Getaway 8

"Hey, Boss, it's Boscorelli," Bosco said when his Lieutenant answered.

"There's a package for you here from Washington DC. It's too big to fit in your locker and I was wonderin' when you'd be in to pick it up," Swersky answered.

"A package? I thought the guy was just gonna send me a copy of a picture. Do ya mind openin' it, Lieu? I'm kinda curious. Is there a name or a return address?"

"Give me a minute....geez, Boscorelli, what have ya been doin'? There's a newspaper in here with a picture of you runnin' away from security guards with Yokas over your shoulder."

"That's a kinda long story, Boss. What else is in there?" he asked grinning.

"There's an Army vest in here and a camo jacket. It says 'Marzitelli' on the name tag. Somebody you know?"

"My uncle."

"Oh and there's a big scrap book and a note. It's says 'I've been saving all this stuff for you. I figured you ruined Mikey's name when you went for your swim so I made you another one.' And there's a piece of paper with it with 'Michael Marzitelli' rubbed on it. I'll put this in my office for ya. When are ya comin' back? Yokas' husband's been in here askin' for your head on a platter. You might wanna send her home and stay where ever you are for good," Swersky warned, worry seeping into his voice despite his best efforts to hide it.

"I'll have her call him. She said she needed a vacation and I owed her for all the trouble I caused."

"Yeah, you caused a lot of trouble. Just remember not to cause any more," Swersky said before hanging up.

Checking his messages, he made a mental note to call his mother then wandered out onto the balcony. He had come to see what the second floor looked like. It had two bedrooms with bunk beds, bathrooms attached to each room. It was definitely a place for a family to come and enjoy some time together. Looking over the rail, he could see that Faith had gone inside.

He sat in a deck chair and watched the full moon rise over the water. He contemplated calling Fred himself, but decided that might not be the best course of action. He wanted to explain what happened, maybe put Fred's mind at ease, and deflect some of Fred's anger away from Faith, but like the boss said, he didn't need to cause more trouble.

"Hey," Faith said sitting down in another of the chairs.

"Hey, Swersky said you need to call Fred," Bosco said waving his cell phone in the air in way of explanation.

"Yeah, I've just been talkin' to Emily when I call. Fred's pissed needless to say," Faith replied.

"Well, I can understand that. I'd be pretty upset if my wife crawled out our bedroom window and disappeared with another guy," Bosco said grinning.

"When you put it that way ... I'll call him," Faith agreed with an answering smile.

"I'm gonna go to bed. I'm thinkin' I'll get up early tomorrow and go for a run if that's alright with you," Bosco asked.

"Yeah, sure. Don't worry about me. Remember I needed this vacation to get away from people treatin' me like I couldn't be on my own. I may go for a walk down the beach," Faith said standing. Her knees got wobbly forcing her to sit back down. "Over did it a little today I guess," she said embarrassed.

"No worries. The day wouldn't be complete if I didn't haveta carry ya somewhere," Bosco said scooping her up and carrying her down the stairs.

"Wait, Bosco, you're takin' me to the wrong room. I'm gonna take that one," she said pointing to the smaller bed room.

"Nope, I already put your stuff in here," he answered putting her on her feet just inside the doorway.

"But you should get this room," Faith argued leaning against the doorframe.

"You need help gettin' inside. I went ahead and put your crutches in the closet in case you need 'em. I can get 'em if ya want," Bosco replied ignoring her completely.

"You should get the big room, Bosco. You've been takin' care of everything and it's only right. Anyway, I can take care of myself," Faith said pulling herself upright to match him eye to eye, but only succeeding in falling against him.

"I know ya can, dammit. I'm just tryin' to help," Bosco said steadying her on her feet before pushing past her into the room. He grabbed the crutches, handing them to her with the same force she had used to hand them to him days before. "You want my cell to call Fred or do ya have your own?"

"I've got mine. Bos, I didn't mean..." Faith said remember her decision not to be as hard to get along with she'd made earlier in the day.

"Night, Faith," Bosco said crossing the living room to the door of the other bedroom then slamming it behind him.

Bosco busied himself putting things away then turned on the television. He thought about taking a shower and going to bed, but knew he was too wound up to sleep. What he was tempted to do, what he'd wanted to do, was carry Faith all the way to her bed and stay there with her.

Thoughts like that were easy to banish from his head back in New York. New York was the real world. This wasn't real. This was playin' house he reminded himself. His arms reminded him how it felt that first night when he'd held her after her nightmare. His mind reminded him she was in the other room calling her husband right now.

The moon was bright through the windows of his room. He pulled on his running shoes, then, closing the door quietly behind him, ran off along the shore.

Faith watched Bosco disappear into the night. Guess morning was too long a wait to get away from me, she thought finding her cell in the bottom of her purse. She got comfortable on her bed, then called home.

"Where the hell are you?" Fred said answering on the second ring.

"I'm fine, Fred. I just needed some time to myself. You wouldn't believe how much stronger I am already. I barely had to use my crutches at all today," Faith said ignoring his outburst.

"I'm sure you didn't need them to walk anywhere, did you Faith? I can't believe you just abandoned your family for Boscorelli!" Fred thundered.

"I didn't abandon you for Bosco! I told you I needed time to myself and he helped me. That's it. You and your mother and my mother were smothering me and none of you would listen! I didn't intend on spendin' this time with Bosco, but he wouldn't let me go alone," Faith yelled back. This was not going as she'd hoped.

"So you're sayin' he did kidnap you? I'm not buyin' it, Faith. Who packs a bag when they get kidnapped? How long have you two been plannin' this? How long have you been with him?"

"Fred! I'm not 'with' Bosco! He didn't plan anything. I planned to get out of the house for a few days and I knew he'd help me. That's it. He had nothin' to do with this."

"Let me talk to him, Faith. I'm not gonna just let you go," Fred said.

"I'm not goin' anywhere Fred. I'm not leavin' you. I just needed to get away. Why won't you see that?"

"Where are you?"

"I'll be back in four days."

"That's not what I asked. You're comin' home now. Where are you?"

"I'm not ready to go home, Fred. I'm fine. Everythin's fine. I'll be home in a few days."

"Everything is not fine. If all this is so innocent, why won't you tell me where you are?"

"Because I don't want you comin' down here and makin' trouble. I need this time, Fred. Why can't you let me have this?"

"Because you snuck out our bedroom window and ran off with another guy," Fred stated matter-of-factly.

"That's what Bosco said," Faith said a laugh escaping before she could stop it.

"Faith, either tell me where you are and come home with me or don't bother coming home at all."

"That's not fair, Fred."

"Where?"

"By the time you got here, it would be time for us to come back any way. I'm not doin' anything wrong, Fred. Honestly would you be throwing this big of a fit if I was down here with Holly?" Faith tried to reason.

"No, I wouldn't because Holly's not in love with you. Now that you're not workin' anymore, he doesn't have to be in our life at all. We could get things on the right track finally. I can forgive all this if you just tell me where you are so I can come get you right now," Fred answered more calmly.

"There's nothin' to forgive, Fred. And there's no reason for you to come down here. Like I said, you'd get here about the time we would have to be leaving anyway. I'll be home soon."

"Where are you, Faith? This is the last time I'm askin'."

Faith watched the moon beams dance on the surf. She saw a couple holding hands, strolling barefoot in the waves. The silence stretched on and on.

"Faith?" Fred asked breaking the moment.

Faith watched the couple laugh through the window, the man's arm wrapping around her shoulder. They looked so happy, so comfortable. With a stab of longing and possibly jealousy she turned from the scene before her. "I'm in Sunset Beach, North Carolina," she said softly into the phone.

"North Carolina? Geez, Faith! It's gonna take me at least two days to get there!" Fred yelled again.

"It took us three, but we stopped in Philadelphia and Washington to sightsee. I got the kids some souvenirs."

"Souvenirs? How delightful," Fred replied, sarcasm dripping from every word. "It's too late to start tonight, but I'm comin' down there to get you. Bosco better not be anywhere around when I get there," Fred said then hung up without another word.

"So good to hear your voice. I miss you. I love you....those words just too much to ask for Fred?" Faith said tossing the phone on the bed. She rubbed her eyes willing the tears that wanted to well up away. She envied Bosco and his ability to out run his problems out on the beach. She picked up the book she had picked up the day before and headed into the bathroom. Since she only had one more night here after this one, she was going to have to enjoy the tub while she could.

She filled it to the brim, then sank down into the steaming water. She turned on the jets and leaned back. For tonight at least, no one would be banging on the door or yelling. Setting the book aside, her thoughts returned to the Kindred Spirit Mailbox. For tonight, she could think about what she wanted instead of what was best. It was just a silly legend, but in the late night hours, as the bath soothed her aching muscles, she could dream.

Bosco had quickly run out of beach. He was on an island and islands were only so long. He thought about running on around the inlet side, but it was dark with only the moon for light. He didn't know the terrain or where he might end up so he did the only thing he could do - he turned around.

He ran past the same couples sitting on the sand looking out at the ocean or into each other's eyes. The kids with their driftwood fires - probably illegal - were dancing and wandering off in pairs behind the dunes.

He ran past a couple walking while the surf lapped against their bare feet. He heard the woman laugh as he passed, the man laughed too. Bosco heard the man say he would throw her in stopping him in his tracks. He turned in time to see her squeal as the man picked her up. Bosco took a step toward them before the couple, oblivious of him, kissed. He'd been a cop too long and alone too long if he couldn't tell a threat from foreplay he thought turning and running further down the beach.

He looked at the place he'd rented that day - his and Faith's place on this beach. The lights on the ground floor were on and welcoming, but he continued on to the south.

Once again he ran out of beach. He heard laughing out in the water. He could see in the moonlight several people swimming in the dark waters. Looking around him, he saw shorts, shirts, and most telling bathing suits strewn across the sand. Great, just what he needed tonight - skinny dippers.

"Hey over there! Come on in the water's fine!" he heard a familiar female voice call out to him. The rental agent?

"Maybe later," he called back then took off again.

"Oh, now I know who that is. I rented a place to him and his wife today," Bosco heard the girl say to one of her friends.

"Married? Too bad," he heard another answer before he'd run out of ear shot.

"Married, yeah right," Bosco said running faster. Once he reached the cottage he remembered the two people walking in the surf and came to a stop. He didn't think he could take another encounter with the happy couple. He sat atop a dune looking out at the ocean wondering if he'd ever be part of a happy couple. Fat chance, he thought then considered heading back to where the rental agent and her naked friends were. He was tired of bein' a happy couple for a couple of hours though. With a final glance in their direction, he brushed the sand off his shorts and went inside.

"Bosco? Is that you?" Faith called out.

"Yeah, Faith sorry if I scared ya. I decided to go for a run tonight insteada in the mornin'. G'night," he replied through her closed door.

"No wait, Bosco. I need ya to help me," Faith said her voice barely audible.

"What?"

"I'm stuck and I need you to help me. I wouldn't ask if I hadn't tried everything."

"You're stuck?" Bosco asked peeking around the door of her room. It was empty. That meant she was in the bathroom. She was stuck in the bathroom?

"I decided to try out this tub and now I can't get out," she informed him.

"I can't get ya outta the tub."

"You have to, Bosco. I can't stand up because it's slippery."

"Climb over the side," he suggested backing out the door.

"I tried that. Now just come in here and help me."

"Geez, I should have kept running when I hit the ocean," he said under his breath. He fixed his eyes firmly on the tile floor. "You know, I know where that rental agent is. I could go get her and she'd help ya, I'm sure."

"Bosco," Faith said her voice half way between a plea and an angry command.

"I just don't think I should be in here is all."

"Well, you don't have a choice. I managed to reach the towel so, uh, everything's covered for the, um, most part anyway," Faith stammered equally embarrassed.

"Once I get you out, will you be able to stand on your own or do I have to take you in the other room?" he asked still unwilling to look at her.

"I don't know."

"Okay. Hang on to the towel," Bosco ordered. The frustration he'd tried to run off on the beach returned ten fold as he slipped his arms under her. He had no where else to look but at the fluffy white towel covering her.

"I'm sorry about this, Bos," Faith said as he dropped her onto the bed.

"Stop apologizin' for stuff," he said returning to the bathroom for the crutches. He saw the clothes she had meant to put on after her bath lying on the vanity top. Gathering everything, he quickly dropped them beside her on the way to the window.

The moon's light was waning. He knew that anyone on the beach would be able to see in so he closed the curtains quickly. He closed his eyes trying not to see the reflection of Faith holding the towel to her as she sat up on the bed.

"Thanks, Bosco."

"Yeah, well what're partners for. You need anythin' else," he said as he made a bee line for the door.

"No, I'm good. G'night."

Without another word and only one last torturous glance, Bosco closed the door behind him. He thought about going for another run, but opted for a cold shower instead. He'd learned a long time ago that some memories can't be outrun.