Loree Lough - The Man She Knew

“What materials did you use?”

“Burnt match heads, crushed and mixed with ink from a broken Sharpie, and the innards of a blue ballpoint pen, mixed up in a toothpaste cap...rubbed into scratches.”

“Open cuts?”

“You, better than just about anyone, know I never was the sharpest tack in the box.”

“But...did they get infected?”

They had. To the point of getting him out of laundry duty for two solid weeks.

“Nah, not really.”

“Were things really so bad that you felt it necessary to resort to...to self-mutilation?”

He forced a laugh. “Didn’t do it because conditions were bad.”

“Then why, Ian?”

If a couple of innocuous inscriptions could inspire a frown like that, how would she react to the garish markings fellow inmates inflicted during his first weeks at Lincoln? Lucky for him, she’d never see those.

“Maybe we should get to work. I’m guessing Stan will expect a report first thing in the morning.”

* * *

“YOU’RE RIGHT.” MALEAH SHOVED the half-eaten cheesecake aside and, picking up her gigantic purse, withdrew a small laptop. “I think we should start by designing a flyer,” she began, firing it up. “Something that, if we don’t go overboard with phrasing, can double as a press release or a mailer.”

“Good idea.”

She felt bad, asking about his days in the penitentiary. Prison movies and the stories her grandfather, dad and brothers told about how miserable life in prison was had almost inspired sympathy toward Ian.

Almost.

Maleah carried the laptop to his side of the counter, and as her fingers flew over the keyboard, she began a flurry of rapid-fire talking. Better to have him think she was the same silly chatterbox she’d been at eighteen than risk Ian finding out that despite it all, she wanted what was best for him. And unless she’d misread his penetrating eye contact, raspy-soft voice, and sad smile, he felt the same way,

Ian made a few suggestions about placement of the Washburne logo, highlighting the names of the stars who’d be present at the gala, and adding a color photos of the headliners. One by one, Maleah incorporated them all.

“It’s a great start,” she said, saving the file.

“And to think it only took us half an hour.”

Maleah closed the laptop. “Well, it isn’t like I haven’t done this before.”

“Couple dozen times, according to Stan.”

She returned the computer to its slot in her bag as he added, “I have a few friends in the media who can help publicize the event. I can make some calls, if you like.”

“Friends, as in TV and newspaper reporters?”

“Yeah.”

He rattled off a few names, and Maleah recognized each. In the past, all but one had ignored her voice mail and email messages.

“That’ll be a big help,” she admitted. “How do you know those people, if you don’t mind my asking.”

He gave a nonchalant shrug. “Helped Tom Scottson with a documentary about kids in prison he did a few years back. One thing led to another. Before I knew it, I was the go-to guy for a couple of similar TV series he filmed here in Baltimore.” He shrugged again. “The directors and a couple of the producers still call every now and then.”

So, Maleah thought, he’d committed a felony and served time for it, and instead of being shunned, the media had turned him into a silent hero of sorts? She didn’t know how to feel about that.

“Guess I’d better go,” she said, zipping up the big bag.

“Right. Four o’clock always comes earlier than I think it will when I set the alarm.”

“That’s early.”

“Earlier I get to the farmer’s market, less likely things will be picked over.”

“You do that yourself? I thought that was the chef’s job.”

“Sometimes. But Dan’s wife just had a baby—what a set of lungs that kid has—so Lee and the rest of us are picking up the slack for a few weeks.” Ian grinned. “Just until he adjusts to his new no-sleep schedule.”

Had his association with TV types taught him when and how to polish up his I’m a changed man veneer? Or was this the new Ian?

“Very nice.”

“Dan’s good people. We’re happy to do it.”

Maleah reached for her jacket, but Ian beat her to it.

“Where’d you park?” he asked, helping her into it.

“In the lot across the street.”

As he led the way to the side door, Ian said, “You want to call Stan in the morning, or should I?”

“If it’s up to me, I say we let him call us. I don’t appreciate being pushed around like that.”

He smiled. “You’ll let me know what he says?”

“What makes you think he’ll call me? My dad and Stan aren’t best friends.”

Unlocking the door from the inside, he stepped onto the sea-blue porch. “Okay, if I hear from him, I’ll let you know.” He pointed to the narrow lot on the other side of Thames Street.

“Which is yours?”

“The silver SUV, right next to that gigantic motorcycle.”

“That’s Harriet the Harley. Bought her years ago, when she was hardly more than a bucket of rusty bolts.”

“How many trips does it take to get produce here on that thing?”

Laughing, Ian took her elbow and escorted her across the street. “I use the black pickup beside Harriet for that.”

She unlocked her car and eased the briefcase onto the passenger seat, and as she slid in behind the wheel, he leaned on the driver’s door.

“Sorry if my Lincoln stories upset you.”

“Upset me? Why would they upset me? You’re the one who served time, not me.”

Had he stepped back because of her curt tone, or the smug expression that no doubt accompanied it? You’ve become a cold, heartless woman.

“You never were one to beat around the bush, were you?”

“It’s a confusing waste of time, and unnecessarily hard on the shrubbery.”

One side of his mouth lifted in a wry smile. “It’s been good, seeing you. Even better knowing you don’t hate my guts.”

She’d tried hating him, but the good times they’d shared made it impossible. “Harboring ill feelings...another waste of time.”

Oh, aren’t you the philosopher tonight!

“Uh-huh,” he said. And after a moment, “So...once we get Stan’s approval, we’ll have those flyers printed up?”

“We’re not waiting for his approval. He insisted that we meet and make some plans, and we did far more than that. I’ll print the flyer and email you a copy. Once you’ve made contact with your reporter pals, let me know, so we can work out a good time for interviews and whatnot.”

He leaned a forearm on the car’s roof. “I’ll have them get in touch with you.”

“With me? But you’re their go-to guy...”

“Why would they want to feature this ugly ol’ mug when they could film your pretty face?”

Grateful for the darkness that hid her blush, Maleah buckled her seat belt.

“Good work tonight,” she said, reaching for the door handle.

He took the hint and stood back. “How long will it take you to get home from here?”

“Now? Half an hour.”

Ian nodded as she shut the door.

“Good. Drive safely now, hear?”

Maleah aimed the SUV toward South Caroline. With any luck, the traffic lights would be on her side and she really would be home in thirty minutes.

If it took longer, she wouldn’t complain. She’d always done her best thinking behind the wheel, and the meeting with Ian had given her a lot to think about. How to explain to her family that she’d work with “that bum Ian Sylvestry” until the night of the gala, for starters. And how he’d parlayed life as an ex-con into respectable relationships with the media...something she’d hadn’t accomplished in her years with Washburne. At least, not to the degree Ian had.