It was my intention to resume my daily writing routine first thing in the morning. So when we got home from the Oyster Bar I turned out the lights, brushed my teeth, refused to floss, stripped down to my boxers and climbed into bed with Mrs Parker, listening to the comforting sounds of Central Park West sixteen floors below. Lulu’s tail thumped as she lay sprawled out next to me on the huge bed. She was happy to be home, especially with an oyster pan roast in her tummy.
When the phone rang I lunged for it, hoping it was Merilee.
It was Colin Fielding. ‘Sorry I wasn’t able to touch base with you in Lyme earlier today,’ he said in that slightly nasal voice of his. ‘Just wanted to say thank you on the governor’s behalf for the low-key way you handled everything.’
‘I wish I could say it was my pleasure, but I’m afraid I can’t.’
‘I know you can’t. This has been quite an ordeal for you. If I can ever lend a hand, don’t hesitate to call, OK? Things happen. Unexpected things. I can be a valuable person to know.’
‘I don’t doubt that for one second.’
‘I like the way you operate. If you’re ever in the market for some freelance political consulting work …’
‘I won’t be.’
‘Still, I’m going to keep your contact information in my Rolodex.’
‘You do that,’ I said before I hung up.
It rang again immediately. I was expecting it to be Colin Fielding pressing his case harder.
It wasn’t. It was Merilee. ‘Hoagy? My agent just called me with the news.’ There was static on the line but the connection was strong. ‘Annabeth killed Austin and Michael? I can’t believe it!’
‘Believe it. And she would have killed me, too, if it hadn’t been for your brave little girl.’
‘I hope you let her know how grateful you are.’
‘You bet. I just took her to the Oyster Bar for a pan roast.’
Merilee fell silent for a second. ‘I don’t even want to think that you almost …’
‘That I almost what?’
‘I’d just hate to lose you now that I’ve found you again.’
‘That makes two of us. Or I should say three,’ I said after a low moan from Lulu.
‘Darling, why did I have to hear about it from my agent? Why didn’t you call me?’
‘Because I didn’t want to distract you. Besides, I figured you’d hear about it soon enough.’
‘It’s just all so … so hard to imagine. Annabeth seemed like such a decent person.’
‘She may have been a decent person once, but she wasn’t one anymore. She was warped, twisted and incredibly dangerous. But enough about her. How’s the film coming?’
‘Well, I spoke to my director. Bluntly, just like Kate told me to.’
‘And …?
‘And he was thoroughly intimidated. He’s terrified I’ll bail if I don’t get my way and that the picture will lose its financing. From now on I’m playing Brett the way I see her. So she feels real to me.’
‘Good for you, Merilee. I’m proud of you.’
‘I couldn’t have done it without you, darling.’
‘I think Kate had a little something to do with it.’
‘Ix-nay on the Ate-kay.’
‘Ah, your Hungarian sounds as if it’s improving by leaps and bounds.’
‘It was you, darling. You inspire me. I want you to be proud of me. Don’t you know how much you mean to me? Oh, God, listen to me. It’s the middle of the night and I’m babbling.’
‘I love it when you babble.’
‘I’m just so happy that you’re safe. And you must be thrilled to be back in the city. You’ll start working again?’
‘First thing tomorrow morning. I’ve gone over those notes that I made on Dr Eng’s prescription pad when I was still semi out of it and they’re the real deal.’
‘This would be your so-called Third Level?’
‘I actually mentioned it out loud?’
‘You did. I thought you were delirious.’
‘I wasn’t. It was a major breakthrough. So major, in fact, that I think from now on I should plan on getting a major whack on the back of my skull every ten years.’
‘How about if we discuss that in ten years?’ She yawned hugely. ‘I have a six a.m. make-up call. Hanging up now. Love you.’
‘Love you, Merilee.’
The line went dead. I lay there in total contentment for a moment. Thought about reading Mrs Parker, then decided to just say goodnight to Lulu, turn out the light, close my eyes and go to sleep.
I lasted there that way for all of thirty seconds.
Got up and went into the kitchen to put the espresso on. Rummaged around in the bedroom for an old T-shirt, torn jeans, my flight jacket and Chippewas. Returned to the kitchen and poured myself a steaming mug of espresso before I headed down the hall to my office. I cranked up my original vinyl Rockaway Beach by the Ramones on my stereo – not too loud so as not to annoy the upstairs neighbors. Sat down at my desk and sipped my espresso, gazing out the windows at the city that never sleeps. As I rolled a fresh piece of paper into my Olympia, Lulu wandered in and curled up in her Morris chair under that incredible Hopper painting of the craggy Maine coastline.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, pausing to savor this moment. And then, with a great big smile on my face, I went back to work.
I was me again.
