Promise Me (2006)

by Harlan - Myron 08 Coben

  Chapter 26

  Myron and Win met up three blocks away near an elementary school. A parked car here would be less conspicuous. Win was dressed in black, including a black skull cap that hid his blond locks. I didn't see an alarm system, Myron said . Win nodded. Alarms were minor nuisances anyway, not deal breakers. I'll be back in thirty minutes . He was. On the dot . The girl isn't inside the house. Two teachers live there. His name is Harry Davis. He teaches English at Livingston High School. His wife is Lois. She teaches at a middle school in Glen Rock. They have two daughters, college age, judging by the pictures and the fact that they weren't home . This can't be a coincidence . I put a GPS tracker on both cars. Davis also has a well-worn briefcase, stuffed with term papers and lesson plans. I put one on that too. You go home, get some sleep. I'll let you know when he wakes up and starts to move. I'll follow. And then we'll be on him . Myron crawled into bed. He figured sleep would never come to him. But it did. He slept deep until he heard a metallic click coming from downstairs . His father had been a light sleeper. In his youth, Myron would wake up at night and try to walk past his parents' room without stirring Dad. He had never made it. His father did not wake up slowly either . He woke with a start, like someone had poured ice water down his drawstring bottoms . So that was how it was when he heard the click. He shot up in the bed. The gun was on the night table. He grabbed it. His cell phone was there too. He hit Win's speed dial, the line that rang for Win to mute and eavesdrop . Myron sat very still and listened . The front door opened . Whoever it was, they were trying to keep quiet. Myron crept to the wall next to his bedroom door. He waited, listened some more. The intruder had gone through the front door. That was odd. The lock was old. It could be picked. But to be that silent about it just one quick click it meant whoever it was, or whoever they were, they were good . He waited . Footsteps . They were light. Myron pressed his back against the wall. The gun tightened in his hand. His leg ached from the bite. His head pounded. He tried to swim through it, tried to focus . He calculated the best place to stand. Pressed against the wall next to the door, where he was now that was good for listening, but it wouldn't be ideal, despite what you see in the movies, if someone entered his room. In the first place, if the guy was good, he'd be looking for that. In the second place, if there were more than one of them, jumping someone from behind the door would be the worst place to be. You're forced to attack right away and thus expose your location. You might nail the first guy, but the second one would lay you to waste . Myron padded toward the bathroom door. He stood behind it, kept low, the door almost closed. He had a perfect angle. He could see the intruder enter. He could shoot or call out and if he did shoot, he'd still be in a good position if someone else either charged in or retreated . The footsteps stopped outside his bedroom door . He waited. His breath rang in his ears. Win was good at this, the patience part. That had never been Myron's forte. But he calmed himself. He kept his breathing deep. His eyes stayed on the open doorway . He saw a shadow . Myron aimed his gun at the middle of it. Win might go for the head, but Myron zeroed in on the center of the chest, the most forgiving target . When the intruder stepped through the doorway and into a bit of light, Myron nearly gasped out loud. He stepped out from the behind the door, still holding the gun . Well, well, the intruder said. After seven years, is that a gun in your hand or are you just happy to see me?Myron did not move . Seven years. After seven years. And within seconds, it was like those seven years had never happened . Jessica Culver, his former soul mate, was back.

  Chapter 27

  They were downstairs in the kitchen. Jessica opened up the refrigerator. No Yoo-hoo?Myron shook his head. Chocolate Yoo-hoo had been hisfavorite beverage. When they lived together, he'd always had plentyon hand.

  You don't drink it anymore?Not much. I guess one of us should note that everything changes. How did you get in? he asked . You still keep the key in the gutter. Just like your father did. We used it once. Do you remember?He did. They'd sneaked down to the basement, giggling. They'd made love . Jessica smiled at him. The years showed, he guessed. There were more lines around the eyes. Her hair was shorter and more stylized. But the effect was still the same . She was knock-you-to-your-knees beautiful . Jessica said, You're staring . He said nothing . Good to know I still have it . Yeah, that Stone Norman is a lucky man . Right, she said. I figured you'd see that . Myron said nothing . You'd like him, she said . Oh, I bet . Everyone does. He has lots of friends . Do they call him Stoner?Only his old frat buddies . I should have guessed . Jessica studied him for a moment. Her gaze made his face warm. You look like hell, by the way . I took something of a beating today . Some things don't change then. How's Win?Speaking of things that don't change . Sorry to hear that . We going to keep this up, Myron said, or are you going to tell me why you're here?Can we keep this up for a few more minutes?Myron shrugged a suit-yourself at her . How are your parents? she asked . Fine . They never liked me . No, I don't suppose they did . A nd Esperanza? Does she still refer to me as Queen Bitch?She hasn't so much as mentioned your name in seven years . That made her smile. Like I'm Voldemort. In the Harry Potter books . Yep, you're She-who-must-not-be-named . Myron shifted in his chair. He turned away for a few seconds. She was just so damn beautiful. It was like looking into an eclipse. You need to look away every once in a while . You know why I'm here, she said . One last fling before you marry Stoner?Would you be willing?No . Liar . He wondered if she was right, so he took the mature route. Are you aware that 'Stoner' rhymes with 'boner'?Making fun of someone's name, Jessica said, when yours is Myron . Throwing stones, glass houses, yeah, I know. Her eyes were red. Are you drunk?Tipsy maybe. I had enough to get my courage up . To break into my house?Yes . So what is it, Jessica?You and I, she said. We're not really through . He said nothing . I pretend we're done, you pretend we're done. But we both know better. Jessica turned to the side and swallowed. He watched her neck. He saw hurt in her eyes. What was the first thing that went through your mind when you read I was getting married?I wished you and Stoner nothing but the best . She waited . I don't know what I thought, he said . I t hurt?What do you want me to say, Jess? We were together a long time. Of course there was a pang . I t's like she paused, thought about it it's like, despite the fact I haven't talked to you in seven years, it was always just a question of time before we got back together. Like this was all part of the process. Do you know what I mean?He said nothing, but he felt something deep inside him start to fray . A nd then today, I saw my announcement in print the announcement I wrote and suddenly it was like, 'Wait, this is for real. Myron and I don't end up together.' She shook her head. I'm not saying this right . Nothing to say, Jessica . Just like that?You being here, he said. It's just prewedding jitters . Don't patronize me . What do you want me to say?I don't know . They sat there for a while. Myron held out his hand. She took it. He felt something course through him . I know why you're here, Myron said. I don't even think I'msurprised.

  There's still something between us, isn't there?I don't know.... I hear a 'but.' You go through what we went through the love, the breakups, my injuries, all that pain, all that time together, the fact that I wanted to marry you Let me address that part, okay?In a second. I'm on a roll here . Jessica smiled. Sorry . You go through all that, your lives become so entwined with one another. And then one day, you just end it. You just sever it off like with a machete. But you're so entwined, stuff is still there . Our lives are enmeshed, she said . Enmeshed, he repeated. That sounds so precious . But it's somewhat accurate . He nodded . So what do we do?Nothing. That's just part of life . Do you know why I didn't marry you?It's irrelevant, Jess . I don't think it is. I think we need to play through this . Myron let go of her hand and signaled, fine, go ahead . Most people hate their parents' lives. They rebel. But you wanted to be just like them. You wanted the house, the kids And you didn't, he interrupted. We know all this . That's not it. I might have wanted that life too . Just not with me . You know that's not it. I just wasn't sure. . . . She tilted her
head. You wanted that life. But I didn't know if you wanted that life more than me . That, Myron said, is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard . Maybe, but that's how I felt . Great, I didn't love you enough . She looked at him, shook her head. No man has ever loved melike you did.

  Silence. Myron held back the what-about-Stoner remark. When you blew out your knee Not that again. Please. Jessica pushed ahead. When you blew out your knee, you changed. You worked so hard to move past it . You'd have preferred the self-pity route, Myron said . That might have worked better. Because what you did instead, what you ended up doing, was running scared. You grabbed so tight to everything you had that it was suffocating. All of a sudden you were mortal. You didn't want to lose anything else and suddenly This is all great, Jess. Hey, I forget. At Duke, who taught your Intro to Psychology class? Because he'd be proud as punch right about now . Jessica just shook her head at him . What? he said . You're still not married, are you, Myron?'Neither, he said, are you . TouchT. But have you had a lot of serious relationships over the past seven years?He shrugged. I'm involved right now . Really?What, that's such a surprise?No, but think about it. You, Mr. Commitment, Mr. Long-Term Relationship why is it taking you so long to find anybody else?Don't tell me. He held up a hand. You spoiled me for all other women?Well, that would be understandable. Jessica arched an eyebrow. But no, I don't think so . Well, I'm all ears. Why? Why aren't I happily married by now?Jessica shrugged. I'm still working on it . Don't work on it. It doesn't involve you anymore . She shrugged again . They both sat there. It was funny how comfortable he was with all this . You remember my friend Claire? Myron said . She married that uptight guy, right? We went to their wedding . Erik. He didn't want to go into it all, so he started with something else. He told me tonight that he and Claire are having troubles. He says it's inevitable, that eventually it all dims and fades and that it becomes something else. He says he misses the passion . I s he messing around? Jessica asked . Why do you ask that?Because it sounds like he's trying to justify his actions . So you don't think there's anything to that dimming passion stuff?Of course there's something to it. Passion can't stay at that fevered pitch . Myron thought about that. It did for us . Yes, she said . There was no fade . None. But we were young. And maybe that's why, in the end, we blew up . He considered that. She took his hand again. There was a charge. Then Jessica gave him a look. The look, to be more specific. Myron froze . Uh-oh . You and this new woman, Jessica said. Are you exclusive?You and Stoner-Boner, he countered. Are you exclusive?Low blow. But it's not about Stone. It's not about your new missus. It's about us . A nd you think, what, a quick boink will help clarify things?Still a wordsmith with the ladies, I see . Here's another word from the wordsmith: no . Jessica toyed with the top button of her blouse. Myron felt his mouth go a little dry. But she stopped . You're right, she said . He wondered if he was disappointed that she hadn't pushed it further. He wondered what he would have done if she had . They started talking then, just catching up on the years. Myron told her about Jeremy, about his serving overseas. Jessica told him about her books, her family, her time working out on the West Coast. She didn't talk about Stoner. He didn't talk about Ali . Morning came. They were still in the kitchen. They'd been talking for hours, but it didn't feel like it. It just felt good. At seven a.m., the phone rang. Myron picked it up . Win said, Our favorite schoolteacher is heading to work.

  Chapter 28

  Myron and Jessica hugged good-bye. The hug lasted a long time. Myron could smell Jessica's hair. He didn't remember the name of her shampoo, but it had lilacs and wildflowers and was the same one she'd used when they'd been together . Myron called Claire. I have a quick question, he said to her . Erik said he saw you last night . Yeah . He's been on the computer all night . Good. Look, do you know a teacher named Harry Davis?Sure. Aimee had him for English last year. He's also a guidance counselor now, I think . Did she like him?Very much. Then: Why? Does he have something to do with this?I know you want to help, Claire. And I know Erik wants to help. But you have to trust me on this, okay?I do trust you . Erik told you about the cut-through we found?Yes . Harry Davis lives on the other side of it . Oh my God . A imee is not in his house or anything. We already checked . What do you mean, you checked? How did you check?Please, Claire, just listen to me. I'm working on this, but I need to do it without interference. You have to keep Erik off my back, okay? Tell him I said to search all the surrounding streets online. Tell him to drive around that area, but not on that cul-de-sac. Or better yet, have him callDominick Rochester that's Katie's father He called us . Dominick Rochester?Yes . When?Last night. He said he met with you . Met, Myron thought. Nice euphemism . We're getting together this morning the Rochesters and us. We're going to see if we can find a connection between Katie and Aimee . Good. That'll help. Listen, I have to go . You'll call?As soon as I know something . Myron heard her sob . Claire?It's been two days, Myron . I know. I'm on it. You might want to try to pressure the police more too. Now that we've crossed the forty-eight-hour mark . Okay . He wanted to say something like Be strong, but it sounded so stupid in his head that he let it go. He said good-bye and hung up. Then he called Win . A rticulate, Win said . I can't believe you still answer the phone that way. 'Articulate.' Silence . I s Harry Davis still heading to the high school?He is . On my way . Livingston High School, his alma mater. Myron started up the car. The total ride would be maybe two miles, but whoever was tailing him either wasn't very good at it or didn't care. Or maybe, after the debacle with the Twins, Myron was being more wary. Either way, a gray Chevy, maybe a Caprice, had been on him since he made the first turn . He called Win and got the customary Articulate . I 'm being followed, Myron said . Rochester again?Could be . Make and license plate?Myron gave it to him . Win said, We're still on Route 280, so stall a little. Take them down past Mount Pleasant Avenue. I'll get in behind them, meet you back at the circle . Myron did as Win suggested. He turned into Harrison School for the U-turn. The Chevy following him kept going straight. Myron started back down the other way on Livingston Avenue. By the time he hit the next traffic light, the gray Chevy was back on his tail . Myron hit the big circle in front of the high school, parked, and got out of his car. There were no stores here, but this was the nerve center of Livingston a plethora of identical brick. There was the police station, the courthouse, the town library, and there, the large crown jewel, Livingston High School . The early morning joggers and walkers were on the circle. Most were on the elderly side and moved slowly. But not all. A group of four hotties, all hard-bodied and maybe twenty-ish, were jogging in his direction . Myron smiled at them and arched an eyebrow. Hello, ladies, he said as they passed . Two of them snickered. The other two looked at him as though he'd just announced that he had a poopie in his pants . Win sidled up next to him. Did you give them the full-wattage smile?I'd say a good eighty, ninety watts . Win studied the young women before making a declaration: Lesbians, he said . Must be . A lot of that going around, isn't there?Myron did the math in his head. He probably had fifteen to twenty years on them. When it comes to young girls, you just never want to feel it . The car following you, Win said, keeping his eyes on the young joggers, is an unmarked police vehicle with two uniforms inside. They're parked in the library lot watching us through a telephoto lens . You mean they're taking our picture right now?Probably, Win said . How's my hair?Win made an eh gesture with his hand . Myron thought about what it meant. They probably still see me as a suspect . I would, Win said. He had what looked like a Palm Pilot in his hand. It was tracking the car's GPS. Our favorite teacher should be arriving now . The teachers' lot was on the west side of the school. Myron and Win walked over. They figured that it would be better to confront him here, outside, before class started . A s they headed over, Myron said, Guess who stopped by my house at three a.m.?Wink Martindale?No . I love that guy . Who doesn't? Jessica . I know . How . . . Then he remembered. He'd called Win's cell when he heard the click at the door. He'd hung up as they headed down to the kitchen . Win said, Did you do h
er?Yes. Many times. But not in the last seven years . Good one. Pray tell, did she stop by to shag for old times' sake? 'Shag?' My Anglo ancestory. Well?A gentleman never kisses and tells. But yes . A nd you refused?I remain chaste . Your chivalry, Win said. Some would call it admirable . But not you . No, I'd call it and I'm breaking out the big words here so pay attention really, really moronic . I 'm involved with someone else . I see. So you and Miss Six-Point-Eight have promised to shag only one another?It's not like that. It's not like one day you turn to the other and say, 'Hey, let's not sleep with anybody else.' So you didn't specifically promise?No . Win held up both hands, totally lost. I don't understand then. Did Jessica have BO or something?Win. Just forget it . Done . Sleeping with her would only complicate things, okay?Win just stared . What?You're a very big girl, Win said . They walked a little more . Win said, Do you still need me?I don't think so . I 'll be in the office then. If there's trouble, hit the cell . Myron nodded as Win headed off. Harry Davis got out of his car. There were clusters of cliques in the lot. Myron shook his head. Nothing changed. The Goths wore only black with silver studs. The Brains had heavy backpacks and dressed in short-sleeved button-down shirts of one hundred percent polyester like a bunch of assistant managers at a chain drugstore convention. The Jocks took up the most space, sitting on car hoods and wearing leather-sleeved varsity jackets, even though it was too hot for them . Harry Davis had the easy walk and carefree smile of the well-liked. His looks landed him smack in the average category, and he dressed like a high school teacher, which was to say poorly. All the cliques greeted him, which said something. First, the Brains shook his hand and called out, Hey, Mr. D!Mr. D?Myron stopped. He thought back to Aimee's yearbook, her favorite teachers: Miss Korty . . .. . . and Mr. D. Davis kept moving. The Goths were next. They gave him small waves, much too cool to do more than that. When he approached the Jocks, several offered up high-fives and Yo, Mr. D!s . Harry Davis stopped and started talking to one of the Jocks. The two moved a few feet away from the cluster. The conversation appeared more animated. The jock had a varsity jacket with a football on the back of it and the letters QB for quarterback on the sleeve. Some of the guys were calling to him. They yelled out, Hey, Farm. But the quarterback was focused on the teacher. Myron moved closer for a better look . Well, hello, Myron said to himself . The boy talking with Harry Davis Myron could see him clearly now, the soul patch on his chin, the Rastafarian hair was none other than Randy Wolf.