A Note from an Old Acquaintance

by Bill Walker

  Ruby steered his Jaguar into the alley behind his building and rolled into his parking space, noting the dumpster had still not been emptied. He could see the old models for the building jutting out from under the lid. Damn sanitation department was the worst, although they couldn’t hold a candle to New York for incompetence. At least the streets here were clean.

  Up in his office, Ruby checked his messages and found one from Mosley.

  “Hi, Mr. Ruby,” he said between screeches of static. “Just wanted to give you an update. Please, give me a call when you get in.”

  Ruby switched off the machine, picked up the handset and dialed. The investigator picked up on the first ring. “Mosley, here.”

  “Anything new?”

  There was a momentary squall of static and Mosley’s voice dropped out.

  “—ear me, Mr. Ruby?”

  “Sorry, got a bunch of noise in my ear.”

  “I just passed an electrical substation. Happens sometimes.”

  Ruby chuckled. “I know what you mean. So, what have you got?”

  “Our boy, Weller has stayed close to home and hearth, for the most part,” Mosley said. “I’ve followed him back and forth from his apartment to his office several times over the last couple of days. And that’s pretty much it. Of course, phone records might show they’ve been talking.”

  “Joanna told me he was helping her with the mailer for her show. He’s got a legitimate reason to talk to her.”

  “What would you like me to do?”

  “I want you—” The static squalled again and Ruby waited, his patience wearing thin.

  “Sorry, thought I’d lost you,” Mosley said when he came back on the line. “You were saying?”

  “I was saying I want you to watch her studio,” Ruby snapped. “Sorry, didn’t mean to yell. I’ve got a lot going on and it’s getting to me.”

  “No problem, sir. I’m on it. I’ll swing over there, now.”

  “Okay, but hold off on the security guard gambit. She hasn’t mentioned it again, and it might make her skittish if she suddenly sees you there large as life. If something’s going to happen between her and Weller, I’d rather it happen sooner than later.”

  “You’re the boss.”

  “One other thing. You’re not driving the Ferrari, now, are you?”

  “No, no,” Mosley said, sounding amused. “That’s my weekend car. This one’s a five-year-old silver Ford Taurus sedan with a dent in the left front fender, a cranky car phone and a wheezy air conditioner. Precisely the kind of car everyone sees every day...and forgets.”

  Ruby grinned. “I like the way you think. Keep me posted.”

  He hung up and sat back in his chair. For the last few days Joanna had floated around the house as if she were on cloud nine. Nothing could dent her happy mood. He knew what that meant, and the implications of that knowledge grew like a cancer in his gut. What did she see in that penniless pissant writer, anyway? What could he offer her except uncertainty?

  Enough! Mosley was right. All this was consuming him.

  Soon, he’d have his answers and then he would have to come to grips with them. He still didn’t know how he would handle it all and what he would do about Weller, but Ruby had a feeling Mosley would provide the spark of inspiration, whatever that might be. He just had to wait a little while longer.

  They called patience a virtue. But that was a load of crap. It was purgatory for the soul. Nothing less.

  Ruby forced his attention back to the Wrightson project. Now, this was something he could deal with. The old guy was tough, but Ruby understood tough. He didn’t pretend to understand the world in which his fiancée moved, and it didn’t matter. He just knew she belonged in his life. What was it about Joanna that enchanted and inspired him so? He stared at her picture and frowned. Sure, she was adorably beautiful, that was a given, but there was something else, something indefinable—something rare and precious....

  He shook his head, a crafty smile curling his lips. If he could see this problem through, and his engagement survived it, he’d have the remainder of his life to unravel that little conundrum. And he could live with that just fine.

  The last several days had been a whirlwind of activity. With Bob shuttling between two simultaneous commercial shoots in studios across town from each other, Brian was left with the burden of running the business, as well as keeping a seamless workflow through the edit suite. It gave him little time for anything else, including Joanna.

  Taking a break, he picked up the phone and called Nick.

  “Hey little brother, how’s it hanging?” the older man said in his characteristic wheeze.

  “Busy as hell.”

  “And since when has that been a problem?” Nick laughed.

  “Did you get the text changes on Joanna’s mailer?”

  “Sure did. Everything’s cool. She signed off on the revised proof yesterday and it’s in production. Should have it out to everybody right on time.”

  “Great. I’m sure she’ll appreciate that.”

  There was a moment of silence before Nick coughed and resumed speaking. “Listen, kiddo, how about I spring for lunch today, or are you too freaking busy to eat?”

  Brian chuckled. “No, not too busy for that.”

  “Good, then meet me at the Bookstore Café at 12:30.”

  “Why there?”

  “’Cause I’m in an intellectual mood,” he said.

  “All right, Brainiac, I’ll see you then.”

  He hung up and turned back to what he’d been doing: a quick tweak on a spot for a local muffler shop. The phone rang. Brian picked it up and wedged the handset between his jaw and shoulder, while he cued the tape decks to make the next cut.

  “Newbury Productions,” he said.

  “That you, Slugger? You sound like one of those blow-dried announcers.”

  “Dad?” Brian straightened up and grabbed the phone from the hollow of his neck to keep it from falling. There was something in the old man’s voice. “You okay?”

  “Just a bit under the weather.”

  “Sorry to hear that, but I’m sure you didn’t call me about that.”

  “No...,” he said, with a heavy sigh. “Need a bit of advice from the other businessman in the family.”

  Normally, that line would have brought a smile to Brian’s face, but there was no humor in his father’s tone.

  “What is it—what’s wrong?”

  “Looks like those fancy drinks at the beach are going to have to wait for a bit. That investment group pulled out.”

  “No.... Why? What happened?”

  “The guy I was dealing with called me today and told me that a property in Columbus they’d previously scouted had reconsidered their offer and they were going to go with that. ‘The Nelsonville Project,’ as he put it, was being indefinitely postponed.”

  “I’m really sorry, Dad. I honestly don’t know what advice I can give you. Seems to me it’s out of our hands.”

  “Oh, I know that. It’s just that your mother was really looking forward to getting out of here—me, too, the truth be told—and I haven’t told her any of this yet.”

  Brian could understand that. His mother was the worrier of the family and sparing her reasons to worry was a habit for both men in the Weller family. “What about another buyer?”

  “No other prospects. I’ve asked around. Well’s run dry.”

  “How’s business then?”

  “That’s the other thing your mother doesn’t know. Aside from any seasonal doldrums, Home Depot opened a superstore about fifteen miles up the road a couple of years ago. Things have been drying up ever since, and there are loans I have to cover.”

  “To what extent?”

  “Let’s just say that the mortgages are mortgaged.”

  Brian exhaled, shaking his head. “What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. Muddle along for bit. Rob Peter to pay Paul. Gotten real good at that,” he said with a dry chuckle. “I really
wasn’t under any illusions that the store was worth that much. It’s the land; and the taxes are all paid up, thank God. Made sure of that. As a part of that larger project, it was pure gold. Now....”

  Now, no one would want just that half-acre parcel Weller’s Hardware sat on, flanked by the shuttered Bijou Theatre on one side and the flyblown shoe store on the other, not when the entire downtown area was in desperate need of a shot in the arm. For anyone to buy his father’s store, it would be all or nothing.

  They spoke for a few more minutes and hung up, with Brian feeling frustrated and angry that he couldn’t help his father, or even offer much comfort. To have come to this point, after a lifetime of hard work, had to be eating the old man up inside.

  Brian glanced at the clock; it was already a quarter past twelve. He needed to get going, if he was going to meet Nick on time. While he didn’t have much of an appetite now, the walk and the fresh air might do him some good. At least he’d have a few moments to think. Maybe he would come up with something.

  After making sure to alert one of the interns that he was out for lunch, he grabbed his jacket and left.

  The Bookstore Café occupied the first floor of a red brick building on the corner of Newbury and Exeter. Brian walked in the door just after 12:30 and spotted Nick at a table in the back, nestled in the heart of the Mystery section. He had a half empty cappuccino in front of him. The dark circles under his eyes were deeper than usual.

  Brian shook his hand and sat down. “You burning the candle at both ends, Nick?”

  The older man rolled his eyes. “Tell me about it. Seems like all of a sudden all this work’s come in. What makes it a bear is Cassie’s not pulling her weight.”

  “Trouble in paradise?”

  Nick snorted. “Now that’s a funny one. I think the lady and I will soon have to reassess our partnership.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  Nick gave him a look. “Now I know you’re being funny. She’s done nothing but bad-mouth you since the party.”

  “I can’t help that. She had the hots for me. I wasn’t interested. I would’ve thought she’d have forgotten all about it, by now.”

  “So would I,” Nick said, nodding, “but there you go. Anyway, enough about her. I just wanted to hang out with you for a bit. Take a breather and see how you’re doing.”

  When he saw the look on Brian’s face, he frowned. “What’s up?”

  Brian gave him a brief rundown of his conversation with his father, leaving out the dire financial details.

  “Man, that’s tough,” Nick said, rubbing the stubble on his chin. “I remember my old man getting laid off when I was twelve. He sat around the house for months, driving my mother and the rest of us nuts. When the union finally called him, we threw a party.”

  Brian smiled at the images Nick’s anecdote brought to mind.

  “I just wish that I could do something for him,” Brian said, shaking his head. “I’d lend him the money myself, assuming it would be anywhere near enough, but he’d never take it.”

  “That’s my old man, to a tee. Charity just pissed him off.”

  Before Brian could offer a reply, a waitress approached the table and took their orders. Brian settled on a tuna sandwich and bottled water. Nick stuck with his coffee. When the waitress left, the older man continued. “I’m glad you told me, anyway. But, what I really want to know is how are you?”

  Brian nodded, looking off toward the cover of a book on a nearby shelf that caught his eye. It appeared to be a romance, with a man and woman locked in a torrid embrace. Brian grinned. “I’ve never been better,” he said, turning back to Nick. “Love life is great and so is business.”

  “Glad to hear that.” He fell silent for a moment, as if searching his thoughts. “Listen, Brian, I really am glad everything’s going well for you, but I got to tell you, you’re worrying me.”

  Brian frowned. “Worrying you? Why?”

  “Let’s just say this business with Joanna isn’t the smartest of moves,” he said, looking uncomfortable.

  Brian let out a long sigh. “You and my father should start a club.”

  “If he’s anything like you, I’ll bet he’s a brainy old guy, and I’m sure he’ll solve his problems, but I’m also sure he’d be the first one to tell you that sometimes we can be blind to what’s best for us.”

  “And what’s best for me, Nick?” Brian asked, not liking where this was going one bit.

  Nick sipped his coffee then coughed. “Goddamn asthma. You know I look at you like my little brother, don’t you? And I hate to see my little brother stepping into a minefield.”

  “I know what I’m doing.”

  “Do you? I don’t think you have a frigging clue.”

  “What the hell is it to you, anyway?”

  Nick looked down at his coffee.

  “I asked you a question, Nick.”

  “Erik Ruby is a very old friend of mine. We went to college together.”

  Brian leaned forward with a worried frown. “Did he put you up to this? Does he know anything?”

  Nick shook his head. “No to both those questions, or at least to the first one. I don’t know what he knows; he tends to play things close to the vest, but you both mean a lot to me and I’m feeling the squeeze, here.”

  “So, I’m the one who’s got to give?”

  “Joanna’s engaged to him, Brian. Are you forgetting that?”

  “No I’m not. But I love her, and she loves me.”

  Nick’s eyes widened. “She told you that?”

  “Yes.”

  Nick’s sigh turned to a wheeze and then a deep wracking cough. “Crap.... Sorry. This day’s just getting better and better.”

  “Are you going to say anything to him?”

  Nick’s tired eyes bored into Brian’s. “Like I said, I’m feeling the squeeze—and I don’t much care for it.”

  Brian stared at the table, unsure how to react to Nick’s words. Then it occurred to him that the truth was best.

  “I can only speak for myself, but I’ve never felt this way about any woman I’ve ever known. Joanna and I connect on so many levels and in so many ways that I can’t find the words to describe it, which is a little surprising, since—until now—words were my sole reason for living. That make any sense?”

  Nick nodded solemnly. “More than you know, kiddo, more than you know.... I’ll let you in on a little secret. Never told this to anyone, but when Erik first brought Joanna around, I fell for her like a ton of bricks. Those eyes and that smile of hers, and the way she giggles.” He shook his head, fighting back his emotions. “Didn’t know what the hell to do with myself. Couldn’t say anything, sure as hell couldn’t do anything about it. Couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t even fucking think straight.”

  The food arrived, but any appetite Brian had before was completely gone, his mind abuzz. “Jeez, Nick, I don’t know what to say, I—”

  “There’s nothing to say. She was my best friend’s girl.... She’ll always be special to me, Brian, and she’ll never know how I feel.” Nick looked down at the dregs of his coffee, swirling its contents with his spoon. “You asked me if I’d say anything. I won’t.” He lifted his gaze and Brian saw the pain etched into the deep lines at the corners of his mouth. “Looks as if we both have secrets to keep....”

  “Excuse me, is everything okay?”

  Brian looked up at the waitress, whose sweet round face registered concern. “Everything’s fine, but I need to get back to my office. Would you wrap this up for me, please?”

  The waitress smiled. “Sure, no problem.” She scooped up the plate and took it behind the counter.

  While he waited for her to return, Brian pulled out his wallet and left enough for Nick’s coffee, his sandwich and a generous tip. Nick stared off toward the front of the store. It was an awkward moment and Brian wished he could melt through the floor. The waitress returned and Brian stood. Nick turned to him, a look of panic flashing across his features so
quickly, Brian almost missed it.

  “You have my word, Nick. She’ll never know.”

  Nick offered a ghost of his cocky grin. “Thanks, amigo, I appreciate that. Be careful, okay? For the both of you....”

  Brian nodded and left the restaurant, grateful for the blast of cold air when he reached the sidewalk.

  Back in his office, he picked up the phone and checked the messages on his home answering machine. There was only one—from Joanna:

  “Hey, gorgeous, just wanted to say hi and tell you how much I love you. God, it feels like forever since I’ve seen you.... Hope you miss me as much as I miss you.” Her voice dropped half an octave. “I’ve also got another itch that needs scratching, too.” She giggled and Brian smiled, his heart hammering. “Oh, Nick showed me the revised mailer yesterday, by the way. You really did such a wonderful job with it; I knew my sweet writer would come through for me.

  “I also called the caterer and the valet parking people you recommended and everything’s set up for the show. My God, I can’t believe I’m actually doing it. And it’s all your fault! Seriously, I couldn’t have done this without you, Brian. I’m so glad you’ve come into my life...in more ways than you can imagine....

  “Oh, before I go, I wanted to let you know that I’m creating a special piece for you, but you’ll just have to wait until the show to see it. Anyway, I’ve got a class. Call me tonight. I’ll be at the studio. Love you.”

  For the first time since meeting Joanna, doubts crept into Brian’s mind. Nick’s confession had rocked him, but his echoing of his father’s words had flipped a switch in his brain, making him question everything going on in his life.