The Twelfth Of Never: A suspense mystery romantic thriller

by Lillian Francken

  "That guy gets on my nerves," Gideon muttered under his breath.

  Jenny glanced at Gideon. "You haven't exactly been Mr. Congeniality."

  Jenny stared at Gideon and then turned and disappeared inside the apartment building. She quickly climbed the three flights. As Jenny opened the door, it was as if the wind was sucked out of her. The realization of last night’s devastation rushed in and seized her again. Gideon tried to grab her arm, but in her anger Jenny snapped it back, not wanting his support or sympathy.

  "Leave me alone," was all she said.

  "Are you sure?" Gideon asked as he looked down at Jenny.

  Jenny thought for a moment that he cared, but then remembered the phone conversation.

  "Yes," Jenny responded sharply.

  "If that's what you want," Gideon replied, and then he turned and walked off.

  Jenny watched as he slowly walked down the hall, but before he disappeared down the stairs Gideon turned back to her, took out a notebook, jotted down a number, then walked back and handed it to her.

  "This is my number. If you need anything, just call. I'll come right over," he said. Gideon held the slip of paper in his hand.

  They just stood in the silence of the hallway, neither moving. Jenny did not say anything. It had troubled her since she saw him yesterday at the library. There was something in his eyes, the way they softened when he looked at her and the expression on his face. Jenny reached for the slip of paper, and then put it in her pocket. Gideon walked off and was down the stairs before she could thank him.

  Jenny walked into the apartment, went to the front window, and then glanced down into the alley below. She watched as Gideon got into the little sports car. The roar of the supercharged engine filled the quiet afternoon air. He quickly made a U-turn, and then left a trail of rubber behind as he sped off out of the alley.

  CHAPTER 18

  Gideon pulled up to a little cafe on the corner of 12th and Broadway. He walked through the crowd of people, down the narrow aisle to the booth in back where Jake was already on his third cup of coffee. Jake was about to get up, but Gideon put his hand on his shoulder.

  "Stay put, we have to talk," Gideon said glancing around the cafe and then looked out the window at the pedestrians walking by. "Did you tell anyone I called?"

  "No, but I could get my ass in a sling for working with you. Did you know Bronk found out you had me stake out the girl's apartment? He threatened to put me back in uniform."

  "He's only bluffing," Gideon grinned.

  "She's a civilian. The only reason you want me around is to put credence to what you're up to."

  "This is a valid case. I need help."

  "Talk to Bronk. Besides..."

  "To hell with him," Gideon said.

  The waitress quickly walked over with a pot of coffee. "You ordering now?" She snapped her gum, cocked her hip, and held pencil to pad while she waited.

  Jake glanced up, "I'll have the special."

  She turned to Gideon and waited a moment then cocked the other hip. "I ain't got all day."

  Gideon looked up at the woman. "Coffee will be all."

  Jake stared at Gideon. "Did you put the make on her last night?"

  "That's tacky, even from you."

  "Well, you have to admit, you have more interest in this broad than just this case."

  "That's none of your business," Gideon snapped.

  "It is when you make me a part of it."

  "This is a case I'm working on."

  "Yeah, right," Jake laughed.

  Gideon reached over and knocked the cup out of Jake's hand. It sent coffee splattering all over the table and onto Jake.

  "Your partner’s dead, I'd think you would want to get the bastard who did it."

  Jake glared at Gideon. The waitress walked over with the pot of coffee and a cup, she put the cup in front of Gideon and then looked down at the mess. "I'll get you a rag," she snapped. She quickly turned and disappeared into the kitchen.

  "Do you think she's in on it?" Jake asked finally.

  "No."

  The waitress was back with a rag in her hand. Gideon did not continue. He just looked away while the waitress busied herself cleaning the mess. Before leaving she topped off Jake's cup while glaring at Gideon. Once she was out of earshot, Jake turned to Gideon.

  "Maybe Delaney didn't tell her anything."

  "That doesn't explain why she was in the closet. She had to be hiding. I'd like to know from what or whom." Gideon sipped the hot liquid, and then set the cup down.

  "It doesn't add up," Jake wrapped his hand around the cup, and then stared at Gideon. "Do you think she had anything to do with the nurse’s death?"

  Gideon shook his head. "You know I spent last evening with her, then today for a little while. She doesn't seem like the type to run around bumping people off. I think she has seen something she shouldn't have and now she's running scared."

  Jake was not as apt to believe in Jenny's innocence so freely. "Something's not right," he said tapping his fingers on the table nervously. "Why not just go to the authorities?"

  "Outside of point blank asking her what she knows, I don't know what more to do."

  "Why don't you? It couldn't hurt."

  "Because if I do and she goes to the media with this, it could get blown way out of proportion." Gideon paused for a moment, looked around before continuing. "Like Watergate."

  "Like national security is going to depend on her coming clean."

  "Delaney died because of it, they got to the nurse. I only wish Wayne would talk, and then maybe we would know more about what she may be hiding.”

  "That's if she is hiding anything."

  Gideon cut him off. "Why else trash her apartment? They had to be looking for something. I only hope she was smart enough to put it someplace safe."

  "You're assuming," Jake said quickly.

  "Something big is coming down. Wayne was working on it for Carter. Colby knows only fragments about what's going on and can't even fill me in on that."

  "You mean to tell me they all knew?"

  "No. Not really. Wayne suspected he was being watched. That's why the extra Feds were on him that morning. It was not until last Friday that Delaney opened up about the hit, but he was not sure who. He wanted out, but Colby wanted proof. So that's why we were in the park.”

  "Didn't anyone try to talk Wayne out of his morning run?"

  "Yeah, but he wouldn't give up his normal routine." Gideon stared out the window at the pedestrians walking by.

  "I bet he'd listen now," Jake joked.

  The waitress finally came with a plate in hand, setting it down in front of Jake. She topped off both cups before walking away.

  "Do you have someone watching her now?" Jake asked, looking at the food on the plate. After the longest time staring at the plate, he just slid it aside. It looked like the special from three days ago and he was no longer hungry.

  "No, that's why I called you. I thought you could watch the place this afternoon while I try to get backup from Langley."

  "Sure, but you better clear it with Bronk first."

  "He's an old softy," Gideon said, glancing at Jake.

  Jake had a curious look on his face and then asked. "How do you know him so well?"

  "Ex-brother-in-law."

  "I might have known."

  "It has its advantages."

  Gideon reached in his pocket, but Jake stopped him. "My treat, besides you look like shit. Maybe you should get some sleep."

  "I can't. There's too much to do," Gideon replied.

  "You ain't any good in your condition."

  Gideon pretended not to hear. "I'll relieve you around seven. Just don't let her see you. She's on to us."

  * * *

  Beth patiently waited for Sylvester to come all afternoon, and when Jamieson finally called to tell her he was on his way up, she paced the living room. When the doorbell finally rang, she raced to open it.

  "What took you so long," she sa
id, taking his arm quickly and pulling him inside, not before glancing down the hall. "Arthur and the girls will be home soon."

  "I'm in the middle of a murder investigation, Beth, I can't drop everything and come running."

  "Have you seen Gideon?" she asked while pacing the floor, and then glanced up at the clock. There was no time for idle chitchat. She wanted to get this over with.

  "I talked to him about bothering you, if that's what you mean."

  "It isn't that, Sylvester." Beth stood at the bay window that looked down on Park Avenue below. The traffic was heavy, and people lined the streets. It was a busy time in the city with the workday over and everyone hurrying home. "Did you know he saw her?" she finally asked.

  "Who?" Bronk asked. But he knew whom Beth was talking about and knew the history of the photo.

  "I know Gideon tells you everything."

  "Beth, it isn't what you think."

  "Sy, I talked to him yesterday," Beth turned to him with a serious look across her face. "It was the first time I believed him when he said he didn't know who she was."

  "It's true," Bronk added, watching his sister. She was clearly upset by the revelation. "I saw them together last night."

  "Where," she asked. A part of her was still jealous.

  "At the station, I brought her in for questioning."

  "Is she in trouble?"

  "No. We don't think so. She's just mixed up in the case Gideon is working on."

  "But who is she, and why would he have her picture in his wallet all these years if she didn't know him."

  "If you ask me, it has something to do with what happened over there."

  "Did Gideon tell you?"

  "No. He still doesn't talk about it. But I can see it in his eyes. He's remembering more, and it's scaring him."

  "I just never could accept his carrying her picture." Beth folded her arms as if chilled.

  "You're divorced now, so why are you still hanging on?"

  "Because it was always there to haunt me," Beth said softly, the pain still in her eyes.

  "After all these years, why don't you just give it up?"

  "You know once after we made love he left the bed. I waited a few minutes, and when he didn't return, I went looking for him." She paused a moment as if remembering that time. "I found him on the couch holding her picture. I thought then he was trying to remember what it was like to be in her arms. That's when I told him I wanted a divorce."

  Sylvester glanced up at his sister. "After last night, I know for a fact she had never met Gideon." He watched Beth pace the floor. "If it makes you feel any better, she is the wife of one of the men he was with over there. You know that final mission."

  Beth turned to him quickly. A chill ran through her remembering the months she waited for word about Gideon's fate.

  "Was he one of those killed?"

  "Yeah, but it gets worse. They still have him listed as missing in action. Gideon remembered him being killed, but we can't understand why the family wasn't notified."

  "That's too bad. At least Gideon came back," Beth said, but then quickly added. "Although he wasn't a whole man when he returned."

  "Beth, he went through a lot. You should have given him more time."

  "It wasn't just that last tour, Sy. Ever since Eddie died it was never the same." A tear rolled down her cheek. Gideon always managed to stir feelings in her she had thought were long gone. She still cared about him, and not a day went by that she did not worry if he was still alive.

  The door opened just then, startling the two. Beth quickly turned, wiping her eyes. Arthur walked into the living room, glanced at Bronk, and then smiled at Beth.

  "Well, Bronk, we don't get to see you much anymore."

  "Been busy," Bronk replied. He looked at Beth, and then turned to Arthur. "Had a spare moment, thought I'd see how my baby sister was doing."

  "Thanks for stopping by," Beth said. She regained control, took a deep breath, and walked up to Arthur. "I wasn't expecting you this early." She kissed him mechanically on the cheek. For a moment she thought about the passion she shared with Gideon. Somehow the desire she had for Gideon did not end with the divorce decree.

  "Wanted to surprise you, dear," Arthur said. He glanced at Bronk and smiled. "Looks like I've succeeded."

  Bronk took his cue, got up, and walked to the door. He turned, smiled politely, and then quickly walked out. Bronk knew Beth still cared for Gideon more than she really wanted to admit. But it was not anything she could change. Once she married Arthur, she'd shut the door on that part of her life.

  Beth turned to Arthur. She was cool and indifferent. "What are you really doing here?" she asked.

  "Come on, Beth, you know me better than that."

  "You're checking up on me, aren't you?"

  "I was curious to see if maybe Gideon was here while I was gone."

  "Arthur, I didn't have to tell you he was here yesterday. That doesn't mean I've extended an open invitation for him to stop by on a daily basis."

  Arthur walked over to the bar, poured himself bourbon on the rocks. He raised the glass to Beth. "I see the way you look when the girls talk about their father."

  "We were married twelve years. We shared the death of our son. It's hard to just turn off all those feelings."

  Arthur gulped the spirits down quickly. He put the glass down and took Beth in his arms. "Think how much easier it would be if he would just terminate his parental rights. We could be a family, just the four of us."

  What Arthur wanted had troubled her for months. A part of her wanted to be that family for him, but the other part just could not rip Gideon's heart out so cruelly.

  "I know you mean well, but . . . "

  He turned away from her, and then continued. "When was the last visit he had with them? I'm not talking about dropping by for a few minutes. I'm talking about actually taking them for the weekend."

  "It was always hard with his job," Beth defended Gideon like she always did.

  "Well I want a normal life for your girls and Gideon is standing in the way of that."

  "Arthur, please be patient. They will grow to love and respect you."

  "Not with him standing in the shadows."

  The door opened just then, and Beth stepped away from Arthur. She turned to see the two girls walk in and scurry down the hall without saying a word.

  "I don't want to talk about it anymore, not while they're home," Beth said, glaring at Arthur for bringing up the subject in the first place.

  "You can't keep putting it off."

  Beth walked into the kitchen to put distance between her and Arthur. She did not want to discuss Gideon further for fear Arthur would detect her true feelings. It angered her that after all this time she still cared.

  * * *

  Trish walked out of the bedroom, her hair in disarray. She wiped her hands on one of Benjamin's old painting smocks. Jenny turned away from the front window; Gideon was long gone. She raised her eyebrows when she saw Trish, and then smiled.

  "Where did you spend the night?" Jenny asked.

  "I was going to ask you the same thing."

  "Gideon took me back to his place."

  "Oh, so now we're on a first-name basis."

  "Trish, I'm not in the mood for this," Jenny said as she glanced around the room. "Looks like a disaster."

  "Your mother called last night. I told her you were out."

  "We talked the other day. I told her everything, now I suppose she's going to keep checking up on me to make sure I'm okay."

  "She cares," Trish added.

  "I'll call her back and tell her what's been going on."

  "Do you want to tell me first? Christ, I came back from the studio after sitting for Benjamin and the place was torn apart. What was he looking for anyway?"

  Jenny looked around the room, "Beats me," is all she mustered up to say.

  Jenny did not want to tell Trish anything about Delaney or the envelope she had. She only hoped Benjamin had not told h
er anything either. The fewer people who knew about it, the better off she was. Jenny was beginning to suspect there was more meaning to what she had than just a simple gathering like she originally thought.

  Trish tossed the rag on the couch, and then quickly added, "I'm sick of all this cleaning."

  "How far did you get?" Jenny asked.

  "The bedroom."

  "Did you find any of John's letters? They were on the bed when I left last evening."

  "No. There was nothing like that lying around."

  "He took them," Jenny said. She was angry. They were the only link she had left of John, and now that was gone too. All that remained were her memories.

  "Life sucks," Trish said. "Benny told me about the guy in the hospital room."

  Jenny glanced at her and then said. "Benny? When did you become buddies?"

  "After we talked in the park yesterday. I realized there was a lot to Benjamin that I was overlooking before."

  "I wish he hadn't mentioned the hospital and what happened. He didn't say anything else, did he?" Jenny watched Trish for a hint that she knew more, but saw nothing in her expression.

  "No. What shouldn't he tell me?"

  "Trish, the less you know, the better off you are."

  Jenny did not say anything more. She thought about Gideon, and the conversation on the phone. Soon she would have to do something with the envelope at the studio. She even thought about mailing it to the police, but how could she be sure they would take it seriously? The only other alternative was to give it to Gideon.

  CHAPTER 19

  Trish left around eight, after spending the afternoon and early evening cleaning. She used the lame excuse about Benjamin wanting to paint her by the evening light. Jenny did not mind; all she wanted was to be left alone. The apartment was almost clean and the couch was carried down to the dumpster out back. There were only a few pieces of furniture scattered around the apartment that Benjamin had brought over from his studio. It would have to do for now.

  Jenny walked into the bedroom to collect the trash when she heard a knock at the door. She did not need or want company. All she wanted to do was ignore the knock, but then it came again. She picked up the bags, carried them into the living room, and then opened the door.