Unforgiven(79)

“Not a chance I was letting you sneak back into town without spending time with you.” We start walking toward the elevators that will take us to the parking garage. “I can’t believe you’re leaving us for good, though.” He sticks out his bottom lip in a pouty motion. “But I understand; we all do.”
“I’m going to go into the office and talk to Rob tomorrow. I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be,” he says kindly. “He’s been asking if I’ve heard from you.”
“I just don’t want to see Amanda.”
“Don’t even think about that witch.”
“Hard not to,” I say, settling into the back seat of Javier’s car.
The ride to the condo is full of laughs and catching up. I only begin to get nervous when we pull into the attached parking garage. I pull the keycard from my purse and hand it to Javier, who swipes it and the metal gate opens, allowing us to enter. Jack made arrangements for my leased Lexus to be returned, so Javier pulls into the empty spot for my condo.
Anxiety sets in as we ride quietly in the elevator to the twenty-second floor. Mike notices and gently pulls my hand into his, giving it a light squeeze. Javier carries my luggage and I hold the key to my condo in my hand. The elevator doors slide open and we step out into the quiet hallway. Mike nudges me, urging me to walk down the hall toward my door. My feet carry me down the narrow hall to the door, where I insert the key and twist it. I push the door open and step inside the darkened condo.
All the curtains had been pulled tightly closed over the floor-length windows and the air conditioning had been turned off, making the condo warm with heavy, dank air.
“Where’s the thermostat?” Javier asks, setting my suitcase on the floor just inside the door.
“On the wall next to the master bedroom.” I point toward the wall with the open door. Javier crosses the living room and starts pushing buttons on the keypad of the thermostat.
“Let’s open this place up,” Mike says, reaching for the long rod that hangs from all of the curtains. He pushes the long curtains open, securing them behind the finials on the wall. “That’s better.”
The warm afternoon sun pours into the condo and casts an amber glow throughout. The air conditioning kicks on and cool air starts filling the room. Javier carries my suitcase to the bedroom and I sit on the couch, quietly taking in the surroundings of the condo for the first time all over again. There are boxes packed and taped shut sitting on the kitchen island.
“I’ll ship those,” Mike says when he sees me eyeing them. “The only thing I didn’t pack was your dresser. It just seemed too personal to have me rummaging through your intimates.” He winks at me. “Your closet is packed in most of those tall boxes.” He gestures toward the large wardrobe boxes. “If you pack up your dresser while you’re here, I’ll have all the boxes picked up and sent at the same time.”
“Mike.” I turn to look at him. “Thank you for everything.”
“It’s really no problem at all. I’m just glad you’re feeling better.”
“Mike, let’s give Lindsay some time to get settled,” Javier interjects. “I’m sure she’s tired from the flight and might like some time to be alone.” He raises his eyebrows and encourages Mike to get up.
“Call me if you need anything,” Mike says, standing up. “And let me know when you’re on your way over to the station tomorrow. I’ll meet you in the reception area. I’m sure your access badge has been shut off.”
“I will. Thank you both—for everything,” I tell them as they leave. Javier nods at me as he closes the door behind them. I stretch out on the long couch with a throw pillow propped under my head and stare out the window at the afternoon sun that has just begun to set.
 

 
I jerk awake suddenly at the loud banging. It takes me a moment to remember that I’m in my condo in Phoenix. The moonlight illuminates the dark condo and I stumble into the kitchen to flip on some lights. The banging continues and I realize someone is out in the hall, knocking on Jonah’s door. I’m unable to see anyone through the peephole and I turn the deadbolt lock on my door just as a precaution. I eye the stack of empty boxes in the corner and grab one as I head into the bedroom to pack up the last remaining items to be shipped back to North Carolina.#p#分页标题#e#
I set the box on the floor next to my bed and begin with the nightstand. I pull the drawer open and eye the contents. A book, some pictures, a notebook and pen, and the open box of condoms. I pull each condom out of the large box and count all nine of them. I walk them to the bathroom garbage and throw them in the trash along with the box they came in. I tie up the trash bag and toss it out the door and into the living room before moving on to the small toiletry closet in the bathroom. Emptying that closet of the handful of items that were in there, I tape the box closed and carry it to the kitchen, adding it to the pile of boxes all set to ship.