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“Hmm. Guess she’s out.”
“She’s out, alright. She’smovedout.” I turn my phone around to show Josie the empty apartment.
“You breaking and entering now? Careful, Roger, you’re on the verge of turning stalker there.”
“I bought the place.”
Her jaw drops at that. She ceases her shopping and gives me her full attention. “Are there any more men like you out there?”
“You mean stalkers?”
“You’ve turned stalking into a romantic art form. I’m down with it.”
“Then, please, can you tell me where she is?”
“Roger, she’s my best friend,” Josie screams at me. She’s very loud. She goes back to holding up items of clothing to herself. “If Natalie doesn’t want you to find her, then I have to respect her wishes, you know.”
“There’s more going on here than we thought. It’s imperative I speak with her.”
“Don’t you think she’s better off without the craziness of your world? Let her go. Let her get her life back together again.”
“But that’s what I’m saying, Icanput things back together for us.”
“You can’t, Roge,” Josie says, suddenly serious. “Not by buying up buildings.”
That comment takes some of the wind out of my sails.
“I know,” I admit. “But I… I want to take care of her. I appreciate that you’re trying to protect her. But, so am I. I’m doingmorethan trying to protect her. I’m trying to salvage everything she’s lost. Yes, I can buy buildings to try and help with that, but the money’s an expression of… of something more. I care about her, Josie.”
“That’s very sweet,” Josie tells me.
I sense she might be beginning to crack, so I press my case.
“You called me that night,” I say. “You helped bring us back together that time. Which means, you know there’s something between her and me. Something worth fighting for.”
“I can’t betray her trust,” Josie says. I start to protest, but she talks over me. “Just imagine how upset Natalie would be,” she goes on, “if I told you she had to move all the way out to another borough. Seriously, just think, if she knew I told you she was in Queens… she’d be so angry with me.”
I smile at Josie’s image on my screen. “Where in Queens can’t you tell me she’s at?”
She shakes her head. “You can only get me to break so far, Roge. Even with looks as good as yours.”
Beggars can’t be choosers, I guess. At least Josie’s narrowed my search down a little. “Thanks, Josie,” I say, sincerely grateful.
“She’s a special lady,” Josie says. “You don’t deserve her.”
“I know.”
“That said, in all seriousness,arethere any more like you? You have a brother or something?”
“Bye, Josie.”
I hang up. I’m one step closer to getting her back, and it feels like I’ve struck gold.
Just then, there’s a knock on the door. I let Dennis and his crew in. I notice the grotesque landlord has followed them. He tries to get a glimpse inside the apartment, but I slam the door in his face.
Dennis stares in horror at the apartment, then looks at me. He’s clearly suspicious. “Lemme guess. Another demolition?”
“You know it.”
