CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
It seemed like the rest of the week flew by. While Moe had made it sound like Sissy's party was a simple thing, it seemed like everyday there was something else to do in preparation. I felt good being involved. My relationship with Sissy had evolved considerably over the time I've been here, from nodding acquaintances, to co-workers, to lovers, to friends with benefits, to just good old-fashioned friends. I've never had a relationship with any woman quite like the one I've had with Sissy and I'm going to miss her more than I'll probably ever admit to her. I won't admit it simply because I don't think it would take too much to influence her to stay here and not go to Atlanta. She's worked too hard in school to pass up this opportunity. I sure can't ask her to stay here just to be my good friend. Even I'm not that selfish.
Justin stopped in one day and asked if I talked to PJ. I gave him an overview of my conversation with her. He asked if I thought I could persuade her to just let everything Tim had told her drop and I told him I was cautiously optimistic. His concerns seemed placated for the moment, but I also sensed he had something else on his mind. I didn't pry because every time I get involved with him, things happen I would just as soon not know about.
I didn't hear from PJ, but I didn't expect to. Sissy told me that she talked to PJ on Thursday and that PJ was enjoying her time in Orlando, feeling better each day. She added that Angela was running her grandparents into the ground at the theme parks.
Since Dana and Moe weren't mentioning Marge's health to me any more I took it as a signal that they'd had the same talk with her that Sissy and I did. Now we'd all promised not to gossip about her health, so it meant that the only way we knew what was going on was to ask her directly. I couldn't seem to find the right time to ask, so I didn't really know if she had any additional information. She did look like she was feeling better though.
Elena had called a couple of times during the week and stopped in one afternoon on her way back from Boca Raton, but I was out running errands and didn't even see her. She was there to talk to Marge and Moe about the plans for the addition. I guess none of the three of them thought it necessary to include me, so no one mentioned she was coming. I wasn't certain how to read Elena's actions toward me. For a couple of weeks I'd been afraid she was moving faster than I wanted to, but now I thought maybe her interest in me had cooled some. I do have that effect on women.
Sunday business was good in spite of our posted signs that said we were closing at 7:00 p.m. for a private party. I wondered how we were going to get people to actually leave so that we could close for the party. People aren't accustomed to a closing time quite that early. My questions were answered when I saw Moe going around to all of the tables about 6:30 p.m. reminding people of the pending closing. He was friendly enough, even adding an occasional smile, at least his version of a smile, but his size was all anyone saw. At 6:55 p.m., the only people left in the bar were those on Moe's guest list. It was funny, but by 7:30 p.m. the crowd was larger than before we closed. There was no doubt about Sissy's popularity.
Elena had arrived at about 5:30 p.m. After having a drink with me, she went back out to her car and retrieved her overnight bag telling me she was going upstairs to freshen up and change. When she came down just before the party started, she looked absolutely dazzling. It was as if her entire persona glowed. Either that, or I had missed her more than I wanted to admit. Or, maybe I was just horny. She was wearing a short sundress and flat sandals. The ends of her platinum hair were dancing on her bare shoulders as she walked toward me. I said, "You look beautiful."
She gave me a peck on the cheek and purred in my ear, "You were expecting less?"
It was an interesting mix of people at the party. Nearly everyone who worked at Cap's was there. A couple of waitresses, whose names I've not yet mastered, weren't there, but they're new and really don't know Sissy. More of the regulars than I would have expected were there. Listening to the banter between the regulars and Sissy demonstrated how much history around Cap's I knew nothing about. There were even a couple of women and a guy that Sissy introduced to me as friends from college.
Juan had outdone himself with finger foods that were mostly miniature versions of his most popular regular fare. He wore a broad grin the whole night as people complimented him on the buffet. I can hardly wait to see what impact this new found celebrity will have on kitchen operations.
At one point I heard a deep rumble of a laugh from across the room and looked over to see Moe doubled over laughing at something Marge was saying. Marge even looked as if she was enjoying herself. Given her present health issues, and her general sober nature, I took this as a very positive sign.
I realized I hadn't seen Justin and made a concerted effort to look around the room. No Justin. I was surprised, I'd heard Moe invite him a couple of days ago, because I always thought he and Sissy were friends. Then, as I thought about it, I decided that social gatherings were probably not Justin's element.
By 11:00 p.m. there were only a few of us left sitting around a long table assembled from several four tops. Sissy, Marge, Moe, Juan, Sid, who's one of the dishwashers, three of the regulars, Elena and me. Moe stood and said it was time for him to get home. He told me to just leave everything where it was when we left and he would be in early tomorrow to clean up and put everything back in place. Juan and Sid both chimed in and said they'd be in to help him. Moe engulfed Sissy in a bear hug that nearly crushed her and said goodbye. He turned abruptly and headed for the door. I wasn't sure, the lighting isn't the best, but I thought his eyes were getting watery.
Moe was only a few steps away when Marge said she should really get going as well. She called at Moe to wait, so she could walk out with him. There was a time when Marge and Sissy weren't very close, but the hug they shared in saying goodbye was as sincere as any I've ever seen. Marge and Moe went out the door together. I heard the deadbolt lock after the door closed. Moe making sure we kept the door locked.
A few minutes later, Juan and Sid left. Sissy stood and said, "I don't want tonight to end, but I do have a 7:00 a.m. flight tomorrow." Elena gave her a hug and said she thought I should walk Sissy out to her car. Sissy started to turn away, but turned back and taking Elena by the shoulders said, "You take care of him, Elena. Take care of him." With that, she turned and headed for the door. I had to hurry to catch up.
When we got to her car, Sissy unlocked the door and then turned and threw her arms around me. She was crying as she said, "I would never have done this if it hadn't been for you, Jack Nolan. All those little words of encouragement to go back to school. To apply for this internship. To just reach for something else. I'll always owe it to you. Always be my friend?"
I hugged her back, "I'll always be your friend, and you know where you can find me."
Sissy looked up through teary eyes and said, "I like Elena, Jack. I really do. I just don't know if I like her with you."
Before I could respond she gave me a kiss on the cheek and got into her car. My allergies must have been kicking up because my eyes were watering as I watched her drive from the parking lot.
When I got back inside, I found Elena clearing the glasses from the table we'd all vacated. I said, "You don't need to do that. After you leave in the morning, I'll come down and help Moe. Juan and Sid said they'd be in to help."
She set the glasses back down on the table and put her arms around my neck. Looking up at me she asked, "You okay? You know, with Sissy leaving?"
"I'm fine. It's a great opportunity for her. I'm happy for her."
A smile crossed Elena's face and lit up her eyes, "I know you'll miss her around the bar, there's nothing I can do about that, but I'm going to take you upstairs and make you forget she was ever in your bed."
And she was a woman of her word.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
It was a rainy Thursday the week following Sissy's departure. The weather had been alternating between sweltering heat and rainstorms all week, so the humidity was about 100 percent
. It felt more like the interior of Florida, not the coast. I was sitting on my usual stool finishing lunch when the backdoor opened and PJ dashed in closing an umbrella. I almost didn't recognize her with the honey blonde wig she was wearing.
As she approached it was obvious to me, from her sure stride and bright smile, that she was feeling much better than she was the last time I'd seen her. I did notice, that the minimal makeup she wore failed to completely conceal the dark circles still present under her eyes. Before I could even get down from my stool to say hi, she had hopped up on the one next to me. She said, "I thought I might find you here."
I replied, "You're just lucky. I'm just passing through between assignments."
"Marge working you that hard?"
"The woman's a slave driver."
Cindy came up and PJ ordered a Coke. She refilled my coffee cup. PJ nodded toward my cup and said, "No Landshark today?"
"I told you, I'm working. I can't drink beer while I work."
She chuckled and took a sip of the Coke Cindy had set down. I said, "Looks like you're feeling much better. The week in Orlando was good?"
Nodding her head she said, "Was real good. I even got out to Epcot on the last day there. I'm really on the mend."
"I see you're opting to become a blonde."
Her voice had the slightest edge as she said, "Yeah, it's part of my effort to avoid the media, and well meaning people who keep coming up to me to tell me how sorry they are about Tim and what a hero I am." She paused and then added, "I needed to do something major to cover the spot they shaved when they bored the hole in my head anyway, so I thought I might as well go blonde."
I said, "I like it." I learned years ago that when a woman changes her hair style the appropriate comment is always, 'I like it.' Then I asked, "You're still off work, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I'm still seeing the shrink. It'll be awhile before they clear me to go back to work." Then lowering her voice, "But, I've decided I'm not going back. At least right now I don't think I am."
"You going to start that background investigation business you mentioned?"
Nodding she replied, "I think so. I've started gathering all of the information I need to apply for the various licenses. I guess I'm really just exploring all of my options. Who knows? Maybe when all's said and done, I'll decide to go back to the department," her voice trailed off, "I doubt it, but who knows."
I said, "Well, there's no rush to make a decision. I'll bet the department will give you all of the time you want to decide."
Looking pensive PJ said, "Yeah, they've been great. Everybody. That's part of the reason for my indecision. I have lots of friends there and somehow I'm afraid I'll feel like I'm letting them down if I don't go back."
I stared at my coffee and then said, "I understand what you're saying. Still, those people are your friends, and as I recall our last conversation, you'd be leaving for yourself and for Angela. Family trumps friends."
"The problem is that when you're a cop, your friends are family."
I nodded, "I hear you. Just give yourself time, you'll know what's right for you."
Cindy came up and asked PJ if she would like to order something for lunch. PJ turned to me and asked, "I see you've already eaten, will you sit here with me if I order something?"
"Of course I will. From the rain dripping off your umbrella when you came in I deduced it's still raining. My union contract says I don't work in the rain. My afternoon errands will just need to wait." PJ ordered a salad. What a surprise.
We talked about Orlando and Angela, while PJ ate her salad. She told me that she felt bad that she hadn't been back for Sissy's party and that sometime in the not too distant future, she and Angela were going to fly up to Atlanta to see Sissy.
Finally, I broached the subject that had been on my mind since PJ walked in the door. I asked, "Have you given any more thought to what you would like to do about your concerns regarding Tim? You know, the things he said when he found we were looking at him?"
Her pause was so long that I couldn't tell if she was making up her mind on the spot, or if she was just trying to figure out how to deliver news she thought I wouldn't like to hear. I waited. Finally, she said, "I think I'm going to do my best to forget the whole mess. I'm going to take your advice. I'm going to try real hard to push it completely out of my memories of Tim. Whatever went on, it wasn't the Tim I knew. The Tim that taught me so much about police work. I think that's one of the reasons I don't want to go back to the department. If I go back, I'll feel obligated to get to the truth and I don't want to turn over any rocks that may reveal things I really don't want to know."
I felt as if a large weight had just been lifted from my shoulders. I looked at her and said, "That really sounds like the healthiest course of action for you, PJ. You need to do what's best for you. You might dig for the next year and still not really know what went on, or why. I think you've made a good decision."
"Thanks, Jack. That's really why I stopped in. I guess I was just looking for your approval."
I reached over and squeezed her hand, "I approve. I think you're doing the right thing, the right thing for everyone." PJ smiled with a look of relief. I added, "You and I both know that in the real world we don't always find answers for every question. I think what went on with Tim at that particular time, and why, are just questions that will remain unanswered. And to be honest, I'm okay with that."
PJ drew a deep breath and said, "Yeah, I guess I am, too."
We made small talk, for a few more minutes, until PJ looked at her watch and said she needed to get going to make a doctor's appointment on time. She said it was what she hoped would be the last check-up on her various wounds. She gestured toward her head and said, "Of course, they're still keeping an eye on the hole they bored in my head. Eventually, that will heal as well. At least now I've got an excuse if I act wacky. I do have a hole in my head." With that she slid off her stool and headed for the back door.
The relief I felt after PJ told me she had no intention of pursuing the mess with Tim was hollow. I started thinking about the reality of what appeared to have been going on. The story Justin told me on the boat seemed to be supported by Tim's statements to PJ. Of course, I don't know any of this to be true, so why let it bother me? Besides, what I told PJ was probably true, we could dig for a year and accomplish nothing. Well, nothing except maybe get ourselves killed, or at the least, somehow blamed for the deaths of Allison, Weston, and Dockery.
I asked Cindy to bring me a Landshark. I hate rainy days.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
My first opportunity to tell Justin about my conversation with PJ was when he came in for dinner Friday evening. Cap's was fairly crowded so I suggested we grab an empty booth, along the wall, that afforded a little more privacy than the crowded bar area. Renee followed us to the booth with two Landsharks and we both ordered food. Justin ordered the personal sized pizza, that Juan had recently added to the menu, and I opted for the meatball sandwich that Mancuso seems to think is so good.
I knew that Justin was here to ask if I'd talked with PJ, so as soon as Renee left the table, I told him about our conversation. He took the news with his usual stoic expression. After a long drink of his beer he asked, "So, are you okay with just letting the whole matter die, Jack?"
I contemplated the question and replied, "Am I okay? I wouldn't say I'm okay, but I do understand that this is the best course of action. It goes against my grain to believe something as serious as this has gone on and someone is not at least attempting to do something about it, but I don't see that I have any choice."
Justin looked at me with those cold eyes that seemed to never blink. He said flatly, "You are correct, Jack. You have no other choice."
I found courage and asked, "Do you believe Tim's statement that the FBI had requested Sissy's location from him?"
Justin looked around at the other patrons near us. Everyone seemed engrossed in their own discussions. He replied, "I told you the other day that i
t could well have been the FBI that Tim gave the information to."
"And they gave it to the CIA?"
He rubbed his chin and said, "Yeah, or it was stolen from them."
"What do you mean, stolen?"
"Come on Jack, you think these guys don't spy on each other?"
I asked, "What legitimate reason would the FBI have for asking Tim to keep them posted on Sissy's location?"
Justin sighed as if he was growing weary of my questions, but replied, "Could have been because they had their own investigation going into the same events that the Herald reporter was researching. The Bureau may have figured out that Sissy was a potential target, because she and Allison both tended bar at Cap's and they were concerned for her safety, or they could have been looking at her as bait."
"Bait. You mean bait to catch the guy who killed Weston and Allison?"
"Yeah, maybe, but I'm just guessing."
I asked, "But you do know, for a fact, that the FBI was investigating?"
He nodded slowly, "I do."
"Were they investigating you?"
Justin hesitated, the way he does when he's deciding whether he's going to answer one of my questions. Then he said, "Yes, they were, but the FBI's entire investigation was closed and sealed when the CIA unit was disbanded."
I muttered, "Sounds like someone with real clout got involved." Justin's face was stone. There was no sign that he was even considering commenting on my assessment.
We sat in silence for several minutes and I clearly sensed that Justin was through talking about the whole CIA-FBI-Tim thing. I changed the subject with, "I was surprised you didn't make it to Sissy's party." I wasn't that surprised since I've never known Justin to be that sociable. Of course, you only know about Justin what he chooses to show you. For all I know he may be the life of the party, but I doubt it.
Quick Be Jack: A Jack Nolan Novel (The Cap's Place Series Book 3) Page 24
