by Linda Verji
Still pointing the gun at her father, she turned on the lamp at the side of the bed. She lifted her foot, set it on the bed and prodded the side of his supine body. Casper didn’t wake up. So she did it again. It was only after a particularly forceful prod that he awakened. His eyes opened first. At first they were glazed as they looked up at her. Then they widened as he came fully awake.
He jolted to sitting position. “A.J?”
“Bet you thought I didn’t know about this place,” she taunted.
Casper’s gaze swung to the now open bedside drawer.
“Sorry.” A.J brandished his gun.
His eyes flashed but all he asked was, “What are you doing here?”
Her father’s ability to keep his composure even in the face of obvious danger was impressive. Still pointing the gun at him, she said, “I came to return your painting.”
“I’m glad you finally came to your senses.” Casper smiled, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. His gaze remained trained on the gun. “If you came to return the painting, why do you have a gun?”
“Why do I have a gun?” A.J smiled coldly. “I haven’t decided yet.”
Her father watched her for quite a while before pointing to her backpack. “Are you carrying it in there?”
“Yup.” She nodded. “But first open your panic room.”
The shock that flashed through her father’s eyes said that he didn’t think anyone knew of his panic room. But in typical Casper-style, he hedged, “What panic room?”
“You know what panic room I’m talking about.” She pointed to the paneled wall on the right side of his bed. “The one over there.”
“There’s no panic r-oh!” Casper yelped when A.J’s foot flew catching him right in the shoulder. He fell to his side and for a moment lay there staring up at her like he couldn’t believe she’d just kicked him.
His shock was unsurprising. Other than the chop to the throat that she’d landed on him earlier today, she’d never touched him. Oh, there’d been plenty of times in the past when she’d strongly considered using her martial arts skills on him. However, she’d leashed herself because he was her father. She was done with that bullshit. After what he’d done to Lee, he no longer deserved the privilege of exemption.
When she climbed on the bed, Casper quickly scrambled away. There was genuine fear in his eyes and trembling voice as he asked. “What are you doing?”
A.J walked on the bouncy bed, following him.
“You – you won’t hurt me,” Casper stuttered as he slid farther away from her. “I’m your fath-oh.”
Her kick caught him right in the back and it sent him tumbling to the floor with a satisfying thump. While he righted himself to sitting position, A.J hopped off the bed to stand beside him.
“A.J, I-” His words died on his lips when she cocked the gun and pointed it right at his forehead.
She almost smiled at the real terror that flooded his gaze. This was the first time she was seeing her father scared. Honestly, she was tempted to finish him off. But the little voice in her head niggled. In all her years as thief, she’d never killed anyone. Was she really about to start with her own father?
Her cold expression showed none of this confused thoughts and it was enough to scare Casper. He scrambled to his feet and rushed towards his bed.
“Okay. Okay, I’ll open it.” He pulled a lever behind the bed.
The paneled wall by his bed slowly retreated to reveal the steel door behind it. Casper threw her one last panicked look before he keyed in his code to the door. The steel door slid open revealing the room beyond.
“You first.” A.J urged her father into the room.
Obediently, he shuffled in, and she followed him. The panic room looked more like a fancy bank vault than a bedroom. The only furniture in the room was a large chest of drawers and a daybed planted next to the only empty wall in the room. The other three walls held lockers of various sizes.
A.J shrugged the backpack off her shoulders, removed the art-tube inside it before tossing the now-empty bag to her father. “Count out my money and put it in there. Once you’re done, I give you the painting.”
With a sigh, Casper opened one of the lockers, revealing the cash piled inside it. He took out one bundle but before he could put in the bag, A.J stopped him. “How are they bundled?”
“One thousand per bundle.”
Watching the money, she said, “Show me the inside.”
Her father’s eyebrows rose. “Don’t you trust me?”
“Please!” She guffawed.
Surprisingly, Casper also laughed before flicking the bundle to show her that there were no blank notes inside. “See.” Before she could respond, he added, “And before you threaten me; No, it’s not counterfeit. I know you’ll come for me if the money’s fake.”
A.J smiled coldly. “I’m glad we understand each other.”
Casper threw the bundle into the backpack. He took another bundle, showed it to her then threw it into the backpack too. Still stuffing the backpack with money, he asked, “How did you know about this place?”
Her gaze on the money to make sure he didn’t stiff her, A.J shrugged. “Lucky guess.”
“Ten?”
Surprise that he’d guessed so fast shot through A.J. Somehow she managed to keep her voice even as she denied curtly, “No.”
Casper quietly counted out money and stacked it into the backpack for a couple more minutes before he sighed. “When did we get like this?”
“What do you mean?”
Without looking at her, he asked, “You and I used to be a great team. When did we get to the point of pointing guns at each other?”
“You started it.”
Her father’s eyes flew to meet hers. “I started it?”
“When you killed Michael.”
Casper didn’t deny it. His expression stormy, he asked, “What the hell was I supposed to do? Let him go and rat us out to the cops?”
“Yes,” she returned without even an ounce of hesitation.
He stared at her like she’d lost her mind before letting out a bark of laughter. “I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long in this business.”
“Me too,” she retorted. “That’s why I left.”
Skepticism in his eyes, Casper asked, “Are you really quitting?”
“I’ve already quit,” A.J corrected. It was funny that this was the first calm conversation she and her father were having in a long time despite it being at gunpoint.
“We should do one more job together,” Casper coaxed. “Something that will set you up for life.”
A.J had to laugh. Either this man was insane or he thought she was an idiot. Wasn’t this exactly how he’d roped her in last time and eventually sent her to prison?
Even Casper smiled. “So I take it that means you’re not interested?”
“That’s exactly how you should take it.”
He eventually finished stuffing the money in the backpack. Once he was done, he held it out to her. A.J tossed the art-tube to the corner of the room before grabbing the backpack. It was tricky putting on the now heavy backpack while keeping the gun on her father, but somehow she managed it.
Casper, meanwhile, scrambled to grab his painting. Once he had it out of the tube, he unrolled it. His sigh of relief echoed in the room. “It’s safe.”
“It was nice doing business with you.” A.J started to back out of the room but Casper stopped her.
“It’s Ten, isn’t it?” he asked.
“What about Ten?”
“She’s the one who showed you this place, isn’t she?” Casper asked.
He was still on about that?
“No.” A.J shook her head. “But in case you go after her because of your mistaken assumption, remember this moment. If you touch Ten or Lee, I’ll be back. And this time, it won’t be just a few kicks. I’m sure you know how good I am with a gun.” She smiled. “After all, you’re the one who taught me how to use them.”
; Casper didn’t say anything, but the fear that widened his eyes was good enough for A.J.
With a salute, she backed out of the panic room. Once she was outside it, she pressed on the lever and the doors began to close.
“Hey, A.J, don’t,” Casper yelled.
She smirked as she dragged a bookcase in front of the steel door. She was sure that he had a way of opening the door from in there. The bookcase would hold him until she got out of the house completely. With fast strides, she left the bedroom and the house. It was only after she jumped down the back wall again that she took her first easy breath.
It was over now. Finally.
She took her phone out and sent Lee a text message. I took care of Casper. It’s over now. He won’t come after either of us.
*
THE OVERNIGHT STAY at the hospital was good for Lee. The painkillers they’d given him must’ve been laced with some kind of sleeping aide because they knocked him out completely. It was the first full night’s rest he’d had in a week, and it was quite refreshing. However, when he woke up he was still mad as hell. Reading A.J’s text left him feeling a bit relieved but not by much.
Sure, it was great that the issue with Casper was resolved, but how A.J had dealt with it only made it clearer that she didn’t trust Lee. If she trusted him, she would’ve told him how she planned to deal with her father. At the very least, she would’ve asked him to come along with her.
He’d thought that they’d crossed a bridge in their relationship. That she now trusted him enough to share parts of her life that no one else knew about. But he was mistaken. It was now obvious that he’d been deluding himself. She didn’t trust him. Not even with his own secrets.
What was the big secret anyway? Why was everyone treating him like some kid who needed to be shielded from the truth? He could understand his father to an extent – a very small extent. The older man had never stopped treating him like a kid, so this was just par for the course. A.J was different. He couldn’t understand why she was so blatantly lying to him.
Blowing out a hot breath, he zipped up his pants then reached for his shirt. Now that the doctor was done with his tests, Lee was free to go home. Thankfully, there was nothing wrong with him apart from the injuries to his face and the bruised ribs. It was nothing painkillers, an icepack and plenty of rest couldn’t heal.
If only his anger was that easily treatable.
As soon as he was dressed, he headed to the nurses’ station to checkout. Surprise, surprise, Mason was already there chatting to the nurse behind the counter.
“Dad!” Lee’s tone was cold and calm unlike the heated anger that immediately pulsed through him at the sight of his father. When Mason turned, Lee asked, “Why are you here?”
“Why else would I be here?” Mason waved a sheaf of papers. “I’m processing your release.”
Lee stopped a few inches away from him. “I could’ve done it myself.”
“You know how bad you are with paperwork.” Mason smiled but the smile was so forced Lee was surprised his face didn’t crack from the effort.
Lee didn’t say another word to his father. As soon as the nurse was done processing his release, he strode towards the elevators without a word to Mason. The older man swiftly followed him. Fortunately, they weren’t alone in the elevator. Even so, the tension between the father and son was so palpable that the orderlies who were in the elevator with them kept trading glances.
The elevator doors opened into the ground-floor and both Lee and Mason walked out. However, when they stepped outside the hospital, Lee made a beeline towards the section where cabs were parked. His father grabbed his elbow to stop him.
“My truck’s that way.” Mason pointed towards the main car-park.
“No thanks.” Lee shrugged away his father’s arm. He assumed that that was that, and this was where they parted ways. But he hadn’t counted on Mason’s tenaciousness. As soon as Lee entered the cab, Mason jumped in beside him.
Surprised, Lee asked, “Where are you going?”
“Wherever you’re going.” Mason stared straight ahead.
Lee could’ve tried to force his father out of the cab, but he didn’t have the energy to argue. Plus he’d likely lose that argument. Mason wasn’t a man one forced to do anything. With a weary sigh, Lee gave the cabbie the directions to his destination.
Mason turned to him with a frown. “That’s not the way to your house.”
“I know,” Lee retorted. The next fifteen minutes were spent in a silence that was as stifling as it was tense.
It was Lee who finally gave in. He turned to his father. “So you really won’t tell me?”
Fortunately, the older man didn’t pretend that he had no idea what Lee was talking about. Unfortunately, his answer wasn’t what Lee was looking for. “I’m just trying to protect you, son.”
Lee stared at him for a long time before shrugging. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Mason’s eyebrows shot upwards.
“Okay,” Lee repeated. They’d see just how long his father could keep ‘protecting’ him.
“You’re not going to push for more?” Mason asked.
Lee ignored him. No more words were exchanged until they got to their destination. After paying their fare, Lee led the way to one of the tall buildings crowding the street. It was obvious Mason was dying to ask where they were going as they took the elevator up, but he held his peace. That peace shattered when Lee stopped in front of a door. A large sign boldly identified the owners of the room beyond the door as Eye on U Detective Agents.
Mason’s hand flew to Lee’s wrist to keep him from turning the doorknob. “What the hell are we doing here?”
“If you won’t tell me the truth, then I’ll find out for myself,” Lee retorted through gritted teeth.
“Lee,” Mason’s tone and expression were pleading as he said, “you don’t want to find out. You don’t want to open that door.”
“Why?”
“Can’t you just trust me,” his father pleaded. “I’m your father and I would never do anything that would hurt you. Digging like this will hurt you.”
“And you think being kept in the dark is so cozy? It hurts just as bad.”
“This will hurt worse.” Mason begged, “Please, Lee, stop digging.”
Lee almost stepped away from the door. His father looked so troubled, so earnest. But stubbornness reared its head. This situation was like the Schrödinger’s cat paradox. From the way his father and A.J were acting, one could only assume that the ‘cat’ was dead which is why they kept trying to keep him from opening the box. Unfortunately for them, Lee was the kind of man who preferred to know, not just to assume. He was going to open that box whether they wanted him to open it or not and find out for himself what was in there.
He peeled his father’s fingers off his wrist. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
He turned the doorknob and walked into the private investigator’s office, leaving his father standing outside watching him with a sad expression.
CHAPTER 21
Her backpack over her shoulders, A.J climbed the stairs that led to the Nolascos’ apartment. This was the last time she was doing this. After this trip, her business in New York would be done, then she’d leave just as she’d promised Mason.
She pulled in a long and heavy breath as she took the last flight of stairs up. She didn’t want to leave. She really didn’t want to leave. But what other choice did she have? Stay and keep hurting Lee? That wasn’t even a choice she’d consider.
No. No way.
Leaving was the right thing to do. That didn’t make it easy to do though. If anything, knowing that she likely wouldn’t even have a chance to see Lee before she left made it all the more difficult.
She and Lee hadn’t spoken or seen each other since the hospital. Oh, she knew that he was out and okay thanks to Mason. But other than that, she had no idea how he was doing. Given that he hadn’t called her in five days, she could only assume that he was still angry at her
. And could she blame him? If someone was so blatantly keeping the truth from her, she’d be as angry as he was, if not more. If any of this was up to her, she would’ve told him the truth. But it wasn’t, was it?
Sighing, she rubbed the spot right above her heart. Is this what heart ache felt like? It wasn’t a feeling she’d ever felt before, and she couldn’t claim to like it. It hurt. It hurt real bad. If only she could see him one last time. If only she could hear his deep soothing voice just one more time before she left. Unfortunately, that would never happen. It was over between them now and the best thing to do was cut ties completely.
Once she got to the Nolascos’ floor, she peeked down the dimly lit hallway to make sure no one was coming before she stole down it. She came to a stop in front of the Nolascos’ door and set the backpack down. After knocking once, she turned, ready to sprint to her hidden corner. But just as she prepared to run someone emerged in the entrance of the hallway.
Rita Nolasco.
Her appearance was enough to render A.J immobile. Like a mouse caught in a trap, A.J stared in wide-eyed shock at the wife of her victim. Rita stopped walking and stared right back at her, her eyes widening with every passing second. Those few seconds of shock were enough for the person inside the apartment to open the door. Denise stepped out of the apartment. Shock suffused the young woman’s expression when she saw A.J standing by their door and the backpack at their doorstep. Denise gasped.
That gasp was what yanked A.J back to reality. Her fight-or-flight instinct kicking in, she quickly assessed her environment for an escape route. Rita was blocking the only way to the stairs. A.J could’ve knocked her down and made a run for it but she didn’t want to do that. She’d already hurt the woman enough. Adding physical injury would be wrong. Unfortunately, there was no railing that she could jump over to get to another floor. Just walls, doors and more walls.