ANONYMOUS

(Direct continuation of The Cockle War)

By Atonia Walpole

(Picture creation also by Atonia)

Part 1

It sounded like a good idea when he came into the pub. In fact, it sounded good to him ever since he left Max’s flat. Maybe it was just too early in the day to be picking a girl up. He checked his watch. it was after seven now and he’d been there since four.  He finished his pint, set the glass down and walked to the door. Second thought, he’d better visit the loo before he set off home.

He was going to leave. If she didn’t make a move now she needn’t bother. She finished her gin and tonic and slid off the stool. He’d looked her way a couple of times and she thought he might come down and talk to her. She’d smiled at him. She was so nervous her mouth went dry when he stepped from the men’s room and made for the door.

Terry leaned outside the building for a moment, blinking. He’d had too much to drink. He took in deep breaths of air trying to clear his head.

She came out of the door and looked down the street, then jumped when she saw him on the other side. “Hi.”

Terry looked up. It was the blonde from the end of the bar. He kept thinking he would go and talk to her but for some reason he hadn’t. Strange, because that was why he went in there to start with. He was looking for female company. “Hiya.”

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, probably not,” he grinned.

“Do you need some help? I mean I can get you a cab or…?”

“I need a lot of help.”

She moved closer to him. Gosh, he was so good looking! “I offered. What do you need?”

“What have you got?”

“Time, time for you."

He leaned his head back on the wall. “You don’t, uh, do this professionally, do you?  Pick blokes up?”

She felt her face go hot and all thoughts of spending time with him went down the gutter. She turned and started to walk away.

“Hey, don’t leave me like this! I didn’t mean to insult you but you never know who people are, ya know?”

“I’m just a woman. I don’t make a living out of being one.” She almost giggled. If something didn’t come along soon she may have to.

“I had a car somewhere.”

“You can’t drive.”

“I shouldn’t drive. Doesn’t mean I can’t drive.” He waved a finger.

“You do need help,” she relented.

“Where are you going?” he asked her.

“Home, I guess.”

“You don’t know for sure?”

“I don’t know anything.”

“Neither do I. I don’t want to know anything.”

“Do you live around here? Maybe I can help you get home.”

“I used to a long time ago in another life.” Terry had gone to his old neighborhood.

He sounded sad. She figured he was probably divorced. Something about him gave off that had- it- and- lost- it aura.

“Yeah, I guess we’ve all had other lives. I was employed in my other life. I got made redundant today so I was having a few drinks to celebrate but my mates all left.  They have other lives, too.”

“I know what you mean. In the end they all pair off and there you are…half of a whole.”

“You want to walk or catch a bus or..?” She shook her head slightly.

“Where do you live?”

“Two blocks that way.”

“Yeah…I used to live two blocks the other way.”

“You lived on the river. Too pricey for me. Come on, walk with me.” She decided somebody had to make the first step.

Terry staggered a little and settled his arm around her shoulders. Hers went around his waist. They walked along for awhile and he pulled her into a doorway. “I may not be any good when we get to wherever it is we’re going.”

“That’s okay.”

“I don’t know you.”

“No, you don’t, and I don’t know you, either. You might be a rapist or something.”

“No, I could never do that.” He looked at her mouth and his hand went around to the back of her neck and pulled her mouth to his.

His kiss was warm and wet and it sent a message to her woman’s core. She leaned into him.

“Hey, move it outta the doorway!” the store manager advised.

Terry erupted in giggles and they were infectious. She giggled, too, and they moved out of the doorway with arms draped around each other and swayed and giggled down the sidewalk.

He was older than she first thought but that was okay. She liked older men. They stopped at the corner and waited for the walk sign. She felt his fingers dig into her shoulder a little. “I don’t even know your name.”

“You don’t, do you?” he smiled and bit his lip.

“You’re not going to tell me?” They started across the street.

“I don’t think so. Let’s be anonymous.”

She wasn’t sure she liked that but it was okay. Hopefully there would be time enough for all that and the exchange of phone numbers.

He stopped her again in the middle of the next block and put his hands on her shoulders. “Are you sure you want to do this? I’m likely to just pass out.”

“That’s okay. I don’t expect you to…I don’t really.”

He laughed a little. “Right and I’m the queen ‘o’ May. How much farther is it?”

“There, the blue building.”

“Oakie dokie.”

“You’re not English, are you?”

“No, I’m an Aussie. Transplanted from down under.”

She smiled a little because he exaggerated the accent. It wasn’t that terribly noticeable. “We’re home.”

“Are we?” He leaned on the wall by the elevator door. “Goin’ up?”

“Yes, all the way to the top.”

“You really are pretty.” He touched her face.

“So are you,” she smiled and held the door while he wandered inside the elevator.

“Blokes are not pretty.”

“Okay, you’re handsome, virile, strong, manly…”

He grabbed her ass and pulled her against him. “Don’t believe everything you see,” he grinned and started to kiss her but the door opened.

“We’re here.”

She led him into her small apartment.  It contained one bedroom and a living/dining/kitchen. Its one redeeming quality was a view of the Thames. Her building was taller than the one he used to live in. He went directly to the large window and looked out.

“Ha, I can see where I used to live. I should never have sold that flat.”

“Why did you?” She came up beside him.

“We were pregnant. I have a son.”

“That’s wonderful. How old is he?”

“Four.”

“Do you see him often?”

“Every other month. He lives with both of us.”

“That’s tough. I thought you might be divorced.”

“I’m not but we don’t live together.”

“I’m not married or divorced. I’m debating whether it’s worth it.”

“That’s a good debate to have.” He slipped an arm around her waist.

“What do you recommend?”

“Singlehood.”

“That works for me.” She ran her hand up his back.

“What’s through there?”

“My bedroom.”

“I knew that. Aren’t I a sly devil?”  He turned her to face him and kissed her again. “Do you live alone, no roomies?”

“No roomies but I might have to move now and find a roomie.”

“Why? Oh, you said you’d been made redundant.”

“Yeah, today of all days. It’s my birthday, too.”

“What a kick in the ass…sorry.”

“I’m a big girl and, besides, what a nice prezzie you are.”

“I’ll be your prezzie.”

“That’s all I want, all I need.”

He didn’t really think he’d be able to perform but he did and the physical release was his last conscious act. He lay on top of her and passed out.

She held him, running her fingers over his body. She liked his body. He was solid and muscular but still had some weight to him, not like the skinny guys her age. Even the ones that went to the gym and worked out couldn’t compare. There was no comparison. His weight eventually became a dead weight that threatened her breathing and she eased him to the side. She examined the scars her fingers found and wondered how he got them.

He was so totally out of it she could touch him, trace his lips and his brows, touch his lashes and the moles on his face. His hair was soft in her fingers.

“I wish you were mine,” she whispered.

After a while she got up and went to her bathroom. When she came out the curiosity was too great and she reached in his jacket and found his wallet. She just wanted to know his name and she found it along with his Security International ID. She looked at his photo on the ID for a moment and wondered what kind of company that was. It went back in his wallet. He had a goodly amount of cash and a photo of a woman with a baby. She examined it closely. That was the ex and his son. She found his drivers license and looked at his address.  Battersea. Wow! He had money, that was for sure.

She wasn’t a thief. She folded his wallet and put it back in his jacket. His phone was vibrating and she pulled it out. He had two missed calls and a text message.  He would know if she read it and her fingers danced on the keys for a moment before she slid his phone back in the pocket it came out of.

Terry Thorne. She walked around her bed, looking at the whole man lying naked on her comforter. He’d wanted it to remain anonymous and maybe it would have been better that way. Now she knew who he was and where he lived and where he worked. She also had his phone number. All these things she wrote down on an envelope and stuck it in her desk drawer. There was no plan in place to use that information…yet.

Part 2

It was semi dark in the bedroom when Terry came to himself. He rolled over on his back and looked at the unfamiliar ceiling with fluorescent stars attached to it. Where the bloody hell was he? He was naked and lying next to a naked woman. He rolled out of the bed and found the bathroom. She was still asleep. Good. He didn’t know who she was and at this point didn’t want to know. He found his clothes and dressed. His watch said 5:00AM.

Making sure he left nothing behind, he let himself out of the flat and caught the elevator.

Once on the street he realized where he was and he walked up to his vehicle. He drove home while the city was waking up. He arrived at his flat, slipped on his running gear and headed for the park. It was self inflicted punishment for drinking too much. He knew better.

Freshly showered and wrapped in a robe he made a pot of coffee and had a look at his phone. Two calls from Toni and finally a text message.

Want to go to the cottage in morning. Can you drive us and bring Jacky back. We r flying out on Friday.

He could do that. He had his coffee and made himself a proper breakfast. He missed dinner last night as far as he could remember. He figured that was why the beer hit him like it did. He felt it this morning, too. He felt heavy and dull. He thought about the blonde he left in bed and then he didn’t.

9:30 and he was knocking on Max’s door.  Max answered it in his pajamas.

“Terry…why are you here?”

“Uh, I got a text from Toni to drive you to the cottage this morning.”

Max left him at the door and went down in search of coffee. Terry came in and closed the door behind him. “I take it no one is ready to ride?” He leaned over the railing.

Max stepped from the kitchen and looked up at him. “Very good observation, Thorne.”

“Sorry, I forgot to work out when morning comes for you.” He went to the stairs and came down to Max’s level. Max was watching the coffee press, waiting for the right moment.

“Is Toni awake?”

“Not when I left her. What time is it?”

“Half past nine. Mind if I wake her up?”

Max squinted across the kitchen. The sun was full on through the glass wall. “Go ahead. I’m not fit company yet.”

Terry opened the bedroom door and looked toward the bed. She was on her stomach with a pillow over her head. He moved quietly over to her and stripped the covers off of her. She came out from under the pillow.

“Wha?” Blinking, she turned over and grabbed for the sheet. “Terry?”

“Hey, luv, time to wakey.” He pulled at her toes. The desire was strong to slip into bed with her but that couldn’t happen.

“What time is it?” She sat up and looked down to make sure she had something on, Max’s England tee shirt.

“You wanted a ride to the country?”

“Um, yes. Max can’t drive and we need to get down to the kids.”

“How is he? No after-effects of his trip through time?”

“He’s fine. He had a bath yesterday and slept for seven hours then he was up and then we were in bed and I’ve lost track of it all.”

Max brought her a cup of coffee and sat down beside her, pushing a pillow to his back. “Want some coffee, Terry?”

“No, thanks. I’ve been up for awhile.”

“I tried to call you last night.”

“I had the ringer off. I ended up getting pissed last night.”

“You got drunk?” Toni asked, sipping her coffee.

“Yeah I did.”

“Alone?” she asked.

Terry looked at her and smiled. She must have a built-in something that tracked him, “No.”

“Ah.”

“None of your business, Toni.” Max said. “What time do you want to leave?”

“About ten, but, um, I’ll make a few allowances.”

“You’d better make allowances.” Toni met his eyes and smiled. He looked too good this early in the morning. “What time did you greet the day?”

“I woke up around five but it was probably six-thirty before I knew it.”

“Are we eating before we leave?” Max leaned his head on her shoulder.

“Toast and boiled eggs. I’m not getting any deeper than that.”

“I can manage that for ya if you’ll get up and get moving.”

“Thanks, Terry.” Toni got up and hugged him on her way to the bathroom.

“Are you really okay, Max?”

“What? Um, yes, yes, I’m fine, Terry. Thanks for asking.” Max finished his coffee and sat on the side of the bed.

“Well, I’ll go get your breakfast started.”

“Thanks. Um, soft boiled all around.”

Terry grinned and closed the bedroom door.

They were ready to roll by 10:30. Max stopped at the desk downstairs and signed a request for housekeeping.

“What’s in the bag?” he asked Toni as they went down the stairs to the street.

“The other outfit I bought. You haven’t seen it yet so I thought I’d take it home.  Maybe we’ll get off for the evening sometime.”

He took her hand and squeezed it. “We’ll do that. Ah, here he is, Jeeves, with the car.”

Terry had his phone to his ear, took it away and looked at the number. He redialed it and it rang and rang.

“What’s up?” Max asked.

“Not sure. Might have been a heavy breathing call.” He laughed a little and pocketed his phone.

“Those guys call you do they?” Max buckled his seat belt and turned to the back, “You’re okay back there, Love?”

“I’m good.” Toni was plugging her IPod into her ears.

“You went out on the town last night, eh?” Max asked.

“Not exactly. I went to the Rose and Thorn back in the old neighborhood. I don’t know why really but I was there for about four hours. Way too long for me. When I left this young woman picked me up. I went home with her and I really don’t remember much after leaving the pub. Woke up in her bed so…you know.”

“I have vague memories of…you know. Aside from Connie and Toni there hasn’t been anyone since I came out of the movie.”

“I don’t even know who she was. It doesn’t matter anyway.”

“She didn’t roll you, did she?”

“No, everything was still there.”

“That’s a little scary, don’t you think? I mean people are different nowadays. You can’t trust anyone or at least I wouldn’t.”

“It’s not something I normally do, Max. I was just feeling a little…what the hell…lonely, I guess.”

Max grimaced. He hated to hear things like that from Terry. He knew the why and wherefore of it. “Don’t you have a special friend? I know we talked about that once.”

“No, not here. Want I should run an advertisement in the paper?”

“Yeah, Terry, that’s exactly what you need to do.”

Terry stopped at a light and glanced in the rear view mirror. He locked eyes with Toni for a moment. He needed some Toni time.

Toni smiled and reached up and touched the back of his neck. Something was up with him. She could sense it.

They stopped on the motorway for petrol. Max went in to pay and Terry pumped. While he was pumping his phone went off.

“Hello?” But there was silence on the other end. He tossed his phone in the window to Toni. “See if you can find out who just called me.”

Toni took the phone and checked. “Unknown? I’ve got the number. Want me to call back?”

“Yeah.”

The phone was answered but with silence on the other end. “HELL-O,” Toni said. “Whoever it is, love, they’re not talking to me.”

“They’re not talking to me either,” he grinned and took his phone back.

Part 3

The cottage erupted in chaos when Terry, Max and Toni arrived. Tuppy and Anna retired to the kitchen for a cup of tea. The kids were full on.

Max and Terry finally took the boys outside in the back garden. Toni cuddled with Rose, who wasn’t feeling good and tended to be whiny and clinging.

“You’re going back with me tomorrow?” Terry asked.

“Yes, I have to reestablish myself. Losing a wallet is serious, Terry. Half your life is in there. Even though mine was lost in limbo, God only knows where, I still feel the need to stop everything and start again.”

“It may never show up or it could be lying somewhere on the green in Leigh on Sea.”

“I still haven’t gotten over that experience and how easily it happened. One errant thought and there I was. It’s a chance I can’t afford to take. I’d rather replace everything than wait for someone to use a credit card somewhere.”

Later in the day Terry took Toni into the village to the market and to the pharmacist. As soon as they cleared the driveway Toni asked, “What’s going on with you, Terry?”

“Me? Not much.”

“Um, let me see here, how can I cut to the chase?”

“There are things I miss and sometimes it gets heavy. I miss sharing things with you. I miss being with someone that I love and that I know loves me.”

Toni stared at him. He was never this open with her. Usually she had to pull things out of him one at a time. “That’s about as honest as I’ve known you to be.”

“No need to beat around it. Where do you want to go first?”

“The pharmacy.” She was in and out in a flash. She buckled her seat belt. “Let’s go somewhere we can talk.”

“Okay.” He pulled out onto the main street and headed out of town. He took her to Basingstoke and found a pub. It was that strange hour between lunch and happy hour time and the pub was nearly empty. A small table off in a corner was perfect.

“This is crazy, isn’t it?” He took her hands across the table.

“I don’t know where else we can go to talk without interruptions. It’s okay, Terry.”

“Maybe part of the problem right now is I’m not busy. We’ve got a couple of jobs going but nothing I want to sit in on. I’ve taken a few days off. I’d just come back from Miami and thought I might come down here. That was before I knew about Max. I’m kind of at loose ends.” He played with her fingers. “I did something last night I don’t do as a rule.”

“You got drunk with a woman.”

“No, I was drunk before the woman. She picked me up. I don’t even know her name. I woke up this morning next to her and quietly left. Last night is very sketchy. I’m not sure I was there.”

“Terry, that’s dangerous. Please don’t do that again.”

“I didn’t plan to do it last night. You took Max to bed and I felt like a fifth wheel. I had in mind to find a lady for the evening but had given up on that before I left the pub.”

“A lady for the evening.” Toni closed her eyes. “I don’t often think about your sex life because I don’t want to know about it. I do know this; you are a very sexy and handsome man. You’ve got everything a woman could want. You don’t have to settle for a lady for the evening, Terry. She’s out there somewhere and I doubt you’re going to find her drunk on a bar stool.”

“She’s sitting across the table from me,” he said softly.

“Don’t do this to me.”

“What am I supposed to do? I’m yours, Toni. I don’t want anybody else. No one will ever get as close to me as you. Do you remember when we first met and how hard it was for us to connect?”

“I remember the wall you had built around yourself. It’s back, isn’t it?”

“Only you have the key to the door.”

His phone rang again and he pulled it out and lay it on the table. “Same number. Somebody has been calling me and not saying a word. This is the fourth call today.”

Toni picked it up. “Hello, he’s not available right now so stop calling.”

“BITCH!”

Toni dropped the phone on the table. “It’s a woman. She just called me a bitch.”

“Could be a random caller. This number is private.”

“It’s not private anymore. How dare she call me a bitch?”

“Sorry, luv.”

“I don’t think I like your friends.”

“She’s no friend of mine. I’ll get it figured out when I get back in the office.”

“Well, back to you…”

“Do you want me to get a room?”

“What? Terry, honey, love…no.” She smiled but the seed had been planted in the back of her mind. Did she? Of course she did. She could never not want Terry but this wasn’t the way to go about it. “I love you, Terry, and I will always want you, too.”

“That wasn’t very nice of me. I apologize.”

“I can’t say I’m going grocery shopping and end up in a hotel with you. I’d rather say I’m going to see Terry.”

“You’ve never done that?”

“I know and in all honesty I’m not sure I could.”

“Max will allow Jack.”

“You’re different.”

“How’s that?”

“You just are. You’re here and Max trusts us. I know…probably he shouldn’t but he knows. He was there when you asked me to come back to you. I could have said yes but I didn’t. He knows how much I love you and I think you also know how I feel about him.”

“Yes, I do. I’m sorry to put you in such a position, Luv.”

“When I said Jack was different it’s because he’s not a threat to Max. You are and he recognizes that regardless of what’s been said by me or by you. It’s just how it is.” She waved her hands.

Terry grabbed one of her hands and pulled so that she had to get up and come around the table and sit on his lap. He framed her face with his hands and kissed her.

“I don’t want to talk anymore, Toni. Right now there is no one else in the world but you and me. I love you and I need you to love me.”

“Oh, dear God.” She was going to do what he asked.

Of all the sleazy things she never thought she’d resort to this. Terry got a motel room and she went to bed with him. Sex with Terry was tender and loving because that’s what he needed.

While she dressed he picked up her phone and called Max.

“I just wanted to let you know Toni is okay. I know we’ve been gone for awhile and it’s all my fault. I had need of her, Max. We’re in Basingstoke getting ready to head back.”

Max moved slowly to the stairs and hung on the banister. “Oh, okay. Um, got your need taken care of, did you?”

“It’s not what you think, Max.”

“No, it never is. You have needs, Jack has needs, and you know what? Max has needs, too. I need you to bring Toni home.”

“We’re leaving now. Try and understand…it’s taking nothing away from you.”

Max hung up. There was nothing else he wanted to say.

Toni shouldered her handbag. “He’s pissed off.”

“I don’t know. I had to call him. At least now he’s got a little time to cool down.”

“I feel terrible about this. Don’t ever ask me to do something like this again.”

“I’m sorry, Luv.”

She came around the bed and hugged him, kissing the top of his head. “No, you aren’t. You aren’t sorry at all you got what you wanted. Was there ever any doubt?”

“Always.  I never know with you. Did you get what you wanted?”
“Oh, Terry. Yes.”

He stood up and pulled her against him. “Then it wasn’t a total waste, was it?”

They went through a market in Basingstoke and then headed home. Toni was silent on the way home.  She thought she wouldn’t blame Max for tossing her out. By the time they got home she was feeling pretty low.

Terry brought the shopping in and Toni brought the pharmacy bag. She found Tuppy and went to check on Rose, who was upstairs having a nap.

Anna had the boys in the den. Max was in the kitchen drinking a bottle of wine.

Terry set the bags on the counter and glanced at Max. “What do you want, pistols at dawn?”

“No.”

“Cutlass, sword?”

“You think it’s amusing, don’t you.” Max took a drink from his glass.

“Max, I have been exactly where you are right now.”

“Something Jack said to me. He said she didn’t belong to us. We belong to her and it’s up to her who she wants to spend time with. So I dredged that up today and I’m trying to be an adult about it all. There are no secrets between any of us. She’s home now.”

“She went up to see about Rose.”

“Rose has a temperature.”

“She should see a doctor then.”

“She will tomorrow. Tuppy made the appointment. There’s a doctor here in the village that will see her.”

“Do you still want to go back to London with me?”

“Yes.”

“Anna and Jacky will be in the back seat.”

“That’s probably a good thing.” He raised his glass to Terry.

Terry’s phone rang again while he was putting away the shopping. He tossed it to Max. “Answer that.”

Max looked at him strangely and did. “Hello?”

“Hi.”

“Who is this?” The line went dead.

“She answered?” Terry asked.

“She said ‘hi’ and then hung up. Who is it?”

“I have no idea. Toni answered it earlier and she called her a bitch.”

“Ohh.”

“I thought when I get in the office tomorrow I’d have it traced.”

Toni came into the kitchen and stopped, seeing Max with a bottle.

“Did you settle Rose?” he asked.

“I gave her some children’s aspirin and got her back to sleep. She’s all stuffy.”

“Probably the English weather. Would you like a glass?”

“Yes.” She couldn’t quite figure this out. She had expected anger.

“I haven’t done a thing about dinner.”

“That’s okay. We stopped by the market. I can make something.”

“Why don’t we just, um, go down to the pub? We can get some pub food and some indigestion and we’ll be fine.”

“Is this the only bottle you’ve opened?”

“Um hm.”

She walked closer to him and picked up her glass. “You don’t really care for pub food especially this late.”

“You wouldn’t have to cook.” He met her eyes and she went to him. Max put his arm around her waist. He was seated on the kitchen stool. “Terry’s in the pantry.”

Toni glanced toward the pantry. “Alive?”

“Of course he’s alive.” He took a sip of his wine. “I wouldn’t kill him here. There’s no place to put the body. Whereas in London I can tip him in the Thames.”

Terry came out of the pantry. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll cook dinner.”

“Ahh hah, I don’t think so, Thorne. Did you find the rat poison?”

“I knew there was something we forgot.” He helped himself to the wine.

“The kids have been fed, haven’t they?”

“Yes, and actually I’m not that hungry. I ate with them.”

“Sandwiches?” Toni suggested.

“Add soup and you’re on,” Terry added.

Part 4

Terry dropped Max off at his flat and then drove to Battersea. He unloaded Jacky and Jacky’s things from his vehicle and then took it to his parking place. He was glad to be home. Several weeks had passed since he woke up in his own bed. As the morning progressed it was apparent to him that Jacky was going to be his little buddy for the day. Jacky was used to the company of Maxi and Rose so it would take some time to get him settled back into his routine. Terry took him to the park for an hour.

They’d just come in and Anna had him downstairs getting ready for his tea. Terry watered his plants in the front windows. His phone vibrated in his pocket. This time it was a text message.

You have a lovely little boy. He looks like you. I’m glad ur home. XXOO

Terry saved the message and went to his front windows that faced the park and looked out. This was too close to home for his comfort factor.

“Her name is Tammy Fields. Address listed as 1500 Beeson Towers, London." Brian looked up at Terry.

Recognition hit him in the stomach. Beeson Towers is where he woke up with the anonymous woman.
 

“Thanks, Brian.” Terry walked out of Brian’s office to his own.

How could he have been so stupid? He hit himself in the forehead.

Tammy pulled the funky little cap she bought in Spitalfields market down over her forehead. Big sunglasses hid her eyes. She found a place where she could watch his office building. He had a company car that picked him up and dropped him at the doorway.  She’d never done anything like this before and wasn’t sure what prompted it this time. There was the fact that she was unemployed and had time on her hands. And there was the fact that he fascinated her.

Tammy was made redundant from Prescott Properties, a real estate sales office. She’d used her password from her home computer and done a little research on Mr. Thorne.  She knew he was part owner of a property in Hartley Wintney.  She knew he owned the flat in Battersea outright without a mortgage.  She’d spent the day before in Battersea walking around, imagining him in his neighborhood. There were some parts she didn’t want to walk alone in but others were very pricey. She’d been there when he arrived back home with his son and nanny. She’d been in the park using her camera lens for a close-up view.

Terry left the office building with Brian and another man from accounting. They walked to the end of the block and across the street to a pub for lunch. Tammy followed them. The pub was crowded and she slipped in, finding a place next to the standing counter. She thought he probably didn’t remember her. He was pretty loaded the night she brought him home. But still she thought she’d better keep out of his line of vision.

She ordered an ale and a sandwich.

Terry and his group were having a working lunch and they took their time, drawing it out with several beers. Terry paid the tab and they made their way to the door. He was going to pass right by Tammy. She went still, afraid to breathe and felt for the sunglasses in her bag but it was too late. He glanced at her, letting his eyes slide down as he went by. She thought she was going to die. There was no recognition there at all. But he had noticed her and given her a sexy look.

She watched him cross the street before she came out of the pub. Later that afternoon she sent him another text.

You are so sexy. Did you enjoy your lunch?

He made up his mind during the course of the afternoon. He would confront her and put an end to this. In his mind it was bordering on stalking and at the very least, harassment. He sent her a text replying to the one she sent him.

Meet me at the Rose and Thorn 6:00, Tammy.

She held the phone to her chest and walked in circles in the gallery she’d walked into. He knew her name so he’d done a little investigating of his own. She felt a thrill run all over her and laughed out loud, drawing attention to herself. She made a face at the stuffy old people and ran out onto the sidewalk. He wanted to meet with her.  She paced off the sidewalk, thinking about what their conversation might be. She caught the tube and a bus and got home. At least it was home for awhile, until the rent came due again. Upstairs she changed her sheets and tried on a multitude of outfit combinations, finally choosing a black scoop necked jersey and a short plaid skirt with black tights. Her black leather jacket and perfect makeup and she was ready to meet him.

Terry ordered a pint and looked over the pub. He knew the girl's name but when he tried to put a face to her he was lost. There were two tables of young women being watched by half the guys at the bar. He smiled a little and turned away. The girl after him knew him so he’d let her find him.

The pub door was propped open and when she came in some of the girls at the tables saw her and called for her to come over. She tried to tamp their enthusiasm with a wave of her hand.

Terry saw her come in and heard the girls call out for her. So that was Tammy. He had some vague recollection now. She was blonde and had nice tits. He also remembered that they didn’t exchange names or anything else. She’d been in his pockets and in his wallet. He sat back and waited.

Tammy extricated herself from her mates and scanned the bar. There he was. She took a breath and walked over. “Hi.”

Terry was not amused. She walked over like she was greeting an old friend. She had violated his privacy in more ways than one.

“You’ve been following me and harassing my phone. I want you to stop. I’m asking you personally to stop and if you don’t then I will report you.”

“Oh, hey, don’t get all serious and legal on me. I like you and I wanted to get to know you better. I don’t mean to harass you. Sorry. You looked me up?”

“I had your phone traced.  I wanted to know who was hanging around my building and making annoying phone calls.”

She looked away for a moment. “I don’t know what got into me. I’ve never done anything like that before. You didn’t want it to get personal, didn’t want to know who I was or to let me know who you were. I couldn’t let it go like that. You weren’t just some bloke, ya know? Something about you just…I had to know.”

Terry finished his pint, tossed some money on the bar and slipped off his barstool. He’d made his point and he didn’t want to hear any more.

“Wait!” She ran after him and caught up with him outside the door.  “Please…I know you must think I’m awful and maybe I am. I don’t want to harass you. I want to know you. I don’t have anybody to care about and nobody cares about me. I’m not a bad person, really I’m not.”

“I don’t care what kind of person you are. I want you to leave me alone.” His car appeared at the curb. He checked his watch. He was meeting Max for dinner.

“Why won’t you give me a chance? We could have some fun together. You need me!” she called out as he closed the car door.

Terry opened the door. “Get in.”

He never said a word until the car pulled up in front of the restaurant.

“What are we doing?” she asked.

“Dinner with my brother. Maybe he will have an idea about you.”

“What do you mean?” She looked toward the restaurant. It was a place she’d always dreamed about going into but never thought she would.

“You ask too many questions.” He took her arm and guided her inside.

Max was already there, reading over some papers he’d picked up at the bank. He stood up when he saw Terry with a young woman.

“Max, this is Tammy Fields; my brother, Max Skinner.”

“How do you do?” Max greeted.

“Hello,” she answered

Once they were seated and drinks ordered Terry said, “Just so you know who this is, Max, she’s the one who has been harassing and stalking me.”

Tammy blushed.

“Really? You hung up on me yesterday.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I brought her with me for a second opinion. I’m thinking about taking her in and filing a complaint.”

Tammy’s eyes got even bigger.

Max wasn’t sure what was going on here so he played along. “Of course if you file a complaint a rather large fine accompanies it.” He looked at Tammy. “You could get a solicitor.”

“She could. They’re expensive, too…on top of the fine because I saved all the messages”

“I’m sure that won’t be a problem for you, will it, Tammy? No doubt you have a well paying job.”

“I…I don’t have a job at all.”

“No job? Oh, well, what did you hope to get out of this? Do you think Terry has any money? Hah, I’m his banker.”

“I don’t want anybody’s money!” She found her voice. “I’ve just been made redundant and I’ve not had a chance to apply for another.”

“No, you were too busy trailing after me.” Terry took a drink from his glass.

“Not for money. I didn’t want your money. I was interested in you.”

“Ah, Terry.” Max raised a brow.

“She went into my pockets, into my wallet and into my phone while I was asleep.”

“Oooh, not done, Tammy. Definitely not done.” Max frowned.

“I don’t know what came over me. I wanted to know who he was. He wasn’t like other blokes.”

“Yes, well, you’re right there, he isn’t. Still a man is entitled to his privacy, especially when he’s made it known how important that is to him.”

Tammy looked at Max and then Terry. They were so similar. “Are you two twins by chance?”

“No, he’s five years older than me.” Terry met Maxi’s look.

“Look, I didn’t mean to cause all this trouble.”

“No trouble…yet. I wanted Max to meet you so if I turned up rolled in a gutter somewhere he’ll know who to go after. I don’t trust you even a little bit, Tammy. For all I know you’ve got some john lurking in the background.”

“That’s…that’s sick, Terry. I liked being with you and I wanted to see you again. I’ve never gone after anyone before in my life. What happened to you to think like that…that somebody would do that to you?”

“He’s not in the trust business,” Max answered for him. “If you wanted to know him why not just walk up and introduce yourself? He hits that tavern every now and again.”

“Because he didn’t want to know me.”

“To be honest, Tammy, I didn’t know whether I did or not. I was pretty drunk when I went home with you. I couldn’t remember what you looked like.”

“I guess I didn’t make much of an impression then.”

“It wasn’t your fault. I was too pissed to know one way or another.”

“I thought you might come over and talk to me for awhile.”

“Yeah, I know. I caught the signals.” Terry looked down in his glass, speaking quietly.

Max was becoming more confused now. Why had Terry brought her here?

“That’s what I mean. You caught them and threw them back at me. I’m very sorry to have bothered you.” She started to get up.

Terry stood up, too. “I’ll get you a cab.”

“I can take the tube.”

“No…I want to.”

Max ordered another drink and a menu. He had no idea what the bloody hell was going on with Terry. He looked up questioningly when Terry came back to the table. “What the fuck was that about?”

Terry sat down and ran a hand over his face. “This is what I’m dealing with right now. She’s been around my building, my office and where I had lunch today. I had Brian trace her phone number and came up with a name and address. It’s where I woke up yesterday. Sorry to involve you. I just wanted you to know.”

“Are you really concerned there’s a john in the closet?”

“I don’t think there is but you never know.”

“Are you, um, sexually attracted to her?”

“Would you be?”

“Nice tits. I, uh, yeah I could do that.”

“I’m not sure there’s much more to her than tits. But to be fair I haven’t given her a chance.”

“Why did you reject her signals at the pub?”

“Not sure. I went into the place looking for somebody to spend a little time with. Maybe it was instinct, a self preservation instinct that warned me.”

Part  5

Terry sent Max, Toni and their family off to Marseilles in his private jet. He’d given Max a ride to the airport and the rest came up by train. It always felt this way when he was left on his own in London. He shrugged it off and went home to Jacky.

He was back in his routine now and unless something important or someone important was in the city he went straight home from work. Tammy Fields had not contacted him again. She’d been completely embarrassed the last time she saw him with his brother. The more she thought about it after she left that, night the angrier she got. She’d torn up the envelope where she had his personal information written down and she deleted his phone number from her phone. She wasn’t in their league and she felt like she’d been treated badly.

She managed to find a temporary job in a car dealership office. It was enough to pay her rent and keep her in the good address. And so she was shocked on a Friday night to answer her phone and hear that deep sexy voice on the other side.

“I didn’t expect to hear from you again. What do you want?”

“Something simple, fish and chips and a movie.”

“Why don’t you call one of your hoity toity girlfriends then?”

“Because I don’t have any. You haven’t called me or texted me or shown up on my doorstep. I wanted to thank you for that.”

“I didn’t want to end up in the nick, did I?”

“So what do you think?”

“Where are you?”

“Still at the office. Look, before you say yes or no, I’m not looking for a long term commitment, Tammy. So if that’s what you want then we can end it right now before it begins.”

She walked around with her phone tucked under her ear. Just to have him for awhile, “Yes. I’d like to go to a movie with you but I prefer Chinese take-out.”

“Cool. I’ll pick it up.”

“Where…where, Terry?”

“Your place.”

He was serious. He brought food and a cinema printout which he had in his teeth when she opened the door.

Tammy was amazed.

“I thought you might be kidding about dinner and a movie.”

“Why would I kid? You wanna take this from me and….?”

Tammy took the bags and cartons.

“I didn’t know what you liked so I bought a little of everything.”

“You should have asked me.”

“You’re right, I should have.” He gave her a blue-green penetrating look. Was she angry with him? Was he wasting his time here should he go?

“I’m not that hard to please.” She blinked and turned to find plates and cutlery.

He asked about her work and she told him she had a temp for awhile. He suggested a company that she might apply to.  He was being nice, feeling his way with her and keeping the conversation neutral, trying to find a common ground.

Tammy was just trying not to put her foot in. He was out of her class and she knew that. She was trying ever so hard to talk properly and not to swear. They agreed on a movie and took the bus. She found out he had another son who was now 15 years old and that he’d been married twice. He found out she was the eldest of six children and that her family lived in Liverpool. She was twenty-two but told him she was twenty-five. It sounded better to her ears.

The movie was okay and while they were standing outside the theater she noticed a poster for Robin Hood and asked him if he’d seen it yet.

“Ah, no, I haven’t.”

“He’s a good actor. I think your brother looks like him.”

Terry chuckled, “I’ll tell him you said so.”

They arrived back at her flat and she asked him in. He leaned in the doorway, neither coming in nor leaving. “If I do, you know what will happen?”

He was sober. Neither one of them had a drink all night. “I’d like…for you to come in and stay if you want to. I’d like for you to know who I am when you leave this time. You know, put a face to the body?”

Terry smiled and kicked the door shut. He took her in his arms and kissed her. Oh yeah, it was going to work.

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