Chapter 4
Snapshots
Dembe awaited Red as he left the „Post Office" and opened the door of the large black Mercedes limousine for him. Red slumped down onto the comfortable leather rear seat. When Dembe sat behind the wheel he observed his passenger in the mirror.
„Shall we go home?"
„No. Indiana Avenue. We have an appointment in 40 minutes."
„Delgado?"
„Exactly. Let's see what he's got for us."
Dembe pulled the car away from the sidewalk and merged with the heavy traffic.
Officer Chris Delgado was late when he got into Red's car. „I'm sorry guys. The line in the canteen was endless." He passed Reddington a large envelope.
Red was bugged by the man's persistent delays:
„What did you find out since last time we met?"
„Three weeks ago the chief entrusted Detective Singleton with further investigations. By that time the results were rather poor. Singleton is a trouper. Came over from OC four years ago. Established reputation." Delgado shrugged. „Did some talking. He seems quite efficient and focused. And clean."
Red flipped through the documents Delgado was able to copy for him.
„Any traces? Evidence?" he pushed.
„Some. Gave you the names of the dead guys last time already. Fischbauch, Worgul, Shelly and Madigan were members of the „Nash Syndicate". Drugs mainly, some money laundering and smuggling. Got quite weighty the last few years.
Your dead folks were only sidekicks, good enough to do the dirty work. Got you some information. Background. Police records. Ballistics." he pointed towards the papers in Reddington's hands before he spoke on: „Someone must have hired them. No way they had the brains to go through with something on their own.
One got shot by his own gun. Likely by Mr. Keen. The others died from bullets of two different weapons. It's safe to assume that there were at least two more people involved in this mess. No one has a clue who that was. But Singleton got his teeth into it. Only a matter of time 'til he finds out.
Fischbauch and the others usually got hired for some donkeywork by a crap called Navarro. A fellow who is also on the payroll of the Nash Syndicate. I duplicated his photo for you ... uh, yes, there it is."
The officer put his finger on the nasty mugshot of a bearded man who obviously needed a strict diet. Red immediately recognized him from the shooting shortly after he got the suitcase back from Tom. Before he betrayed him - again. The farmhouse.
Delgado continued talking: „Four days ago Detective Singleton ordered said Navarro in for questioning. He had to kick him loose. Had nothing to nail him.
Until now, no one has an idea what the Keens had to do with the Nash Syndicate. The Feds denied that Agent Keen was somehow involved in investigations related to OC."
Red nodded. „I know him." He tapped Navarro's picture. „He was with someone.
Four-eyed, bullnecked, bald. Does this ring a bell?"
„No, sorry." Delgado answered after some careful deliberation.
„Thanks, Officer Delgado. You have my number. In case something comes up." Red handed his informant a small package. „This is for your trouble."
„Always fun to do some business with you, Mr. Reddington." Delgado put the money in the inside pocket of his jacket and left the Mercedes with a brief nod.
„I loathe corrupt cops! Men like Delgado hold out their hands to any chance. You can't count how many felons are at large because of men like him." Red was disgusted.
„Sometimes you have to rely on men like him to get crucial information." Dembe added for consideration.
„Yeah. We finally have a name. Dennison was a dead end anyway. Call Crespin, he has to turn over every rock to find out about Navarro. His contacts, his clients, his girlfriends, his weaknesses. Maybe we will get a lead to his boss.
We have to reclaim the suitcase. The longer it's out there, the more people know about it. I can't let that be. If someone finds out what secret the bones hold...he got me by my balls."
...
„Hi boss!" Red was greeted by his guard at the front door when they got home. „The doctor checked in about 30 minutes ago."
„Thanks, Tony." Red took off his hat and his suit jacket and walked towards Liz' room.
He knocked cautiously at the door and waited until he heard the doctor's response. „Yes, come in!"
When he finally opened, the physician was just about to cover Elizabeth with a blanket again. She looked more face-paled with every week that passed and Red winced at the realization that she had lost a lot of weight. She appeared so small and fragile in the huge bed. Red was stabbed through the heart. „Hello, Mr. Reddington!" the doc greeted him with a big smile when Red entered the room and closed the door again.
„I have no complaints. Everything is just fine. Maybe we should increase the nutrition for some more calories, but that's all. You and the nurses are doing an amazing job here, at your home." The doctor left some instructions on the health record and noted the test results.
„She's got so ...thin."
„Her muscles and bones are reducing from the lack of movement. Physical therapy only stops the process to a certain level."
„I know." Red took Liz' hand in his and caressed her fingers with his thumb.
His expression got the doctor to be more thoughtful.
„Mr. Reddington, are you sure you can cope with this situation? You are not committed to deal with Ms. Keen's health care at home. You can always consider to ..."
„No!" Red harshly cut off the doc's words.
„No way! She's staying here."
The physician nodded. „All right then. Call me anytime you want or have to."
„Yes, thank you." Red's eyes kept focused on Liz. „Is there anything left I can do for her?" he asked.
„Well, as I told you before, these kinds of injuries are quite tricky. Despite all the progresses medicine has made the past decades we still can't prognosticate when, or even if, someone regains consciousness after this kind of severe traumatic brain injury. She was fortunate to receive a very fast treatment after her trauma."
„Fortunate..." Red echoed sarcastically.
The doctor soothingly placed his hand on Red's shoulder.
„Yes she was. Ms. Keen would be dead otherwise. You are doing everything just right. Talk to her, touch her, be there for her. She's got a chance and if she's clever, she'll take it."
...
„Are we supposed to go anywhere tonight?" Dembe leant at the doorframe watching Red as he came out of the bathroom, straightening his cuffs.
„No, we are not. I am." Red began to button his vest.
Dembe drew himself up to his full high.
He knew that countenance.
„You can't be serious!"
„Do I look like I'm kidding?" Red adjusted his tie.
„No, Raymond, you look like a fool."
„Pardon me?"
„Is that really necessary? Elizabeth is two doors down your room. Spend some time with her!"
„I've got that uneasy feeling to suffocate any minute. I can't breath. More than enough is too much. How did you describe it a few days ago? Oh yes, I remember: Too many loose endings - even for me.
At the moment I just want to get out of here. Release some steam. Forget about this load of shit for some hours at least."
„Then do a run around the block. Have a long walk. Visit a stage play. Take in some jazz at the Vanguard."
„That's really not the kind of distraction I had in mind." Red slipped into his suit jacket. „I know you mean well, Dembe, but
I'm accountable to none. Not even to you. I respect that you don't approve what I'm up to. But I've made my decision." He closed the clasp of his watch emphatically.
„You and I know you will feel bad about it. Afterwards." Dembe crossed his arms.
„Put it on the list."
„Ok, I'll drive you there." Dembe offered sighing.
„No. I don't want you to wait in the car while I'm... you know. Stay with Lizzy and Agnes. Tony will take me there."
...
The ride took about 40 minutes and lead Reddington to a residential neighborhood at an affluent suburb of D.C..
Tony shut off the Mercedes in the parking garage of a small apartment house, which was surrounded by a perfectly trimmed lawn.
Red exited his limousine and strode up for the elevator. Though it's been a while the location was quite familiar to him. He pressed the button for the top floor.
The woman who opened after Red rang the doorbell was in her early thirties. Her long and full dark hair framed a greatly attractive face. The form-fitting black dress settled any doubts about her perfect feminine curves.
„Good evening, Sharon" Red accepted her extended hand which featured remarkable manicured fingernails. He brought her hand to his lips and softly kissed her knuckles salutatory.
„Kenneth Rogers! I have to admit that I was very pleased about your call. Haven't heard anything from you for a while." She gave him a flirtatious smile. „Please come inside and make yourself at home!"
The woman stepped out of the way and Red entered.
Sharon's elegant apartment hasn't changed a lot since his last visit. The spare and well-chosen decoration matched with her few but expensive pieces of furniture. The tasteful paintings at the walls confirmed Sharon's eye for details as well.
The woman took Red's hat and his coat and put it into the wardrobe before she headed for the counter and poured him two fingers of his favorite brand of scotch.
It was her capital that she remembered all the little details and preferences of her clients. That and her physical appearance. Those were deciding reasons why she was successful in her business and could choose which men she would please with her companionship.
Not everyone was able to afford her services anyway.
Well, Kenneth Rogers was able to, obviously.
She preferred clients like him. Charming, eloquent, sophisticated and always freshly showered.
Sharon was sure Kenneth wasn't his real name - most of her visitors wanted to stay anonymous. She didn't care though, she knew some of them from the news or magazines. After all, Sharon was not her true name either.
Red took the offered drink while he discreetly deposed an envelope on the counter in exchange.
„It's been a long time since your last visit, Ken. I was wondering if you forgot about me." Her hands wandered up his arms and came to a rest at his neck. She seductively gazed up to him and wet her lips with a brief flick of her tongue.
„How has the world been treating you since then?"
The scent of her subtle perfume surrounded him.
„To be honest, not very well. Not to everyone's sadness."
He took a sip of his scotch.
„I'm sorry to hear that." Sharon's expression seemed genuine.
Red reminded himself that he had payed for an illusion. A convincing one, but still an illusion.
„Sit down. Make yourself comfortable. I'm a good listener." She stripped off his suit jacket and tossed it on the barstool besides them.
„I know you are my dear. I've enjoyed our conversations every time so far. But today... I'm not in the mood for talking right now." He stared at her with darkened eyes. Sharon answered with a nod. „Ok, I see. What do you want me to do?" „Wait for me in your bedroom and get ready. I'm with you in a minute."
„Don't make me wait too long." she whispered in his ear and kissed his temple before she tantalizingly strode towards the master bedroom.
Red finished his drink. He shut his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. After putting down his empty glass he started to unbutton his vest while he turned and followed Sharon towards her bedroom.
She was waiting for him at her bedside. The moment he stepped through the door Sharon reached for the zipper of her dress and slowly undid it.
The soft black fabric fell down to her ankles, exposing her well-toned body to Red's hungry eyes. He made it towards the woman who awaited him silently.
Her matching lace lingerie covered little of her breasts and even less of her pubic mound.
Red bent forward to kiss her neck and her collarbone, following down the compelling path to the swell of her breast. Impatiently he opened the clasp of her bra and bared her subtle flesh to his eyes. He was eager to palm her full and firm breasts. Even though this increased merely his own arousal.
This wasn't about lovemaking.
No tender kisses, no exchange of affection, no whispers of caring words in each other's ears. This was only about satisfaction of needs. His needs.
He wondered if some day he would be lucky enough once more to receive some satisfaction of his soul.
„Hey, handsome fella- don't get lost!"
She smiled up to him, noticing his distraction.
Red tried to focus and got rid off his vest and his tie as quickly as possible. Sharon hastened to undo the buttons of his dress shirt until she finally managed to put it off his broad shoulders. Ken obviously was in a rush tonight.
She knew he insisted to keep on his t-shirt, so she didn't even try to take it off. Instead she reached for his waistband and unbuckled his belt. When Sharon pushed down his pants at last, Red grasped her hand and guided it towards the growing bulge in his boxers. His breathing became more labored when she began to stroke him expertly through the silken fabric.
„It won't last long tonight - it's been a while." he panted.
„Don't bother yourself about that. Relax. No one is pushing you. Simply enjoy yourself. Let me help you with that." she purred.
Sharon worked her long fingers inside the smooth cloth and cupped his crotch, beginning to massage his rigid length, teasing him with her fingernails.
Red closed his eyes and couldn't help but push into the warm hand pleasing him.
As soon as his shorts followed the other garments on top of the increasing pile of clothes on the floor, Red kicked off his shoes and removed his socks.
„Get that off!" he ordered tucking at her panties.
He sat down on the bed, resting his back against the wooden headboard.
He pumped his shaft absently watching Sharon stepping out of her sexy lingerie and her high heels.
She followed him onto the soft cushion and crawled towards him, willing to grant him any desires.
Red reached for the bowl on the nightstand and tossed her a condom before he slightly spread his legs. „Suck me!" Sharon tore the foil open and rolled the thin latex in place neatly.
Red watched her full and firm lips sliding up and down his sheathed penis, her tongue teasing his sensitive glans.
„More!" he demanded, reaching for the back of her head. He buried his fingers into the strands of her hair guiding her to a rhythmic pace he favored.
„Yes. Fuck, that's it!" he hissed his approval as his head fell back in ecstasy.
He spread his legs even more to allow her better access to his balls. Sharon took the unmistakable hint and cupped his sack playing skillfully with his testicles.
She gripped the base of his twitching member tightly and assisted her oral stimulations with her hand.
Red let go of her neck and clenched the satin sheets, his knuckles whitening with tension.
The constantly alternation of pushing and drawing combined with the play of her tongue and hands got him close rapidly. For a moment he considered to leave it on that.
A blowjob wasn't the worst way to receive any sexual satisfaction.
But somehow he managed to draw her body towards him to be seated on his lap. Straddling him.
He yanked her closer and dragged her roughly into position - matching to his own posture.
His craving got almost unbearable when he felt the warmth of her womanhood against his cock head. Reaching for her shapely ass cheeks he repeatedly rubbed his erection along her labia.
The woman knew he was more than ready.
She grasped his pulsating dick delicately and guided him towards her entrance.
Effortlessly she accepted his massive organ with a single smooth move downwards, the lubricated condom and her own salvia more than helpful.
Red clenched his jaws at the sensation, halting any further movements for a few moments. His heavy breathing the only sound to hear.
„Let's close this." he thought to himself when he gripped her hips firmly to dictate the tempo, trusting deep into her, moving her up and down on his cock.
Sharon had no problem catching up with him. She used his shoulders for support and met his strokes easily.
Red buried his face in the valley between her rocking breasts and inhaled her female scent.
He somehow accomplished to increase the pace of his thrusts even more when he felt his climax within reach.
His gaze dropped down to the junction where their bodies met and watched himself swiftly sliding in and out of her.
That did it.
„Damn, yes!" he moaned with a sharp intake of breath. „Fuck!" His dark voice wavering with delight when he pumped his cum into the thin sheathing.
And all of a sudden when he fell over the edge, reaching the climax of his pleasure, she appeared before his mind's eye. Emerging from the blurry haze of his pinnacle out of nothing.
...Lizzy...
Cradled in his arms. Eyes closed. Breathless. Panting. Her lips slightly parted. Her warm hands on his face. He could smell her actually, taste the pleasant flavor of her skin, sweet and salty, all at once.
His heart skipped a beat.
Panic rose up from his gut and the room started spinning.
An weird feeling crept up his spine and an evil premonition shook him to the core.
Red didn't notice Sharon leaving his lap. Getting off the bed she reached for a bathrobe, covering her nudity.
She offered him a wet wipe to clean himself a little but Red didn't respond to her, his expression seemed somehow distraught. His eyes widened and his gaze frozen in terror.
„Are you ok? Ken?" The woman looked at him with honest concern.
He finally managed to shake off the unsettling images, rubbing his palms roughly over his face, blinking repeatedly.
„Yeah. Yes, I'm good." he lied. He accepted the tissue and wiped off the sticky remains of their previous activities, wrapping up the used condom and throwing it towards the trashcan with a brief flick of his wrist.
He missed.
„I'm all fucked up!" he realized.
...
Sharon had asked him to stay for some recreation in her jacuzzi and possibly even a second round. But he had refused her offer thankfully and had returned to his car.
On his way back home he watched the city lights passing by, completely caught up in his thoughts.
„You are losing it, Raymond. Near to be pushed over the edge." he muttered to his own reflection in the car window. „Don't freak out, damned!"
If he ever will be brought before a judge some day he surely could plead insanity.
He failed trying to get these images out of his head. Snapshots of a very intimate moment with her.
Not a somewhat fuzzy and vague recollection he tries to hold on when he awakes from a dream of her yet again. Right before it vanishes into thin air.
Every time Red closed his eyes these pictures surged at him again, vivid and razor-sharp. He even had noticed the cute freckles on her nose, the tiny hair at the base of her neck, her marvelous fragrance.
But the most disturbing detail was that it didn't feel like wishful thoughts.
It felt like memories.
