by S. J. Bishop
As I walked barefoot along the winding driveway, I kept checking my surroundings, unsure of where in the world I could be. That confusion only deepened when I turned at the row of high hedges and a castle appeared before me. I rubbed my eyes like they do in the movies, but it was still there.
The door was unlocked, and a woman in a very nice pant suit came out from behind the front counter. I told her I was looking for Martin, and she pointed down the hallway. She frowned and whispered, a sad look on her face, “We just got her calmed down. Please be mindful of the other residents.”
I assured her that I would, not knowing what she was talking about. But I followed to where she pointed, and soon I heard Martin’s voice coming through a partially closed door. He was humming a tune, low and deep, his voice registering more as a feeling than a sound. It was a happy-sounding tune, but the tone of his voice betrayed sorrow. I tip-toed to the door and slowly pushed it open.
Martin sat at the side of a hospital bed, a tiny, frail woman propped up on pillows, her hand on his leg. As he hummed the tune, he brushed her long, silver hair, barely enough to fill the bristles of the brush. “You’re so good to me, Jimmy,” the woman’s voice cracked. “I feel better now.”
Jimmy? I held my breath.
“That’s good, Ma.” Martin kissed her on the forehead. “It’s time to sleep now. You’ve made quite a fuss today.”
“They’re taking my medicine, Jimmy.” She patted his leg one hard time to make her point. “I know Thomas did it. It’s always Thomas.”
“Ma, they told you Thomas left. You don’t have to worry.” Martin set the brush down on the night stand and reached across her to turn out the light. “I’ll stay here until you fall asleep. I promise.” As he was saying that, his eyes met mine. They shot open, wide and angry. He mouthed the words, “Don’t move,” and pursed his lips, livid.
Moments later, the woman’s breathing slowed, and I let out the breath I’d been holding as well. Martin gently pulled the covers to her chest and kissed her again on the forehead. Then he shot around the side of the bed and crossed the room in two giant strides, jerking me by the arm. “What the hell?” he whispered.
I stammered, unable to comprehend what was going on around me, and said nothing. He shook me again, pulling me out of the room and closing the door behind us.
“What did you do?” He marched me down the echoing hallway like a warden dragging his prisoner to the gallows.
“I.. I didn’t. The cop—” I couldn’t get the words out. I didn’t know where the cop was or what the hell I’d just seen. Am I still dreaming?
“You reek.” Martin scrunched his nose up and glared at me in disgust.
“He’s gone,” I finally managed.
21
Martin
Gone? What the hell?
I barged out the front doors of the nursing home, Vanessa trailing behind me. She didn’t even attempt to fight. Instead, she cowered at my back like a hurt animal. I pulled my service revolver and radioed Cruz.
“I don’t know what happened, Martin. Commander Phillips vouched for him, said he was vetted. We’ve used him before,” Cruz sounded groggy.
I had no idea how late it was, but that didn’t matter now. “You tell Phillips to call his contact, and then me, now,” I commanded and clicked the radio to silent. “You stay behind me,” I instructed Vanessa.
“I am.” At least she was cooperating.
“So, what happened?”
“I don’t know. I woke up and you were gone and so was he and the car was empty and there was a black SUV and the gate was open.” She blurted everything out in one string of words without taking a breath. “And we’re at a castle,” she added at the end.
“It’s a nursing home.”
I felt the air go out of her. “Oh, Martin.”
When we reached the edge of the row of hedges blocking the home from the outside world, I peered around the corner. I could see my car, my dear Rhonda, out in the open. Anger surged in me at my foolishness, trusting locals to do my job. On the other side of Rhonda, the gate still stood wide open, the guard shack empty. The hired police cruiser was nowhere to be seen. He’d obviously returned to it and driven off, completely abandoning his post. I made a mental note to have his badge number when this was all over.
With no other choice, I made my way slowly to my car, Vanessa following tightly behind me, my body shielding her as much as possible. As we neared Rhonda, headlights flashed on, right in my face. The SUV emerged from the darkness. Two massive goons exited the vehicle and stood towering on either side of the lights. “Welcome back, Martin.”
“Who are you?” I asked, still advancing toward cover, my weapon drawn.
Neither of them moved or flinched at the barrel pointed right at them. “The important question, Martin, should be where we are.” The driver mocked me.
I said nothing, not taking his bait.
“You should know, La Familia has eyes everywhere,” the passenger butted his two cents in. “Good evening, Ms. Genovese.” He nodded his head at Vanessa, who shrunk even smaller behind me.
“Not very smart, announcing who you work for like that,” I chuckled at him. Opening the side door, I pushed Vanessa into the back seat and told her to cover herself with whatever she could find. As I closed the door, I could see her laying the front seat back, completely sheltering herself. Smart girl.
I strode around the truck, my revolver still zeroed on the space between the two large figures. As my eyes adjusted to the lights still focused on me, I realized that the tall one looked familiar. His bald head and goatee gave him away. “No wonder you blab about your assignments, you Rent-a-Cop.” I spat the slur at him.
“Mr. Amara sends his regards to the graduate.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Tell him Ms. Genovese appreciates it, but future correspondence should be handled by Mr. Genovese or myself.” I lowered my weapon long enough to climb in the driver’s seat and start the truck.
“I don’t think you realize how this works.” The bald one stepped closer, into the gated area. “Nobody tells Mr. Amara anything.” He smiled, revealing a gold tooth, and nodded his head toward the nursing home. “Not if they know what’s good for them.”
“No, I don’t think you know how this works. Come one step farther, and you’ll be swiss cheese.” I lowered my revolver square to his center line. “After the night I’ve had, you don’t want to try me.”
The goon didn’t step back, I’ll give him that, but his facial expression gave him away. He knew I wasn’t bluffing. “Don’t worry, Martin. You’re not the one we want.”
“You’re not getting her, either. I’ll blow you away right now if I have to.”
“Not my call. I’m just here to relay the congratulations. We tried to give you the message at the safe house, but you took off in such a hurry.” He bared that gold tooth again. “Just remember that Mr. Amara has a knack for getting what he wants. And as you can see,” he waved his hand around to where the police cruiser no longer was, “nobody’s pockets are immune to Mr. Amara’s will.”
“You bribed a beat cop. I’m very impressed.” I revved the engine and threw the truck into first.
“Please, we don’t waste our time on beat cops. We have much bigger fish on our hook.” The silent partner made a reeling motion like he was pulling in a big catch behind him. The big guy continued, “You just keep that in mind, wherever you are. Say, your safe house, or a nursing home, or getting Ms. Genovese’s hair done at a private salon.”
Vanessa whimpered behind me at the reference to her mother. I told him, louder than I needed to for Vanessa’s sake, “That was before I came on the job. Now, I’d like to see you or anyone try something. I’ve been itching to see some action.” With that, I floored it, peeling tires and coming within an inch of the SUV’s passenger side mirror.
22
Vanessa
What are we gonna do?” After we sped off from the nursing home, I waited a full five minutes be
fore coming out of my hiding spot. Fear held me there, certain that I’d be shot the moment I popped my head up. Slowly, I raised myself up but stayed in the back, feeling more comforted behind Martin. His presence was enough for me at that moment. I knew I was safe there with him, whatever else was going on in the world.
“The only thing I know to do at this late hour.” Martin took the corner slowly, visibly forcing himself to calm down and get a hold on his adrenaline.
“And what’s that?” I slowly crawled up to the front with him, placing my hand on his shoulder and leaving it there. Everything we’d been through that night made me feel so much closer to him. I thought about his mom in that place, and my mom, and what those guys had said. I squeezed my eyes to keep from giving into the tears.
“My condo is on Pendleton.” He leaned his head over and caressed my hand with his cheek. I don’t even think he realized that he did it.
I felt a familiar warmth spread through me at the tenderness in his touch. “Pendleton? Figures.” I gave his shoulder a playful squeeze.
A short time later, we pulled into his gated parking lot and walked the three flights of stairs up to his unit. “Don’t you believe in elevators?” I panted.
“Other side of the building.” He didn’t seem like he’d struggled at all with the climb.
As soon as he unlocked the door and swung it open, the smell of disinfectant hit me. I stepped through the door and looked around. It was tidy, as expected from a former SEAL, but it had a hurried, lived-in look to it as well. Boxes were stacked in the corner, the phrase ‘medical supplies’ neatly printed across each of them.
“Um, let me make up a room for you.” He went into a room on the left of the living area, and I followed. “Sorry about the set up.”
A hospital bed took up half of the small room, and more medical gear and fixtures came out of the wall. Pictures of Martin at various young ages lined the wall across from the bed. I went to them, drawn by a gravitational pull to peer inside his life. From left to right, I walked the length of the wall, watching a small, round-faced boy turn to a towering, muscular, neat man. All the while, those piercing green eyes barely aged, the light still shining bright in each picture.
“Here, this should do for now.” He brought me back to the here and now.
I turned to see that he’d replaced the stark white sheets with a light pastel comforter. I smiled at him, “Perfect. I’m so exhausted, I’ll probably pass out on top of the covers anyway.”
“I think there are some nightgowns left in the bureau.” Martin raised a hand toward the other side of the room. “Not sure if they’ll fit, though. Ma’s so small.” His voice nearly cracked, but he coughed to cover it.
I slowly walked to him carefully, as if trying not to spook a feral cat. I felt lightheaded, unsure if it was still from the alcohol or the weight of the moment we shared, standing in his mother’s room together. The stress of the night hung in the air like a dense fog. I wanted nothing more than to fall onto the bed and let the darkness take it all away. Yet, there was one thing I wanted more. I sat on the edge of the bed and ran my hand along the soft, fluffy comforter. “Sit with me.” I barely whispered the words, afraid of breaking the spell.
Martin stood still and shook his head. “I’m still pretty amped up. I’m gonna get a shower and try to relax.” He twisted a pillow in his large hands.
“I’m not trying to seduce you,” I half-lied. I wanted him; God, I wanted him. But he needed something more tonight. “Let me make you some tea.” I stood and took the pillow he’d been worrying. “Go get your shower.”
I watched as he passed me, a boy doing as he was told. He seemed smaller, more vulnerable than I imagined possible for a man of his stature.
Nearly half an hour passed before he emerged from the shower. He towel-dried his wet hair. A crisp, new, white t-shirt clung to his body, tan cargo shorts forming a wider outline on his already hulking frame. The scent of his clean skin made my head spin. I imagined him running a manly bar of soap across a hairy chest. No liquid body wash for him. He caught me looking and stopped. “Should I change?” he asked.
“No, no, it’s fine.” I poured a cup of hot tea for both of us. “Sit.”
Martin sat on one side of his ancient-looking brown couch and covertly placed his towel on the middle cushion, leaving me no choice but to sit on the far end. I wondered which one of us he didn’t trust as I handed him a full cup.
We sat there in near silence, each of us sipping our tea, neither wanting to risk saying the wrong thing and breaking the spell of our finally quiet evening.
23
Martin
We can’t stay here indefinitely. I know they know where I live,” I argued with Commander Phillips over the phone. “It’s been days. I’m surprised they haven’t been here already!”
“Getting two sets of identification isn’t easy, Martin.” Commander Phillips was getting exasperated with me, but I didn’t care. Boundaries had already been crossed when those assholes had shown up at Ma’s nursing home. Propriety didn’t mean anything to me at this point.
“What about Ma’s guard?” I asked, raising my voice again.
“Cruz and Robinson are taking turns,” he assured me for the third time.
I sighed. Cruz wouldn’t let anything happen to Ma. That, at least, was a weight lifted. “Thank you. I’m sorry.”
“Understood. I’ll have your things ready as soon as I can. Are you sure you want to take this drastic step?”
“It’s temporary. We can’t cross the border with these IDs. Amara’s men made it clear that they have agents everywhere.” I couldn’t believe I was considering Canada either, but desperate times…
“Alright. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s done. The house in Manitoba, that is. How’s the target?”
I cringed, hearing Commander Phillips refer to Vanessa that way. She’d become so much more, without me realizing it was happening. I didn’t want to think of the future, after the threat was neutralized and there was no need for her security detail. “The target is agitated after being cooped up for days.”
“Affirmative. I spoke with Mr. Genovese this morning. He’s on board with the plan.”
“It’s for the best, for now at least.” Marco had made quite an impression on me at the graduation, and I could tell he would do anything to keep Vanessa safe, even if it meant letting her go.
“Hang in there, Martin,” Commander Phillips assured me.
“Thank you, sir. I’ll advise if anything changes.” We hung up, and I dropped the phone in my pocket.
Vanessa walked into the kitchen where I’d been, my brown button-down shirt engulfing her small frame. “Hey, if I put a belt on this thing, it could be a dress.” She raised up on her toes and twirled for me.
“It barely covers your ass,” I reminded her.
“You could always walk behind me with your hands covering it.” She twirled once more. “Everywhere I go.”
“Or you could deal. It’s your turn.” I walked back to the small, circular table where we’d been playing cards for days.
“Ugh I hate dealing.”
“Fine.” I grabbed the deck of cards and started shuffling. “But don’t cry when I win.”
“Stop setting the deck, and I won’t call you out on it.” She plopped down on her side of the table.
“Speaking of call, you still haven’t given Ophelia my address. Don’t you want your things before we leave?”
She visibly shrank at the mention of Ophelia’s name. “I don’t want to deal with her. I’d rather go naked.”
“As fun as that might be for me, the Mounties might not let you in Canada with no clothes on.” I grinned. “Besides, it’s cold up there.”
“Then you’ll just have to keep me warm.” She wiggled seductively in her seat. I gave her my best stern look. She huffed a bit, then said, “I’ll do it later. I really don’t want to talk to her. Or my father, for that matter. Getting me in this mess. It’s all his fault.”
“I don’t disagree there. But he seemed genuinely sorry when I spoke to him at your graduation. Whatever he may have done, I know he loves you.” I looked up at her. “And he loved your mother. I’m sure he still does.”
“He fucked around on her. With Ophelia. And many more, I’m sure.” Vanessa slammed her cards down on the table.
“He’s paying for that now, I assure you.”
“My mother—” the words caught in her throat. “It’s all his fault.”
“I know. I’m sorry. But there’s nothing that can change that now. We can only look to the future.” I laid my cards down. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Vanessa uncrossed her arms. “I’m grown. And I’m going to work in Environmental Law. You know that.”
“I do. Just changing the subject while I still have my head.” I picked my cards up and motioned for her to do the same.
“I’m not gonna bite your head off.” Vanessa took her cards and considered her next move. “I’m tired of trying to bite your head off only to be turned away.” She dropped an ace of diamonds on the discard pile. “Seriously, if I hadn’t felt how hard you got, I’d start to wonder about you, Jimmy.”
“Nothing to wonder about.” I picked up the ace and placed it in my hand. “I have a job to do. And a binding Morality Clause with your father. And my name’s not Jimmy.”
“What? That can’t be right. I heard your mom— “
“She slips and calls me that sometimes. Jimmy was my dad.”
“Wow. You think you know someone. So, Martin’s your last name. I get that, with the Navy and all. But what’s your real name?”
“Never telling.” I gave her a look that said, ‘back off.’
“You know he wanted to go into office? Can you imagine?” She ignored my comment about the morality clause, which I’d beaten us both over the head with since our mutual attraction had become apparent, but at least she was changing the subject.