Chapter 4

 

Erin greeted the day before the alarm clock’s first buzz.  Mark was still a massive lump huddled under the sheets. 

 

She took a hot shower, dressed nicely and quietly made her way to the living room to grab her suitcase.

 

Erin knew that she wouldn’t be comfortable around Mark until she found out the truth.

 

“Wait a minute, honey.  Don’t you need me to drive you to the airport?”  Mark had emerged from the bedroom, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

 

“No, that’s ok.  The center is picking up the tab for the parking.  I would rather take myself.  I’m still not quite sure whether I will be returning on Thursday or Friday.”  Erin had prepared a few responses to questions like these.

 

“Do you have enough time to make us some breakfast?”  Mark asked.  “It would be nice to spend a few minutes together before you leave.” 

 

“Translation:  ‘I’m a lost puppy.  Where’s my kibble?’”  Erin thought to herself.

“Sorry, Mark, I really have to go.” 

 

Erin wasn’t sure what had gotten into her, but she felt alive again for the first time in a long time.  She didn’t have to feel important to Mark, because she was important- to God, to her parents, to her son, to herself.  This was her turn to stand up for herself, even if Mark didn’t recognize it as that.  Saying no to Mark was a big step for Erin.  She was risking his approval.  Something she once thought she desperately needed.

 

Erin made her way downtown that morning.  She turned down the roof of the convertible, and let the wind blow her hair. 

 

“How funny it is,” Erin thought, “that something as simple as the wind in your hair can remind you that you are alive.”  Erin was in awe of this sense of freedom and life and joy, even in the midst of such a trial. 

 

Erin pulled into the parking garage at the Manhattan, a favorite hotel in the area.  After checking in and allowing the doorman to assist her with her luggage, she remembered to call Ty.

 

“Ty Williams…” the voice greeted her.

 

“Yes, Ty, good morning.”  Erin said.

 

“Erin!” Ty sounded happy to hear from her.

 

“I’m all checked in at the Manhattan on Robinson Street.  I’m calling you from my room.  It’s on the seventh floor, room 719.”

 

“So, what was it like last night?”  Ty asked, sounding concerned, “Did Mark seem suspicious of anything?” 

 

“No, he didn’t seem to be.  He only seemed concerned about what he would be having for breakfast.”  Erin was quick to comment.

 

“Oh, I see.”  Ty replied.  This was not Ty’s first experience with men who wanted to have wives in their kitchen, but not in their business. “How can I get a hold of you?”

 

“You can either ring me here or on my cell.”  Erin said. 

 

“What are your plans for the day?”  Ty asked.

 

“I was thinking about having lunch at O’Malley’s later.  It’s in the lobby of the Manhattan.  Would you like to join me?”

 

“Actually, that would be nice.  I may bring my partner, Stan, along.  I owe him a lunch.  How does 12:30 suit your schedule?”  Ty was pleased at the prospect of having lunch with Erin.  He was quite fond of her. 

 

“That would be great.”  Erin smiled.  “After that I’ll probably just come back to the room and get some rest.”  At that moment, Erin heard her cell phone ring and it startled her.  Her nerves were starting to catch up with her.  She had felt so invincible this morning. 

 

“I need to let you go, Ty.  I’m getting another call.”

 

“Alright, kiddo.  See you at lunch.”  Ty said.

 

“See you then.”  Erin quickly ended the conversation, hung up her room phone and reached for her cell.   “It’s my parents.”  Erin said to herself as she read the caller ID.

 

“Hello.  Mom?  Dad?  Is everything okay?”  Erin started.

 

“Fine, sweetheart.”  Her mother replied.  “I just wanted to make sure that you are settled in.” 

 

“Oh, yes.  Sorry, I jumped the gun.  I’m at The Manhattan downtown.  Room number 719.”  Erin sounded relieved.  “How’s Brandon.”

 

“He’s fine.  Better than fine, actually.  He and his Papa just left to do some fishing.  He was so excited this morning.”  Her mother chuckled.   

 

“I’m so glad.”  Erin smiled.

 

“Erin…you know that you can tell your father and me anything, right?”  Her mother asked.

 

“Yes, mom, I know.  I just don’t know exactly what’s going on right now.”  Erin’s voice sounded serious.

 

“I understand, honey.  Get some rest.  Rejuvenate.  Pray.  Remember there is nothing too big for God to handle.”

 

“Yes ma’am.”  Erin sighed as a tear rolled down her cheek.  “I really need to go, mom.  Tell Brandon I love him when he gets back.”

 

“Okay honey.  Bye.”  Her mother said.

 

Erin arrived downstairs at O’Malley’s at 12:15.  She was early, but she really had nothing else to do.  Erin requested a secluded booth for a party of three, in the far back corner of the restaurant. 

 

O’Malley’s was such a quaint place.  Traditional Irish food, dim lighting, hand crafted wooden tables and chairs, and the faintest sound of Irish folk music weaving it’s way in and out of each conversation. 

 

Erin began to sip her hot tea when she saw Ty making his way towards her booth with a rather handsome man to his left.  

 

“Erin, this is my partner, Stan Parker.  Stan, this is Erin McCoy, dear friend and new client.”  Ty was always kind with his introductions.

 

Stan had very strong, handsome features.  Erin tried not to notice, although her best efforts could not keep her from admiring the strong shape of his jaw.  He was very polished- nice suit, thick hair, dashing smile. 

 

“Hello.  Nice to meet you.”  Erin extended her hand to Stan who gently held it for a moment and gave it a polite shake.  Stan Parker personified charisma.  Erin tried desperately not to get lost in his baby blues and to pay attention to what he was saying.

 

“The pleasure is all mine.”  Stan was quick to retort.  “I hope you don’t mind my tagging along, but the old man promised me a lunch.”

 

“Who are you calling ‘old man’, little boy?”  Ty was rather quick himself, but the friendliness in his voice let on to the level of fondness Ty and Stan seemed to share for one another.  “Ever since I took this one under my wing, he thinks he rules the roost.  He’ll learn one day.”  Ty winked at Erin to indicate that she was a welcome participant in their playful banter.

 

The rest of lunch was quite pleasant.  Erin and Stan spent most of it enthralled by Ty’s stories of old cases, hunting trips, and of course, the car accident that he had been in.  The way Ty spoke of the accident, any bystander would have thought that it was rather comical.  Erin and Stan both knew differently.  Erin had seen what the accident had done to Ty’s body, while Stan was more privy to what it had done to his spirit.  Although it had not broken Ty- it was something that had greatly lessened his nerve.

 

“Erin, seeing as you are to be a part of this investigation, I thought that maybe you could escort Stan to pickup some surveillance equipment for the firm.”  Ty suggested as he picked up the bill for lunch.  “Of course, I understand if you need to get back to your room and rest up.”

 

“No, actually, I would like that.  I’m not so sure that I would get any sleep with my mind going a hundred miles a minute, anyway.”  Erin admitted.

 

“I look forward to having the company.”  Stan smiled.  “If you will excuse me, I’m going to go pull the car around.” 

 

Ty waited out front with Erin as Stan pulled up to the covered walkway in front of the hotel. 

 

Ty helped Erin into the front seat.  He walked over to Stan’s window and handed him a folded piece of paper. 

 

“These are the items we are in need of.  Put them on the card.”  Ty said.

 

“Yes sir.”  Stan saluted his partner and Ty gave out a chuckle.  He appreciated the reverence, even if it was just for laughs. 

 

Erin adored the pair of them.  They were such a good match of old and new, comfort and excitement.  It was just what she needed to remind her that she was alive and that her world wouldn’t completely fall apart without Mark.  

 

The drive to pick up the equipment lasted about an hour.  Erin spent most of it in deep thought.  She couldn’t believe that in a matter of two days she had lied to her husband, booked a hotel room, enjoyed lunch with two men, neither of whom were Mark, and now she was picking up spy equipment.

 

“We’re here.”  Stan said while placing the car in park. 

 

Erin looked at the building; it was nothing special.  Actually, she would have never even noticed the building from the highway.

 

“What is this place?”  Erin asked.

 

“They carry all of the latest gadgets and some of the old faithful tools of the trade.”  Stan smirked.

 

“Why does it look like a run down chicken farm?”  Erin realized that she was new to the scene, but it didn’t look like anywhere that carried anything, circa the 21^st century. 

 

“It’s exclusive.  Not advertised.  You have to be a member to buy from here.  It’s a rather well kept secret.”  Stan was impressed with his own importance.  “Wait a minute.  I forgot to blindfold you on the way here.  You know what that means?”

 

“You have to kill me?”  Erin joked.

 

“It means I’m going to have to keep close tabs on you from now on.”  Stan seemed pleased with his idea.  “You know, to make sure that you don’t leak any information about my super-secret, spy-stuff, chicken farm.”

 

Erin blushed at the forward nature the conversation seemed to be taking, but she liked it. 

 

Stan and Erin entered the white shack and what lied behind the rough exterior was anything but shabby.  Glass cases, neat metal shelves lined with what appeared to be ordinary everyday instruments.  Stan left Erin to browse and caught up with her after about ten minutes.

 

“Okay, I’ve got what we need.  Are you ready?”  Stan asked.

 

“Sure.” Erin replied.  “I must confess that I have no idea what I have been looking at.” 

 

“That’s the whole idea.”  Stan said “The best equipment is discreet, nearly undetectable- unless of course, you know what you are looking at.  Here, let me show you some of what I just picked up.”

 

When they got to the car, Stan motioned for Erin to come take a look at the merchandise he was loading into the trunk. 

 

“Let’s see, funny looking binoculars.” Erin guessed.

 

“Night-vision.” Stan corrected her and then pulled the next item from his pack.

 

“A button?”  Erin asked.

 

“Wireless Cam.” Stan smiled.  “Okay, last try.  What’s this?”  Stan held the item up for Erin’s close examination.

 

“It looks like a…”  Erin’s eyes lit up.  “Is it some sort of tracking device?”

 

“Very good.  Yes it is.  In fact- you and Ty will probably be using this one.”  Stan commented.

 

“What do you mean?  Using it for what?  To track Mark?”  Erin felt like she had just been snapped back into reality.

 

“Well, yes…” said Stan. “That’s the whole idea, right?”

 

“Sorry, I still can’t believe that it has come to this.”  Erin stumbled with her words.

 

“No, don’t apologize.  I shouldn’t have given you so much information.  I need to be more sensitive.  Forgive me?”  Stan asked.

 

Erin wasn’t used to someone considering her feelings for a change.  Part of her wanted to run off into the sunset with this man.  The rest of her knew that it would be wrong.

 

Erin and Stan spent the ride back to the hotel with a bit of tension in the air.  That hadn’t happened to Erin in years.  Stan loved listening to Erin talk about her son and her job.  No matter what the subject was, she was mesmerizing.  He found himself wishing that Ty would find out something terrible about Mark.

 

Stan pulled in front of the Manhattan, got out of the car and walked over to Erin’s door to help her out.

 

“May I walk you to your room?”  Stan asked as he offered her his hand.

 

Erin stared deep into Stan’s eyes,  “I’m not sure that would be appropriate, given the circumstances.”  Her whole face blushed.

 

“You’re right, of course.  I wasn’t thinking.”  Stan did his best to convince Erin that his intentions were innocent. 

 

“Have a good night.”  Erin said. 

 

As she turned and walked through the large doors of the hotel, exhaustion crashed over her like a wave.  Within minutes, she was in her room and had succumbed to her body’s request for sleep.