Letting my guard down for the first time in days, my subconscious gives me an inkling of why I reacted like I did. When I was about sixteen, my mom had us living in some town in New Mexico. As was the norm, some guy left her in some motel without a cent.
When the manager threw us out, he chuckled in the exact same way.
Fuck. Just when I think I mastered my amazingly dysfunctional childhood, I get another blast from the past.
I open my eyes and already the ‘fasten your seatbelt’ sign is lit. A few minutes later, we land. I can’t wait to surprise my wife and make love to erase the stink of DC. I smile as I ride over the RFK Bridge, picturing her face when I tell her the Washington job is over.
I’m a little worried about cash but Grayson Patten is a great boss, a top-notch guy. He’ll make sure I stay on his payroll. If necessary, I’m sure Slate will let me handle the phones on the midnight shift.
That settled, I hop out of my Uber and wave at Pat sitting desk in the lobby. In the elevator, my cock goes hard at the thought of jumping into bed and getting my wife naked. I unlock our door and frown at the half-decorated tree. She never leaves things undone.
“Blakely? Blake?” I wander down the hall.
“Blake!” I throw open the nursery door, the bathroom, and check the bedroom.
“Fuck.” I pull out my cell phone and call her only to get voice mail.
Then, I call her mom. “Hello, it’s Jack. Is Blake with you?”
A few moments of silence are followed by a sleepy voice. “No…”
“Was she planning on staying somewhere? Seeing someone?”
“Hold on a second, Jack. What’s going on?” Her mom sounds worried and I’d feel bad except I’m damn sure something is off.
“I’m back in New York, in our apartment and Blake’s not here. Was she planning a trip?” Alarms go off in my head.
Too slow, Jack, you’re too slow.
“Has something happened to her? What are you not telling me?”
I picture Mr. Lee’s crocodile-like smile and shudder.Fuck.
Into the phone, I calm my tone. There’s no point in freaking out her mother. “It’s probably all good. She wasn’t expecting me. Can you start calling her friends? See if she decided to sleep over somewhere?”
“Of course. Don’t worry, Jack. Blake was feeling a little blue. She probably just took an invite and didn’t tell you.”
No way. She was expecting phone sex.I take a deep breath and inspect the neat apartment. There’s absolutely no sign of foul play and I wonder if I am being foolish.
Two at a time, I jump down the stairs to the lobby where I find Pat. “Did you see my wife leave earlier this evening?”
The retired cop scratches his head. “Yeah, about five-ish.”
“Did she look okay?” My heart pounds in my chest as I wait for his answer.
“She waved at me, all smiles. Why?”
I start to breathe easier. Maybe it isn’t so bad. “Can I see the security footage?”
Pat puts his weight on his palms and slowly stands. He clicks a few keys and turns the grainy footage toward me. The lobby camera points towards visitors coming not residents leaving so I can’t see her face. She’s wearing a casual sweater-coat with stretchy pants and sneakers. Suddenly, she turns to wave at Pat, her face bright with a look I recognize well, the one reserved for me.
Fuck, I just spoke with her. But as I stare, I can’t help but wonder what she’s so happy about and why did she leave the tree undone, her hot chocolate half finished, sticky buns getting stale on the counter.
I should call Slate but what if it’s nothing?
Around me, people head out for a late dinner or to catch the second act of their favorite band, maybe a movie.
If not for this horrible pit in my stomach, I wouldn’t be worried in the least.
But dammit, my gut is never wrong.
