by Mike Ryan
“I knew it,” Cole grumbled.
Parker looked up at him and saw him shaking his head. “What’re you doing?” she asked, snatching the phone out of his hand.
“So it’s done with, huh? You’re over him, are you? So what’re you going onto his Facebook for?”
“I was just seeing what he was up to, that’s all.”
“Right.”
“Shut up.”
“So what exactly happened with you two? You’ve never said.”
“Ask him.”
“I’d rather not. He’ll go on and on and on. If I hear it from you, I’ll likely get the more condensed version,” Cole said.
“I don’t wanna talk about it.”
Cole rolled his eyes. “You two have the most annoying romance I’ve ever encountered.”
Chapter 2
Cole was interrupted from going over the files of Yevenko’s operation. A knock on the door startled him a little since he wasn’t expecting anyone to drop by. He already knew it wasn’t Parker, as she went to headquarters to talk to a few of her superiors. Cole grabbed his gun off the desk and quietly walked over to the door and looked out the peephole. He sighed, a mixture of disappointment of not being able to use his gun, and not really wanting to deal with who was out there. He tucked the gun into the back of his pants and opened the door, making sure his face looked miserable.
“Hey, Cole, how are you, bud?” Turner asked, giving him a man-hug as he went inside.
“What are you doing here?” Cole wondered, closing the door.
“Do you forget I’m working at the main building now as an analyst? I mean, it’s just over that way a little bit.”
“I know that, numb nuts. I mean, what are you doing here, in my hotel room?”
“Burnett told me you were in town and let me know where you were staying. Figured I’d stop by and say hi.”
Cole faked a smile. “How nice of her.”
“So, is, uhh…Alex with you?”
“Nope,” Cole lied.
“Oh. You mean, she’s not here at all?”
“We’re not partners anymore,” Cole said. “We’ve got different assignments right now. Haven’t talked to her in a month.”
“Oh. That’s too bad. You were a great team. I mean, we all were a great team, right?” Turner asked.
Cole shrugged. “Is there something you want?”
“Can’t a friend just stop by and say hello?”
“Sure. But I know someone who’s fishing when I see one. If you wanna know where Alex is, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Haven’t seen her, don’t know where she is.”
“Oh. Well that’s all right. No big deal. I mean, you and me are buds, right? So what do they have you working on?”
“It’s confidential. You know I can’t tell you that,” Cole responded.
“Oh. OK.”
There was an uncomfortable silence in the room as Turner just walked around the room, Cole watching his every move, neither knowing what else to say. Cole was actually hoping he’d get the hint and just leave. He knew it wouldn’t be that simple though.
“So, uhh, how’s the new job going?” Cole asked.
“Ahh, good. Good,” Turner replied. “You know, a little boring just looking over papers and papers of information all day. But it’s interesting, I guess. Import work, you know.”
“I bet,” Cole said, faking a smile and wondering when his visitor was going to get to why he was there, though he already knew.
“Kind of wish I was back in LA, you know. It’s kind of lonely not really knowing too many people out here. Outside of work, anyway.”
“I’m sure you’ll get by.”
Turner stopped walking around the room as he got to the desk and casually looked at what was on the computer screen, though he was careful not to stare at it for too long. Cole kept looking out, hoping he’d get to what he wanted to say soon. Finally, Turner gave up the charade and started pouring out his emotions.
“All right, I’m just gonna come out and say it,” Turner said, talking fast. “I miss Alex. I really miss her. I miss her so much.”
Cole looked up at the ceiling and rolled his eyes. “Here we go,” he mumbled.
Turner sat down in the computer chair. “I’ve tried calling her. I’ve tried texting her. I’ve e-mailed. She won’t return any of them. I don’t know what else to do.”
“Did you try giving up?” Cole sarcastically remarked.
“Really? If you’re trying to give me a pep talk, you’re failing miserably.”
“I don’t give pep talks.”
“How am I supposed to apologize if she won’t let me? Why won’t she give me another chance?” he whined.
“You had your chance, nitwit. You blew it. How many chances you think you get with a beautiful world class assassin?”
“I don’t know,” Turner sighed, putting his head in his hands.
“I’ll tell you how many…one! I know I’m gonna regret this,” Cole whispered to himself. “So what exactly happened with you guys?”
“Alex didn’t say?”
“Believe it or not, she doesn’t like talking about you much anymore.”
“I screwed up, man. I screwed up. I know I did.”
“Hard to see that one coming,” Cole chided.
“You know, Burnett offered me the analyst job here, and I thought that was what I wanted. New job, something important, I just kind of let that become more of a priority than Alex was. She told me not to take it, she did. She pleaded with me. She said it would change me, change our relationship…but I didn’t listen to her.”
“That was your first mistake right there. Should’ve listened to her. She’s been through all this before. Once the CIA gets their hooks into you, they don’t like to let go.”
“I know. I wanted to impress them and do my job. I figured if one of us already had a good job when she quit, it’d be a little easier for us. I just stopped making time for her and got wrapped up in the job. She said she couldn’t stay here, because if she did, then there’d always be someone coming around trying to convince her to go on one more assignment. One more mission.”
“She’s right. Once you leave, you go far away. They can always send someone to find you, but at least you’re not right on their doorstep.”
Turned shrugged and sighed. “I just wanted to do the right thing by everybody.”
“Didn’t she tell you she had enough money saved up to last a while?” Cole asked.
“Yeah. But that was her money. It wasn’t mine. I just wanted to do something for myself. Something important.”
“Didn’t you two talk about starting your own type of business together?”
“Yeah, but it’d always be her money, you know. I’d never feel like her equal. I’d always feel like I was riding on her coattails.”
“Well, there’s no way around saying this…you pooched it. I kinda get what you’re saying and maybe I’d have done the same if I was you. But you still pooched it.”
“I know. I know. You think she’ll ever come around?”
“I dunno. Maybe. I know one thing, she has severe trust issues. You broke them. She let her guard down for you and was willing to sacrifice everything. Might not be easy to regain her trust.”
“I’m such an idiot,” Turner said, slapping his forehead.
“No arguments here. You had a beautiful woman ready to walk away from her career for you.”
“Is she still planning on leaving?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t think she’s made up her mind yet. I’ll tell you one thing, though.”
“What’s that?”
“Because of what happened with you, she’s more willing to stay now than she was,” Cole told him.
Their conversation was interrupted when Cole’s phone started ringing. It was on the desk next to where Turner was sitting. As soon as it rang, Cole closed his eyes, praying it wasn’t Parker.
“I’ll grab it for you, buddy,” Turner said, reaching
for it.
“No, no, don’t bother,” Cole said, rushing over to the desk.
Turner grabbed it and looked at the screen, stopping Cole in his tracks. The two of them exchanged looks with each other a few times in between Turner glancing at the phone. “So you don’t know where she is, huh?” Turner asked, squinting his eyes. “Haven’t talked to her, huh?”
“Give me that,” Cole said, snatching the phone from Turner’s fingers. “Yeah?” he answered.
“Cole? Everything OK?” Parker asked.
“Yeah. Why?”
“I don’t know. You just sound different.”
“Everything’s good.”
“OK. Well, I’m all finished here, I was just calling to see if you wanted me to bring something back for lunch.”
“Let me talk to her,” Turner whispered, motioning for Cole to hand the phone over.
Cole turned his back to him and walked away. “No. I’m good.”
“OK. I’ll be back in a little bit then.”
“Sure. Yeah, if you come back by five, it should be fine.”
“Five?” Parker asked, confused. “What’re you talking about?”
“So you’re gonna be tied up there for a while, huh?”
“What? I just told you I was done.”
“A lot of paperwork, huh? That’s too bad,” Cole said, hoping she’d get the hint. “Yeah, I’ll just be here by myself for a little while.”
“Is there someone there with you?” she asked.
“You got it.”
“Do you have one of your prostitute friends there? I mean, just say so and I’ll come back later.”
Cole sighed and shook his head. He rolled his eyes as he looked to the ceiling. “No, I do not,” he tersely replied. “Not that that’d be a bad idea.”
“Let me talk to her,” Turner whispered again as he walked closer to Cole, though he said it a little louder than before.
“Did I just hear a man’s voice?” Parker wondered.
“Well, that’s debatable,” Cole wisecracked.
“What’s going on there?”
“Cole!” Turner yelled, in his loudest whisper voice.
“Cole?” Parker asked.
“Yes?”
“Did I just hear Ryan’s voice?”
“Uhh, yes, uh huh, yes you did,” Cole confirmed.
“Let me talk to her,” Turner said again. “Does she wanna talk to me? Let me talk to her?”
“I don’t want to talk to him,” Parker said. “Don’t you put him on the phone.”
Cole looked at Turner, then the phone, then repeated the steps a few more times, unsure what he should do. He actually thought about throwing the phone on the floor and just leaving the room, letting them do whatever they wanted. Turner reached for the phone, though Cole resisted, rebuffing his advances.
“Don’t you dare put him on!” Parker warned.
“Cole, give me the phone!” Turner said, raising his voice.
“You know, I’m through with the both of you. I’m hanging up,” Cole told them both.
“What’d you do that for?!” Turner shouted.
“Listen, I’m not your answering service,” Cole replied. “I’m also not the host of the love connection. If you wanna plead your case and ask for another shot, figure it out yourself. Don’t get me involved.”
“I thought you were my friend?”
“I am your friend. That’s why I’m talking to you this way. If I wasn’t I would’ve been out that door already,” Cole said, pointing at the door.
Turner slapped his arm against his leg and sat back down in the chair, moping about another missed opportunity.
“You do realize you can’t just sit here all day until she comes back, right?” Cole asked.
“Why not? She’s gotta come back sometime, doesn’t she?”
“Not necessarily. You do know she could book herself another hotel room somewhere else.”
“Oh. Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Turner replied, scratching behind his ear.
“She’s not coming back here as long as she thinks you’re here.”
Turner sighed, not knowing what else to do. Cole knew he’d have to think of something or else he’d be in his hair all night.
“Why don’t you sit there and write her a letter?” Cole asked.
Turner shrugged. “What good would it do? She probably wouldn’t read it.”
“Well why don’t you try and write one and I’ll make sure I put it in her hands.”
“You would?” Turner asked, surprised at the gesture.
“If it’ll help get you out of my room, I would.”
“Gee, thanks, buddy. Maybe I will.”
Cole faked a smile. “You do that. Give it to me when you’re done and then when she comes back I’ll put it right in her hands.”
“What if she doesn’t read it?”
“Well I can’t do everything for her,” Cole responded. “I’ll make sure she gets it. That’s the best I can do. I can’t make her read it.”
“If she resists then maybe you could read it to her?”
Cole popped his head back and made a face like he was crazy. “Now you’re going too far. I’ll put it in her hands. That’s the best I can do.”
“OK, OK. Fair enough.”
Turner took a piece of paper and a pen from the desk drawer and started writing the letter to Parker. Everything seemed to flow pretty effortlessly and without much though. Probably because he’d written the letter in his mind a thousand times already. He’d already pictured saying every word to her in person if he ever got the chance again. After he was finished, he read it several times to make sure it made sense and portrayed his feelings accurately. Once he was completely through, he handed it to Cole. With not having anything left to do or say, Turner walked over to the door.
“Would you do me a favor?” Turner asked, as he opened the door.
“Depends.”
“Could you just send me a text or something later if she reads it?” he wondered.
“I guess I could do that,” Cole said, feeling a little sorry for his subdued friend.
“Thanks.”
Turner then left, leaving Cole with the letter in his hand. It was folded up, but he thought about reading its contents for a minute, before deciding it was really none of his business. Hopefully whatever was in it would snap both of the star crossed lovers out of their doldrums. He stuck the note into the back pocket of his pants and went about his business. It was obvious to him that they both still loved each other but both were just being stubborn about whatever their issues were. Cole just hoped they’d come out of it quicker than later, more so for his own sanity than anything else.
Parker came back to the hotel about three hours later. She’d actually been sitting in the parking lot for the last two of them, waiting to see if Turner came out. She didn’t want to text or call Cole again, in case Turner was there and took over the conversation. Finally, after the second hour passed by, she sent Cole a message, asking if her former boyfriend was still with him. Cole told her no, though she had a few reservations about whether he was being honest with her. She knew it wasn’t above Turner to have Cole lie for him so he could get some time with her to explain himself.
Once Parker came back to the room, she cautiously entered, almost as if she was waiting for someone to jump out at her. When Cole heard the door close, he came out of the bedroom and saw how she was acting.
“He’s not here,” he told her.
“Are you sure?” Parker asked, tiptoeing through the room.
Cole scrunched his eyebrows together, never seeing her like that before. “Pretty sure,” he nodded.
“I didn’t want to get ambushed.”
“This isn’t a gunfight you know.”
“Didn’t you ever hear that saying about all’s fair in love and war?”
“Umm, this isn’t either. Unless you’re saying you still love him.”
“Absolutely not!” she replied.
> Cole made an agonizing face, deciding he’d give her the letter and be done with it. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out. He stuck it out in front of him for her to take it, but she resisted, knowing what it probably was.
“What’s this?” she asked, not wanting to touch it.
“It’s not laced with poison or anything,” Cole remarked. “Just take it and read it.”
Parker shook her head, like a child not wanting to take medicine when they’re sick. “I’m not taking that. That’s from Ryan. I can tell. That’s the kind of paper he’d use.”
Cole raised his eyebrows and sighed, not sure if she could tell how ridiculous she sounded. “His kind of paper? Really?”
“I’m not reading that,” Parker resisted.
“I told him I’d give it to you. Just take it. Whether you read it or not is up to you,” he said in his most serious manner, continuing to hold it in the air.
Parker sighed, not really wanting to, but finally agreeing to take it out of her partner’s hand. Since she now possessed the letter, Cole walked away, sitting down at the desk to do some computer work. Parker paced around the room for a few minutes, letter in hand, not sure what she wanted to do. Part of her thought she owed Turner the chance to at least read what he’d written. The other part of her wanted to just throw it in the trash can. Cole shook his head as she walked around the room for the next five minutes. Parker was a woman who couldn’t be made to do anything, but he wanted to just sit her down, tie her to a chair and open the letter for her, forcing her to read it.
“Would you just open it?” Cole asked, tiring of the constant pacing.
“Are you his spokesperson or something? When’d you get so lovey dovey?”
“I’m not. I’m friends with both of you. You both clearly still have feelings for each other. And I’m tired of looking at the sad, dopey faces the two of you have on. Just read the letter and move on. You two either need to get back together or let it go. Whatever this is that you guys are doing now is getting old.”
