“Once in a while...”
“Shh. Someone’s coming out,” she hushed him. “Never mind, I remember that staggering gait. At least he made it out of the vestibule this time.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That guy lives on the floor above your sister with Flora.”
“Who’s Flora?”
“She’s irrelevant right now.”
“Amy, I don’t want you to stay long at the apartment. Get my sister and the kids out as fast as possible.”
“Right; I blitz my way in, grab everything I can, and run out. I’m sorry, Todd, but I don’t think it’s going to be that simple. Even if she’s not still in love with Michael, she’s going to be afraid to leave. She may even worry about how it will affect the children to be taken away from their father and home.” Amy saw Todd’s lips tighten and she spoke softly. “I’ll do the best I can. Everything is up to Jennifer. Neither you nor I can make her do something she’s not ready to do yet. Please, not the dashboard. Remember it’s rented.”
She had grabbed his hand in mid-slam. His anger and frustration were painful to watch. She knew that he believed he was at fault for the situation that existed. Gripping his hand tighter, she tried to free some of the pent-up guilt that he felt, guilt that was not legitimately his, but she knew he wouldn’t be talked out of it.
“There he is now,” Todd said.
Startled, Amy first watched Todd’s body stiffen, then she looked out her window to see Michael descending the stairs. He wore the same jogging suit he had worn when he had attempted to rape her. Had he really been about to rape her? Or was he just trying to frighten her away for some reason? It didn’t matter right now, she realized, as she watched him jog down the block.
“I’ll be as quick as I can,” she murmured.
Todd kissed her hand before letting it go.
In great haste, Amy closed the car door and ran between passing cars on up the front steps. Inside the building she halted, facing Flora.
“Your boyfriend just went out for his daily run.”
“He’s not my boyfriend. I’m here to see Jennie.”
Amy tried to sidestep her way around Flora, but was prevented by the woman’s bulk.
“Poor girl has enough trouble without you coming ‘round to rub salt into the wounds.”
“I want to help her. Please, let me by.”
“They’re all bums.”
Amy caught the whiff of a minty odor. She was sure it hid the scent of alcohol.
“Do you want to come up with me, Flora? Maybe we can talk to Jennie together.”
“About what?”
Amy held her breath. Should she reveal the reason for her visit? She didn’t have much time. She doubted that Michael was built for long jogs.
“About leaving Michael.”
The woman gasped.
“But she’s got three children.”
“That gives her at least three good reasons to leave.”
As best as Amy could tell, the woman had been so shocked by the idea that she fell back against the mailboxes, leaving enough room for Amy to slip by.
She had to pound loudly at Jennie’s door to get an answer. The door edged open an inch. She could see no one.
“Jennie, I want to talk to you.”
“Go away. I want nothing to do with you.”
Amy decided that stretching the truth might help her to gain access to the apartment.
“Your brother is with me. He won’t go away until you talk to us.”
The door opened wider, and Jennie, with raised hand, was shaking her head as she spoke.
“No. Go away, Todd, before Michael...”
Quickly, Amy pushed her way in before Jennie could stop her.
“Where’s my brother?”
After shutting the door Amy noticed a chain lock and put it in place.
“He’s downstairs, waiting.”
“For what?”
For the first time, Amy got the full impact of the bruises and cuts that covered Jennie’s face. Both eyes were blackened, and several gashes cut across the woman’s pronounced cheekbones.
“Mama?”
A toddler clung to the jamb of the doorway leading to the apartment’s hall. The child’s baggy pajamas hung low under her belly.
“Go back in the bedroom and watch your sister,” Jennie commanded. The child obeyed.
“I called a women’s crisis center this morning. They have a place for you to stay.”
“I can’t leave him. Are you crazy? He’d kill us all.”
“No; he won’t have the opportunity.”
“How long do you think I can stay hiding? He’ll wait.”
“When your brother is cleared, he’ll be able to protect you.”
“And what if he isn’t cleared?”
“You don’t believe Todd killed Joey, do you?”
Tears filled Jennie’s eyes. She turned her back to Amy and raised the front of her blouse. Amy knew the woman was wiping away the tears.
“Jennie, I didn’t mean to accuse you.” Amy reached out and took hold of the woman’s shoulders. “I know you believe in Todd. Right now everything looks hopeless to you. But please, for the sake of the children, leave with me. Trust Todd, and trust me.”
Jennie swung around and threw herself into Amy’s arms. The sobbing next to her heart brought raging tears to Amy’s eyes.
Suddenly she heard the chain on the door.
“You bitch, open this door.”
Michael was back. How could she get them all out without a fight? Amy wondered. And if she had to leave Jennie behind, what would become of her?
“Listen, Jennie, do you still have my telephone number and address?”
“No.” Jennie sobbed. “Michael found it and took the paper away from me.”
“Do you have a pencil and paper?”
She nodded. Fear made her search clumsy, but finally she found both beneath a stack of newspapers and handed them to Amy.
“This is my telephone number and address. Memorize them. You’ll have to be strong, because I don’t think I can take you out with me now, but I want you to come to my apartment as soon as you can, and I’ll take you to the crisis center. It doesn’t matter what time it is, understand?”
“But you work.”
“I’m taking vacation time. Hide the paper,” she said, tucking it inside the woman’s blouse. “And when you get a chance, memorize the address.”
Jennie nodded, but her eyes were transfixed on the door against which Michael was starting to crash his body.
Amy walked to the door and called out Michael’s name.
“So you’re the cause of this.”
“Yes. I put on the chain. Jennie had nothing to do with it.”
“She let you in.”
“I forced my way in. She thought you had forgotten something and had come back. If you remove your weight from the door, I’ll undo the chain, and we can discuss this.”
“Right, babe.”
The door shut. Amy looked around for a weapon. She reached out for a nearby broom. The handle poked into sensitive areas could be quite effective, she thought. Amy undid the chain lock. She took a deep breath and waited for Michael to bluster his way into the apartment. There was a loud crash in the hall. Amy opened the door in time to see Todd lifting Michael by the neck of his sweatshirt. Michael didn’t look ready to stand back up on his feet.
“Todd, wait. We have to get out of here. With all this ruckus, the police will surely show up.”
“My sister?” Todd let go of Michael and went to pass Amy.
“You won’t be much good for her in jail,” Amy reminded Todd.
He swung around.
“I’ll be back. You lay one hand on my sister or the children, and I’ll kill you.”
“Like you did Joey Landis,’ Michael spat out.
Amy looked up and saw Flora staring down at the scene. Amy tugged at Todd’s arm.
“Quick, we’ve got to get o
ut of here. She’s probably already called the police.
Todd followed the direction of Amy’s eyes. He saw a rotund, floral print body pull back from the stairwell.
Michael’s laugh hounded them out of the building.
Chapter 22
Shelter
There was no argument about who should drive when the sound of sirens could be heard getting closer. Amy pulled the rental car out of the space with ease and drove cautiously down the block. As they rounded the corner, they passed a police car.
“Close.” Since she wasn’t a good whistler, only the sound of air passed through her pursed lips. She was aware of the rigid body next to her. Todd didn’t move until they were a block away from Kay’s Victorian house.
“Stop! I’ll get out here.”
“But you’ve left some things at Kay’s.”
“It’s not a good idea to pull up in front of her place with this rental car. It will only attract attention. I’ve been entering and leaving by the back way.”
“Fine.” Amy pulled the car to the curb.
“What are you doing?”
“Parking. You don’t expect me to leave this heap in the middle of the road, do you?”
“I expect you to take the car back to the rental agency and forget everything.”
“Can’t.”
“I know, you think you’re in love with me.”
“Besides that, I plan on using the car when Jennie shows up with the kids.”
After a complete rundown of her conversation with Todd’s sister, she expected to see a small sign of relief on his face. Instead, he was shaking his head and drumming his fingers on the arm rest.
“You don’t know when to bow out, do you?”
“Todd, I’m never bowing out of your life.”
Somehow Todd knew she was right. He would certainly remember her, even if in the months ahead he should find himself on death row.
“I can’t stay long at Kay’s, but I can help you get your things together and give you a lift back to wherever you’re staying.” She saw the question in his eyes. “Todd, I must go home. I told Jennie that I’d be there waiting for her.”
Todd nodded. Reluctantly, he had to accept her help, although he still felt that he was putting her in deeper and deeper jeopardy.
During the ride back to his hotel, Todd explained the deal he had worked out with Morgan. He would probably be spending most hours at the bar waiting for Morgan to show up with the photograph of Joey’s lady.
“But you said Morgan didn’t think they were dating.”
“No, he didn’t think they were cozy enough.”
“Could Joey have been doing a deal behind your back?”
“No way.”
“Then she might be the connection that he had for the job?”
“Potentially. I’m hoping that I’ll recognize her. If not, I might be able to get a lead on her by showing the photograph around.”
“Get two.”
“What?”
“Two photographs. With both of us carrying around a picture of this woman, we’ll be able to cover more territory.”
“Amy, you’re doing enough by taking care of my sister. I don’t even know what Michael is capable of, anymore.”
A hell of a lot more than you can imagine, Amy thought, as she recalled the foul language and assaults she had experienced. She wondered how a trained agent like Todd had missed the signs. Probably because he wanted to believe his sister couldn’t have chosen so far beneath her. Better that he not dwell on the truth of Michael’s violence.
Dusk was settling as they approached the block on which he was staying. A few early streetwalkers were scattered about, talking and checking their scanty apparel.
“Colds must be a problem in their profession,” Amy guessed.
“They encounter a hell of a lot worse things than cold viruses.”
Amy felt chastised for her flippant remark.
“I guess it’s difficult for some people to find legitimate jobs.”
“Especially when you live for your next fix. Let me out at the end of the block.”
“Which place do you stay in?” Amy asked, craning her neck and forgetting about the direction in which she was driving. The loud toot of a horn brought her head back to the front windshield.
“Please, I’d like to live to the end of the block. Are you going to be able to get home safely?”
“Of course. I’ve been doing the driving all day, and we’re both in one piece.”
“One of us has a bit of the jitters.”
Amy let out a loud harrumph.
“What’s the name of the hotel you’re staying in?”
“I’m not telling you. If you need to contact me, call Morgan.”
She stopped at the end of the block. There was no space to pull into, so Todd quickly unlocked and opened his door.
“No good-bye kiss?” Amy leaned across the passenger seat.
“Amy, here?”
“Why not? Makes it look like I picked you up earlier in the day and you’re just coming off your shift.”
Todd slammed the door shut.
“Those aren’t the kind of pick-ups made around here, but if you insist.”
While they were kissing the car jolted.
“He ran into us,” Amy yelled.
“He nudged us to bring us back to reality. I’m sure there’s no damage.”
“Well, I’m certainly going to...” Amy said, reaching for her door handle.
“Don’t make a scene, Amy. Drive away and don’t stop.”
“Park that thing and get a room,” barked the driver behind Amy’s rental car. The car was an old American boat from the sixties, with rust creeping up the sides.
She followed Todd’s directions, but her gut burned to tell off the bully in the other car. As he passed her he gave her the finger, but when he got a good look at her appearance he changed tactics and started to blow her kisses. Amy took the first turn she came to and lost him.
When she got home she saw the red light blinking on the answering machine. She hoped it was Jennie and was disappointed to hear the sullen voice of Trudy.
“What’s this? You go off on vacation without filling me in on you’re plans? Give me a call as soon as you get in.”
Amy erased the message. She wasn’t up to fabricating stories right now, and she couldn’t trust Trudy to keep the truth to herself. Better to call her friend back later, she thought.
While taking a fast shower, she left the bathroom door open in case Jennie should telephone. Then she changed into a sweatshirt and jeans and tucked the car keys and some cash in her pocket. She wanted to move with alacrity when Jennie showed. And Jennie would show; Amy forced herself to think positively.
At dinner time, a telemarketing service called to offer a full week’s free local newspaper delivery. When she told them she already received a different paper, they attempted to badger her, questioning why she chose one newspaper over the other. Finally she settled the receiver back on the cradle while the salesperson was still babbling. She didn’t want Jennie to be turned away by a busy signal.
Amy had a rotten night’s sleep on Todd’s old bed on the floor of the living room. There was only one telephone in the apartment, and she didn’t want to risk not hearing it ring from her bedroom. But there were no calls. She arose fully clothed, another precaution against wasting time.
Todd’s night wasn’t any better. Morgan never showed at the bar, and Walt the bartender was surly, mainly because most of the old-timers were giving him flack about his sullen personality. The young girl Todd had dumped in the cab returned, it seemed, to flirt with everyone but him, while keeping Todd in view from the corner of her eye. She eventually left alone and furious once she resigned herself to the fact that he didn’t care with whom she played her coquettish games.
His hotel room was a hollow prison through which he paced most of the daylight hours until he was able to continue his vigil for Morgan.
In her apa
rtment, Amy spent the day criss-crossing the various angles and length of her living room, occasionally changing course and visiting the bathroom or the messy bedroom. At one point she considered cleaning, figuring it was a good way of passing time. But while she was on her knees in the bedroom closet, the telephone rang. The sound had been muffled by the clothes dangling about her head. When she finally realized there was a call, the answering machine had already picked up.
“Amy, where are you? I must speak to you about something very important.”
Trudy sounded annoyed, and Amy could hear the loud crash of a receiver being slammed back into its cradle.
“Sorry, Trudy, but I can’t have you keeping me on the phone for hours.” That’s what Trudy had done on many occasions. Amy also sensed that it might have to do with work, and she refused to be called back into the office before Jennie and the children had a chance to reach her.
The day passed without any other public contact, except for the pizza delivery boy, who brought her a medium pie with extra cheese and a smattering of artichoke hearts. She fell asleep on the couch, with the half-eaten pie on the table beside her.
Amy dreamt of being at Jennie’s apartment. Michael was beating down the door, and Todd’s sister was hiding behind her, the children clinging to their mother’s skirt. How could she deal with his brute force? Certainly her lucky kick a few days before wouldn’t work twice. He’d be a warier and more dangerous assailant. She jolted awake just as Michael crashed in the door. But there still was the pounding inside her head.
“My God!” Amy jumped to her feet, realizing that her own door was being pummeled. She reached out for the telephone. The police would know how to deal with Michael, if they arrived soon enough.
While punching in the numbers she heard a baby cry. Amy dropped the receiver back on the cradle just as a voice answered.
“Jennie!” Amy called.
“Thank God. Amy, please let us in.”
In a flurry, Amy checked for the car keys in her pocket, grabbed the blazer by the door and undid the locks.
“The car is in front of the building. I’m taking you to the crisis center now.”
Amy tried to assist the young mother by lifting one of the toddlers, who immediately started to cry, frightened by the urgency and the stranger carrying her. At the front door of the building Amy slowed down to check the street.
The Taxman Killeth Page 16
