Deceiver

by D. Morrissey

  “Daddy!” Amelia yells at the open door of her bedroom. “Come see!”

  Soon after, Dan steps into the doorway, gasping exaggeratedly, Rufus on his heels. Is that dog smiling again? “Wow! Look how beautiful that is!”

  She nods emphatically. “Candy helped me.”

  “Well, I guess you are a master fort builder.” He smiles as he eyes the big pink canopy. “Okay now, Short Stuff. It’s time for you to go to bed. You have school tomorrow, and I shouldn’t have let you stay up this late.”

  “Aw,” she grumbles as she turns around and disappears back into the fort. “Candy, will you lie down with me?”

  I look at Dan for permission.

  “No, honey. Candy doesn’t want to lie down right now.”

  “Yes, I do,” I argue, leaning over on all fours and crawling inside. Now, my butt is sticking out of the entrance. “We already picked out some books and everything.”

  I hear his footsteps approaching the fort, and then he squats down, poking his head in beside mine as he inspects the inside. Rufus decides he will not be left out and edges himself in between us.

  “This one!” she shouts victoriously, holding up a copy of Sleeping Beauty.

  “Oh, that’s a good one!” I inform her as I crawl further in and lie down beside her. “Are you going to read that to me?”

  “No.” She giggles, squirming beneath her blanket as Dan stretches it over her feet. “You read it to me, silly.”

  “Oh.” I nod, picking up the book and squinting in the dim light.

  “Here.” Dan fishes his penlight out of his pocket and hands it me. “Use this.”

  I click it on and shine it at the book, nodding. “This’ll work.”

  “Come here, Rufus. You sleep beside me,” Amelia insists, and Rufus is more than happy to oblige.

  I begin reading to both of them.

  Dan crawls back out of the tent, squeezing my ankle knowingly as he exits.

  “Alright. No playing, now. Read one book and then go to sleep,” he orders.

  “Okay, Daddy,” we both yell at the same time, which causes Amelia to belly laugh for a full minute.

  He switches off the bedroom lights. “Sweet dreams, girls.”

  Then, he disappears down the hall as I continue reading.

  With every intention of joining Dan in the living room once Amelia falls asleep, I close my eyes for just a minute.

  When I open them again, the house is dark, silent and still. I crawl out of the fort, my neck crimped and my body aching, and click on the penlight. Creeping stiff-legged like a zombie, I amble into the living room as I look for something, anything, that will give me the time. I make it to the kitchen and spy the clock at the coffeemaker. Five-thirty. That’s good. I go ahead and start a pot of coffee before heading off in search of the bathroom.

  Fully awake now, I decide to rustle up some breakfast. After all, Dan has to leave early to meet Amelia’s mother. Amelia also has a long drive home ahead of her today. I’m sure they would appreciate a nice, hot meal before they head out.

  I poke around in the drawers and cabinets looking for cooking utensils. Then, I go to the fridge and scan the contents, hoping we didn’t eat all the eggs in our omelets the other day. That seems like forever ago.

  A few minutes later, the coffee’s ready, the bacon is frying, the biscuits are in the oven, and I’m ready to start the gravy.

  “Well, good morning.” A sleepy Dan strolls into the kitchen in his boxers and plants a sweet kiss on my lips. “I missed you last night.”

  “I know.” I laugh as I stir the pot. “I went out like a light.”

  He pours himself a cup of coffee and takes a sip. “Mm. I needed that.”

  He takes another sip and sets his mug on the counter. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he hugs himself to me, poking me in the ass with a stiffy comparable to Mt. Vesuvius.

  “Dan! Stop!” I giggle and swat at him with the spatula. “What if Amelia wakes up?”

  “What? I’m just hugging you.” He grins mischievously. “But, if you won’t play with me, I guess I’ll go grab a quick shower,” he says sulkily as he slides his mug off the counter.

  “I’ll play with you after you put your pants on.” I laugh.

  “I was really hoping for another tryst in the shower this morning. I need to find that spot again.”

  “There’s always tomorrow.” I smile, thinking about yesterday’s shower episode. “Breakfast will be ready in ten.”

  “I’ll be done in five, and does that mean you’re staying over again?” He smiles expectantly.

  “Aren’t you sick of me yet?”

  “Not hardly. In fact, I’ll pick you up a toothbrush today,” he says cheerfully as he shuffles back toward the bedroom with his coffee.

  A toothbrush? Part of me is dancing around naked singing the Rah Rah song, and the other part is huddled, knees drawn, shivering in the corner. I love him but am I ready for a toothbrush?

  Once I’ve finished cooking breakfast and I’ve fed the Cole family, I say my farewells, promising to see Dan tonight when I get off work and promising to see my new best friend, Amelia, the next time she comes. I leave hurriedly with the excuse that I need to get to work, which is true but I also need to talk to Billie.

  ***

  “Good morning, Ms. Putnam.” The doorman smiles.

  “Good morning,” I reply, hoping he’ll let me go on up.

  “Is Miss Shaw expecting you?”

  I shake my head. “No, not this time. I thought I’d surprise her.”

  “Fine. Wait one moment, and I’ll let her know you’re here.”

  I nod, tapping my fingers nervously on the counter as he calls upstairs.

  “Certainly,” he chirps into the phone. “I’ll send her right up.”

  He hangs up, handing me the guest card key as usual.

  “Thanks.” I smile at him, trying to remember his name, and then make my way to the elevator.

  I fight with the keycard and press the top floor button. Then, I lean back and sigh, thinking about Josh. At some point, soon, I need to straighten a few things out between him and me. I certainly can’t leave things the way they are right now.

  The elevator dings, and I step out.

  “Well, good morning!” Adam flashes me a brilliant smile, and I can’t help but flutter. He’s almost as gorgeous as Dan. Almost.

  “Good morning. I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by and see if Billie wants to have a cup of coffee.

  “I’m sure she’d love to,” he says as he turns around and opens the apartment door for me. “Go on in. I think she’s in the kitchen now.”

  “Thanks. Have a great day.” I wave to him as he closes the door behind me.

  “Hey!” Billie shouts to me over the bar. “What are you doing here so early? Want some coffee?”

  “Actually, no. I’ve already had two cups this morning, which reminds me…” I cut my eyes to the hall as I dance, holding myself in a very unlady-like fashion. “Where’s your bathroom?”

  When I return, I sit down at the bar next to Billie.

  “What’s up?”

  She knows I have news.

  “Well, first of all, it’s a real pain in the ass not to be able to text or call.”

  “I know, but we all agreed. It’s just too dangerous.”

  “I know. I just needed to tell you that I got them. Well, I got to read them.”

  “Got to read what?”

  “Stratford’s medical records,” I say as if I can’t believe she’s forgotten already.

  “Oh! You did?” Her eyes sparkle with excitement. “And?”

  “The man’s a walking time-bomb. He could keel over any second.”

  “Well, I wish he’d do us all a favor and do it already.”

  I laugh, nodding. “Well, it wouldn’t be difficult to help him along. I know what medications he’s taking.”

  “Really? Interesting.” She sips her coffee, deep in thought.

&nbs
p; “It needs to look like a heart attack. Maybe Oleander?” I stand and stare out the wall of windows across the living room. “Gabby has a big patch of it in her back yard.”

  “Hm. I think that might be the way to go, then. Sounds like I need to make a trip to the library today and do a little research.”

  “Just be careful,” I warn, stepping slowly toward the door as she follows. “Don’t sign in to anything.”

  “I got it.” She nods. “I’m like a fucking ninja. No one will see me coming or going.”

  I laugh. “Well, look at common stuff, like Oleander, Hemlock, Mistletoe, and… even Nightshade. We need something that we can replace in his capsules, and something that looks like a heart attack.”

  “So, the biggest problem will be how to get our hands on his pills to switch them out.”

  “Yep. One step at a time, though. Let’s figure out the what and then we’ll figure out the how and the who. I have an idea, but I need to vet it out first. When do we meet again?”

  “Tomorrow.” Billie leans against the door jamb, watching me as I punch the elevator button. “I can stop by Gabby’s when I leave the library, if you want.”

  “Do that. We can update the rest of the girls tomorrow, if we decide the Oleander is the way to go.”

  I drop off my card key at the front desk and dash out the front doors toward my car. I pause, fumbling with my keys, trying to hurry so I can talk to Josh before he leaves for school.

  Across the street at the club, a middle-aged man in a dark blue polyester leisure suit leans against the wall, smoking a cigarette, and giving me a knowing, shit-eating grin. Is he trying to flirt with me? A nasty chill creeps up my spine as I open the door and prepare to crawl in.

  “Ms. Putnam!” the man shouts from across the street.

  One leg in the car, I glance up, surprised. I stare at him for a second. “Do I know you?”

  He pushes himself off the wall, flicking his cigarette into the street as he casually strolls toward me.

  Stuffing my hand in my purse, I feel around frantically for my pepper spray. This guy looks scary as hell.

  “No, but I know you.” He gives me a creepy smile. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  Where the fuck is that pepper spray?

  “Who are you?” I abandon the pepper spray search, pivoting my head instead to see if there are any potential witnesses nearby. I think the doorman can see me.

  “Name’s Albus.” He squints. “Albus Gray. And you, my dear, are Candy Putnam.” He nods approvingly.

  Albus Gray! Definitely bad news. A tremble runs through me. He knows we were there when Derek died. He had to have been there, too. There’s no other explanation. Billie even bought the damn gun from him!

  “What do you want?” I square my shoulders and stick out my chin, trying to look five feet, three inches worth of badass, but I know I’m not kidding anybody. I’m acutely aware that I look like Barbie, hardly intimidating at all.

  He chuckles as he pulls a pack of Marlboros from his coat pocket.

  “What do I want?” He lights another cigarette and stuffs the pack back into his pocket as he exhales. His eyes lock onto mine as he squints. “I just want to be left the fuck alone.”

  “I don’t know what you mean. I haven’t bothered you. I don’t even know you.”

  “Well, your fuck buddy sure knows me.”

  “Fuck buddy? Who? Billie?” Does he think I’m sleeping with Billie?

  He shakes his head like I’m daft. Hell, maybe I am.

  “I’m talking about the detective, Cole.”

  “Dan? What’s Dan go to do with anything?”

  “Well, he seems to think that I’m involved in the recent murder of a local police officer,” he says, assessing my reaction carefully.

  “Well? Were you?” I’m not confessing to anything, asshole!

  Albus laughs and then draws deeply on his Marlboro, exhaling a puff of smoke in my face.

  “Were you?” He grins wickedly. “Could be that I saw the whole thing.”

  I stare at him blankly. How can he possibly know about me and Dan? He’s trying to see if he can get me to confess. He’s bluffing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh, I think you do. I think she does, too.” He points toward Billie’s loft. “I did you girls a favor that night. He was going to kill her, you know, fuck her, and carve her up into little pieces. He was a sick bastard.”

  He shot Derek.

  “Now, you’re going to do something for me.” He leans forward, inches from my face, narrowing his eyes into little, red squints.

  This guy is Satan.

  “You get your Five-O boyfriend to back off and leave me the fuck alone. The last thing I need is him poking his rat nose around in my business.”

  I shake my head slightly, the realization slowly starting to sink in. He’s trying to blackmail me! “Or what?”

  “Or, I might have to tell him what I seen.” He grins. “And quite a sight it was, too, all you nice ladies running around out there like some Den Mother death squad.”

  “He won’t believe you,” I quip.

  “He will. You know he will.”

  “Tell him,” I bluff.

  He nods slowly, smiling. “Well, I just might. Or, the more I think about it, maybe I need to go to Plan B. I just hate for the city to have to lose two of its finest in such a short period of time.”

  Oh, fuck. What do I do? I don’t care what happens to me, but I do care about my friends. And, above all, I can’t let anything happen to Dan. This son-of-a-bitch has me by the short and curlies, and we both know it.

  “Don’t you touch him,” I warn.

  “Oh, I wouldn’t.” He takes a draw off his cigarette. “But accidents happen. Don’t they?” he asks as he exhales. “You probably know that better than most people. So, what’s it going to be?”

  This is a horrible little man. Maybe the ladies should take care of him while we’re at it?

  “I ain’t got all day, sweetheart. I need your answer.”

  “Fine,” I spit. “I’ll do it, but stay the fuck away from Dan.”

  He steps back and flicks his cigarette into the street. “That’s what I’m trying to do, darlin’. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”

  He turns and heads back toward the club, pausing in the middle of the street to look back at me. “I’ll expect a call from Lover-Boy telling me that I don’t need to come down to the station Monday, after all. Make sure I get it.”

  I stand there, gaping after him, as he disappears into the club. Then, I fall into the driver’s seat of my car, squeezing my keys in my hand.

  How in the hell can I get Dan to drop the investigation? He’ll never agree.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I finally make it home at eight-fifteen, stopping twice to throw-up, although I never actually did.

  Thank God Michael’s already gone when I get there. I don’t think I could deal with him this morning. I grab my overnight bag and head inside, dreading the inevitable fight I’m going to have with Josh. I can’t let him go on thinking that Michael can just waltz in and out of our lives whenever it pleases him. That bridge was burned a long time ago, and he needs to accept the fact that we’re done, over, finished.

  Tossing my overnight back on the chair, I head into the kitchen, in need of something to calm my stomach.

  “Hi.”

  I nearly jump out of my skin. Josh stands like a ghost in the corner of the kitchen, drinking a glass of juice.

  “Hi.” I smile as I grab a mug and pour myself another cup of coffee. “You scared me.”

  “Mom, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. You didn’t mean to. I’m just jumpy this morning for some reason.” And, I’m sure this cup of coffee isn’t going to help with that!

  “That’s not what I meant. I meant I’m sorry that I was such an asshole last night.”

  I almost drop my cup. Standing there, staring at this young man in front of me, my kid, t
hat I raised, I begin to cry softly.

  “I’m sorry, too.”

  What will he do if I get sent to prison?

  He crosses the kitchen and pulls me into a crushing bear hug. “I was an ass, a stupid ass, and I’m sorry.”

  I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but I like it. I don’t even chide him for his language. I just hug him back, my tears soaking his shirt.

  “It’s okay, baby. I’m sorry, too. I could have handled the whole thing better. I’ve just had so much on my mind.”

  I let go of him, and he steps back, giving me a sweet smile, my little boy’s sweet smile. I reach forward, swiping his hair from his eyes.

  “Well, did you, at least, have a nice visit with your father? Or did I mess that up for you, too?”

  “He left right after you did.”

  “What? After all that, he left?” Dirty, rotten bastard! “I’m so sorry, Josh.”

  “It’s not your fault. I thought we were going to have a late dinner and watch some movies but Tammy called, and they stayed on the phone for about an hour. Then, he said they were going to give it another shot and he just left.”

  I’m not surprised, at all. “Well, maybe that’s a good thing.”

  “Maybe. All I know is that I’m done. Really done this time. I’m sorry I said what I did to your friend. To Dan.”

  I nod and give him a reassuring smile. “It’s okay.”

  “No, it wasn’t. I hope I didn’t mess things up for you.”

  I shake my head. “No. I talked to him. Everything’s fine. He understands.”

  “Good. Tell him I’m sorry, would you?” He walks over and grabs his backpack off the table.

  “You can tell him later, when you meet him.”

  Josh stares at the floor for a minute. “You like him, huh?”

  “Yes. I do. Very much.”

  He continues staring blankly for a moment longer. “Okay, then. I will, but I gotta go to school now, or I’ll be late.”

  I grab my coffee and glance back as he walks toward the living room. “Oh, Josh!”

  “Yeah?”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Mom.”

  Somehow, I feel much lighter, not exactly happy, but lighter, as I get ready for work and make the short drive to the hospital. Josh accepting Dan is a good start but it may not matter if Albus tells Dan about me and the girls at the gym that night with Derek. My last contact with Dan might very well be him reading me my rights.