by Kylie Parker
“Goodnight, Laura.” He croaked, rolling his gaze right to avoid making eye contact with her. On the other side of the table, Laura lay back in her seat, covering her eyes with her hands. The air around him had become too thick; Tim needed some fresh air. Still skeptical about the real reasons why she had tried so hard to convince him to stay, he left the restaurant. At any rate, he would not venture a guess. In his mind, Vermont was only a short break from reality.
Going legit? I’ve lost count of all the times I’ve tried to do that. This time seemed more interesting, though. I like nature; I’m going to miss the outdoors. But that was up until I realized I couldn’t date Joey. I’ll remember the night we spent together, doc. You may think it was a mistake, but it felt so right. Will you remember it? I bet you’d like her to, Tim. But let’s face it: She loves her job so much that, someday, she’ll probably die alone …
Chapter 10
The one-hour drive to Green Mountain National Forest gave Tim some time to organize his thoughts. What really struck him, as he mulled things over, was the fact that Burt Maddox had fallen so hopelessly in love with Josephine so quickly. He himself had fallen hard for someone in the past, but he did not go to such extreme lengths as Laura’s father. Of course, there was a question of whether she had been honest with him or not. Still, he had no way of verifying her story. Asking Josephine about it would be unnecessary and she would probably not dignify his question with an answer.
Tim would have to drive through the night. For a moment, he thought of calling his sister and announcing his decision to her. However, he quickly rejected that notion, as Caitlin would most likely try to talk him out of it. She had urged him to stay there for as long as he could, maintaining that it was the best job that a man like him could get at the time. Tim had let her down plenty of times in the past. He knew he would be breaking her heart once more, but he was absolutely sure that she would show some understanding once he explained his situation to her.
Yet, something intrigued him, on his way to his room. Cheers of joy were coming out of Josephine’s lab. She and her colleagues were either laughing or clapping their hands, apparently in high spirits. However, Tim did not stop. Whatever they were happy about was none of his business. A single glance from her would make him doubt his decision. It occurred to him that he had to pack his bags in a hurry. Tim wanted to leave undetected; his fellow security guards would soon finish patrolling outside and the scientific staff had clearly finished their work for the night.
A faint smile formed on his face, as he laid his eyes on his bed. He had had dozens of one-night stands in the past, but never had he reflected on any of those experiences. For the first time ever, leaving someone behind was hurting him. He was attracted to Josephine, much more than he initially believed. He still had dozens of unanswered questions, but the only way for him to get some answers was by getting closer to her and that was simply out of the question.
Josephine’s associates had already left her lab, when he stepped onto the hallway. With a suitcase in his hand, he crossed the wide corridor in a hurry, heaving a sigh of relief. They had missed him. As his footsteps brought him closer to the door of the lab, he rolled his eyes right, to the grey wall across from it.
“Mr. Shaw?” Josephine’s feminine voice echoed back at the walls of the hallway, stopping him in his tracks. Tim bent his head down, biting his lower lip, wishing that he had remained in his room for a few more minutes. “What’s with the suitcase? Where are you going?”
“Somewhere far away from here,” He announced, looking down at her over his left shoulder.
“You’re leaving?” She asked, taking a few, quick steps towards him, her every word reeking of panic. “Why?”
“Why?” he exclaimed, “because I can’t stand this! That’s why!”
“What about your date with Laura?” Josephine interjected yet another question, stepping in front of him. “You did go out with her, didn’t you?”
“I thought doctors are supposed to be smart,” Tim responded, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“I’m sorry about this morning. I…”
“Are you?” He squinted at her. “I don’t think so, doc.”
“Mr. Shaw…”
“Stop calling me that!” Tim yelled, his deep, manly voice reverberating through his skull. “Do you even remember last night?”
Josephine slid her gaze down his face, heaving a long, deep sigh. She lifted her right arm to her face and put her hand over her mouth, squeezing her eyes shut. Tim’s heart was beating so loudly and so fast that he could hear it pounding in his chest. As much as he needed an answer, it was clear to him that she could not force another word out of her throat. He tightened his grip around the handle of his suitcase, determined to leave the compound. Her gaze shot up to meet his, just when he was about to look away from her.
“Yes, I do,” she said, her voice a tender, breathless whisper, as she blinked back some tears. “I can’t stop thinking about it. It was just…” she faltered, “Wonderful. Is that what you wanted me to say?”
Tim would not speak. He eased the suitcase down onto the floor and tilted his head down towards her, raising his arms. He cradled her face, gazing deep into her saddened eyes, as a tear rolled down her right cheek.
“Yeah,” he whispered, angling his lips. Their mouths joined in a long, passionate kiss, before Josephine wrapped her arms around his back. Tim ran his thumbs across her cheekbones, feeling her hot breath in his face. Her confession had sent shockwaves up and down his body. Josephine’s kiss made him warm inside. He laid a gentle kiss on her upper lip and slowly leaned back, opening his eyes.
“Please…” she begged, her voice trembling, “please go, Tim. It’s better this way.”
“I know, doc,” he whispered, feeling tears rising up in his eyes. “Take care.”
Tim leaned back, as she loosened her grip and picked up his suitcase from the floor. With a heavy heart, he turned around and left Josephine behind. Once again, she had managed to puzzle him. Their kiss had reminded him vividly of the passionate woman who had surrendered to him the night before. Still, Tim wanted more from her and he knew that she could not give him more. As attractive as she was, Josephine was nothing more than an unpredictable workaholic. Even if she did agree to go out with him, he would have to compete against her beloved job. Tim had fought his fair share of battles so far; yet, this was a battle that he could not win.
I really want to go back, hug you, and kiss you again and again, Joey. But you’re right. It’s better this way. You and Laura are going to drive me crazy. How could I stay, knowing that I can’t date you? Sooner or later, she’d come over and call you names again. I wouldn’t tolerate that. I’d tell her off. Good luck, doc. You’re going to need it…
Chapter 11
Every event replayed in Tim’s mind throughout the long drive to New York, from the moment that he laid his eyes upon Josephine, until the moment that they parted ways. The night when Jitter was murdered was something that he wanted to forget, but he had to admit that it was a turning point for his relationship with her. If her fiancé was still alive, she would have continued to look at him in the same, cold way. Nothing would have happened between them. As one would expect, however, the night she had come to his room dominated his thoughts the most. The whole matter rested upon instinct: Tim had to steer clear of painful memories; that night was the single good memory that he had from his short stay there.
If I could go back in time, I would choose to relive that night. I’d just change one thing: I wouldn’t let you leave the way you did. I would have locked the door. We’d have had sex over and over again. You had made that ‘mistake’ once; why not do it again? Damn it, Tim … Why did you freeze like that? You just let her walk out that door. I just thought I could have her again. I didn’t want to believe she could be so stubborn.
Sleep-deprived and utterly exhausted, Tim arrived in Manhattan a few minutes after dawn on a cold, late-February morning. The Big Apple sparkled in the near d
arkness. As breathtaking as it was, the view did not move him. He was so disappointed in himself. Once again, he had failed to stay in one place. Of course, he could take comfort in the fact that leaving his last job was not entirely his fault, but it did not change the reality of unemployment. Caitlin would not appreciate his choice at all. He was in no condition to argue with her. In desperate need of a hot cup of coffee, he noticed an open downtown café where he could find what he needed.
Before he parked his car, he heard on the radio that Paul Jitter had indeed been murdered. According to the autopsy report, he had been shot from a distance with a high-caliber rifle. They found a single bullet, lodged in his neck, thereby confirming Tim’s suspicions.
Minutes later, sitting by the large, sidewalk facing window, he sensed someone staring at him. He lazily turned his head to the left and looked up at the man in question. Surprisingly, he found he knew the curious individual. It was Jon Pantolini, one of his – few – close friends, with a mug of tea in his hands and a rather clever smile on his face.
“Big Tim…” he spoke in his hoarse voice, “long time; no see; where have you been?”
“What’s up, Jon?” Tim returned the smile. “Come take a seat.”
“I heard all about your arrest,” Jon said, sitting across from him; “tough luck.”
“Shit happens, Jonny,” Tim murmured. “What’s new with you?”
“I got a job at the docks, a couple of months ago.” Jon stated: “long hours, freezing cold, crappy pay… I just quit.”
“I just quit my job, too,” Tim grinned, amused by the coincidence.
“What kind of job?” Jon got curious.
“Security guard,” Tim replied. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“We were not meant to be blue-collar guys, my friend,” Jon lowered his tone and leaned forward.
“I don’t know, Jonny,” Tim shrugged his shoulders. “It’s amazing how things can get complicated sometimes.”
“Not if we can help it,” Jon disagreed. “You see, working at the docks can give you access to lots of useful information.”
“Look, man. I haven’t slept all night. It’s a little too early for riddles, anyway,” Tim protested.
“Does the name ‘Chester Bradford’ sound familiar to you?” Jon asked, tension growing in his face.
“Yeah,” Tim said with a nod. “He’s some rich art collector.”
“Oh, no,” Jon shook his head sideways, as the smile on his face widened. “He’s not just an art collector. Five weeks ago, he bought a few paintings. I opened the container because the left side was broken. I pulled the shattered part up and that damn thing was loaded with cocaine. The guy’s a drug dealer.”
“So what” Tim questioned, still not understanding what his friend was getting at.
“I dug up some information on him. He’s heir to some huge, real estate firm. He’s a billionaire. He uses the firm as a front. Rumor has it that he keeps tons of cash in his house in North Haven. What do you say?” Jon’s proposal intrigued him; it couldn’t have come at a better time. Still, Tim was on parole and going up against a drug dealer was something that he had never done before.
“It’s dangerous,” he commented. “A lot more dangerous than anything else I’ve done. Besides, we both prefer working alone. Can’t you do this by yourself?”
“Nope,” came Jon’s sharp response. “I also researched his alarm system. It’s state-of-the-art; I can’t get into the specifics right now. All I can say is that I’m a little too fat to do this by myself. Whoever does this, he must be quick; athletic. There’s so much money in there that we’re going to need a goddamn wheelbarrow to carry it.”
“I need some time to think about it,” Tim said.
“You’d better not take too long,” Jon smirked. “That prick’s in Switzerland. He’ll be back in a few days.”
“You’ve really done your homework,” Tim remarked.
“Of course,” Jon winked at him.
“Did you hear about that murder in Vermont?” It was Tim’s turn to pose a question.
“Heard of it?” Jon laughed. He threw a few, furtive glances around him, before leaning towards his friend. “I know the guy who did it.” Jon’s words ran through him like an electrical current. Tim struggled to hide his surprise and decided to keep his mouth shut, in eager anticipation for whatever his friend had to say. “I was with him, the night before. He said he had to ‘take care’ of someone in Vermont.”
“I knew the victim.” Tim informed. “He was my boss. Who killed the old man, Jonny? I need a name.”
“His name is Darryl Kirkland,” Jon said, the steady tone of his voice convincing Tim that he was being honest with him. “He’s one of the best in the business. What the hell were you doing in Vermont?”
“I worked there,” Tim explained. “Where can I find him?”
“You can’t,” Jon croaked. “He’s coming back from L.A. tomorrow night. Why do you want to know?”
“I think I know who paid him to take out Jitter,” Tim spoke in a firm tone.
“Does it matter?” Jon wondered. “The guy’s dead.”
“It does matter to me,” Tim grumbled. “Nice talking to you, man. I’ll call you with my answer.”
Regardless of Jon’s proposal, Tim was happy to discover the identity of the man who had executed Josephine’s fiancé. Certainly, the hitman would not be much help, as they tended to be quite secretive about their clients, but he would try to find out more nonetheless, even if that meant the use of extreme measures. Tim had to know if Maddox was behind the shooting. If he was, Josephine would finally be free of him. The next thing that he would do was place an anonymous tip to the police. This would be his way of showing her that he had not forgotten about her. All the same, he was unable to shake the feeling that whatever he did for her would be futile.
Maybe it’s hopeless, but I’m still going to meet with Kirkland,” he thought to himself. “Putting Maddox behind bars might not be enough to change your mind about dating me. Hell, I don’t know what else could. It’s ok, doc. Even if you didn’t love your job so much, you and I have nothing in common. We come from completely different worlds. We were raised differently. I’m an orphan. I’m sure you grew up in a fancy place and your folks loved you to death. They had to be pretty weird. I mean, they named you ‘Josephine’? What are they: French? God, I’m too tired to think about this anymore. I need to get some sleep.
Tim still had a key to Caitlin’s 3rd story apartment on 22nd street and he was going to take full advantage. He didn’t even take his clothes off. Instead, he kicked his shoes off and tumbled onto her white, leather couch, closing his weary eyes. Tim was asleep in minutes.
Chapter 12
“You’re lucky I’m not alone …” Caitlin’s feathery voice woke him up. His eyes sprang open. She was standing next to the couch, accompanied by a tall, scrawny man. Indeed, he was in luck; his sister would have snapped at him, had it not been for her boyfriend. She didn’t even introduce them. All Caitlin did was mutter something inaudible and escort the man to the door. He closed the front door behind him, before she opened her mouth again.
“Let me guess,” she spoke in a sarcastic tone. “You missed me.”
“Hi…” he groaned, rubbing his blurry eyes. “Actually, I missed the city.”
“You’re so full of crap…” Caitlin grumbled. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Vermont?”
“I couldn’t stay there any longer, sis,” Tim admitted, sitting up.
“Why?” She cried. “Why did you have to give that …”
“Hey, cut me some slack here!” He yelled. “Can you please get me some coffee?” He sighed, running his hand through his hair. “I’ll tell you all about it.”
Caitlin gave a gasp of exasperation, as she turned around. Tim only had a few seconds to prepare his story, but he didn’t need more time. He clearly remembered everything that happened. Just like him, his sister had a bad temper; yet, she was a reasonable p
erson. She brought him coffee and joined him on her couch, with the same, angry look on her face.
Caitlin listened intently, as Tim told her the whole story. He had to repeat himself at first, as he brought up the night of Jitter’s murder, but otherwise, she didn’t interrupt him. According to him, he only mentioned it because he believed that his death gave him a chance with her. Tim also spoke about running into his old friend, but diligently left out Jon’s proposal, as his sister would not approve of anything illegal. By the time he had finished narrating, Caitlin was in disbelief. Everything she had heard had left her in awe. He simply sat in a state of confusion when it looked like she had nothing to say to him. She left the couch and went to the living room window, folding her arms across her chest.
“Women…” she said with a sigh. “We’re quite something, aren’t we?”
“Care to explain?” He requested.
“You said they go way back,” Caitlin’s emphatic tone felt like a good sign; she sounded confident about her conclusion. “This means that they know each other like the back of their hand. They can tell when one of them likes a guy or not. They don’t have to say it to each other. If you want my opinion, the doctor has a crush on you. You’re saying she’s in love with her job. That’s why she’s been avoiding you. She’s afraid you’re going to distract her. But Laura: she’s a whole different animal,” she declared, looking down at him over her right shoulder. “It looks to me that she knows about Josephine’s feelings and she’s just trying to steal you from her. She’s done it before. What’s going to stop her from doing it again?”
“Caitlin, are you crazy?” All of a sudden, Tim’s voice became higher-pitched. “The doc has a crush on me and Laura’s…”
“You can say ‘no way’ about it all you like, big brother,” she interrupted. “It won’t stop being true. Think about it, Tim. When did Laura show any interest in you?”
