WINDOW OF TIME

by DJ Erfert

  Lucy stepped up next to him. “Where’re you going?”

  He pulled a clean t-shirt from the top drawer. “I had a fairly bad reaction to that window on the staircase yesterday. I almost passed out after I caught you—”

  “Did you faint?” Lucy asked quickly.

  He turned toward her. “No, it wasn’t like your side effect. I couldn’t explain what really happened, so I promised my best friend that I would go and work out with him every morning to get into better shape.” He watched her eyes drop down to his chest and flicker over his shoulders as her smile appeared.

  “I didn’t think you had a problem hefting me up. And I was struggling pretty hard.”

  He stood a little taller. “Well, I let myself get soft.”

  “Couldn’t be by much,” Lucy whispered. She pointed behind him. “I noticed you have a computer. Would you mind if I used it this morning?”

  Johnny tossed his clothes on the bed before going to the desk. “No, of course not.” He touched the button above the keyboard and turned it on. “Give it a couple of minutes to boot up.” He found a pair of socks in a drawer. “Do you need to send an e-mail?”

  Lucy sat down in the black vinyl office chair and watched the laptop go through its start-up. “Yes. I need to write up my report, and I need to e-mail it in.”

  He picked up his running shoes from beside the bed. “What are your plans for today?”

  Lucy swiveled the chair around to face him. “I was supposed to deliver my package today, but since that isn’t going to happen, I’ll have to write up my report and check for another assignment. I still have my house closing, and then I get to move my stuff over from my hotel room into my new home. At least, I hope I do.”

  “That sounds like fun. Do you need a ride? I’ll take you out to lunch to celebrate your new house.”

  “Don’t you work today?”

  “We have twenty-four hour shifts on and twenty-four off, and I’m at the end of my rotation. I don’t have to be back to work for three days.”

  Nodding, Lucy said quietly, “Then I’d really like that.”

  The lost look in her blue eyes tugged at his heart. He couldn’t leave her feeling that way. Johnny lifted his phone off the dresser. “Do you have a cell phone?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Just give me a call if you need anything—”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “I had my phone in my jeans pocket last night.”

  It took a moment to remember the significance of what she said. “Is it ruined?”

  “I took out the battery. I’m hoping when it’s dry it will work again.”

  Johnny sighed. “After lunch we’ll go to the store and I’ll get you a new phone.”

  “I’ll get myself a new phone.”

  “But I gave it the shower.”

  “And I fell asleep when you told me not to.”

  Johnny sighed again. “I’m going to lose this argument, aren’t I?”

  Lucy smiled and nodded.

  “Yeah, I thought so,” he muttered as he found his gym bag under the foot of his bed. “Make sure you eat breakfast before you take any pills. I have a bottle of Tylenol in the top drawer of the bathroom cabinet. Only two tablets and no more.” He tossed his clothes into the bag. “The bottom drawer is full of free samples, including new toothbrushes and different flavored toothpastes from my dental hygienist visits. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He turned to leave.

  “Johnny?” Lucy stood up, walking quickly over to where he waited. “I, uh, I don’t know how to cook.”

  Standing before him was a special agent for the CIA. Yet with the way her beautiful eyebrows were scrunched together she looked as if she’d just let slip a secret vital to national security and she didn’t know how to take it back. He studied the carpet at his shoes and pursed his lips to control his smile. When the urge passed, he lifted his gaze and said, “Okay, then have some cold cereal.” But then he couldn’t help himself and smiled wryly. “You can pour milk?”

  A moment of uncertainty passed before she grinned. “Yes.”

  “Good. Drink some juice, too.” He let his gaze linger on her face for a few heartbeats while he decided how to say goodbye. But he didn’t have to settle on something appropriate for two people on the verge of a new relationship, when Lucy began to play with the scruffy patches of his day-growth beard. A moment later she leaned in and kissed his mouth.

  “Have a good workout. I’ll try to be ready by the time you get back.”

  If he could have taken a deep enough breath to respond, he might have tried, but he didn’t trust his vocal cords not to act as adolescent as his heart felt. Instead, Johnny nodded, turned, and left his bedroom, still feeling her kiss lingering on his lips.

  ~*~

  In the hour or so Lucy had been awake, her curiosity about Johnny led her out to the garage again. Actually, she had a mission to complete besides snooping into his life. The jeans she had left drip-drying over the shower curtain rod last night hadn’t dried enough to put on this morning, and what kind of a self-sufficient man wouldn’t have his own washer and dryer? Sure enough, with just enough room to squeeze in front of them, she found the two appliances in almost new condition. Lucy put her damp jeans into the dryer, and she twisted the dial for thirty minutes.

  There were cardboard boxes stacked shoulder high, running the length of the garage, and taped tightly shut. The only writing on the outside was a date from over eight years ago. How many of those belonged to his ex-wife? If they were Johnny’s things, why wouldn’t he have unpacked them? Didn’t he want them? His place was obviously under-decorated.

  Running her fingers across the closest dusty box, Lucy tried to imagine its contents. Were they his? Or hers? She grasped the edges, lifted the container, and shook it once before setting it down again. As she tapped her fingernail on the top, she gazed over at the other boxes. There were so many. A whole house full. She couldn’t stand the intrigue any longer and went back to the living room to get the switchblade she kept hidden in her boot.

  Lucy squeezed the recessed button with her thumb and sent the blade out with a cool, metallic swish. A quick slit of the tape between the flaps and she could look inside. Reaching into the box, she lifted out a pink baby blanket still in its package. Underneath, other unopened packaged baby necessities were stored away—all in a pink theme. Lucy immediately regretted prying into his past life as a sad realization sank into her heart. “I’m so sorry, Johnny.”

  Gazing around at the huge stack of other boxes in the garage, Lucy felt somehow he was holding on to his ex-wife by not getting rid of her things—his child’s things. Now she was glad she didn’t get him to talk more about his marriage. His disappointment and hers were much too close. Lucy had always wanted a baby. She replaced the blanket and wove the flaps of the box together before going back into the kitchen.

  After she ate a bowl of Cheerios, Lucy took her Tylenol. During a hot shower, she carefully washed her hair, wishing she had her blow dryer.

  As she got dressed in the bathroom, Lucy considered herself more than lucky that she’d had Johnny to take care of her last night. Running into him at City Hall had been a blessing. Smiling, she remembered how he’d tried to save her from falling off the staircase. His natural inclination was to help whether he knew her or not. They’d be spending the rest of the day together, a thought that made her heart beat faster.

  She had almost finished dressing in her own clothes. All she needed was make-up to bring out some color in her face. Too bad it was back in her hotel room.

  Her headache still pulsed in her temples, and she supposed it might not go away for days. Considering she and Johnny had lived through a terrifying window, a little headache was a fair tradeoff.

  Just as she slipped on her shirt, she heard the garage door open. Johnny was home, and her heart began to race. As she began to button her top, Lucy walked out of the bathroom and into the living room, where a woman was stan
ding in the kitchen.

  “Well, I can see why Johnny wouldn’t take my calls last night.”

  “What?” Lucy pulled her shirt closed, clenching the edges with her fist.

  “I hope he got you out of his system.”

  “Who are you?” Lucy asked sharply, reaching behind her back, but her gun wasn’t in its usual place.

  “I’m Monica.”

  Lucy glanced toward the garage, remembering all the boxes, and got a sick, sinking feeling. “Are you Johnny’s ex—”

  Monica cut off Lucy’s question. “If you expected anything more than a one-nighter, then I need to tell you that he always comes back to me. Always!” She pointed to Lucy’s unbuttoned shirt. “Now if you’re done putting your clothes back on, I’d appreciate you leaving.”

  “He lied to me?”

  Monica crossed her arm over her chest. “I’m sure Johnny got what he wanted from you. Now get out!”

  “Wait—” Lucy held out her hand, trying to stop time from moving forward. “If you’re his ex-wife, then why are your things in his garage?”

  Monica blinked rapidly before answering. “My place is too small.”

  Lucy shook her head trying to understand. “You don’t seem surprised to see another woman in his apartment. Why is that?”

  “You aren’t the first, but I will be his last. Now get your butt out of here before I kick it out.”

  Lucy balled her hands and moved closer. Monica fell two steps back. “Don’t threaten me. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

  “You’re not wanted here.” Monica’s voice wavered only slightly.

  Not wanted? I’m not wanted! The headache that had plagued Lucy for the past twelve hours suddenly disappeared. Actually, she couldn’t feel anything except anger.

  Johnny had lied to her. She’d told him secrets she’d kept hidden in her soul—gave them to him, and for what? He’d left in a hurry, like he was sneaking out. He’d lied to her to try to get what he wanted. He’d invited her to his bed, but she’d fallen asleep, and all he’d gotten from her was information. Lucy felt like a fool for believing someone so quickly. It was a mistake—one that she wouldn’t let happen again.

  Ten

  “Do another set.”

  Johnny groaned, but he did as his friend told him. He lay on the bench looking up at the ceiling, hoisting an iron bar weighted at each end with a hundred pounds of metal. As the muscles in his arms and shoulders and chest burned hot as a fully engulfed car fire, he concentrated on Dusty counting down to one. Finally Dusty grabbed onto the bar next to Johnny’s hands and helped him set it up on its cradle. Shaking out his arms, Johnny sat up, breathing hard.

  “I knew you could do it.”

  “What? Survive death by torture?” Johnny wiped a towel across his face and around his neck, then looked at his watch.

  “You in a hurry?”

  “What?”

  Dusty sat down on the next bench and lifted a thirty-pound dumbbell. “That’s the sixth time you’ve checked your watch. Are you meeting Monica this morning?”

  “No,” Johnny said instantly. Then he regretted the speed with which he answered. “I mean, what makes you say that?” He watched the big man lean forward and curl the weight up to where his forearm met his bulging bicep. After seven more reps, Dusty shifted it to his other hand.

  “She called me last night looking for you. She said you wouldn’t answer your phone.” Dusty set the weight on the floor between his feet. “What did you do after you left work? Did you go home and rest like you said you would?”

  “Oh, crap.” Johnny got up and walked over to the water fountain. While he drank, he thought about what to say and what he swore he wouldn’t. Johnny was certain Dusty knew he didn’t go straight home yesterday. If he told him that he did, Dusty would know instantly it was a lie. Lucy’s secret—Johnny wouldn’t tell to anyone, unless she told him he could.

  “Is there anything you want to share?”

  Wiping his mouth with his towel, he turned to find Dusty standing behind him. He’d known the firefighter since first coming on the department, and he’d never met a more honest and trustworthy man. He was a true Boy Scout in every sense. Dusty had earned his Eagle Scout rank when he was barely fifteen years old. If Johnny couldn’t trust him, then he couldn’t trust anyone.

  “I found the woman from the staircase.”

  “I thought you might have. Well, I hope you had fun, but you could have taken a few minutes out of your hot night to at least ring Monica back.”

  Johnny shook his head. “No, I couldn’t.” He went over to the bench and sat down, and he looked around the room to double check they were alone. The station’s occupants were still asleep in their rooms, and they had the small gym to themselves. Dusty leaned again the wall and waited for an answer. “You might not believe this, but Lucy is with the CIA.”

  “Aw, come on. How gullible are you?”

  “I went through her bag to find an address, and I found her identification. Believe me, she’s the real thing.” Dusty didn’t look convinced. His brows were pinched together. “Do you remember being bumped by that guy almost as big as you running down the stairs? He was dressed in a stupid-looking gray suit with dark sunglasses?” He saw recognition flash across his friend’s face with a lift of his brows.

  “Yeah, I remember him. He had a twin coming up the stairs.”

  “They were foreign agents, and they were after Lucy. She jumped off the staircase to get away from them.”

  Dusty ambled over and sat down on the other bench. “Okay. I can see that. They were kind of intimidating looking.”

  Johnny leaned closer to his friend. “I was taking her to dinner last night, and they chased us on the freeway. Lucy had to destroy the assignment she was carrying to get away from them, and she got hurt.”

  “What happened?” Dusty asked with a low voice.

  “Lucy’s assignment was to transport a 35-mm film someplace. It was exposed, but undeveloped. That was what they wanted, so she over-exposed the film in the dome light, and then leaned out her side of the truck and tossed it out at them. They slammed on their brakes to find it, and we got away.”

  “35 millimeter? Who uses that anymore?”

  “Her contact, evidently.”

  “You said they were chasing you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How fast were you going?”

  “I’m not sure. I stopped looking after we reached 110.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Deadly serious. Lucy hit the back of her head when I had to swerve to miss a car. She has a concussion.” Dusty kept staring at him with his intense blue eyes, like he was trying to figure something out.

  “She stayed with you overnight, didn’t she?”

  Johnny slowly nodded.

  “And that’s something you couldn’t explain to Monica.”

  Johnny sighed. “I’ve got to talk with her, but not today.”

  “Why not?”

  “Lucy’s buying a house, and it’s closing today. I plan on spending the day with her. And if things work out the way I’d like, the rest of my days off, too.”

  “You stuck on this girl?”

  Johnny blew out a deep breath. “Like you can’t imagine.”

  “You only met her yesterday. Do you know anything about her?”

  “Practically everything.” Johnny rubbed his neck with the towel.

  “But she doesn’t know about Monica?”

  “No. Not yet.”

  “What does this mean for you two?”

  He shook his head. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. I really like this woman—”

  “I meant you and Monica.”

  “We haven’t dated exclusively, Dusty. You know that.” Johnny got up and grabbed his gym bag. “Our relationship hasn’t gone any further than casual dating, and that wasn’t what I wanted.” He slung the bag over his shoulder. “I want more. I want a wife and children, a real house with a yard and maybe a d
og that will drive me nuts with its barking.” Johnny stopped and remembered where he heard a similar diatribe before. Lucy said practically the same thing last night. He smiled. “I need to get home. Lucy’s waiting for me.”

  Eleven

  Monica’s Honda parked in front of his apartment sent a tremor through Johnny’s chest. The garage door stood open, and he suspected she was inside talking to Lucy. Johnny sped into the garage while trying to figure out a way to explain to one woman why he didn’t answer his phone while apologizing to the other woman for an uninvited intrusion.

  Or not.

  He found only one woman inside his home. When he saw Monica under the covers in his bed with only her bare shoulders showing, he lost his patience and snapped.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Monica pushed back the covers. “Waiting for you.” She patted the bed. “And I think I’ve waited long enough.”

  “Where’s Lucy?” Johnny asked in a rush.

  Monica ran her fingers through her blonde hair. “If you’re referring to your, um, date, I sent her home so we can be alone.”

  “How did she go? Did she call a cab?” Johnny dug his phone from his jeans pocket, but remembered he didn’t have her phone number. He didn’t even know if her phone worked.

  “I don’t know. Who cares?” Monica slapped the bed.

  “I care,” Johnny shouted. “Lucy’s sick. She has a concussion.” He turned and started for the living room, but before he left his bedroom, he glared at Monica, and with a steely voice, he said, “It’s over between us; for good this time. Don’t be here when I get back.”

  ~*~

  There were times when Johnny thought he was an idiot and other times that he knew it for a fact. Not answering his phone had been a mistake. Leaving Lucy alone had been a total blunder. As Johnny drove through his neighborhood looking for her, he mentally kicked everything in sight, including his own butt. How stupid could he have been not to think that Monica might come over to see why he didn’t answer his cell phone?

  After looping through the peripheral streets around his condo, Johnny expanded his search until he reached the closest shopping center. Unless she decided to grab a fast food sandwich for breakfast, the only other thing that Lucy might have done was call for a taxi, in which case he needed to head for her hotel and explain how he was an absolute idiot and apologize until his voice gave out.