After the courtroom testimony

Chapter 3

It had been a long workday for Connie. She had gone straight from the courthouse to the NY Public Library to do some research on two different cases, so she had not gone back to the office. She had worked the entire rest of the afternoon so that her desk could be clear. And now it was well past six in the evening.

She would just go home, eat a quick dinner, shower and relax with a book. She actually looked forward to spending a quiet night on her own.

The doorman stepped out of the secured apartment building to greet her as she approached with one arm laden with a stuffed bag of groceries.

"Good evening, Miss Rubirosa," he politely tipped his hat, "Need a hand?"

"No, I'm fine," Connie gave him an assured smile, as he held the door open for her.

"You certainly seem to be in a chipper mood!" the doorman remarked as she walked past him.

Connie entered the building and now turned back, still smiling, "I'm just happy to be home!"

When the elevator arrived, Connie stepped in and pressed the 18th button as the doors shut and she felt an upward lift of the elevator. Holding steady the grocery bag with one hand, she used the other to awkwardly rummage through her purse for her key, just as the elevator doors opened to her floor.

Now at her apartment door, she inserted the key into the lock, turned it until it clicked, and went inside. She immediately flipped on the foyer light. Kicking off her shoes, she placed the bag in the kitchen and headed down the hallway

The first thing she noted as she walked down the darkened corridor was that her bedroom door ahead was closed. Connie scowled, for she knew every morning before she left for work, the door had always been left opened. After all, what would be the purpose of keeping it shut?

Something didn't feel right and alarms went off in her head.

She slowed down her pace, making certain not to make any loud noises as she almost tip-toed her way to the door of her bedroom. Then Connie positioned her ear to the door. She heard noise from within—it sounded as if someone was sliding open her closet door. How had someone gotten past the security of her complex? Connie wondered to herself.

There was definitely someone in her apartment.

For some reason she flashed back to that time when the Vella Cartel threatened hers and Mike's life. Connie started to back away. She then turned around and made a silent dash to the front door.

From behind her, she could hear the bedroom door opening. Oh God!

It was only mere seconds but it seemed like it took forever for her to reach the front door. She tried to unlock the deadbolt. Unfortunately she hadn't realized until it was too late that she had not bolted it when she came in; her jiggling with it now only put it back in the locked position. She nervously fiddled with it as the sound of footsteps became louder. Connie broke out in a sweat as she nervously gave the bolt a hard push to the right.

At last she got the bolt unlatched and as she put her hand on the doorknob, a familiar male voice called out to her.

"Where you going, Connie? It's me!"

She turned around and was looking directly into the familiar face of Johnny Vasquez, her high school ex-boyfriend. He stood with a big grin on his face.

"Oh!... Johnny! It's you!" Connie exclaimed, recognition at last seeping in.

"Hey, I just thought I'd surprise you." His confident expression darkened when he noticed Connie's look of stunned fear, "What's the matter, baby?"

Connie heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of Johnny. A month ago they had bumped into one another at a grocery store and had struck up a conversation. Since then, they have been casually seeing one another whenever he was in town. Although he didn't have a key to her place, she figured the landlord had let him in.

"Nothing, Johnny… she even managed a wry smile, "it's...just been a long day…"

He acknowledged, "Yeah, I noticed it took you forever to get home."

It was times like these that Connie could see Johnny was someone who was void of emotional concern. Already he was minimalizing her reaction to being frightened and was discounting whether or not she felt tired. It was as if he lacked compassion for her feelings at times.

"Johnny, I'd wished next time you would give me a heads up if you're coming."

He shrugged, "Yeah, sure, I'll do that...but for now...come here, I've missed you..."

He held out his arms and she found herself walking into them. His words did seem to calm her somewhat and she stopped shaking. The heat from his body felt warm and closing her eyes, she tried to soothe her mind.

It was nice to have someone in my life, she thought to herself, someone who'd listened, someone to hold her.

Someone not complicated.

But although her mind was eased and her body peaceful, her heart did not feel content.

,

,

Johnny Vasquez and Connie had just finished an intimate dinner at her apartment.

"I'm so glad you've made it into town, " Connie was saying to him as she took a bite of her cheesecake, "although I was really caught by surprise when you unexpectedly came out from my bedroom."

"Ahh, chica," he responded, as he playfully touched the end of her nose, "If being alone in New York City is truly a concern of yours, I could be here more often if you want, just let me move in here with you."

He instantly read reluctance on Connie's face. Again.

"Johnny, we've talked about this already," her voice sounded unusually flat.

Johnny continued watching her, "You mean, you've talked about it and made the decision for the two of us."

Connie let out a frustrated sigh. She was satisfied with the way things were, with no emotional complications. Why wasn't this arrangement enough for him?

"Please let's not ruin this dinner, Johnny."

Johnny looked down at his meal. He decided he better back off, but not before he looked back up and added, "I just don't understand why I can't even leave something as insignificant like a toothbrush here."

"Because that small gesture represents a change in our relationship, it's like a proof in permanency," said Connie, as she pushed her chair away from the table, got up, and blew out the candles. She had not meant to sound so harsh, so final. But Connie knew she was not ready for Johnny to move in with her. She needed time, she needed space, she needed-

"And is that so bad?" he interrupted her thoughts, as he started to get up too.

"I told you," Connie tried not to sound impatient, "I am not ready for the next step."

"You cannot expect for me to wait forever," Johnny's response almost sounded like a warning.

"Don't worry, I won't," Connie stated, starting to feel stressed again. She felt her body tightening and wished to change the subject, "Anyway...you can just leave the dishes there. I'll deal with them later. Right now, all I want to to is take a nice warm shower."

His eyes lit up, "Perhaps you'd like some company?"

Connie stared evenly at him. All she wanted to do was to be alone with her thoughts so that she could think about the day's happenings. She hadn't meant to be so cranky, but he was the one who interrupted her private night.

"Really, Johnny, I just want to be alone for awhile" she responded tiredly, "We'll talk when I get out, alright?"

Johnny tried not to show his frustration.

"Fine, but I'm staying the night!" he announced to her departing backside as she gave a back wave of acknowledgement.

After she left, he started gathering the dishes to put in the sink, something he rarely did, but he needed to do something.

Women! he thought. Or more accurately, maybe just Connie. Johnny really didn't understand her. Any other woman would be lucky to have someone like him. But she didn't get it. Even when they were intimate, it always seemed as if she didn't completely let go, it was like she was holding back somehow, but he didn't know why.

He could hear Connie running the water just as her phone rang. Johnny was about to yell out to Connie, but he knew she wouldn't want to come to the phone now. Ambling over to the phone, he casually picked it up.

"Hello?" he spoke into her phone.

Mike, who was at the other end, removed his Blackberry from his ear and looked at it for a second. Perhaps he had dialed the wrong number. But then, again, he had her on speed dial. He placed the Blackberry up to his ear again.

"Is this the number of Connie Rubirosa?" Mike asked, sounding unsure.

"It is," replied Johnny, "Who is this?"

To Mike, the male voice at the other end did not sound friendly.

"Tell her it's Mike," he determinedly said.

"She's in the shower now," Johnny sounded impatient "You want to leave a message?"

The shower.

"No, no, that's fine. Thanks," Mike quickly hung up.

The silence in the room was deafening as he stared off into space. So that explains why Connie had been acting distant with him the last month or so.

Now Mike knew for certain.

.

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Next chapter, it goes back to courtroom testimony!

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