Sitting there catching my breath, I watching Bob coordinate everything for 30 minutes before he came back over to check on me. By then I had gathered myself and had plenty of time to focus my thoughts and memories of the last 35 minutes into some sort of single order.
"You alright?" He didn't seem to really know whether that was the right question to ask or not. It was obvious he did mean every word and was truly concerned with my state, but I could tell he thought it was a dumb question given the circumstances. Anyone else would have been in complete shock.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How's Fred doing?" Understandably, he looked over his shoulder at Fred and then back at me. Fred was active and animated talking to another detective.
"I'm guessing you know him," he said with what would become a normal look for me from that point on, puzzled.
"No. I have no idea who he is. I just know his name." Being honest was the best thing to do with a detective. They were always in the mindset to catch people in lies and it didn't seem like it would matter to Bob.
"But you met up with some people in this building, right?" looking up at him to respond. How would I put it without getting more questions than needed at that moment.
"Yes, but not with him. At least he wasn't in the meeting."
"Hmmm. You must have saw his name on the registry or something and thought about it subconsciously." Rationalizing the irrational was a norm of the profession.
"Doubt it. I was rushed in at the last minute because I was running late. I didn't have a chance to see anything but the board room, the elevator and the lobby." His mind was working overtime on the answer to that one. "Go ask him."
"I already did. He said he didn't know who you were, but," a long pause ensued. He seemed to want that one to just fall away, but that wouldn't have been me to just let it go.
"But...."
"He said he saw you in a dream he had last night," not even a hint of unevenness was in his tone. My mind tried to process what he just said. I didn't want him to dwell on it. I would do that later, enough for the both of us.
"Do I need to give some sort of statement?" I knew the answer before I even asked it, which was just adding to the strange nature of the day.
"No. You're not on the report at all," he said with a whisper. Sitting in a lobby full of cops and detectives and people, that statement was out of place. He noticed my expression. "I figured there was no need. Mr. Willis was obviously the target and you didn't see anything. Besides, you seem like someone that likes to stay 'off the record' whenever possible." He wasn't wrong about that.
"Would you mind having a seat here for a second," nodding to my right. He walked around me and sat on the bench. We both stared straight ahead as I leaned onto my knees.
"Bob, you're a detective. I think you want out of it, but you don't have a place to go." He looked down at the floor.
"I'd be lying if I said no," he spoke with a heavy sigh.
"Let me guess, you've seen too much of the seedy side of life and it's affecting you and your relationships with your family." It wasn't a guess, I knew.
"You a shrink?" oozing doubt went along with this question just by the tone.
"No, but you knew that already." I turned my head to look at him. "You take a police driving course?" That was the first question I asked him I didn't already know the answer to.
"You don't know that already?" He chuckled a bit. "Yes, I instruct it." Of course he did. If he didn't this wouldn't make much sense.
"Bob, life is all a bunch of clues, keys, signs and opportunities. You just have to listen when they are talking to you." He nodded in acknowledgment but it was never agreement. "I'll give you $500,000 a year to be my driver, bodyguard and personal confidant." A detective, a good detective would never let that one slip by.
"What do you mean by 'Personal Confidant'?" I was sure he was thinking 'Too good to be true'.
"Like a personal assistant that has no problems keeping secrets between us." His face was piling with questions. "No, nothing illegal. There are just some things I like to keep unknown to everyone. There are things that I do that people want to know, but it would destroy what I do for a living if they were ever to find out about these things before they should."
"I'm a detective," he started," and all of this sounds too good to be true." He was wrestling with so many things. I could see it in his face and hands. "First, I have so many questions about how you knew my name and my wife's name."
"Not even the half of it, Bob." It took a second before he seemed in the right state of mind to tell him. "I think knowing about Austin and Lexie is more disturbing than the fact I know about Remy," that made him stand up immediately. He was still facing the guard desk straight forward in the lobby. It was hard to tell if he was mad, confused, freaked out or all the above.
"You see, that sounds like you know me or you have been watching more or having someone watch me," his hands went up in frustration and lack of knowledge about what he didn't know.
"Trust me, Bob. It's almost that frustrating for me. Wait until I tell you about Fred over there. You just my pop a blood vessel." I chuckled and he laughed along. "Look, I know this is really strange, but I know it's right. I'll even move your family. You'll all live in my house. It'll make it easier on you and them." That popped into my head as I was saying it and since I had no reservations I went with it.
Still staring forward," I need to talk to my wife." He was a little tense and wavering in his frustration. I couldn't help but wonder if he would take the job just to have the answers he was seeking.
"Sure. Go ahead and talk to her. In fact you can ask her about it now. She's been standing on the other side of the window for the last 15 minutes watching you." He spun around in a reflex action with his eyes bulging. Watching him as he reacted was very informative about his relationship.
"Amazing! You really did know who she was." His doubt was almost insulting, but to be expected from a detective.
"Tell you what, why don't we all go have dinner and talk?" It was easy to see he was intrigued by the proposition, but probably only to get some answers.
He raised his hand and waived Remy into the building. She was dressed in dark blue jeans and a black fitted top with black leather heeled boots. Her body was slender and very attractive. Her dark hair flowed behind her as she walked.
Entering the building she was saying something to the officer at the door when Bob walked over toward her and yelled something to him to let her through. He gave her a huge hug as they met and then a peck on the lips as they pulled away. Stopping her and pulling her close, he whispered some information to her. About me I was sure and it too was expected.
Holding her hand, Bob dragged Remy over to where I was sitting. I stood up as they approached.
"Remy, this is…," a pause while he searched for the name, but he realized I hadn't told him.
"Michael," I slipped out smoothly. Bob looked puzzled. "We never got that far." He shrugged. "Remy, your husband saved my life today." She looked up at him and then to me.
"Well," she smiled with her red lipstick colored lips and pearl white teeth, "he's good at that." She looked back at him and I could see him usher a nod. "My husband said you had something you wanted to talk with both of us about." Intrigued puzzlement spread over her face along with his.
"Yes. Yes, I do." Looking down at my suit and pulling the jacket open," I was wondering if you would both have dinner with me so we could talk and," I paused looking up," I want to get out of this fucking suit!" She laughed and even snorted a bit. That made Bob and I both laugh.
"Michael, we would love to," she said with no surprise.
I reached out my hand and grabbed her left noticing the diamond on her finger and I raised it to my lips, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Remy." I could see the 'Oh great, a smooth one' look on Bob's face. "Where would you like to go? Anywhere you want on me."
Bob chimed in," Michael, we," but of course I cut him off.
"Yes you can and will. You saved my life today. A life for a meal is a great bargain!" I let go of Remy's hand as my eye's twitched a bit and my vision started to fog over. Putting my twitching right hand up to my face, "In fact, why don't you to decide and surprise me. I like everything." Raising my hand to the doorman, he rushed over quickly. He seemed overly eager to be attentive.
"Yes, sir." Under his jacket I could see the bulge of a gun. That wasn't as strange as the black tactical boots he was wearing under his pants.
"Can you have them bring my car around front?" Bob looked a little surprised. As the doorman walked to the front desk I turned to Bob, "Just tell the driver where we're going. I'll be along in a minute. I need to make a call." Pulling out my cell phone, the two of them walked out the front door to the curb as the limo pulled up. Bob said something to the driver as he opened the door for them.
I lied to Bob. I didn't need to make a call. The twitching in my eyes and right hand was happening again as it did on the sidewalk. My vision was fogging up again. Something was ringing distantly in my ears.
Fred Willis was talking to me. His voice was echoing in my mind. Shaking my head and looking over at Fred, I noticed he was looking at me. When he saw my glare he came over toward me. My eyes were so hazy I could barely make him out, even as I blinked madly trying to clear them.
"You okay?" he asked as he reached out and touched my shoulder.
When his fingers made contact with me I could see so many thoughts rush through my head at once it dropped me to my knees and had me grabbing my head. In severe confusion and pain looking up and seeing Fred, the images and blazing thoughts left as quickly as they came. Standing up and looking around, I went on as if nothing had happened.
Taking Fred's hand in mine, I looked him in the eyes," Fred, I hope you have a great day," and I headed for the door and a date with an awkward set of moments.