back.
CHAPTER 43
“Jacob, when you said you wanted to stay here-”
“You assumed I’d be wearing a shirt?”
“Yes.”
“You were wrong.”
He was standing in front of Gary Novak’s door, shirtless, with a wooden duck clutched to his chest. The scent of Febreeze and garlic wafted out the doorway and onto his body. He let it soak in. He was glad Sarasota was warm. It might have been the first time. He started to explain why he was shirtless, but Gary waved him off.
“Hurry-Meryl can’t find out that you’re here.”
“Why not?”
“I’ll get in trouble.”
“Did you tell her I was staying here?”
Gary shrugged and pointed his cane at the garage.
“I’m staying in your photo lab?”
“She never comes in there. I set up one of our nicest cots.”
He went into the garage and set the duck down on the floor. It would be good enough. He stared at the cameras hanging on the wall and all the brightly colored prints. At least he was safe. He explained to Gary what had happened-the man, the pursuit, how he had barely escaped capture. Gary shook his head.
“They didn’t realize you’d discovered about Charlotte’s murder?”
“No. Like an idiot, I tipped them off.”
“What do we do now?”
“We just try to get the story out as quickly as possible. Then something will change. After that, I’ll call the cops and we’ll be done.”
“You can work here as long as you want.”
He set up his laptop on a metal desk. Gary closed the door and Jake spread everything out. It was just like at home. Except for the disinfectant and development fluid.
He called Thompson. It was worth bothering him this time.
“Who is it?” Thompson growled. “I’m about to go have my steak.”
“It’s Jake.”
“Russo? Did you take my steak?”
A long laugh, as usual. Jake waited a few seconds.
“Listen. The story is bigger than I ever thought it would be.”
“She dyed her hair red?”
“What?”
“Melinda! Melinda Ginelli. Do you have a…a scoop for us?”
“I haven’t started your celebrity piece.”
“Russo! I need something soon.”
“I have something much bigger. Someone is out for my life, Thompson. I have the story on these environmentalists nailed down and ready to go. Tonight they tried to kill me, so I’m going to make sure they don’t get away with it. I’ll write it tonight. It’s huge news.”
“Russo, I want Melinda Ginelli.” He paused and laughed. “I want a story about her too!”
“I know, but this is more important.”
“No it’s not. Do you understand?”
“Thompson, listen. Will you do this?”
“You get me my story about Melinda Ginelli and I’ll be a happy man.”
“But will you print mine? About the group? The Saving Tomorrow Initiative?”
“We’ll talk about it when I see it.”
“Great.”
“And Russo, remember.”
“Remember what? To be careful? Make sure to document my sources?”
“Remember to…to ask Melinda about her favorite type of guy! You always forget the good stuff.”
“All right.”
It wasn’t perfect, but he had the go ahead. He opened his notebook and had started looking through his notes when Gary came in.
“Jacob, you can use this.”
He laid a shirt out on the desk. It was light blue and two sizes too small. Gary looked up and Jake held the shirt in front of him.
“Won’t this be a little…tight?”
“It won’t be tight. It’s fitted.”
“But you’re at least a foot shorter than I am.”
“I stoop. I have a cane.”
“Gary, come on.”
“Jacob, I’m surprised.”
“About what?”
“You have hair on your chest.”
“You didn’t think I’d have hair on my chest?”
“I don’t know, I just…”
“That’s enough. If this shirt rips, I’m not responsible.”
He grabbed the shirt and put it on. It wouldn’t rip in the back. But he had to leave the top two buttons undone. The collar flared out like he was going to a disco. If he’d worn his shirts like this before, Gary wouldn’t have been surprised that he had chest hair. Half his chest was still showing.
“Can I get you anything else?”
“Maybe tomorrow we could go back to my apartment. Would you mind coming with me? I’d just like to get some things.”
“Like what?”
“Clothes.”
“You can have as many as you want. I have many different styles.”
“Right.” The shirt sleeves pinched his arms. “Thank you.”
“Is there anything else?”
“No, I’m good. Thank you for taking me in. I know it seems sudden, but my rear view mirror was literally ripped off. I could have died.”
“Ah.” Gary sighed. “Street gangs.”
“No Gary, it wasn’t ‘street gangs.’ Remember, the Initiative chased me.”
“Oh, right.” He started to go walk the door then turned back to Jake. “I still don’t understand all of it.”
“He broke in to my place. And once they realized I’d figured out what happened to Charlotte, they wanted to kill me.”
“Right. But I don’t understand. Why didn’t they kill you before then?”
Jake laughed.
“Thanks.”
“But, Jacob, am I right in saying it does not make sense?”
“What doesn’t?”
“Why would they let you write a story that would ruin their group? A story that would ruin their reputation in the community?”
“I just think they are so delusional, they didn’t realize how bad they looked.”
