Shadows in the Night

by J. J. Franck

  Avery was past due for her Meds and knew that was why she was feeling light headed. She only hoped Beth wasn’t in a talkative mood today because all Avery wanted was just to sit and let the Meds kick in. She knew it would be a good fifteen minutes before she would feel some relief, and only hoped Beth would hurry with the soup because the pains in her stomach were getting worse.

  “Not feeling well?” Beth asked.

  “Just a little under the weather,” Avery replied not wanting to go into what was really wrong with her and only wanted Beth to get her food and stop talking. Something the young brassy waitress found difficult to do at the moment.

  Avery didn’t know how much longer she would be able to keep this up. There was no handbook on how to handle a diagnosis like this or how or when to tell people. It was something you just didn’t broadcast to the world. Avery just figured she would one day quit her job and then live with her parents and from there she gave little thought to what would come next other than death. Avery only hoped the end would be quick. The idea of lingering with a long, painful death was not number one on her list of things to do. In the scheme of life, one never prepares oneself for death. But this was now a reality for her. She was given the death sentence months ago, and up until now, she hadn’t thought about it much. But now each day was getting worse than the last, Avery knew she would have to deal with what was to come and sooner than later. The doctor appointment next week Wednesday was fast approaching. And Avery figured with her parents being there. Avery would have to make some major decisions about her future care.

  Beth poked Avery to get her attention. “My sister knows a man who had this.”

  Avery just held up her hand. “Not right now. I’ve got a headache.”

  Beth just patted Avery’s hand. “We’ll talk later,” she said.

  All Avery could do was force a smile and was glad Beth didn’t pursue a further discussion, not sure if it was on setting her up with a male friend of hers or on her health. She didn’t care at this point as all she wanted right then was to be left alone.

  “Could I get the water right away?”

  “Sure hon,” Beth said as she quickly went behind the counter and poured the ice water in a glass and then walked back to the table and handed it to Avery.

  Avery quickly took out the pillbox and dumped them into her palm and then popped the handful into her mouth. She quickly swallowed the water. It didn’t take long and now all she had to do was wait for them to kick in. Avery took some deep breaths hoping that would relax the pain in her head. But for some reason, the discomfort she felt that morning was more intense than it had ever been previously.

  Kirt walked into the café soon after Avery was seated. He used the restaurant’s phone and called the station house to check in. All the while Kirt did that, Kirt kept an eye on Avery. He half expected the two men from the library to make an appearance. But when they didn’t, and the waitress brought Avery’s lunch, Kirt hung up the phone and walked thru the café to Avery’s booth and then he stopped and looked down at her.

  “Mind if I join you?” he asked.

  Avery glanced up and appeared surprised to see the stranger from the library and even more surprised he didn’t choose to sit at one of the empty booths in the café because there were plenty of them given it was well past one. Avery looked around and then back up at Kirt and just shrugged.

  “Whatever,” was all Avery mustered up to say. She wasn’t that anxious to visit with anyone but didn’t have it in her to say no.

  Avery figured she would just eat her lunch and leave long before this stranger from the library would get his food.

  Beth brought Avery her soup with the tea on the tray. She set the items down in front of Avery.

  “Heavy eater,” Kirt said looking at what Avery ordered.

  “I didn’t invite you.”

  Beth just smiled at the two for a moment and then turned to Kirt. “You want to order.”

  “Just a cup of coffee,” he said.

  Once Beth turned and walked off, Kirt looked at Avery. “It’s just you don’t look like you need to watch your figure,” he said giving Avery the once over.

  Avery tilted her head and gave Kirt a stern look. It bothered her somewhat that he felt the need to comment on what she ate, thinking it had to do with watching her weight. And for that matter, it was none of his business.

  “Well I mean,” and then he stopped suddenly realizing he wasn’t making the situation any better.

  “If you want to sit here fine,” Avery snapped and then thought for a moment before continuing. “But keep your opinions to yourself.”

  Kirt just shook his head. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t being.”

  Avery again looked sternly at Kirt. “I mean it!”

  Kirt nodded and then quickly added, “Okay, no more talk about what you’re eating,” he said as he smiled while shaking his head. “How long have you worked at the library?”

  Avery appeared a little puzzled. “Are you following me?”

  Avery stared at Kirt for the longest time and figured she would get it out right away that she knew he had been at the library earlier. Avery had the uncanny feeling she was being watched all morning and now she knew it was not her imagination. It started that morning in the park and then at the library. Avery always had a keen sense of her surroundings.

  “I saw you there, and I was just passing the café when I saw you again.”

  Avery wasn’t buying into his explanation. She just rolled her eyes as she shook her head. Avery took the spoon and scooped up some soup as Kirt nodded his head in silent defeat.

  “Okay, I followed you here,” he said.

  “Why?” Avery asked looking up at the man sitting across from her with renewed interest. He was nice looking, and reminded her of all the bad boys in high school she was warned to keep her distance from. But that was then and this is now. It kind of made her feel flattered that he followed her.

  “Now I regret following you,” Kirt said, giving Avery a half smile and then quickly winked at her, “Satisfied.”

  “A girl can’t be too careful.” Avery snapped. “Besides, you were at the library all morning and you never checked out a book.”

  “You were watching me?” Kirt asked with a look of surprise. He was a little taken a back that his being there was so obvious and that Avery actually was watching him too.

  “Any reasonable person couldn’t help but take notice.”

  Kirt glanced out the window at the pedestrians who all seemed in a hurry to get someplace. Then he finally turned back to Avery and smiled warmly.

  “Should we start over, my name is Kirt McCauley?” he said with a smile.

  “How long have you been a cop?” Avery asked as the smile was gone now, replaced with a look of concern.

  “It shows?”

  “You don’t look like a student.”

  “I’ll have to tell the Captain. Maybe it will get me off this detail.”

  “What are you after?” Avery asked curiously why he spent the morning at such a mundane place.

  “At the library?”

  “Where else,” Avery said giving Kirt a look of frustration.

  Kirt glance around to see who was near them or if anyone was listening to their conversation.

  “Do you remembering giving a note to those two guys sitting off near the window where I was sitting before that space cadet started bothering me this morning?”

  Kirt studied Avery carefully. His gut instinct told him she wasn’t involved. She just didn’t seem the type to dabble in the drug trade. But there had been those rare instances where some unlikely person got mixed up through no fault of their own. Avery didn’t fit that profile either.

  Avery stared at Kirt with a look of surprise. She was uncomfortable with the fact her actions were being monitored. And more disturbing was the fact that she wondered if her supervisors were aware the library was involved in an undercover operation. Indeed, the employees should have been made aware of
that. And then it hit her they were all under suspicion. What purpose would that serve if you alerted the wrong person? It made perfect sense now.

  Finally, Avery turned to Kirt. “Oh yeah now I remember, I got a call from the information desk, someone gave them a note for those two and I was enlisted to take it up to them. Why, is there a problem with that?”

  “What did the note say?” Kirt asked.

  “Why would I read the note?” Avery asked, as she just stared at Kirt for the longest time, curious what this was really about.

  Kirt leaned closer to Avery and then in a low voice, so no one could pick up on what he was saying. “There’s a new designer drug on the market. It’s deadly. Your first trip is usually your last!”

  Avery laughed mockingly. “And this is why you followed me?” she snapped.

  The idea that Kirt in any way would think she was involved in drugs was incomprehensible. But then it hit her Kirt didn’t know her. She had worked too hard to get where she was to risk it all for a few quick bucks. And given her health issues, getting through the day was hard enough without complicating things more. All through her college years she never experimented with the drugs that were so prevalent around campus. The only thing she ever took was once, in desperation to cram for an important exam she took a five-hour energy boost, but that only upset her stomach and made it impossible to stay focused on her studing.

  “I saw over a hundred grand pass hands this morning,” Kirt quickly added.

  Avery was taken a back for a moment. “And that student,” she started to say but then stopped.

  “He’s not a student.”

  “And you think he was involved in selling drugs at the library.”

  “I don’t think. I witnessed it this morning. And for the record, the library has been watched for over three weeks now.”

  Avery just shook her head as she glanced at her watch quickly and shoved the bowl of soup aside because she was no longer hungry. Besides, lately, food had a metallic taste to it that wasn’t very appealing. It was like that ever since she was on the Meds.

  She quickly got up. “I better get back,” was all she said and then smiled at Kirt. “This isn’t my concern.”

  Avery had known kids in high school and then again in college who got hooked on drugs. It had always been her practice to avoid contact with them once it was established that they were drug users. It had been her contention that there was guilt by association. And she made conscientious decision years earlier to stay clean of the street drugs that were so easily available to anyone with extra cash on hand. Without going into details, she didn’t need to spend her last days worrying about drugs being sold at the library. It hadn’t been her concern in the past and certainly not now given what she was dealing with in her personal life.

  “People are dying,” Kirt said with concern in his voice.

  “They make their own choices.”

  “Don’t you care?”

  “I have my own problems to worry about,” Avery snapped and then quickly added. “You can’t save the world.”

  Kirt got up quickly. “I’ll walk you back,” he said.

  Avery stopped suddenly and stared at Kirt for the longest time. “You didn’t drink your coffee.”

  “I really don’t need the caffeine right now,” is all he mustered up to say as he took a bill out of his wallet and tossed it on the table. “My treat.”

  Kirt took hold of Avery’s arm. Avery felt she had no choice but to let him walk her back to the library. She walked out of the café, smiled at Beth as she walked out the door.

  Beth watched the two as they left. A part of her was concerned because she had known Avery for going on five years now and never once did she see her so willing to take up with a stranger like today. And she was sure he wasn’t someone Avery knew just by the little bits of conversation she overheard. Avery hadn’t sent up any alarms for her to be concerned about, and the man seemed harmless enough. Even though she felt comfortable with the situation, Beth still went to the door and watched the two stroll down the street until they turned the corner to the park. Once they were out of view, Beth went back to work.

  CHAPTER 5

  Avery was somewhat curious about the undercover police officer that purposely followed her, on her lunch hour. She deliberately took the long way back to the library along the outer edge of Washington Square Park. She usually liked the hustle and bustle the early afternoon hours offered, as students made their way to their next class at the university after the noon lunch break. It was a busy little park in the heart of the city. Most tourists avoided it because of the congregation of students who filled its enclosure. Avery glanced around at the students sitting on the grass catching a little sun while studying. She envied them their carefree lives.

  Avery would have given anything to go back a few years. And possibly spend a little more time enjoying life more. Avery now regretted being so serious while avoiding doing things just for the sake of fun. It had never occurred to her that her life would be cut short with a medical diagnosis.

  Kirt turned to Avery. There was something about this young woman that he found himself attracted to. It hadn’t been in his nature to mix his personal life with the job, but for some reason, Kirt kept running into her. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but for some reason, after seeing her that morning in the park, he couldn’t stop thinking about Avery. And when she stepped out of the elevator on the sixth floor, Kirt felt his heart skip a beat. Kirt watched Avery for the longest time, nervous because he didn’t know what to say.

  “This is a beautiful little park,” Kirt finally blurted trying to break the long silence between the two.

  Avery awkwardly sought to hide her nervousness. She finally just turned and glanced up at Kirt. He seemed sincere about the remark, but she found it hard to believe that so many people who lived in New York City were oblivious of this park. It may have had a lot to do with it being surrounded by university buildings and parking in the area was at a premium given the number of people living in the area.

  “I like the solitude,” Avery said as she looked around longingly. Her vision suddenly became blurred as tears streamed down her cheek.

  Kirt didn’t want to call attention to the fact Avery was getting emotional at the moment. He quickly looked around at all the students on the lawn and the never-ending activity that was a far cry from what he would call calm. There were at least four different songs played on radios, a few groups played with Frisbees, while a few people sat on the lawn trying to study. For him, it was total bedlam.

  “Quiet,” Kirt said while laughing as he slowly turned to Avery.

  “In the early hours of the morning, it’s a different story.”

  “You are right about that.”

  Avery smiled. “That’s what’s so unique about it. It’s only the students who know it exists.”

  Kirt had been curious about something and walking along the outer edge of the park was the perfect time to bring it up. He was glad now that Avery made him as a cop, at least he didn’t have to lie about why he was curious about things. Kirt glanced around, and when they could see the fountain through the trees, Kirt stopped for a moment and just stood there as if searching for the right words. And then he turned to Avery.

  “That student in the library, the one who acted strangely. What’s his story?” Kirt blurted out, not able to hold his curiosity back.

  Kirt didn’t suspect the space cadet as being part of the drug trade, but he somehow wanted to know what his back-story was. He feared if he ran his name through the station database someone might make him for something more than what he was. Somehow Kirt figured him to be harmless and didn’t want him committed to Bellevue for observation because of his inquiry.

  “Oh, you mean Nat,” Avery said finally.

  “Not the sharpest tool in the shed.”

  “You’re wrong about that,” Avery said with a big grin on her face.

  Kirt turned to Avery suddenly and laughed to himse
lf. “Oh yeah, right. And I just won the lottery.”

  Avery stared at Kirt. It angered her that he categorized Nathaniel the way he did. It was so easy to pass Nat off as insignificant as his family did. Out of sight, out of mind. But he was a living human being, who was just too sensitive for the world around him. And that world turned on the young man causing him to burn out like a candle in the wind.

  “What you are suggesting is wrong. Nathaniel’s a genius underneath that weird persona. He had a nervous breakdown his senior year at the university. Too much self-imposed pressure to excel and in the end, he couldn’t come to terms with the imperceptive minds around him.” Avery quickly snapped and then watched Kirt’s reaction to what she said.

  Kirt was taken a back for a moment not knowing if he should trust or believe what Avery had just said, but what reason would she have for lying to him about such an insignificant thing. He avoided looking at Avery and just watched a few students throwing a Frisbee around the park and then he turned back to Avery while shaking his head in disbelief.

  “I guess I judged him wrong,” he said and then laughed.

  “His family lives on the upper east side. They set him up in an apartment in the village. They don’t want him around to embarrass the family or remind them that he was their son.”

  “He just gave me the creeps what he was saying to me,” Kirt said while shrugging.

  “He’s harmless.”

  “That’s your opinion.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Avery stopped suddenly and just waited for Kirt to explain himself.

  “You’re not honest with me.”

  “About what?” Avery asked not understanding what Kirt was talking about.

  “And why do you always answer a question with a question?”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Kirt pointed the finger at Avery with a look on his face that made her smile when she realized what he meant. “See you did it again,” he said quickly.

  Avery just shook her head in defeat. She walked away from Kirt and took the long narrow path through the park that lead to the library with Kirt following close behind. She was getting tired of defending her actions and those of Nathaniel. Avery only hoped that the surveillance at the library would not be going on for too much longer.