Indulgence (177 page)

Looking in the mirror, I barely recognized the broken woman
staring back at me. My face tear stained, streaked with mascara and a couple
drops of blood on my cheek. My clothes were ruined so I tossed them in the
waste basket. Then I noticed my hands were stained with blood, which caused me
to start shaking again.

Several minutes later I was still sitting on the floor of
the tub, willing the water to wash that night away. I checked my hands again to
make sure every drop of blood was gone. I stared at the blackbird on my wrist
and couldn’t help but think of James. I didn’t understand where he had gone. I
reached to crank the hot water up realizing the cold dial was almost off
entirely. I didn’t normally like HOT showers, but that night, I just couldn’t
get it hot enough. There was a knock on the door.

“Cass, I have some clothes for you. Is it safe to come in?”

Is it safe? I didn’t know if I’d ever feel safe again. “Yes,
Cal. Just put them on the sink. Thanks.”

The door creaked open. “I’ll be in the living room if you need
anything.” I grunted my approval and the door closed again.

I wasn’t sure how Cal got me back to his place in one piece.
I didn’t remember him finding me huddled in a corner at the hospital, just him
carrying me out. I
did
remember turning into my captor’s chest and
realizing it was James. I broke apart in his arms; he left to get coffee and
never returned. Cal and his partner Frank arrived shortly after and then I
recalled Cal lifting me and taking me to my apartment. Cal walked me in and
helped me pack a bag; I was no help at all. I could barely form the words to
say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ when he asked what to pack for me.

After several more minutes in the shower the heat started to
fade away. It was a lost cause; I had drained the water heater. I turned off the
water, opened the curtain and began shivering the minute the cool air hit me. I
grabbed the robe hanging on the wall and pulled a spare towel from under the
sink for my hair. Thank God Cal didn’t live like the bachelor cop that he was.
He had all the necessities and he was tidy.

I broke half a smile when I saw that Cal placed an old Army
tee and a pair of his sleep pants on the sink for me. I knew he packed pajamas
from my place, but he knew me too well. I used to steal his sleep pants and
shirts all the time in high school. It made him crazy, which is why I did it.

I didn’t even bother running the comb through my hair before
coming out of the bathroom. The only thing I wanted was sleep. I went straight
to Cal’s room and crawled into bed. Hearing what sounded like reruns of
Cops
coming from the living room, I wasn’t surprised. Cal had been a cop for a
few years. He was also an Army vet, had a degree in Criminal Justice, but had
decided to be a cop. His plan was to be part of the undercover narcotics squad.
In an effort to earn his place on the squad, he was currently pulling double
duty and working midnights. Listening to him tip-toe around the house while I
laid in bed was a welcome distraction.

I looked at the clock to see it was close to five in the morning.
The rays of dawn were nowhere in sight through Cal’s blacked out windows. I
closed my eyes, but even with them closed, all I saw was the ambulance lights
whirling round and round and Holly and Dan.
Holly and Dan.
I never got
to thank James. Eventually I fell asleep with my tears saturating the pillow as
I listened to the drone of the TV.

*****

The days and weeks that followed the shooting were some of
the darkest days of my life. Calvin was taken off the case because of his
personal connection, but that didn’t stop him from nosing around. He came home
a couple days after the shooting to let me know that they had made an arrest,
finally.

“They arrested the son of a bitch owner; they found drugs
stashed in his office. He was in lock-up when I left today. They think it
might’ve been some retaliation thing with his dealer. We got him, Cassidy.” I
gazed at him over my cup of coffee, complete and utter shock evident in my
expression.

“The owner!?” I felt sick to my stomach and my throat began
constricting. James—the hunk I was eye-fucking for weeks on end, who was also
the owner—was a druggie? A dealer?
Oh God
. My taste in men was
atrocious. Of course he would be bad news; I was attracted to him. Why did I
have an affinity for guys that were no good?

“He’s some privileged rich boy from the upper west side.” He
stopped talking after seeing the distress in my eyes. “Don’t worry, Cassidy.
We’ll get him to talk and we’ll find out who did this.”

*****

A few days later, Calvin came home on a tear. He was cursing
as he stormed in. “The fucking charges have been dropped. His lawyer got the
charges thrown out. It’s complete bullshit.”

I knew without question to what and to whom he was
referring. The tears welled up in my eyes. “Cal, I can’t do this. Holly is gone
and I can’t change it. I know it’s your job to find out who did this, but I
can’t hear about it. It’s just too much.”

“Shit, Cass. I’m sorry.” He walked over to me and pulled me
to his chest. “I’m an idiot. I won’t bring it up again.” I nodded into his
chest.

*****

End of October

It was a Friday and life was back to ‘normal’
.
Of
course, normal now had a whole new meaning. Monotony had become my middle name;
all work and no play. My life revolved around my job. My favorite time of year
was in full throttle. I had the masquerade ball that night and the Children’s
Hospital auction was the following Friday night, a week from today. Dad’s
wedding was about a month away and then we had the holidays coming up. I was
wholly dedicated to my job and my hard work had paid off. I was several weeks
in to my third promotion, in as many years, at B & C.

I was running around my apartment like a chicken with my
head cut off. Moving before the masquerade and the auction was a huge mistake,
but I couldn’t pass up the place. I owed my client, Mrs. Whitford, a million
thanks; I was indebted to her.

B & C planned Mrs. Whitford’s masquerade every year and
I was given the lead this year, at her insistence. She sang my praises to my
boss, Cecily, more than once and had insisted she’d only work with me from that
point forward. She also knew I wanted to get out on my own after I mentioned
that I was apartment hunting. While I loved the time with Cal, it was time for
me to spread my wings again. And living with my brother would kill any chance
of me having a love life, if I ever
tried
to have one again.

The Whitford's owned several properties, so she said, and
insured me she had just the place for me. After a few tours of the place, along
with some input from Dad and Cal, I took the leap. It was all just too good to
pass up considering the price, location and amenities.

The townhouse was an end unit similar to Cal’s, but bigger,
and it was in a safer part of the city. It had two bedrooms, two and a half
baths, an office and three parking spaces including the attached garage! They
recently had it completely gutted and remodeled. I had hardly unpacked a single
thing in the previous two weeks because I was so busy at work. The only things
I had put away were most of my clothes and a few kitchen essentials.

Dad and Cal brought boxes upon boxes from my storage unit
and from home. I couldn’t wait to really dig in and start settling the place.
Chessa, on the other hand, loved all the boxes and new hiding spaces. She
jumped off one box and into another scaring the crap out of me. I splashed my
coffee and cursed the three month old tortoise hair kitten. She had been a
house warming gift from Cal and Dad.

“Where did I set my blasted wall charger, Chessa?” Having my
wall charger for my laptop and phone were imperative if I was going to make it
through that day. I eventually found it in a box with my dishes.
Seriously,
Cassidy, with the dishes?

I looked at the clock on the microwave. “Shit, shit, shit!”
It was already a quarter to nine. I told Lena to be at The Benedict hotel no
later than nine and here I was, her boss, running late. It would take me
fifteen minutes just to get downtown, if I was lucky. I had a quick meeting
with J.J. Benedict to finalize a few things for the masquerade and the auction
next week. All eyes were on me.

Last year, Cecily and I did that event together and the year
before that I was her personal assistant. I didn’t know why I was so nervous.
The auction was the one I should’ve been worried about.
Cassidy Charles, you
got this!
I texted my PA, Lena, to let her know I was on my way and to
stall Cecily if she decided to show her face for the meeting. Cecily liked to
show up to client meetings with no warning. Lena responded with a wink,
symbolizing that we were in the clear. Love that girl!

I grabbed my laptop bag, my purse, a garment bag holding my
dress and my overnight bag. “Good Lord, what am I forgetting?” Keys and phone
were in my jacket pocket, Chessa had been fed. “Well, it’s too late now. Wish
me luck Chessa.” She responded with a purr and dove back onto the pile of boxes
consuming my living room.

*****

I made it downtown in record time, listening to news radio.
I took a mental note to find my iPod that weekend. Pulling into valet, Andy
greeted me with a smile. He helped me out of my car while a bellboy rushed over
to help with my bags.

“Miss Charles is with B & C; she’s in charge of the
masquerade tonight and the auction next week.” The bellboy acknowledged Andy,
who was the head valet, before he drove off with my car. Andy was a good kid
and had been extremely helpful over the previous few weeks. I insisted to the
bellboy that I would carry my laptop and purse; I couldn’t afford to have them
out of my sight.

I rushed inside and hurried over to the desk to get my key.
Mrs. Whitford had graciously provided me with a room for the night. I thanked
the desk clerk, Sabrina, and turned away from the desk with my purse and laptop
bag in hand. Lena was there with a smile on her face and she had a coffee in
each hand.

“Dammit, I forgot my coffee at home. You’re a life saver,
Lena!” I took a swig of my peppermint mocha cappuccino as we headed toward the
elevator.

Lena responded with her usual, “No problem, boss!”

“What floor, Miss Charles?” The bellboy had been patiently
waiting for me to finish my business at the desk.

I looked at the envelope holding my key card, “Looks like
the twelfth floor, room 1204.”

“Right away, ma’am.” I inwardly cringed at his use of ma’am
and Lena and I shared a chuckle. I was
not
a ma’am, not yet! He pushed
several buttons, more than normal, on the panel before the elevator began its
climb.

Lena and I started hammering out texts as the elevator made
its ascent. No Cecily yet. As the elevator door opened I rushed out without
looking where I was going, as usual, and walked right into a buff business
suit.
Klutzy Cassidy at her best.
I really
was
a walking
calamity. My cell and purse dropped to the floor with my purse contents
scattering back on the elevator floor. I managed to save the business suit from
my cappuccino.

“Dammit. I’m so sorry, sir.” I dropped down and I saw large,
tanned hands helping me pick up the contents of my purse. I was absolutely
mortified as my birth control pills were handed back to me, along with some
gloss and other miscellaneous items.
Cheese and rice, Cassidy!

“No worries, you should watch where you’re going, Cassidy.”
That deep voice stirred my insides, but I couldn’t even look at him because I
was so embarrassed. I was certain I was probably as red as my cranberry blouse.

“I’m fine, again, I’m
so
sorry. Thank you for your
help.” I gathered my items and rushed into the hall without even looking to see
who it was I collided with and ran down the hall.
Wait, he said my name.
Oh God, he must have thought me the rudest person.
I turned to see who
it was but I was too far away and he was safely inside the elevator. Lena was
staring into the elevator, gawking. What had I missed?

The bellboy hurried out, stuffing something in his pocket
and stuttering, “S-Sir, absolutely sir, will d-do, sir.”

Lena pranced over to me with a huge grin on her face. She
asked me, “Don’t you know who that was? He’s a dream.” She was over the moon.

My cell started buzzing again and I rolled my eyes at her.
“Come on, Lena, we have work to do.” I was sure the caterer, Francis, would be
in touch any moment with the most recent catering disaster. I continued walking
toward my room and began to wonder if I was on the wrong floor, not seeing any
other entry doors.

“Are you sure we’re on the right floor?” I asked the
bellboy.

“Down on the left, ma’am. May I?” He asked for my key and
hurried ahead of us, opening a door at the end of the hall.

Lena strolled in after the bellboy and I followed. “Holy
hell, Cassidy!”

I walked into the room and couldn’t believe my eyes. It
couldn’t
be the right room. I looked to the bellboy and he nodded, confirming we were in
the right room. I stepped back in the hall, and sure enough it had a plaque
with 1-2-0-4 engraved on it hanging by the door.

“Holy hell is right! This can’t be right.” The bellboy
assured me again we were in the correct room. I wasn’t sure what was going on,
but I didn’t have time to investigate. Mrs. Whitford was
way
too
generous. I rummaged through my purse for some bills for the bellboy.

“Already taken care of, ma’am.” He finished placing my items
on the couch and pranced out the door with a smirk on his face before I could
object.

Shrugging my shoulders, I let out a squeal as the door
closed. Placing my purse on the entry table along with my hotel key, I did a
slow spin and took in my surroundings. The suite was decorated impeccably;
granite and marble greeted me everywhere.
This was unbelievable.
I’d
never stayed anywhere so fancy. There was a fully functioning kitchen with
black cabinets, stainless steel appliances and white granite countertops. I ran
my hand along the counter, admiring the glints of silver in it. It was a small
kitchen, but no expense had been spared. A Keurig coffee maker was on the
counter and next to it was a stand full of every flavor of coffee imaginable
along with a bowl of apples, bananas and oranges. I grabbed a banana, knowing I
probably wouldn’t eat again until later that night. The living room had a deep
blue suede couch and two matching oversized chairs facing each other, separated
by a very ornate coffee table. The entire right side of the room was glass from
ceiling to floor, overlooking the river; the view was breathtaking.