Chapter 6
x x x
Sunday - 10:00 am
Brooklyn, NY–Bobby's apartment
Bobby stirs awake and sits up slowly, holding his head.
He's in his living room on the couch. Doesn't remember how he ended up there, but his headache tells him alcohol was involved.
He picks up his phone, checks the time, and sees '10:00 am.' There was a missed call from Leona last night. She calls once a night when she's away, so it was probably just to chat.
He gets up and wanders into the bathroom, reaches for the aspirin bottle, tosses a couple of pills down, and throws some water in by scooping it from the faucet. After using the bathroom, he climbs into bed.
Two hours later, he wakes up again for a shower and a change of clothes.
He calls Leona back. After that, he's hungry, so he goes to pick up a sandwich and stops for some groceries on the way back. At home, he grabs his phone and calls Alex.
She answers quickly. "Hey, what's up?"
"Got any dinner plans tonight?"
"Probably not. Why?"
"Come over. Thought we could have dinner here. Maybe watch a movie, talk, or just hang out."
There's a pause.
"Eames? That okay?"
"Bobby, I'm fine."
"Good."
"No, I mean… I'm not upset or anything. Mark and I didn't work out. It happens. I don't need cheering up."
"I'd still like you to come over for dinner. I've got some copies of my book. I promised you one, so…"
He is checking on me and the book is an excuse. It doesn't take a detective.
"Okay. What time?"
"8:00?"
"I'll be there."
x
Sunday - 7:20 pm
Lower Manhattan (Chelsea) - Mark's Condo
Alex knocks on Mark's door.
She's not expecting this visit to take long, so she thought she'd stop by on the way to Bobby's place.
Plus, if this doesn't go well, Bobby will have alcohol.
Mark opens the door but doesn't say a word.
"So, no phone calls or text messages, and God forbid you should decide to come over to my place. I know you got my texts and my voicemail. I think we should talk."
"Alex, I don't feel up for it."
"I saw you and some blonde going into the Hilton. It's across the street from the show you were too sick to attend. Why didn't you just tell me you had other plans?"
"I am sick. I didn't make other plans."
To Mark's credit, the words come out more nasally than his usual tone.
"Why were you at a hotel with her? I mean…I can't tell what sort of relationship we're supposed to be in these days, but I remember we talked about being exclusive before we stopped using condoms! Dammit, Mark, do I have to go out and get tested for STDs now?"
Mark glares at her. It lasts long enough that she wonders if he decided not to respond or is afraid if he opens his mouth, he might cough.
"You're too busy with work to spend time with me or too sick, but you're not too busy or sick for her!"
"Alex, she's a CLIENT! That woman you saw… That's Callie Forrester. It's a divorce case. There was a fight between her and her husband, and a neighbor called the cops. Callie was scared and said he threatened her with a knife after the cops left. She called me, and I came over." Mark turns his head and holds up a finger, telling her to wait while he coughs and clears his throat. He continues. "She asked me to take her to that hotel because her sister is staying there. I dropped her off, followed up with the 19th precinct, then came back home and went to bed."
"Why not have her sister pick her up?"
"Her sister didn't have a car."
"She should have spoken to the police if she didn't feel safe! What if the husband comes after you with a knife or a gun?"
"I'm just telling you what happened. If you don't want to believe or trust me, that's your choice. Now, I feel like shit, and I'm going to lie down. Goodnight." Mark slams the door and walks away.
Alex shakes her head and leaves.
x
Sunday - 8:00 pm
Brooklyn-Bobby's apartment
Moments later, she arrives at Bobby's place.
"Hey. Glad you're here." He holds the door open, and she steps inside. Immediately, she's greeted with the scents of garlic, tomatoes, bread, and cheese.
"It smells great in here." She walks in further and sees the kitchen. "Wait… You're cooking dinner?"
"Yeah."
Her gaze shifts over to the dining room. There's a table set for two, with two tall taper candles. There's a small vase with some flowers and a bottle of wine in an ice bucket.
"This looks nice. I didn't know you were planning to cook. I could have brought wine or dessert or something."
"I've got all of that covered. There's Tiramisu for dessert."
"What's the occasion?"
"Oh, just…felt like having some lasagna and didn't want to eat alone."
She smiles. "I'm okay."
"Glad to hear it."
"I would have been happy with takeout."
He gestures toward the couch. "Have a seat. It'll be just a few more minutes. I was just going to pour us a glass of wine. Oh… Hold that thought." Bobby remembers the book copies and walks over to his desk.
Her eyes drift around his entryway and living room space. There have been some changes since she was last here. He sectioned out part of the living room for an office. On top of the desk is an open shipping box with books inside.
His place used to be a bit more bachelor-like, with junk mail and boxes and empty bottles or coffee cups around, but he's cleaned up and it looks more home-like.
There are a few more plants scattered around the living room than before, and some picture frames are on the entryway table. More artwork on the walls.
Most of the pictures are a few years old. She sees a school picture of Molly, a picture of his brother Frank and his mom. Also, a few with the NYPD. She's in two of those pictures. There are two pictures of Bobby and Leona together.
In the corner, next to the entrance to his bedroom, there's a stack of large boxes with either the word 'Lisbon' or 'storage' written in marker on the side.
Alex takes a seat on the sofa. Bobby sits beside her, handing her a copy of his book.
It's a black, blue, and red cover with puzzle piece shapes as the cover image. The title is called "Puzzle Pieces." At the bottom, "By Robert O. Goren."
"This is great. I'm happy for you. Can't wait to read it." She flips through the first few pages. He autographed the inside flap with a 'To Alex — All the best, Bobby.' One of the rare times he used her first name.
"Thanks. It's a lot of work, but it feels good." He gets up and returns to the kitchen to pour the wine.
Alex suddenly notices the dedication page.
To Alex. For being the best partner a cop could ever hope for.
Her heart flips.
He dedicated his book to me. His first book.
Not Leona. Me.
She spent the past year wondering about so many things; their importance in each other's lives since that night at Bertrand's and the week that followed.
She never wanted to lose this friendship.
Alex flips to the acknowledgments page, wondering if he mentioned anyone they both know. She reaches it and scans the first few names and Bobby's remarks and they mostly include his publisher, editor, and people he consulted with on the project. The last two names stand out.
To Lewis, thanks for all the beer chats and encouragement.
She smiles. "How's Lewis?"
"Doing well," he responds.
"Good."
Last but not least, To Leona, thanks for proofing my drafts, encouraging me to finish, and staying by my side throughout this process.
Alex closes the book and sets it aside.
Bobby brings the wine into the living room and sits down on the couch beside her. He hands her a glass.
"How's your weekend been?" he asks.
"Pretty quiet. I went to see Mark before coming here."
"Oh… And how'd that go?"
"I wanted to talk it out, and he wasn't answering his phone. It looks like he really is sick."
"But that was him we saw at the hotel with that woman, right?"
"Yeah. He says the woman was his client, and that it was a divorce case. I guess the husband suddenly got violent, and a neighbor called the police. She called Mark, and he came over. He took her to the hotel to stay with her sister." She sighs. "Maybe he's telling the truth. I don't know."
"Why didn't she ask her sister to come get her? Or a cop?"
"I asked that too. But he didn't like being called a cheater and shut the door in my face." She shrugs a shoulder. "I guess that's considered 'closure.'"
"I'm sorry," he responds. "Did he sound defensive?"
"Yeah. A little, I guess."
The stove timer goes off.
"Dinner's done," he says. He gets up from the couch and walks into the kitchen. Alex gets up and follows to see if he needs any help.
Bobby continues. "I don't think you're that quick to judge people, and I know you better than he does."
"But I do have trouble trusting people."
"My point is, you don't jump to conclusions. He would know that if he spent any time with you."
"You trust Leona?" asks Alex.
"Completely. She's so committed to her work that it doesn't look like she has time for much else. Sure, I worried at first. We talked. She shared things. She let me come on some trips with her."
"Mark's a workaholic too. Though I'm not sure it matters."
Bobby uncovers the lasagna and lets it cool. He removes the garlic bread he had warmed in the oven. Then goes to the refrigerator and retrieves a bowl of salad.
Her stomach is growling at the food. "That all looks good."
"Ready to eat?"
"Yes. I'm starving."
x
Alex takes her first bite of the lasagna. "This is delicious."
"Thanks," he replies, reaching for a piece of garlic bread. "I'll have to get in a workout."
"You don't look like you need it," she responds, then her face reddens as she wonders if her tone was accidentally more flirtatious than she intended.
Bobby smiles and blushes. "Aww. Thanks."
She takes the next bite and savors it for a moment. "Oh… This pasta is even tasty."
"Yeah. I just can't bring myself to make lasagna without good pasta. I can't get the fancy cut like some pasta makers can, but it turned out all right."
"Wait… You made the pasta yourself?"
He nods.
She smiles. "You've blown my mind with this dinner. It's delicious. Thank you."
"Glad you like it."
They eat quietly for a few minutes.
"Leona's taken you on some of her work trips? Where'd you go?" Alex prompts.
Bobby finishes the bite in his mouth and reaches for his napkin to wipe his mouth. "Oh… Let's see. The first trip was to Tampa. She also took me to Boston, New Orleans, and this place in Rhode Island." He thinks about some trips and chuckles. "She makes me give her some feedback on my experiences, which she thinks is putting me to work, but I don't mind."
"Okay, that's at least 2 plane rides round trip and you hate airplanes. I'll never forget that flight to Dallas/Ft. Worth with an extra 2 hours on the tarmac."
"Three hours," he interjects with a smirk.
"When you started pacing in the aisle and the flight crew got mad. I thought I was going to have to get a doctor on board to sedate you," says Alex.
They both chuckle.
She shakes her head. "Oh… And the trip to Quantico that time, because the feds wanted us down there for a briefing. Your knee bounced the entire trip."
"Yeah, but I'm getting better about flying."
Alex smiles. "How was Tampa?"
Bobby collects the dishes and brings them into the kitchen, then returns with two slices of tiramisu and two forks.
He sits back down and they pick up their forks. "Tampa was nice. The hotel we stayed in was extravagant. We went after we'd been dating for two months." Bobby sets his fork down and looks at her. "She umm… She said we needed to 'talk' and decided that was the weekend to do it."
"Hmm."
"Yeah. Made me nervous." Bobby takes a sip of his wine and sets the glass down. "She wanted to tell me about something that happened while she worked at the Ledger. She wrote an article on a fire that broke out at a bistro in Brooklyn. There was someone the sources wouldn't name, who may or may not have been involved, so she dug deep and got it. It turned out to be this mob boss who was believed dead, but was still alive and hiding out."
"What happened?"
"Leona started receiving death threats. Even worse, she had a stalker. One night, outside the Ledger, this guy pulls a knife on her, tells her to watch herself, then disappears."
"What did the police do?"
"She didn't go to the police. She pulled the story, then quit the Ledger. She emailed a colleague who works in travel and started doing travel blogs. She was still scared he would find her. It's another reason she moved to Queens."
"When did this happen?"
He thinks about it. "Umm… About a year and a half ago. I couldn't get anything from Brooklyn PD about the knife incident. That was reported by one of Leona's colleagues. Leona didn't follow up. She still has nightmares."
"Feds probably took over. Hmm… Wait…? What about the feds? Haven't they reached out to her?"
"Probably. But there are things she hasn't told me."
"I can snoop around and find out some things. I've got a few friends in the bureau who owe me a favor."
"She's not interested. But I'd like to find out."
"I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks, Eames."
"There's still time to report the stalking. Especially if it's still happening."
"Leona's handling it her way."
Alex sighs. "By moving to Lisbon."
Bobby meets her eyes and lets out a breath slowly. "It's not that she doesn't have other reasons for wanting to go. She's got a 1-year assignment to review a bunch of B across Europe. So, moving there just keeps her central to the places she has to visit."
"A year?"
"Yeah. But now she plans to stay."
"What about you? How are you dealing with all of this?"
"I don't like her thinking that she has to run away to feel safe again." He shrugs. "If it'll make her happy, that's fine. She seems to want this." Bobby sighs heavily. "What do you think?"
"Of you moving?"
"Yeah."
"You should do what makes you happy, too. But…I'll miss you."
It's the only time she's felt comfortable admitting it to him. But as he meets her eyes, all she can think of is that she deeply regrets not beating down his door a year ago to talk to him after their night together, no matter the outcome.
He smiles. "Thanks. That's nice to hear. I'll miss you too."
Emotions are welling up inside her again. She pushes her chair back, grabs the dessert plate, and carries it to the kitchen. Needing a distraction, she washes her dish and then picks up some of the other items in the sink.
By the time she's got their plates washed from dinner and dessert and is ready to wash the rest of the dishes and pans, he's standing beside her.
"Eames… I've got those."
"Well, okay. I should go."
"You sure? I thought we'd hang out for a bit. Maybe watch a movie."
"Maybe another time. I'm kind of tired."
"Yeah. Hope you get some sleep."
She retrieves her book, jacket, and purse and starts toward the door. "Thanks again for dinner. And for the book."
"Text me when you get home?"
Alex nods. "Good night."
"Good night."
x x x
Back at her place, she checks her phone and notices two missed calls from Mark, but no voicemails.
Maybe he had more to say, but she didn't care. She promised Bobby a text.
I'm back. Thanks again for dinner. Had fun. - AE
A minute later.
Same here. Thanks for the text. Good night — BG
She sets her phone down, takes something for her headache, grabs a shower, and crawls into bed.
x x x
Monday–8:45 pm
Alex's Apartment–Queens, NY
Monday is mostly uneventful.
By Monday night, she's picking at a carton of chicken and broccoli from the Chinese takeout place on the corner, when someone knocks on her door.
She gets up to answer it, and there's Mark.
"I thought we should talk," he begins.
He still sounds a little hoarse.
"I thought we said enough. Or rather, you said enough and ended the conversation with a nice door slam. So, to follow that up, here's my version…"
Alex pushes the door, but Mark grabs it before it closes and pushes it back.
"I needed time to think things through. I — Alex, I owe you an apology."
"I'm listening."
"I wasn't completely honest with you. Callie Forrester, my client… She and I used to be romantically involved."
"Involved?! Oh, that just makes it so much better!" she tosses back.
"And it's history. I was concerned about her safety."
"You still should have left it to the police."
"I understand why you feel that way. But I just wanted to be open and honest with you since we're in a relationship."
Alex shakes her head. "Mark, we've been dating for months, but it hasn't brought us closer. We've had communication problems. You're committed to making partner. I've got some things to figure out. It's not the right time."
Mark nods and turns to leave. "Good night."
"Good night." She shuts the door.
x x x