by Peggy Dulle
“Yes, I am having a great time,” Art agreed.
“Minus the enforcer trying to kidnap me,” I added.
Art laughed. It looked good on him.
One of the agents came up to Art and said, “We’ve got Santana in custody, do you all want a ride back to San Ramon?”
“No,” Kenny, Art and I said together and then we all laughed. The agent looked totally confused.
“What do you want to do next, Liza?” Art asked.
“Shopping on the pier?” I said.
Art turned to the agent. “You stay with one other agent. I don’t expect any more attempts to kidnap Liza today, but I won’t take any chances. We won’t need the rest.”
The agent nodded and disappeared into the crowd again.
“Shopping?” Kenny’s eyebrows were raised in confusion.
“It was the only thing I could think of. I didn’t want to make the trip over here and just turn around and go home so soon.” I shrugged.
“You don’t want to go shopping?” Art asked.
“She hates shopping.” Kenny told him.
“Then what are we going to do?” Art asked.
“We could rent a bike and ride around the city?” I suggested.
“Too much work, how about a bay cruise or the rocket boat?” Kenny countered.
“Too cold.” I shivered.
“The Mirror Maze,” Kenny’s eyes gleamed with delight.
“No,” I said, firmly.
“Brock-brock-brock,” Kenny made chicken noises.
“What’s the Mirror Maze?” Art asked.
“It’s a maze made up of entirely of mirrors. It’s a fun place,” Kenny told him.
“No, it’s not,” I insisted. The last time we went, Kenny scared the hell out of me so many times I thought I’d have a full scale panic attack that would never end.
Kenny made his chicken noises again, then put his arm around me and squeezed. “You’re older and so much more even tempered now, Stretch. You can walk through that maze, smooth as the woman you’ve become.”
I was a different person than that seventeen-year-old girl he had scared practically to death in that mirror maze.
I glared at him as Kenny’s face morphed into a huge grin.
Art’s eyes went quickly around scanning the crowd for a threat.
I put my hand on Art’s arm and said, “No, the only threat here is Kenny.”
Art looked at Kenny, narrowing his eyes. “What’s going on?”
Kenny chuckled low. “We haven’t been to the mirror maze since we were juniors in high school.”
I smacked Kenny on the shoulder and Art jumped.
“If you scare me in there, I’ll have Art shoot you for real this time.”
Art’s body relaxed, sensing this was an issue between Kenny and me and not a threat.
“I promise to be good.” Kenny put up his hand in a mock swear.
“I don’t believe you,” I walked away with Kenny and Art trailing behind me.
The mirror maze is on the second floor of Pier 39 and it is a fun place. It has pounding music, flashing lights and an entire maze that’s mirrored. The problem is that you don’t know which way is a mirror and which way is open. You see your reflection and you know that it’s a mirror but with someone else, it could be a mirror but it could also be them. Last time we were here I got so turned around that I came close to having a panic attack. Kenny didn’t help, he made it worse – jumping in and out of my vision to scare me. I didn’t talk to him for a week afterwards, even though he apologized every day. He just couldn’t come up with a good enough reason for scaring the hell out of me.
We paid the five dollar fee, quite cheap for anything on Pier 39, to a young boy. He couldn’t have been older than eighteen. His brown hair was cut short and his bronze skin denoted a Mexican or Spanish heritage. At least his jeans were pulled up and not hanging down to expose his boxer shorts. I never understood that attire.
The boy gave us clear plastic gloves so we wouldn’t smudge up the mirrors since you use your hands to figure out if you are looking at a mirror or not.
I put my gloves on, as did Kenny and Art. When I looked over at Kenny, he raised his hand in a silent promise, then leaned in and said, “I’ll scare Art instead.”
“He carries a gun,” I whispered back.
Kenny frowned, seeming to contemplate his chances of scaring Art and not getting shot, given the incident at my house.
As we walked into the colored archway of the mirror maze, Art said, “I want you to stay with me, okay?”
“Sure,” I shrugged. With my sense of direction I get lost around the corner from my house, so having a guide would be great.
I have to admit it was much more fun this time without Kenny popping in and out of my vision. True to his word, he always said my name quietly, so I’d know it was really him and not his reflection. He didn’t give Art the same warning. And I’m sure Art, on the other hand, didn’t have as good of a time. He didn’t shoot Kenny, but I think he came close several times.
When we all came out of the maze, I could see the tension in Art’s body.
“Have we had enough fun for the day?” Art asked.
I nodded and said, “Tom’s coming tonight, so I would like to get back.” Then I turned to Kenny. “When’s the next ferry?”
He looked up the schedule on his phone. “It’s two now, so we missed the latest one, but there is another one at 3:45. We’ll get back to Jack London Square around 4:40. We’ve got some time to kill.”
“That’s easy for us,” I told Kenny.
“So true, let’s get some dessert.”
“Great idea,” Art and I said together.
We all laughed. We stopped at the Waffle Cone shop. Kenny and I got chocolate ice cream with marshmallow topping, our favorite. Art got vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup – such a traditionalist.
“You need to get some chocolate?” Kenny asked me, as we stood to throw away our napkins and waffle cone holders.
“She just finished an entire chocolate ice cream waffle cone,” Art said.
I shrugged at Art and smiled at Kenny. The man knew me so well.
“You want Chocolate Heaven or Fudge Shop?” Kenny asked.
Oh man, what a choice. I could get my favorite truffles at Chocolate Heaven but prefer the fudge at Fudge House. Kenny preferred Fudge House – he said Chocolate Heaven was too touristy.
“Both?” I suggested.
Kenny laughed, put his arm around my shoulder and said, “That’s my girl.”
“I repeat, didn’t she just finish an entire chocolate ice cream waffle cone?” Art repeated his earlier question.
“Yes,” Kenny finally answered him. “This chocolate is for later. Stretch has a problem with chocolate.”
“Everyone needs an obsession,” I told both men.
I love Chocolate Heaven. It is an entire store of chocolate. They have bins of chocolate, displays of chocolate, and a huge long glass counter with every imaginable type of chocolate, truffles, nuts, chews, and fudge. I went directly to the glass counter in the back and ordered several Black Forest Truffles. The center is a cherry infused chocolate, then a layer of white chocolate, then the outer covering of milk chocolate. They are delicious. Then we walked to the end of Pier 39 and got fudge from Fudge House, Kenny’s favorite.
“It’s only 2:30. Let’s go to …,” I began.
“Houdini’s Magic Shop!” Kenny finished.
We both grabbed Art’s hands and dragged him into the exciting world of magic.
The magic shop is a fun place. They have one of the boxes in front with a life-size mannequin of Harry Houdini, like you might see at a carnival with a fortuneteller mannequin. There is always someone doing a magic show inside, so it’s a crowded place. Art took one look at the twenty or so people inside a shop that should probably only hold ten and frowned.
I put my hand on his arm and said, “There is only one way in and out of this place. If you stand a
t the door, I’ll be fine and Kenny won’t leave me.”
Kenny took my hand and linked our fingers together, then showed them to Art.
He nodded, but the frown was still on his face. Kenny and I wandered around the shop while Art held his post near the door.
As soon as we got by the crowd that was watching a magician perform card tricks, the store opened up.
“Hey, do you have a ‘saw your partner in half’ box,” Kenny asked the clerk that was stocking the back wall with rope tricks.
“No, we sent it back. It just didn’t work as well as it should have,” the clerk said with a straight face.
Kenny and I laughed and then Kenny asked. “How about I just saw her arm off?”
The clerk smiled and responded, “I think I’ve got one of them in here, someplace. It’s only been returned twice. I’ll see if I can find it for you.”
We laughed and then continued to peruse the store.
“Look, Stretch,” he held up a black top hat, “They’ve got a ‘watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat’ hat.”
I took it from Kenny and said, “This is cool. Is this something a ten year old would like?”
“I did. Magic is cool!”
“I think I’ll call Tom and see if it’s something his son, Michael, would enjoy.”
“That’s the kid you haven’t met yet that you’re soon to be his wicked step-mother?” Kenny laughed.
I nodded as Kenny was expressing some of my own concern.
Tom answered on the first ring, “Hi, Liza.”
“Hi, Tom. How’s your day going?”
“Busy, as usual with …,” he began.
I finished, “paperwork, paperwork, paperwork.”
He laughed. “How’s your day going?”
“Great. I have a question for you.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Does Michael like magic?”
“He never has tried it, but magic is cool. I think it is something he would like.”
“Great, I’m at Pier 39 at the magic shop and I thought I’d buy him a few things.”
Silence.
“Tom?” I asked. Where had he gone?
“Liza, why are you at Pier 39?”
“Well, Kenny came home a day early. He actually took a plane home instead of driving. We wanted to do something, so we decided to come over to Pier 39 and go to the aquarium. We took the ferry.”
“Is Art with you?”
I laughed. “You think I slipped my bodyguard?”
Kenny laughed.
“Is Art with you?” Tom asked again.
“Of course. He’s been with us the entire time. Actually he thought it wasn’t a bad idea, he figured it would be a good place for Santana to try something, so Art brought lots of extra FBI guys.”
“And did Santana make a grab for you?” Tom’s voice lowered a bit, each word slowly asked.
“Of course. Art’s really smart. But it was fine and now Santana’s in custody and we’re at the magic shop. Do you think Michael would really like magic stuff?”
“Could I please talk to Art?”
“You want to talk to Art?” I repeated.
“Yes, please.”
“He’s at the front of the store watching the door. Do you really need to talk to him right now?” I said as I glanced through the crowd watching the magician and spotted Art standing at the front door.
“Yes, please,” Tom repeated his earlier words but his voice had deepened. Damn, he was mad at someone. I wonder if David and his girlfriend got into another fight. For once, it couldn’t be me – I was perfectly safe and having a great time.
I shrugged and held up the phone to Kenny. “Tom wants to talk to Art.”
Kenny looked through the crowd, which had doubled since we first entered the store. The magician must be really good or doing some fantastic tricks.
“You want me to take him the phone?” Kenny asked, scanning the crowd.
“Yes. Tom thinks Michael would like some magic tricks, so I’m going to gather a few up for him.”
“Let me do this.” Kenny took out his own phone and pushed several buttons. A few seconds later, Art glanced down, and then turned toward us.
Art made his way through the crowd which seemed to just open up as he walked through. Maybe they all instinctively knew he was an FBI agent and carried a gun.
He came up to us and asked, “What’s up?”
“Tom’s on the phone and he wants to talk to you.” I handed Art my phone.
I watched as Art’s entire body stiffened.
“No, sir,” he said.
“Yes, sir,” he said.
As he continued to stiffen and repeat those words over and over again, I grimaced.
“I think we got Art in trouble,” Kenny whispered.
I frowned at Kenny and then at Art.
“Yes, sir,” Art said, then held the phone up. “Ms. Wilcox, he’d like to talk to you.”
My frowned deepened. I had gone from Liza to Ms. Wilcox, again.
“It’s Liza,” I told him, forcing a smile I didn’t feel. How dare Tom get so mad at Art when it was Kenny and me who had insisted upon going to Pier 39!
“What’s going on, Tom?” I said.
“Nothing, honey. Could you do me a really big favor?”
“Maybe,” I said, then added, “Your voice sounds strange.”
“I am trying very hard not to use that tone of voice with you that you don’t like.”
“The one that makes me do the opposite of what you want me to do?” I asked, my own back stiffening.
“Yes, honey.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I would really appreciate it, if you could go home as soon as you can. I’m not asking you to leave Pier 39 immediately, just as soon as you can.”
“Okay,” I said slowly.
“Could I speak to Kenny for a minute?” Tom asked.
“You want to speak to Kenny?” I asked.
Kenny’s eyebrows rose and he shook his head.
“Yes, please,” I heard Tom’s voice but was looking at Kenny.
“I don’t want to talk to him, Stretch,” Kenny said, backing away from me.
“Kenny doesn’t want to talk to you, Tom,” I told him.
“Ask him, please.”
“Tom says, can he please talk to you?”
Kenny put out his hand and nodded.
“Hi, Tom,” Kenny said as nonchalantly as he could, but I could hear the slight tremor in his voice.
How did I get involved with someone who could have this effect on people?
“She’s fine, Tom.” Kenny said into the phone.
Silence.
“No, really. Art had it under control.”
Several minutes of silence as Kenny listened to Tom. His eyes drifted from Art, to me, and then to the door.
“Our plans are to get on the three forty-five ferry. It gets into Jack London Square a little before five. That puts us back in San Ramon by six, depending on traffic.”
A few more beats of silence.
“Okay, I’ll probably see you later. I’ll give Stretch the phone back.”
As soon as I got the phone, I said, “What’s going on Tom?”
“I am just concerned for your safety, Liza.”
“Spill it, Tom, or I’ll make sure we miss the next ferry and then we’ll spend the rest of the evening at Fishermen’s Wharf. Of course, that also means that I’ll make Kenny and Art get on a public bus to get home.”
I heard Tom take a deep breath. I had to admit he was doing well at trying to control his voice.
“Carlos and Santana have a younger brother. He’s never been arrested because he’s smarter than his two older brothers. Angelo’s also meaner and deadlier. He’s better trained because he was in the army for six years until they threw him out. He won’t make some half-ass grab for you, his plan will be thought out and you’ll get hurt. I don’t want you hurt. Could you please go home?”
I
took a breath myself. My instincts were to head for the wharf. I hated anyone, even this Angelo person, dictating what I could and couldn’t do. But I could see the logic in going home.
“Okay, Tom. We’ll get on the ferry and head home.”
Tom let out the breath he had obviously been holding and said, “Thank you.”
“What kind of magic stuff should I get Michael?”
Tom chuckled. “I’m sure he’d love anything you would pick out.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tonight, Tom.”
“I love you, Liza.”
“I know you do, Tom, and I love you, too.”
I bought a 101 Easy Magic Trick set for Michael, it was not that expensive and it included a DVD with instructions, magic cards, ball and vase, magic snapper, cups and balls set, sponge balls, and a magic wand. I also bought the top hat. Any self-respecting magician had to have a top hat. Tom could buy the rabbit.
The ferry ride home was very different. Art insisted we sit inside and all four other FBI agents were in the room with us. It’s amazing how quickly his demeanor transformed from a fun-loving guy back to the serious FBI agent and I wasn’t sure I liked it. Kenny and I were seated next to each other, with our feet extended and crossed.
“I feel like a celebrity,” Kenny said, glancing around at our entourage.
“Rock star or royalty?” I asked.
“Can’t I be both?” Kenny asked.
“Sure. How about a prince that plays in a rock band?”
“No, I like country music better. And if I’m going to be royalty, I want to be king.”
I laughed. “I’ll be your best groupie.”
Kenny turned his body and took my hand in his. “You could be my queen?”
I frowned. Kenny and I didn’t have that kind of relationship, did we?
“Excuse me?” I looked into Kenny’s eyes. The love we felt – was it more than best friends?
Kenny stopped being Kenny for a moment and we looked into each other’s eyes. There was something there. It was more than friendship but I couldn’t put my finger on it. It was as if Kenny and I were two halves of one whole. Together we made one person, I just wasn’t sure if it was the person I wanted to be.
Kenny reached over and stroked the side of my face with his hand.
“Kenny?” I leaned forward and so did he.
We got within a few inches of each other, both our mouths slightly open. Were we really going to kiss? A real kiss?