* * *
Coming in from a run to clear her mind as much as to keep in shape, she rounded the corner of her block. Mr. Tochi was waving at her so she slowed down to greet him.
“You ready to meet my nephew? He is coming to town this afternoon to visit me. You should come by market and I will make introductions.”
“Oh, Mr. Tochi. I don’t think I am ready to meet any man now. I’m kind of a disaster when it comes to men.”
“Well, just stop by the market. You don’t have to do anything but say hello.”
Smiling at the kindness in his eyes, she agreed. “Okay. If I get a chance, I’ll come by, but just to say hello.”
Jogging the rest of the way to the door of the clinic, she was surprised to see Detective Dixon leaning against his car parked in the front. Slowing her pace, she made her way over to him.
Eying him suspiciously, she greeted, “Detective Dixon.”
The man in front of her was ruggedly handsome and she wondered what his story was as her eyes glanced up to the scar running across his forehead. Slightly taller than Shane, his dark hair was neatly trimmed and his brown eyes seemed to take all of her in quickly.
“I see we have gone from Matt to Detective Dixon,” he said.
Pressing her lips together, she weighed her answer. “I think the time for friendliness has passed, don’t you? I’m assuming this is an official visit since that’s the only visit that would be necessary between us.”
Sighing, Matt stared at the woman in front of him. Hurt, more than anger, seemed to be coming from her.
“Doctor, I tried to call the other day. It seems you may not have gotten my message.”
Her brow crinkled as she pondered his words. “A message? Here at the clinic?”
“No. Your cell phone.”
“There was a message the other day, but the signal kept coming in and out so the message was mostly garbled.” Looking up into his face, she asked, “Was that from you?”
“Yeah. I was driving and didn’t know the signal was weak. Fuck.”
“What was the message you were trying to leave? I’m assuming it was about Shane, but I can assure you that if you were going to tell me he was alive and well, I already know that. Believe me, I saw with my own eyes that he is alive and very well it seems. So if there is nothing else, you will excuse me.” She turned to open the clinic door.
“Why are you going to your apartment through the clinic? You have an outside entrance.”
Turning back around, she looked at him questioningly. “Because…I don’t know. It’s just safer.” Thinking momentarily, she continued, “You should know as well as anyone that I was threatened and attacked. I try to avoid the alley and just use the clinic entrance now.”
“Are you safe there? In the clinic? That is where you were attacked.”
Facing him fully, anger showing on her face, she asked, “What are you getting at? Why are you asking me these questions?”
“Humor me. Just answer,” was his reply, as his gaze never wavered from hers.
Licking her lips, she looked to the side. “Yes, I feel safe in the clinic. Before he left, Shane had a security system put in. The clinic is wired and my apartment is wired. He said it was top-line security, patched into the police station as well as his friend’s security business.” Walking straight up to him, she poked her finger into his chest. “Yes, I feel safe inside. Not the alley. That I avoid. Does that answer your question, Detective Dixon?”
Looking down at the beautiful woman poking her finger at him, he smiled. “Shane did that for you?”
Putting her hands on her hips, she glared up. “What are you getting at? Yes, Shane did that before he left to go back to what is obviously his real life. Or pretend life. Or whatever the hell other life he has that doesn’t involve me!”
Matt let the silence stretch out between them for a moment. Then he answered, “My message the other day was to let you know that not everything is what it seems. Trust in him and trust in what you actually know. Not what you think is happening.”
Annie stepped back keeping her eyes on his. Confusion showed on her face as she tried to decipher his words. “I don’t…I don’t know what you mean.”
Leaning down close to her face he simply said, “Think about it.” With that piece of cryptic advice, he turned and climbed back into his car. With a nod of his head, he pulled out and headed down the street leaving her standing on the sidewalk bewildered.
Walking through the door and up to her apartment, she stared at the security system panel on the wall again. Why would he do that if he did not care? She walked to the kitchen to make a sandwich and noticed the empty bottle of wine from last night in the trash can. That was left on my nightstand when I went to bed. Whirling around, her eyes scanned the room looking for more evidence that he had been there while she slept.