by A. R. Case
“Would, too.” At least she was smart enough to say that to the empty room after he left. Because dammit if her voice didn’t pitch upward, again. Stupid man was growing on her.
He came back and handed her a half glass of water, and a coaster. His own glass went on a coaster on his side. She looked at the twin nightstands. Dammit if they didn’t match again. A giggle escaped. It was all so symmetrical.
“What’s so funny?”
“Before you had me here, did you ever go crazy because there’d be a glass of water on only one nightstand?”
He climbed into bed and disrupted the dogs. Fritz circled around twice and settled right back in at her side. Snick left the bedroom to find food and a quieter spot to sleep. “Not really, because I’d take it back to the kitchen right away in the morning.”
Chris wasn’t messy. Except the paperwork. Even that had an order and place, despite the volume of it. Sometimes she felt the urge to reach over and rub his head so his hair would go from artfully messy to plain messy. She tested the theory.
“What was that for?”
“I messed you up.”
He smiled and pulled her close. “Can I mess you up now?”
“Please?” Her voice pitched up because she didn’t want his permission to mess her up, she just needed it to happen. “I mean, yes, please.”
Fritz joined Snick a few minutes later. Apparently, he didn’t like being jostled either.
Chapter 22 — Possessions
Chris’s first call of the morning was to his lawyer to confirm no charges were hanging over his head from yesterday. His second call was to the body shop. The scratches were too deep to buff out, and the car needed to be repainted. Otherwise, he’d lose value on it. Not to mention be reminded every time he got into the car of his poor taste in women.
No more of that. If there’s one thing he could say, Alexis was not a society woman, picked as much for her family connections as her beauty. Alexis had herself, and that was more than enough for Chris. Last night he finally slept once she was naked and drooling on him. He relaxed because her entire form relaxed. This morning he had a stiff shoulder a wet chest, and three, warm bodies on top of him.
All of it was good. The dog hair, the drool, the snores. He was happy. Which was why his third call was to Redd.
“You been in to see him yet?” Chris asked without preamble.
“Hi, Prince. Yup, got in last night. Conned a cute nurse into thinking that I had visiting privileges. Who’s Dog?”
“Dog?”
“His latest stray. The guy acts like he’s some sort of bodyguard or cop. What’s his story?”
Chris pinched the headache starting between his eyes. If he lied to Redd, he’d be setting him up, and be found out eventually. If he told Redd the truth, he was effectively working against the FBI. “He’s bad news, sticking his nose into everything. Don’t trust him. He got Lisa’s boyfriend killed.”
“You hated that squirrelly fucker she was dating. What was his name, Dicky?”
“Ricky.”
“Dicky, Ricky, same difference, dead is dead. If you didn’t like him, I didn’t like him. I know he wasn’t good enough for our Little Lisa. She’s a handful, but a sweetheart. Ain’t no one good enough. Maybe that’s why she always settles on losers.”
“You still keeping an eye on her?” She was in Philly, Redd’s territory.
“She’s doing okay. Can’t keep a job, though. And her mom’s still a bitch. Had to send the probates out in trucks because she kept calling the cops on the bikes.”
“Sounds like Donata. Listen, you find Ghost yet?”
“Ha, Crank said you’d ask.”
“Well?” Chris tapped his fingers on the counter, as soon as he noticed, he stopped and busied himself with making coffee, and heating up breakfast.
“Found four of his crew holed up in one of the houses. They were stoned out of their minds. No idea where Ghost and the other two went. That probate came straight to us after he got out last night. Told us all about how Ghost was boasting afterward about stabbing the old man. We’re putting him to work with us. He’s loyal, not like that piece of shit you’re so curious about.”
Loyal was good, but Chris needed more than that. “How many do you have on it?”
“Careful, Prince. Last I knew you gave this shit up.” Redd’s voice held a note of reprimand in it.
“Well, when your old lady gets collared in some back room somewhere, I’ll be sure to mind my own business.”
“Fuck you. You know it didn’t go down like that.”
“No? Then why was she wearing a fucking chain?” Despite his control, his voice got loud.
Alexis walked into the kitchen, her hair was a beautiful mess and she was wearing one of his nightshirts. It looked damn good on her. “Who you talking to?”
He covered the mouthpiece. “Good morning.” He leaned in for a kiss. She yawned in his face and missed the motion because her eyes were closed. He waited. Redd droned on in his ear, but he wasn’t listening to the man’s tirade and excuses. “Kiss.”
Her eyes opened. “Oh.” That got a smile. She kissed him. “I gave you morning germs.” She patted his lips and blinked in the direction of the coffee pot.
He made her a cup and made certain it got safely into her hands.
She took a few sips.
“And then that piece of shit cuts me out of the docks. That’s my territory. So if you think I don’t have a dog in the fight, you’re fucking wrong. He’s my problem, not yours. Keep your fucking nose out of it.”
“Can’t, and you know why.”
“Like you’re going to be able to do something about it? When was the last time you even fought?”
“Four weeks ago. Ask the fucking dog if you don’t believe me. He was there. I had Ghost on the floor.”
“For not liking that guy, you sure seem to hang around with him a lot.”
Alexis was staring at her coffee. “You handed me this.”
His hand covered the microphone hole. “I did.”
She set the cup down.
He picked it up and took a sip, then set it down where it had been. He talked into the phone, “I don’t hang out with him. He follows me.”
Redd mumbled something about an unhealthy obsession with the Brigands.
“Now your spit is in it.” Alexis had picked up the cup and was staring at it.
“Yup. Not bad for a man who stores his silverware sideways, huh?” He uncovered the phone again to talk at Redd. “You had better call me when you find him. I want my slice.” Chris disconnected the call and set his phone on the island counter. “You need breakfast?”
She was still staring at the cup.
“I’ll make you a clean cup.”
He pulled another mug down and poured the coffee. He held it out for her.
Instead of taking it, she set her mug on the counter and slid down the cabinet to sit on the floor.
“Baby?” Chris tried to find room on the floor next to her. He set the fresh cup on the floor next to him and shifted his legs to not crowd Alexis.
“So, a long time ago I was at this party.” Her voice was even, but her mind a long way away. “We were celebrating because we’d had a gig in one of the city’s biggest underground clubs.” She blinked, and explained, “New York, the band I’d joined, it was a bunch of kids from different magnet schools for the arts and a couple of the big-name places. I didn’t know a lot then, but they liked the way I sang, so I was backup vocals.” She picked up the cup, stared at it for a second, then took a sip. “Now my spit is in this one, too. Here.” She handed it to him and got the other cup off the counter. She crossed her legs, twisting one on top of the other in lotus position.
Chris sipped out of the cup she’d handed to him.
“There was talk that a record label had heard us
. The whole world was ahead of us.” Her pause was a lot longer this time. “I never thought one of my friends would do something like that to me.”
Something like slipping a mickey in her drink. Chris filled in the blanks.
“You notice stuff. I don’t like it.”
“Why?”
She stared at the floor.
“Alexis, I notice you. Everything about you. You are amazing and talented, and I can’t not notice you.” He snorted. “Better than almost running you over.”
She smiled. “What if I leave?”
His smile fell. His insides were screaming, but he managed to stay calm. “I’ll worry.”
“Ya think? When don’t you worry?”
“When I’m holding you.”
Her face fell. He caught the expression before her head dipped and her hair covered her face. “I’m not…”
“Not what? The boring-but-psychotic society types I used to date?”
One fist tapped his arm. “I’m being serious here.”
“I know, and I appreciate it. But if you aren’t ready to trust me, you aren’t ready.” He had to force the words out.
She turned the cup in her hands until it had made a full revolution. “Maybe I’m not.” She took a sip anyway.
~~~~~~~
Mrs. Wheldon met Alexis outside in the little dog park just off the west canal. Tot barked at Snick, who made a non-bark, non-growl noise back. Her polite way to say, “Nice try, short stuff.” Fritz was less polite and got yipped at for sniffing butt. He backed up, pulling Alexis off-balance.
“Fritz, grow up.” Meanwhile, Snick got bolder and was testing Alexis’s arm length.
“You’ve got a handful there. Are they yours?”
“I’m sitting for a friend in the hospital.”
“Oh. You know the building has a breed policy.”
Alexis got both dogs under control. “It’s just temporary.”
“If anyone gives you trouble, I told the one security guard that they are Hovawarts, not Rottweilers. I don’t think that breed is on the list yet. Stupid rules.”
“Thank you. I never pegged you for a rule breaker.” Alexis smiled.
“Oh honey, I came this close to running away to go to Woodstock.” She pinched her fingers together, almost touching. “What happened to Chris’s car?”
“Vi keyed it.” Alexis resisted the urge to embellish the story.
“Was she the garbage chute shoe girl?”
“The one. Wait, he has more crazy exes?”
Her neighbor let out a chuckle. “There was one, probably three or four women ago, who threw up in the hallway because she thought it was a good idea to drop by after her bachelorette party. Another after that tried to get through the lobby by bribing the guard.”
Alexis disguised the look of horror on her face. “That doesn’t sound too crazy. I have a friend who scaled her boyfriend’s building.”
Mrs. Wheldon looked at the balconies. “Probably wouldn’t be too difficult to do that here.”
Both women gazed at the building for a moment.
“Another friend snuck into her boyfriend’s apartment and swapped out the toothpaste for diaper cream. No clue how she didn’t get caught.” Alexis smiled evilly. “Then, one who stalked her ex for three years on social media. Every time he changed his relationship status, she would send nudes to his girlfriends. One took her up on it.” She shrugged. “I wouldn’t have, but hey, they’re still together so no harm, no foul, right?”
The older woman laughed. “Reminds me of my college years.”
“I never went to college.” Alexis didn’t know why she blurted that out.
“Who is that?” Mrs. Wheldon stared at the street. A blue truck drove too slow for traffic.
Alexis glanced over to see Ghost staring out of the passenger side. Panic hit her. She’d been laughing with the woman. If Ghost knew they were friends, it could turn evil. She thought about Crank, so pale in his hospital bed. He was tough. Mrs. Wheldon wasn’t.
She turned back to Mrs. Wheldon, “Roll with this,” and then raised her voice. “I don’t care what the fucking rules are, my dogs aren’t beasts.”
“I never said that.” Mrs. Wheldon looked shocked.
“It’s people like you who fucking ruin it! Always sticking their noses where they don’t belong.” Alexis was yelling now. The truck had stopped, both the driver and Ghost were watching the tirade she was pitching. Tot started barking in his owner’s defense. Snick was sniffing the air, and Fritz started barking at everything.
“Alexis.” Mrs. Wheldon took a step back. “Why are you yelling at me?”
She sounded hurt. It killed Alexis to do this. But Ghost’s eyes were on her, watching for any weakness. And Mrs. Wheldon was a walking target. She had to protect her. For effect, she dragged both dogs closer to her. “You’re just damn lucky I don’t turn my dogs on you! They’ll tear your old bag of bones apart. Wouldn’t even be a snack.” She spat on the ground and called the dogs to heel, then left the dog park to go back inside the building, nose in the air. The day guard craned his head to see what the commotion was about.
“Call 911, get the cops here. There’s a blue truck, Ford, with two white males inside. One of them is wanted for murder. Call now, Mrs. Wheldon’s outside!”
He got on the phone. By the time he was answering the dispatcher’s questions, Alexis was in the elevator, on her way to the fourth floor.
Once inside Chris’s condo, she scanned her things. Too much of it was scattered about. Most of her recording gear was now at the studio. Ghost knew its location. She shuddered and grabbed the rest, boxing as she moved. Her go-bag was in the guest room Chris used as an office. Some warm shirts, a couple pants, and all her underwear were tossed inside cushioning the gear. She didn’t bother to roll her clothes. Her phone and charger were in Chris’s room. She grabbed a couple of power bars, then decided to take the entire box from the kitchen. Bits and bobs of her life were everywhere. There wouldn’t be time to collect it all. It stopped her in the space between the hallway and living room.
Despair washed over her. Sunlight washed in through the windows, blurring her view of the ocean.
She couldn’t start over again.
Meeting Chris, the contract, it had changed her. There was too much to leave behind. There was too much she didn’t want to leave behind. She turned in a full circle, her knees threatening to buckle. If only this had happened two months ago. She’d be in Philly or maybe Baltimore within hours. From there, LA, and this time reinvented into a bitch no one would crack. But that wasn’t an option anymore. It suffocated her, knowing she was tethered to things and memories of good events, of her life finally going right. Fritz nudged her side. They needed her. “Damn it. You wouldn’t be very happy hungry, would you?”
Snick perked her ears up.
Alexis addressed her. “And you, you’d like it too much. I’d corrupt you.” The dogs couldn’t come with her. But she needed to run. People like Mrs. Wheldon would get hurt if she stayed. Chris might get hurt. That more than anything pushed her into action. She grabbed a notebook where she’d left it on the bar.
More clothes went into the bag. It was stuffed, and more things surfaced. Things. Possessions. Memories. Chains. Fuck them. She reached into the closet and grabbed Chris’s old parka, leaving everything else behind.
The fob with her keys to the house was on the hook by the door where she’d hung it in habit. Alexis glared at it. “Things. Fuck them.”
Snick was at her side. “Not you, sweetie. Be nice to Chris for me, okay?” Fritz trotted up, tongue lolling out. “And you, don’t eat Tot.” She ruffled both of their ears one last time. The bag was heavy despite everything still scattered about. It took two rocks to get the momentum going. Ignoring the keys, and the dogs, she left it behind.
~~~~~~~
&nbs
p; Just under an hour earlier, Atlanticare Hospital.
Tony glared at him. “What the hell, bro?”
Redd took a chair beside them in the cafeteria. He glanced around at the commotion. “You can’t bug a public place, Boots. Search warrants and surveillance warrants need particulars.”
His brother threw up his hands. “So that’s okay? My wife works here for fuck’s sake.”
“It’s not like we’re planning on blowing up the place,” Redd joked.
Tony pointed at him. “That shit isn’t funny.” He pointed at Chris. “And you, I never pegged you to be like Dad.”
“Well, I can see you’re nothing like Tino,” Redd quipped.
Chris put up a hand to stop his brother’s retort. “If you don’t want a voice, leave.”
“No. Someone has to talk some sense into you. Maybe if Uncle Tino had done that, Dad wouldn’t have been killed in that warehouse.”
And Tino wouldn’t have died in prison serving forty for murder, either. “Redd, I know Crank has told you to cut me out. But he would be the first one gunning for Ghost if he could get out of bed right now.” Chris made certain his voice was calm, quiet, cordial. He was done playing it safe. “I also know I’m the first place someone’s going to look if a body shows up. So the simple solution is to make certain that doesn’t happen.”
Redd shook his head. “It’s more complicated than that. He’s got a connection with someone big. Two months ago, Ghost was bragging he’d scored a job.” Redd mentioned the family name. Chris knew it well. One of his cheapest installs went up on a property here in Jersey. In exchange, he kept two names on his payroll for a month before he fired them. They never showed up for work. His end was legitimate, but he’d been duped into hiring the men. His lawyer warned him not to pursue getting the money back. The final installation check covered their payroll a month later.
“That doesn’t mean he’s protected by them, just means he’s willing to look the other way.” Chris sipped the bitter coffee he’d bought.
“Like you’re a fucking expert,” Tony said.
He glared at his brother. “Told you, walk away.”