sandalwood. But no, there was only one source for that wonderful aroma.
That had been a close call. I was lucky to have escaped without running into Josh. I had to admit, though, it had felt good to finally unleash my fury on my nemesis, and I could imagine all the girls at work cheering me on.
Josh and Carol deserved each other. I didn’t know what I ever saw in him. Michelle was right, I’d stuck with him because I felt I could save him. I’d thought I could save him from himself. That was just how I was. I always looked for the good in people, but he’d taken advantage of me. Luke was different. Genuine affection flowed from his heart, and I could see it in each smile that left me breathless. I could feel it in each caress that seemed to touch my soul. Even though I didn’t want him to know about Josh’s blackmail, the effect it was having on me was straining our relationship. Was it worth it? I hated what it was doing to me, to us, and no, it wasn’t worth losing him. For the first time in my life I felt like I was where I was supposed to be. Eminem’s 8 mile lyrics came to mind. This was my one chance, my one opportunity to seize what I’ve always wanted. I wasn’t going to let it go.
I wished I’d found more evidence in Josh’s apartment, but his obsessive interest in Luke’s life was suspicious and worth investigating. Perhaps Carlos would be able to get more proof that he committed the murders. Either way, the police should be pointed in Josh’s direction. Although Luke would be angry, I needed to be honest with him. I should have listened to Michelle, but I’d been too scared and upset to think straight. I had to admit that I’d also felt the bite of self-doubt and blamed myself for so easily becoming Josh’s prey. But life was about lessons, and this was one well learned. Thank God we hadn't gotten married. That I had to be grateful for. Thinking of Michelle, I remembered her multiple calls. Pulling my phone out, I dialed Michelle’s number.
She answered on the first ring.
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling you since yesterday!”
“I’m sorry…I’ve just had a lot going on.” Blackmail…spying…breaking and entering…fist fight. I didn’t dare tell Michelle.
“First.” Michelle took a dramatic breath. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Good, cuz I’m gonna kick your ass six ways to Sunday! You have got to talk to Luke!”
I frowned, worry snaking through me. “Is he okay?”
“Okay? Okay? The man came at me like fucking Colombo! He’s a smart guy, Kay! You can’t pull shit over on him. He knows something’s up! Pumpernickel is pissed! You have to tell him what’s going on!”
“I will! I will! I plan to.”
“And the next time you plan on using me as an alibi, just warn me first! Breakfast with your parents—really? You know I’d rather have the hair on my genitals waxed strand by strand! I could tell he didn’t believe any of it!”
Shit! It was worse than I thought. What must Luke be thinking? I just hadn’t wanted him seeing my bruise, my shame. I couldn’t help my self-reproach. In a way I felt responsible for bringing this on myself, for being foolish enough to fall for Josh’s lies. Plus, I didn’t want Luke getting into more trouble. I knew, though, that staying away from him until it healed was going to be near impossible, but I’d just needed some time to figure out what to do about Josh.
I sighed, looking at my watch as Michelle continued her tirade. It was almost seven. Luke should be home by now.
“I plan on telling him everything tonight. I’m heading over to his apartment.”
“He’s not home. I left him at the office. He’s working late tonight.”
“Okay, fine.”
“Kay, I don’t mean to come down on you so hard, but what Josh is trying to do to you is really fucked up. The man is dangerous. You should go to the police and you should tell Luke what’s going on.”
I stared out the window at the passing city. If Michelle knew that murder was also on the list of his evil deeds, she’d be flipping out. I promised I’d call Michelle in the morning, then hung up and redirected the cab driver.
I had never been at Davenport advertising this late, and was instantly unsettled by the eerie quiet, but the prospect of seeing Luke kept my feet moving forward. Doors were ajar to empty offices and the halls were desolate. The desk where the receptionist usually sat was empty, and I hoped that I hadn’t missed Luke. I couldn’t wait to see him. I missed his smile, the way he stared at me with those jeweled eyes, and that ridiculously sexy dimple that teased when he laughed. Michelle had said he was swamped this week and I pictured him cloistered in his office under a mound of paperwork. Remembering where his office was, I headed in that direction. I had to tell him everything. I was so distracted thinking about what I’d say to him that I didn’t see the figure coming down the hall and bumped right into him, knocking the stack of files he was carrying from his hands.
“Oh, I’m so sorry…” I said, bending to collect the scattered folders from the floor.
I don’t know what made my look up. Perhaps it was the fact that he hadn’t bent down to help me, or that he stood strangely quiet, but my eyes traveled up the yellow coat and landed on a face that stirred a tenuous recollection in my brain. I’d seen him before, but couldn’t exactly place where, and my brain struggled to make the connections. It was his eyes that alarmed me. The beady brown eyes never wavered and hi
s dark brows drifted low, giving his boyish face a threatening scowl. I straightened and took a step back as a tight unease squeezed through my muscles.
“Sorry about the mess,” I said with an apologetic wince, waving a hand to the floor. I side-stepped, hoping to dash the rest of the way to Luke’s office. I didn’t like the vibes I was getting from this man.
My eyes rounded when he side-stepped in front of me, effectively blocking my path. I tilted my head, confused and alarmed as fear started edging along my spine. Meanwhile my brain was frantically knocking down walls, trying to get to a memory I knew was in there. He took a step toward me, then his hand snaked out and roughly grabbed my coat. It was as though the jolt loosened a brick in my mind and the wall toppled. I could see the memory clearly. Sensations!
This man was the flasher I’d seen that night at Sensations! But how? And what would he be doing here? And why would he be doing this? These thoughts all flew through my head with lightning speed as I fought to pull away from his iron grip. It didn't make sense! Panicked, I started screaming and punching the rock-solid fist anchoring me, hoping Luke was in his office and would hear my cries.
“What the hell is going on out here?”
I turned my head and relief poured through me when Bruce appeared in the hallway, his brows raised in confusion. I released a shuddering breath and tried to pull away. Thank God someone was still here. I’d been terrified of what the man might do to me.
The man swiveled his head and glowered at Bruce, but didn’t loosen his grip.
“I told you she could recognize me! I knew she saw me at the club in Ms. Carmen’s room!” he barked in Bruce’s direction.
“Glen, calm down.”