Cross-Over Murders by Frank F. Atanacio Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Zoraida Saez asked Nick to meet her at the Metro Café in Shelton off of Bridgeport Avenue. She said she needed his help. He wasn’t going to turn her down, and nothing was going to keep him away. It was just as simple as that.
Zoraida was a whole package deal. Nick remembered everything they did together, he remembered her kisses, her laughs, and the way she drove her sports car. Pushing her skirt way up high so that he could be teased unmercifully. Everything they did together developed into a pattern that inked itself permanently in his consciousness. While the ripples were still spreading, and the thoughts of that beautiful girl intensified, Nick couldn’t hang on to her. He had let her slipped through his fingers.
She had long black hair, and dark brown eyes. Her skin was lightly olive in color, and her lips full. She had Nick simply, eating out of her hands.
Then she walked into the bar, and all eyes were on her. She wore a tight little black dress and carried a small matching bag with red pumps. Her make-up was flawless, it was put on just right, as she walked in with a swagger that any other woman would have killed for.
“Nick,” she said as she moved closer.
Every guy in the bar, with or without a date stared at her ass as if it had a life of its own. It moved with such grace as it struggled behind the fabric of the little black dress. It was a wonderful sight to see. As soon as she stopped in front of Nick Barnum, all the guys turned away. As good as
Zoraida looked, and as inviting as she appeared, no one wanted to tangle with the great Nick PT Barnum.
“God you look good.”
“God does, I know,” she said. “But how do I look.”
Nick smiled.
“Well?”
“Hot, Zory, real hot,” he replied. “If I could I’d take you right now, make you my bitch.”
She laughed.
“What, you don’t think I could?”
“I just missed your weird sense of humor.”
“You don’t have to,” he said.
“Yeah..” She paused. “I do.”
“Is everything okay?
“I spoke to Janet and she told me that you were investigating the Cross-over murders,” she started.
Nick nodded.
“My hu.. A friend of mine has a cousin that just came over from the Dominican Republic.” She turned slightly away, and Nick knew she was hiding something. However, he didn’t want to ask what it was. He knew what it was, but he didn’t want to ask. “He was picking up odd jobs down at North and Madison and now we’re worried something might happen to him.”
Nick nodded slowly.
“We were wondering if you could keep an eye out for us and make sure nothing happens to him,” she said without looking into his eyes.
“Zory, you know I’ll do anything for you.”
She smiled.
“Even baby sit.”
Zoraida had remarried. However, without Nick Barnum in her life she felt very much alone and extremely embarrassed asking him for help. She was quite pleased to know that whenever she needed the private eye he’d be there for her. That was comforting, but it didn’t fill the loneliness up. Her heart was his, but she couldn’t give it to him.
“You got a picture of him?” he asked.
She nodded and removed a small photograph from her hand bag.
“I’ll check on him in the morning,” Nick said as he glanced over the photograph briefly. “Do I call you with my report?”
“No,” she said evenly. “Just keep an eye on him.”
Nick nodded.

“I can pay you, if you want,” she said.
“I’ll take sex instead,” he joked.
“Yeah, that’ll be nice.”
“I miss you Zory,” he said.
“I miss you too, Nick,” she said, wiping huge tears while at the same time trying to conceal it. “You are my best-friend.”
“With benefits?”
She laughed.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
She nodded slowly.
“You know we had a lot of good times,” Nick added. “We were so good together. I didn’t think it’ll ever end.”
She nodded.
“It’s just sad seeing us away from each other.”
“You know the reason Nick,” she sniffled and as she turned and ordered a drink. “I have a son to raise, and the way you live your life, it may not be too safe for him.”
“I understand now, and I understood then,” he said as he paid for her drink. “It’s just empty without you.”
“According to Janet, you’ve been having your own adventures.”
“Remind me to shoot Janet when I get back to the office.”
She smiled.
Nick smiled.
After twenty minutes of reliving the past, Nick Barnum kissed Zoraida on the cheek. He was making little progress trying to convince her into going on a date. She made it clear that it was just impossible, so he stopped trying. Better to have her as a friend, then to lose her all together, is what ran through his mind.
“This was kind of nice,” she said as she finished off her drink and placed the glass on the bar. “It was so nice seeing you again.”
Nick smiled.
“I’ll see you Nick,” she said as she kissed him gently on the lips. “Watch out for him. He is very dear to us. We don’t want to lose him.”
“Have I ever let you down?”
She closed her eyes briefly, but did not answer the question.
“I understand,” Nick said.
Zoraida turned reluctantly and headed for the door. Nick watched her as she made her exit again from his life. It was easier watching her go now, because all the emotions were severed years ago. However, there was a hint of hurt that still crushed his heart. He looked around the bar and noticed that he was the only one that watched her leave.
Nick sighed as sorrow filled his emptiness.
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