Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Natalia
Manhattan
We take the Pedicab and arrive at the ferry that takes us from Fire Island to the mainland.
Part of me is sad that we’re leaving, but another part of me is happy that we can finally get this business over with.
I’m sick of playing a part instead of living a real life.
I’m sick of pretending to be someone I’m not.
But until we satisfy Reynolds and the FBI, we’ll be in their service and in their grip.
After we board the ferry, we stand at the bow to watch the water. We both enjoy the ferry ride. I can’t wait to come back someday soon.
While we are standing there admiring the ocean, Harrison’s cell phone chimes. He removes his phone from his pocket and checks out the message. I glance over and see that it’s from someone named Fogerty.
“I have to take this,” Harrison says. He holds up his finger and puts the cell to his ear.
“Harrison speaking,” he says, his voice sounding tired.
He listens for a while and then clears his throat. “Of course, I understand,” he says. “As soon as I get into town, I’ll come and see you. What happened to Reynolds?”
After a moment, he nods. “I understand. Yes, of course, I’ll tell her. Thanks.” He ends the call and then turns to look at me, shaking his head slowly.
“That’s Special Agent Fogerty,” he says, his voice low. “Our new handler. “
“What happened to Reynolds?”
“I have no idea,” Harrison replies. “Whatever the case, Fogerty is our new handler, and we both have to meet with him as soon as possible.”
Harrison frowns and says nothing for a moment. He seems concerned.
“Reynolds must have done something to piss them off, the powers that be, so to speak.”
I shake my head. “I would think they’d be happy with him, considering what he achieved. He got the children of two mafia bosses under his thumb, doing his bidding. That should make them happy. It should earn him a promotion.”
“You might think so,” Harrison says. “But I guess not. I can’t see him asking to take himself off our case. As I said, he must’ve done something wrong or pissed someone off.”
I sigh heavily. “I’m so sick of all this,” I say, and I truly feel regret.
If I had done nothing instead of trying to mix myself up in Harrison’s life, I would still be doing my forensic psych rotation, unaware of everything.
I’d be going out with my friends for drinks and with Michelle for Bennies on Sundays.
Of course, I wouldn’t have met Harrison in person.
He would’ve been a distant figure. But would I have been happier?
Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
Harrison takes my hand and holds it on the railing in front of us. “What do you really want, Natalia?”
I take in a deep breath and consider my answer. I want Harrison -- that’s certain. I want all of this to end and for us to be together.
“I want this,” I say and squeeze his hand. “This makes me happy. I used to think revenge would make me happy, but seeking revenge has only made things worse. For both of us.”
Harrison squeezes my hand back. “You’re right,” he says. “I want a life for us together if you want it, too.”
“I do.”
He smiles softly, and his blue eyes fill with emotion.
The shore approaches, and we go to the gate where our luggage is waiting. Our trip to the island is over, and our brief respite from real life has ended. We gather our luggage and exit the ferry, then call an Uber that will take us into Manhattan.
We are both lost in our own thoughts on the trip back to the city, but we hold hands the entire way. When we finally arrive at the building where our apartment is located, I feel the weight of reality on my shoulders for the first time. On the street in front of the building sits a black sedan.
Harrison sighs heavily. “That looks suspiciously like an FBI vehicle.”
Before I can speak, a man gets out of the driver’s side and waves at us. Harrison turns to me and shakes his head. “You stay here,” he says. “I’ll see what he wants. This must be Fogerty. He could’ve waited until we got settled in, so whatever he wants must be important.”
He gives me a quick kiss and then walks over to the man.
I stay where I’m standing, waiting for Harrison to come back. Harrison and the man speak quietly, and the man gestures to me and then points to the car. Harrison looks upset, like he doesn’t want or didn’t agree with what the man said.
Harrison comes back to me and grabs the luggage.
“That’s Fogerty, and he wants me down at the station,” he says and hauls the luggage up the front stairs to the door. “We’ll get these put away, and then I’ll go with him. I have no choice.”
“I hate this,” I say and pull him closer, my arms around his neck. “When will it ever end? Are we just going to be in there at their command forever?”
He shakes his head. “I won’t let that happen,” he says, his voice serious. “As soon as we’re done and this operation is finished, we’re out. I’m taking O’Connor Enterprises legit. And you will finish your residency. Trust me.”
I sigh and look at Fogerty, who is standing by the car. “I hope you’re right. But look what happened to my parents.”
“I won’t let that happen.”
With that, he turns and goes down the stairs to where Fogerty is waiting. He gets in the passenger side, and that car drives off down the street.
On my part, I go into the building and take the elevator to the top floor.
I’ll unpack our bags, go to the store and get some groceries.
Then, I’ll come back and wait for Harrison to return.
Hopefully, he won’t be too long. I want to spend the rest of the day with him before restarting work the next day.
Before I can finish unpacking, my cell rings, and I check the caller ID. It’s Michelle.
“Hey there, sweets,” she says, her voice sounding happy. “Are you back? You said you’d be back by noon.”
“I’m back,” I say, sighing.
“What’s the sigh for? Not ready yet for reality?”
“Nope.”
“What are your plans? You feel like getting some lunch, or is Harrison with you?”
“No, I’m alone,” I say, putting away some things in the bathroom cabinet. “I don’t know when Harrison is coming back. He had some business to take care of downtown. I suppose I could meet you for a quick lunch.”
“You suppose you could meet me for a quick lunch?” She laughs. “You don’t sound very enthusiastic…”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. You know I always love having lunch with you. And considering everything that happened, I owe you. Where do you want to go?” I smile. “As if I didn’t know.”
“You do owe me,” she says, her voice mock-serious. Then, she laughs, as if what happened to her because of me was nothing. Just a bump in the road. “I thought we could go to the new place near Central Park, since you’re already there. They have great corn dogs. The best.”
“Corn dogs?” I laugh out loud. “Michelle, the health nut. Sure, that sounds great. I haven’t had a corn dog with you since I don’t know when.”
“Do you wanna meet me there or should I come pick you up in an Uber?”
“What?” I shake my head and put my things away in the bathroom drawer. “Did you come into some money or something?”
She laughs. “You’re the one with the money, or at least the one with the man with the money. No, I have been given an order to be careful when I’m alone, until things quiet down with you guys. So, I don’t take any shortcuts, and I no longer go anywhere by myself.”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, and my gut feels heavy at the knowledge that I changed her life. Our friendship changed her life, and not for the better. “Let’s meet there,” I say. “Give me thirty, and I’ll see you at the hot dog stand.”
“Sounds good. See you then.”
I end the call and exhale, thinking about what Harrison is doing and whether he wants to have lunch with me. But Michelle asked first, and I owe her because she’s such a good friend.
I spend the next few minutes getting ready, and then I leave the apartment.
I walk to our favourite hotdog cart, sit on the bench across from it, and look at my phone, checking out the photos I’d taken of our time at Fire Island.
It’s such a beautiful location, so far from everything and peaceful.
I can’t wait to go back. Hopefully, when everything’s done with the FBI, Harrison and I can return and do what he wants. Just live life together.
Someone yells out, and I glance up absently. I notice a man sitting across from me on the other side of the pathway, reading his cell. There’s a red pin on his lapel.
What the hell.
Is someone trailing me? Is an FBI special agent assigned to watch me? Maybe for my own protection?
I want to go over and ask him, but of course, I don’t want to blow his cover just in case. I guess the FBI must think I’m in danger, or they don’t trust me and want to watch my every move.
That doesn’t make me feel very good.
I stand up and go to a different bench closer to the hot dog stand, waiting for Michelle to arrive. I notice that the man with the red pin on his lapel stands up behind me. I sigh heavily, hoping he hears the annoyance in my voice.
Apparently, this is going to be my life for the near term.
I walk down the street closer to the bridge, where our favourite hot dog vendor is located. They have the best corn dogs. Freshly made on site, while you wait, they’re delicious. I hope it will distract me from my current reality of being tailed by an FBI special agent.
I see Michelle walking down the street towards me and smile. She sees me and comes over right away, putting her arms around me for a quick hug.
“There you are, sweets,” she says. “Let’s eat. I’m starved. I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast. If you can believe it.”
I glance at her bag and see a can of pepper spray hanging off the strap.
“You carry pepper spray now?”
“I sure as hell do. You should, too.”
“That doesn’t sound like you. You always said New York was one of the safest places in America.”
“It is, unless you have friends in the mafia,” she replies, wagging her eyebrows.
I shake my head once more. “I’m so sorry…”
“Forget it. Let’s order. I’m starved.”
We put in our order, and then when our corn dogs are ready, after applying liberal amounts of mustard, we go to a bench that overlooks the park and dig in. The corndogs taste so good that for a moment, I forget the reality that I currently live in.
I’m lucky to have Michelle, and I hope she will stay loyal to me during the next few months.
I’ll need her…