Corridor Man Volumes 1, 2, 3,4 5

by Nick James

  “So at the end of the night did everyone leave happy?”

  “Pretty much, a couple of them need a good screwing, but they’re not gonna get it tonight,” she said then chuckled at her own little joke. “Thing is, its all so easy, but they just don’t want to listen.”

  “What’s easy?”

  She looked up at him, glassy eyed, moved her head and raised her eyebrows in a way that suggested she might be trying to focus.

  “What’s easy, Emily,” he said handing her the glass of wine.

  “Life, you just have to do what makes you happy.”

  “Are you happy?”

  “Hell yeah, at least I think I am,” she said then took a large swallow. “Do you think I’m happy?”

  “I think you found what you like to do and you apparently do it very well.”

  “Huh?” she asked and sipped.

  “You have a lovely home, nice friends, probably money in the bank. You’re good to your mom.”

  “Yeah, I am, I guess.” she said then took another long sip of wine, some of which ran down the side of her mouth and dripped onto her silk robe. She didn’t seem to notice and attempted to set her glass back on the coffee table spilling wine onto the table in the process. She tried to say something, maybe even curse about the spill, but it came out as more of a garbled noise. She suddenly seemed to be fighting to keep her head up and appeared to be losing the battle.

  “Maybe it’s time for bed, Emily?”

  “You come, too,” she said making a great effort to talk, but not getting much further than than the three words.

  Bobby walked over to the table and set his glass down. He picked up a couple of napkins, sponged up the wine she’d spilled on the coffee table and picked up her glass then set it next to his on the table against the wall.

  “Come on, honey, give me your arm,” he said then bent down and helped her drape her arm over his shoulder. As he carefully stood her up her robe came undone. She half giggled and staggered three or four steps before she lost one of her heels. She half hobbled down the hall for a few more steps before she lost the other heel. By the time they reached the bedroom door he’d wrapped both arms around her waist and was dragging her limp figure.

  He dragged her into the bedroom and laid her face down on the edge of the bed with her toes still touching the floor. He laughed to himself then slapped her across the rear. She gave a grunt then moved her right arm and lifted her robe to completely expose her rear. She attempted to say something, but it came out unintelligible.

  “Not tonight, honey,” he laughed then pulled her up into the bed and covered her with the sheet and quilt. He walked back into the den, turned off the fireplace and brought the glasses and the bottle back down to the kitchen. He washed the glasses just to get rid of any hint of the drug, then returned the glasses to the cupboard. He corked the wine then went back up to the bedroom, climbed in next to Emily and went to sleep.

  Emily was still sound asleep when he woke. He waited a good half hour in the hope she would awake, but the two times he tried to encourage her she just groaned and pulled the pillow back over her head. Eventually he quietly climbed out of bed, showered, got dressed then left a note on the kitchen counter thanking her and went home.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  It was just a little after eight in the morning when he pulled into the underground parking area of his building. He drove slowly through the area twice just to make sure there was no one lurking in a car waiting for him. He took the elevator up to his floor then gave a quick glance left and right before he stepped into the hallway. He placed the key in the lock, turned the key and heard the lock click before he remembered the tape he’d attached to the door.

  He bent down to check the tape then stared where it was still attached to the door frame but had been pulled off the door indicating someone had apparently entered the unit while he was gone.

  He cautiously opened the door then remained out in the hallway and listened. Nothing. He glanced into the empty living room then cautiously walked over to the bookshelf and picked up a brass candle stick, holding it upside down as he made his way toward the back and the kitchen. He checked each room, looking under his bed and in the closet. His heart pounded just a little louder with every step he took toward the rear of his unit. By the time he’d finished with the back room off the kitchen he was breathing heavily as if he’d just run a couple of miles. He double checked the lock in the front door, then shaved, dressed for the office and applied the creams Emily had given him.

  On his way into the office he stopped in to check on Noah Denton. As he approached the door to Denton’s room a nurse spotted him and called to him. “Excuse me, Mr. Denton is it?”

  “Yes, that’s who I was just going to see,’ he said approaching the desk.

  “No,” she smiled, “I meant your name.”

  “Custer, Bobby Custer.”

  “Oh, but I thought you were his son,” she said with a confused look on her face.

  “Adopted,” Bobby said then chastised himself for not remembering.

  She nodded. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid there was a bit of an incident last night and, well it seems your father fell.”

  “Fell?”

  “Yes. somehow he lowered the rail on the bed, and then it looks like he fell as he attempted to walk. We don’t know if he was trying to get to the bathroom or what.”

  “Is he okay?”

  “He was moved into the continual care area late last night. Let me just get the room number for you. They’ll be able to get you a more up-to-date assessment of his condition,” she said, then stepped around the nurses counter and clicked a series of keys on a computer keyboard. “Yes, here we are, room 612, if you just head back to the elevator and push the button for the sixth floor, the signs will direct you as soon as you step off the elevator,” she said and smiled.

  Bobby thanked her for the information and pretended to hurry to the elevator. He got off on the sixth floor and true to her word, a sign pointed the way to rooms 610-618. Bobby followed around a corner, down a hall and around another corner to a circular wing with eight doors wide enough to roll a hospital bed through. A nurses station sat in the center of the area with two women in light blue scrubs seated behind a counter watching a series of computer screens. Another woman in scrubs was just entering a room carrying a tray with a syringe.

  As he approached the station the nurse closest to him looked up and smiled. She was an attractive blonde, with dark brown eyes and wire rim glasses. She appraised him for a couple of steps, focusing on his bruised cheek before she gave a friendly, “Hi, what can I do for you?”

  “I’m looking for Noah Denton, I believe his room is 612, he was transferred up here late last night.”

  “Oh yes, the fall. He’s resting just now, you’re family?”

  “Yes,” Bobby lied.

  “Feel free to go in, but it would be best if you didn’t wake him, maybe not stay too long. Quite a tumble I’m afraid.”

  “How is he?”

  “Well, right now resting comfortably. He really banged his head, specialist will be in to look at the hip, umm,” she clicked a couple of keys on the keyboard, brought up another screen. “Yes, Dr. Antonnini will be in around eleven this morning.”

  “Dr Antonnini, is that James Antonnini?” Bobby asked, taking a wild guess based on the name he’d seen on Emily’s computer file last night.

  “Yes, do you know him?”

  “Not really, we’ve met a couple of times, more of a hand shake in a large crowd sort of deal. All right if I pop my head in to see my father?”

  “Sure, just try and keep it quiet, and I should warn you, he’s a little banged up.”

  “Guess it runs in the family,” Bobby joked and indicated the bruising on his cheek.

  He carefully pushed the door to 612 open and stepped inside. The room was essentially the same as the previous one, only with more monitors behind the bed. It looked like Denton was hooked up to at lea
st two different IV’s. He had a large bruise on his forehead that looked like someone had gone after him with a belt sander. The right side of his mouth was bruised and swollen. There was a triangular shaped pillow wedged between his legs and Bobby guessed that whatever limited progress he’d made toward recovery after slipping on the hand soap had more than been negated with last night’s fall. He stayed in the room for no more than a couple of minutes then hurried out the door. Things were starting to look up.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  He phoned Cori Denton as soon as he got into his office.

  “Hello,” she answered after a couple of rings, it sounded like she was driving.

  “Hi, Cori, Bobby Custer, are you free to talk?”

  “Well, hello there, Bobby. I was beginning to think you might have left town.”

  “No, just really busy. Sorry I haven’t been in touch.”

  “Not to worry, what can I do for you?”

  “Have you been to see Mr. Denton, lately?”

  “To tell you the truth, I haven’t. I’ve been so busy myself and well, to be honest I only seem to upset him. So, I thought it might be better if I just stayed away.”

  Plus, it was no doubt cutting into your social life and bridge games, Bobby thought.

  “Why do you ask? Now what’s happened?” she said sounding like any bad information wouldn’t be upsetting as much as it might be an intrusion.

  “I’m afraid he had a fall last night. They think he was trying to get out of bed and apparently slipped.”

  “God, the stupid…Why can’t he just stay put? If it isn’t one thing it’s another.”

  “Well, I spoke to one of the nurses at the hospital. He mentioned that they sent you an email, you should have received it a day or two ago. Apparently they needed your signature before they could move him into an area that provided more care. Of course that was before last night’s fall, not sure what the deal is now. It might be a good idea to at least call them and make sure they have everything they need.”

  “Oh God, I suppose. I’m actually on my way to a bridge tournament and a luncheon, the Town and Country Club,” she said sounding like she was waiting for Bobby to be impressed.

  “Maybe you could find time to phone them after the luncheon,” he said, actually feeling sorry for poor old Denton.

  “I’ll try. I’d better ring off now, I’m just about to pull into the parking lot.”

  “Always nice chatting, Cori,” Bobby said, but she’d already hung up.

  Next he phoned a place called Security House, a locksmith, and set an appointment for two that afternoon at his condo. He phoned Bennett Hinz after that, but since it was just barely ten, he had to leave a message. His phone rang a few minutes later and he answered thinking it might be Bennett.

  “Good morning, this is Bobby Custer,” he said doing his best to sound professional.

  “Do you forgive me?” Emily said and then sighed. “I am so, so sorry. I don’t know what happened, that wine must have just hit me.”

  “How’s the head?”

  “Well, it must still be there because I can feel it pounding.”

  “Aspirin and sugary orange juice.”

  “Believe me, I’ve already done that. Right now I’m just soaking in the tub. Room for two, want to come over and scrub my back?”

  “I’d love to, but I’ve got a meeting and then well, a lot of work to do.”

  “Okay, your loss, but I do want to give you a rain check for last night.”

  “I’m counting on it, why don’t you give me a call later this afternoon. You free tonight?”

  “No, but I’m modestly priced. It’s a date,” she joked.

  Bobby immediately thought of the email he’d sent to himself. “Hope to chat with you later this afternoon, Emily.”

  “If this head doesn’t kill me first, bye, bye, bye,” she laughed and hung up.

  He logged onto his computer, then opened up the email he sent himself with Emily’s file attached. He scrolled down to the file labeled Antonnini, James and opened it. There were four images, all dated October 2014. He focused on the one of Antonnini, apparently naked and kneeling behind Emily in the bed with the exotic headboard. Two of the other shots were pretty much the same and probably taken within thirty seconds of one another, Antonnini on his back, laughing while Emily straddled him. In the third shot she’d apparently just been pushed off, but was still holding the cellphone camera with Antonnini about to pounce on her. The fourth shot was the two of them in a bubble bath, possibly a jacuzzi, both of them wearing a face full of bubbles as beards. Bobby hit print and a minute later folded the four images and placed them in his inside suit coat pocket.

  He called Camila Morales, but had to leave a message, then peeked into Bennett’s empty office before he headed for the elevators.

  “Marci, I’ll be back sometime over the noon hour. I’ve got to check on Mr. Denton and then tie up another lose end or two. I left a message for Mr. Hinz and I’ll give him a further update once I’m back.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Bobby arrived back at City View a little after eleven. He didn’t go to Denton’s room, but instead just sort of lingered out in front of the elevator on the sixth floor in the hopes of spotting Dr. James Antonnini. He waited for over an hour and was about to leave when he saw someone who looked an awful lot like the guy in Emily’s images hurrying down the hall, only this time he was dressed.

  He waited by the elevator as the man approached. The closer he came the more Bobby was convinced it was the same guy. Antonnini gave a perfunctory nod then reached over and pressed the down button. The elevator took it’s sweet time arriving. Eventually the green light above the door flashed, a bell chimed and the doors slowly opened.

  Antonnini brushed past Bobby, stepped onto the elevator and then turned and faced him. He seemed to look through Bobby as if he wasn’t even there or simply didn’t matter. Bobby smiled to himself and slowly stepped into the elevator.

  “Floor?” Antonnini asked, apparently taking control of the driving.

  Bobby glanced down and saw Antonnini had already pushed the ground floor for himself and nodded at the illuminated ‘G’ button. “That’ll do just fine,” he said then focused on Antonnini’s left hand, his wedding ring was still there.

  The elevator made three stops during the course of descending six floors. They picked up a priest on five who got off on three and then picked up two middle aged women who entered the elevator on the second floor and exited on the ground floor, never breaking the flow of their conversation. Antonnini let them step off first then took an immediate left down a hallway with a sign directing people to the parking lot. Bobby followed at a discrete distance behind him.

  Antonnini gave a backward glance as he approached the underground passage to the parking ramp. He gave a second glance as he entered the ramp and made his way to the staircase then seemed to increase his pace as he climbed the stairs.

  Bobby remained a half flight of stairs behind him and picked up his pace in time to Antonnini’s footsteps echoing throughout the cinderblock stairwell. He heard a door slam, Antonnini entering the level he was parked on, and he hurried up the remaining steps to the door. He caught sight of the good doctor halfway down the ramp. He’d obviously run thirty or forty feet, and glanced over his shoulder just as Bobby opened the door from the stairwell and stepped into the actual parking area.

  “Dr. Antonnini, could you spare a moment, please.”

  Antonnini stopped, and turned around with a puzzled look on his face. He watched as Bobby approached for a few steps then called out, “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

  “More or less,” Bobby said as he drew closer. “We have a common friend.”

  Antonnini smiled then nodded with a look that suggested, isn’t that nice, turned on his heels and started to hurry toward a red BMW parked in the far corner.

  “Emily Saunders,” Bobby called.

  Antonnini stopped and without turning round to fa
ce Bobby said, “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I know anyone of that name.”

  “Believe me, I’m sorry, too. I think you and I might have a lot more in common than we’d care to admit.”

  Antonnini turned around, “I don’t think I caught your name.”

  “Custer, Bobby Custer.”

  “I see,” he nodded, glancing up to the right, clearly thinking. He focused on Bobby’s bruised cheek for a moment and then just as Bobby got close enough to hold out his hand to shake Antonnini began stepping back and said, “Look, my mistake, not sure what you’re selling, but I’m pretty sure I’m not interested and I really don’t have the time just now.”

  Bobby reached into the vest pocket of his suit coat and watched the good doctors eyes grow wide until he realized it was just sheets of papers he was pulling out.

  “Oh, Christ. What? Don’t tell me that little bitch is suing me now. She can’t possibly think that will work. Besides, I’ve always paid her on time.”

  “Actually, no. She’s not suing you. I wonder if I could have just five minutes of your time. I think we have a similar problem and I believe we might be able to help one another out.”

  “Similar problem?” Antonnini said then gave a nervous glance as a couple drove past in a late model Toyota. The woman in the passenger seat stared at the two of them. Bobby took a half-dozen steps out of the way and moved closer to the red BMW.

  “This kind of problem,” Bobby said and handed Antonnini the sheets of papers.

  He paged through the first two sheets then stopped and looked at Bobby. “How much?” He said angrily and thrust the sheets back toward Bobby.

  “How much? Oh no, I don’t think you understand. Look, could we just talk for a minute. Is that your car, the BMW. I’d feel a lot more comfortable if we could be just a little more private,” he said then glanced around pretending to look for someone listening.