Danger in Toronto - All pieces

As I waked down the street in Toronto; my eyes flitted across the scene in front of me. A man with a silver beard chatted aimlessly with what appeared to be a dinosaur smuggler. The young lady at the restaurant sitting alone drinking coffee and eating crackers and brie seemed to be unaware of the danger surrounding her. The man walking down the street had a look of determination, like he was out seeking his cheating wife. As he quickened his pace I noticed the woman in red coming from the direction he was headed. I knew right away she was the contact I was to meet up with.
I went into the restaurant and waited to be seated. The young lady looked up at me through the window and smiled as the waitress escorted me to a table near the window. The woman in red walked towards the restaurant and I could see her take a second look at the dinosaur smuggler and the man with a silver beard. They appeared to be finishing up their transaction and were looking about to make sure there were no witnesses. She appeared to be interested in something in a store window nearby as she waited for them to finish. The two men exchanged packages before briskly heading in opposite directions. then she entered the restaurant. The woman in red was escorted to my table by the waitress and as she took her seat I looked out the window to ensure that it was deserted. The only one who witnessed us both entering the restaurant was the woman contentedly eating her brie at the outdoor table.
The beautiful woman before me started telling her story.
“My name is Candice; I was there when the boss ordered the hit on the banker. He trusted me and there is no way he would think I would turn on him”
“Why have you?” I asked intrigued by the woman in front of me.
“I guess always knew he was bad but I had never heard him talk about stuff before. The coldness in his voice made my blood run cold. I knew I couldn’t sit back and pretend it was ok anymore. That is why I called you.”
Now that she had she needed protection and I would ensure that she got it. First I had to get her to go back with me to the station. Leroy said we had no case. She gave us a witness and if we could keep her alive we could put the boss away for a very long time. The murder of the Banker had been an especially brutal one. The man who had done it was dead and so was the getaway driver. If the boss ordered it then at least we could seek justice.
“I won’t go to the station, I can’t trust anyone!” She said with conviction.
“But my friend Leroy, he wants to nail the boss. He is a good guy.
“Not even Leroy!” She said. “The boss has a lot of the force on his books; I think Leroy is one of them.”
“How do you know this?” I asked.
“I have seen the books; I have helped to deliver payments. One time, when the Georgie didn’t want to call attention to payment dispersement, he had me attend a police function where I passed out the money. You were with the guy named Leroy that I handed an envelope to.”
I didn’t want to believe it. Leroy had been my friend for a long time. Surely I would have known.
“If you help me I will give you everything you need to bring Georgie Down.”
It was hard to hear the boss referred to as “Georgie” We knew him as George Wallace, but everyone referred to him as the boss. I knew she was close to him but this confirmed that she was closer than most.
“How do you want me to help you if you won’t go to the station?”
“I want you to protect me and keep me safe. He will kill me when he finds out I have betrayed him. We would have to go away from here.”
“How do you know I am not on the books; that I am not one of the dirty cops?”
“I know because I didn’t give you an envelope. You were always the one to try to bust Georgie and you are on his hit list! I can’t stay in Toronto and neither can you or we will both be dead.”
That hit me like a five ton hammer. I was on the hit list? Candice seemed sure that I would soon be killed if I was not careful. I immediately started racking my brain trying to figure out what to do. I had dated a girl from the country who had no Idea what he boss was all about. She told me that she had heard stories but she did not know they were real. That must mean that the boss didn’t have ties to anyone near there. I knew of a house down the road from her farm that was for rent. I decided that that was where we needed to go.
“If we are to live we have to leave here. Georgie will figure this out and we will both be in danger. If you can’t help me then I don’t know what I am going to do.”
As I glanced past Candice I noticed the man with a silver beard round the corner at the same time the man who was frantically looking for something, maybe a cheating wife, came into view. I knew then that they were possibly looking for Candice. I took her out the back door of the restaurant leaving money on the table for our drinks. In the alley I found a line with clothes hanging on them. I had her take off her red coat and put on a grey overcoat hanging there.
She was awash in fear. If she was found out she would be on that hit list too. Someone was watching her. I knew the grey over coat would only get us so far so I hastened my step and placed an arm around her like she belonged to me. We got to my car and I noticed the dinosaur smuggler in my rearview mirror as we drove away. He was looking around frantically. The last sight I had of him he was shrugging his shoulders at the man with a silver beard. I knew we had escaped in the nick of time.
Our only hope was to secure a place in the country as man and wife. We would have to go underground and assume a new identity until the boss could be caught. I drove across town and stopped the car next to a pay phone. I had to notify someone. Leroy was the only one I felt I could go to this with but if he was dirty that would put us both in danger. I dialed the phone and waited with trepidation for him to answer. I told him what she had told me.
“That makes a case,” I said.
“I won’t be able to get the DA to prosecute unless she comes to the station and gives a statement.”
“It isn’t safe and I am taking her to your house boat to stay,” I said. He got quiet. No one would think to look for me there and he knew it. “You can come later and take her statement.”
“Ok” he said. I knew by the hesitation in his voice that she was not mistaken.
I hung up the phone and drove to the house in the country. It was a long peaceful drive and Candice started to relax. I knew she was right; Leroy was on the boss’s payroll. As we pulled into the driveway I was relieved to see the For Rent sign still in the window. I walked next door and inquired about renting it. I paid cash and the land lord handed me the keys. We had a month to figure out if there was a way to nail the boss with all the people he was paying off, or not. If we could not I would have to find a way to keep Candice safe no matter what.




As I turned the key in the lock I was afraid what I would find on the other side of the door. This house had been vacant for a long time now. I was relieved to find that it was partially furnished. The dusty furniture would have to do. The dining room table was small and wobbly. The power was on and the refrigerator hummed as I leaned against the wall next to it.
“You should take a rest,” Candice said.
“No time,” I shot back. I knew I had to go back to town while there was still a chance they thought I was at the house boat.
“Will you be alright here alone?” I asked her.
“I will be ok,” she said. “What are you going to do?” There was fear in her voice.
“I have to go get us some food. We can’t live on this,” I said as I opened the empty fridge. “Will you make me a list?”
“Sure,” she said as she dug in her purse for a pen and paper. “What do you like to eat?”
“What can you cook?” I asked back. Without waiting for an answer I added, “Better make it simple.”
As Candice scribbled her list I walked around the little house. The carpet was soft under my feet. I noticed that there was only one bedroom. There were no blankets or linens of any kind. I hadn’t thought about that part. Had we chosen a hotel room we would have had that luxury. But this was so much safer.
“You better add toilet paper and cleaning supplies to that list.” I said, as I entered the kitchen, just a little afraid I wouldn’t be able to pull this off.
Candice looked up from her list and smiled a little. I was taken aback by her innocence and beauty. I knew she couldn’t possibly be as innocent as she looked but I saw it in her just the same. I felt compelled to protect her.
“I hadn’t planned on running away today. I am afraid I have nothing with me but a few dollars. Geoff, how are we going to make it?”
“I will figure it out. I may have to rob a bank along the way but it will be alright.” I said with more conviction than I really had.
I left with the list in my pocket. I knew I could not take my car into town, it would be spotted and we would be discovered. As I left the driveway I headed in the opposite direction.

It had been nearly a year since Sarah and I had spoken. I knew she would not be happy to see me but I hoped it had been long enough that she would have forgiven me. As I pulled up to her house I was surprised to see her come out of the house with a smile on her face.
“Geoff!” She exclaimed. “I thought I would never see you again.”
“So good to see you too,” I lied as she threw herself into my arms. Was this the same girl I had watched drive out of my life because she couldn’t handle the danger of my job?
“Sara, I’m still a cop.” I said trying to bring her to reality. “I need your help.”
I told her about the hit list and about the witness. I was careful to leave out any important details and I did not tell her where we were staying in case someone thought to look here.
“Let’s park your car in the barn and you can take my truck.”
I pulled it in and she helped me pull a large heavy tarp over it to conceal it. I took her old pickup truck and borrowed some of her father’s clothes to make myself look like a farmer going to town for supplies.
“Thank you Sara.” I said knowing she did not have to help me.
“I still love you, you know,” she said back.
“I know,” I said knowing that I had to be careful here. She did love me; she loved me so much she wanted me to give up what I did best. She wanted me to quit being a cop because she was afraid she would lose me. It was better this way and I knew it. I could not quit being a cop any more that I could quit breathing. “I will get this back to you as soon as I can,” I said as I got in the truck.
I looked in the rearview mirror as I drove away and I could see her with silent tears running down her face. She knew there would never be more between us again and it still hurt that I didn’t choose her. I was sorry I had to come here for help.

I felt to be safe in Sara’s old beat up pickup truck. As I drove down the road I thought about all the things that were possible in the near future. We had been trying to catch the boss for over a year now. If Candice were able to help us put the boss away it would be a new cause for celebration. My mind was racing and I was so distracted I drove right past the grocery store and had to drive around the block. When I pulled into the parking lot I glanced around out of habit noting the shiny sedan parked on the south side of the parking lot. I deliberately parked on the north side of the parking lot as close to the doors as I could get.
As I entered the warm building I warily watched everyone I encountered. Leroy wasn’t very bright, but if he knew I had lied about where Candice was he could be looking for me already. I had to be careful; however, everything seemed normal as I walked through the aisles of the store. I checked off things on the list as I put them in the basket and adding things here and there as I passed. I thought Candice might like a little treat so I picked up a box of popcorn and an inexpensive movie. As I checked out I thought about all of the things on the list that I could not get at the grocery store. The temperature was dropping outside and I knew we would have a hard time keeping warm without blankets. I would have to visit the Pawn shop on the edge of town; and probably the Walgreens nearby. I didn’t dare go home in case Leroy was on to me.
I headed to the borrowed truck with trepidation. I felt like someone was watching me as I wheeled the cart the short distance to my borrowed vehicle. I was relieved to get into the driver’s seat and be on my way. I soon realized that I should have gone to the grocery store last as I had bought perishable items; but it was cold enough that the refrigerated and frozen items would be safe in the back. I put the vegetables in the cab with me to keep them from freezing.
Next, I swung into Harry’s Pawn Shop. I was not in uniform and I hoped he would not recognize me. It had been six months since I visited the shop on the burglary investigation. I was able to pick up the electronics that would make life bearable in the little house. I was happy that Harry had been in the back doing inventory and a young kid was at the register.
Next door at Walgreens I was able to find a few inexpensive, but warm, blankets. I also got towels and some toiletries for both of us. I was not sure what kind of toothpaste Candice would prefer but I figured anything was better than nothing. Before I left town I went to the bank, a branch I normally don’t bank at, and pulled out as much cash as they would allow. I was not sure when I would be able to come back to the city and I knew my credit cards could be traced. I had traveled to the opposite side of town in hopes of throwing them off of my scent. From now on we would have to rely on rural stores and obscure sources. I only hoped we could survive.
The old truck rumbled down the country roads and I was surprised to find Candice waiting with a calm aura surrounding her in the kitchen. I could see her, through the window, sitting in the uncomfortable wooden chair looking out at me. I thought I saw a moment of panic in her calm face, but when I stepped out of the truck and looked at her again she seem relaxed, almost joyous. She raced out of the house and looked into the back of the truck with wonder.
“It’s nothing like the life you had with the boss, but I got us some things to make this house a home.” I said with sarcasm.
She looked at me and smiled. She had a sense of innocence about her that I did not expect.
“Well let’s make the best of it. We have a lot of work to do!” she said as she lifted the VCR out of the back of the truck.
“Al-righty then,” I said, happy that she was not the stuck up snob I had expected her to be. This could turn out well after all.


“Geoff we are going to have to go back to Toronto. We have nothing to wear and unless we are going to become nudists we have to get some of our things.” Candice said as we unpacked the groceries.
“Well that might prove to be interesting. But I see your point,” I said as I smiled in her direction. “I guess I didn’t think of everything.”
“I am afraid to go to my apartment,” She said. The fear in her voice was evident as she spoke.
I didn’t know how to reassure her. I was afraid to return to Toronto as well. The boss was an ugly character who was ruthless and would do anything to get what he wanted. He had wanted Candice and had gotten her; only to have her betray him. She had every right to fear going back. In our haste to escape we had not thought this through.
“Well let’s get all of this stuff taken care of then we will discuss what to do. We could go buy all new things if we were rich. Unfortunately I am afraid we might not make it to next month.”
“Why are you doing this for me?”
“I am doing this for me too. I don’t want to die, especially not by the boss’s hand.”
Candice looked up from the bag she was unpacking and she seemed to be far away in thought for just a moment. Then she said,
“I’m glad you were on the hit list. I never would have trusted you if you weren’t, but I don’t want you to die either. Thank you for doing this for us.”
“Don’t mention it,” I said. “Now I’m going to go set up tonight’s entertainment!” And at that, I hefted the TV, and headed into the living room. I knew that if I stopped to think I might panic. Why she would betray the boss and risk her life baffled me. In the back of my mind I worried that it was all a trap.
As I finished setting up the T.V. and DVD player on some crates I had found in the garage Candice entered the room. She had an air about her I did not understand. She seemed relaxed and comfortable in this simple little house. She sat on the dusty couch, munching on popcorn, without even blinking. As I clicked on the T.V. and pushed play on the movie she smiled.
“Join me,” She said as she patted the couch next to her.
I smiled and thought to myself that this could prove to be an interesting month. I found myself drawn to her. I was surprised at how comfortable I felt with her next to me and I playfully sat too close and put an arm around her.
“Well if you insist!”
She giggled and pushed me away.
“Not so fast buddy! There is a lot of room on this couch.”
I settled in at a safer distance away. The movie was a chick flick and Candice seemed to enjoy it. I thought it was all right but as it ended I noted that the sun was setting.
“OK, I have been thinking, we should go tonight. If we wait too long they will be looking for us. I have Sarah’s truck they won’t know to look for it. We should get another vehicle too.”
“I have been meaning to ask you about the truck and the farmer’s clothes. Where did they come from?”
“Well see there is this girl….”
“Oh I should have known you would have a girl.”
“It’s not like that. She left me because I wouldn’t quit my job. She is my ex. That is how I knew about this place. She lives just a little ways down the road. Nobody in Toronto would think to look for me there.” I saw the fear in her face and I added. “I didn’t tell her about this place. I told her that I needed help and I was in hiding. It’s ok, she will protect me.”
“But will she protect me?” She was sincere, and afraid.
“Yes, Candice, I think she will.” I said with honesty and as sincerely as possible.
We left in the dark and drove the old truck down the road to Toronto. The fear hung in the truck between us like a thick blanket; making it impossible to talk, but I knew we must.
“I thought we would go to your place first. If we get caught I can always go back to Sara and borrow more of her dad’s farmer clothes.”
“Well what size is she? Maybe we don’t have to go after all.”
“Yeah I can see how that would go. ‘Sarah I need to borrow your clothes for my beautiful witness I am protecting’ and then I will have to watch her cry again. No thank you! We have to go.”
As we pulled up to the curb near the alley I looked around the empty streets for any signs of people. There were none. We exited the truck quietly and hugged the building as we walked around the perimeter to the entrance to the apartment building.
The halls were empty and we made it to the apartment without being spotted. I was surprised at the simple décor.
“You need to pack fast.” I said as I peered out the window to the empty street.
“Really, genius?” She replied with sarcasm.
“Sorry.” I said. I was afraid and wishing I had braved Sara’s tears instead of being here.
She hit the answering machine button and began to toss clothes in a bag as it played. Most of the messages were from girlfriends asking her to go to lunch or to stop by. There were several hang up calls. Then the message that stopped us both in our tracks,
“Candice this is Georgie, what is going on? I thought you were going to lead us to that cop what happened? You owe me an explanation!"
Geoff looked at Candice. With new reason to worry all of his doubt and fear came rushing to the surface.
“I think you owe me an explanation!”
She looked up from the bag she was hastily packing with tears in her eyes.
“I told him I could get close to you so he would help me without being suspicious as to why I was trying to get ahold of you. He has my apartment phone bugged. Please don’t think I am trying to set you up. I am trying to get out. Here carry this!” She thrust the bag in my direction and grabbed a second. She went to her dresser and emptied the contents into the bag and then went around the room getting pictures and precious items. “Let’s go!” She said as she grabbed some things from the kitchen and headed for the door.
“Wait! If he left you a message that means those men were watching you this morning and they might be near. We need to be careful.” I couldn’t help but believe her. If she was working with him she would have resisted just enough to call attention to us while we were trying to get away. She wouldn’t be playing along would she?
I opened the door a crack and my heart jumped into my throat as I saw the dinosaur smuggler down the hall. He had his funny shaped bag slung over his back. Now that I was looking I could see the outline of a gun in the interior of the sack.
“Candice we are trapped. The guy that was outside the restaurant this morning is outside in the hall way. Have you ever used the fire escape?”
“No, but there is a first time for everything.” She said.
We relocked the door and crept silently to the window. I opened it a crack and peered out into the dark. I couldn’t see anyone but where there was one goon there was bound to be another. I opened the window the rest of the way and crawled out. I helped Candice out into the dark of the night. It was impossible to be silent on the cold dark metal staircase. We made our way down to the next floor. I checked every window we passed hoping we would be able to get into the building. We were so exposed up here in the so far above the streets. I could see him now, the man with a grey beard. I tapped Candice on the shoulder and motioned for her to be quiet. I pointed to the man far below us then I tried another window. It opened and I breathed a sigh of relief. I silently opened the window just enough for us to crawl inside. Candice followed me through the opened window and we tiptoed across the kitchen of a stranger’s apartment. I was thankful it was the same layout as Candice’s apartment just a few floors up. We only had a few steps to the door and we were in the deserted hallway.
I had counted on this we made our way to the rear fire door that opened into the alley. There was no one in sight as we slipped out into the dark dirty alley. I could see the truck up ahead. We crossed the sidewalk with trepidation knowing that the goons could come around the corner at any moment.
“Get down!” I said to Candice as I placed the cowboy hat on my head that had been hanging on the rack on the back window. As I started the truck the man with a grey beard came around the corner and looked intently at me. I put the truck in drive and drove away ignoring him. As I turned the corner I knew it could have been a trap; but if it was I would not be driving away with her, I would be dead.
I was exhausted but I knew it was now or never. I had to go to my place. There was little choice. I took a deep breath as I parked in the alley behind my house.
“Come on! Let’s get this over with.” I said as I opened my door.
Leaving her bags we crept through my back yard. I was thankful that my neighbor kept their dog inside at night. At least he wasn’t there to sound the alarm of our arrival. I knew Leroy could have placed an extra patrol on my house with no problem.
I turned the key in the lock and opened the door to a dark house. It was familiar and I wished we could stay here. The thought of my bed upstairs seemed so inviting.
“Get anything you think we might need while I get my clothes.”
I went upstairs and started shoving clothes into a bag without worrying about what I was getting. I filled two bags and grabbed a few things that might be helpful. As I headed down the stairs I could hear Candice rummaging through my things. I smiled to myself and wondered why I liked the thought of that.
“Did you notice the size of the bed?” She asked as she looked up from my linen closet.
“Pretty sure it was a queen.”
“Good,” She said “you have some nice sheets.”
She had two sheets full of stuff that she had tied up like a hobo’s knap sack. She hefted one over her shoulder as she asked,
“Ready?”
“Sure am,” I replied.

She took one of my bags so I could grab the other one. I mimicked her tossing it up and over my back. I was surprised at how heavy it was.
“Now I didn’t say to pack the bricks from the walls. What’s in this?”
“Stuff we will need isn’t that what you told me to get?”
“Alright, move.” I said picking up the lock box I was carrying and trying to juggle the other bags.
We made it to the truck without waking the neighborhood. I tossed the satchel into the back of the truck and went back to grab the rest of the bags. As I shut the door behind me I could hear commotion in the neighbor’s yard. I looked up to see their German Shepard coming to the fence. He let out a “Woof”.
“Easy boy,” I whispered “It’s just me.”
I hurried to the truck, tossed the bags in the back and jumped in. When the motor started he sounded off in a full blown barking fit. The deep bark could be heard for blocks and I knew I had to get out fast. If anyone were near watching the house they would now be alerted. I watched behind me for signs that I was being followed, but I saw none.
As we arrived at the house I breathed a sigh of relief. We were safe for now.
We carried everything into the living room and plopped it down. Candice proceeded to untie one of the sheet bundles and extracted a set of sheets; a set my mom had given me for Christmas that I only used when she visited. They were too pretty for me. It amused me that Candice liked them. She went to the bed and made it. She tossed the blankets on and lay down. I sat next to her on the bed feeling closer to her than I knew I should.
She started to cry then and leaned against me. I didn’t know what to do so I held her close. As her tears soaked my shirt I felt the tension leave her and she became supple in my arms. When she looked at me I wanted to kiss her and I knew then that I was in trouble. I knew I should leave the room but I could not bring myself to let her go. She wept herself to sleep in my arms and I stayed there and held her in my protective embrace wishing she was some other girl. Wanting to wake her and ravage her but knowing I could not. I held her knowing in the morning I would have to be a cop again and I fell asleep.
I woke in the morning with Candice still in my arms. I had curled my body around hers in my sleep and it felt good to be here in this bed with my mother’s sheets and her in my arms. I found it hard to believe that it had only been twenty-four hours since she had walked into my life. It felt like she had never been anywhere else. I lay there wishing and thinking how good it felt and I knew if I did not make myself move I would never be able to. Surely this was just a reaction to the adrenaline we had experienced the previous day.
Reluctantly I moved away from her, leaving her sleeping peacefully and I went to the kitchen to start some coffee. I got out the eggs and made omelets. When she came into the kitchen I looked at her, she was even more beautiful than she had been before.
“Omelet?” I said.
“Sure, I am starving. I feel like I haven’t eaten in a month.”
“How do you like your coffee? I assume cream and sugar since you put them on the list right after coffee?"
“You don’t miss a thing,” she said with a smile.
I had to stop myself from going to her and kissing the smile away. I knew it was crazy but I liked this girl. I had not noticed a woman since Sara. Candice had blown me away, and she hadn’t even tried.
“So tell me, how did you ever get caught up in the boss’s gang?”
“Well I was living in New York; he came often for business trips. He ate every time at the restaurant that I worked at. I knew he liked me and he seemed a handsome man. When he asked me out on a date I was surprised but pleased. We dated for a while there; in New York. Then about a month ago he asked me to move closer to him. He paid my way, got me an apartment, and hooked me up with a great job. What I didn’t know is he was setting it up to make me his accomplice, to use me to further his crimes. When I delivered the envelopes I thought they were Christmas gifts. I started to figure it out a little at a time but when I heard him ordering hits and plotting to kill innocent people I got scared. I didn’t know what to do. So I plotted to get away but he was watching every move I made.”
She toyed with her omelet and took a small bite. As she paused briefly I found myself thanking god that she had only been in Toronto for a month. But why?
“Then I heard about the hit list. Georgie was talking to Louie about how they could not kill you at your house because there were surveillance cameras. He said he didn’t know how to get the job done because you were only ever at the police station or home. That’s when I told them I would help lure you away. I knew they were watching me yesterday but I didn’t think they were planning the hit then and there. Thank you again for getting me away.”
“We are not out of the woods yet. I still have to figure out what the next move should be. We are safe here as long as we go nowhere, talk to no one, and hide. But if we want to be truly safe we have to bring down your Georgie.” I felt a pang of jealousy as I said his name.
She looked up at me from her omelette and I could see that she wanted to say something but she did not.
“Where in New York were you?” I realized when I asked that I knew very little about her.
“Just outside of buffalo. I worked at a resturant in town but I lived on my parents ranch.
“oh,” I said surprised. That explained her comfort here in this tiny rural house. “Maybe we should start there. Are you ready for our honeymoon? Oh yeah did I tell you, we are married.”
She laughed out loud then and I was relieved. In the haste of yesterday I had forgotten to let her in on the cover story I had created for us.
“Um ok” she said between giggles. “Where exactly are we going on our honeymoon? My parents ranch?”
“No they will think to look for you there. But somewhere nearby and we need new names”
“Oh this is going to be an adventure. I want to be Claire and my husband is certainly Lucas.”
It was my turn to laugh.
“have you been planning this your whole life? That was way too easy for you.”
“No they are just my favorite names. I used to want to name my children that, Claire for a girl and Lucas for a boy, but since I might not live to have children they will be great for an ailias don’t you think?”
We laughed together then.
“Well ok then, but I will make sure that you live to name your children what ever you want. But I am sure you will change your mind about the names before this is done. It’s hard to be someone else. Remember to keep the lies simple and to use the truth about yourself as much as possible. It makes for a more believable lie.”
“Wow that is deep advice.” She said with a giggle. “So Lucas when did we get married??”
“Well I told the Land Lord that we were newly weds, so pic a date. You are good at this.”
“Ok then we were married day before yesterday on January sixteenth, the day I first called you”
“Easy enough” I said.
We finished breakfast and started sorting through the hastily gathered belongings we had dumped on the floor the night before. Candice took her things into the bedroom and stored them neatly in drawers and placed her pictures and treasures around the room. I stood looking at my bags wondering what I was supposed to do with them.
“There is plenty of room in the dresser in here if you need a place to put your stuff.”
“Thanks,” I said sheepishly. And I began the process of putting my stuff in the empty drawers. I had not brought any extra things to decorate the house with but I was thankful she had. The bedroom looked nice and felt homy. I wished for a split second that this was real, but I knew it was not. I was protecting her, keeping her safe, that was all.
Candice came in and sat on the bed.
“Where are we putting the bags my dear wife?” I asked jokingly.
“Oh in the closet my dear husband,” and we laughed as I placed my bags in the closet with hers.
I got my lap top out and planned our honeymoon as Candice put away the rest of the stuff we had taken from my house in the dark of the night. We had to find someone in Buffalo who would help us.
“Hey is there anyone on the hit list who lives in Buffalo?” I called across the house?
“She came into the living room and I thought she looked like she had seen a ghost.
“My boss at the resturant where I worked when he met me. I don’t know if he is still alive or not. I don’t know why Georgie would want to kill him, but I saw the name.”
“Probly to give you less places to run to, less people to help you should you turn on him. Or maybe your boss made him mad who knows! That is where we will start, but we can’t go in sara’s old truck.”
“I like your car, its nice.”
“Yes but they also know what it looks like. Want to go car shopping sweetie?”
“Sure I’m about done here.” She said as she hung a hand towel in the bathroom.
“Great! Lets go then.”


We drove to the nearest little town in the opposite direction from Toronto. There was a little lot with cars for sale so we pulled in.
“How can I help you today?” The dirty looking salesman asked. It was obvious he also acted as the mechanic of the operation.
“We need a new car. The wife wants to start a family and I just cant see bringing a baby home with this beat up old farm truck. Need something more reliable and safe.”
“I have just the thing,” he said as he walked towards the end of the lot with the newer cars.
“I want to take a look at this one” I said pointing to a small silver four door car. Not too fancy or noticeable and there were hundreds of them on the road.
“The wife saw this when we pulled in, said it is the one that she wants. Can we hear it run?”
“Um sure,” the salesman said as he pulled a wad of keys out of his pockets and fumbled through them.
He started the car and it purred.
“Can we take it for a test drive?” I asked him.
“Sure” he said “fifteen minutes”
“Come on honey lets give it a spin”
“Oh I can’t wait!” I said to the salesman.
The car ran like a dream. Upon returning to the lot I paid for the car and asked Candice to follow me home. It felt good to call the little house home which I found weird. I had never taken to someone like this before.
I put the pickup truck in the garage and had her park the car in the driveway. We spent some time packing and preparing for the trip. When all was ready we put it in our little car and we were off.

The drive was beautiful but we barely noticed. We got a motel room at the opposite end of buffalo than where Candice worked. We got the honeymoon suite and I paid for it in cash. We were still tired from the day before and the trip had taken its toll. Any further investigation would have to wait for morning.
We turned on the TV and turned out the lights. Soon Candice was asleep next to me and I couldn’t resist letting her fall in my arms. I knew it was wrong but it felt so right. I woke to her pressing herself close to me and I tried to move away only to have her move closer. I let it happen then, even though I knew I had crossed a line. She woke up and looked at me half asleep and more beautiful than I could have imagined her. I saw the desire in her eyes as strong as I know it was in mine. She kissed me and I kissed her back with all the passion that was within me. In my half waking state I gave into the temptation that I had resisted since I first touched her. I wanted nothing more than to continue to let myself go but I was a cop and I was supposed to be protecting her, not taking advantage of her.
It took all I had but I pulled away from her embrace.
“Candice, I am sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”
“For this, for getting too close. I am sorry for taking advantage of you in your vunerable state.”
“Oh Geoff, you are not. I don’t know what is happening but I feel closer to you than I have felt to anyone in a long time. I feel safe and I feel cared for. I want this.”
“I want this too. But it is too soon. I am the cop. I am not supposed to let things like this happen. I have never been tempted, not once until you walked into my life.”
She took my hand and pulled me back to her.
“I am a big girl Geoff. I have never wanted anything more in my life and this is my honeymoon. Remember?”
She kissed me then and I was swept away to heights I did not know existed. We lay tangled together on the bed in a bliss I did not know was possible and slept. When I woke again the sun was up. I brushed the hair out of her face in wonder. How could a woman be so powerful. It had been so long since I had felt a woman’s touch but I know it had never been like this before. She opened her beautiful eyes.
“We have a long day ahead of us dear Claire.” I said playfully. “We must go soon.”
“Oh but dear Lucas can’t we just stay here in this bed all day and repeat last night over and over again and never return to reality?”
“Not if we want to live dearie!” I bent and kissed her swiftly.”Now move.” I said with a smile.
She pulled me to her and we kissed one long lingering kiss. Then we started getting ready for the day. We needed to get to Noah, the resturant owner, before he opened for business. Him we could trust, no one else.
No one could know that we were here but I needed to talk to Noah.

I couldn’t believe the mood as we drove towards the resturant. She seemed to not have a care in the world. We arrived at the resturant with heavy coats and dark glasses. She knocked on the door and I hoped it would be Noah that answered and no one else.
The man that answered was a middle aged man who seemed wary and unsure of us until she spoke.
“Noah it’s me we need to talk.”
“Candice what are you doing here? Is everything alright?”
“No Noah it is not can we come in?”
He opened the door with caution and we entered. I hoped that she was right; that we could trust him.
Candice told Noah the story of how she had discovered the boss’s true occupation and about me. She left out the details of last night and I was thankful for that.
“We have taken on a new identity, temporarily of course. I am Claire and this is my husband Lucas. We are on our honeymoon if anyone asks. You can say we were here to plan a celebration after closing. Noah your name was on the hit list too. I don’t know why, do you?”
Noah sat in silence for a few minutes. He hung his head.
“After you left Georgie came here. All went as usual until I asked after you. He got angry and told me that you were none of my concern anylonger. I was confused and had a PI go to find you. He disappeared and Georgie has not been back. I have wondered for weeks what became of the PI I guess you could assume he is no longer with us.”
“Noah you have to help us. How well did you know Georgie and what he did here? We need to go to the cops but don’t know if we dare.”
“I know a guy. He used to be a cop. Maybe he could help you. I think I had better disappear if I can figure out how. But first I will try to set up a meeting for you.”
“Thanks Noah I knew I could count on you.”
“I should have known there was something off with that guy. He was obsessed with you. It seemed funny at first but I thought he had just seen what a wonderful person you were and had fallen in love with you. I am sorry I didn’t go with my gut instinct and have him checked out when he started fawning over you.”
“It’s ok Noah that’s not your job.”
“No it’s mine,” I chimed in.
They both looked at me and I wondered if I should have spoken. But it was true.
“Yes It is your job now, but only because I can’t do this alone or I would be dead.”
“So it looks as though we are all in the same boat.” I said and was glad I was not alone. “So we will go back to the hotel and wait. Please don’t give your friend our real names. I think it would be best that everyone from here on out know us only by Claire and Lucas. We need to maintain our cover.”
“I will remember he said.”
We left not knowing if he would be alright but I had to focus on the task at hand; saving our lives. Noah would have to keep himself safe at least for a while.

Back at the hotel we waited impatiently. We had lunch brought up to our room and while we dined we watched the cable TV. When the phone rang we both jumped in surprise. I realized as I answered that we were both on edge.
“Hello.”
“Hello this is Frank, Noah’s friend. I was told you could use my help.”
“Yes, but first how can you help us?”
“I was a cop here for thirty years and I know who you can trust. But more importantly I know who you cannot trust.”
“Ok then when can we meet and where?”
“I understand, you are holed up near the river in the hotel there.”
“Yes that is right.” I wished my instructions had been to not tell him where we were either but it was too late for that.
“There is a Park nearby with an enclosed dining area. It will be deserted this time of year and I can access the building. It might be a little cold, they only heat it enough to keep the pipes from freezing but we will be less likely to be seen. They are probably looking for you here.”
“ok that answered the where what about the when?”
“As soon as you can get there. I am almost there now. I will get the building open and the lights turned on.”
“Ok we will be there as soon as we can.” I hung up the phone and turned to Candice. “Put on your long johns sweetheart. We gota go meet a cop.”
“Why do I need my longjohns to meet a cop?”
“Because, it isn’t safe here, we are meeting at an unheated building, and it’s cold out there.”
We bundled up and went to work on finding the park. As we approached the desk Candice turned on her feminine charm.
“Hey our friends told us of a wonderful park near here. Can you tell us how to get there. I guess it’s by the river and has a nice building where they had their reception this summer.”
“oh that would be riverside park. Just go out the door and take a left. Follow the street and you should come to it soon. But it is cold out there mam, hardly the weather for visiting a park.”
“Oh I know, but I promised my friends I would go there she said the view across the river was something I just had to see. Thank’s so much for all of your help.”
“No problem, keep warm.”
“we will” she said as we walked away. The distance to the park was shorter than I expected. I could see the building he spoke of clearly from a block away. The park was deserted and we walked briskly to the door and gave a tug. It opened and we slipped inside.
There was a middle aged man sitting at the picnic table in front of us. He looked at us and then he said,
“Lucas, Claire, I am Frank. You have to leave here. They are looking for you. I did some checking and the boss is angry that you have betrayed him.” Then he stopped and looked at Candice for a long time in silence. “Now I know why they are looking for you. You are not Claire you are Candice, you used to work at Noah’s Bistro. You were Georgie’s girl. Now I know why they are looking so hard for you!”
“I didn’t know who he was. I was fooled or I was a fool.” She said.
“It’s ok you are doing the right thing now. How can I contact you when I have more information?”
“I will have email, you can send me an email and we can call you or set up a phone call.”
I jotted down my email address and handed it to him.
“You need to leave town now before he discovers you were here or I could be in danger too. I can’t help you or Noah if I am on the run too.”
We went back to the hotel and started gathering our few belongings. We decided to take the bags to the car one at a time throughout the day. We went to a shop down the street and on the way we each put a bag in the car. When we left for dinner we did it again. When we went out for the night we had everything out of the room. We were dressed for an evening on the town when we left buffalo. I drove away in the opposite direction than we needed to go when I turned the car down the road that would circle back towards Toronto I noticed Candice weeping in the seat next to me.
“What about my parents? Will they be alright? He never went there but he knew about them, about our farm. What will I do if he harms them.”
“He won’t have a reason to harm them if they don’t know anything. How long has it been since you talked to them?”
“Since I left for Toronto. They didn’t want me to go. We had a fight and I havn’t spoken to them since. My friend said they asked about me once and I was going to call and apologize. I never got the chance before all of this started.”

“Well then it’s best that we pretend you don’t care about them. If you don’t care about them he has no reason to harm them.”
“I know you are right but if something happens to me they will never know how sorry I am."
“Yes they will. If you want you could write a letter to be delivered if anything happens. It might make you feel better.”
“I think I will do that when we get a quiet moment.”
“Candice we crossed a line last night that we never should have crossed. I am sorry, I should have stopped you, no matter how badly I wanted it to happen. It makes it harder to be objective and do my job.”
“You don’t have to be sorry. I pushed you, I have been so alone for so long. I thought Georgie was someone he was not. Even though I was with him, I felt so alone. The more I discovered the more alone and afraid I felt. You gave me a sense of security and safety. When I had that, the affection just blossomed. I am sorry I know it hasn’t been that long. But I feel like I have spent more time with you in the three days we have had than I did the whole six months I was dating Georgie. I am sorry you feel bad but I am not sorry it happened.”
“Later you might regret it. Now it is just an escape from all that is happening. We need to be careful is all I am saying.”
“I understand I will try not to push you into anything else.” She grinned in my direction and I knew it wasn’t the end of things.
As we pulled back into the driveway in front of the little house, I was relieved. I felt safe here, hidden from the danger awaiting us both.

I knew I would have to check in at the station. I was scheduled to work today, I didn’t dare let them know where I was. I went to the edge of Toronto and called the captian. Candice wasn’t sure if he was on any of the boss’s lists or not so I was very careful how much I let him know.
“Hey Charlie, this is Geoff. I am not coming in today. I don’t know how much Leroy told you but I am undercover with a witness. I have taken her statement and I think it is best that she not come in at all. I have emailed you the info.”
“Where are you, you seem to have been off the grid. We have been looking for you. Leroy said you were going to be at his houseboat. When you weren’t there we were afraid that the boss had found you.”
“Well this goes deeper than we knew. I decided last minute to go somewhere else. Somewhere we wouldn’t be looked for. I have to go for now. I will be in touch. I have internet where I am but no phone.”
“Wait!” Charlie said. “What if I need to warn you?”
“Then send me an email, I am not trusting anyone just yet. I can’t Charlie. Good Bye.”
I hung up as I wondered if he was trying to delay me just enough to get a trace.