The Legacy (5 page)

I apologize for all that, he mumbled, shaking his head. I really do.

Its okay. I just worry about you. Her voice was soft and caring. I always have.

Im fine.

Nicki heard the code word right away: Cole always said that when the world seemed to be closing in around him. Fine? She tilted her head subtly forward, as if paying homage to him. All hail the Wall Builder. It was her nickname for Cole when he was putting up emotional barriers. Its that I-dont-need-anybody-else Cole Egan showing his face again.

Dont start with me, he warned good-naturedly. She knew him so well, he suddenly realized. Today I But he interrupted himself before he finished the sentence.

You what? She sensed that he had been about to tell her something important. What were you going to say?

Nothing. For a moment he had considered telling her of his fathers death, but he needed more time alone with it before he could say anything.

You just wont accept help. Its that manly thing, I guess.

I took your thousand dollars two weeks ago, Cole pointed out.

Im not talking about financial help, she said. Im talking about something more important, like someone to lean on emotionally when youve had a bad day.

Mmm. Cole glanced away.

Nicki took a sip of wine. Cole, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you got a Federal Express package today from your mortgage company. It was marked Urgent on the outside, so I opened it. I wasnt prying, I just thought you might want to know what was in it right away.

What do they want?

They want to be paid immediately or they claim theyll take legal action.

Cole scratched his head, grinned, then waved at the waiter. Now I will accept a little help. A little liquid support, he thought to himself. Scotch on the rocks, Jimmy, he yelled across the restaurant.

Jimmy moved to the bar and returned quickly with the drink. Here you are.

Thanks. Cole took the glass from the waiter. This wasnt a good idea, but the hell with it. He nodded in Nickis direction, said, Heres to rewriting history, then took a long swallow.

What was that? she asked.

Oh, nothing.

Nicki shook her head. I dont know how you do it.

How I do what? he asked, setting the glass down on the table after another long and welcome swallow.

Youve got some pretty serious money problems and you dont seem worried. I dont know how you can be so calm.

Cole had been as honest with Nicki about his financial troublesthe gambling debt, the in-arrears mortgage, almost no money in his bank account and minimal bonus prospects from Gilchrist in Januaryas she had been about her modeling agency rejections. Nicki, a hundred years from now no one will even know we were here, he answered, winking.

At Emilios? A curious expression came to her face. Whats that got to do with anything?

Not the restaurant.

What, then?

Here-here. Two dimples and the character lines in his cheeks appeared as he smiled broadly. No one will know we existed. You know, on earth.

It was Nickis turn to roll her eyes in exasperation. I know somethings wrong, now that I hear the Cole Egan what-the-hell attitude toward life.

What do you mean?

You always get existential when something really bad happens. Its your escape hatch.

Youre wrong, he protested, taking another gulp of the stiff drink.

Wager it all every day and never look back, Nicki said, ignoring him. You cant win if you dont take risks, and you never know if today is your last day, so risk it all because no one will care about you when youre gone. Its that bet-the-ranch, screw-the-world, make-it-big-or-bust attitude thats tainted your brain ever since I can remember. She toyed with her napkin. At some point that attitude is going to catch up with you.

Nah. Cole gazed at her as he took another sip of the drink. God, she was beautiful. Itll all work out. As long as the videotape was still in its hiding place, he thought to himself.

Nicki shook her head. You just love putting yourself in precarious situations and somehow finding a way out, dont you, Cole? Beating the odds makes winning sweeter. Thats what you told me that Fourth of July before you moved to New York, while we were watching the fireworks over Lake Superior. She smiled at him. You know youre crazy.

Not really.

Oh, yeah, and self-destructive.

I think you enrolled in at least one too many psychology courses in college.

Nicki took another sip of wine. Its your darn fathers fault, she said, ignoring Coles curriculum crack. If he hadnt shipped you off to live with your aunt and uncle after your mother died, youd be a normal well-adjusted male. She hesitated and gave him a playful look. As well adjusted as that can ever be. She laughed, leaned over the table and kissed him on the cheek again. But if your father hadnt sent you to Duluth, I would never have met you. She pulled back slowly. And you probably wouldnt have that devil-may-care streak all the women you date seem to find so irresistible.

Cole watched her intently as she settled back onto the seat. She was beautiful and smart and he was terribly attracted to her. He always had been. And there seemed to be a spark on her side as well. But nothing had ever happened between them, even since she had come to live in New York. They were just roommates. Nickis parents were neighbors of his aunt and uncle back in Duluth, and he was acting as a big brotheras he always hadwhile she embarked on her modeling career. He was protecting a naive Midwestern woman from the dangers of the big city in exchange for the thousand-dollar-a-month rent payment he so desperately needed to keep his penthouse creditor at bay.

Cole sipped his scotch. Maybe that was it. Maybe they were both afraid of starting anything because of the connection back home. Or because theyd known each other for so long and they were worried they might destroy a wonderful friendship if they became lovers and the relationship didnt work out. Or because she was five years his junior. He had always been too old for her as they were growing up. She was still a child when he was in high school and starting college, but perhaps they had reached a point now where the age difference no longer mattered. Cole laughed to himself quietly. Maybe he was just deluding himself about the spark on her side.

He took one more swallow of scotch. Lets go out on a date tonight, he suggested boldly. They had gone out before in the city, but always in a group or with the understanding that it wasnt really a date. Just you and me.

Nicki was watching someone at the bar. As she turned back toward Cole, a nervous smile played across her lips. What?

Lets go out on a date, he repeated. A real date. None of this friend stuff.

Would I still have to pay you rent? she asked slyly. Then she glanced around to see if anyone had heard her questions, as if she were surprised at herself for saying the words.

Of course, he said, raising one eyebrow and grinning. Agreeing to one date doesnt absolve you of your financial obligations.

Oh, thanks a lot! She laughed, reached across the table and grabbed his forearm.

The pain shot up his arm all the way to his shoulder. Instantly he groaned and pulled back. The hit to the cut had been too direct to hide the hurt.

Are you okay? She had heard the pain in his voice. Im sorry.

Im fine, Nicki, he said, using a paternal tone. So what about our date? Ive got an errand to run first, but we could go out after that. The fire in his arm slowly subsided.

She glanced down at the table. Im supposed to see Maria later on.

Cole reached again for his drink. Maria was another model, almost as pretty as Nicki. Together they made a striking pair. Since coming to New York, Maria was the only real friend Nicki had made, and when Nicki wasnt out with Cole, she was out with Maria. The two women had become almost inseparable over the past few months. It was strange, now that he thought about it. When the three of them were in the apartment together, Maria was cold to him, almost protective about Nicki.

He frowned. That bastard Lewis Gebauer had made a stupid crack this afternoon on the trading floor about Coles honey liking girls. He must have been talking about Nicki liking Maria. Cole shook his head. That couldnt be. But then, Gebauer had known about his bonus freeze-out and his in-arrears mortgage. And Cole had run into Maria coming out of Nickis bedroom early one morning last week as he was headed to the shower. Maria claimed to have slept on the couch and quickly volunteered that she had simply gone into Nickis room to say goodbye before she left. But she had seemed nervous.

Suddenly Cole caught a fleeting glimpse of curly blond, almost yellow, hair moving past the bottom of the restaurants elevated front window. He rose quickly from his seat and bolted to the door, but by the time he reached the sidewalk there was no sign of a man with curly blond hair.

What is your problem tonight? Youre like a cat on a hot tin roof.

Cole turned around quickly. Nicki had followed him out of the restaurant.

Are you okay? She smiled up at him sweetly.

Im fine, he said. How the hell was he going to explain this?

What were you doing?

I thought I saw Mick Jagger walk past the window, he stammered. I was going to get his autograph for you, but it turned out not to be him.

Im not really into the Rolling Stones, Cole. Theyre a little old for me, so Im not very disappointed. She wasnt completely convinced by Coles explanation, but it didnt matter. But thanks anyway.

Sure.

Cole?

Yes? He glanced into her eyes. She was so young and innocent and nice. The cutthroat modeling world hadnt poisoned her, not yet anyway. She was still the same lovely girl he had known growing up in Duluth.

Im really glad you asked me out, she said softly. I didnt think you ever would.

So youll go?

She nodded. Of course. I had a crush on you when I was ten years old, for crying out loud, and its only gotten stronger since. I care very much about you, Cole. Its half the reason I came to New York.

Well, why didnt you say something before this? You could have saved me a lot of stress. He laughed loudly out of relief. Ive been wondering whether or not to bring this up for months, ever since you got here.

I guess Im just shy. She hesitated. And I couldnt bear the thought of you saying no.

As if I would. Not in a million years, he thought to himself. What about Maria?

No problem. Ill call her and cancel. She was going to meet me at the apartment after our dinner. Nicki checked her watch. I can probably catch her before she leaves her place in the Village.

Couldnt you call her on her cell phone? Cole asked.

Nicki shook her head. She doesnt carry one. Maria agrees with my attitude toward cell phones. She doesnt like people being able to reach her all the time. And we think people walking down the sidewalk or sitting on the subway with phones stuck to their ears are obnoxious.

Cole nodded to himself. Of course. Nicki had no need to make herself feel important by carrying a phone with her everywhere she went. In her own quiet way, she had complete confidence in herself and didnt need status symbols to bolster her self-image.

Nicki took Coles hands in hers. I want a kiss.

Right here?

Yes. I guess Im not as shy

But Cole didnt allow her to finish. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. And their intense mutual attraction, which had lingered beneath the surface for so long, erupted suddenly and passionately on the New York City sidewalk, far away from the quiet Duluth neighborhood where it had begun.

Finally he pulled back, thinking he had never enjoyed a kiss more in his life. Nicki, I have to run that errand, but I wont be gone for long. While Im away, I want you to stay here at the restaurant. You can sit at the bar and have a drink until I get back.

Ill wait for you at the apartment.

No!

She looked at him strangely. His reaction had been so strong. Why not?

I want you to stay here at Emilios. He made certain his voice was calmer. The restaurant is closer to where I need to go, so I wont be away from you as long.

But I want to put on something nice before we go out.

Cole ran his fingers through her long blond hair, then pulled her close again. You look stunning as you are, he whispered into her ear. Do me a favor and stay here.

Okay, she murmured.

At 7:25, five minutes before the library was to close for the evening, the young man who had seemed to be taking copious notes from a World Book Encyclopedia volume rose from the long table, replaced his notebook in his backpack, slung the pack over his shoulder and moved casually toward the west wall. He was short and wore a New York Yankees baseball cap pulled low over his eyes.

When he reached the location, he knelt down, pulled the atlases from the shelves, placed them gently on the floor and extracted the cassette case from its cave. He slid the tape into his backpack, secured the packs buckle, took a quick look around, then rose and sauntered away. He didnt ride the elevator to the first floor as Cole had. He preferred to walk down the wide open stairway instead. On the stairway he could see everything around him from a distance.