Enemies and Playmates

by Darcia Helle

  A quick search of the living room turned up nothing but dust balls. The bedroom was cramped, smelled like dirty feet. A bed that looked much too small for a man Forenzi’s size. Tangled covers tossed over a blue sheet. A dresser with the typical stuff on top. Cologne. Loose change. A nightstand holding a stack of Penthouse.

  Forenzi certainly lived alone. Probably didn’t have much company either.

  A glance at his watch told him he had less than forty minutes. He opened drawers, searched through t-shirts and socks. He found Forenzi favored Calvin Klein boxer-briefs. Mostly black. Information Jesse could have easily lived without.

  A small metal lockbox beneath the pile of underwear caught his attention. Jesse set it on the dresser and popped the lock. Inside was a stack of photographs. Digital prints. All were candid shots, most likely taken without the subject’s knowledge.

  Jesse sifted through them until he found one that was familiar. Deanna Bryant, the woman Chris Nyles was accused of murdering. Why would Forenzi have a picture of her? Had he been the one contracted to kill her? And, if so, had he subcontracted Nyles to take care of it for him? Were the rest of the people in these photos also dead? Or marked to die soon?

  The last photo in the pile was Thomas Foley. The newly elected senator had died a few months ago. Supposedly a suicide.

  Also in the lockbox were a few extra clips for the Glock Forenzi carried. And a key that probably belonged to a safety deposit box.

  Jesse replaced the items, relocked the box, then put it back beneath the Calvin Kleins. A search of the closet told him that Forenzi liked Levi’s, J. Crew shirts, and hiking boots. The nightstand drawer held a bottle of lubricant that Jesse refused to touch and a box of Trojans. Nothing he needed to see there.

  The only other room was the kitchen. A five minute check and Jesse now knew that Forenzi liked an assortment of frozen meals, peanut butter, lots of jelly, Michelob, and chocolate milk. A lot of good that was going to do him.

  Forenzi did not have a computer, which struck Jesse as odd. Didn’t everyone have a computer these days? At any rate, the lack of one made the search much easier. And quicker. After a glance around to make sure he hadn’t left any sign of his visit, Jesse slipped back out to his car with fifteen minutes to spare.

  Jesse pulled into a drive-thru for a burger and fries. He parked in the lot and called Lauren while he ate. As they talked, Jesse left out a few details of his day. Like his run-in with Forenzi and his recent break-in. The less Lauren knew, the better for her. At least for now.

  They made plans to meet at McGuire’s for lunch at noon the next day. When Jesse hung up, his mood was much lighter and he wore a goofy grin. He used to make fun of people like himself. Good thing no one was around to see him acting all love struck.

  The grin was still in place when he reached his apartment but immediately vanished when he noticed his front door was ajar. He waited a moment, listening for any noise from within. Why the hell didn’t he have his gun with him?

  Jesse reached inside and flicked the wall switch. Light flooded the living room. A search through the apartment told him he was alone. But the place was in shambles. Drawers had been dumped, cabinets emptied. Even his refrigerator had been ransacked, which had to be out of pure spite. It wasn’t like he’d be hiding something in the mayonnaise jar.

  The one stroke of good luck was the intruder had not been able to crack his safe. Probably had not even found it hidden behind the false wall in his closet. The thing had cost Jesse a small fortune and had just proved its worth. And, since it weighed about forty pounds and was secured to the back of the closet wall with heavy bolts, taking it was nearly impossible. That was if it had been found to begin with.

  Jesse stood amongst the rubble, trying to determine whether anything was missing. The computer in his office had been left on but, thankfully, remained in one piece. Whoever had been there couldn’t have gotten anything useful. Jesse kept a USB flash drive on his key chain that held the sensitive data. He kept nothing on the computer itself. And the history was automatically wiped from the computer daily.

  From what he could tell, nothing was actually missing. So this had definitely not been a robbery. This reeked of Covington. In an odd way, the mess brought Jesse a bit of pleasure. It meant that Covington was at least a little nervous. And nervous men made mistakes.

  He plopped into a chair and stared at his scattered belongings. He was thinking that he should get up and clean but his body had other ideas. Exhausted, both physically and mentally, he promptly fell into a deep sleep. His dreams were of Lauren as he snored softly in the midst of the disarray.

  15

  Lauren took a break from her report and went down to the kitchen. She was still smiling from the sound of Jesse’s voice. Silly how happy it made her when he called. And she was ridiculously excited about meeting him for lunch tomorrow. So much for her reluctance to get involved with him. When it came to Jesse, she’d lost her self-control. She wasn’t actually sure that she’d ever had any.

  As she was pouring herself a glass of orange juice, her father stepped into the room. He set his briefcase on the table, gave her a look with those icy blue eyes. “Just the person I wanted to speak with,” he said.

  “What now?”

  Alex stiffened. He fixed his eyes on Lauren and stood silent for a moment. His icy glare seemed to be boring a hole right through her. Finally he said, “I’ve been much too tolerant of your defiance. You will address me with respect.”

  Lauren didn’t meet his eyes, nor did she reply. Alex motioned toward the table. He waited while Lauren took a seat, then he sat beside her. He watched her, apparently waiting for her to look at him. Or to say something. She did neither.

  “I take it you are still upset with me,” Alex said.

  Upset? He’d been screwing her best friend. And he thought maybe she was still upset? “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “What has Gina told you?”

  “I haven’t spoken to her,” Lauren said. “And I don’t intend to.”

  “Very well. I expect you to keep silent about the incident.”

  Lauren picked at her nail polish. Champagne Toast or something. She’d done them early that morning. She scowled as the color flaked off. A bad habit. Why did she bother painting them?

  “I’m waiting for an acknowledgment,” Alex said.

  “I told you, I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Is your mother in bed?”

  “I guess.”

  “Have you spoken to her?”

  “I haven’t told her, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

  “Perfect,” Alex said. “The knowledge would only hurt her. That particular indiscretion was completely out of character for me. It is now over with and we can all move on.”

  “I have homework to finish.”

  Lauren started to get up but Alex put his hand firmly on her arm and held her in place. “Not yet. We have one more topic to discuss.”

  “Which is?”

  “Your boyfriend.”

  “Why am I not surprised?”

  “If you had done as I instructed, this discussion would not be necessary,” Alex said. “However, I understand that you are still seeing him.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “There is nothing you do that I am not aware of.”

  “Who I date is my business,” Lauren said.

  “That’s fine, providing you don’t mind dating a dead man.”

  Lauren finally met her father’s cold stare. She matched it with her own fury. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “You are an intelligent young lady,” Alex said. “Figure it out.”

  “Are you threatening Jesse’s life?”

  “I do not make threats.”

  “Why would you kill him?” Lauren asked. “Why do you even care who I date?”

  “That is not your business.”

  “Not my business?” Lauren’s voice rose with her anger. “You’re threateni
ng to kill the man I’m dating and you say the reason is none of my business?”

  “This has nothing to do with you.”

  “This has everything to do with me!”

  “You may wish to take your anger out on Mr. Ryder,” Alex said. “He is responsible for placing you in this position.”

  “How?” Lauren demanded. “Explain that to me. What has he done to you?”

  “Mr. Ryder also knows how to make things right, if he so chooses.”

  “Why won’t you answer my question?”

  “We’re finished here,” Alex said as he stood. “For your own safety, stay away from that man.”

  “You can’t go around making threats and expecting everyone to obey.”

  “I can.”

  “To hell you can!”

  The slap knocked Lauren’s head backward. Alex stepped back, dropping his hands to his sides. He gave a slight nod and his lips curled into a smile. “You always did have plenty of bravado. It’s too bad you’re female.”

  Lauren wanted to spit in his face. Instead she took a deep breath. Her face stung, though she would never give her father the satisfaction of seeing her wince. She said, “You have no right to do this.”

  “Of course I do. It is my right, as well as my obligation as a parent, to protect my child.” Alex smoothed his already perfect hair. His smile died away as he said, “You certainly have no moral dilemma when it comes to living in my home. Or enjoying the education I have paid for. While I appreciate your lust for the man, you need to keep in mind that lust will die away. For both of you. You cannot be naïve enough to believe this man intends to stay with you forever, to care for you, provide for you.”

  Lauren finally stood. She was trembling so badly that she was afraid her legs would collapse. She shook her head but couldn’t speak.

  “One other thing, Lauren,” Alex said. “Don’t get any ideas about running away with Ryder. If you leave here with him, your mother may not survive the trauma.”

  “Are you threatening to -”

  “I am not making threats. Merely observations.” Alex fixed his eyes on Lauren a moment. Then he turned and, as he strolled from the room, said, “Sleep well, my dear.”

  Lauren arrived at McGuire’s Pub fifteen minutes late. She’d considered not going at all. She’d been circling the block, phone in hand, ready to call Jesse. But tell him what? Simply break their relationship off, with no explanation? Admit that her father was going to kill him if she didn’t stay away? Tell him she needed time? Space? A new family? A lobotomy?

  Her head throbbed. Her stomach twisted and churned. The little sleep she’d gotten the previous evening had been riddled with vivid dreams of her father brutally murdering Jesse while she was forced to watch. The blame was hers. She’d been warned.

  Jesse waved to Lauren from a corner booth. She tried to smile as she approached. “Hi Jesse,” she said.

  “What’s wrong?” Jesse asked.

  “Nothing.”

  Jesse frowned. “Don’t lie to me.”

  “Geesh, do I look that bad?” Lauren asked as she slipped into the seat opposite Jesse. He simply looked at her. She sighed and said, “I had a rough night.”

  “What happened?”

  Lauren’s jaw quivered. The only good in her life was slipping away. Maybe if she knew what had happened between Jesse and her father. Maybe if she understood, she’d be able to fight somehow. She avoided Jesse’s riveting gaze. If she looked into his eyes, the words would never come.

  “I don’t think we can see each other anymore,” she said.

  “What?”

  “And you should be very careful.”

  “What’s going on?”

  Lauren’s vision blurred with the flood of tears that threatened her eyes. She shook her head, stared down at the table. Jesse said, “This is about your father, right?”

  Lauren sucked in a breath, almost a gasp, as she fought the tears. Part of her wanted to flee this place, to run back to her room and hide there forever. She’d known better than to let a man close to her. But the bigger part of her wanted nothing more than to crumble into Jesse’s arms, to be held and protected.

  Jesse leaned across the table. “Lauren, look at me,” he said softly. “Is this what you want?”

  A tear slid down Lauren’s cheek. She shook her head, unable to speak. She didn’t look up, still hadn’t met Jesse’s eyes. If she did, she would get lost there forever.

  Jesse reached across the table. He grasped Lauren’s hand in his, squeezed gently. “Tell me what’s going on,” he said.

  Lauren took a deep breath and brought her gaze up to meet Jesse’s. Her attention was immediately drawn to the slight purple bruise beneath his left eye. “What happened to you?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your eye.”

  “Oh.” Jesse shrugged. “I got in a little fight. Goes with the job. No big deal.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Please tell me what’s going on.”

  Lauren dropped her gaze. “My father doesn’t want me seeing you.”

  “That’s not news.”

  “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Why would I get hurt?”

  “Who did you get in a fight with?”

  “You’re changing the subject,” Jesse said. “And no one that matters.”

  “My father? Someone that works for him?”

  Jesse swiped a hand through his hair. He averted his eyes. For a moment he sat quietly, his expression uneasy, conflicted. In that moment, Lauren was sure of the answer. Still, she needed to hear him say it. She needed him to be honest.

  “Yes,” Jesse finally said. “Someone that works for him.”

  Lauren nodded, not shocked but sickened just the same. “I don’t understand,” she said softly. “But I can’t let him do this to you. I can’t lose another person I…” Lauren stopped, unsure how to end that sentence. She’d almost said another person I love, which would have been disastrous. She let it go and said, “He wants me to stop seeing you. Then he’ll leave you alone.”

  Jesse squeezed Lauren’s hand tighter. He leaned close. Shaking his head, he said, “That won’t happen. And I don’t want to lose you.”

  Just then, a young waitress with short dark hair and a bright smile appeared. Her gaze lingered on Jesse as she asked about drinks. Jesse quickly interrupted. “I’m sorry,” he said. “We have to go.”

  He fished a ten-dollar bill from his pocket and dropped it on the table. Then he grabbed Lauren’s hand, leading her out to his car. Once inside, he pulled her close and murmured, “I’m not afraid of your father, Lauren.”

  “Why does he hate you so much?” she asked.

  Jesse hesitated. “I refused to do a job for him.”

  “You’ve told me that.”

  “That’s really all there is to it.”

  “You want me to be honest with you, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then you have to do the same.”

  Jesse blew out a long breath. “He’s your father, Lauren. I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to get into it.”

  “Please don’t try to protect me,” Lauren said. “I appreciate the effort. But don’t.”

  Jesse nodded. “Okay,” he said. “Your father wanted me to get rid of evidence. And fabricate new evidence. He wanted me to set a guy up for murder so that his client could walk free.”

  “Oh.”

  “Your turn.”

  “He wants you dead.”

  “I know that,” Jesse said. “What did he say to you last night?”

  Lauren took a deep breath, then told Jesse about her conversation with her father. When she’d finished, Jesse asked, “Are you afraid of him?”

  Lauren thought for a moment. She was afraid for her mother. Sometimes she was sure her father would go too far. She was certainly afraid for Jesse. She’d once been afraid for Stephen and her fears had proved justified. But was she afraid for herself?<
br />
  “Sometimes,” she finally said. “But my father usually controls his anger more around me. I don’t understand it. He’s slapped me a few times but he’d never beat me. My mom and Stephen… Now just my mom. He hits her pretty frequently.”

  Jesse’s muscles tensed. He held Lauren close. Silence hung between them. The sounds of traffic filtered into the car. A few minutes passed. His voice was quiet and sad when he spoke. “Why does she stay?”

  “Fear,” Lauren said. “Money? I really don’t know.”

  Then, in the quiet confines of Jesse’s Mustang, Lauren began to share her secrets. At first it was strange to say the words out loud, almost as if she was discussing someone else’s life. Gradually the words came more easily. The stories became real. This was her life. No longer denying that was both terrifying and freeing.

  Jesse wiped away her stream of tears with a tenderness that made her heart ache. She drew a deep breath and said, “I’m really afraid of what he’ll do, Jesse.”

  “Afraid of what he’ll do to you?” Jesse asked.

  “No. I’m afraid he’ll go through with his threat to you.”

  “Don’t worry about me.”

  “I can’t help it.”

  “I won’t die.”

  “You sound so sure,” Lauren said. “Aren’t you worried?”

  “Not really.”

  “I’m not sure if that makes you brave or crazy.”

  Jesse chuckled. “Probably the latter. Will you be okay around him?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  Their eyes met, then their lips. In that moment, Lauren had no doubt that she belonged with Jesse. This was the man she wanted to spend forever with. The realization further terrified her.

  Lauren eased away from the kiss that had her heart thumping wildly. “You need to get back to work,” she said. “And I need to get to class.”

  “How about dinner at my place tonight?” Jesse asked.

  “Sounds great.”

  “I’ll pick you up around seven.”

  “I think I should drive there myself.”

  Jesse gazed at her a moment. His eyes were penetrating. He said, “If you have any problems, call me.”