Suddenly, thetoe of my runner catches on a piece of raised sidewalk and Istumble, not enough to fall, but just enough that the strangercatches up. Without turning around, I quickly resume my pace. Closeenough to hear him breathe, I picture him grabbing me and draggingme in between one of the dark buildings. My breathing intensifiesand my hands are sweating. Up ahead is a small hotel. The entranceis right next to a restaurant. If I’m lucky, I’ll make it to thehotel safely then ask the concierge to call me a cab.
The faster Iwalk, the faster he walks. My heart is beating so fast, I can’tcatch my breath. I only have another minute before I reach thehotel. Please, let me make it. There’s a large gap between me andthe restaurant. This is his last chance to grab me. My stomachrises into my throat. Should I start running or would that onlyprompt him into action, like a lion chasing a deer? Trying to slowdown my spinning mind, I decide that when the stranger reaches forme, I’ll quickly jerk away and then book it for the first lit updoor I see. Then, like a gift from God, a man and a woman walk outof the restaurant and up the street towards us. For the first timein blocks, I take a deep breath.
Finally, Ireach the hotel. Just before I push the door open, I look beside meand see the creep entering the restaurant. Thank God. I’m safe. Ibend over and put my hands on my knees until my heart rate steadiesand my breathing returns to normal. A hotel employee walks up to meand asks if I’m ok?
“I am now,thanks,” I answer.
I ask to usethe complimentary phone and call Katie. She only lives a few blocksaway so it doesn’t take long before I see her car pull up. When Ileave the hotel and cross the sidewalk, I look both ways for thecreep. I can’t see him anywhere. Was he actually following me ordid he always have a destination in mind and I just blew the wholething out of proportion? If he was in fact following me, wouldn’the have passed in front of the lobby to see if I was still there?Maybe it was all in my head. I have been under a considerableamount of stress lately. Not to mention, I’ve been focusing a loton catching violent thugs lately.
* * *
I jump in thepassenger’s seat then lean over and give Katie a grateful peck onthe cheek.
“What’s thematter? You’re as white as a ghost,” she says.
“Oh nothing. Iguess I just got a bit cold.”
I’m not goingto divulge what I just went through. What’s the point? There’s nothug around for proof. If I told her, she might dismiss my concernsas paranoia.
“You are notgonna believe what happened just before I got off work at thestation,” she says, her eyes widening.
It couldn’thave been more heart-pounding than what I just went through.
“Whathappened?”
“Well, I waswrapping my work up on my computer and I had my head down. I heardthis guy’s voice hollering and screaming at the front counter. Forsome reason, his voice sounded familiar so I looked up and youwouldn’t believe who it was?”
“Who?”
“That Jim guyfrom the apartment building we went to. The guy that worked at thebottle depot with your dad.”
Seriously? Whatwas he saying?”
“He was yellingabout how he needed police protection because he is getting deaththreats and someone is trying to kill him.”
“That’s soweird. Did he say who he thought was after him?”
“Nope. He justkept saying that unless the cops protect him, he’s dead meat. Then,he staggered backwards and fell against the wall.”
“So, he waswacked out?”
“Yep, that’swhat the cop at the counter said. He made Jim wait while theybrought up his name. The cop told Jim that the information on thecomputer says that this isn’t the first time Jim has been in thecop station, claiming to have people after him.”
“Then whathappened?”
“The cop toldhim to lay off the crack and sober up. If when he’s sober, he stillfeels threatened to come back.”
“Wow. That’scrazy. Did he recognize you?”
“No, as soon asI saw who it was, I kept my head down in my cubicle.”
“Yeah, it’s aweird night for freaks being out, for sure.”
“Why do you saythat? Did something happen?”
“No. Nothing atall, I’ve just seen weirdos out and about today.”
* * *
We order apizza and curl up on the couch together. I tell her how my meetingwith Slinky went. She’s not as trusting about him as I am. She saysthat I should be careful how much I believe him until I get to knowhim better. I think the only reason she said that is because sheknows that Slinky is in to dope and other than overhearing peoplein the cop station, she hasn’t had a lot of experience dealing withdruggies. Most people who have never been exposed to the life Ihave been, think that all people on the street are untrustworthy.She’s not necessarily a judgmental person. I’ve found that mostpeople’s prejudice is born from fear.
When we go tobed, I can hardly wait for our clothes to come off so we can pressour bodies together and fall to sleep. If it wasn’t for myemotional rollercoaster of a day, I wouldn’t be so exhausted, and Iwould make love to her all night long. As it is, I can barely stayawake long enough to pull the blankets over us.
* * *
The annoyingbuzz of my phone wakes me. I fumble around on the floor for myjeans. Finally, I find them and reach into the pocket and get myphone. “Hello,” I say, trying to sound coherent.
“Are you stillin bed, sleepy head?” Katie says.
“Hey, where’dyou go?”
“I snuck outreally quietly this morning so I wouldn’t wake you. I figured youcould use the sleep.”
“That wassweet, although now, I can’t give you a good morning kiss.”
“I’ll take
