Presently, Mitchell did not answer his phone or return any of Elizabeth’s messages. As of late, this was a habit of his. She got out of bed and flipped on the light. In attempt to occupy her mind, she let her thoughts roam until finally, it fixed on calling Noah. But doing so might give Chloe a wrong impression. How hurtful and mean it would be to call on another who was in bed with their significant other.
But Elizabeth still desired him. Mitchell was to her a good companion, but at the same time was someone who only filled a void. She told herself that with due time, she would learn to love Noah less and thus, learn to love Mitchell more. It was already in the process. She could note how her feelings for Noah abated. But in nights such as these, when her lover was nowhere to be found, the only man she thought of for solace was a man already spoken for. Oh how poor timing can be! If only Chloe had met up with a different man, or perhaps if she herself had the courage to tell Noah her true thoughts!
At this moment, her phone rang.
“Hello? Mitchell?”
Elizabeth listened to the phone with fingers so tightly wrapped around that her fingers were now red.
“When will you come here? It’s late.” As she paused listening, her eyes roamed around the quiet room. “You’re at Bryant Park? Ok, I will wait for you. But please, come quickly.” Elizabeth jumped out of bed and ran to her closet as if a fire loomed near.
At lunch the next day, Noah debated on whether to tell Elizabeth about her cheating companion. The thought of her in pain ached his chest. He could not summon the courage to come forth with the news. Noah instead thought he rationalize and get insight about how the relationship was going before crimpling his friend’s relationship in such haste.
“Are you still considering moving in with Mitchell? I think an apartment in our building is about to open up,” said Noah passively but with intent eyes.
“We are discussing it,” answered Elizabeth quickly while looking down.
“How are things going with you two? As of late, you’ve been quiet about him. I don’t see you as cheerful as before.”
Elizabeth hesitated. She chewed her lettuce slowly to buy extra time. She said:
“I don’t know how things are going actually. He’s been aloof as of late.”
“Aloof?”
“Yes, distant. I thought I’ve done something wrong, but when I press him about it he turns the other direction or changes the subject. I have no idea what’s going on.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. She looked into Noah’s eyes sincerely and said: “I just have no idea anymore.”
“Are you in love with him?”
“He hit me.”
Noah dropped his fork. He gave an astonished look and attempted to lock eyes with Elizabeth who turned her face away.
“Elizabeth. Elizabeth? Please look at me! Did you say he hit you?” screamed Noah. “What on Earth are you talking about?”
Elizabeth did not answer, but instead looked in the opposite direction.
“Where? Are you ok? When? Why? Elizabeth! Did you call the police? Elizabeth? Please talk to me!”
Noah was out of breath.
Elizabeth did not know why she lied to Noah. Perhaps she was desperate for his attention, or any kind of it for that matter. Mitchell had neglected her. She reminded herself of all the nights she spent alone and remembered that particular sentiment made her feel terrible.
She could see Noah was in need of an answer. The look on his face searched for some meaning or understanding.
“I believe he is having an affair. To think we are considering moving in together! I feel stupid.” As she said this Elizabeth began to cry.
Noah took her into his arms. She tucked her face deep into his chest. This was all she wanted to begin with: To be in his arms. The warmth of his body added comfort to her body and safety to her mind. She did not like to lie. But at that moment, she did not want to be anywhere else but in the arms of the man she really loved.
Noah held her until the streams of tears ended. They finished their lunch in silence and returned to the day’s work in gloom. At their desks, they both sucked up the feeling of holding each other. Their bodies together brought to Elizabeth new hope, and to Noah new strength and vigor. How could one neglect someone as sweet and kind as Elizabeth? The mere thought of her existing propelled Noah to new heights.
At this moment, as Noah fixed his eyes on a blank computer screen, he started on a plan to put an end to Mitchell Schlossberg.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
After dinner, Chloe fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillows. Noah gently uncovered himself from the sheets, and dressed. He took the train from Forest Hills to Grand Central Station.
Noah waited around to get a glimpse of Mitchell. He walked up to Bryant Park, but the streets were bare and desolate. It was a quiet evening. There was no wind in the air. No loud horns to be heard from taxis. And Mr. Mitchell Schlossberg was nowhere to be found.
The next day, Noah made plans with Elizabeth to watch a film at her apartment. He enthusiastically told her about the plot and history of the feature in hopes of enticing her to spend a full evening with him.
But really he wanted to find out if Mitchell would arrive late to meet her. If not, he would slip out in search of him. Luck happened to shine on Noah that evening. As Noah sat next to Elizabeth, in the dark, watching a classic film he himself had never seen, he tactfully asked about Mitchell and his whereabouts.
“He’s working late near Union Square,” said Elizabeth. “He said he would try to make it over and catch a glimpse of the movie’s ending. He’s seen it before.”
Elizabeth chewed on some popcorn. Miles came up to smell the bowl and its melting butter. The feline glided up to Noah and nudged his knees with her head.
“How cute! Little Miles likes you Noah.”
“Pets always like me. Kids too. I don’t know why. Hi baby Miles.” Noah enunciated her name as if she were a newborn child.
Miles was a grey and black tabby. Her tummy had streaks of white, brown, and grey.
Noah’s eyebrows were stuck upward; he had a question for Elizabeth but was reluctant to ask all evening. As he petted Miles, the courage suddenly appeared in his heart to ask.
“I’ve meant to ask you, did Mitchell ever touch you again?” As the words came out he could feel the tension in his chest release.
Elizabeth laughed hysterically out loud. Noah noted the desperation in her laugh. How could such a thing be so funny? Noah scratched his head.
“Oh don’t worry about that. It was a one-time thing. Forget I ever said anything.”
“But it is serious Elizabeth! How could you ever tell someone to forget something like that? Are you insane?”
There was a long pause between the two. Elizabeth finally broke the silence.
“I lied about that.”
“You what?”
“I lied about him hitting me. He’s never laid a finger on me. In fact, Mitchell is fairly good to me. Except for some absent evenings, I’d say he is quite the gentleman. Maybe I’m being to hard on him.”
“So why did you say he did what he did?”
Elizabeth took Miles into her arms. She petted her for a bit.
“I don’t know. I was feeling lonely. And I wanted your attention.”
Noah blushed. He could feel blood swarm his cheeks. It made him happy to hear she wanted his attention. It made him feel forceful and needed. The air in his chest grew and forced him to sit upright. To be thought of as useful, from someone like her, gave him a wonderful feeling.
But now he thought he would come forward about Mitchell’s rendezvous with another woman. He wanted to let Elizabeth know what he really thought of the man; that he was cunning, elusive, and always seemed to carry with him a hidden agenda. An agenda that advanced his wants and needs at the cost of others.
He didn’t know how Elizabeth would receive the news. After all, the couple got along well with Chloe; perhaps she would think he was being paranoid. He decided it was
best to obtain proof first that way he had something to supplement his accusations.
Noah quickly stood up like a frightened cat jumping up in the air.
“Elizabeth, I should get going. Chloe is probably wondering where I am.”
“Oh, but what about the movie? It’s not even close to the best part. Was it something I said? I’m sorry if I was deceiving you about Mitchell hitting me. I don’t mean to lie to you.”
“It’s not that.”
Noah gathered himself and started for the door. He continued:
“I have to do something. Let’s finish this tomorrow. Is that okay Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth stood up. Noah could see the disappointment in her beautiful blue eyes. She frowned a little. This made Noah’s heart sink. He hated to see her in distress; to think of her alone and lonely made him agitated to the point his hands shook. It was even worse to be the one who caused her distress in the first place.
“Sure, that’s fine Noah.”
“See you tomorrow.”
And with that, Noah dashed out of the door quickly; he couldn’t stand to see her face like that. As he walked down the stairs he tripped and rolled down a flight of stairs.
Elizabeth reopened her door.
“Are you ok Noah?”
“Yes, just fine.” Noah dusted himself off. “I just fell down these stairs, again,” as this rolled off his tongue, Noah grew embarrassed by the truth and his forwardness. He wished he were in stealth mode. Stupid klutz, he thought to himself.
Outside, the warm air breezed through Noah’s hair as he hailed a taxi. When he tracked one down, he said:
“Union Square please.”
Noah waited around in the park. A man, dressed up as the Statue of Liberty approached him. He gave Noah a blank stare. Finally, he asked:
“Would you like a flyer?”
“No,” responded Noah nervously.
“Well, fuck you then! A big fucks you in the face. What, something wrong with my flyer? But I’ll bet you’ll take a flyer from a guy across the street!”
Noah stared at the man with a blank stare. The two eyed each other for what seemed the longest minute to Noah. The dressed up man noted:
“It’s just an accounting flyer. Tax season is here. Come on man take one.”
“Ok. Give me one.”
The man’s lips formed a smile. He then started to talk to Noah as if they were long lasting friends. He called Noah his brother and if Noah observed correctly, he thought the man might hug him at any moment.
Then on a sudden Noah’s eyes grew wide. He spotted Mitchell walking right past him with yet a different woman! She was a pretty blonde who looked much like Elizabeth, but was fairly shorter and had green eyes. Her nose was fairly larger than Elizabeth’s. At the moment the two were holding hands.
Noah excused himself from his new friend, who was reluctant to let Noah go. Noah followed the two as they walked up north on Broadway. This was it: The moment he would get his evidence. He planned to use his mobile phone to snap photos of Mitchell and his mistress and return them for Elizabeth to view her lover’s misdeeds.
Noah slipped his hand into pocket pants and pulled out his cell phone. He aimed the lens at his target. Finally, when he was satisfied with the composition and was about to take the photo, the phone started to ring, which delayed his photo.
“Hello? Hello! Cookie? God damn it call me back. Bye. Bye!” Noah quickly ended the phone call, aimed his phone at Mitchell. He readjusted his grip. “God damn it Cookie,” he whispered to himself. He was about to push the button to snap a photo when his phone rang yet again.
“Cookie? What? No. No! I didn’t mean call me right back! I meant call me back later. Not now. No, I meant later. No, my reception is fine. Okay man! Call me back later!” Noah paused and listened to Cookie speak over the phone. “Just call me later. Yes in five minutes, that’s fine. Okay, ten minutes. I don’t care! Just call me later! Bye!”
Noah quickly ended the call. He aimed his phone at Mitchell, who was still walking on Broadway with the blonde woman. He was about to snap a photo when the phone suddenly went to black.
“Oh my god. Oh my god.”
Noah slapped his phone profusely. He flipped it around and then back to its front.
“Fucking battery!”
Noah watched as Mitchell faded up Broadway. He pretended to throw the phone at him. He pumped back his arm with the phone in his right hand. He held it like it was a football about to be released for a quick pass.
Noah did this two times. On the third time he did not mockingly throw his phone; it actually slipped out of hands. The phone slowly flew in the air as if the power of gravity ceased control of it. It floated away from him and towards Mitchell’s head, when on a sudden, coming out of a burger place on the left, was an elder lady holding a bag containing her supper.
The phone smacked her right in the forehead. She dropped the bag of food to the ground and fell on her rear. Mitchell did not hear or notice and continued walking with his mistress. They faded up the street out of sight.
Noah ran up to the lady in desperation.
“Old lady, old lady. Are you ok? Are you with us? Are you going to die?”
“Someone hit me with a fucking brick! What the hell? I am seeing, I am seeing horses!”
The old lady started to rub her forehead.
“I’m so sorry old lady. I didn’t…”
“Who the hell hit me with a fucking brick young man? Did you see who it was?”
“I didn’t, actually. I didn’t catch him yet.” Noah picked up his cell phone from the ground and placed it gingerly in his rear pocket. In the opposite direction he started to run. He yelled: “You wait here old lady, I’ll catch him and bring him back. Wait here!”
Noah started to run down Broadway towards Fourteenth Street in pursuit of some phantom. He shouted:
“You come back here you criminal! How dare you hit an old lady?”
Bystanders on the street moved out of his way. Noah looked back and saw the old lady. A man and a woman stood near the old lady to assist her in standing up.
Noah turned the corner out of sight. He remembered where the nearest train station was and headed in that direction. When he hopped on the train, he was out of breath. He calmed himself in the chilly air-conditioned train ride. It wasn’t until he reached Brooklyn did Noah realize he was heading in the wrong direction. He jumped off the train and transferred to another line heading uptown. When he got on the train, his lungs were full of air.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“What’s wrong with your dinner honey?”
“Nothing Chloe. I’m sorry. I guessed I am a bit distracted with work. Somebody was doing something today they should not have been. But the dinner is lovely babe. How was your day?”
Chloe stood up and walked to the counter to retrieve an opened bottle of white wine. She poured Noah’s glass to the top and then helped herself.
“My day was wonderful. I took photos in Brooklyn for that couple I told you about getting married next month. They are such a pretty couple. They were so happy.”
“Oh right. Get good shots today?”
“The light was just perfect today. It wasn’t too cloudy, but not too bright. I love these overcast days. The couple didn’t have to squint, you know?”
The door buzzer rang. It startled Chloe. She turned to Noah and said:
“I wonder who on that could be?”
Noah stood up and walked to the front door. When he opened the door, nobody was there.
“Hello?”
Silence.
“Babe, who is it?” shouted Chloe.
“Nobody.”
As Noah was closing the door, a figure of a little boy jumped out and startled Noah.
“Cookie! Dude, what are you doing here? Babe its just Cookie.”
Cookie walked in the apartment. He shook Noah’s hand and then gave him a tight hug.
“Just Cookie? What the heck man,” said Cookie in a joshing m
anner. He then turned to examine Chloe. “This must be the Ms. Chloe. Hi there I am Cookie.”
“Why hello,” she said while extending her right hand. “I’ve heard so much about you. What brings you to New York? Have you had any dinner? Will you please sit with us?” Chloe was generally nervous with new people. To compensate for her nerves, she spoke rather quickly in result.
“Yes, actually I haven’t eaten yet. I just got of the train.”
“Cookie what brings you to New York? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I called you, but dude, you told me to call you back. Remember? You were being freaking rude to me man, what’s up with that?” Cookie started to shake his head. “Sounded like you were in some trouble.”
“I’m sorry, I was having trouble with the phone.” Noah’s face turned red as he remembered hitting the old lady with his phone. He quickly turned the attention back to Cookie. “How long are you here for? You will stay with us of course, right?”
Cookie chuckled. He examined his surroundings.
“Well, that’s why I am here. Of course I want to stay with you. I am just doing some east coast touring actually. I’ll be here for a few days then I’ll be heading down to D.C. My first time on the east coast and so far I like it.”
Cookie still appeared as he did in junior high school. He was a short man with dark black hair that was cut short. His hairline had receded. He still carried in his walk a spritely and lively manner. If one were to spot him at a large party he most likely would be identified as the gregarious one of the bunch. His easygoing manner made him a target for new people to introduce themselves; it was easy to be comfortable in his company. Cookie asked:
“So what’s for dinner?”
Cookie sat down to a meal and ate with a large appetite. He reconnected with Noah; the two had a jolly time talking matters about the past and present. Cookie was extra energetic that night. He wondered if the couple would join him for a drink somewhere in the city. Chloe was reluctant. She had an early morning engagement so had to pass. She announced her plans to get up at dawn and start editing photos in the studio lab.
Later, Cookie helped with the dishes. When the chores were near completion, Chloe insisted the two head out immediately. She offered Noah her lips and then they headed out.