“The wall mirror was a great idea, and I love the glass tile mosaic.” Chynna smiled. “You should see it at night when the fairy lights are on.”
Damon nodded. “I will. Are you open?”
“Unofficially. Working out the kinks.”
“When’s the official opening?”
“On the thirty-first. That’ll be the next full moon.”
“Any chance you could do a tattoo for me before that?”
Chynna nodded. “You have a design in mind?”
Damon unfolded his drawing. He’d redrawn the original tattoo from all those years ago, the one covered up by the tribal. “I had this before,” he explained, telling her the story behind it. “I want it on the other arm with a memorial below it.”
“Someone who didn’t come home,” she said, understanding immediately. “Do you have time now?”
“Sure.”
She beckoned to him, new purpose in her manner. “Take off your shirt and let me see the canvas.”
Damon didn’t want to talk to Haley on the phone the first time. He wanted to see her in person. He bought a large bouquet of red roses at a local florist, enduring the comments about love and happily ever after with more good humor than he might have a year before. He flagged down a cab, afraid for the roses in the cold.
The cabbie took one look and smothered a smile. “A bit late for Valentine’s Day, aren’t you?”
“I just hope I’m not too late,” Damon admitted, because it was true.
The cab ride was mercifully short. His heart was racing when they approached Haley’s building and a thousand doubts assailed him. She could be working. She could be out with friends. She could have a date with some other guy.
She could be with some other guy.
It didn’t matter. Even if the best he could do was thank her properly, that was what he’d do. He paid the fare and stood on the sidewalk for a moment, mustering his courage. He looked up at her window and frowned.
There were drapes on the window instead of blinds.
He could see a blue vase filled with sticks and fake flowers that didn’t look like something Haley would have in her apartment.
And there was no cat sitting on the sill.
Had she taken that job, the one near Garrett?
What about her message?
Panic shot through Damon.
He strode to the lobby and checked the board. Haley’s name wasn’t there, not anymore. He rang the super’s unit but there was no answer. He turned around in the foyer of the building, wondering what to do, then caught a glimpse of the super in the foyer beyond. He knocked on the glass and the older man looked up, then smiled in recognition. He leaned his mop against the wall and sauntered toward the security door, taking about a thousand years to do it.
His gaze dropped to the roses, carefully wrapped in clear plastic, then he shook his head. “You’re too late, son. She’s gone.”
“Gone? Gone where?”
“She took a job in another city. I forget where.”
“Illinois,” Damon said through his teeth.
“Maybe. All that mattered to me was that she was moving out, and in a hurry. Too bad really. She was a good tenant. Always paid her rent on time. Quiet.” He nodded. “Nice girl.”
Damon’s chest was so tight that he couldn’t breathe. “When?”
“She paid through February, but she was gone by the middle of the month.” He nodded at the roses. “I’ll bet they set you back this time of year.”
“It doesn’t matter. Thanks.” Damon turned away, his thoughts spinning. He pulled out his phone and called Haley’s number but it was out of service.
Fuck.
The hospital.
He called the oncology ward, which was still programmed into his phone. The nurse he remembered best answered the phone, because he recognized her voice. “Is this Khadija?” he asked, trying not to sound rushed.
“It might be.”
“Hi. This is Damon Perez. I wanted to thank you and the team for taking such good care of my mom.”
Her voice warmed immediately. “You’re welcome. She was such a sweetheart. We were all sorry for your loss. And thank you for the gift basket. Those chocolates didn’t last long.”
“You’re welcome. I really appreciate everything you did there to keep her comfortable.”
“It’s what we do.”
Damon cleared her throat. “Do you remember the other nurse who gave a couple of massages to my mom? Her name was Haley and she was in another department. I wanted to thank her, too. Do you know how I could reach her?”
“Oh, Haley’s left the hospital. She got another job. Great job, actually, heading up a new department to offer alternative therapies to patients.”
“Like therapeutic massage.”
“Exactly! It was perfect for Haley.”
“But she had to move, I guess.”
“Yes, it was in Illinois. That hospital has an excellent reputation, and her family is there, too.”
“That would make the move easier.”
“I guess so.” Khadija sighed. “I was sorry to see her go, though, and so was everyone else. The hospital here offered to create an equivalent position for her, but she was determined to go.”
“Maybe she wanted to be closer to her family.”
“Maybe. Just between you and me, I think there was a guy she wanted to get away from. She seemed to have it bad for him, but it wasn’t mutual.”
Damon winced. “That’s too bad. She seemed very nice.”
“Haley is nice. I’m sorry I can’t give you a forwarding address for her. That falls under the privacy policy of the hospital.” She paused. “I probably shouldn’t have told you all that.”
“I appreciate it, though. Thanks for your help. I might try directory assistance.”
“Can’t hurt.” Khadija dropped her voice and whispered the name of a city hospital.
Damon smiled, knowing it was where Haley had gone. “Thanks so much.”
“You’re very welcome. I know she’ll be glad to hear from you. Take care, Mr. Perez.”
Damon marched to the subway station, pulling up a map on his phone. He wasn’t going to book a flight, not with another snow storm coming, and there weren’t many direct flights anyway. He’d never liked trains and in this case, they were too slow. He called Ty.
“Hey, Damon. Back in town?”
“Not for long. I’ll be gone for a few days.”
“Sounds urgent.”
“It is. Remember when you said I just had to ask if I needed something?”
Ty’s tone turned wary. “I do.”
“I need a car. A fast car. And I need it now.”
“Oh no,” Ty whispered, obviously connecting the dots.
“You have the fastest car. I need your car.”
“Where are you going?”
“To say thanks.”
“Why does it have to be fast?”
“Because it’s a long way to Illinois and I’m late.” Damon ducked into the subway station, hurrying down the stairs, and the signal started to break up.
“Are you okay?” Ty demanded.