Eighteen

Maddy wakes up in the middle of her own bed, and for a moment, she can't recall how she ended up there. She sits up and massages her temples gently as last night's happenings enter her mind. She replays the evening as though she's watching a tape being projected onto the backs of her eyelids. The fight between Solomon and Archer. The accidental punch from Archer. Storming into the bathroom. Archer circling around outside like a tiger waiting for its prey to come out of hiding. Letting Archer in. Archer cleaning her cheek. Archer embracing her. Archer putting her into bed. Archer being human. She opens her eyes and looks around her apartment.

In the first rays of light of the morning, everything seems peaceful. She pushes the blankets off her legs as she swings them over the edge of the bed to get up. Her vision clouds for a moment and she closes her eyes until she regains her composure. She strolls into the kitchen and realizes that Solomon is awake and sitting watching the television on mute.

"Good morning," she smiles.

"Good morning, Miss Bowen," he replies. He leaves the sofa to sit at the stool in front of the counter.

"I hope Archer didn't cause you any harm last night, Solomon…"

Solomon shakes his head. "He has caused you more harm than he caused me."

Maddy nods lamely. "Did you sleep on the sofa last night?"

"Yes, Mister Archer put you into your bed where you belong."

"Where's Archer right now?"

There's a pause before Solomon opens his mouth to answer. It's not a particularly long or unusual pause, but its sheer existence after her question and before his response makes Maddy's stomach drop. She puts her palms flat on the cool countertop and looks at Solomon seriously.

"He went out."

"Where did he go, Solomon?"

Solomon raises his shoulders. "He did not tell me when I asked him, Miss Bowen."

"Did he take anything with him?"

"His diamonds, that is all."

"When did he leave?"

"After he put you in your bed to sleep."

Maddy lets out a lengthy exhale.

"He was very sorry for hurting you, Miss Bowen."

Maddy swallows. "He didn't mention anything about where he was going?"

Solomon shakes his head apologetically.

She leaves her spot behind the counter to head to the elevator door. "My fridge and pantry are full of food, Solomon," she says as she shoves her feet into her shoes, "make yourself whatever you feel like having. I have to go find Archer."

"Miss Bowen," Solomon rises from his seat. "Mister Archer told me to tell you not to go after him."

"Why not?"

Solomon is silent.

"So he went back to Africa, then?"

Solomon remains silent and that's all the answer she needs. She steps into the elevator with her heart in her throat and presses the button to the main floor impatiently. She doesn't look up at Solomon sitting by the counter as the elevator doors close. The elevator feels as though it's moving at a glacial pace and when the doors finally open into the lobby, Maddy practically sprints out. She isn't halfway across the lobby when she feels a strong hand grab her hand. She spins around, eyes blurry with frustration.

"Maddy!"

"Richard!"

"I just called up for you," he says to her, releasing her hand. "What happened to your face? It looks like it got worse since I last saw you."

"These cuts get worse before they get better," she answers quickly. "It looks a lot more serious than it is, it's almost healed."

Richard nods as he looks her up and down curiously. "I came by to ask if you had your story…I tried your cellphone earlier but there was no answer. I was hoping to get your article into this month's issue instead of next month's… you said the other day you had it pretty much done, so I figured you'd be all right with the early submission."

Her article is the last thing she was expecting to talk about this morning and it takes her a moment to switch gears into her business state of mind. She runs her fingers through her hair and assumes the part of Maddy Bowen, Vital Affairs Journalist.

"Remind me when the deadline for this issue is?"

"Nine tomorrow night," he tells her. "The last Friday of the month, same as usual."

She smiles and nods. "Of course. I'll have it on your desk with the accompanying photographs tomorrow morning before you even get in to work."

"Perfect, that's exactly the answer I was hoping for this morning," he grins and nods, clearly pleased with her answer. "I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time, you seemed to be in a rush."

"Oh no," she shakes her head. "I was just on my way out for a walk."

"In your pajamas?"

She looks down at herself and then back up at Richard. "It's laundry day today," she responds cooly. "You know how it is sometimes."

They share a polite laugh before Richard leaves. Maddy heads over to the concierge to ask if they know anything about Archer and his whereabouts. He tells her that he saw Archer leave late last night. Maddy's heart is pounding as he speaks.

"He smoked around outside the revolving door for almost an hour before security told him to leave… we have our no smoking policy, you see," he explains to Maddy, who just nods. "He walked down the street and hailed down a cab."

"And that's it?"

"Yes, that's it," the concierge says.