by Nella Tyler
“What a horrible way to think of things,” she sympathized, dragging him to a bench to take a seat. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him hard, unconcerned what passersbys may think.
“It’s not how I envisioned things,” he admitted, kissing her hand and putting his arm around her. “But then, I never expected to have a wife and son, either, and look at the treasures life brought me!”
“Cole, you’re going all soft and mushy on me,” she teased.
“Barely recognize myself anymore,” he agreed. “So, we need to talk. We have some decisions to make, and I’m going to ask you one very big favor.”
Gilda looked up at him. “What’s that?” she asked, a bit suspiciously.
He looked around, gathering up his courage. “Obviously, my plans to be a cop are on the back burner, perhaps permanently.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I know you had your heart set on that.”
“As you do, on becoming a nurse.” He waited for her reaction.
“Wait a minute! Are you saying you want me to give up my plans? But, Cole! I’m so close! If it hadn’t been for this stuff with Scott, I would already have my nursing license!” She was irritated and angry with herself at the same time. She had been purposefully avoiding thinking about all that — it involved too many decisions.
“Are you telling me you haven’t given this some thought?” he asked her.
“Yes,” she admitted reluctantly, her head bobbing on her shoulders as she looked around as if for someone to blame. “I know.”
“Is it terribly, terribly important to you?”
“Well, it’s not just that. It’s the biggest goal I’ve ever personally set for myself, and I feel like I want to accomplish it, if only for the sake of having done so.”
“I get that,” he agreed.
“Would you have stopped a couple weeks short of getting your training under the same circumstances?”
“No, probably not,” he admitted, bending to pick a dandelion and presenting it to her with a kiss on her cheek.
“Well, then you can’t ask me to do that, can you?”
“Gilda, ordinarily, I’d be all behind you, you know that. It’s just that with Scott still on the loose, I don’t have a good feeling about leaving you while I tend to my father’s businesses. I want you by my side.”
Gilda frowned and she turned to face him. “Look. Scott has had about all of my life I’m going to let him have. I’m done with him bossing me around and making me run scared. I’m not putting up with it another minute.”
“So, what do you propose?”
She shrugged. “Not really sure, to tell you the truth. I just know I’m not going into hiding because of that son-of-a bitch,” she cursed uncharacteristically.
Cole noticed she had reverted to a stronger version of her southern drawl. It almost always coincided with her becoming agitated or indignant.
“He’s wanted in five states, Gilda. I have a personal force looking for him. I just don’t know what else to do. I’ve never seen anyone who could hide like this.”
“I know. Lord knows you’ve done everything you could, Cole. I love you so much for that — and Carson does, too.”
“Well, that may be, but the point remains that I can’t protect you if you’re off at school, and Scott has proven he’s wily enough to get into our apartment, as well as find out what’s going on in our private lives.”
“Can we find someone for security long enough to get me through the rest of my classes?”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “Sure, but then what? We can’t have a bodyguard on you while you’re working.”
She nodded and looked out over the park. “Do I have to work?”
He whipped around and looked at her. “What do you mean? I thought you wanted to work?”
“Well, I do…eventually. After all, I need to work to keep my credentials. But this whole mess isn’t your fault; I brought it in with me. It’s not fair to penalize you or your plans on my account.”
“Oh, Gilda — if it affects you, it affects me; you know that.”
“Well, I’d like to take care of this last business myself. You have enough on your mind without worrying about Scott.” She was trying to be sensitive and understanding.
“You are my welcomed responsibility, so let’s not squabble. Anyway, he’s the target of the feds right now.”
“Yes, I know. But, what if you have someone watch over me just long enough to get me through my licensing, and then I’ll stay home with Carson and be there for you when you get home at night?”
“You’d do that?”
“Of course. I’m your wife, aren’t I?”
“You certainly are, and I love you more than you could ever know.” Cole kissed her and pulled her up by the hand. “I think I need a nap,” he said slyly and she grinned as she followed behind.
Chapter 32
In the end, Cole decided a compromise was in order. His father was definitely failing, and Cole knew he would eventually have to take care of the businesses single-handedly. For the time being, however, he, like Gilda, wanted to experience the career he’d chosen for himself before life intervened.
Gilda enrolled in the remainder of nursing school, and her constant companion was Edward, a bodyguard Cole had hired to drive and escort her everywhere she went. He was given the guest room on the tenth floor for the duration of his contract with the Stephens.
In the meantime, Cole donned the uniform of an officer and began his night patrols. His partner, Officer Dan Lewis, was a twenty-five-year veteran and looking to retire in the near future. Both men were companionable, and Cole made it his business to learn everything he could from the experienced officer.
Mrs. Crutcher and Carson set into a daily routine that included all of them having dinner together each night on the tenth floor, Edward included.
Despite the looming threat of Scott still on the run, life had become uneventful and routine. Or so they thought.
* * *
It was early summer and the night of Gilda’s graduation from nursing school. Cole had swapped shifts with another patrolman so that he could be on hand. Mrs. Crutcher and Carson accompanied him to the ceremonies, where Gilda and Edward had gone an hour before.
Gilda had sent a plane ticket and invitation to Mary, her best and probably only girlfriend. She had promised Mary a visit to the city and that they would shop and visit some of the famous spots, so she was very thrilled when Mary emailed to say she would be there.
Cole and the others waited until the last possible minute, but Mary had still not shown up. He assumed her plane had been delayed and left orders with the doorman to escort her up to his apartment and settle her into the guest room when she arrived.
Gilda was radiant, her hair piled high upon her head and the mortarboard pinned atop that. She waved at Carson behind her back and accepted her diploma with the joy of a child at Christmas.
The amphitheater was packed with celebrating families and a festive atmosphere. Gilda noticed Mary’s empty seat and made a questioning frown toward Cole, who simply shrugged in return. She was definitely disappointed, and that soon turned to worry.
When the caps had been tossed, Gilda left the stage and headed toward her family, Edward trailing behind her. “Where’s Mary?” was the first thing out of her mouth.
“Have no idea; we waited until we ran out of time, but she still hadn’t come.”
“I wonder if something bad happened.” Gilda was frowning. It wasn’t like Mary to not get in touch. There was no message or email on her phone.
“You’re always worrying about the worst, sweetheart,” Cole chided her. “I’m sure there’s nothing wrong — probably just a late plane or she had to wait for a taxi. She had the address, right?” Gilda nodded.
“See there? I left word for her to be taken up to the apartment when she arrived. Tell you what: I want to take us all out to celebrate, but we’ll swing by the apartment and pick her up before we go. How would tha
t be?”
Her frown turned into a smiling nod and they piled into the limousine happily, Gilda waving to some of the girls she had befriended.
They arrived at the apartment and Cole left the others in the limo as he went into the lobby. “She here?” he asked the doorman whose back was to him. When he turned, Cole saw that it was the alternate.
“I left word for our guest to be escorted to my apartment. Did she arrive?” he asked, and the doorman nodded just as a phone on the reception desk began to ring. Cole was impatient to get going, so he stepped outside and waved to Gilda to come in and they’d go up together and get Mary.
Gilda was chattering happily about the ceremony when the elevator door opened into their apartment. She took a few steps into the room and stopped still.
“Mama?” she gasped at the woman seated in the living room, her hands folded in her lap the same way as Cole had seen Gilda do.
Beverly looked up and nodded. “Hello, Gilda. Where’s Carson?” she asked as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Cole came up behind Gilda, a deep frown on his face. “What are you doing here?” he asked unkindly.
Beverly’s face assumed a very innocent look as she responded. “Why, I’m here to see Gilda graduate, of course. That’s why you sent the ticket, isn’t it? I was sort of hoping to see some of the sights while I am here. If that wouldn’t be too much trouble?”
Cole looked at Gilda and said, “Don’t move. I’m calling down for Edward to bring up the others. Just stand right there.”
He took a few steps back around the corner into the kitchen, where Gilda could hear his muffled voice giving orders. He resumed his position just behind her and within minutes, the elevator opened and Edward came into the room. He walked directly to Beverly and said, “Ma’am, would you stand up, please. I’m going to have to check you for weapons.”
“For what?” she shrieked. “You’ll do no such thing.”
“Then, ma’am, I’m sorry but I am required to treat you as a hostile and you’ll need to come with me.”
“You…what? Gilda, get this man away from me! What the hell is going on here?”
Gilda stood mute, her brown eyes dark and angry. She didn’t move a muscle.
Cole came around in front of her. “Beverly, I thought we had an understanding. You know you’re not supposed to be here.
“Now, Edward is either going to check you for weapons, or this conversation ends here and now and he will escort you out of the building. Your choice, but I’m not going to ask another time.”
Beverly grabbed the arm of the chair and hoisted herself to her feet. “Well, I never,” she muttered and raised her arms horizontally as she’d seen in the movies. Edward quickly patted her down and then nodded to Cole.
“Sit down, Beverly. We’re going to have a talk,” Cole ordered. “Edward, please go down to tenth and keep an eye on things there,” he said, alluding to Carson. The bodyguard nodded and disappeared.
“Gilda, sweetheart, sit down and let me get you a glass of wine. You look like you’re about to pass out.”
She nodded and perched on the sofa, taking the glass Cole brought her. He didn’t sit, however, but stood behind the sofa like a vanguard.
“Now then,” he began. “Where did you get the crazy idea that you were invited here?”
Beverly’s mouth fell open in feigned surprise. “Why… Why…you sent a ticket, didn’t you?”
“Where’s Mary?”
“Mary? Mary’s not coming. Whatever made you think Mary would be coming?”
“Because, Mama,” Gilda said in a hard, forceful voice, “I sent Mary a ticket to come, not you.”
Beverly’s head fell back as she laughed loudly. “Mary? You thought Mary was going to come? Oh, Gilda, not even you could be that stupid.”
Gilda’s head whipped around as she looked to Cole for rationale. He was staring at Beverly, and the look on his face was that of a hardened interrogator.
“And why would that unreasonable, Beverly? Why wouldn’t Mary want to come?” Gilda followed his look and stared at her mama.
“My word, I can’t believe all these years you never knew. Gilda, Mary and Scott have been an item for years! Way before you, even. Why, I always knew that.”
“What? What are you talking about?” Gilda’s voice cracked as the enormity of Mary’s betrayal began to sink in.
“Oh, hell, yes. Mary’s skirts always lifted for him,even when you and he were dating. Hell, half the time he left you and went to her. You didn’t know that? And then, after you were married, he’d go to her house after work to fuck her and then go get drunk to drown out her stench with liquor. Hell, yes, Mary’s always been his whore.”
“What?” Gilda rasped, unable to believe her ears. Cole’s hands came protectively down onto her shoulders.
“Was Mary involved in Carson’s visit?” he asked Beverly point blank, using the term “visit” intentionally so as not to stop her blabbing.
“Of course! Mary could never stand the fact that Scott was still after Gilda. He’s obsessed with her — only because she doesn’t want him anymore. That man likes his puppets, you know?”
Gilda bent forward, slapping her hand over her mouth in an attempt to not be sick. Cole sprung around the sofa and pulled her upward to her feet. “C’mon, sweetheart, you’ve heard enough. I’m putting you to bed.”
She nodded. Cole turned and said over his shoulder to Beverly, “You…you stay put. We’re not done, you and I.”
“Cole, I just don’t understand,” Gilda mewed as he helped her into the bed.
“I know, I know, darling. Just lie down here and try to rest. I’m going to talk to Beverly and then deal with her. If she tells me what I think she’s going to tell me, you probably won’t see her again.”
“What?”
“No, now just do as I tell you. Lie here and wait for me; I’ll be back,” he flipped out the light on the nightstand and pulled the covers up to her neck.
“Carson!” she cried softly.
“Edward’s with him, and I’m sure Mrs. Crutcher has filled him with chocolate milk and cookies by now. Don’t worry about him. I’ll be back shortly.”
Cole strode back into the living room and saw Beverly’s chair was vacant. He found her at the refrigerator, the door opened and her leaning inside, pushing food around on the shelves. “Don’t you have anything good in here?” she demanded.
“Never mind that. Come in here and sit down.”
She looked over her shoulder and she snapped to attention to mock him and said, “Yes, sir!” A sick grin covered her face. “Whatever you say, sir!” She closed the door and picked her steps back to the chair as though she were sneaking into the room.
“Why did Mary give you the ticket?” he barked.
“She wasn’t coming here. She brought me the ticket because she figured I’d like a free trip and a shopping spree. Say, I hear you’re fixed for life; is that true?”
“You and I had an understanding, remember?” he reminded her, his voice hard, but low so Gilda couldn’t hear.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. I stay away and you’ll send me a check every month.”
“That’s right. Now, when Scott brought Carson down and left him with you, did he go to Mary’s to hide?”
Beverly laughed aloud. “Sure, he did. Hell, he lives there most of the time. No one would think to look at her place when she was over at your little make-believe headquarters, ordering your troops around.
“You know those guys are still hanging around town. It’s starting to get on my nerves.”
“So, Mary has been feeding you all this information about Gilda and Scott gets it from her, too. Is that right?”
“You’re not as stupid as you look. So, where are we going shopping tomorrow? I hear that Macy’s is the place to start.”
Cole picked up his phone and quickly sent a text message. “Was it Mary’s idea for Scott to come up here and put the squeeze on Gilda?”
“Yup.”
“And, to bring the boy down if she didn’t cooperate?”
“Yup.”
“And, what part did you have in all this?” His eyes were studying her keenly.
“Not really much of a part. Except I gave Mary that envelope that was filled with money from Gilda. Wasn’t shit in there…don’t know how she supported herself and the kid.”
Her eyes lit up. “Ahhh…I get it now. She wasn’t supporting herself; you were keeping her in silk panties, right?”
The muscle in Cole’s jaw was jerking. He had never, in his entire life, wanted to strike a woman as much as he wanted to level Beverly at that moment. She sensed it and laughed a little hysterically at the idea that she had outfoxed him.
“I’ve been around, you know,” she purred, a posture that reflected her years on her back coming naturally to her.
He felt sick at his stomach at what Gilda must have had to endure throughout her childhood. He forced himself to smile. “You ever try a little of Scott, yourself? After all, he was always hanging around.”
“Oh, yeah. One night Gilda was babysitting across town when he came looking for her. Well, I told him there wasn’t anything he could get from her that he couldn’t get better from me. He knew I knew what I was talking about.
“Yeah, he came in and I did him right there on the living room sofa. Came all over me, he did. Jesus, but that boy could cum a quart!” she marveled.
“No kidding,” Cole feigned being impressed. “How long was that before he married Gilda?”
“Oh, hell, five years or more. He was a stud, well ahead of the others, you know what I mean? That boy was hung!”
He nodded, a sadistic smile crossing his own face at her admission. Just then the elevator opened and four uniformed officers entered the apartment.
“Gentlemen,” greeted Cole. “This is Beverly Munton. She and I have had a little talk. I’d like you to read her her rights and arrest her for accessory to kidnapping and transporting a minor across four state lines, possibly prostitution and statutory rape of a minor. Take her away.