Then we ran into that sweet young thing, Vixen from the third floor. I had never heard her say a pleasant word to anyone, but within minutes she and Adam were laughing like old friends. How did he do that? Before I knew it, he was telling her somewhat raunchy stories about some of the cases he had seen in court. She just loved those. At least he didn’t mention our sex life. We did, finally, make it to my apartment, but not until after another disturbing conversation with Donna that included many obvious references to a threesome.
“What in hell are you doing?” I asked as soon as we got inside.
“What do you mean?”
“What do I mean? What, are you running for office? What’s with your sudden interest in socializing with the residents of the nuthouse?”
“I’m just being friendly. If there’s something going on in your building it wouldn’t hurt to get to know your neighbors. You’re not jealous, are you?”
“Jealous?! Are you out of your f**king tree, Tarzan? Who would I be jealous of, the drunken cougar who turns tricks, or the chick who looks like an extra from Hellraiser?”
“I just don’t know why you’re getting so upset because I was nice to somebody. I’m a nice f**king guy.”
“Nice? You sold my gym clothes. You tried to sell my cat!”
“In tenth grade!”
“And a week ago you were telling me my neighbors were nuts. I know why you’re doing this, Adam. You’re trying to find the Fox. Well, not only is it unlikely that you’re going to unmask a hit man with a friendly chat, but you promised me you wouldn’t do this.”
“Lily, if you’ll recall, I was friendly to Mr. Viagra and Ms. Cougar even before all this shit happened. You’re being paranoid!”
“You knew Mr. Davis already and Donna talked to you first!”
“Okay, look. I don’t want to argue about this, because first of all, it’s stupid, and secondly, I’m starting to get turned on and I have to get some sleep tonight or Mark’s going to kick my ass all over the courtroom again tomorrow. He just loves the fact that we’re dating, by the way.”
“I have to do some serious writing anyway.”
“Will you let me bring you home again tomorrow night?”
“Okay, I guess, but let’s limit the neighborliness.”
“Whatever you want, Lily. I’m going to kiss you now, and then we’re going to stop kissing and I’m going to leave.”
“Who are you trying to convince?”
“Get over here, you nutty broad,” he said and pulled me into his arms, giving me a sweet, lingering kiss that left me wanting more.
“You know that I’m just …”
“Stop,” he interrupted. “Did you call your landlord?”
“No. I forgot,” I admitted.
“Lily! You promised me you would do that.”
“I will. Tomorrow. I swear.”
“If not, I’m moving in here no matter what. You hear me?”
“Yeah, I hear you,” I said, looking away. He took my chin and directed my gaze back to him, looking me very intently in the eyes.
“I hope so, because all the stuff you’re feeling? I’m feeling that too.” We stared at each other for a moment in a silence that felt heavy with all that we weren’t saying. “Don’t make me tie you to my bed, Lilith,” he added, with a small laugh, purposely breaking the spell. With that he turned and left.
I closed and locked my door behind me, leaning against it, and eventually sliding down to the floor like a snowball against a brick wall. I buried my face in my hands and tried to sort what I was feeling, scared, elated … frustrated. Adam had me tied up in knots, as usual.
Chapter Eighteen
Tuesday and Wednesday went pretty smoothly, and I was starting to feel rather optimistic. Thursday, Bruce and I chatted in the break room before he left at five.
“How can you stand to be here alone with Jane?” he asked.
“Shush! She’ll hear you and that’s mean. I know that she can be a little annoying…”
“Annoying? She’s a prude and a homophobe and Rochelle is her Mini Me.”
“She’s a small town person who’s really religious. I wouldn’t expect her to be all that progressive when it comes to certain issues. She thinks I’m a harlot who writes p**n . Just ignore it and let her continue to think that both you and I are going to Hell in a hand basket.”
“Well, we probably are, but at least we’ll be in good company. Jane’s personality is only one issue, though. You should be careful staying here to lock up after what you saw this weekend. You know that anybody could just walk in here and there’s nobody around after five. I don’t even know why they keep this place open until six.”
“Jane will be here with me.”
“Oh, I’m sure you can rely on the Janiac to protect you. If someone attacked you she would probably either pray or try to exchange recipes with him.”
“I think I’ll make it for one hour.”
“You should at least take my pepper spray.”
“Oh, for crying out loud.”
“Take it!” he demanded, digging some pepper spray out of his coat pocket and tucking it into my purse. I rolled my eyes and told him I would see him in the morning if I lived.
At twenty minutes to six, Jane announced that the library would be closing, which was kind of pointless, since I was pretty sure we were the only ones there, but Jane liked her procedures. I got a cart and began helping her to reshelf books. A couple of minutes later, she approached looking like she needed to tell me something, so I paused.
“Lily, I just got a message from somebody up in Judge Bradley’s chambers. They need me to bring them the slip opinions from this week.”
“Aren’t they gone by now?”
“I guess they’re working late on something. It was a new clerk who called down. Maybe he’s just trying to make a good impression. Anyway, I should be back before six, but if not, just lock up. I have my key.”
“Okay,” I said a little nervously, remembering Bruce’s warning. It didn’t help that it was dark outside and a cold November rain was pouring down. I couldn’t have written a better atmosphere for something creepy to happen. I was in the stacks on the upper level when I heard footsteps, and I assumed that Jane was back.
“Jane? Did you need something?” There was no answer, and so then I thought that I must be imagining things. I started pushing my book cart again, but when I stopped a minute later, the footsteps on the tile floor were back. “Jane, is that you?” Again, there was nothing but silence.