Jane sat back with a broken spirit, a shattered soul, and a worn-out mind in the sofa. Haplessly tired and helplessly depressed with sullen eyes shaping an unreachable depth of hopelessness. With them she looked determined at the short gun that lay across the table right in front of her. She had never for once thought it would come to this. Her, this, holding in her hands a photograph that once brought a gauged fulfillment, a dream come true: Tommy’s hands on his placing the wedding ring. She had never imagined, not for once, that this same photograph would represent her regrettable mistake of ignoring her parents’ counsel. But now it did, sadly.
He met her in college, that was as far as their relationship had dated. He was this coolheaded-down-to-earth kind of guy—her kind of guy. She liked him, and she never hid her emotions. She wasn't good at pretending so she never bothered to do so.
It was a bright day when she told him. The sun was up and shinning, the stars were there too but not seen. The weather was a little bit mean, quite harsh, but the breeze from the ocean was a good friend. She told him with the same sincerity and innocence with which she told her parents of her decision to marry Tommy three years later.
Jane's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson both had a problem with her resolution. They considered it to be counterintuitive: a fruition of misplaced feelings, one sanctioned by a sense bereaved mind. It was impossible that Jane had forgotten what happened between her and Tommy while they were yet in college. If she had, they thought, it was high time she was reminded how unsafe things might become.
"Never knew you have such a beautiful friend. How come I never met her?"
Tommy commented it with such a plain innocent admiration. Ann was indeed beautiful, black radiant eyes, pointed nose complementing her face, and a slim body hiding perfectly her age. She had that euphonious voice, the bright warm smile as well.
"I think Ann will take that as a compliment." Jane said smiling at Ann.
Ann chortled.
"I am indeed tempted to, but I will take it as a flattery."
"Then don't mind me saying you and I are going to have a good long-term problem."
"Good long-term problem, I… and here he comes." Ann spread her arms for a hug.
She got a kiss instead.
"Hi guys, I am..."
"Andy. My boyfriend."
"Don’t think that needs introduction.” Tommy commented almost casually. “Here, name is Tommy."
"Jane. Good to finally meet you."
"I know you. Ann talks about you most of the times."
"Hope not about how bad an extrovert I am."
“Not at all. More like how she can’t wait to watch the movies with me: come on Andy, I’m going to keep Jane waiting." Andy dramatized.
"You are a dickhead you know."
"Bad manners, you don't call a guy a dickhead in a nightclub." Tommy joked and everyone laughed.
"Maybe a guy. The Andy I know is a kid. Are you not?"
"You are sure about that?" Jane coughed on her drink.
A night after Tommy paid Jack a visit at home. He needed him to run something for him. It had to do with keeping a tap on Andy's phone. He didn't tell him much, just that he needed to get it done.
"There, you will be able to receive every call, every message, and every mail. If you like, every chat."
"Dial the code right?"
"Yeah man. Dial the code."
Tommy dialed the given code. A tab popped up on his screen asking him to choose which data he wanted access to. He chose everything, the chats included. He tucked it inside his pocket and walked home. A week after a call came in. Andy was to meet some guys in a building off street.
"Thirty minutes. Be there."
Tommy knew the address and so he left for it. He was there with his dad sometimes back. They went to check some things out. His dad was an undercover agent tracking the good guys turned bad down. Tommy checked his watch, it was pretty late. He shouldn't be out there but had to. He needed a hinge on Andy if his plan was going to fly. Part of his mind told him Andy was not clean. The night at the club suggested that. Rows of drinks without a blink was something only someone on a roll could do. For his own sake, he needed that to be true.
He found his way to the city and took a cab. Twenty metres out he alighted the cab and walked the rest. From their last visit he knew the way around the building, just two entrances: one in the east corner close to the gas pumps, the other at the far extreme of the building. Given the records, whatever they were there for would take place in the space behind the stack of boxes. That way no one would know anyone was there, even when they were gone. Looking at it, the east door would be their way in. This meant his best shot would be the extreme. If he would get in he should it now, it was only a question of minutes before they arrived.
Two men, fully grown were the first to walk into the building. The other two followed thereafter, each carrying a briefcase of sort. The first two that came in were suited. The suit looked Italian. Neither of them had said a word yet. They were surveying the area with a silencer. They had shades on so he didn't get to see their face. He was sure they were never going to find him. As far as they were concerned the meeting was a top secret. Whatever it was the two men were doing was just protocol.
"Clear." The two men said.
Five minutes later a young man joined them in the space. He walked in alone with a briefcase in his left hand. No shade, no suit, just a normal junkie dress. Tommy took out his phone and recorded the exchange. He got what he came for. The junkie guy was Andy.
Tommy gave it a week before making his move. With Andy hooked he had nothing to worry about. He had everything all planned. And unless he screwed up, everything would go that way. He gulped down the rest of the wine and gave a smile, a good crook unpleasant smile.
Ann was supposed to be here he thought checking his watch. From the chats Tommy knew she was to attend the seminar. To save himself the awkwardness of standing alone he filled out the attendance and paid for the manual. He paid for two.
"Excuse me, Miss. what did you call it?"
"Miss. Walker. Miss. Ann Walker."
"Tell her Tommy paid for her. Tommy Nelson."
"Alright. Will do that."
"Thanks ma'am."
"You got it."
Tommy walked his way to a seat in the front. He sat where anyone coming in could see his ass. Halfway into the seminar Ann walked in. Her eyes surveyed the room as she took her seat in the rear. She was looking for seat number ten.
"So, I guess I owe you one." Ann said after the seminar was over.
"If you will put it that way, yes. How was the seminar?"
"It was interesting. Can't say I didn't enjoy it. Though I miss out on many things."
"That you do. Was it Andy that kept you waiting this time?"
Ann hit him on the arm.
"Oh my, you still remember that night."
"One should give me credit for it, don't you think?"
She gave a sprint laughter.
"Don't be an Andy."
"An Andy will imply a dickhead, won’t it?"
"It will."
"So why didn't Andy come? Thought he should be here."
"Don't know really. He gave one excuse of having to be in a place more important today. Don't know what that means. Maybe he just doesn't want to be here."
"Maybe he does. If anything, I think he will like to be around you. Just saying."
"Funny. You can't know that."
"Well I'm a guy. I get to know. You know that way he… Come on Tommy, don't be a dickhead."
Ann chortled.
“You do a bad job mimicking people Tommy.”
“Do I?”
“Yes you do.”
“Well, I have to admit I’m not much of an artist. Bad learner as well.”
“Sure about the latter? Because those A’s don’t depict you one. Don’t be surprised, I’m quite much of a good explorer. Did my homework well.”
Tommy offered to drive Ann home and she accepted. A lawn, rows of flowers, few trees, and a house painted white described their home. The street was as quiet as quiet could be.
"So, this is it?"
"Yeah."
"Care to take a look? I think mum will be delighted to meet you."
"Oh, I appreciate the flattery. Wish I could, but I am really late for an appointment."
"I am sorry. I shouldn't have..."
"Want to be a dickhead now? Will make it up some other times. Promise."
"Promise?"
"Yeah. Promise."
"Alright then. Let me get going."
"Thanks for the ride."
"Anytime Ann."
"Take care. See you some other times."
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