Death and Deceit (2 page)

He was happy when his father went away and never returned. He was not happy when Julia did the same. That left just him and his mother. She was so proud of him and he did things to make her proud. He wanted to see her smile again. He wanted to make her happy but the dream that reoccurred more than any other was not a happy one, it was a dream of horror. For on his happiest occasion, she left him and from then on he wandered through his life looking for someone to protect, in order to end the dreams.

Today was no different, his life in Harbourside took him to bad places and good places. He helped many, and he tried to leave behind as many smiles as he could, remembering his mother. He vowed to avenge the helpless and aid the oppressed; to him his name was Diego.

****

In the sea-washed city of Harbourside, Nova Scotia, high in the hot afternoon
sky, a hawk circled on motionless wings searching for its next prey. Romance had
spread its warm blessings over the Maritimes with a free hand that touched many.

Down below in one of the city’s newest buildings, housing the Justice Department in one wing and at the far side an impressive new health club, Jessica Albright worked her aerobic class through another fast-paced session.

Hurry, though, was almost forgotten on the quaint, narrow downtown streets. People walked leisurely from shop to shop or lounged at the waterfront. Gulls flapped lazily and swooped down to roost by the pier, and the hawk still circled on steadfast wings, searching...searching. Jessie was searching too, but up until now the free hand of romance had not touched her.

She stretched her aching muscles, her breath slowing, her pulse dropping. Sweat
trickled down her neck. Standing on one foot she went into a quadriceps stretch. Everyone leaned one hand against the wall. “Now,” Jessie called out, “reach back and grasp one foot with your other hand. Bring that heel real close to your butt. One, two...” Jessie counted to fifteen. “Okay, just relax. This will stretch your quadriceps and your hip muscles.”

They repeated the exercise three times for each leg, then Jessie turned to face the group.

“Aerobics,” she stressed, “means with
air or oxygen.
But exercise alone
can’t prevent heart disease. It’s only
one
factor. You need a risk-reduction program to control such factors as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, also getting rid of bad habits such as smoking is a must.”

She noticed a pale blonde glance discreetly at her nicotine-stained fingers. Jessie’s eyes moved on, so as not to linger on the woman and embarrass her when she looked up.

She changed the subject.
“Baby sitting is available, please check at the desk. Also, anyone interested in a
massage can inquire there also.”

Jessie felt drenched in her yellow bike tights and T-shirt. Next time she’d wear a bra top and shorts. She crossed to a wall bench and sat to untie her training shoes, while the class that had just finished up the cool-down portion of her aerobic session dispersed. A sharp pain raced through her shin. One look at her old aerobic shoes told her it was time to replace them.

“That was a good begin.” Jessie heard and looked up.

Wearing a black, sleeveless, two way stretch body-suit, blonde hair earlier tied in a ponytail — now cascading down her back — Elizabeth Barrow trained her very blue eyes on Jessie’s hot face, while she smiled her approval of the newest instructor. “Where’d you learn all that good stuff?”

“Like...?” Jessie extended her arm and open palm for Liz’s elaboration.

Liz took the motion as an invitation and sat beside her. “Like all the jazz talk — motivation — yada yada yada.”

Jessie smiled and placed her shoes under the bench then reached for street shoes as a replacement. “I believe everyone who exercises should know what’s happening to
their body and the benefits of training. And believe me I’ve had a lifetime trying to convince my own parents to quit smoking. My father finally had to, but Mom...her excuse when Dad was sick was that it helped calm her nerves. But, she’s still smoking.”

Jessie realized she was rambling and losing Liz’s attention. She got back to the subject at hand. “So you liked the class?”

“Loved it.” Liz dragged out the words. “I’ve been coming here ever since this place opened and you’re the best instructor yet.”

Jessie laughed outright at that. To think as much seemed foolish to her. She was
a complete novice having attained the job by the skin of her teeth, since she had never had any experience. Through sheer boredom during after hours at college, she’d signed
up for an aerobic certification workshop. She liked the pace and life’s frustrations could be managed better when one controlled her stress level. “And you’re a liar,” Jessie replied, “but I appreciate it.”

She had met Liz during her first class, and the club had only been open two weeks
then. At the time, Liz had made her feel more welcome than the instructors had. The two became quick friends. “I was really nervous out there, couldn’t you tell?”

Liz shook her head. “You handled yourself like a pro and that’s what counts — not how many years experience you have. I rescind my statement. You keep it up and you
will
be the best. How’s that?”

“More truthfully put,” Jessie said. “Thanks, but I don’t plan to spend my life
jumping in step. I
hope
to get a librarian job soon.”

Liz nodded and both women rose simultaneously. “Ready for lunch?” Liz asked.

“I can’t,” Jessie said. “I have to work on registration and I dread it. Greeting
customers and selling passes, even helping with the health questionnaire is okay, but entering data about the participants into the computer is nerve wrecking. I’m a complete
klutz. Every time I press a button, I’m terrified that the whole history is going to disappear before my eyes.”

“Nonsense,” Liz replied. “Computers are simple. You just need some tutelage.”

“Easy for you...a programmer to say. I spent too many frustrating hours at college getting through my assignments.”

“Look, you
need
a computer. How many times have I told you that? You’re
going to be a librarian. You’ll live on the computer.”

“And how many times have I told you that I can’t afford one, let alone want one?

“You
need
a computer, Jessie,” Liz repeated. “And I can find you an excellent
used system...cheap.”

Jessie sighed. “I’ve gotta go.”

“Lunch tomorrow? I won’t be here but you can set the time. My job is flexible.” Jessie waved from the registration desk as Liz left the building. She turned to
watch Anne sign off the computer leaving the big box with the intimidating screen for her to sign in.

****

Climbing up four flights of stairs was a mini workout in itself for Jessie, especially with three over-stuffed grocery bags in her arms. It was always a game trying
to stick the key into the lock and open the door of her apartment without placing the bags on the floor. This time she lost. One overloaded paper sack struck the floor upside down and Jessie groaned. Just as she opened the door and managed to shove the groceries back into the bag, the phone rang.

“I’m coming,” she yelled in frustration. She shoved the sacks on the kitchen
counter and grabbed the receiver. “Hello,” she shouted into the phone.

Liz’s voice was hesitant. “Hi. Ah, you sound—”

“Cranky?” Jessie finished Liz’s sentence for her.

“Some.”

“I just did battle with my groceries that’s all. Thought you were meeting me for
lunch Tuesday?”

“Sorry,” Liz said. “I...met someone.”

“You did? A guy?”

“Of course a guy. Would I be excited over meeting a girl?”

“You just hurt my feelings,” Jessie teased. “Tell me all.”

Jessie had barely gotten the words out of her mouth before Liz cut in. “His name is Kent Morgan and he’s a gorgeous blue-eyed blond.”

“Okay,” Jessie stressed. “So does that mean no more lunches with me?”

“Of course not. I’ve still got time for my pal. Anyway, we had a date last night.
He was at the office when I got back there on Monday. He’s a computer technician. He
was working on mine when I walked in.”

“Oh. How compatible. So, did you have lunch with him?”

“No, not that day, but he was back yesterday and he asked me to lunch. Then at lunch he asked me to have dinner with him. Then we saw a movie.”

“And then?”

“He’s a gentleman, Jess, but he did kiss me goodnight.”

“Ooh. So, what now?”

“Well, he didn’t ask me out tonight, but he said he’d call.” Liz drew a long breath and changed the subject. “Hey, I’ve got a great deal for you. You can’t pass it up. This computer is the best buy of the century. And I’m taking you down to see it tonight. So, be ready in an hour.”

“Liz, I told you before. They’d have to be giving it away.”

“They practically are, and only because I’m on the inside track. My friend, Ross, isn’t making a cent on it. He’s doing it for you.”

“Don’t you mean, you? Ross likes you.”

“Yeah, I know that. And I’m taking advantage of him, right? Be ready.”

Liz hung up before Jessie could object further. Two hours later they were in the
computer shop. Two hours later they were home dragging boxes up the four flights of stairs, while Jessie apologized for the out-of-order elevator.

“Leave everything,” Liz panted. “Tomorrow night I’ll come over and help you set it up. But, I’ve got to get home now...Kent might call.”

“He can leave a message.”

“I know, but I’m anxious, okay?”

Jessie gave Liz a hug and thanked her, even though she was still wondering how
Liz had talked her into buying the computer. She had had to dip into her savings left her from her dad’s will. She wondered if she shouldn’t have put it against her student loan instead. But Liz was a good sales person, and Jessie had to admit that she needed to improve her computer skills if she ever hoped to get a librarian job.

****

On Thursday, Jessie was much relieved to see the elevator back in working order. When she entered her apartment, the circle of cardboard boxes on her living room floor made her cringe and reminded her that Liz would soon be by to bring the computer alive. From this day forward she wouldn’t be alone. Even when the screen shut down, the intimidating computer would be sitting there just waiting for her to turn it on so it could spurt forth the information of the world. And Jessie wasn’t quite sure she was ready for such an adjustment.
But to save time she began opening the boxes and lining up the information pamphlets so Liz could begin right away.

Just as the hunger pains were beginning to get to Jessie, Liz walked in with a large pizza that immediately filled the apartment with its delicious odour.

“Great,” Jessie said. “You brought food. I was just about to collapse from
hunger.”

“Say no more. But you’re in charge of disbursing it.”

“I’ve got wine,” Jessie said.

“Good,” Liz replied, “but let’s not drink too much. I need to keep my
head straight in order to hook this thing up.”

Jessie took the pizza to the kitchen counter where she opened it and got out plates
for serving. She popped the cork on a bottle of red wine, while Liz flipped through some directional brochures.

“Looks simple enough,” Liz mused. “Ross did all the work anyway. All I have
to do is put in a few disks.”

Jessie brought the pizza and wine over to the coffee table and they began
devouring the food. Later Jessie moved some furniture around in order to accommodate
the monitor and CPU. A sturdy, wooden table brought from home came in handy now, as the computer needed a strong base to sit on. Jessie moved plants and knick-knacks off the table, then she and Liz dragged it towards the far wall next to the window.

“You want plenty of light,” Liz said, “but not direct light on the screen. It’ll
kill your eyes.”

After attaching the stand to the monitor, they placed it on the table and arranged
the CPU underneath. Jessie pulled a bunch of wires out of a box and shook her head. They reminded her of Christmas lights. Every year at home before the tree went up, it had been her and her dad’s job to untangle and straighten out the sets of lights. Only on that last Christmas had she done it alone, her dad being too ill at the time to help her.

“My God, Liz,” she said. “Do you even know what to do with all these cords?”

Liz laughed. “Bring them here and I’ll sort them out. It’s not as bad as it looks.
Okay, this black power cord is for the CPU. The white one goes into the mouse hole. This round grey one is for the keyboard outlet, right here.”