“Or smelled with.” CJ remembered the rank stench like it was in the room.
“So does this mean I don’t get to come back here next week?” She was becoming alarmed.
“Only if you want to. As I said, if you want to pay for it, you can stay as long as you want.”
Tears were rolling down CJ’s cheeks. Too many things were happening at once. She thought she was going to fall apart.
“Don’t do that. It’ll make your eyes all puffy, and Derek won’t see how pretty you are. Not that he hasn’t noticed already.” Donna gave CJ a wink and pulled her out of the chair. “Now go get ready. You have a new adventure awaiting you! Scoot!”
CJ splashed cold water on her face, blew her nose, and began applying makeup. She yelled in Donna’s direction, “What should I wear?”
“Something comfortable but not too comfortable if you get my drift.” Donna laughed, then suggested the navy-blue terry-cloth Capri pants with the matching hoodie and a lace camisole. Casual, pretty, and not sloppy. “It makes your eyes stand out. And the top has a zipper for easy removal!”
CJ blurted, “Stop! Don’t even go there!”
Donna chuckled softly. “Honey, you better get used to the idea of a man’s being interested in you that way. As in all of you, not just your mind and organizing skills.”
CJ stuck her head out through the doorway, and begged, “Please stop. I’m a wreck.”
“You’ll be just fine. I’ve gotta run.” Donna drank the rest of her wine and left CJ to finish her primping and the last of the wine.
This time when the knock came, CJ was ready. “As ready as I will ever be,” she muttered to herself and Lucky.
Derek stood in the doorway with a thermal container, flowers, and a bottle of wine. It looked like he was the clown in a juggling act.
“Oh my goodness. Let me help you with that.” CJ took the bouquet, let him in, and placed the bottle of white wine in the refrigerator.
Derek looked around the apartment. “Cozy. Very nice.”
“Thanks. It was a bit austere when I first got here.”
The sexual tension in the room was almost palpable. They were drawn to each other, and both were skittish.
“So, what movies did you pick out for us?” Derek asked, breaking the awkward mood.
Trying to maintain her composure, she replied, “The Interview and Exam. That one is from Australia. Both are thriller/twisters. Is that okay with you?”
“Sounds intriguing.” He gave her a smile and a wink.
“What’s for dinner?” she tossed back.
“Ellie’s Fisherman’s Stew, complete with garlic croutons.” Suddenly, Derek realized that garlic wasn’t exactly the best thing for getting close to someone when CJ chimed in with, “Ooohhhh garlic. How aromatic.” She was thinking along the same line.
“It’s good for the heart, helps to fight colds, coughs, and also lowers blood pressure.” Derek was looking for the upside of the pungent herb.
CJ laughed at his feeble attempt. “What’s so funny?” he asked innocently.
“I think I have plenty of gum.”
More laughter ensued, and CJ was finally starting to relax. Focus on the now. Yeah . . . now I’m nervous. Her mind was still racing from everything that had happened and was about to happen. Donna’s news about Leonard Franklin, making a decision about whether or not to stay, and now being alone with Derek. It was unnerving. Her life seemed to be constantly unraveling, or least undergoing constant change.
The smell of the garlic hit them in the face when they walked into the living room, which brought more chuckles. CJ rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a plastic container of Orbit gum and held it up. “Life preservers.”
The table had been set earlier and looked lovely, but what she really wanted to do was sit on the floor and have dinner the way she and Kick used to do. “Hey, Derek. Would you mind if we sat on the floor over by the coffee table? It’s a ritual my brother and I used to have.”
“Whatever floats your boat. I mean . . .” Derek realized his clever remark was probably not appropriate at the time.
“No problem, Captain.” CJ was becoming used to the nautical terms and expressions.
Derek unpacked the dinner and began to fix their plates, floating a large, garlicky baguette on top of the savory stew. CJ took the place settings and arranged them on the coffee table. The aroma was indeed intoxicating. Derek retrieved the bottle of Anthony Girard, La Clef du Récit, Sancerre 2015 from the fridge and poured each of them a glass.
“A man after my own heart.” She contemplated how much she really meant what she had just said and reminded herself that he had said almost the exact same thing a week earlier.
They dove into their stew like they hadn’t seen food in weeks, both expressing their delight with murmurs of pleasure. “Oh my gosh! This is fantastic.” CJ finally took a breath and was able to utter her appreciation.
“Yes, my mom does know how to cook. Some kind of revenge!”
“What do you mean, revenge?” CJ looked confused.
“She hated the idea that Dad and my uncle had a charter business. Then, when Randy and I came on board—pun intended—we thought she might spiral down into depression again. We don’t know what the turning point was in her head, but one morning she announced she was going to start a catering business for our clientele. At first, we were skeptical, or maybe we thought she was going to poison us.” He let out a short laugh. “But she was dead serious and started making boxed lunches. When that went well, she decided she wanted to be in charge of providing the daily specials to the Bistro. It kinda worked out for all of us. Granted, Dad put on a few pounds, and I have to work at keeping them off, but there’s nothing like a home-cooked meal at the end of the day. Or a healthy lunch when you’re out there wrestling tuna. Or a cranky customer.”
The conversation was light as they mopped up their bowls with the extra bread. Derek helped CJ clear the table and do the dishes. She pulled the cookies from the bakery box, opened the Baileys, and brewed a pot of coffee.
They finally settled back to the floor and began to watch the films CJ had chosen for the evening. She marveled to herself at how comfortable it was being with Derek. It wasn’t as awkward as she had feared, and she moved closer to him. He casually put his arm around her shoulder as the titles appeared on the screen. She didn’t budge. Their closeness seemed quite natural. As the film progressed, they discussed the “whodunit?” plot, each giving their opinion, often with light banter as accompaniment.
At one point, Derek easily pulled her closer, turned her face toward his, and gave her a warm, deep, sensuous kiss. She returned his ardor, despite knowing it could lead to a place where she was afraid to go. It’s like riding a bike, she thought, reminding herself of Donna’s advice. But Derek wasn’t quite ready to make another move. He was keenly aware that they were on the brink of deepening their relationship, and he wanted it to be special. He also wanted to be sure they were both ready to take the next step. They had known each other for such a short time, actually only a week, and even though they meshed seamlessly every time they were together, he hesitated and slowed the pace. Plus, her mysterious background was still nagging at him.
CJ felt the energy shift. “Is it my breath?” she asked in a half-joking manner.
“No! Not at all. It’s just that I don’t want to rush you. Or me, to be completely honest.”
“Oh good. I’ve been thinking the same thing.” CJ was also struck by how adult Derek was in his communication. Most men tried to avoid conversations about anything having to do with the emotional side of life. “I’ve really enjoyed the time we’ve spent together. But I think I’ve already said that.”
“Yes, you have, and I as well.” They each could feel the heat emanating from the other’s body. “And, if you don’t mind my saying so, you’re a darn good kisser.”
CJ began to blush the way she had the first time he kissed her. “Thank you. Please be aware that I’m not at all
adverse to a good make-out session!” She could not believe she had just uttered those words. She truly was becoming someone else; but she was also beginning to like this new version of herself. She was feeling a sense of freedom that she had never known before.
Derek took that as an invitation, so he brushed the hair from her face and kissed her again, their lips lingering. But he was also very conscious of keeping his hands above her shoulders and being satisfied with the closeness they were developing. It could be the beginning of something extraordinary, and he didn’t want to blow it by moving too fast. He had learned his lesson from the last romantic debacle, and he truly liked Carolyn . . . CJ . . . whatever her name was.
Chapter 28
CJ and Derek had spent an enjoyable night watching movies, joking, and cuddling—cuddling just enough to be at ease with each other without crossing any lines. It was too risky for both of them. There was a lot to think about. Were they both rebounding from relationships? Derek’s seemed obvious to outsiders even though he was actually relieved, if somewhat embarrassed, at Jennifer’s betrayal, but CJ’s was multilayered. One doesn’t have to have lost a romantic partner to rebound. People did it all the time without realizing they were barreling into something simply to avoid pain. It didn’t matter if they lost a job, a friend, a family member, or a loved one. People experienced loss all the time, and too often had knee-jerk positive reactions to the first nice person who happened to come along. CJ had been wondering about her reaction to Derek for days. Was she attracted to him simply because he had shown her kindness given all she had lost? Was he just too good to be true? Or was it that, maybe for the first time, she had met a man with whom she could imagine having a true, and possibly lasting, relationship?
She relived every moment of the night before, from Donna’s bombshell to the warmth of Derek’s kiss good night. They were both flushed but, thankfully, reserved. There were plenty more days ahead to explore this newfound relationship, and CJ didn’t want to become another statistic.
The few days ahead of her trip to DC required a lot of concentration and composure. Having decided to stay in Boothbay Harbor for an extended period of time, she had to put funds into a checking account so she could pay for the rental. But how? She was unclear as to whether or not she could use her real name. Donna had only given her a prepaid debit card to cover her expenses. That was temporary, and things were about to get permanent. At least for now. How ironic, she thought to herself. Was that even possible? Her life was a litany of temporaries that had seemed permanent at the time. But isn’t that merely a fact of life?
She made a pot of coffee as she waited for Donna to arrive with her instructions—for next week, possibly the next year, or for however long. She scrolled through the local Patch on her tablet to see if there were any further developments on the missing dog. Nothing. She was relieved. She had grown fond of her new family member. They had both been lost—in different ways, to be sure, but lost nonetheless. She reached down and patted Lucky’s head where she lay at her feet.
A slight rap on the door sent Lucky’s ears up, and CJ answered. Donna had a three-ring binder, a bag of croissants, and two cappuccinos.
“Ah. I made a pot, but this coffeemaker is crap. I’ll invest in a Nespresso as soon as this ordeal is over!” She grabbed the bag and the cups. “That looks ominous,” she added, pointing to the antiquated-looking book.
“It’s your dossier,” Donna said plainly.
“My what?” CJ looked stupefied.
“Your history. You know what a dossier is.” Donna was mildly serious.
“I do indeed. Snapper had one on me. That blew my mind.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t a trust issue with him. He always wanted to know every nitty-gritty detail. I don’t have to tell you that.”
“You’re not kidding.” CJ opened the lid of the coffee and took in a deep inhale, and said, referring to the cappuccino, “Leave it to the Italians to invent such an elixir. Did you know it was created by a group of friars? The color of the espresso mixed with the steamed milk was similar to the color of their Capuchin robes. They’re part of the Franciscan order of monks. Huh. I just realized St. Francis is also the patron saint of animals. See that, Lucky? St. Francis works in wonderful and mysterious ways!”
“You’re chock-full of trivia today. You should go on Jeopardy!” Donna cleared a space on the table and plopped the tome on it.
“Not good in front of a camera. As you could see by that photo of me and Lucky.”
“You were fine that day.” Donna pulled out a pair of reading glasses and began thumbing through the pages.
“This looks serious. Glasses and all.” CJ pulled her chair closer. “What’s first?”
Donna went over the account CJ had given to the authorities about Leonard Franklin, aka Crappy Cologne. It began with the first time she had smelled and heard him in Snapper’s office. CJ stopped her, and asked, “If he’s dead, how can I make a clear ID?”
“We have a photo array and your statement when you picked him out of a lineup, and we also have voice recognition.”
“So I’ll listen to a tape?”
“Yes, they will play several versions of the same sentence. You’ll pick out the one that you think is his. That way, we’ll have three identifiers: photo, live, and audio.”
“Too bad you don’t have smell-o-vision,” CJ grunted.
They spent the better part of two hours recounting the weeks of turmoil and near misses. When they got to the part about Snapper’s secret condominium, CJ stiffened. “What’s going to happen with all of that?”
“It’s being held as evidence. Obviously, we can’t prosecute the congressman now that he’s dead, but if we can show a link between him, the insider-trading scam, and the secret accounts, the government will confiscate his estate.”
“That doesn’t seem right. I mean, he was doing it for his brother.”
“But it was illegal, CJ. That’s the bottom line.”
CJ knew that the law was the law, but having known Snapper for as long as she did, then discovering the situation with George, her heart sank. True, Colin was working on a plan to provide the funding for George’s care, so he would not go without, but the entire situation was sad. Snapper would still be alive today had he not been desperate. Some people would look the other way or throw a sibling in George’s condition into the system and let the government figure out how to care for them, and pretend they didn’t exist. Snapper’s aims were noble, whether what he did to achieve them were legal or not.
After the run-through of the previous events, Donna began discussing how CJ could integrate herself into the community. She could retain all of her own documents such as license, voter registration, insurance ID. “No one is going to ask you for identification here. The utilities will be covered in your rent.”
“What about Derek? What do I tell him?”
“You tell him nothing. At least until I give you the green light. You can fake it for the summer—just like the original plan.”
“Are you sure this will be the end of my involvement? I really don’t need another rug pulled out from under me.” CJ was anxious to get on with her life—her new one now.
“I don’t see any further complications. Lay low, do your job, and spend the time to get to know Derek better. You may end up being a permanent resident of Boothbay Harbor.” Donna gave her a little elbow shove.
“I just want to get through the next few days, and then I’ll be able to breathe.”
Tuesday finally arrived. Donna picked up CJ, and they drove to Portland, where they boarded an Express Jet to Washington National. A car was waiting and brought them to a hotel near the J. Edgar Hoover Building. CJ was to give her deposition at nine o’clock the next morning. “Would it be possible for me to see Colin?” CJ sounded weary. He had been her stabilizing force for the past four years. She could use his support, especially having had to deal with everything surrounding the life and death of Otto “Snapper” Lewis.
/> “Not a good idea. We don’t want anyone to know your whereabouts.”
“But I thought you said I was safe now that Franklin is dead.” CJ’s voice was beginning to rise.
“Yes, but until the paperwork is complete, we need to keep you under wraps. It’s protocol.” Donna, once again, was being a US marshal.
“Yeah, yeah. Can I at least talk to him? Maybe tomorrow after I give my deposition?”
“I think we can arrange that for you.” Donna’s attitude softened.
They ordered lunch from room service and went through the details of her testimony one more time. CJ channel-surfed, looking for something to distract her the rest of the afternoon.
The next morning, a black sedan was waiting in the front of the hotel. Donna had given CJ another motley-looking wig for her to wear as she was getting in and out of the car.
“Is this rat’s nest really necessary?” CJ gingerly took the headgear between her fingers.
“Please.”
“Fine.” She slapped it on her head, which made her look like one of the Beatles. “George, John, Paul, or Ringo?” She gave Donna a smirk.
“Paul was always the best-looking. Go with Paul.”
They entered the building with plainclothes security guards on each side of them, headed to the elevator, and went to the conference room where her deposition would be taken.
The questions were tedious and repetitious. CJ’s memory was one of her best assets. It was a big reason she and Snapper got along so well. She was as much a stickler for detail as he was, and her recall was sharp. After almost three hours, they broke for lunch. “What about my call with Colin?” CJ was exhausted but still a little edgy.
“Coming right up.” Donna led her to a room similar to the one in which she had had her previous conversation with Colin. Same routine—laptops, headsets, secret codes, then Colin’s face.
“Hey!” CJ was glowing. “How are you?”
“I’m good! And you? Another new look? Blondie this time?” Colin noticed her hair first thing.
“Long story. You like it?” This time CJ was acutely aware not to reveal details as to her whereabouts and what-abouts. “So, tell me about you! What’s happening with Matt?” She could tell by the look on Colin’s face that the relationship had progressed a little.
Deep Harbor Page 29
