by Grey, R. S.
At the end of the night, I have him drive me home. In fact, I insist upon it. I’ve yet to stay over at his house. It’d be too easy to give in. Believe me, I’ve tested his bed, and that mattress is made from some kind of NASA-engineered bullshit. It’s out of this world (heh heh.) I will not let it tempt me. I’m standing on my own two feet, dammit! Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.
Still, even without giving in to the urge to stay at his house and sleep on his luxurious bed, I know this thing between us is magical and I’m starting to wonder if he’s the real deal. The one. The yin to my yang. I’m fairly confident he is, which is why we’re here, enduring this hellacious breakfast.
The three of them have to get along.
This silent game has got to end.
I tilt my head toward the door.
“Did you see the new deadbolt Ben installed?”
It’s the perfect bridge to connect the three of them: they all care about me and my safety! I will talk about deadbolts and locks and security measures for forty days straight if it means they’ll actually converse with one another.
“Doesn’t really help the fact that the door is made of particle board,” Colten grunts.
Ben’s eyes narrow and I lean forward to grip his forearm. “I know, Ben hates the door too.”
Look! Let’s bond over doors! This is fun!
Ben puts his coffee cup down and turns to my dad. “I’d like to know the progress of the investigation concerning the man who held Madison up at gunpoint a few months ago.”
Oh god, not this again. He’s obsessed, brings it up every chance he gets. Just last week, he made me go through every single detail of that night again as if he was Nancy Drew, looking for some overlooked clue. I’m thinking of buying him an oversized magnifying glass as a joke. I don’t think it’d go over well, though.
It’s silly that he’s this worried about it, and it’s partly my fault. I never should have told him I thought someone was following me the other night after work. I was walking to Ben’s firm from the library and that feeling overcame me, the same one I felt that night I was held at gunpoint. I could have sworn someone was watching me and it freaked me out, so I told Ben about it as soon I saw him. Now, I regret that. He thinks the same guy was following me, and he wouldn’t listen when I tried to convince him it was just the wind playing tricks on me.
He thinks it’s something more serious.
Even now, he’s in full lawyer mode. I’ve seen him like this before at his office. I’ve stumbled in on him while he’s on the phone with a client or wrapping up a meeting, and it’s like he’s Ben the Hard-Ass. Business Ben. I like it. I want Business Ben to bend me over his business desk.
Not the time, Madison.
My dad crosses his arms over his chest and his brows scrunch together to form one thick line. “That’s not really your concern.”
20
Ben
Not my concern?
Is he kidding?
I glance over at Madison, and she’s ten seconds from crumbling. Her gaze is on her untouched donut. Her hand is shaking as she reaches for her coffee. She tried so hard to get us all here this morning and force us to get along, and none of us is really putting forward much effort. We’re all too stubborn. I’m surprised our egos haven’t blown the roof off yet.
“Madison is my concern,” I say, turning to meet her father’s gaze head-on.
He wants me to kowtow to him, or better yet, he wants me to fulfill all the expectations he has for me. They want me to be heartless, to use her and leave her. Colten already said I’m not good enough for Madison, and it’s clear her father agrees. They both want to be right about me so badly they’d choose it over Madison’s happiness. I’d point that out to them now if it wouldn’t cause a scene.
Madison jumps to her feet. “Why don’t I top off everyone’s coffee?”
She’s already grabbing cups, but I won’t let her take mine. She doesn’t need to wait on us hand and foot. “I’ll get some in a second. Thank you.”
She nods and turns away. I glance back to her father in time to see him exchange a glance with Colten. I have no idea how long they’re planning on holding out. A year from now, will it still be like this? Two years?
No. That would tear Madison apart. She deserves better. She deserves to have us try, at least.
So I’ll go first.
“Mr. Hart, I’d like to apologize for anything I might have done as a teenager to ruin your perception of me. I’m sure we did some pretty stupid stuff back then and—”
“No apology necessary.”
What he means to say is, I don’t accept.
Fine. Let’s all just sit here and make Madison suffer. Pass the fuckin’ donuts.
The second half of breakfast goes as dismally as the first. When her dad and brother stand to leave, I hang back, giving Madison space to say goodbye to them without me hovering nearby, but then I’m shocked when her dad tilts his head out past the door.
“Ben, let me talk to you for a second.”
Oh good, I bet this is the part where he holds up a shotgun and threatens my life if I don’t leave his daughter alone. I prepare for the worst, but at the bottom of the stairs outside, he shoos Colten along and turns to me. His eyes are less hard than they’ve been all morning. He props his hands on his hips and turns to me. Madison tells me he’s a big softy. I’m wondering if that’s really the case.
“We don’t want Madison to worry. That’s why I didn’t want to answer your question in there.” I instantly bristle. Withholding information from Madison isn’t the way to keep her safe. She’s not a child. “Madison and you both gave statements about that incident, but it wasn’t enough to go on. The perp was wearing a mask. His height and build weren’t all that unique, and there was no physical evidence left at the scene when my guys swept it later that night. We’ve increased the police presence around the library as much as possible, but the fact is, the guy will likely get away with what he did to her.”
My gut clenches.
That’s the last thing I wanted him to say.
“My fear isn’t so much that he’ll get away with it, but rather that it’ll happen again. What happens next time when I’m not there to intervene?”
My question seems to stump him for a second. “You seem to be taking this relationship with my daughter pretty seriously.”
I lift my chin and reply with one word: “Yes.”
His eyes narrow as he studies me in an unusually intense manner. It’s like he’s trying to read my thoughts. Then he shrugs and sort of chuckles—I swear the man chuckles—before he turns and unlocks his police cruiser.
That’s all.
I guess it’s a start.
* * *
Today is Andy’s birthday, the big 3-2. He’s having people over to his house later and I know Madison’s excited to go. She thinks she has the best gift ever for him. Now that he and Arianna are a couple—believe me, it’s all I hear about at work—Madison got them matching bowling league shirts with their names embroidered on the back.
She also ordered some for us, Kevin, and Eli, but she doesn’t think I know that. She’s pretty bad at keeping secrets.
We’re at her apartment, spending the afternoon together like we usually do, and I’ve just basically broken a hip trying to have sex with her on this damn futon. It was worth every second, mind you, but I’m about done with this place. The second I think she’ll actually accept, I’m asking her to move in with me. A part of me knows she wants to give in. That cold shower she’s taking right now can’t be enjoyable. She’s in there hissing under an icy stream.
I’m on my laptop, researching anything I can about her case. I know odds are I won’t find anything. I know the incident might have been a one-off thing, a complete coincidence, but I can’t seem to squelch the idea burning in my head that Madison might have been targeted on purpose. I got her talking about it again after her dad left this morning, though she hates when I bring it up.
/>
“I can’t live in fear my whole life, Ben. Besides, I was probably just being paranoid when I thought someone was following me.”
I don’t think she was being paranoid at all. If anything, she needs to be more concerned.
Another news article on the Clifton Cove Times website leads me to a dead end. There’s nothing. No write-up about the incident. No mention of Madison or a suspect on the loose. It’s probably for the best. There’s no point in worrying everyone, and there’s such little crime in this area of town. I’d understand it if Madison was walking over where Mac and his friends hang out, over near Murphy’s. They probably—
My brain stops short on that thought.
It’s stupid, really. Just a whim.
Shit. I’m already on my feet, stuffing my phone in my back pocket and finding my keys.
“Hey Madison!”
“Yeah?” she calls from the bathroom.
“I just remembered I’ve got to go run an errand. Is it okay if I meet you at Andy’s party?”
The shower cuts off and a second later, her head pops out of the bathroom. “What do you mean, an errand?”
“It’s something for work.”
She frowns in disbelief. “Um…okay, I guess. You’re definitely lying to me right now, though.”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Why?”
Because if I tell you where I’m going, you’ll ask me to stay, but I have to try.
“I’ll tell you at the party,” I say, stepping over to her and kissing her forehead. Then I think better of it and kiss her lips. She’s warm and wet. It’d be a better use of my time to push her right back into that shower, but then I remember it only gets freezing cold water and that idea pops like a bubble.
“I’ll meet you at Andy’s. I won’t be late, I swear!”
Ten minutes later, I’m outside Andy’s house insisting he get in my car.
He’s hanging out the window, shaking his head. “I’ve got party setup to do, man—streamers to hang, balloons to fill. Arianna wants to give me my birthday present before the party starts and I’m pretty sure it’s a blowjob.”
His eyebrows dance with the possibility.
“That’s cool, man, really. No one wants you to get that birthday blowjob more than me. I just need you to get into the car and help me with this one little thing. I’ll have you back here in a jiffy.”
His eyes are skeptical. “You’ve never once used the word jiffy. You’re not a ‘jiffy’ kind of guy.”
I lean over and push the door open, forcing his hand.
“You really aren’t going to tell me where we’re going?” he asks as we start pull out of his neighborhood.
I smile, big and wide. “It’s a birthday surprise.”
He fully believes me until we cross the highway.
“You aren’t taking me to Chuck E. Cheese’s, right? Because Arianna already took me and—”
“Shockingly, no.”
“Okay, well, you just crossed under the highway.” He points out the window for proof. “Did you take a wrong turn?”
I don’t reply.
“Are you taking me to that seedy strip club in the bad part of town? Because while I appreciate the gesture, bro, I’m not really looking to spend my birthday at Solid Platinum. That place is haunted.”
I turn off the main road and down another side street. My hand is gripping the steering wheel hard enough that my knuckles are turning white. I might be a little nervous. Down another side street, the neon sign for Murphy’s glows in the distance. Motorcycles and trucks are parked out front. A few guys smoke near the door. They’re probably the ones who “witnessed” my fight with Mac and came to his defense. I swear they’re all wearing leather jackets with mean expressions. I can’t be certain, but one of them looks as if he’s sharpening a knife.
Ben jerks forward in his seat.
“Murphy’s?! Seriously?”
He tries to reach over to grab the steering wheel and I fend off his tepid attack.
“Hey! Cool it! I’m about to drive off the road!”
“Good! I’d rather end up in a ditch than in that bar again.”
“I have a reason, and it doesn’t involve fighting anyone!” I say, holding his arms at bay. “I just want to talk to Mac.”
“Talk? There is no talking to Mac! He used to be a normal kid, but now he’s an angry psycho, and sorry to say, I know you’ve been working out a lot, but he’s bigger than you.” He holds his hands out around his waist. “Just rounder, you know, from all the fast food. C’mon, I’d really prefer to not have my best friend get killed on my birthday.”
I pull into the parking lot and turn to him. “I have this idea, and it’s not a good one, I’ll admit that—”
“All right, I’m glad you see reason. Put ’er in reverse and let’s head back to the party. I bet Arianna’s all done inflating the balloons which means she can move on to blowing something else.”
Instead of doing as he asks, I unlock the doors. Andy reaches over and frantically relocks his like monsters are about to break in. Hell, maybe they are. The guys near the door watched us pull in and park. My SUV doesn’t exactly blend in out here. I should have parked down the street or something.
“This is stupid. They’re going to kill you and dump your body. I’m going to have to run our damn firm all by myself.”
“No they won’t. They’re not murderers. Just—”
“Look!” Andy shouts, pointing out my window. “The cops are already here arresting someone else! Probably for murder!”
I jerk my attention to where he’s pointing and sure enough, three police officers are escorting a guy out the front door in handcuffs. The light’s not great out here, so it takes me a second to realize one of the officers is Madison’s brother.
Oh good. We can continue what we started this morning, round two of Hart vs. Rosenberg.
“Look, see? That’ll be you. If you go in there, you’re going to get arrested again. Mark my words.”
I ignore him and watch as Colten steers the guy toward the waiting police cruiser. I’m wondering if I should wait until Colten’s gone before I get out. I don’t really want to get into it with him right now, but then I take another look at the guy they’re arresting and my attention snags on his shoes.
My breath stops short.
I know those shoes.
I’ve seen those shoes.
I yank my car door open and slam it closed behind me before I fully realize what I’m doing.
Andy’s yelling at me to get back in, but my pace only picks up.
“Don’t be stupid! What are you doing?!”
This is the guy.
This is Madison’s attacker. Those faded red sneakers with the black laces—they’re the same pair I described to the police that night.
He’s here now, slightly shorter than I remember and younger, a punk making a scene as the police try to haul him toward the cruiser. He kicks and jerks around, calling them every name under the sun and trying to break out of their hold. They’re having a hell of a time getting him into the back of the vehicle and I think, Good, let him cause trouble. Hell, they should just let him go. I have a bone to pick with him.
Colten sees me walking over and nods his head to the officer beside him, making sure he has control of the situation. Then he breaks off and makes his way toward me, hand outstretched as if to stop me from going any farther.
I realize then I must have murder in my eyes.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he asks brusquely.
“That’s him,” I say, trying to swerve around him. What’s my plan? I don’t know. Let me get my hands around that guy’s neck and we’ll see.
Colten sidesteps in front of me and presses his hand to my chest. “Yes, it’s him. Don’t be stupid.”
Don’t be stupid?
“I’m not, just—here, let me have your gun for a second.”
He laughs and the sound is so shocking that I blink, my rage-filled cloud st
arting to dissipate.
“Jesus. Remind me not to piss you off,” Colten says, shaking his head.
I chuckle, just once, but it feels good. Oh shit. Oh fucking shit. I was so close to walking into that bar and doing something stupid. My adrenaline was already pumping. My heart was prepping me for the fight. I wasn’t even thinking.
I lean forward, drop my hands to my knees, and laugh. I’m near tears. I think I’m delirious with relief. I really didn’t want to have to go in there and face Mac. I had no plan. I sort of hoped he’d feel bad for the whole talking-shit-about-my-mom thing and getting me arrested, bad enough that maybe he’d be willing to give me information about his friend here.
All in all, I was going to end tonight with another black eye, at least.
“So…what are you doing here?” Colten asks again. “I take it you’re not just here for a drink.”
I stand back up and face him. “Turns out, the same thing you are.”
He furrows his brow.
I shrug. “After your dad said there wasn’t much hope of solving the case, I thought I’d take matters into my own hands. So you got him?”
Colten nods. “We’ve been looking into people who might have had a motive for hurting Madison. Turns out, I arrested this guy’s brother a year ago on a grand theft auto charge.” He tilts his head toward the cruiser. “He thought he’d get revenge by scaring Madison, but then he bragged about it to some friends, friends who had no problem throwing him under the bus when we pushed them on it. Pretty stupid if you ask me.”
Any ill will I might have harbored toward Colten is gone, just like that, with the snap of a finger. He just made sure Madison won’t get hurt again. He’s arresting the guy. I kind of want to high-five him, but I don’t get the feeling that we’re there yet.
“If you’d shown up and we weren’t here,” Colten continues, eyes narrowing on me. “What were you going to do? Just march in there and—what? Shout out to the bar and ask if anyone’s held up a girl at gunpoint lately?”
