Anticipation

by Terri Breneman

  Toni motioned for her to come in and sit down, which Boggs did immediately. “Well,” Toni said, “I assume we’re both talking about the media?”

  Boggs laughed and nodded. “I don’t think they’ll bother you, but I wanted to let you know. They’re mainly waiting for Anne to 61

  leave, but it’ll be a long wait. She slipped out about forty-five minutes ago. It should be all over pretty quickly. If I know Frank, he probably knows all of Crown’s haunts and will pick him up tonight.”

  Toni thanked her for the information while she packed up her things. “Hey, did Sam tell you about the haunted house?”

  “No. What’s the scoop?”

  Toni lit up. It was great to feel like part of the gang and pass along news. She was almost as animated as Sam as she told Boggs what she knew. The two women then exchanged stories of favorite haunted houses. Nearly a half-hour had passed before Boggs glanced at her watch.

  “Gee, Toni, it’s a quarter to six. I’m sorry I kept you. I guess I better pack up and head out.” She rose from her chair but didn’t leave.

  “Thanks again for the media update. I guess I’ll go through the east exit.” Toni thought about the prospect of going home to her quiet apartment and wished she could think of a viable reason to invite Boggs. Could she tell her she needed help on one of her cases? No, there was nothing urgent. Boggs would see through that. Maybe she could ask for help with her computer. A lame idea.

  It was a laptop, for Pete’s sake, and all she did was word processing.

  Shit.

  Boggs broke the silence. “Boy, I’m starved. I could really go for a burger and a huge plate of fries. You know, the kind you get in a bowling alley or corner tavern? Disgusting, but delicious! Doesn’t that sound good?”

  Toni grinned. Gee, what a novel idea. Ask her for dinner.

  Harmless enough. Everyone eats. Why didn’t I think of that? Way to think on your feet, Toni.

  “That does sound good, Boggs. How about it? The two of us can treat ourselves to a real grease fest. Do you know any good spots?”

  Toni watched as Boggs attempted to disguise her surprise at the invitation, as if she never dreamed Toni would want to go. Boggs 62

  stammered, “Well, I know a great hole in the wall over on Clark Street. It’s good, cheap and greasy. Are you up for it?”

  “You bet,” Toni replied. “I’d like to change into some comfies first, if you don’t mind. Where on Clark is this place? Should I meet you there?”

  “Well, it would be just as simple for me to pick you up. It’s on my way. How about we both head home, change clothes, and I’ll pick you up at seven. Would that be okay?” Toni nodded. “As long as I don’t have to dress formal, that will give me plenty of time. I just need to feed Mr. Rupert.”

  “Greasy burgers it is,” Boggs said. “The dress code is comfy.

  See you at seven.” With that Boggs left Toni’s office with a bounce in her step.

  As Toni drove home that evening, she mentally pictured and discarded seven outfits. Jeez, this was just dinner at a hole in the wall. But still, even though she and Boggs would never be more than friends, she wanted to look good. As she pulled into her parking space, she realized she was humming a nondescript tune. She glanced in the rearview mirror and laughed when she saw her own reflection. How long had she had that ridiculous grin on her face?

  What a goomer!

  As soon as Toni entered her apartment, Mr. Rupert knew something was up. The energy and excitement was contagious. He hopped up on the back of the couch and began meowing loudly.

  Something good was going on and he wanted to be involved.

  “Hi, handsome,” she sang. “How’s my boy?” The words were the same, but he seemed to know something was different. Mr.

  Rupert frowned as if he considered himself pretty good at reading humans, especially her, but just couldn’t put his paw on it.

  Chuckling, Toni ruffled his head and went to the kitchen to fix his dinner. She spooned cat food into his dish and then announced,

  “Soup’s on,” as he stared at her for at least two seconds before the call of food overtook him.

  Upstairs, Toni stripped off her suit and those damn pantyhose in a flash and jumped in the shower. She was already toweling off 63

  when Mr. Rupert entered the bathroom. Instead of her normal dialogue with him, she was humming. From her walk-in closet she grabbed her oldest jeans and a sweatshirt and glanced at Mr.

  Rupert as he watched her with fascination.

  Toni pulled on her clothes and grabbed some socks and tennis shoes. She ran a brush through her hair, glanced at the mirror and smiled. As a last-minute thought, she sprayed on a touch of her favorite cologne and headed back downstairs.

  She glanced around her livden. Everything looked okay. She took her driver’s license and cash out of her briefcase and stuffed them in her pocket. She was ready. She looked at her watch. Six thirty. Not bad. She poured herself a glass of iced tea and settled down on the couch with the day’s mail. She saw the letter from Sandy stuck in a flyer on the table and realized she had never read it. Jeez. Her mind must not be operating as usual. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t opened that immediately. Mr. Rupert took his usual spot next to her.

  Toni tore open the letter from her old co-worker. It was full of the basics—Sandy’s new husband, their honeymoon in Hawaii and their new apartment in Chicago. Toni was so happy for her. Sandy had been through a bad marriage years ago and Toni was afraid she would never get involved with anyone again. Apparently Sandy had a new job as a therapist dealing mostly with phobias. Toni stopped. Now where had she just read something about phobias?

  She shrugged and finished the letter. The rest of today’s mail was pretty routine. Her thoughts turned to the evening ahead.

  “Well, boy, I’m going out to a greasy spoon for dinner,” she explained. “Boggs will be picking me up at seven. I know, but it’s not a date. She’s really nice, don’t you think? Anyway, I’ve got to eat, don’t I?” After giving Mr. Rupert the grocery store flyers, she went through the remainder of the pile. Bill. Bill. Alumni newslet-ter asking to please donate money. Ha! She could barely pay her student loans and they wanted money? Bill. Sweepstakes—“You’re a winner.” Community newspaper. Toni gathered the bill pile and put it on her table. The remaining mail, except for the paper and 64

  Sandy’s letter, was ceremoniously placed in the trash. She returned to the couch and had just begun reading the paper to Mr. Rupert when the doorbell rang. It was 6:50.

  “Sorry, I guess I’m early,” Boggs said. “I didn’t expect to make all the lights and there was hardly any traffic.”

  “No, that’s great.” She waved her in. “I’m ready. All I need to do is grab my coat and I’m ready to roll.” She went to the closet and retrieved an old jacket. It was faded and well worn with the year ’42 sewn on the sleeve and the letter “W” on the front.

  “What a great jacket. Where did you get it?”

  “It belongs to my dad. He was manager, i.e., water boy, on the football team in high school. I borrowed it from him ages ago and I haven’t had a chance to return it yet.” Boggs laughed. “Oh, do your folks live out of town?”

  “Well, I suppose they do . . . technically. They live about fifteen miles outside the city limits. In all honesty, I hope I never have to give this jacket back to him. This may sound corny, but it makes me feel good, almost hopeful. Anyway, enough about my odd little quirks. Are you ready for food?”

  Boggs readily agreed and after a quick pat on Mr. Rupert’s head, Toni led the way out. Boggs seemed in a cheerful mood and chatted easily as they walked toward her SUV. It wasn’t until they were driving to Aunt Hattie’s, the hole in the wall, that Toni felt the electricity between them. There was no question. They were sitting less than two feet apart. The music on the radio was slow and sensual. Toni wondered if Boggs felt it too. She was acting more than a little nervous and flipped the radio to an all-talk station. There was no conversa
tion until Boggs hit a somewhat large pothole. That began what could only be described as a painfully dull discussion of the fascinating subject of street repair. By the time they pulled up in front of Aunt Hattie’s, Toni was breathing a sigh of relief and questioning the wisdom of this whole idea.

  She got out and looked up and down the sidewalk. Although there were several cars, all she saw was an old warehouse and a few closed shops. Puzzled, she glanced over at Boggs.

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  “I told you it was a dump,” Boggs said. “Are you sure you’re up for it?”

  Toni nodded slowly. “Sure. I trust your judgment, and I can actually smell food, but where in the hell is it?” Boggs laughed and pointed to a tiny sign hanging above the door to the warehouse. It was made of wood and barely discernible from the building itself. She headed for the door and Toni followed. Unsure of what she would find inside, Toni took a deep breath, then crossed the threshold. She was surprised to discover a remarkably quaint diner inside. There were about 20 tables, each with its own candle and mismatched silverware. A sign by the cash register informing customers to seat themselves. Boggs headed over to a corner table. A waitress appeared almost immediately.

  She was dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt that had obviously been shrunk in the dryer. It clung to her like saran wrap and was unbuttoned dangerously low.

  “Hello, ladies.” She smiled seductively. “Menus are on the table. Can I get you something to drink?” she asked as she leaned down. Both Toni and Boggs averted their eyes.

  Toni grabbed a menu and stared intensely for a moment. She then casually looked at the waitress. “I think I’ll have the house white wine.”

  Boggs suppressed a giggle and without looking up said, “Me, too.” The waitress nodded, smiled and disappeared. There was a momentary silence at the table. Boggs was the first to speak. “Very interesting outfit, don’t you think?”

  “Oh, yes. Fabulous plaid pattern. It really set off her . . . eyes,” Toni replied with all the seriousness she could muster.

  That was all it took. Both of them started laughing and continued to giggle like teenagers until the waitress returned with their glasses.

  After they had regained their composure, Toni said. “I guess I wasn’t expecting that. At least not here, but I suppose I didn’t know what to expect. But I will say that she certainly made an impression.” She smiled slightly. “And she did fill out that shirt well.” 66

  Boggs nodded. “Aunt Hattie’s is different. Aunt Hattie herself does a lot of the cooking and she’s known for having an interesting clientele. But the food is cheap and really hits the spot. I highly recommend the burger basket. It’s two patties with cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion and comes with more fries than you can possibly eat.”

  After the waitress returned and took their order, Toni and Boggs began chatting. It started with superficial talk of wine and food but quickly turned to telling about their lives. Toni carefully avoided the subject of relationships but otherwise gave a detailed account, as did Boggs. They were relating college dorm stories when their food arrived. Toni thought for sure a few more buttons would pop as the waitress balanced their plates, two glasses of water and a bottle of ketchup.

  “Can I get you anything else? Maybe some hot sauce? Or how about some more wine?” The two assented to more wine and the waitress left.

  Toni looked down at her “burger basket.” “My God, this is huge. There must be a least two pounds of fries here.” She quickly ate a few and let out a sigh. “Heaven. Simply heaven.” They continued their conversation between bites of crispy fries and juicy burgers. At some point the waitress left the wine bottle on the table. By the time Toni declared she could eat no more, the wine bottle had been drained. They pushed their plates with the remaining pound of fries to the edge of the table and Boggs moaned.

  “I am so stuffed,” Toni said. “I don’t think I can walk. That was the best burger I’ve ever had. How did you ever find this place?” Boggs smiled. “An old friend of mine brought me here years ago, and I’ve been addicted ever since. I come here at least every two weeks to get my grease allotment. The majority of the time I come alone and entertain myself with people-watching, although I bring a book to disguise my intentions.”

  “Gee,” Toni said. “I guess I threw a wrench in your routine.” She smiled.

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  “No, no,” Boggs stammered. “I wanted you to come.” Her face flushed. “I mean, it’s nice to have company when you eat.” Toni immediately felt the electricity. She suddenly realized that throughout dinner, although she had avoided the subject of dating, she had not refrained from leaning close and touching Boggs’s arm as she spoke. Had Boggs noticed? Was she flirting? Oh, God, she was so attracted to this woman. Could Boggs see it in her eyes?

  Had she been making a fool of herself? Gee, maybe she shouldn’t have drunk so much wine.

  She purposefully leaned away from Boggs. She shook her head slightly in an attempt to clear the alcohol haze. Unfortunately, the only result was pure paranoia. She became painfully aware of her attraction to Boggs and attempted to counteract what she viewed as blatant flirting. Her change of behavior was so abrupt, in fact, that it clearly alarmed Boggs.

  Just then, the waitress appeared. “Can I get you ladies anything else? Another bottle of wine or some apple pie?” Each word spoken seemed to strain the buttons on her shirt. She grinned.

  “I think that’s all, thanks,” Boggs said quickly.

  “Yes,” Toni added. “Could we have the check please?” The waitress whipped the ticket from her back pocket and placed it midway between Boggs and Toni. When they both reached for it at the same instant, their hands met. Both jerked away, suffered a moment of embarrassment and then began to giggle. The tension eased.

  “Well, obviously we’re both very anxious to part with our hard-earned money,” Boggs said. “Since this is my hole in the wall, why don’t you let me treat?”

  “Absolutely not,” replied Toni. “In fact, I feel I owe you just for the experience alone.”

  They laughed and agreed to split the check. Each of them placed fifteen dollars on the table to cover the food, wine and a healthy tip. Smiling, they stood up to leave. The sexual tension had lessened and Toni felt the warm bond between them. They chatted 68

  easily on the ride home. When Boggs dropped her at her townhouse, Toni waved broadly. She had made a new friend.

  On Friday evening, the man was walking the city streets. There was an intense argument raging inside his head. At the moment both sides were holding their own. He struggled to keep his composure. Tonight he needed to blend into the crowd. He couldn’t afford to be recognized. He should have stayed inside, but something more powerful compelled him to walk. The voices became louder.

  “It’s over. They know it’s you. Do the right thing.” That was his left side talking. The voice of reason. Sometimes he hoped that side would win. It always started off with the left side being more powerful.

  “That bitch doesn’t know her place.” The right side was getting louder. “Sitting up there, like she’s better than anyone else. She thinks she can tell me what to do. She’s a whore. I’m the one who is running the show.”

  He continued to walk but his pace had quickened. He knew that he must gain control. If he kept walking, he’d be able to concentrate. Just a little farther. The arguing shouldn’t last much longer. He began to focus on his breathing and the cadence of his step. As the voices waned, he smiled. The next stage of his master plan was so close now. His destiny was clear.

  As he continued walking down the populated streets, no one gave him a second look. He blended in well. To the passing gaze, he knew he could have been anyone. Anyone.

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  CHAPTER 9

  Another week passed quickly for Toni, although it had been stressful. Everyone in the office seemed tense. Dexter Crown had not been found. The media had been unrelenting in their cover-age, accusing the entire Fairfield justice system of everything from corru
ption to just plain stupidity. By Friday it was obvious that nerves were frayed. Anne Mulhoney had canceled the staff meeting and the new cases had simply been assigned by Paul via a short memo. There had been no chitchat in the halls. The other attorneys seemed to be as overloaded with work as Toni was. With the media onslaught, everyone was making sure every i was dotted and every t was crossed. Toni had followed suit.

  Toni realized that in the last few days she hadn’t had a normal conversation with anyone. Sure, she had exchanged information with the other attorneys, gotten reports from the police and asked Boggs for various things, but that was all. Everyone seemed to be overloaded, rushing to court or back to their offices. There was 70

  kind of a panic in the air—not on the outside, but more like an undercurrent. It was all very unsettling. She had spoken to Frank that morning and he looked like hell. She knew he was under the gun to find Crown, but it looked like he hadn’t slept since Monday.

  Even Paul Capelli looked dazed. She had seen him several times walking briskly down the halls with a strange expression on his face. He never acknowledged her, but then again he didn’t seem to notice anyone. It was probably because he was handling a lot of Anne’s work this week. Anne had been attending several closed-door meetings but still appeared to be composed and in control.

  Toni admired her greatly.

  Now here it was Friday and she felt as though she hadn’t gotten anything done. Sure, she had been in court, written letters, motions and requests, but there was still an underlying feeling that she had forgotten something. She tried to go through all pending projects in her mind. Nothing jumped out at her. Even though Dexter Crown hadn’t been located, that wasn’t what was troubling her. At least she didn’t think so.

  Hmm. Maybe she was just thinking about her costume for the party. She should call Mom and Dad and see if they’d finished working on her jacket. The party was tomorrow. Probably that’s what was bugging her.

  After a quick phone call Toni felt better. Her mom had just completed the finishing touches. Dad had to run some errands downtown and would be happy to drop by the office if Toni promised to take pictures of the finished outfit. Toni promised. She smiled. Her folks had been eager to take on this project when she called a couple days ago. She had apologized for the late notice but asked for some ideas. Actually, she only asked to borrow a large jacket, but after telling them her ideas, they insisted on doing more. They were both retired now and dearly loved “projects.” Although they had undoubtedly bickered about the details, Toni knew they enjoyed working together. And after 40 years of marriage, that was quite an accomplishment.