Alina
A DELICIOUS SORENESS reminded me of the hours and hours Max and I spent wrapped up in each other. I swore he put me in every position imaginable, not that I was complaining. Some of them may have even been at my suggestion.
As my eyelids flitted open, I smiled at seeing the streams of morning light cascading through the sheer white curtains in my bedroom. I was unbelievably happy, too happy almost. Pushing all fear aside something would go wrong, I reached over to where Max was sleeping, but all I felt was empty space, the sheets on his side of the bed still relatively warm.
“Max,” I called out. Nothing but silence. “Where did he go?” I mumbled to myself, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. After checking the bathroom and a couple of the spare bedrooms, I proceeded to the top of the staircase, descending the steps when I heard my cell ringing. Rushing to retrieve it from the dining table where I’d left it the night before, I prayed it wasn’t the hospital calling to give me bad news. I answered the call without checking the screen.
“Hello.”
“Is this Alina Winthrop?”
“Yes, it is. Is my father all right?” Frantic thoughts took over and I prepared myself for the worst. If everything was okay my father would’ve called me himself.
“I don’t know anything about your father. This is Detective Hamm from the NYPD. You spoke to an Officer Strinson last month about an assault involving a Rick Glinn. Does that ring a bell?”
What kind of question was that? As if I’d forget a man attacking me. “Yes, I remember,” I confirmed. “Can you tell me why you’re calling?”
Instead of answering, he kept on talking. “I also understand his wife was a client of yours, that the assault happened because of your relationship with Tanya Glinn. Is that correct?”
“Um . . . I guess . . . yeah. He came after me because he didn’t like the advice I was giving his wife.”
“Okay.” There was a long pause. “Well I’m calling you today to tell you your case has been settled.”
“Settled? What does that mean? Did you arrest him?”
“Yes. Not in conjunction with your attack but for the murder of Tanya Glinn.” It took a moment for his words to compute, to fully wrap around my brain and process.
“She’s dead?” My question was rhetorical in nature since he’d already given me the answer. “But how? She was staying with her sister in Detroit. How did this happen? When did this happen?”
“He was arrested two days ago but since we’re still working on the case, I cannot give you any more details other than what I’ve already shared.”
“I understand.” A tear rolled down my cheek for the loss of a young woman, a mother. A woman who loved the wrong man. A woman who was terrified and who tried to escape only to fall into his hands one last fatal time. “Thank you for calling, Detective.”
After ending the call, I stood still, the shock of hearing the news still not fully resonating. I’d heard the words and knew the detective told me the truth, yet I found it difficult to believe such a tragic thing had happened. I knew the possibility existed Rick could end up killing her one day, but thinking such a thing and hearing it had come true were worlds apart.
Completely lost to my own thoughts, I screamed when fingers gently squeezed my shoulder.
Whirling around with my hand clutched over my heart, I saw Max’s shocked expression.
“You scared the hell out of me,” I gasped, my heart beating wildly against my chest.
“I said your name like three times. You didn’t hear me?” He placed his hands on my shoulders and frowned. “Are you okay?”
My mind whirled back to the phone call, my brain still doing a shitty job of processing the information.
“I got a phone call before you walked in,” I said, distress coating my words.
“Is it your father?”
“No.” I took a deep breath. “A detective called to tell me that they have Rick Glinn in custody.” I stopped speaking because I wanted to prolong the rest of the story. Once I told Max, it would be all too real. Foolish and delusional, I knew.
“That’s good news. At least you don’t have to look over your shoulder now. And I can stop worrying every time you’re out of my sight.” Tilting his head, he said, “Why don’t you look relieved?”
“Because the reason he’s in custody is because he killed her.” One tear fell, then another. “That monster killed Tanya.” I was full-on sobbing within seconds, and it wasn’t until Max took me into his arms that I started to calm.
“I’m so sorry,” he soothed. “I didn’t realize you were so close to her.” He held me while I composed myself. “Just awful,” he whispered, before kissing the top of my head.
When I’d finally gathered myself, I said, “I wasn’t close to her, but I feel awful for what happened. I’d come face-to-face with him, and while my attack had been only moments, I knew what it was to legitimately fear someone. I can only imagine what she felt. To be terrified of someone you love, or loved, is unthinkable.”
“I can’t imagine that either.” He gave me a sympathetic smile.
Mumbling against his shirt, I asked, “Where were you? I woke up and you were gone.”
“You have nothing to eat here, so I went in search of some bagels and cream cheese,” he replied, still holding me close. When I looked at the table, I saw a white and red bag sitting there half open, and it was then I smelled the aroma of freshly baked bread.