“Just trying to get a handle on Jake Harper.”
“It’s a convenient arrangement for me. I can sell merchandise that wouldn’t work for my upscale clientele.”
“And it’s convenient for him, too. I’ll bet he lives in the building, right?”
“Yeah.”
“But it’s more than that for you. You like being his friend.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, you use the friendship as a way to connect with . . . humanity.”
He nodded.
“An adaptation mechanism.”
“You mean like your connecting with humanity by reading Tarot cards?”
“Yes. I guess we both found substitutes for real intimacy.”
Jake reached for her hand, and they held onto each other, both thinking about how much their lives had changed.
For long moments neither of them spoke aloud until Jake said, “We should get some food. Better not to face the enemy on an empty stomach.”
“Is he the enemy?”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
While they were still in the neighborhood, he stopped at a takeout luncheonette and got them each a poor boy and a soft drink.
Then they drove to the address he’d given the mystery caller. The two-story brick building looked like it had formerly been a garage.
Jake stepped inside the door and keyed in a code on an alarm system pad, then he turned on a few lights.
As they walked into the huge room, Rachel saw it was being used as a storage facility for Mardi Gras floats. They were partially dismantled, but Rachel looked around in wonder at the display. A sea monster was against one wall, next to a giant king and queen. Across from them was anartificial lawn with a tree in the middle. The branches were adorned with monkeys holding necklaces and other glittery treasure. Behind the monkey tree was a set of giant musical instruments that looked like they needed no human performers.
“I’ve seen some of these floats at the parade.”
“They get refurbished and used from year to year.”
“How do you have access to this place?”
“It belongs to the Buccaneer Crew,” he said, naming one of the groups that sponsored Mardi Gras floats every year. “And I’m on the board of directors.”
Another surprise.
I’m full of surprises, he silently answered.
“Are you going to lock the door?”
“No. We might as well make it easy for Mickey to come in. But we’ll stay hidden until we get a good look at him.”
As he spoke, he strode toward a set of metal stairs. She followed him to the top, where they stepped onto a balcony with a view of the floor below. Behind it was an office with windows looking out over the floats. Because they didn’t turn the lights on in the office, the only illumination came from the ceiling fixtures above the warehouse floor.
Jake took something out of a desk drawer which he slipped into his pocket.
When they sat down at the desk to eat the meal they’d brought, Rachel shuddered.
