EYES ON YOU

by Lily Robins

  “You sure you want to go in, Doc?”

  “No, but let me in anyway.”

  Roman and Todd exchanged looks, Roman walked into the room, waited until Todd shut the door again, and stood looking down at Ferguson.

  “That’s your real name—Evan Ferguson?” Roman asked.

  The man opened his eyes to see who was standing above him and then he closed them again. Roman sat down in a chair across from him and waited.

  “I’m Evan Eugene Ferguson,” the man finally admitted, keeping his eyes closed.

  “Thanks for verifying that you weren’t using an alias.”

  A placid look of inevitability overtook Ferguson’s face as he opened his eyes and looked at Roman. “You’re welcome. And you want to know why I paid a visit to your office last Friday.”

  “I do. I’d really like to know that, Evan.”

  “Simple,” Ferguson replied. “I’m an alcoholic and I needed to attend an AA meeting.”

  “What’d you get out of it?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Ferguson somewhat philosophically intoned. “More than you might think, I suppose.”

  “How’s that?”

  “I discovered a quaint little town in Maine with a small island off its coast—and everything’s all heart and soul around here, in your neck of the woods.”

  “Yes it is,” Roman agreed.

  “And I thought to myself, why couldn’t I have been born in a quaint place like this?” Ferguson let out a low chuckle.

  “Had you been drinking on Sunday when you tried to kill me and my friend along the bluff?”

  “Yes. Quite a bit, actually, and that might have been why I missed Ms. Leitner.”

  “You were shooting at both of us,” Roman said, trying hard to maintain the calm in his voice.

  The man shrugged while looking at Roman. “Collateral damage,” he said without any emotion. “Actually, I didn’t want this job. My target was a mother with two kids and that really sort of stinks. But…a job’s a job.” The guy shrugged his shoulders.

  Rage had already inflamed Roman’s consciousness and now filled his chest, but he forced himself to say, “Is that how you see people, Evan? As targets?”

  “Only when I’m working.” The man shrugged again, with the glimmer of a smile. “Believe it or not, this was going to be my last job before I retired. The thoughts of killing Ms. Leitner made me start drinking again.”

  Through clenched jaws, Roman hissed, “You get no sympathy from me, Evan.”

  “Ah, come on!” Ferguson coaxed. “None at all? You understand human behavior.”

  “No I don’t,” Roman said with no hesitation. “I don’t understand a person’s behavior any more than you, or the brightest Joe in the world understands it. I help pick up the pieces when someone’s behavior goes awry, or when others’ behaviors impact my clients, negatively affecting their reactions to themselves and the world around them.”

  “Hummm,” Ferguson dismissively murmured. Changing his tone, he adopted a brighter look and said, “I hear I nipped a cop.” The man dared to smile.

  Roman came up from his chair with such rage boiling inside him that he felt overwhelmed. His face had turned scarlet as he jerked the table between them as close as he could to the side, and growled in loud, unrestrained fury. The primal sound was so deep and raw that Ferguson blanched, moving himself and his chair backward as far as the chains holding his handcuffs would allow.

  Roman spat, “You didn’t hit her, Asshole! My sister, Cheryl, is the woman who you mistakenly shot AT, but who you thankfully missed. Evan, you’re just a worthless piece of shit!” Roman jerked the table back to hit Ferguson in the mid-section, and walked toward the door to pound it once, nearly punching a hole through it.

  Todd Maynard unlocked the door, throwing it open, and gave Roman a wide berth to walk through. Evan Ferguson yelled out, “Bravo, Doctor Mayer!”

  A few police personnel stood anchored in the hallway, Eli opened the door of the room with the two-way mirror, and District Attorney Phil Dawson was standing to extend a hand to Roman. With his fists still balled, and the heat of his rage distorting his face, Roman felt a glimmer of calm beginning to work its way inside him. Eli grinned while looking up at Roman, as officers in the hallway began to softly applaud. Eli said, “Would you like to change professions, Bro? I think you missed your callin’ as an ace interrogator.”

  DA Dawson smiled while gripping Roman’s hand. “I’m in total agreement with that.”

  CHAPTER 34

  Once she had assured Eli that she would be fine, the first thing Julia did after she arrived home, was to call someone in the Merry Geezers, a woman by the name of Gerta Rosen. Gerta told Julia that everyone on Whittler Island had heard that the shooter had been arrested, and then the woman asked about Cheryl. Julia told her friend that Cheryl was fine—that she had just sustained a bad bruise on her back, and a nip on one of her ears.

  “And how are Jessica and the children doing?” Gerta next inquired.

  “Not too well. Jess’s eyes are slowly getting better, but Molly’s been traumatized by all this.”

  Gerta actually clucked. She said, “There’s no doubt in my mind that Roman will help the little girl feel better. He’s got a way with words that’s going to do the trick! Ruth opened up the restaurant again, with a limited menu, but there are no pies today, of course. Poor woman’s been worried sick too! And Mayer’s Fresh Market is goin’ full speed and crowded. Al’s got specials on sirloin tips, veal chops, whole fryers, fresh asparagus…”

  Aden arrived late at school with Danny and Patrick, both Aden and Danny hoping they could get a test in algebra out of the way so they wouldn’t have to do a make-up exam. Patrick had driven them, and other than a history test that worried him only a little, he wanted to see his girlfriend Katelyn in the worst way.

  Roman took Jess, Molly and Mona home, driving his Navigator, rolling his window partway down to allow the Atlantic Ocean’s mild breeze to blow its scent into the vehicle as they rode the ferry to Whittler Island. Roman plugged in some music from his I-Phone, and those in the car listened to One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful. He knew that Molly listened a lot to that group’s songs and he had downloaded several of them. They listened to Moments, Change My Mind, and when Kiss You was being performed, Roman reached over and lightly kissed Jess. In the rearview mirror, he saw a small smile emerge on Molly’s face.

  Jess sat in the passenger seat, wearing dark glasses and appeared to be somewhat relaxed, or working her way toward a more tranquil state. Once they were off the ferry, Roman turned the vehicle south and said, “Mayer’s Fresh Market is open for business. Let’s do some shopping.” He knew that resuming normal life involved doing normal activities.

  As soon as they exited the Navigator with Mona automatically stepping to Roman’s side, people in the parking lot began gawking, smiling and waving. Once they were inside the store, Roman grabbed a shopping cart, and people began rushing Jess, Molly and him, their presence bringing the past two harrowing days to a frantically happy ending. Jess and Molly were caught off-guard by all of the attention, trying to be graciously receptive to people who were voicing their relief that the ordeal was over.

  Roman suffered the attention well, knowing that these Whittler Island residents had hearts of gold, and were only doing what came natural for them. At this time of day, many of those gathered around were in his parents’ generation, themselves the parents of kids with whom he had grown up. He knew their names, much about their histories, and he knew that this was also their way of showing Jess that she and her family had become a beloved part of the Whittler Island community. He sensed that Jess was realizing this as well, and he admired how wonderfully well she was handling herself with all of the attention.

  Albert Kromer came to the front of the store and after expressing how happy and relieved he was that the man shooting up the island had been caught and arrested, reached over and picked up two bouquets of flowers, one for J
ess and another for Molly. Jess and Molly graciously accepted the beautiful floral arrangements with bright smiles. The youngest Leitner was beginning to come out of the nightmare she had been plunged into, Roman noting that Molly’s spirits were improving noticeably. Returning to ordinary life, doing ordinary things.

  Throughout their grocery shopping foray, Roman pushed the cart as the three of them decided which items to buy. Roman asked Molly what she’d like for dinner, and she said, “Ziti with meatballs.”

  “Ziti witha the meata balls,” Roman confirmed with an ersatz-Italian flourish.

  Mona stayed at his left side, exactly where she was supposed to be, the dog dutifully performing her job. From time to time, Roman reached down and touched her head as a sign that he was pleased and proud of her. “Let’s have a celebration dinner tonight. Just the five of us.” He began to choose all of the items they would need, plus more.

  They bought several items for breakfasts, along with things that the kids needed for their lunches at school, and while Molly was choosing which fruits she and Aden liked best, Roman asked Jess, “Can that footboard be removed from your bed?”

  Realizing that he was officially making the commitment to move in with them, Jess’s arresting smile made it impossible for Roman not to kiss her, right there in the Fresh Market. She was so stunned by his kiss that she took a moment to recover, but she finally found her voice and said, “Yes, of course it can, but your bed will be much more comfortable for the two of us.”

  “Just for a few nights,” he confirmed. “I’m going to have to whittle down my collection of books.”

  Jess quickly countered, “We’ll make room for everything. You’ll see.”

  *****

  Friday evening would be the first game of the season for the Hawks’ baseball team. They would be playing at home, with the Eagles as their first opponent. Roman sat in the stands looking at how the team was shaping up, and decided that they were going to be a formidable group, right out of the gate. Cheryl joined him in the stands after several parents congratulated her on her fine job as the decoy who had brought down the shooter.

  She settled in beside her big brother and hugged him. “I could give Eli a run for his money on the chief’s job.”

  “You’ve got all the right stuff,” he said. Roman glanced at Cheryl again to see if she were being serious. She had a gift much like their mother did, of speaking nonsense in a very serious and believable way. She kept her attention on the field of players, not giving an inch, until Roman stared at her for so long that she finally had to give in with a tiny grin.

  “Just talkin,’” she muttered. “I heard all about my brother’s alter-ego being let out of its cage today.”

  “Over-hyped, no doubt.”

  “I’ve always known you went into counseling to try to figure out yourself.”

  “Not gonna ever happen,” Roman admitted. “If you got the chief’s position, Eli will always say that he’s immensely proud of you, and not once will he ever show how he really feels.”

  “Eli’s the best,” Cheryl responded. “I’ll get promoted to captain, and that’ll make my day.”

  “Many women make excellent police chiefs,” he persisted.

  “Choices, Brother. That’s one of the hardest things about being an adult.”

  “And you’ll be the one who makes the choice to stay on the lower rung.”

  “Yup! Because my marriage means more to me than anything else in the world.”

  As they continued watching the team’s preparation for the game, Roman pressed his sister into a sideways hug, remembering the bruise at her back.

  “Aden’s pitching,” she said with a smile. “At least part of the game I was told.”

  Roman hadn’t heard that and a broad smile escaped him. So often words cluttered up a conversation. After a beat, he said, “Mona and I are moving in with Jess and the kids. Think Eli and Patrick could help me get re-settled on Saturday?”

  Cheryl laughed, and punched her big brother’s arm with a solid smack. He only halfway pretended to wince. “I really, really like her, Roman, and her kids are wonderful. Jess and you are a perfect fit.”

  “At some point, Jess might ask me to marry her, and I’ll say yes. The second time around…how sweet it can be.”

  Cheryl smiled at her brother’s more than contented expression. He was on Cloud Nine, right where he deserved to be.

  “Would you like to go camping next week?” he asked. I thought we’d go up to Baxter Park.”

  Cheryl’s face brightened more. “I’d love to go. Eli’s tied up, but a lieu with a reputation for being a ballsy dame can do pretty much anything she wants to.”

  Raucously, Roman laughed with her.

  *****

  On the way home, Roman asked, “How do you feel about me moving in with you guys?”

  Aden, sitting in the passenger seat, stared ahead as they approached the ferry landing, took a deep breath of the salt-infused air, and said, “I’m not really cut out for being the man of the house right now. You love Mom, right?”

  Roman looked at Aden and assured, “With all of my heart.”

  The boy nodded, confirming something inside his head. “I’m good with it then. You protected her, didn’t you?”

  “I surely tried.”

  “That shooter—somebody said you roughed him up bad this morning at the police station.”

  “Pure gossip. I never touched him.”

  Aden looked over at Roman. “No Incredible Hulk busted out then?” The kid was smiling to beat sixty.

  Maintaining an even look, Roman shook his head and muttered, “Un-uh. Total bs.”

  *****

  The outside lights were on while Aden played with Mona, using her soccer ball. He kicked it high, the mere sound of a human foot hitting the ball delighting the dog to no end. The rougher the game, the more she liked it. The boy’s laughter echoed above the quietness of twilight as Mona pushed the ball with her nose all around the backyard.

  From time to time, Roman and Jess peaked out the back window while cooking dinner. Roman was pleased to see that Aden was going to take the reins, giving Mona exactly what she needed in terms of exercise and playful comradery. Molly was doing her homework at the kitchen island, humming along with what was playing on her I-Pod.

  Jess had a look of contentment on her face as she set the table and poured wine for Roman and herself. He sprinkled in a bit more fresh oregano, stirred, and then tasted the sauce again, before combining it with the cooked ziti pasta.

  “Men who cook are sexy,” Jess said quietly in passing.

  “You think?”

  She winked at him. Her eyes were showing signs of improvement now. She had an appointment with Dr. Franklin the next day to confirm their progress.

  Roman felt a sense of contentment surging through him that he had not felt in years, wishing that someone would pinch him to let him know that what felt so right was actually occurring. He clinked his glass of wine with Jess’s and kissed her before drinking some of the vino.

  Someone in the kitchen with them happened to be watching, and Molly said, “Dr. Roman?”

  “Ma’am?”

  “No one else is going to bother us, now that you’ll be living here—are they?”

  “No one,” he confirmed.

  “Dr. Roman?”

  “Yes, Molly?”

  “Do you love Mom?”

  Looking first at the little girl who was doing her homework, and then at Jess, Roman said, “More than your mother will ever know.”

  *****

  Roman lay propped against the headboard on pillows, reading and wiggling his toes at the bottom of the footboard-free bed. Jess came out of the bathroom looking rapturous in a silky nightgown that showed her every curve. He looked up through his glasses, before slowly taking them off and closing the book.

  She smelled of Amazing Grace—the intoxicating scent making him daft. All he could do when she turned out the light was open his arms to her. He
didn’t have anything on beneath the covers and when she got into bed with him, she lifted up and off the silky nightgown. He pulled her down…down…down…just below the crest of the wave that would eventually and inevitably lift them up and spill them out onto a tranquil, smooth sea of glass.

  CHAPTER 35

  The next morning, Jess and Roman were called to the police station and told that Evan Ferguson had lawyered up the day before. Through his Boston attorney, Ferguson announced that he would tell who had hired him if he could get some degree of flexibility with the sentencing. DA Dawson was there as well, having discussed the matter with Eli first. Neither man wanted to budge on attempted murder, but it was not going to be their call. Eli was in contact with the Seattle police, who would file an extradition request for Ferguson, and if Ferguson pointed to William Leitner as the man who had hired him, the Seattle DA was willing to recommend flexibility to the court in the sentencing phase.

  “I’m good with whatever keeps him locked up,” Jess said, and Roman concurred. As for police department policy regarding an assailant who attempted to kill one of their own, Cheryl said to DA Dawson, “Let’s hope the dudes on the Left Coast give him as little leniency as possible.”

  “He’ll still die in prison,” Dawson said. “What he wants is some sort of assurance that he’ll be sent to Lompac in California. He said he’s got a kid who he’d like to see now and then.”

  No one within Eli’s office had any reply to that.

  *****

  Roman said, “Meet me for lunch, Pretty Woman.” He had to get to the office.

  “I’ll be there,” she said. “Lenore’s—right?”

  “Right you are,” he said, while sticking his head partway into her vehicle to kiss her.

  After Jess pulled out first to head for her doctor’s appointment, Roman drove to his office, walked in, and said, “I’m back,” nailing the voice of Jack Nicolson in the horror film, The Shining.

  Rene and Tess were extraordinarily glad to see him, and laughed at Roman’s lighthearted mood. Rene told him about how she had shuffled clients around so that those who had to see him could do so first. His first appointment walked in, and he was off to the races.