Hard Job

by Jeffery Craig

  They both enjoyed the sun and the silence until Mitchell cleared his throat and sat up in his lounger. “Toby? Do you every wonder what it would be like….I mean, do you ever wish we….?”

  “Yes, I have, and I do wish, sometimes.” Toby felt the sun shining down and he allowed himself to just imagine what could be, before he continued. “But, I don’t think the time is right for us to…you know, and I wouldn’t want to ruin anything because it wasn’t – for either of us.”

  Mitchell sighed. “I know. But sometimes – like now – I wish we could just….”

  “Me too, Mitchell.”

  “Toby, there’s something I need to tell you.” Toby heard the lounge chair creak and something in Mitchell’s voice made a small knot form in the middle of his chest. “Detective Reightman called while you were on the phone with Madame Zhou.”

  Toby didn’t want to know what Mitchell was going to say. “Yes?” he made himself ask, turning his head to face him.

  “She told me they’ve confirmed that the same person who killed the others, killed Reverend Sawyer.” He paused for a minute to allow that to sink in. “The other thing she told me was… I’m being reassigned. Someone will be relieving me tomorrow morning, on Chief Kelly’s orders. I’ll still be working with Detective Reightman, but…”

  “But not here, with me.”

  “No, not here with you.”

  Toby looked away, hoping that his own sunglasses were hiding his eyes, which were brimming with unshed tears. Once he was sure his voice wouldn’t betray him, he turned back to Mitchell. “Can we do one thing before you go?”

  “Sure. What do you want to do, Toby?”

  “Tonight, when we go to sleep, I want us to hold each other until morning. Just hold each other. You’ve kept me safe – even from myself – and helped me through the nights I woke up terrified and certain I was alone. Tonight, Mitchell, I’d like to us to keep each other safe.”

  Mitchell stood and knelt down beside him. Toby felt his hand on his shoulder, caressing his skin. “I’d like that very much.” Mitchell lingered a minute more, and then walked through the French door and into the apartment.

  Toby stayed on the terrace until the sun began to set. He never noticed when the curtains from the apartment across the way parted slightly, and then closed again. He had no way of knowing Zhou Li’s ride had been delayed, and or that she’d witnessed the moment when Mitchell told him he was leaving. He never knew she’d watched as Mitchell knelt beside him and touched his skin. He never heard the soft, sure words she said as she wheeled her small suitcase to the door.

  “…when one dream vanishes another takes its place…”

  Once the sun was down, Toby went inside, showered, and fixed a simple dinner. They ate and joked and talked and tried not to think about tomorrow.

  That night, Toby and Mitchell held each other until the sun rose again. Neither of them slept, but they did keep each other safe all night long.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Sunday morning, Toby welcomed a new officer into his apartment and helped settle her into the guest bedroom. He then helped Mitchell carry his bags to the car. They had to make several trips, since Mitchell had a lot more to take home than he’d brought with him when he first took up temporary residence.

  “Can you believe I managed to haul this much of my crap over here in the last few weeks?” Mitchell joked as they crammed the items into his car. “You’d think I’d decided to just move in permanently!”

  Toby turned away, and refused to meet Mitchell’s eyes. “Yeah. You’d think you’d decided to do just that.”

  “Toby, please don’t be like this. There’s no reason to be upset. We’ll stay in touch.”

  “I know, but it won’t be the same.”

  “No, it won’t.” Mitchell wanted to hug him, but held himself back. “Keep yourself safe, Toby. Don’t forget to find time to practice at the shooting range.”

  “I won’t forget.”

  “You’d better not! I’ll have to come over here and whip your ass if you do.” Mitchell shuffled his feet a few times. “I guess I’d better get out of your hair. See ya around.” He held out his hand.

  Toby hesitated and then took hold of his hand and shook. “See ya, Mitchell. Thanks for everything,”

  Toby trudged up the stairs to his apartment. After he went in the door he locked it and then turned to the woman standing in the living room. “Officer Owens, can I fix you something to drink? Some coffee or tea?”

  “Thank you for the offer, Mr. Bailey, but I’m fine. I brought my own with me. Just go on about your day as if I weren’t here.”

  “Okay, but if you need something, feel free to help yourself.”

  “I’ll be fine, Mr. Bailey.”

  Toby started down the hall to his bedroom to gather up a load of laundry and then turned back toward her. “Officer Owens, I don’t suppose I could convince you to call me Toby, could I?”

  “No, sir. I don’t think it would be very professional for me to do that.”

  For the next couple of hours, Toby occupied himself with household chores. He fixed himself a sandwich and ate it, alone, at the table. He read a little during the afternoon, hoping to fall asleep. He didn’t. Later, when the protection detail rotated, he tried to engage the new officer on duty, but didn’t have any better luck than he’d experienced with Officer Owens. Depressed with the changes, he showered and crawled into bed. He picked his phone up from the nightstand and typed a short message before turning off the light.

  His phone buzzed a few minutes later. He picked it up and read the return message from Mitchell.

  I MISS U 2

  He considered texting back, but finally laid down the phone. He tossed and turned for a while and reached over and pulled Mitchell’s pillow to his chest. He inhaled deeply, trying to capture some trace of his scent. He finally closed his eyes, and slept.

  

  The next few weeks passed slowly. Toby and SarahJune worked half days, making their way through the list of things needing to be done to close the Time Out Spa. Toby contacted a supply company and arranged a time for a used furnishings dealer to come and look things over and give him a bid.

  At the end of the week Zhou Li called. “I heard from the management company, Toby. The building owner agreed to renegotiate better terms for the cancellation of the lease. They realize the situation which led to your decision to close was out of your control.”

  “What have they offered?” Toby asked.

  “They have agreed to let you out of the lease at the one year mark, with no additional penalty. You’ll be required to pay through the end of November. They also indicated that if your situation changed, they’d honor the original lease at the original terms.”

  “That’s very generous of them, Madame Zhou, but I don’t think the situation will change.”

  “You never know. Remember what I said to you about remaining positive.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I remember. Thank you for working this out for me. It’s a big load off my mind.”

  “You’re very welcome, Toby. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Toby wandered to the front reception desk to see how SarahJune was progressing with her paperwork.

  “Toby, I got a call from someone wanting a massage in the next couple of weeks. He knew we were closing, but still wanted to schedule an appointment. I told him I’d have to check and call him back.”

  “Might as well – it’ll buy us a few more lunches.”

  “Okay, I’ll let him know. He said he wanted the ninety minute special.”

  “See if he can do next Saturday afternoon. Sunday would work as well. We’ll be pretty much done by then. He can be my last customer.”

  “Toby, remember I’m not going to be here next weekend. I’m going to visit my sister. Will you be alright here by yourself?”

  “I’m never by myself anymore,” he said, nodding ruefully towards Officer by the door, one of the new members of his guard detail. “I’
ll be fine.”

  “Okay, I’ll call him back and get it set up.”

  

  Reightman’s next weeks dragged by as well. The team combed over evidence and worked through every possible lead, but nothing turned up. As she went over the evidence for the umpteenth time, she had a thought. Since she had the time, she could try the neighbors on Chutney Street one more time. She’d take the glasses with her, hoping that they might jog a memory or two.

  “Tom, it’s Reightman. I need you to do something for me. Do you still have the glasses found at the Lieberman scene?....What do you mean – you can’t find them?....Yes, there have been a lot of instances of things being misplaced….I know and yes, you’re right….just let me know if they turn up.” She slammed the phone down, frustrated and disgusted.

  At the end of the second week, things got worse. Chief Kelly broke the news he was going to cut back on the manpower assigned to the case. “There are not enough of us to go around,” he gruffly informed her. “Other things are suffering from a lack of attention.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’ve had several complaints about the reduced neighborhood patrols so I’m also cutting loose the team assigned to Mr. Bailey.”

  “But Chief, you can’t do that! We haven’t found the killer yet and he’s still in danger.”

  “Reightman, we may never find the killer. You told me yourself that he appears to have vanished on the wind. We can’t provide around the clock protection to one man if it means the rest of the population suffers.”

  “Chief, I think –”

  “Reightman, I’ve made my decision,” he interrupted sharply. “And before you can pull that old woman into it, I should tell you that the Mayor has also agreed, and so has Hollingfield.”

  Reightman felt a headache starting and rubbed her temples as she tried to take it all in. “So, you’re pulling everyone off, except for Jones and Mitchell?

  “I’m pulling everyone off, but Jones. I’m sending Mitchell over to Vice to get some street experience. We’re down an officer since Lamont’s arrest and the change will do Mitchell good.”

  Reightman tried to cover her disappointment and to push down the feeling of unease that crept over her. “When will the changes be effective?”

  “The changes are effective immediately, Reightman. Bailey’s detail will continue through tonight, but tomorrow they’ll be back on regular duty.” The Chief stood from his desk and made his way to the door. “I think that should cover things, Detective.” As he opened the door, he turned back, obviously having thought of one more item he wanted to cover. “Reightman, about the Assistant Chief’s position we talked about a few weeks ago…”

  “Chief Kelly, truthfully, I haven’t had much time to think it yet.”

  “That’s why I’m mentioning it to you now. I’ve decided to look outside the current pool of departmental personal in order to bring in some new blood. I hope you’re not too disappointed.”

  For some reason, Reightman was sure he was hoping that she was very disappointed. Maybe it was his small cold smile of amusement, or perhaps it was the anticipatory glint in his eyes which clued her in. “He wants me to make a scene over this,” she realized. “He’s hoping I’ll cross the line and prove he was right about me after all.” She met his eyes and smiled as she went through open door. “I’m not disappointed. Not at all.”

  She didn’t know how she felt, but a wave of helpless frustration washed over her when she realized that now, she might never find the person who had killed Lieberman, Helliman, and Christina Dameron. Worse, was the overwhelming sense of failure which rose up inside when she admitted that if she didn’t find that person, the person who’d aimed for Toby Bailey and missed, she’d never find out who’d killed Sam.

  

  A week later, SarahJune put way the files she had finished and walked back to Toby’s office. “Toby, I finished the last of the files and I think I’ll head on home. I have a long drive a head of me and I’d like to get started before it gets too much later.”

  “Thanks. Have a good visit with your sister. When are you planning on being back?”

  “I’ll be home late Tuesday and I’ll be here on Wednesday. Hey, don’t forget your appointment tomorrow.”

  “I have it in my phone and even set a reminder. Now, get out of here. Drive safe and have fun!”

  Toby left shortly after she did, and walked down and visited with Moon until she closed. He drove to the grocery store and then restocked the cupboards. He downloaded a few books, and then took a long shower. He decided to go out to grab a bite to eat and was soon seated at a small table in his favorite Italian place, located a few blocks from his house.

  “Hey, Toby!” He turned around searching for the voice and saw Mitchell seated at a nearby table, with an attractive man.

  “Hi, Mitchell!” He got up and walked over to the table. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. “

  “We decided to try this place. I heard it was pretty good.” Mitchell cleared his throat a little awkwardly. “Toby, I like you to meet Bradley Clark. He’s a … well, I think I might’ve mentioned him to you.”

  “Hello, Bradley, I’m Toby.”

  As the man stood to shake his hand, Toby appraised him quickly. “Nice looking – maybe late thirties or early forties. He’s a little shorter than Mitchell, and has kind of a stocky build. Not fat at all, just solid for his height. Looks like a nice amount of chest hair. Nice eyes and wait…silver hair at his temples and a neatly trimmed mustache and beard. This man – Bradley – is the silver daddy…..”

  They finished their handshake and Mitchell grinned, letting Toby know his suspicions about who Bradley was were correct. “Why don’t you join us, Toby? We haven’t even ordered yet.”

  Toby briefly considered it, but quickly discarded the idea. “It’s time for us all to move on,” he told himself sadly. He smiled brightly toward the two men, obviously out on a date – maybe even their first. “I appreciate the offer, but I need to get on home. It’s been a long week and I’m beat.” Toby noticed the look of relief on Bradley’s face as he made his excuses. “Bradley, it was nice to meet you, and I hope to see you again sometime. Mitchell…take care of yourself. I’ll see you around.”

  Toby walked to the front of the restaurant and asked for his dinner to be packaged as a to-go order. Then he walked home, not paying attention to anything until he suddenly found himself at the foot of the stairwell that led up to his apartment. He looked up the stairs and realized he wasn’t sure how he’d gotten there, or how long his walk had taken. Once inside, he stowed the food in the fridge – having decided that he wasn’t hungry after all – and shed his clothes as he went into the bedroom. He looked at the bed, and then went to the linen cabinet and grabbed some fresh sheets. After the bed was stripped, he held on to a single pillowcase, stroking the fabric before he finally tossed it on top of the pile of used linens. He made the bed with fresh sheets. Toby read for a while, not paying any attention to the words. An hour or two later, he suddenly got up from the bed and rushed to the laundry hamper. He dug around until he found the item he wanted. He folded the pillowcase carefully and then placed it in the bottom of a dresser drawer, out of range of sight and smell, and out of the reach of his hand. But, he knew it was there.

  

  Toby ran a few errands Saturday morning and picked up some packing boxes. After he was through with the afternoon’s appointment, he’d start packing up his office. He started across the street, struggling with his load, and reached the door of the spa just as another man did.

  “Hey, let me help you with those so you can get the door,” John Brown offered with a smile. “I’m supposed to be meeting someone here anyway.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it.” Toby handed the empty boxes to the man and dug out his keys. “I’m the person you’re meeting.” He unlocked the door and then opened it and ushered the man inside. He took the boxes from him and carried them behind the counter, and then went back and lo
cked the front door.

  “Are you the only one here today?” John Brown asked as he pushed up the dark-framed glasses which had slid down his nose.

  “Yeah, just you and me today,” Toby confirmed. “I think that SarahJune told you that we were closing, so we are not really staffed anymore.”

  “Yes, she did and said you’d only be here another week or so. I appreciate you fitting me in – I’m sure you must have other things to worry about.”

  “It wasn’t any problem. I’m Toby by the way.”

  “It’s good to meet you, Toby. I’m Bill Jones.”

  “Well, why don’t we go on back to the treatment room and get you all set up?”

  John Brown, aka Bill Jones, followed the young man to the back of the building, pausing as Toby stopped to flip on a few lights.

  “It’s warm back here,” John Brown commented as they entered the smaller treatment room.

  “I must have turned off the air conditioning system when I left last night. I forgot that I wasn’t going to be in this morning. I’ll turn it on, but it may take it a while to cool down. These old building aren’t very efficient. I’ll apologize in advance in case it’s too uncomfortable.”

  “Shouldn’t be a problem. I’m not going to be wearing clothes anyway.”

  “Most people like the room to be warm when they get a massage. The body temperature drops some as the blood flow gets going, so maybe it won’t be too bad.” Toby put a clean sheet on the table and smoothed down the corners and then placed another sheet on top and folded it back. “Alright, Bill, I’m going to go grab a couple of bottles of water for us. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable.”