The Stolen - Jason Pinter [24]
their midst. And while they survived, their relationship
died horribly. And now Amanda's nights were spent full
The Stolen
71
of sorrow for her loss, guilt for imposing on Darcy, and
desire to just move on and forget everything.
"Hey, Amanda, you see this?" Levi Gold, one of the
NYLAS's partners, came into their office waving a copy
of that morning's New York Gazette. He laid it on the table
in front of Amanda and Darcy, then underlined the
headline with his finger.
"I Just Want To Be a Kid"
Long thought dead, Daniel Linwood grasps for the
life nearly taken from him
by Henry Parker
"That's our guy, Daniel Linwood," Levi said. Levi was
a short man, yet always walked with his shoulders rolled
back as though it might add an extra few inches. His
balding pate was neatly combed over, his gold wedding
ring always buffed to a polish. As he leaned in close,
Amanda could smell a whiff of Hugo Boss. And though
she'd never tell him, she'd once spied him inserting lifts
into his loafers.
"Whaddaya think, we're handling this city's top legal
aid case. Pretty sweet, huh? If my bonus doesn't hit four
figures this year, I'll be seriously pissed."
Darcy was out of her seat ready to give Levi a hug, but
Amanda couldn't stop staring at the byline. She hadn't
spoken to him in months. Hadn't read the Gazette since
they broke up. Suddenly Amanda grabbed the paper,
opened it to Henry's article and began reading.
When Darcy saw the story's continuation, saw the
Gazette's emblem atop the margin, noticed the byline, it
dawned on her.
"Oh, babe," she said. "You don't need to read this."
72
Jason Pinter
"I want to."
"Really, Manda..." She moved to take the paper.
"If you touch it you'll be wearing your wedding band
on a stump."
Darcy withdrew, protectively holding her hand.
Amanda read the whole story in silence. When she was
finished, she closed the paper and handed it back to Levi.
"Sorry for hoarding your paper."
"Don't worry about it. Least some of the newsprint
rubbed off on you instead of me." Levi smiled and walked
out.
"Does it still hurt?" Darcy asked. Amanda could tell
along with the sympathy there was a note of curiosity in
Darcy's voice. She'd never been hurt like that, never had
to see an ex-lover's name in front of her. She was the kind
of girl men fawned over, men who would never hurt her,
because her beauty was what they craved, and they knew
she could walk away in an instant. If she left, another man
just like them would be waiting around the corner to scoop
her up. Amanda never had that luxury. She'd always told
herself once she found the right man, she would never let
him go. She never wondered what it would be like if he
left her. Never wondered if he was simply carrying on his
life while she cried herself to sleep.
"It hurts," Amanda said. Then she turned to Darcy.
"Hurts more today than usual."
"Come on," she said, standing up. "Lychee martinis at
lunch today. On me. And afterward we'll work on bringing
young Mr. Linwood back to life."
For once, Amanda was more than happy to indulge
Darcy.
7
Iarrived at my desk to find Jack O'Donnell waiting for me.
Sitting in my chair, in fact. He was wearing a brown suitcoat
and gray slacks with several patches sewn in. In fact, during
the few years I'd gotten to know him, Jack had shown as
much taste for fashion as your average wino. Pants are
pants, he told me one night over a beer. Just because they
rip doesn't mean they stop being comfortable. You have any
idea how much money I've saved over the years by giving
my money to tailors instead of garment salesmen?
The look on his face read "mildly perturbed." His
posture said, "I'm sitting in your chair. So what?"
Big red veins tubed down the sides of his nose. His eyes
were mildly bloodshot, and it was clear though I'd
declined his drinking invitation last night, he'd hit the
town with his more reliable friend Jack Daniel's, maybe
met up with their buddy Jim Beam and set sail on a voyage
with Captain Morgan as well.
Jack was holding a copy of