More Than a Soldier

by Irene Onorato

  “I don’t know, Hank.” She raised sheepish eyes. “What if she wants to visit or meet somewhere? I’m still so mad I’d like to tear her to bits.”

  “If that happens, tell her you love her, but that you need more time to let go of the anger. If Belinda is serious about rebuilding what she tore down, she’ll understand.”

  Cindy bit her lip and nodded slowly. “I’ll think about it.”

  “That’s all I’m asking you to do. And, for the record,” he nudged her chin with a knuckle, “I didn’t see Charlotte Hollingsworth in Albuquerque. Now let’s watch that movie you said I’d like.”

  “Good idea.” Cindy put the movie in the DVD player and stretched out on the couch. “Shucks, I should have grabbed a pillow and a blanket.” She rose to her elbows.

  “Relax. I’ll go get them. Where do you keep extra blankets?”

  “Bedroom closet, upper shelf. Thanks, Hank.”

  Hank pulled a blanket from the closet shelf, tucked it under his arm, and turned toward the bed. In a frame on the nightstand stood a picture Mrs. Baker had taken of him and Cindy on the night of the Hollingsworth affair. He grabbed a pillow and went back to the living room.

  “Lift up a little.” He shoved the pillow under Cindy’s head and flicked the blanket over her. “When did Mrs. B give you the picture of us that’s sitting beside your bed?”

  “Couple of weeks ago. She gave me one to give to you, same frame and all, but it slipped my mind. Sorry. It’s lying flat on the bookshelf over there.”

  Hank went and picked it up. “We clean up pretty good, don’t we?”

  “We sure do.” A smile split her face, and the old Cindy surfaced. “Movie time?”

  “Yup.” He tossed the remote to her. “Start ’er up.”

  He sat with her legs resting on his lap. “Let’s see what I can do for these worn out feet and calves of yours.”

  The tightness in her muscles softened as he kneaded and rubbed warmth into them.

  She breathed a few soft moans.

  “Not pressing too hard, am I?”

  “No, you’re doing great. This feels sooo good.” She lifted her head and sent another cheesy, but warm smile. “You’re hired.”

  He massaged the soles of her feet. “I don’t come cheap.”

  “Oh? What do I owe you?”

  “Next Friday night, eight o’clock. You and me. Comedy club in Newburgh. No excuses, no backing out. It’s supposed to be a great show.”

  “You’re on.” She wiggled her toes in his palm. “More.”

  * * * *

  Cindy slept soundly with one arm resting above her head on the pillow, the other lying across her chest. She couldn’t look more angelic if she were floating on a cloud.

  Hank slid out from under her legs, stood, and tucked the blanket around her feet. He went to the kitchen and set the coffee maker up to brew half a pot. One less thing she’d have to do in the morning.

  Back in the living room, he thumbed through the icons on her phone. Good, she had a daily alarm set for 6:30 a.m. He turned the volume up to the max.

  Cindy squirmed, and her eyes opened to tired slits. “Whatcha doin’?”

  “Making sure you had an alarm set to get up for work in the morning.” He put the phone on the end table. “I’m going home. It’s after eleven.”

  “Really? It’s that late already?”

  “Yeah, you’ve been asleep for a while. Think I might have dozed too.”

  “Sorry. Guess I wasn’t much company for you.”

  “No problem. You needed the rest. I set up your coffee for the morning. All you’ve got to do is press the button.”

  “Thanks, Hank.”

  “You’re welcome. Good night, Sassy.” Hank took the framed picture from the bookshelf and locked the door on his way out.

  * * * *

  Hank cracked open the Jeep’s window a little more and let out a noisy yawn. Another half hour and he’d be home in bed with Cricket.

  His phone rang. Caller unknown.

  “Sorry, but I’m not in the market for a free trip to Saint Croix and I’m all stocked up on Ginsu knives.” He sent the call to voicemail.

  The phone rang two more times. He declined both calls.

  It rang again. Hank took the call on speakerphone and put the phone on the dash. “So what’d I win this time? A trip to the moon, a pair of gold-plated chopsticks, or a date with the celebrity of my choice? Make it quick cuz I’m doing seventy in a sixty-mile-an-hour zone and I’ve got to keep a sharp eye out for cops.”

  “Heeey Hank. ’Member me?” Hiccup.

  “Dex?” It wasn’t like Dexter to tie one on in the middle of the week. Not when he had to show up on base the next morning.

  “Guess again, big guy.” A cacophony of loud music and laughter bled through the phone from the caller’s background. “This is Eric. Ya know, the guy whose girl ya messin’ around with.”

  Hank slowed to fifty-five. “Sounds like you’re having a good time. Tell me where you are and I’ll come have a drink with you.”

  “Yeah, right.” Eric laughed like a madman. “I don’t like seein’ that ugly sheep of yours parked at Cinny’s place.”

  “Sheep? I think you mean Jeep, and I don’t care what you think.”

  “Ya should care, cuz I’m the guy who’s gonna kill ya. Bartender. Yo, bartender! More beer here.”

  “Hey, Eric. You sound pretty wasted. Tell me where you are and I’ll come give you a ride home.”

  “Ya mus’ think I’m stupid.”

  A raccoon ambled into Hank’s headlights fifty yards down the road. With a honk of the horn it reversed course and scurried into the woods.

  Eric belched. “Sounds like you’re drivin’. How’s them new tires workin’ out for ya? Ya welcome, by the way.”

  Eric’s maniacal laugh rang in Hank’s ears for several seconds after the line went dead.

  Without knowing Eric’s location there was no point in calling Vargas. He’d call tomorrow and fill the detective in on Eric’s reiterated threat to kill him.

  On the other hand, last time he scoffed at Eric’s death threat, Eric ended up attacking Cindy. He pulled onto the shoulder and called Vargas.

  “What’s up, Hank?” The detective’s quick response surprised him.

  “Sorry about the late hour, but Eric just called from some bar, and—”

  “Bar? Which one?”

  “I tried to coax that out of him, but he didn’t bite. Sounded falling-down drunk. Gave me the same spiel about wanting to kill me and admitted he was the one who’d slashed my tires a couple of months back.”

  “This is the first I’m hearing about your tires. Tell me about it.”

  Hank told him about the Hollingsworth party and the parking lot fiasco.

  “Doesn’t surprise me a bit. Watch your back, Hank.”

  “It’s not my back I’m worried about. I left Cindy’s half an hour ago, but I’m turning around and going back to watch over her place.”

  “No need for you to do that. I’ve got this. I’ll call my nightshift counterpart and have him arrange surveillance. Believe me, I’m as anxious to catch Eric as you are. I’m on it right now. Bye.”

  Hank continued toward home.

  Eric wasn’t stupid. He’d managed to follow Hank and Cindy to the Hollingsworth party without being detected. Not an easy task since Hank was proficient in spotting a tail. But sooner or later, Eric would slip up, and on that day, Hank would have to try extra hard not to kill him.

  Chapter 28

  Cindy rolled onto her belly and pressed her cheek deep into the pillow. The clean scent of freshly washed bedding made sleeping in on Saturday morning an extra-sweet treat. Never mind it was almost ten-thirty. Today she was her own boss and would get up when she was good and ready.

  Hank’s text tone chimed from the nightstand. She grabbed the phone, flipped onto her back and rubbed sleep from her eyes.

  Hi.
What r ur plans 4 today?

  Her thumbs flew over the keyboard. Shop 4 sneakers n groceries. U?

  I want 2 c u

  Help me shop? A sane man would balk at the very thought. Then again, Hank wasn’t exactly sane.

  Sure. We eat first?

  No, have 2 make self get out of bed first. LOL

  The phone rang. Hank’s name popped up as expected. She answered. “Hey.”

  “Still in bed, eh?”

  “Isn’t there a rule that you’re supposed to sleep in on Saturday?”

  “If there isn’t, there should be. Are you wearing my favorite shirt?”

  Velvety-soft and comforting, a night hadn’t gone by that she hadn’t worn it. “Yes. Why do you ask?” As if she didn’t already know.

  “Just wanted to hear you say yes. It’s a guy thing. What time do you want me to come get you?”

  “Sure you don’t want me to drive over to Bentley?” Cindy tossed the blanket aside, got up and went into the bathroom. “I feel bad that you’re always driving over here.”

  “I like driving. Besides, Bentley isn’t exactly a Mecca for shopping.”

  “Noonish, then? We can eat at the food court at the Sunshine Mall then hit every shoe store until we find a pair of magic sneakers. Ones with clouds for soles and battery operated foot massagers on the inside.” She cranked the faucets and turned on the shower. A flurry of water pattered against the plastic curtain.

  “Uh-oh. Was that the shower I heard just now?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Nothing. I’ll let you go. I’ve got a feeling my favorite flannel shirt is about to hit the floor, and— Never mind.”

  “Another guy thing?”

  “You have no idea. We have very active imaginations. I’ll be there around noon. Be ready, because I’m starving. Don’t forget to wash between your toes. Bye.”

  “Bye.” Cindy unbuttoned and pushed Hank’s shirt off her shoulders. She couldn’t help but giggle as it fell into a soft heap on the floor.

  * * * *

  Laughter echoed off the mall’s glass-roofed atrium in the kids’ play area. Two little boys doubled up at the top of the slide’s ladder and rode tandem down the wavy plastic chute, then hurried back around and made a second trip.

  Hank slung the bag with Cindy’s old sneakers over his shoulder and carried it with a hooked finger. “Those kids sure are having a blast.”

  “I remember doing that with—never mind.” Melancholy tainted her sweet smile.

  “You know, it’s okay to let yourself enjoy memories of your childhood with Belinda. Her recent betrayal doesn’t erase the remote past.”

  “You’re right. Belinda and I did have a good childhood together. It’s just hard to—”

  “I know.” He’d already said his piece on the subject. There wasn’t any point in rehashing it. Cindy’s conscience would have to do the rest.

  Thunder rumbled, and the first drops of rain quickly turned into a torrent hitting the glass dome with a roar. Parents looked up from benches that circled the playground, but their children played on as if nothing had changed.

  Cindy gazed upward shaking her head. “Wow, it’s coming down hard.”

  Hank bumped Cindy’s elbow. “Good thing I’ve got an umbrella.”

  “Huh? You—”

  “In the Jeep.”

  Cindy laughed. “Nothing like being prepared.”

  “Oh, the irony of it all. The rain ought to let up soon. Until then, why don’t we get some ice cream over there and walk around awhile?”

  “I like the way you think. Sounds good to me.”

  They ordered double-scoop cones and ambled along the mall’s upper deck.

  Chocolate ice cream dripped down Hank’s cone and trickled down his thumb. He licked it off. “So, how are the new sneakers working out for you? Still feeling good?”

  With a wide smile, Cindy sprang from heel to toe. “I should have gotten these sooner and saved my poor feet a lot of wear and tear. You were right when you told me not to be cheap. Thanks for the sage advice, big guy.”

  Normally, he loved when she called him big guy. But this time it brought a cringe-worthy association to when Eric had said it a few nights before.

  Cindy stopped short and touched his arm. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Your jaw muscles did a weird little twitchy thing and you looked away from me for a second, like you were mad.”

  “I’m not mad. Not at you, anyway. Let’s continue our walk and finish our ice cream.” He started forward.

  Cindy quick-stepped to catch up. “So, who are you mad at?” She twirled the bottom scoop of pistachio across her tongue.

  “Eric. He called the other night when I was driving home from your place.”

  “What?” She stopped short again. “But, but, how’d he even get your number? It’s not like there’s a directory for cellular numbers. At least, not that I know of.”

  “A former detective would have no trouble getting it.”

  “What did he want?” The smear of green ice cream on the tip of Cindy’s nose contrasted comically with her tight, furrowed-brow face.

  “Come here a sec.” Hank wiped off the spot with a napkin. “Eric sounded falling-down drunk. Threatened to kill me if I didn’t stop seeing you. Same ol’, same ol’. Nothing new.”

  She gripped his forearm and stepped closer. “Did you call Pete and let him know?”

  “Yeah, I got ahold of him right away.”

  “And what did he— Wait a minute. What do you mean, same ol’, same ol’, nothing new? Had Eric threatened you before?”

  “Yeah, he—”

  “When?” Her fingernails dug into his arm. “And why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Now whose jaws are doing a weird little twitchy thing? Mind retracting the claws before you draw blood?”

  She turned him loose and slam-dunked the ice cream in the nearby trashcan. “I hate being kept in the dark about stuff like that.”

  “Why are you so angry all of a sudden?” Her sudden mood swing took him by surprise. He dropped his cone in the trash. “Eric’s threats mean nothing to me. My only concern is for you. The other night I was going to go back and keep watch over your house, but Vargas said he’d get someone out there to do it for me.”

  The icy scowl on her face melted. “That explains the squad car that was parked across the street from me when I left for work the next morning. I thought it was just my imagination when it followed me all the way to the parking lot entrance then went straight when I turned in.”

  Hank would have to remember to call and thank Vargas for keeping his word.

  Cindy looked him square in the eyes. “When did Eric first threaten you?”

  “The day he attacked you. That morning.”

  The intensity of her stare was enough to sear a hole through his skull. “Are you withholding anything else from me?”

  “Eric gloated about slashing my tires.”

  “What? But, how could he have known where to find the Jeep to do such a thing?”

  “Must have followed us. How else?” A fact he wasn’t proud to voice as a former special operator. “Can we change the subject? I’m sick of thinking about Eric, much less talking about him.”

  Cindy walked to the railing and looked down at the lower level.

  Hank went and stood next to her. “I forgot to give you a message from Edward the other day.”

  “Oh?” She turned toward him. “What message?”

  “He said to give you a swift kick in the pants and tell you to call him.”

  Half smile, half smirk, her teasing expression was void of any trace of anger. “Think you’re man enough to kick me in the pants, big guy?”

  “Don’t tempt me.”

  Her laugh faded to a rueful smile. “I’ll call him tonight and apologize for not answering his voicemails.”

  Hank’s heart pumped a
n extra-hard beat. “Why didn’t you answer my calls when I was in Albuquerque? I missed you so bad it was all I could do not to hop on a plane and come home to see you.” Admitting it made his inner-man yearn even deeper for her.

  “I missed you too.” Her hand slid across the rail until her fingertips mingled with his. “I’ve been so depressed lately that all I’ve wanted to do is crawl in bed, pull the covers up over my head, and not talk to anyone. Sometimes I do just that. Come home from work, kick off my shoes and go straight to bed until morning. I’m sorry I didn’t answer your calls or call you back. Forgive me?”

  “You know I do.”

  She mouthed, “Thank you,” and held him captive with her long lashes and perfectly shaped doe eyes.

  Thunder rolled across the roof and clashed with an explosive boom.

  Cindy flinched, then laughed it off. “Mom used to tell us thunder was nothing more than the sound of angels bowling in heaven.”

  “If that’s true, somebody up there just bowled a strike.”

  “And broke a few pins in the process.” Cindy’s fingers wove in an out between his as if by subconscious act. She breathed a sigh. “It was stupid of me to throw away that ice cream. I was really enjoying it.”

  “Same here. I say we go get new ones and start over.”

  She pushed away from the rail with a burst of energy. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  * * * *

  Cricket whined with joy and leaped about as if she hadn’t seen Hank in ages.

  Hank tossed his car keys on the kitchen counter, dropped to a knee and petted her for a minute. “Okay, now outside you go while I fix your food.” He opened the door and Cricket bounded through.

  The phone rang just as he finished pouring kibble into Cricket’s metal bowl.

  “Hey, Eddie.”

  “Hi. I just got off the phone with my long-lost sister. She filled me in on the continuing saga with Eric. If I didn’t have obligations here at Bragg, I’d be hunting him down like the low-life animal he is.”

  “Yeah, I know. It’s all I can do not to take the law into my own hands too. I call Detective Vargas every now and then to see if he has any leads on Nolan’s whereabouts. So far, he’s come up empty.”