“Now, that’s what I’m talking about,” Russell says, eyeing the covers. “I’m knee-deep in paperwork, so this is a very welcome distraction. My rep stopped by a little while ago. I’m going to take some medical leave this time.”
“As you should. Give your body some time to heal before you come out swinging again, and I know you will. How’s your chest?”
“If the bullet went one whisper to the left, I’d be a dead man. Ray got there right in time.”
“He didn’t take the shot you wanted him to take.”
“He took the shot that mattered. I know he was trying to protect you, and I would have probably done the same thing. But he’s lucky he had another gun, because I would have killed him myself otherwise. Are you doing okay with everything, Julia?”
“I’m getting through it. So are the boys. I’m heading to Navarro’s after our visit to see how he’s doing.”
“I’m not going to tell you how to live your life or what you should do. But Ray is a good man, one of the best I’ve ever known, and he never stopped caring about you. Whether you’re ready to get involved in a relationship yet or not, keep him in mind, because if you don’t, you’re making a huge mistake. But don’t wait too long to decide, because I’m tired of watching you two dancing around while you’re in the wrong relationships with other people. Deep down, I know you care about Ray too.”
Julia smiles at her friend and catches a whiff of expensive perfume as another visitor arrives and stands in the doorway of Russell’s room.
“I was hoping you’d be coming back today,” Russell tells the visitor.
Julia turns around to see Bianca, Navarro’s former flame, dressed in a clingy canary yellow dress. Bianca carries in her black-gloved hand a white to-go bag with her restaurant insignia Chanel’s written across it. Bianca leans in to Russell and gives him a lingering kiss on the lips.
“Julia, you know my friend Bianca, I believe,” Russell says.
“Yes, I do. Nice to see you again.”
“What are those?” Bianca asks as she eyes the men’s magazines now on Russell’s lap.
“You know, Bianca, I had a feeling you and I were exactly alike,” Russell says. “My police rep came for a visit a little while ago and left these for me as a get-well present. I never look at these things. Never have. They objectify women in the worst possible way.”
Bianca pats Russell’s hand as she stuffs the magazines back inside the hospital gift store bag. Once the offending publications are safely out of sight, Bianca leans in and hugs Russell. He looks back at Julia as she turns to leave and gives her a big wink.
* * *
Julia pulls into a parking space across from Navarro’s Rivertown Detroit neighborhood complex, grabs three full shopping bags from her trunk, and hurries across the street to Navarro’s high-rise. A bird caws overhead, and Julia looks up to see a blackbird perched on the awning of Navarro’s entryway.
“Hey, buddy,” she tells the blackbird, which seems to stare at her with locked interest until it soars out of sight.
Julia takes the elevator to the seventh floor and can hear the light hum of music coming from Navarro’s apartment. The familiar string of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s song “Pride and Joy” welcomes her as she raps on the door.
“Hey, come in,” Navarro says, looking genuinely surprised. He moves to his living room, where he turns down the stereo. “I would’ve cleaned up if I knew you were coming over.”
“You earn a pass card, a bachelor recovering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder. I come bearing gifts.”
“It’s not my birthday.”
“I told you once the Rossi case was over, I’d owe you,” Julia says.
“You owe me nothing, you know that.”
Julia digs inside one of her shopping bags and pulls out a white box.
“For starters, here’s something for your health.”
“You didn’t have to buy me anything. I’m not keeping a scorecard, you know.”
“Just open it.”
Navarro lifts the top of the cardboard lid and pulls out a pair of high-end running shoes.
“With your shoulder still needing some time to heal, you won’t be able to hit the gym on your regular schedule. I can personally attest that running is the best exercise to keep you healthy. I was thinking maybe, until your shoulder gets better, we could start running together.”
“Thank you, I’ll take you up on that. These are really nice,” Navarro answers as he inspects his new pair of size 13 Asics GEL-Kinseis.
“But wait, there’s more,” Julia answers. She pulls out a six-pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and a bottle of Pinot Grigio from the second bag. “Pick your poison. Beer or wine.”
“I’ll take a beer.”
Julia tosses the green beer bottle to Navarro, who raises it up to Julia as if giving a toast.
“I still have visions of you ramming Isabella Rossi from behind in that chair at the Packard Plant.”
“Sometimes you just have to work with what you’ve got,” Julia answers.
“Anthony Ruiz’s attorney is petitioning for a new trial based on the video from the bar.”
“Good. He’ll probably get a new trial, and it’s deserved. David took the law into his own hands by deciding Ruiz was guilty and withholding evidence that could’ve exonerated him.”
“There’s been a lot of media coverage about David and what he did. That’s got to be tough on you and your boys.”
“I’m trying to shield them from it. I thought I’d always be a journalist. But after all this, I’m not so sure.”
“When do you go back to the paper?”
“Maybe never. Mayor Anderson called me this morning and offered me a job with his office. This is the second time he’s tried to recruit me. Anderson told me he’s not going to pull the plug on his election campaign for mayor, despite what Gavin Boyles did. Anderson believes he’s the only person who can pull the city out of the hole it’s in. I almost believe him.”
“If Anderson offered you a job, he’s obviously smart. What would you be doing?”
“Chief of staff.”
“Are you going to take it?”
“I turned it down, but then Anderson offered me a new position as public safety policy advisor. Politics isn’t really my thing. But the newspaper industry is barely hanging on by a thread, and I feel pretty jaded at this point. So I’m considering Anderson’s offer, although the longevity of a job with an elected official always hangs on the voters.”
“You’d be good in that role. But don’t discount the chief of staff position yet. You have a knack for ordering people around and keeping them in line.”
“Thanks for the ringing endorsement. Did you find anything more out about Gavin Boyles?”
“We were able to piece together some details based on what we found on his home computer. Gavin took money from his boss’s campaign fund to purchase the bomb, and then he hired a couple of local thugs to buy it at the Packard Plant. He killed the guys because he couldn’t risk any residual witnesses coming back to bite him. Gavin knew Sammy Biggs would be escorted into the courthouse at twelve-thirty, so he left a press conference at City Hall early and planted the bomb on the courthouse stairs before Biggs arrived. He wanted everyone to think Rossi was responsible. Gavin was either naive or really lucky. I’m surprised no one recognized him when he left the bomb there. What a twisted bastard, blowing up a building and killing a bunch of innocent people to get his boss positive media coverage and votes. I owe Salvatore Gallo for showing up when he did.”
“So Russell and Bianca are an item now? When did that happen?”
A wide grin spreads across Navarro’s face.
“I warned Russell. But I think they actually may be a good fit,” Navarro says.
“Better him than you, huh?”
“She was never really my type. How are you holding up with everything?”
“I’m expecting a settlement from David’s life insurance policy. I’d rather b
e broke than take the money, though. I’m going to put it in a savings account for Logan and Will to pay for their college and then put the rest in a trust fund when they’re ready. And I put my house on the market. I’m thinking about moving closer to the city. Too many memories in that house.”
“Lots of changes for you,” Navarro answers, and reaches his hand up to his still injured shoulder.
“How’s the gunshot wound?”
“It itches like hell. My doctor said that’s a normal side effect until it heals completely.”
“Can I take a look? I promise I won’t faint.”
Navarro unbuttons the top of his long-sleeved white shirt and pulls the fabric away from his injured shoulder, which is covered by a thick protection of gauze and tape.
“I’ve been thinking about your brother’s case. When you’re ready to look into it again, I can help you,” Navarro says.
“I’m ready to do that. I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but I’ve been getting some counseling about Ben’s abduction, and I think it’s actually helped. I’m pretty sure I can go back in and investigate what happened to my brother without it eating me alive.”
“I wouldn’t let that happen.”
Julia strokes her index finger around the exposed skin outside of Navarro’s injury, tracing in a circular motion.
“You’ve been the one person who’s always been there for me and never let me down. I ran away from you when we were together because you were too kind, and deep down I didn’t think I deserved you.”
“You did. You’re a good person, and you always have been. I always wondered the real reason why you left, so at least now I know I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Everything that is usually easy and free-flowing between Julia and Navarro seems to slip away, and she suddenly feels like a teenage girl about to ask a boy if he really, really likes her. She moves away from Navarro and busies herself putting the beer and wine into his refrigerator and stalls until she quells her nerves enough to make a move.
“So, if you’re not doing anything later, do you want to go to dinner tonight? It’s casual. Helen and her husband and the boys will be there.”
Navarro looks back at Julia and flashes her his perfect smile.
“I’d love to. Is Helen okay with me being there?”
“Deep down, I know she likes you. She was just being protective before,” Julia says, and then faces Navarro, jumping in while she still has the courage.
“When we were in California, you said if I ever wanted you back, I’d have to be the one to tell you.”
“I remember.”
“So I’m telling you. I’m ready.”
“Are you sure? If this is a rebound situation because of what David did, as much as I want to be with you again, I can’t do it that way.”
Julia presses against Navarro, and she feels his mouth on hers, wet and open and hungry, and the years of space between them closes as Stevie Ray Vaughan pays testament in the background.
Navarro’s hands move across Julia’s body, and he begins to steer her toward his bedroom, but Julia pulls away before they venture inside.
“I’m sorry, but I need to take this slowly. The kids have been through a lot, losing their dad. I hope you understand.”
Navarro breathes out hard and looks away from Julia. She feels a tug of worry go off inside her until Navarro takes both her hands between his and brushes his lips against her fingertips.
“Slow isn’t the pace I want, but I understand. I’ve waited this long for you, and I’m not leaving. I love you, Julia.”
Julia rests her head against Navarro’s chest and closes her eyes, feeling as if she’s moving toward the place she should be and possibly back to the place she should have never left. Julia stays wrapped in the safe cocoon of Navarro’s arms until her cell phone, still lying on the kitchen counter, buzzes.
“It’s Helen,” Julia says as she sees the incoming caller’s name on the screen. “She’s probably wondering where we are.”
“She’s going to be like one of those overprotective fathers sitting on the front porch with a shotgun, waiting for his teenage daughter to come home from a date, isn’t she?”
“There’s still time to run.”
“Come here,” Navarro says. He grabs Julia and kisses her until he pulls away first this time.
“I’m trying to abide by the rules. I swear, on my honor, I’ll do my best.” He raises his three fingers of his right hand in the air with his thumb and pinkie finger tucked together in an “O” like he’s doing an earnest Boy Scout pledge. “But if I had my way, we wouldn’t be leaving this apartment anytime soon. I better get my coat before I change my mind.”
“You were a Boy Scout?” Julia asks.
“What do you think?”
Julia moves to the apartment’s living room window and takes in the Detroit city skyline, shining bright and hopeful, the city her kindred spirit, a place that has been beaten down and abandoned, but Julia knows there is still something beautiful at the city’s core, something unique and vibrant that can’t be taken away or destroyed, no matter what happens to it. Too many people still believe in Detroit to let it crumble.
Julia doesn’t fixate on the pain and loss that she has endured, but instead thinks of the beauty in her life, Navarro and her children, the best parts of her day. She takes one more look at the dim lights of the city and smiles as she listens to Navarro humming “Pride and Joy” from the other room and hopes as hard as she can that maybe better days really are ahead.
Duplicity Page 29