Obsessed

“Reminds you of what?” I go over to her and give her shoulder a gentle rub.

“It’s so easy to forget,” she says, “when it’s just you and me, and we’re together. There’s this protective bubble of ignorant bliss, you know?”

I nod, smiling. I know exactly what she means. And I also know where she’s going with this.

“So I hate when she calls and inevitably, the bubble bursts,” Emily says. “Because say she asks me to lunch. I then have to think about where I’m allowed to go, of a day when there’ll be a team available to tail me. It’s just—”

I take her into my arms again. “I know, sweetie, I know.”

“I’m so tired of it, Peter. I want my life back.”

Her utter exhaustion with the situation is evident in her voice, and it makes me feel even worse.

“Soon, okay? I can feel that we’re closing in on this guy. It’ll be soon. Promise.”

Another promise. The word is beginning to feel stale in my mouth whenever I say it. The last thing I want is to disappoint Emily, to have a part in her unhappiness. When I think about our life together, there’s no room for any of this negative bullshit. I want to be for her what she’s been for me.

But it’s becoming more and more obvious that time is running out, though. Emily won’t be able to live like this for much longer, and I can’t keep watching her grow more and more depressed about it. This is supposed to be the happiest time of our lives. And if I’m ever going to get a ring on her finger, I better start following through on these promises.

Sooner rather than later.

I get to start

on my new goal as soon as I get to work later that day when Ross comes over to me as soon as I walk in to the station.

“Hey, Chief, what’s up?”

“Same as five minutes ago when you called me. What do you have?” I continue through to my office, with Ross hurrying close behind.

“Boss.” Denise stands up behind her desk and holds out her hand as I go by.

“Hi, Denise,” I greet her in passing, swiping the stack of bright pink Post-Its from her outstretched hand. “No calls until 11, please.”

“Sure thing, Boss,” she says, and pulls my office door closed behind Ross and me.

This is the new rhythm of my work days. I start much later than I used to, not only because I like to begin my day having breakfast at home with Emily, but also because now that we’re out in South Boston, the commute is killer. During peak hours, it’s worse than that. Then I also finish up a lot earlier because I want to be home with Emily before nightfall. It’s also easier to keep a look out for anyone tailing me when the sun is up.

Emily was right this morning; living like this is exhausting.

“Please tell me you’ve got something good,” I say, sinking into the soft leather chair behind my desk.

Ross takes up one of the chairs opposite me. He looks excited, more excited than I’ve seen him in far too long. A little spark of hope ignites in my chest.

“After all the brick walls we keep coming up against,” Ross says, “this isn’t just good, Chief. It’s a godsend.”

Now he has my interest piqued. Unless he’s taking me to see Trevor locked up in custody, I don’t see what he could have that hits the same kind of high. “Well, spit it out already. I’m dying over here, man.”

Ross edges forward and leans in, like he’s getting ready to share the deepest, darkest secrets of the universe. It’s all a little dramatic in my opinion, but I’ll grant him that. He’s been busting his ass on this case. Even more than me, if you consider the amount of leg work he’s putting in. Interviews, surveillance, you name it, Ross has taken point on it all.

“We got a positive ID on the car.”

I sit up in my chair. For some reason, my breath is stilted and shallow. It’s almost as if I’m afraid that I’ll scare the good news away if I breathe too hard or make any sudden movements.

“Got a hit on the registration at some mechanic down in Stonybrook,” he says.

“Stonybrook? That’s way off-grid.”

He nods. “I know, we got lucky. He’s small time, works out of his garage at home. No cash, only EFT. And clients have to use their registration as the reference.”