Rick Mofina - Into the Dark

“I’ve been lucky.”

“No, it’s karma,” Julie said. “The wheel is turning. It’s been a long, rocky road from Minnesota to where you are now.”

“When you put it that way, I can’t argue.”

“No, you can’t.” Julie patted Claire’s hand. “It’s so good to see you. What’s new?”

Right off, Claire told her about having to save a patient from her estranged husband who’d assaulted her in the parking lot.

“I want you for my bodyguard.” Julie grinned.

Over menus, drinks and lunch, the two friends caught up.

They’d been college roommates at the University of Minnesota. Back then, Julie was studying law and after graduating, she’d moved to California, continued her studies and passed the state bar exam. She’d taken junior positions at several law firms before she’d landed a job with the California Attorney General’s Office investigating fraud, which bored her.

Three years ago, after beating breast cancer, Julie realized life was too short to not do what you want to do. She loved investigative work. So, she left the AG’s office, got her private investigator’s license and found a job with a big private detective agency.

She moved into a bungalow in Woodland Hills with her life partner, Phillipa, a set designer. They had no kids but wanted one, a subject that always came up whenever Julie and Claire got together.

“Phil wants to adopt a baby from China.”

“And what do you want?”

“I want to adopt, too.”

“I thought you were looking into surrogacy or a donor for Phil?”

“Yes, we did, but I think we’re ready to take the China option.”

“Sounds like you’re playing chess.”

“I know that didn’t come out right. But just think, Claire, if it all worked out at the same time for us, we’d have birthday parties to schlep our brats to.” Julie laughed. “I’d love that.”

After they finished their salads they took their time with a dessert menu before giving in and deciding to share the apple tarte Tatin with ice cream.

“Okay, so you start treatment in a few weeks,” Julie said. “The doc promises you’ll be pregnant in no time. Have you and Robert got a lot of romantic dinners planned?”

Claire gave her a smile that faded a little too soon.

“Seriously,” Julie said. “How’s Robert with all of this? He must be ecstatic.”

Claire hesitated long enough to change the mood.

“He’s excited.”

Julie’s eyes narrowed as she stared at her friend.

“What is it, Claire?”

Claire searched the downtown skyline for an answer.

In the quiet of their table, the surrounding chink of cutlery, the restaurant’s din became overwhelming. As Claire contended with her unease, she tried to wave it off.

“It’s stupid.”

Julie leaned forward and lowered her voice.

“Tell me, what’s wrong?”

A nervous laugh escaped Claire. Here she was, the professional, licensed to help people with their problems, yet helpless in the face of her own. “I don’t know. I’m a little troubled about Robert these days.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s been withdrawn, pensive.”

“Because of the baby news? Maybe he’s nervous. You know, it is a milestone kind of thing.”

“No. It started weeks ago. It’s like he’s keeping something from me.”

“Like what? What do you mean?”

Claire shook her head.

“What?” Julie asked.

“It’s silly.”

“Try telling me what you’re thinking.”

“The other day at home I overheard him when he was in his office on the phone. I think he was talking to Cynthia, his ex-wife.”

“So?”

“He never ever talks about her or his life with her. That little incident concerns me. I know he was up very early that morning-he could’ve been up all night talking to her.”

“What were they talking about?”

“I don’t know.”

“You said you ‘think’ he was talking to his ex-wife. Do you know for sure he was talking to her?”

“No. That’s just it. It happened right after the crash and when I asked him about it he said he was talking to a reporter who’d emailed him about the crash and asked him to call.”

“Okay, so, then it was a reporter. He was the big hero, so that makes sense, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, but not long after that I found a photograph on the floor of his office. It was like it had been dropped or fell out of something. It was a picture of Robert with his arm around Cynthia, with ‘happier times’ written on the back.”

“Did you raise the photo with him?”

“No, I left it exactly where I’d found it. I have old photos of Cliff somewhere. But I don’t know about this. It’s making me a little anxious.”

“So what are you saying? He still has feelings for her? He’s having phone sex or an affair? He’s lying to you? What?”

“Maybe. Yes. No. I’m not sure. I don’t know.”

“Don’t you keep in touch with Cliff?”

“No. Not at all. I just hear things through the old school grapevine that he remarried, has two kids. That’s it.”

Julie bit her bottom lip as she thought for several moments.

“Want me to do some digging for you?”

“On Cliff?”

“Robert.”

“Gosh, no. Spy on him? No.”

“No, I’m not talking about surveillance.”

“What are we talking about?”

“A few things, I could start small.”

“I don’t know, Julie.”

“Look, you want to know if he was talking to Cynthia, right?”

“No. I should just ask him what’s going on.”

“You did and he told you, didn’t he?”

“Yes and I asked him about his pensiveness the other night at dinner.”

“And?”

“He said he was a little shaken by the crash, going through a little post-traumatic stress. And he said he was preoccupied with rumors that his company might be making cuts.”

“And does it end there? Are you satisfied he’s told you the truth?”

“That’s just it. I don’t know.”

“Look, you’re about to have a baby with this man. You owe it to yourself, and to your future, to deal with this nagging suspicion.”

“Hypothetically, what would you do?”

“I could find out who he called, or who called him. Give me all of his numbers, your numbers, the dates and times you think he was talking to Cynthia and I’ll look into it for you.”

“I don’t know about this. I don’t want him to think I don’t trust him- I’m just not…”

“Claire, it’s what I do. He’ll never know.”

Greater Los Angeles, California

The freeway rushed under Robert Bowen’s SUV as he headed east on the 210 toward the mountains.

Before leaving L.A., he’d taken care of a few matters. It was now late afternoon but traffic was still good. The Los Angeles Times article was folded in his bag.

He needed to think.

Problems were rising around him. Everything was at stake. The police were hunting for him. Claire was determined to bring a baby into their lives; and the darkness within him-the force he thought he’d conquered-was back full bore and fighting him for control.

As his wheels ate up the highway, his mind swirled with a million concerns. He loved Claire. He’d worked hard to build what he had with her. He could not lose it. He wanted to be a father-wanted a normal life.

But the monster inside him was relentless. For as long as he could remember he’d struggled against it. At times he was convinced he’d put it to rest. Then he would see a woman, the right type of woman, one that would give him a metaphysical vibration. He’d become enthralled by her smile, her look, her everything.

It would arouse him and the monster would take control.