The Man on the Balcony by Edward Kendrick

Author:Edward Kendrick [Kendrick, Edward]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2018-01-09T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Sunday, Mark did his usual cleaning and shopping. Monday, he called a locksmith to come out and change the locks on his door.

He stopped by Austin’s building, twice—on Sunday and then Tuesday after work. When he buzzed him, he got no answer. Not even a “Who’s there?” If it weren’t for the fact he saw lights on in the apartment every evening, he would have been worried. Okay, more worried than I am already. Did my trying to push him into talking about the death of his lover drive him deeper into his solitude? I only wanted to help. Someday, I’ll learn to keep my big mouth shut.

He did keep his mouth shut, but only barely, when he got a call Wednesday evening. It had been one of those days and he was frazzled, having dealt with customers who would have shown up on Saturday, had the weather cooperated. Since he didn’t recognize the number, he figured it was a telemarketer and he was in the mood to read them the riot act.

What he should have done is ignore it, because it was Todd.

“Hi, love,” Todd began.

Which was as far as he got. “I’m not your ‘love’,” Mark replied tightly. “By the way, where are you calling from? Not your phone.”

“I left mine in the cab, on the way to the hotel, so I picked up a cheap one to use until they return mine.”

Mark didn’t believe him for a second. He had a feeling Todd had gotten a different one so he wouldn’t ignore his call.

“I’m downstairs. I was going to surprise you by waiting in your place until you got home, but you’ve changed the locks.” Todd sounded hurt, and angry.

“Big surprise. If you came out here to try and get me back, forget it. Go home, Todd. If you didn’t get the message the last time you were here, it’s over!” Mark replied. Then he hung up. His phone rang seconds later. Ignoring it, he put the phone on ‘silent’, muttering, “If you leave any messages, I’m erasing them.”

Going to the window, he looked down at the sidewalk just in time to see Todd stomp out the building’s front door. He pulled back when Todd looked up, waited a moment, then looked again. Todd was stalking down the pavement to a car parked two doors down. “Cab, my ass,” Mark muttered, since it was a rental car.

With a sigh, praying this was the last time he’d have to see or hear from Todd again, Mark went into the kitchen to fix something to eat.

* * * *

Austin had barely stepped onto his balcony when he saw Todd coming out of Mark’s building. From the expression on the man’s face, he was not happy. Let’s hope it means Mark told him to get lost—again—and that he believes it this time.

He glanced over at Mark’s window in time to see him move out of view when Todd looked up. Seconds later, Mark reappeared, his attention obviously focused on his ex-lover.

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