by Lulu Pratt
“I’m sorry, but I have to go. Walk me out?”
He does, but silently. He seems bothered by my curtness. I want to ease his mind, but that involves time that I don’t have at the moment. I will make it better tomorrow.
We reach the street and I hail a cab.
“Can I drop you some place?”
“No. That’s okay. But thank you.” As soon as the cab slows to a stop, I jump in and close my door before I have to answer any of Rocco’s questions. I feel bad not telling him what I’m doing, but the less he knows the better.
Nancy is already in the bar when I arrive. She is sitting at a table with an older gentleman, who is quite good looking and dressed very well. At first, I’m not sure if he is there with her, or if she is being flirtatious. My stomach flips at the thought this guy might be the man she has to pay off. I don’t want to deal with them directly so I dart off to the side and pull out my phone.
I’m almost there, I text her.
Okay. I’m here now.
Are you alone?
No. I brought my father. I thought you should meet him since you are the one who is saving his life.
I smile, pocket my phone and walk to them.
“Hello,” I say, as I approach them.
“Maddie!” Nancy jumps out of her chair and throws her arms around me. I glance at the man as he stands, his eyes squinting as he smiles at me. “This is my father, Joseph. Dad, this is Maddie.”
“It is so very nice to meet you, Maddie,” he says softly.
I hold out my hand to shake his, but instead he grabs my wrist, pulls me to him and puts his arms around me.
Chapter 14
MADDIE
“I’m sorry,” Nancy says when he finally lets me go. “He is the touchy feely type, but harmless, I assure you.”
“I like to hug. What can I say, Nancy?” he says, shrugging his shoulders.
“It’s okay. My family is like that too.”
“Let me buy you a drink, Maddie” he says, quickly as the bartender approaches.
“Thank you. A vodka and cranberry, please.”
“I will be right back, Maddie. I have to use the ladies’ room.”
I give her a ‘don’t you dare leave me alone with your father’ look, but she smiles and turns away. “Please, get to know each other.”
She walks off before I can say anything more and leaves me with her very good-looking father. Although he doesn’t look anything like her, he seems genuine and very kind. He is just a little over the top. It makes me wonder how a man like this could possibly get himself into such trouble.
“Nancy told me what you offered, and I can’t thank you enough. You are truly a good person.”
“I was raised to try to help others. I just hope this will help. Do you have a plan on how to repay this debt? This isn’t my money. I had to lie to my father to get the money. He thinks he is helping me invest in a deal that doesn’t exist.”
He looks at me and shakes his head as if in awe at my kindness. Next thing I know, his arms are around me again. “I just can’t thank you enough. You have saved my life.” He squeezes me tightly before letting go.
“Thank you,” I mumble. I look out to the back of the bar, wondering where Nancy is when her father turns my face to his and kisses me on the lips. My eyes are wide and we are frozen for the longest moment in my life.
“No, thank you,” he says, letting me go.
The bartender walks to us with my drink and as soon as he sets it down, I grab it and hold it in front of me putting an extra chair between me and Nancy’s father.
The entire night is odd for me but I need to stick around to be sure what his intentions were on paying me back and what kind of counseling he is planning on getting for his addiction. Maybe it is forward of me to ask, but I did just front two-hundred-thousand dollars to a complete stranger and his daughter who, just a few days ago, tried to get me fired. I’m insane.
I open my purse and I start to pull out the envelope full of cash. Looking at each of them, I realize this is the moment of truth. How well do I trust these people that I can hand over so much money with no way of guaranteeing I will get it back? My hesitation makes them uneasy.
“Can we do this someplace more private?” Nancy asks, putting her hand on my arm. “I don’t feel right here.”
I push it back into my purse. “The restaurant is just down the street. We could go there.” I look at the time on my cell phone. “It should be closed by now. I have a key.”
“Perfect,” she says, getting up.
When we get inside the restaurant and I turn off the alarm, we sit at a table close to the front. I hesitate before pulling out the envelope and I feel Nancy’s hand on my arm again.
“Maddie? I know it’s a lot of money, and I assure you that my dad and I are so very grateful for what you are doing. Please know that we will both work really hard to pay you back, to pay your father back.”
“I know. It’s just, not easy to do this.”
I take a big breath and hand the envelope to her father.
“You have no idea what this means to us,” says Nancy.
“If you’ll excuse me.” I stand up and grab my purse. “I’ll be right back.”
I walk into the bathroom and just stand there, looking at my reflection in the mirror. “Please tell me I’m doing a good thing. Don’t let this bite me in the ass.”
I wash my face with a little cold water and pat it dry before walking back out. Nancy is sitting quietly alone with her hands folded in her lap.
“Where is your dad?” I ask, looking around.
“He had to go already.”
“Why the long face?” And why is it making me nervous?
“I just miss him. That’s all. I sometimes wonder if he only contacts me when it is convenient for him.”
“Parents can be funny sometimes.”
“Thanks again, Maddie. You really came through for me. I promise I’ll work it off.”
“I’m just glad I could help.”
We decide to call it a night, promising to see each other at work the next day and I lock up after she leaves.
When I get home, I grab the pile of mail I had thrown on the desk as I left. I pull out a large manila envelope. Walking to the refrigerator, I grab one of the last two beers and I walk into my room. I plop down on my bed, looking at the envelope.
That’s odd, there’s no postmark, no stamp.
I open it and pull the contents out. My heart drops down into the pit of my stomach as I look at a picture of Rocco and me in a heated embrace on a glossy eight-by-ten photograph. My breathing is shallow. What the hell? I can’t tell where we are. The close-up of our faces takes up the entire picture. I slide it to the back and look at the next one showing his hand underneath my shirt. I glance at the floor next to my bed. It is the same shirt I wore earlier today in his office. The next one is a similar embrace but in front of the couch he carried me to. The passion in our faces, the heat in our kiss, these photographs show it all. My fingers loosen and my head gets dizzy as the pictures fall to the floor. I feel a warmth flood over me. Who would do this? I look down at the pictures scattered on my carpet.
“I have to talk to Joanne before someone tries to use these against me or Rocco.”
Chapter 15
ROCCO
“Hey, Rocco.”
I look up from my work and frown when I see Nancy standing in my doorway.
“Nancy,” I say, bluntly. I turn back to the computer.
“Can I talk to you?”
“Depends. Are you here to try to sabotage someone again?”
She walks in and sits in the chair across from my desk. “I want to apologize for that. I was jealous, and I really had no reason to be. I’ve talked to Maddie and we are good. We actually went out the other night and made amends. I like her,” she nods.
“Well, good. It’s nice to know you are able to work through any differences you had.” I hesitate, waiting for her to continue, but sh
e sits there and looks at me with a solemn expression on her face. “So, what can I do for you?” I ask, when she doesn’t offer anything more.
“I really don’t know how to, or if I should, bring it up. I’ve always liked you and I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Never mind. It’s just going to look like I’m trying to get her again. I should go.” She gets up and starts to walk out. I’m skeptical, but maybe if I hear what she has to say, I can decipher a truth versus a lie.
“Nancy. It is obviously bothering you if you came in to tell me. Come back over and sit.”
When she finally sits back down after a few moments of hesitation, she presses her lips together and looks down at her hands.
“I just don’t want any problems, but I’m worried that Maddie might not have the best of intentions in her relationship with you.”
“Relationship?” So much for keeping it under wraps.
“Yeah. I know about you two, and I was so happy when I heard. I know we didn’t get off on the right foot. That’s why I… kind of encouraged her to talk to you. I think that is why she went to see you the other night.”
“So, you knew.”
“I honestly thought she had good intentions. I thought she really liked you.”
“She… does,” I reiterate with skepticism.
“Just keep your guard up, please?”
“Nancy. Stop beating around the bush. If you have something to say, then say it. Otherwise, stop wasting my time.”
I watch as she purses her lips and fidgets with a button on her top.
“I was supposed to meet her at Manhattan’s Best last night but I called and canceled. Something came up, however, it finished early so I decided to go after all and when I got there I overheard her talking to someone and it wasn’t good.”
“I’m sure whatever you heard was taken out of context.”
“She said something about going to Joanne, something about an investment? She is going to tell her you seduced her and pushed yourself on her. I’m afraid she wants you out of the way.”
“That is ridiculous.”
“She has pictures, Rocco.”
“Maddie wouldn’t do something like that. She doesn’t have it in her.”
“I didn’t want to believe it either, so I stuck around in the shadows until I saw this.”
She pulls out her phone and presses a couple of buttons. When she hands it to me and shows me a picture of Maddie in an embrace with another man I find myself still skeptical, examining the picture, looking for some signs of Photoshopping or Maddie pulling away, or something. A feeling in the pit of my stomach forms and I begin to believe Nancy. Apparently, my face shows it.
“I’m so sorry. I know how you feel about Maddie.”
I text the picture of Maddie and this man to my phone and hand Nancy’s back to her.
“Maybe I’m wrong,” she says. “Maybe the embrace meant… nothing.”
“Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I’ll handle it.”
She nods and leaves quietly, leaving me with new thoughts and doubts.
I walk into the kitchen and watch Maddie as she puts the finishing touches on an anniversary cake for a party later that evening. I can’t help but see her in a new, vindictive light. Shaking my head, I try to stay positive until I hear her side of the story. There has to be a good explanation.
“Maddie?”
She glances up at me and smiles. “Oh, hey! Hang on, I’m almost finished.” She swirls the pastry tip up and down gracefully over the top of the cake and steps back to look at the finished product. “What’s up?” she asks, setting down the bag.
“We need to talk, now.” I clench my jaw and look at her through heavy lids.
“Is everything okay?”
“Not really, no.”
She follows me out of the kitchen, grabbing her purse and I lead her into my office.
“Close the door.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?”
I glare at her and she closes it.
“What’s wrong?”
I sit down, contemplating my words carefully.
“Rocco, you’re scaring me.”
“Do you have anything you need to tell me?”
“Like, what?”
I can see her growing uneasy. She does have something to hide. Damn her!
“I know about the picture, Rocco.” She quickly picks up her purse and pulls out a large envelope. “Did you get them too? I didn’t know what to do about them.” She hands me the envelope. Without another word, I open it and pull out the pictures of our intimacy. I look at them carefully and look back at her. I feel disgust build.
“Is this how you were going to do it?”
“Do… what?” she asks with a fragile voice.
“Blackmail me?”
“What?” She shakes her head. “What are you talking about? These were in my mailbox yesterday. I don’t know who sent them.”
I look at the pictures again and see the angle of the couch on my wall. Looking around my office, I walk to a lamp on the opposite wall and examine it. When I see the small device stuck to the side of it, I grab hold and tear it off, holding it out to her.
“Rocco, I didn’t do this.”
“Who is the guy?”
“What guy?” I pull out my phone.
When she sees the picture from Nancy’s phone she steps back. “She is trying to sabotage me again.”
“Who?”
“Nancy.”
“Nancy? Really? Why now?”
“This is her father. He was with us when I met her the other night.”
“So, you are fucking her father?”
“No! She set this whole thing up to make me look bad!”
She watches me intently as I try to decipher the information. All fingers point to Maddie, but I still have a hard time believing it. So pure, so innocent. I guess the quiet ones are always the dangerous ones.
“Don’t you believe me?”
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
I drop the pictures on my desk and walk out the door, leaving her there.
Chapter 16
MADDIE
Nancy walks into the kitchen and all I can do is look at her.
“Maddie? Are you okay?” She walks over to where I am sitting, concern in her eyes.
“I don’t know. I can’t figure out what is happening.”
“Maybe I can help.”
“No, that’s okay. I think you have done enough.”
“What? You’re mad at me. Are you mad at me? Did you try to text me? I lost my phone last night. If you tried, I wouldn’t have known.”
“You lost your phone?”
“Yes. I had it before I went to the bar but I can’t find it.”
So, maybe she wasn’t the one who took the picture of her father mauling me at the bar. Then who was it? I rub my head as I try to think back to that night. There were several other people in the bar when we were there. I didn’t recognize any of them.
“I have to figure this out on my own.” I want to trust her. She is actually the only friend I have right now. I look up at her and notice the sweatshirt she is wearing. “Is that my hoodie?”
“Oh,” she says, looking at her arms. “Yeah. I’m sorry. I was cold this morning when I got here and I forgot mine. You must have left it here. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Oh,” I shook my head, trying to dismiss the odd behavior. “No, I don’t mind. Keep it for the rest of your shift.” I swore I wore it last night to the bar, but I don’t remember bringing it to work.
“Thanks,” she smiles. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
“I think I might be in trouble.”
“Why? What happened?”
“I can’t talk right now. I think I need to take some time off. Can we talk later?”
“Sure, any time. You know that.”
I nod at
her and walk out of the kitchen. After approving it with Joanne, I take the rest of the day off to figure things out.
I stop by the bar and I try to reenact what happened. I question the bartender, but I wasn’t any further in finding out who is behind this.
“There is a camera mounted in the corner.” I point to it with some enthusiasm.
“That hasn’t worked in almost a year. I guess they just keep it up there to make it look like the place is being monitored. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful,” he says.
“It’s okay. Thank you for talking to me.”
“Looks like you could use a drink.”
“I’ll take a glass of wine. Thank you.”
I sit at the end of the bar and watch the other patrons. The only thing I can do is wait and see what the blackmailer wants from me. I pull out my phone and pull up Rocco’s name.
Can you break away? I really need to see you.
When he doesn’t respond, I figure he is still angry. I finish my wine and take a cab home. I plop down on the couch, closing my eyes for a moment. That moment turned into several hours. I wake up to my cell phone going off. By the time I retrieve it from the couch cushions, it stops. I have five missed calls and four texts. I hit the text notifications. They are all from Rocco. I smile until I read them.
Where are you?
I need to know now!
Call me as soon as you can. The restaurant is destroyed.
Maddie, please answer me.
I jump up and quickly look at the missed calls. All but one is from Rocco. The other is from Joanne. I grab a sweatshirt from my room and run out the door.
“Maddie!” Rocco’s voice is urgent over the phone.
“What happened?”
“Thank God you’re okay. I don’t know. The whole place is up in flames.”
The distress in his voice breaks my heart.
“Is everyone okay?”
“As far as I know. I’m here now.”
“I’m on my way.”
The cab driver can’t drive fast enough as I keep my eyes open for signs of the news. When I detect billowing smoke rising up into the sky my heart stops. I can only stare as we round the corner to the restaurant.
“I’m sorry. I cannot go any further.” The cab driver stops the car and I quickly pay him before I jump out and run the two blocks to the flames.
