An Impossible Task

Chapter 5

John offered to drive her car into the city and Cassie agreed. She really disliked going into the city -- the noise, the traffic, the people – she just wasn't used to it. John wanted to drive so it would give him something else to concentrate on. He couldn't get Cassie out of his thoughts; it was like a song playing over and over. Part of him understood. Cassie was an attractive woman with a delicate sensuality that intrigued him. Yet part of him felt like he was betraying Helen, even though the note she left him said he should find "someone to love". But how could he get into a relationship with Cassie? With anyone, really. Cassie didn't know about him. She didn't know what he did and he didn't want her to. She had probably saved his life and now he owed her. Owed her as if she had his marker.

Cassie's cell phone went off when they were about 10 minutes away from the hotel. She answered it with a sigh and said, "Hello?"

"Cassie? It's Deloris. Where are you?" she asked urgently.

"Hi Deloris, what's up? Are you okay?"

"The police were here looking for you. They asked if I'd seen you so I told them I saw you and your brother yesterday. They need to talk to you. They said it's important."

"Okay Deloris. Don't worry. Everything is fine," Cassie reassured her. "I'll call them."

"It's Braxton PD."

"Thank you so much Deloris. Please don't worry. It's nothing to worry about, okay? You take care and I'll talk to you later."

Cassie hung up with Deloris and then told John what she had said. "Are the police after you?"

"No," he answered.

"How did you end up at Braxton Memorial?"

John shook his head. "I don't know."

"Somebody is after you then, right?"

"I don't know," he said.

"Do you really not know or are you just not telling me?"

John looked at her. "I really don't know."

After the valet took the car, John and Cassie, together with the dog, walked into downtown Manhattan's Continental Hotel and went directly to the front desk. The concierge greeted John warmly. "Mr. Wick, nice to see you again. You'll be staying with us...?"

"...An indefinite amount of time," John answered, evenly. Cassie watched as John passed him a gold coin. She thought it odd, but shrugged her shoulders.

"Very well. Do you need help with any baggage?"

"No. But do you still have the bag I left here last time?"

"Of course. I will have it sent up to your room. It is room number 405."

John turned to Cassie. "Cassie this is Charon. Charon, Cassie."

Charon bowed slightly to Cassie. "Cassie," he said.

"Nice to meet you, Charon," Cassie responded.

"Will you be taking the dog with you, sir, or would you like me to take care of him?"

"If you could take care of him, I'd appreciate it."

"No problem, sir," Charon answered.

"Thank you," John said and turned to leave. He told the dog to stay and he obeyed perfectly.

Cassie wondered what kind of hotel this was. A long term residence type of hotel? It seemed very high class with oak paneling on the walls and almost antique fixtures.

John escorted Cassie to the lounge and ordered a glass of red wine for her.

"I'll be right back. Just make yourself comfortable," John told her.