Dream State by Charles R. Hinckley

Author:Charles R. Hinckley [Hinckley, Charles R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mad Drummer
Published: 2016-10-15T23:00:00+00:00

23

WITH A SIDE OF WHAT?

My stomach fluttered when she appeared at the doorway of Café Divine. I was standing at the bar and waved to her. She smiled when she saw me, the kind of smile that’s involuntary. I could tell because she caught herself and pulled it back a little.

We sat at a nice table for two, near the window. The waiter took our drink order, a glass of red wine for her and a bottle of Pellegrino with lemon wedges for me. I wanted to keep my head clear, so I decided today was not the day to float away from lunch. Besides, I hadn’t had anything to drink the past few days, and I wasn’t about to start during a lunch with Carla.

“How are you?” I asked.

“Good,” she said, smiling. “And you?”

“Good.”

I looked down at her hand, which she had placed on the table. Her skin looked porcelain smooth and creamy soft. I wanted to take it in my hands and kiss it, maybe breathe in any lingering cologne. She noticed my attention and seemed fine with it.

“I want to show you something,” I said. I held up my cell phone to show her a clearer picture of Colling. One that I’d taken the day he’d hung around outside my apartment. “Do you recognize him?”

She looked at it and said nothing. Then I zoomed in on his face. It was a little blurry, but recognizable.

“Oh, my God. Is that Crazy Gerry? He’s changed his hair, but I think…Yes, that’s him. I recognize that mole on the side of his nose, there. Why do you have a picture of him?”

“You know this man?”

She nodded. “Yes, but he doesn’t have red hair, at least he didn’t when I knew him.”

“This is the same guy I showed you the pictures of before.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you said you didn’t know him.”

“Look at him. His hair was blond, but that’s red. He’s dyed it or something. It didn’t sink in before.”

“So you’re sure this is the guy?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know him?”

“He dated Emma.”

“This guy dated Emma?” I repeated, wanting her to be doubly sure. “What did you say his name is?”

“That’s Gerry Cavanaugh.”

“Gerry Cavanaugh. You’re certain?”

“Yes.”

I looked at the photo just to be sure I had the right one. “Tell me about him. Why Crazy Gerry?”

She took off her jacket, and growing more animated than I’d ever seen her, she said, “He’s a stalker! Why do you have his picture?”

“He was hanging around outside my apartment, then followed me to a client’s place. That was on the first day we met in Central Park. After that, he was on me like glue.”

“He followed you?”

“I think you should tell me all about this guy.”

“Emma met him through work.”

“At the college, you mean?”

“Yes. He was a friend of Professor Phelps, I think. She was introduced to him at a reception at the college. He kept asking her out. He finally wore her down and she agreed to go out with him.”

“How’d that go?”

“It was a nightmare. The guy was just creepy.

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