Rock Her(34)

“I don’t even know who the fuck you are!” the cop replied with a heavy Brooklyn accent. “And I am telling you, I ain’t no fucking hired bodyguard. My orders were to take you where you wanted to go. You want to go to the City Center, ain’t no skin off my neck. That’s where we’ll go.”

Kip leaned back into the seat again; embarrassed that he had tried to pressure the cop into doing something for him just because he had money. He thought that he had forgotten himself for a moment.

“Hey, Deputy Sparks,” Kip said, trying to sound contrite. “I am sorry. Really. I didn’t mean that the way that it sounded. Or, I guess I did. Like I said, I am sorry.”

“Forget it,” Sparks said.



They arrived at the City Center moments later. The deputy pulled up to the doors that lead into the food court. The place looked no busier or less busy than it ever did. Typical day for everyone else, it seemed.

Kip and Annie slid across the seat and let themselves out.

“Hey, buddy,” the deputy said.

Kip leaned back into the car. “Yeah?”

“You want me to wait?”

“Nah,” Kip replied, waving his arm at him. “We’ll grab a taxi back to the hotel when we’re done.”

“I don’t mind, really,” Sparks said. “If something should happen to ya, I’d feel pretty shitty.”

“Thanks Deputy.” Kip said. “Fact is I am not sure how long we’ll be. I told her I would replace everything in her apartment. Might take a while, you know?”

Sparks nodded. “Hey, buddy.”

Kip leaned back into the squad car. “Yeah?”

“Nice work today. I mean, acting the bad ass and all,” Sparks said under his thick mustache. “That was real hero shit. You have my respect for that.” He threw his arm over the seat and held out his hand. Kip took it.

“Thanks,” he said. “But frankly, I’d really like to leave that shit behind, you know?”

“Yeah, believe me, I know.” Sparks said.



Kip was on edge as they walked through the food court. He hadn’t really thought about the danger of being out in the open until Annie asked him about it. He had just assured himself after the assassin hobo disappeared from the alley that the immediate danger was over. Much like it was in Afghanistan. After a firefight, the enemy would disperse, if they hadn’t all been pieces of meat strewn about the battleground after the shooting stopped. Army guys would secure the perimeter and his platoon would police the area for their dead or wounded. He very rarely gave thought to his safety then.

But this was the real world here. A dedicated hit man could easily have followed them from the scene of the initial attack. The more he thought about it, the tenser he got. But before long it was clear that Annie was relaxing and that made Kip relax. She felt safe with Kip, even after the day’s events. Kip went from scanning the shopping crowd to only being able to watch Annie smile and laugh as she began to forget about the possible danger she was in. Kip never forgot about the danger, though he did begin to relax along with Annie.

In a couple of hours, Kip had been into several boutiques, and was carrying six or seven bags full of clothes, shoes and jewelry. He reassured Annie that when they return from Afghanistan he would buy her new furniture and appliances, and set her up in a new apartment. Annie look embarrassed at the idea.

“What?’ Kip asked.

“I guess it’s just, well, I don’t want to feel like I am taking advantage.”

“You’re not taking advantage, I offered,” Kip said.

“Yeah, but Kip, we met just three days ago,” Annie reminded him.

“Well, yeah, but we spoke on the phone for the first time four weeks ago. So, really, we met then.” Kip was joking with her. He knew what she meant.

“Kip, I am just saying that we aren’t really in a relationship,” Annie said. “I mean, to spend so much money on me.”

Kip stopped walking and turned to her. “Annie, I have spent hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars on people I have never even met through my charities. Remember? I told you that I gave away nearly everything I make except what I make from the concerts and albums.”

“Yes, I remember,” Annie said, blushing.

“And besides, Annie, who’s to say we can’t or won’t be in a relationship?” Kip just threw it out there. And there it is, he thought.

Annie’s face changed. She looked deep into thought. “I have always been so practical about dating and relationships, Kip. I mean, well, I don’t know what I mean.” She laughed.

“Well, we have dated,” Kip said. “And besides, all practicality aside, I have judged you to be a really good fuck and pretty solid in a tough situation. There’s really only one question left.”