The Emerald Lie

I disappeared.

Utterly

Completely

Disastrously.

Post Emily, and I mean hours after, I got in touch with the only nun I knew.

Sister Maeve. She’d asked me for assistance in a very nasty, vicious case years before. It went like most of my work.

Apeshit, down the doomed toilet.

People got badly hurt but, somehow, Maeve got the result she was seeking and gave most of the credit to God and maybe ten percent to me. Enough to have her grateful. Few more valuable assets than a thankful nun. Ask the Vatican.

She agreed to mind the pup for a time; how long I didn’t know. Maeve had the completely unlined face habitual to her calling. And such peaceful eyes as if she had seen the total plan. She said,

“I will be happy to have the company of this little fellah for a while.”

Best of all, the pup liked her.

Back at the apartment, I was grabbing what hidden cash I had, decided to leave the gun. I was feeling so dark, it would be too much of a lure. I wore my Garda coat as stormy weather of a personal type was very much on the cards. I looked around the place; even my bookcase gave no comfort. I was just about to leave when a knock at the door. Opened it to Doc.

Who looked?

Apprehensive?

I spat,

“What?”

“May I come in?”

“No, I’m just leaving.”

He tried to see over my shoulder, asked,

“Where’s the pup?”

“The fuck do you care, asshole?”

He seemed crushed, tried,

“Is this about Em?”

“Em! When do you get to call her that?”

He tried another tack, said,

“Look, I know it’s a surprise and we should have said something before this but, cross my heart, it took us as much by surprise.”

I brushed past him, said,

“Have a nice life.”

He shouted,

“Shouldn’t you be happy for her?”

Jesus, nearly a clean getaway. I stopped, said, real quiet,

“I’d have thought you might be more comfortable with someone your own age.”

He put his hand on me. I looked at his hand and he withdrew, said,

“Okay, I get it. You’re protective, but in time you’ll come around and, you know, I was hoping you might do me the honor of being my best man.”

Aw, sweet Lord. I stared at him for one long moment then spun on my heel and left. I was halfway along Shop Street when a guy stepped in front of me, said,

“Cheer up, fellah, it’s nearly Christmas.”

I said,

“So much to look forward to, I’m dizzy with choice.”