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For the next eight months, Marcus was very happy with Carmen. His divorce from Randa was final, and Marcus thought that his relationship with Carmen would last, but that wasn’t the case. Over time, Marcus noticed that Carmen seemed bored and a bit distracted. One night over dinner, Carmen surprised Marcus when she asked, “How would you feel if I started working again?”
“I think that’s a great idea, Carmen. I know how much you love it,” Marcus said between mouthfuls, not knowing the full extent of what she was proposing.
“What would you say if I was modeling in Europe?”
Marcus put down his fork. “Why Europe, Carmen?”
“That’s where the work is. That’s where my connections are.”
“Why can’t you work here in Atlanta?”
“Marcus, I’m thirty years old, working in an industry where most of my competition is ten years younger than me. I haven’t found anything here. My new agent doesn’t return my calls half the time. And when he finally has something for me, and I do go on those calls, I’m the oldest one there. I feel like I’m their mother.”
“I didn’t know you had been out trying,” Marcus said. She could hear the disappointment creeping into his voice.
“You’re a very busy man, Marcus. You’re gone every day, all day. I needed something to do, other than hang out with my mother,” Carmen explained.
A week later she had sublet her condo and was on her way back to Europe. At first, Marcus talked to Carmen every day. Since there was a six-hour time difference, Carmen had to set her alarm for five A.M. so she would catch Marcus in bed. She said it was a way for them to be in bed together. They would spend hours talking until either Marcus fell asleep or she had to get up. However, as Carmen got more work and shoots began early, her calls became less frequent and were never as long.
They continued to speak every day. The calls usually consisted of a rundown of their day, plans to talk later, apologies for not calling the night before, and then, “I love you,” Marcus would say.
“I love you more,” Carmen would reply. “We’ll speak later?”
“Definitely,” Marcus would say with a promise, and then they would both hang up, getting back to their separate lives.
After his last appointment had gone, Marcus was preparing to go home for the evening when
Janise called. “I have Garrett Mason on line one for you,” she announced.
“Thanks, Janise,” Marcus replied and picked up the call.
Garrett Mason used to be a detective for the city of Atlanta police, but he got caught up in a corruption scandal. He was a good cop who simply got involved in something that wasn’t what it seemed.
Garrett had seen Marcus around the courthouse on occasions when he had to testify in a case. When his lawyer recommended that he plead guilty to a lesser charge and resign quietly for the good of the department, Garrett fired him and asked Marcus to defend him. He was eventually cleared of the charges, but the damage was done. He quit the force and went into business for himself as a private investigator. Garrett had done some work for Marcus, and over the years they'd become good friends.
“This is Marcus.”
“What’s up big dawg?”
“Got something I need you to look into for me. That is if you’re not too busy.”
“Never too busy for you, Marcus. What you got?” Garrett asked.
“Nothing major, just a divorce case. Wife thinks her husband is cheating on her.”
“Divorce, huh?” Garrett asked, obviously less than excited.
“Yeah, divorce. You know, you follow the guy, see who he’s banging. Take some pictures; get some info on the woman—”
“Do we at least know it’s a woman? You remember that one time,” Garrett cautioned.
“She can’t say one way or the other, but it doesn’t matter.”
“It matters when you’re the one taking the pictures,” Garrett joked. “I personally don’t wanna see that shit.”
“I know what you’re saying,” Marcus agreed.
“Who’s the guy?”
