The Twelfth Of Never: A suspense mystery romantic thriller (17 page)

"Let's go down to the car and wait there. It's clear
staying here is only upsetting you."

Jenny let herself be led out of the apartment, down the
stairs, and into the car. She did not know what else to do. Her husband was
dead, her apartment was trashed, and there was nothing left in this world for
her to care about.

CHAPTER 17

It was already well past eleven when Gideon pulled up to the
old brownstone. Only the faint glimmer of light from the lamppost lit their
way, but Jenny could tell it was in an older section of the Village. They
slowly climbed up a couple flights, and then stopped on the landing. Jenny
glanced around while Gideon fidgeted with the keys, and when the door swung
open, the cold room reached out to grab her. It was small and impersonal. She
stood in the doorway, not wanting to move. She glanced around while shivering
from the chill of the room. There were only a few pieces of furniture scattered
around the room and the barren walls filled the room with emptiness. There was
no personal touch to make it feel like home. She looked at Gideon and knew it
was the way he wanted it. No ties, nothing to get in the way. She watched him
walk over to the register to crank up the heat. Then he turned to her and
pointed.

"The bedroom is through that door."

"Thank you," was all she could muster up to say,
still stunned from what had happened earlier.

Jenny walked into the bedroom. She did not bother with the
light because the flickering neon outside offered enough illumination. She
crawled onto the bed that took up the better part of the room. The throbbing in
her head was unbearable; the aching in her body only got worse. She wanted
something to take away the pain, but did not dare ask Gideon for anything more.
Jenny just pulled the covers up to her chin, rolled into a fetal position, and
wept.

Thursday,
September 15, 1977

Time passed without her knowing or caring. It was a church
bell in the distance that caused her to open her eyes. Jenny rolled over slowly
and tried to focus. The noise from the traffic below startled her as horns
blared, while drivers yelled their indifference to the world for all to hear.
For a moment she thought it was still night as she shut her eyes again, but the
sun was shining. Then it hit her, the realization of where she was. Jenny sat
up quickly, and then remembered the night before, Bronk, the station house, the
apartment, and her thoughts turned to Gideon. Jenny fell back onto the pillow.
How could she have been so vulnerable as to allow a stranger to take control of
her life like she did? But last night she had been in no condition to argue.

Jenny could hear the movement on the other side of the door.
She glanced around the room slowly. The curtains fluttered in a light breeze
through the open window, it caught her attention. She remembered the window
being closed the night before. She knew he had been in the room while she
slept.

"Are you awake in there?" Gideon tapped lightly on
the door and then paused.

"Yes. What time is it?"

She glanced around the room for something that resembled a
clock. Jenny sat up in the middle of the bed with the sheets pulled tightly up
to her chin.

"It's a little past one."

"You've got to be kidding," she said. Jenny searched
for her clothes, and then quickly turned to the door. "Why did you let me
sleep so long?" she asked.

"After what you went through last night, I figured you
needed a good night's rest."

She knew he was right, but regretted not staying in her own
domain. She could have stayed with Benjamin, surely Mrs. Bennett wouldn't have
minded, but why had she let herself be led away so helplessly?

"Thanks," was all she could muster up to say. But
the fact remained that she'd spent the night with a stranger, and that upset
her.

"I'll make you something to eat," Gideon replied,
his voice sounding more distant. He was no longer outside the door.

"Is there time to take a bath?"

Gideon muttered something, but Jenny could not make out what
it was. She searched her memory for details to the apartment she was in. She
was positive this was the only bedroom and wondered where he had slept last
night. The furniture in the outer room did not look that comfortable, but then
it was not any concern of hers. He was probably used to sleeping on couches.

Jenny got up off the bed, walked over to the window and looked
down at the street sign below. She was sure Bedford was near the University. It
warmed her thinking she was not far from home, but now even that was not a
place she really wanted to go back too. Someone had destroyed it last night.
Jenny thought about the man in the hospital room. She quickly put that thought
out of her head, picked up her clothes, and then walked into the bathroom.
Within minutes she had the tub filled, and then slowly lowered herself in,
letting the hot water melt away the tension she felt. She shut her eyes and
tried not to think about Delaney, the envelope at the studio, or the money in
her purse. Jenny let it all slip away, not wanting to think about any of the
unpleasantness that had surrounded her the last few days. But it was not meant
to be. She could only muster up a few moments of peace before the realization
of the last few days seeped in again. Sitting there in a tub of hot water would
not put the pieces of her shambled life back together. She got up and stepped
out of the tub. She wanted desperately to be back in the soothing warmth of the
water, but it was only a memory and nothing more.

The ringing menace in the outer room annoyed her as she
quickly grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself. She walked through the
bedroom. By the seventh ring she had started to open the bedroom door. Gideon
finally picked up the receiver.

Jenny was curious. She wanted to know what was going on. She
was not sure how much Gideon would tell her, so she just stood behind the crack
in the door and listened.

"What do you mean keep an eye on her," Gideon paused
for a moment. His back was turned to the bedroom door. "She knows nothing.
I'm sure."

As Gideon turned around, Jenny caught a glimpse of his face
through the crack. It angered him, what was being asked.

"It's a waste of time, I'm telling you." He looked
down at his feet, then back at the bedroom door.

Moments passed, his face flushed as the tension grew.
"Are you sure they were her prints inside the closet?"

Jenny's heart sank realizing they had her prints and now knew
all. And she was stupid enough to let it all happen.

"Okay, so it's my job, but I'm sure she knows nothing
more. Why would Delaney have trusted her with something that big?" Gideon
waited for a reply, but when he got none he continued, "I'll do it, but I
don't have to like it." Gideon slammed the receiver down.

The look on Gideon's face startled Jenny. She watched as he
snapped the towel into the sink, sending a glass teetering on the edge. Then as
if in slow motion it crashed to the floor before Gideon could catch it. Jenny
jumped back at the sound, too petrified to move.

Gideon turned quickly to the bedroom door, but did not see
Jenny pressed up against the backside.

Jenny stood motionless while an eternity seemed to pass.
Finally she heard the sound of splintered glass being swept up and then she peeked
back into the outer room. She watched Gideon on his hands and knees picking up
large pieces of glass that scattered around the floor. His back was to her. She
left the door ajar and tiptoed back into the bathroom. Jenny dressed quickly.

"Are you about ready?" Gideon yelled from the
kitchen.

"No, I need a few more minutes," Jenny replied, not
having it in her to face him yet.

"Lunch is just about ready."

Jenny collected the few belongings she had, and then walked
out of the bathroom. She took a deep breath as she glanced around the room. It
was then she saw the tiny picture on the dresser. Jenny had not taken notice of
it last night. She walked over and picked it up. Two little girls about four
and six stared back at her. Their dark hair and the intense eyes were all she
noticed. She had not thought about Gideon being married, but then remembered
the woman's name, Beth. He told Bronk he would call her. Jenny set the picture
down.

Slowly she opened the dresser drawers. Two shirts still
wrapped in dry cleaner plastic lay neatly in the corner. There were three pairs
of socks rolled in a ball. Jenny shoved them aside and stared at the black
instrument of death that lay on top of his undergarments. Jenny swallowed hard,
and then shut the drawer. She picked up the picture as the door opened. Jenny
turned and stared at Gideon. The expression on his face startled her for a
moment.

"You surprised me," Jenny stammered.

"I can see that. What's keeping you?" Gideon stepped
in the room, but never let go of the doorknob.

"They are pretty little girls," was all Jenny said.

There was no acknowledgement of the remark as Gideon just
continued to glare at her. Jenny did not know what to do or say. She was still
annoyed with him and the conversation she’d overheard earlier. It embarrassed
her, his catching her with the picture in her hand.

"Lunch is ready," Gideon said.

"You didn't have to bother."

Gideon had embarrassed her by his intrusion just then and she
felt at a disadvantage. The fact that he did not acknowledge who the girls were
bothered her more. Jenny put the picture down and walked past Gideon and then
over to the table and sat down at the spot with the mat. Jenny did not know
what to expect for lunch, the odor was strong and pungent. She almost laughed
out loud when Gideon opened the oven door and took out the foil-wrapped tin and
set it on the mat in front of her.

She looked down at the five-course TV dinner. A lifetime of
pain had been endured in the last forty-eight hours. Food was the last thing on
her mind.

"Would you take me back to my place after lunch?"
Jenny asked as she cut into the soft meat patty with her fork.

"Sure, but maybe you shouldn't stay alone just yet,"
Gideon replied. His voice strained at the words, but they had to be said.

"I have friends. Besides, I don't want to saddle Trish
with cleaning that mess."

"Who is she?"

"My roommate."

"It might not be safe for you," Gideon argued.

"Benjamin's down the hall, he will call the cops if
anything happens."

Jenny pushed the waterlogged peas and carrots around with her
fork, the meat had the texture of sawdust and was not appealing. She took a few
bites out of courtesy, but would have preferred tossing it in the garbage
instead.

"Maybe you should stay here for a few days." Gideon
shrugged his shoulders while wiping down the counter.

"No!" Jenny said, cutting him off sharply. She would
not impose on him further or make his job any easier. Her mind was made
up—there was no arguing.

As soon as Gideon walked out of the apartment, Jenny picked up
the tin platter. Walking over to the garbage, she quickly discarded the remains
of her meal. She then went back into the bedroom to collect her belongings.
Before leaving, she turned. The picture caught her attention again. They were
his, that much she knew now.

When she walked out of the brownstone, Gideon was waiting for
her in the bright red sports car. He reached over and opened the door for her.
Jenny climbed in and hung onto the edge of her seat as he sped through traffic.

"Are they done with my apartment?" Jenny asked. She
wondered how much more they knew about her now.

"Yes," Gideon replied. He looked over at Jenny in
the passenger seat. "I was right. There weren't any prints."

Jenny laughed to herself when she thought the only prints
they'd lifted were hers. But it was already too late. They knew she was in the
closet at the hospital. Maybe if she just destroyed the envelope it would all
end. But whatever it meant, it was important enough to get two people killed
and her life shattered.

Jenny turned to Gideon and it was then noticed the scar above
his ear. His jaw muscles tensed. Jenny was uncomfortable in his presence and
did not know why.

As they pulled up to her apartment building, Benjamin was
walking out of the entrance. He looked over, and when he saw Gideon, a scowl
crossed his face. Then he tightened his grip on the art pad he carried.

"You're finally back," Benjamin said glancing at
Jenny and then turned to Gideon as he rolled his eyes. "I see you brought
your friend."

Jenny got out of the car. "How's Trish taking the
break-in?"

"Not too good. She's up in the apartment cleaning."

"I better get going."

"I'll stop up later. I have to put the finishing touches
on a few pieces." Benjamin said while turning to Gideon and tipping his
beanie hat.

Before Gideon could acknowledge him, Benjamin quickly walked
down the steps. He disappeared around the corner onto the outer street.

"That guy gets on my nerves," Gideon muttered under
his breath.

Jenny glanced at Gideon. "You haven't exactly been Mr.
Congeniality."

Jenny stared at Gideon and then turned and disappeared inside
the apartment building. She quickly climbed the three flights. As Jenny opened
the door, it was as if the wind was sucked out of her. The realization of last
night’s devastation rushed in and seized her again. Gideon tried to grab her
arm, but in her anger Jenny snapped it back, not wanting his support or
sympathy.

"Leave me alone," was all she said.

"Are you sure?" Gideon asked as he looked down at
Jenny.

Jenny thought for a moment that he cared, but then remembered
the phone conversation.

"Yes," Jenny responded sharply.

"If that's what you want," Gideon replied, and then
he turned and walked off.

Jenny watched as he slowly walked down the hall, but before he
disappeared down the stairs Gideon turned back to her, took out a notebook,
jotted down a number, then walked back and handed it to her.

"This is my number. If you need anything, just call. I'll
come right over," he said. Gideon held the slip of paper in his hand.