Northern Moonlight

by Anisa Claire West

  “Yeah, the wine is fine…but Sabrina’s sister is finer! What a knockout.” Max slapped his thigh enthusiastically as Gio gave him a warning look.

  “Leave the woman alone. Sabrina says that she’s just gotten out of a relationship. Besides, she didn’t seem too thrilled by your leering eyes.”

  Max was unaffected. “Never you mind what I do. I don’t have sordid intentions with the young lady. I just want to get to know her better.” Max’s rebuttal silenced Gio. After half a lifetime of friendship, Gio knew that it would only stoke Max’s interest in Cara if she were labeled as romantic taboo.

  “Do whatever you want, Max. I’m here for one reason only, and that’s to corner Glen Cooper and get him to talk.”

  Gio’s eyes scanned the room for any man remotely resembling Cooper, but no one fit the description. Even after all the time that had elapsed since Gio spoke to Cooper as a teenager, he instinctively felt that he would know when the man was in front of him. Even if Cooper looked completely different, something in Gio’s gut would identify him. “I don’t think he’s here yet.” Gio sighed impatiently.

  “Then let’s go get the ladies instead of standing around together like a couple of chumps.” Max clipped, already walking in the direction of Cara, whose sunny yellow dress stood out in a roomful of women clad in black.

  Gio was about to join his friend when he saw something that made him halt dead in his tracks. Through the gallery doors walked a man and a woman with linked arms. Gio knew instantly that it was Glen Cooper. The man looked vastly the same as he had that bleak night of interrogation, save for the fact that he now wore gold-rimmed glasses and was completely bald. The woman by his side appeared to be much younger and costumed in a ruffled purple dress with fur shawl draped over her powder white shoulders.

  It took all of Gio’s will-power not to rush to the door and immediately begin an inquisition. He mentally cemented himself to the spot, knowing that patience would be his greatest asset in extracting any information whatsoever from Cooper. With a final hard stare in Cooper’s direction, Gio headed towards the buffet table where Max stood chatting charismatically with Sabrina and Cara.

  “Did I miss anything?” Gio asked distractedly, sliding an arm around Sabrina’s waist.

  “We were just talking about Cara’s upcoming graduation from law school and her subsequent plans.” Sabrina apprised Gio for the benefit of the group. Then, in a hushed voice meant only for him she asked, “Is everything alright? You look pale all of a sudden.”

  Gio nodded unconvincingly and then confessed, “Cooper’s here. I saw him walk in with a woman.”

  “Where is he, Gio?” Sabrina asked as Gio frowned.

  “Never mind that right now. He just got here, and I don’t want to approach him yet. Remember what we talked about outside.” Gio said quietly, aware that Max and Cara could hear him.

  Max supported Gio’s idea. “He’s right. Let Cooper make the rounds, drink some wine, blabber about some photos, and then Gio can make his move.”

  “Can you at least point him out to us?” Sabrina persisted to Gio’s annoyance.

  “No, Sabrina, I don’t want to make a scene now. Please just let it go for now.” Gio spoke pleadingly, and Sabrina acquiesced, realizing the importance of remaining discreet.

  “Fine, I won’t say another word about it. Try some of this bruschetta.” Sabrina encouraged, hoping to ease his mind a little. Gio accepted the food she offered and smiled at her. He glanced over at Max, noting that he was even more enraptured with Cara than before.

  “Instead of practicing law in a traditional forum, you might think of doing consulting work. Independent private investigation agencies like mine are always in search of good legal counsel.” Max advised her.

  Cara was comfortable to talk about career with the stranger, as it was a neutral subject and forced him to keep his eyes on her face. “That’s an avenue I hadn’t thought of yet. Very interesting. I don’t think I would want to work for a stuffy corporate firm anyway.” Max laughed appreciatively at her comment.

  “That is a view I whole-heartedly share. I’ve never worked for a corporate stooge. Tell her, Gio.” Max jabbed his buddy in the arm.

  “He’s never worked for a corporate stooge.” Gio repeated robotically, trying to keep Cooper in his sight.

  “Thanks for the endorsement.” Max said sarcastically, earning a slight smile from Cara. “What I’m trying to say is that educated people like yourself should think outside the box and, from what I’ve heard from you so far, it sounds like you are.”

  Cara concurred, taking a quick nibble of pastry puff before answering. “You’re absolutely right. I’ll keep your thoughts in mind.”

  Sabrina decided it was safe to leave Max and Cara alone for discussion, so she led Gio away from the buffet table and over to an easel propping up a haunting black-and-white image of a New England blizzard.

  “There’s a timeless quality about black-and-white photography, you know? Everything in the photograph seems to be standing still, even though the snow is falling. It gives an illusion of stasis.” Sabrina shared, as Gio turned his concentration onto her.

  “You’re right, it is a timeless photograph. It could have been taken last year or last century for all we know.” Gio agreed grimly.

  “Exactly.” Sabrina smiled, pacing a few steps to the left and looking at another black-and-white photograph, this one of the forest. “It’s interesting how the photographer chose not to make this a color print. The whole purpose of a forest picture is to showcase the greenery. What do you think?”

  Gio glanced absently at the picture. “I think the photographer was trying to go against the grain and make the picture more memorable. There are countless color pictures of forests, but a black-and-white one leaves more to the viewer’s imagination.”

  Sabrina was pleased with Gio’s interpretation and was about to contribute another piece of analysis when a gravelly male voice behind them broke into the conversation.

  “I’m glad you like my girlfriend’s photograph.”

  Before Gio had time to whip around to face the owner of that grating voice, he knew that it was Glen Cooper. In a tidal wave of memory, the interrogation swept over his consciousness, and he could hear that same voice barking out questions about his family. Desperate to keep his emotions in check, Gio turned around in slow motion and fixed a hard stare directly on Glen Cooper’s age-lined face. From behind his gold-rimmed glasses, Cooper peered curiously at Gio, taken aback by the fierceness of his regard. Gio continued to stare the man down, unblinking, waiting for a flicker of recognition to spark in the man’s face, but he could discern none. Cooper’s girlfriend stood there, dumbfounded, perceiving the tension emanating from Gio, but not understanding it.

  Registering the emotional intensity in Gio’s stare, Sabrina knew in an instant that the man must be Glen Cooper. She remained silent, waiting to see what move Gio would make. Gio tightened his mouth angrily, still wading in a pool of traumatic remembrance of the night in 1966 that now seemed as though it had just happened.

  Cooper squirmed visibly under Gio’s harsh perusal and broke the silence by explaining, “My girlfriend Kate is one of the featured photographers tonight. I overheard you admiring her work.” As Cooper spoke, Gio’s jaw clenched even tighter and he made no move to speak.

  Cooper and Kate were both disturbed by the man’s predatory stance and were about to walk away when Sabrina interjected, “Kate, your photographs are marvelous. As a fellow photographer, I’m very impressed.” She smiled warmly at the woman for the benefit of civility and in hopes of striking up a light conversation so the couple wouldn’t flee.

  Kate was mollified and smiled proudly, saying, “Thank you so much. These are some of my most cherished projects. They’re like my babies, and I was a little hesitant to have them on display, but my dear Glen convinced me that they should be shared with the world. So, I entered them in the competition, and half a dozen of them were selected for exhibition tonight.�
�� She gesticulated as she spoke, waving her arms around in all directions to indicate that her work dominated the gallery that evening.

  Politely, Sabrina said, “It would have been a shame to keep these pictures all to yourself.” Thinking of a ploy to keep the couple loquacious, Sabrina prodded, “Are you a professional photographer?”

  Cooper and Kate exchanged a look of amusement as the latter responded, “Oh no! I’m just a novice with the camera, but it is a hobby of mine. How flattering of you to ask, though.” The woman’s darkly shaded eyes and crimson lips beamed at Sabrina.

  Gio continued to stay rooted in place, his eyes never leaving Cooper’s increasingly disconcerted face. Finally, Cooper asked, “Do I know you?” He regarded Gio quizzically, trying to recollect ever having met the volatile looking man.

  Choosing his words prudently, Gio responded, “We’ve met before.”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you. Where did we meet?” Cooper questioned, half-fearing that the man would pounce and attack him like an animal.

  Gio’s eyes glittered maliciously as he replied evenly, “In Mount Hollow.”

  Cooper’s expression altered slightly as he replied with a hint of condescension, “Where did you say? Mount Hollow? I’m afraid I’ve never heard of the place. What state is it in?”

  Gio’s heart raced at Cooper’s baffling response. Why was he hiding the fact that he was originally from Mount Hollow? Feeling as though he were at water’s surface and panting for air, Gio said carefully, “Mount Hollow is here in Vermont. It’s my hometown and I believe your hometown as well. If I’m not mistaken, you worked as chief investigator for the fire department there back in the 1960’s---Glen Cooper.” He spoke the name bitingly, unable to conceal his erupting anger.

  Cooper stared back at him in cryptic silence as Kate said, “Glen, tell him how he’s mistaken. You’ve never worked for any fire department. You spent your career in exporting before you took early retirement.” She turned to face Gio now. “I think we have a case of mistaken identity. Cooper is a very common last name and…”

  Gio interrupted her sharply, “No, I am definitely not mistaken. My family’s house went up in flames fourteen years ago, killing my parents and younger brother. It was you Cooper who interviewed me afterwards. I remember it as though it happened yesterday. Don’t tell me you could possibly forget Giovanni Salvatore.”

  Gio watched the blood drain from Cooper’s face as he revealed these details. Gio was categorically certain that this was the same Glen Cooper who had interrogated him, and he would not relent until he found out the reason for the man’s denial. Aggressively, Gio took another step forward, never breaking eye contact with Glen Cooper.

  Chapter 11

  Cooper looked away from Gio, like a cowering creature in the jungle that knows it’s met an unconquerable alpha male. The older man’s sudden change in behavior did not go unnoticed by anyone, including Kate, who put a questioning hand on his wrist.

  “Glen, are you OK?” When he looked as though he might surge into cardiac arrest, she turned to Gio and reprimanded, “Look what you’ve done! Why can’t you just accept that this is not the man you’re looking for?”

  “This is exactly the man I’m looking for and he knows it.” Gio said to Kate while never taking his eyes off of Cooper.

  Finally, Cooper spoke. Smoothing his necktie in an exaggerated display of formality, he addressed his lady friend. “Kate, let’s be on our way. I don’t know how a psychopath like this got on the guest list to such a civilized affair, but I don’t wish to be subject to his misplaced rage any longer. Shall we?” He bent his arm outward as she latched on, tossing a look of mistrust behind her as Gio’s anger built to a violent climax.

  With a vice-grip, he grabbed hold of Cooper’s shoulder and spun him around, spitting angrily, “You’re not going anywhere!”

  Distressed, Sabrina tried to stand between the two men and stop the brawl that seemed destined to ensue. “Gio, don’t do anything crazy! There are people all around us. Please try to contain your anger.” She pleaded with him, wildly looking around the room and hoping for Max and Cara to come to their assistance. Gio gently but swiftly pushed Sabrina out of the way, as Kate tugged on Cooper’s sleeve, trying to drag him out of there before physical harm could befall her man.

  When Gio would have lunged for Cooper, he suddenly became aware that he was the center of speculation and whispers, as guests had paused their conversations to watch the scene unfold. He shoved Glen Cooper away from him. With a tremendous rein of control, he used words for weapons. “You can run and hide under your woman’s skirts like a toddler, Chief Cooper. I don’t know what you’re trying to cover up, but you’re behaving like a fugitive. I’m not a psychopath as you claim, so you won’t see me throwing a violent fit at this ‘civilized affair.’ Go ahead and leave. But know that I am on a one-way mission to the truth and if you have anything to conceal, it will soon burn in the sunlight for all to see. Now get out of my sight.” Gio seethed as he willed his anger to simmer. Cooper snatched Kate’s hand and walked as fast as he could to the exit doors.

  “Gio, are you alright?” Sabrina came up close to him and touched a hand to his perspiring cheek.

  Still fuming and restless, he pulled away. “No, I’m not alright. That was a disaster. I didn’t get to ask him anything, and now he’s on the run. I don’t even understand what just happened. Why does everyone I talk to about the fire react that way? How many damn perpetrators could there be? Or am I losing my mind like Cooper said? Where was Max when I needed him?” Gio expelled the questions tumbling in his head at break-neck speed, leaving Sabrina overwhelmed.

  “Gio, try to calm yourself. Maybe we should find Max and Cara and get out of here.” Without a word, Gio circled the gallery to find them. After searching everywhere including the washrooms, Sabrina exclaimed, “Did they just vanish? Where could they be?”

  Gio shook his head disgustedly. “I don’t care where they are. Let’s just get out of here.”

  “I can’t leave my sister here! Besides, we took separate cars.” Sabrina reasoned as Gio bolted ahead of her unexpectedly, making his way towards the exit. Helplessly, Sabrina followed him out to the parking lot, leaving the still gossiping guests staring after them.

  The night air washed cool and cleansing over Gio, and he felt as though he had just escaped from a stifling furnace. With Sabrina trailing behind, he walked over a cobblestone path leading to a small sculpture garden. In the moonlight, two standing figures were discernable huddled close on the misty grass in the middle of the garden.

  “That’s Max and Cara!” Sabrina exclaimed in surprise. “What are they doing over there?”

  Gio rolled his eyes, annoyed. “I apologize for my friend, Sabrina. It seems he was quite taken with your sister.” He took Sabrina hastily by the hand and traversed the cobblestone path into the sculpture garden. “There you are!” Gio called, crossing his arms in blatant annoyance. “We were looking everywhere for you two.”

  Max looked at them apologetically. “I’ll have to take full blame for this. It was such a lovely evening that I thought it would be nice to come outdoors. It felt like they had the heat on full blast in there. They should have had the air conditioning on!” To Gio’s ears, Max’s good-natured explanation sounded like babbling, and he lost patience quickly.

  “Well, while you were gallivanting on the lawn under the stars, I almost got into a fist fight with Glen Cooper.”

  “What? Why didn’t you tell me that you were going to talk to him? That was the plan.” Max said urgently.

  “I know what the plan was.” Gio spoke through gritted teeth. “But Cooper approached me and there was nothing I could do about it.”

  “Why did he approach you?” Max asked, confused.

  “Never mind. I’ll tell you on the ride home. I want to get as far away from this gallery as possible.” Gio turned to walk towards his truck without waiting for Max to respond.

  Max looked at Cara and as
ked, “Can I call you at Sabrina’s house tomorrow?”