[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
from death, that was my redemption."
CHAPTER 25
I felt an incredible sense of sadness after I took Alex Madigen
back to Sinclair.
In less than a year, she'd gone from moving boxes into her condo
in Cherry Creek to staying in the intensive care unit of a hospital
in Cherry Creek to staying in the intensive care unit of a hospital
to living in a rehabilitation facility and now back to the condo to
try again for a healthier life.
My mood didn't shift until Fran Green got her hands on me back
at the office. As soon as I stepped through the door, she sprang
from behind her desk and suffocated me in a hug.
After releasing me, she stepped back, cocked her head and
looked at me playfully. "You're the shy one, ain t you?
"What's the context?" I said, wary.
"Listened to the tape you made of Linda Palizzi."
I began to sweat. "And?"
"Told you not to throw yourself at the target, but wasn't
expecting the teen virgin act."
"I did the best I could," I said defensively.
"Sure you did."
Fran dropped into her chair, and I followed suit in mine. "I hated
it. Could you tell that from the tape?"
"Put it this way," she said, sucking her teeth. "Hope our
independent contractors have a tad more flow. Reckon gals
either got it, or they don't."
"I don't. I tried to tell you that all along."
"Should have had you practice on men first. Not too late."
"Forget it!"
"You shed a tear when the target called you beautiful, didn't you?
I could feel myself blushing. "Was it that obvious?"
"Only to a pro like myself. Doubt the client caught on."
"I know the breakdown wasn't professional, but I couldn't
"I know the breakdown wasn't professional, but I couldn't
control it. She took me by surprise."
Fran rolled her chair next to mine and patted me on the knee.
"Go easy on yourself. First decoy case. Next time "
"Would you listen to me?" I cried, pushing her away. "That was
my first and last. No more!"
She shrugged indifferently. "Why didn't you say so? Not
everyone's cut out for the domestics. Half the investigators I
know won't touch 'em."
"Now you tell me."
"Best you save your emotional energy for a real relationship.
Speaking of, what time you picking up Destiny?"
"Four o'clock."
"What you got planned for tonight?"
"Twelve hours of sex," I said facetiously.
"Sounds good." Fran grinned. "What time you want me there?"
I couldn't conceal a smile. "Very funny."
Destiny and I didn't last twelve hours, but we did post a
respectable showing.
I stretched muscles I never knew I had and could barely make it
out of bed the next morning, but after a long, hot shower and
lingering goodbye, I smiled all the way to Sinclair.
Pulling up to the rehabilitation center, I saw a van idling in front
of the entrance, with Alex Madigen standing behind it,
surrounded by staff members. She looked radiant, in a silk-wrap
dress and jade drop earrings, and in the middle of hugging the
dietician, she spotted me and lit up. "I was afraid you weren't
coming," she said, motioning for me to approach.
coming," she said, motioning for me to approach.
"I wouldn't have missed your big moment."
"My big moment." She laughed, an enchanting sound. "I'm
coming back this afternoon for outpatient therapy."
"Still, it's a huge accomplishment."
She embraced me. "I couldn't have done it without you."
"You did all the hard work."
"But you were by my side." Alex took my hands and held them
tightly. "I needed that, not to be alone anymore."
I inclined my head toward the nurses and therapists who mingled
around us. "I don't think you'll ever be completely alone."
"I hope not. I'm looking forward to the days ahead. I'm not
certain what to include in them, but I know what to exclude. No
more strained partnership with Stacey. No more regrets about
abandoning music. No more jingle writing. No more living in the
past at the expense of the present. Most importantly, no more
Clarissa Peters."
"Good!" I let go of her grip and backed up a step. "I'm proud of
you.
"I'm proud of myself."
"You didn't really need my help remembering, did you?"
"I did," she protested, her eyes clear and sparkling. "Thanks to
you, I was able to put the memories in order and fill in the
blanks. You helped me reach acceptance and release."
"You deserve happiness," I said with deep feeling.
She smiled faintly. "I understand that now."
We chatted for a few more minutes until it was time for her to
leave. She climbed into the van and settled in the middle row of
leave. She climbed into the van and settled in the middle row of
seats, and as the driver disengaged the steps and slid the door
shut, she began to cry. The van pulled away, and I waved at her
crazily, her last words echoing in my mind.
I'm ready to get back to the person I am.
Case closed, I thought, a self-satisfied sigh escaping.
Time to celebrate with a trip to See's. I'd pick up a bag of
chocolate-covered raisins for me, a box of peanut brittle for
Fran, maybe a handful of caramels to share . . . the possibilities
were endless.
EPILOGUE
A month later, on a rainy July afternoon, I came into the office to
find Fran Green hovering over my desk.
"Package came for you," she said, eyeing the parcel as if it were
a bomb.
I took off my Windbreaker and hung it on the coat rack. "What
is it?"
"No clue. Didn't want to pry."
"Since when?"
Fran smiled. "Didn't have time. You just missed the courier.
Return address Alexandra Madigen. Far as I got."
"Hmm," I said, turning over the large envelope in my hands. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl chiara76.opx.pl
from death, that was my redemption."
CHAPTER 25
I felt an incredible sense of sadness after I took Alex Madigen
back to Sinclair.
In less than a year, she'd gone from moving boxes into her condo
in Cherry Creek to staying in the intensive care unit of a hospital
in Cherry Creek to staying in the intensive care unit of a hospital
to living in a rehabilitation facility and now back to the condo to
try again for a healthier life.
My mood didn't shift until Fran Green got her hands on me back
at the office. As soon as I stepped through the door, she sprang
from behind her desk and suffocated me in a hug.
After releasing me, she stepped back, cocked her head and
looked at me playfully. "You're the shy one, ain t you?
"What's the context?" I said, wary.
"Listened to the tape you made of Linda Palizzi."
I began to sweat. "And?"
"Told you not to throw yourself at the target, but wasn't
expecting the teen virgin act."
"I did the best I could," I said defensively.
"Sure you did."
Fran dropped into her chair, and I followed suit in mine. "I hated
it. Could you tell that from the tape?"
"Put it this way," she said, sucking her teeth. "Hope our
independent contractors have a tad more flow. Reckon gals
either got it, or they don't."
"I don't. I tried to tell you that all along."
"Should have had you practice on men first. Not too late."
"Forget it!"
"You shed a tear when the target called you beautiful, didn't you?
I could feel myself blushing. "Was it that obvious?"
"Only to a pro like myself. Doubt the client caught on."
"I know the breakdown wasn't professional, but I couldn't
"I know the breakdown wasn't professional, but I couldn't
control it. She took me by surprise."
Fran rolled her chair next to mine and patted me on the knee.
"Go easy on yourself. First decoy case. Next time "
"Would you listen to me?" I cried, pushing her away. "That was
my first and last. No more!"
She shrugged indifferently. "Why didn't you say so? Not
everyone's cut out for the domestics. Half the investigators I
know won't touch 'em."
"Now you tell me."
"Best you save your emotional energy for a real relationship.
Speaking of, what time you picking up Destiny?"
"Four o'clock."
"What you got planned for tonight?"
"Twelve hours of sex," I said facetiously.
"Sounds good." Fran grinned. "What time you want me there?"
I couldn't conceal a smile. "Very funny."
Destiny and I didn't last twelve hours, but we did post a
respectable showing.
I stretched muscles I never knew I had and could barely make it
out of bed the next morning, but after a long, hot shower and
lingering goodbye, I smiled all the way to Sinclair.
Pulling up to the rehabilitation center, I saw a van idling in front
of the entrance, with Alex Madigen standing behind it,
surrounded by staff members. She looked radiant, in a silk-wrap
dress and jade drop earrings, and in the middle of hugging the
dietician, she spotted me and lit up. "I was afraid you weren't
coming," she said, motioning for me to approach.
coming," she said, motioning for me to approach.
"I wouldn't have missed your big moment."
"My big moment." She laughed, an enchanting sound. "I'm
coming back this afternoon for outpatient therapy."
"Still, it's a huge accomplishment."
She embraced me. "I couldn't have done it without you."
"You did all the hard work."
"But you were by my side." Alex took my hands and held them
tightly. "I needed that, not to be alone anymore."
I inclined my head toward the nurses and therapists who mingled
around us. "I don't think you'll ever be completely alone."
"I hope not. I'm looking forward to the days ahead. I'm not
certain what to include in them, but I know what to exclude. No
more strained partnership with Stacey. No more regrets about
abandoning music. No more jingle writing. No more living in the
past at the expense of the present. Most importantly, no more
Clarissa Peters."
"Good!" I let go of her grip and backed up a step. "I'm proud of
you.
"I'm proud of myself."
"You didn't really need my help remembering, did you?"
"I did," she protested, her eyes clear and sparkling. "Thanks to
you, I was able to put the memories in order and fill in the
blanks. You helped me reach acceptance and release."
"You deserve happiness," I said with deep feeling.
She smiled faintly. "I understand that now."
We chatted for a few more minutes until it was time for her to
leave. She climbed into the van and settled in the middle row of
leave. She climbed into the van and settled in the middle row of
seats, and as the driver disengaged the steps and slid the door
shut, she began to cry. The van pulled away, and I waved at her
crazily, her last words echoing in my mind.
I'm ready to get back to the person I am.
Case closed, I thought, a self-satisfied sigh escaping.
Time to celebrate with a trip to See's. I'd pick up a bag of
chocolate-covered raisins for me, a box of peanut brittle for
Fran, maybe a handful of caramels to share . . . the possibilities
were endless.
EPILOGUE
A month later, on a rainy July afternoon, I came into the office to
find Fran Green hovering over my desk.
"Package came for you," she said, eyeing the parcel as if it were
a bomb.
I took off my Windbreaker and hung it on the coat rack. "What
is it?"
"No clue. Didn't want to pry."
"Since when?"
Fran smiled. "Didn't have time. You just missed the courier.
Return address Alexandra Madigen. Far as I got."
"Hmm," I said, turning over the large envelope in my hands. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]