Wisdom sat near the foot of the bed, acting as sentry, while Gareth went to the guest bathroom to wash his hands and wet a small towel to clean the scratches on Sky’s face and arms. She frowned as he touched her, wincing as the water cleaned the deeper cuts.
Rose brought a first aid kit and a bottle of water. She set them on the table next to the bed.
“The doctor is on his way,” she informed Gareth, who nodded his reply.
He turned to Sky.
“Have some water and get some rest. The doctor will be here soon. If you need anything just press this button.” He picked up a small black device off the tray and handed it to Sky.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Rose traded places with Gareth, remaining to clean Sky’s wounds and take stock of her injuries. She looked at Sky with genuine concern. “You’ll be OK,” she said in a comforting tone.
Chapter 8
Under the sparkle of a chandelier, Kitty balanced a stiletto on a clear stand in the center of Luxxura Boutique. She turned to the new girl who clutched a clipboard to her chest.
“We rotate the main feature once per month. We have clients who come in every few weeks, and that way it makes the stock look fresh,” Kitty explained.
The new girl nodded and began scribbling notes on her clipboard.
“You know, you don’t have to write all of this down. It’s pretty simple. You’ll get the hang of it in a few weeks.”
The new hire paid no attention and continued writing, so Kitty packed up the other shoe in its tissue paper and flipped the box lid shut. The chime rang as the front door opened. A slim woman with dark hair and pointed heels marched into the store with her chin held high. Kitty spun around to the new girl and leaned toward her ear.
“That’s one of our best clients. I’ll take care of her,” she whispered. “Here,” she said as she handed three boxes to the new girl. “Take these to the back room.”
The new girl scurried on her errand with a stack of boxes. Kitty tuned toward her client.
“Hi, welcome back,” Kitty said.
The woman looked over from the handbag she was eyeing, and the arrogant air faded from her face as she smiled warmly at Kitty. “Oh, it’s you. Uh, hello.” The woman brought her hand up to play with her necklace.
“Is there something special you’re looking for?” Kitty asked.
The woman smiled as her gray eyes darted around Kitty’s face.
“I’m here to pick up a pair of shoes I have on hold,” she said, a manicured hand tucking her smooth, dark hair behind her ear.
Kitty went behind the counter and pulled a box off the shelf. She placed it on the counter and opened the lid. “Are these the ones?”
“Yes,” the woman said, leaning in and inhaling the uplifting scent of Kitty’s perfume.
Kitty closed up the box and rang in the order, taking her client’s platinum card and putting it in the machine. She placed the box in a paper bag with ribbon handles and passed it over.
The woman left her shoes on the counter as she rooted around in her designer Caravelli bag. She found her business card and slid it across the counter. “Thank you so much for your help.”
“Oh, it’s my pleasure,” Kitty said with a grin.
“I’m always glad when I come in and see you here.”
Kitty and shifted from one foot to the other.
“If you’d ever like to get together for lunch or a drink, just give me a call,” the woman said just before she picked up her bag and turned to walk out the door.
Kitty stood behind the counter like a doe in headlights. She looked down at the card in her hand.
Elise Renaut, Attorney
Helmann, Cohen, Renaut & Associates
As the woman left the store, the new girl, who had been standing silent near the register turned to her coworker. “That was kinda weird.”
“I think she just hit on me,” Kitty replied.
- -
The thin carpet in the hallway did little to soften the clack of Kitty’s heels as she marched toward room 907. She didn’t bother to knock this time. When she entered, Gareth was sitting at a small desk across the room. The door closed behind her and with teal painted fingernails she flicked the lock. She dropped her purse, and hopped on top of the desk, snagging her black skirt on a chip in the wood veneer.
“Shit,” she said and examined the tear in the fabric.
“I’ll have it repaired,” Gareth said as he leaned in to see the rip for himself.
Kitty cupped his head between her hands and lifted it toward hers. She kissed him, then rested her forehead against his. “I really like seeing you. But can we please meet somewhere else? I need a change of scenery,” she said.
“I could hang some posters on the wall,” Gareth said, his face straight.
Kitty laughed. “You’re joking, right?”
“It doesn’t have to be this hotel; we can pick another.”
Kitty threw her head back and groaned. “No, not a goddam hotel. Anywhere else. A restaurant, a theater, my apartment, whatever. I’m tired of being holed up in this dark little cave.”
Gareth paused and rubbed his chin, his eyes staring straight ahead at the computer screen.
“Do you want some champagne?”
Kitty perked up. “Sure!”
Gareth walked over to the dresser where a bottle was chilling in a bucket wrapped in brown pleather. He ripped the foil off the bottle and twisted the top. The cork exploded into his hand and golden liquid and white foam sprayed all over the dresser and onto the carpet.
Kitty grabbed the towel that covered up the bathroom mirror. She handed it to Gareth, who sopped up the champagne and poured two glasses with what was left in the bottle.
Kitty took a quick sip and spilled some champagne on her fitted pink T-shirt. She glanced down at the dribble on her built-in shelf. “Oh hey, do you like my new T-shirt? I just had a bunch of them printed.” She pointed at the small, black paw prints that made a diagonal line across her shirt. Underneath the row of prints was the word Prowler. “They’re selling like hotcakes, everybody loves them. I should have had shirts made sooner. They’re practically paying my rent. Someone even placed and order for fifty of them!”
Gareth looked over to stare at her chest and smiled.
“I have no idea what anyone would do with . . .”
Gareth grabbed her breasts and pressed his face into her soft cleavage. He wrapped his arms around her to pull her close, spilling her champagne all over again. He moved toward her mouth and forced his lips against hers. Gareth began kissing Kitty’s neck, traveling in the direction of her breasts, and grabbed her ass with his better hand. Kitty struggled to reach the dresser to put down her glass. It hit the surface with a clunk just before Gareth picked her up and tossed her on the bed.
- -
Outside the window — nine stories down — traffic blared, lights flashed, and sirens traveled in waves through the streets. Two bodies lay damp and quiet in the dark room, surrounded by a sweltering heat, their pounding hearts counting down.
“You’ve never told me what it is you do. I mean, do you have a job or a hobby or something?” Kitty asked, in a panting whisper.
“What I do is not that interesting,” Gareth replied.
“You might not think it’s interesting, but other people do.”
Gareth sighed and pulled her in tighter toward him. “I run a small business,” he said.
“Uh-huh, and what does your business do?”
“We give cash to start-ups and hope they make us shitloads of money.”
“Oh, so you’re an angel investor?”
Gareth frowned and lifted his head, “How do you know what that is?”
“I’m not an idiot.” Kitty rolled her eyes. “It’s like fashion. You’ve heard of it, you think you know what it means, but you don’t pay much attention to it.”
“I don’t have to care about fashion. Nobody sees me.”
“Well, I see you.”<
br />
“You don’t like the way I dress?”
“I don’t mind the way you dress, but I’m more interested in what’s underneath.” Kitty looked up at him and slid her palm down his chest in a straight line for his cock.
Gareth blocked her and redirected her hand around his neck.
“The ratty old T-shirts are a little gross though,” she continued.
“Do your new shirts come in extra-large?” Gareth asked.
Kitty snorted “I don’t think pink is your color. Some guys look good in pink. Not you.”
“Why not?”
“You’re not a pink guy. I can pick out some shirts that would look good on you.”
Gareth shrugged.
“Do you like the way I dress?” Kitty asked, turning toward him.
“Everyone likes the way you dress. Except maybe the nuns.”
- -
“Can I come by next week?” Elise said, calling from her car.
“What day?” Gareth asked.
“How about lunch on Wednesday?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll be here.”
Elise laughed. “Ah Bear, you always were the funny one. I wish I could come out sooner but this case is consuming me.”
“It’s OK. I’ve been busy myself.”
“So I hear, you’ve got quite the romantic life. You’ll have to tell me all about it when I come by.”
“Have you been talking to Louis?”
“I’m going into a parking garage, I’m gonna lose you. I’ll call you later. Bye Bear. Love . . .” The phone cut out before Elise could finish.
Gareth slipped his phone into his pocket. He stared out the window, contemplating the lush green canopy. His phone rang again. Kitty this time. Gareth’s finger hovered over the answer button, but voice mail kicked in. He turned off his phone and stood at the window for a while before going to his desk to open the top drawer and pull out the small, elegant box Denise had delivered. He lifted the lid to peek inside before he left the room with the box shut tight in his hand.
Across the hall Sky was resting. He knocked softly and heard her quiet voice call out from the other side.
Gareth stepped into the room. “How are you doing?”
“Much better, thank you,” Sky replied.
Gareth moved to sit on the edge of the bed next to her. He looked at the box in his hands but said nothing. Sky shifted a little to get comfortable with his weight on the mattress. The rustling of the sheets seemed loud against his silence.
“This is for you.” He held up the box.
“Oh?” Sky lifted her head as much as she could.
Gareth pulled out a delicate chain made of polished silver links.
Sky’s eyes widened and she sat up too quickly, grimacing as pain shot through her chest. “It’s beautiful,” she gasped.
Gareth smirked. “Don’t get too excited. It’s a tracking device.” He pulled back the blankets and removed her sock to put the anklet on her right leg. With a click the anklet locked in place.
“It’s still beautiful,” she said.
“Well, I’m glad you like it. Next time you try to escape it’ll be easier to find you.”
“What? I wasn’t trying to escape,” she snapped.
“You wouldn’t be the first woman to say that.”
“Wisdom saw a rabbit in the garden and I let her out. Then we went for a walk. Well, I tried to go for a walk. If I wanted to escape, I would have gone in the other direction. I’m not a fucking idiot.”
“I don’t think you’re an idiot. That’s why I don’t trust you.” Gareth brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.
“Where would I go?”
“I don’t know. Home?”
“I have no home,” Sky said and looked away from Gareth. “This is my home.”
“Well, if you should stray from home, I’ll be able to find you.” Gareth stood up. “You’ve been lying here for a few days now. You should get up and move around.”
“It hurts too much.”
“I know, but it’ll be worse if you stay in bed.” He stopped just before the doorway. “And don’t bother to try to take the chain off. Only a custom tool can remove it.” And he was gone.
Sky eased herself back down and stared at the ceiling. A few moments after Gareth left, Wisdom paused at the doorway. Sky called to the wolf, who perked up her ears and trotted over to the bed. She inspected the chain around Sky’s ankle, her whiskers tickling. Sky laughed as she eased her leg back under the covers. Wisdom rested her chin on the edge of the bed beside Sky. “You’re a good girl,” Sky said as she ran her fingers through the animal’s thick coat and scratched under her chin. “Do you like the anklet Gareth gave me?”
Hearing Gareth’s name, Wisdom’s ears straightened and she cocked her head to one side. Sky pulled her leg out from under the blanket and swirled her ankle around to admire the way the silver reflected the sunlight from the window.
- -
From his office, Gareth watched Sky through the surveillance camera. He looked away when his phone rang.
“Hey,” he said.
“Gare! I just got out of a very interesting meeting,” Louis enthused. I think you’ll like these guys. No wait, I take that back, you probably won’t, but I’m really excited about what they’re up to. I think we’re onto something hot.”
“So what are they up to?”
“This shit is so cutting edge I don’t even understand what the hell it is.”
“Well that sounds promising,” Gareth shot back
“It’s something to do with diamonds and security. But not like that . . . it’s encryption. Yes, that’s what it is. Read the notes I just sent you. The government is all over these guys. But in a good way.” Louis was shouting over the roar of the traffic. He spoke again, but a siren drowned out his voice.
“I can’t hear you very well, where are you?”
“On the other side of the country. I’ll be back tonight. I’ll come by your place, or maybe we can go out for dinner or something and talk about this. Ha, I’m kidding, you’d only come to dinner with me if I had a nice rack and a short skirt. Anyway, read my notes. I make more sense on paper. I’m trying to get to the airport right now. I gotta run.”
“Thanks, I’ll look at your notes. We’ll talk soon.”
“I feel good about this. But have a look at the stuff. Oh, and there’s audio from the meeting too. I’ll send you that.”
“OK, Lou. Have a good flight. Don’t crash.”
Louis laughed. “Yeah, talk to you soon, man.”
Gareth hung up and looked back at the surveillance screen. Sky was gone. He poked his head out his office door. Limping toward the staircase was Sky with Wisdom at her side.
- -
Movies tonight at my place 8pm. Totally low key. You in?
[Heart] Kitty
Sky glanced at the upside down message on Gareth’s phone as it sat unattended on the dining-room table. The kitchen door swung open and Gareth came back in. Sky jumped and grabbed for her fork to scrutinize the handle. Gareth pulled out the chair to sit across from Sky, ignoring his phone. He cleared his throat when Takao appeared to pour some wine for Gareth. Takao then tilted the bottle toward Sky’s wine glass, but Gareth shot out his hand to stop him.
“Why not?” Sky demanded as Takao retreated to the kitchen.
“You’re recovering,” Gareth said.
“From what? Falling off a cliff?”
“No,” Gareth said. “You’re an addict and you’re drug-free now. You will always be in recovery. That’s how it works.”
“For the rest of my life,” Sky retorted.
“Yes.”
She threw her fork on the table and got up to leave.
“Sit down,” he said firmly and pointed at her vacant chair. The deep rumble in his voice caused Sky to stop, though she glared at him over her shoulder. She took her seat again, avoiding Gareth’s irritated stare.
“Look at me,” Gareth said, his voice softer
now. Sky kept her head down and peered up at him through her hair.
“Takao has made something special for you, so just forget about the fucking wine and enjoy your dinner.” Gareth looked at the napkin he was folding into neat squares.
Sky cast her gaze back to her lap and sat rigid.
Takao entered the room with a tray of steaming food. He placed the same dish in front of Sky and Gareth. A bowl of macaroni and cheese topped with a crispy crust awaited. Her jaw dropped and her expression offered a silent apology.
“How did you know?”
“Bon appétit,” Gareth said as he speared a few elbow noodles with his fork.
Sky continued to stare at her bowl while she listened to Gareth chew his dinner, the fork scraping against the bowl, as he scooped up his food. She followed suit when the noodles had cooled a little.
Gareth’s phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the message, cleared it, and returned to his dinner. Sky watched him until he glanced up at her, and then her eyes darted back down to her meal.
When Takao had cleared the table, Gareth guided Sky into the living room. Sky moved cautiously, careful to keep her torso straight, although she still walked with a slight limp. She eased herself onto the sofa next to Gareth. Rose delivered a tray of tea and dessert.
As soon as the tray touched the table, Gareth prepared a cup for himself.
Sky shuffled forward on the sofa and was struck with the painful realization that she couldn’t bend over to reach the tray on the low table. She grimaced and groaned.
“It’s OK. I’ll help you. Tell me what you like,” Gareth said.
Sky blurted, “I like books and dogs. Ripped jeans and the color black and . . .”
Gareth smirked. “In your tea,” he clarified.
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