BlackWell

old faces

Julian and I sat in awkward silence as we waited for D'Angelo. The interrogation room was stuffy and reeked of cigarettes. I draped my jacket across my chair. I ran my fingers through my hair, combing it out of my face. Julian kept glancing up at me, still with that puzzled look from before. If he was going to study me, I should get to do the same. 

I turned my head away from him, but my eyes stayed on him. He had removed his leather jacket as well. He had a tattoo on his left arm, but it was mostly covered. I rubbed my own knuckles as I looked at his hands again. The pale patches on his tan skin stood out, definitely a fighter, probably a vet. I studied his eyes for a moment, that's when something began to form in my mind, a face from a long time ago.

It had grown faint over time, but I could make out a crescent-shaped birthmark. That disappeared into his hair. I clenched my fists in my lap, this day just got worse. "Missouri?" Julian said his brow furrowed. I turned my head toward him. " For your information, I don't like it when colleges call me by my first name." I tried to play it off.

"No I wasn't- addressing you, I know you we've met before." he leaned forward. " You used to stay with my cousin, Gwen, back in Jerome- " I cut him off with a raised hand, "You have the wrong person," I stated the lie numbly, his features solidifying in my memory.  This was Jewels, that's what Gwen had called him, he had changed so much since that summer.

D'Angelo came into the room. He felt the tension as he looked between us, "-You're not in trouble Blackwell, don't worry. We just have a few questions." He said as he sat down next to Julian. I sighed trying to relax, " I know D'Angelo."

"I Got to know, where were you between twelve and five A.M yesterday morning," D'Angelo asked, reclining back in his chair. " I was at home, and there's a camera in the lobby of my building," I said squeezing the bridge of my nose. "What about the girl?" Julian said arms crossed a crease between his brows. "I have no idea who she is, other than a murder victim." I sighed again, I really didn't want to mention it, but I had to. "I think someone came into my apartment last night."

Both men looked at me a little wide-eyed. "Last night I woke up and thought I saw something in my apartment. I was pretty tired, so I just went back to bed. Then this morning my door was unlocked. I know that's not much to go on, but it's all I got. " I say resting my head in my hand. " Julian, Your building has a vacancy, right? " D'Angelo said to as he looked over at his partner.  

"I'm sorry, what is happening here?" I say straightening up. "Yeah, what are you doing D!" Julian glared back at his partner. " I can't have doctor Blackwell go back home, not tonight, not until we figure this out." The older man said crossing his arms at the both of us. "You can keep an eye on her if she stays in your building. I don't want to hear any lip about it from either of you." He said standing back up. He looked over at me, "You're in protective custody from this moment forward. I suggest you make a list of things you want from your place."

***

If the few moments we shared back at the station were awkward the drive back to my place was unbearable. We didn't even look at each other until I unlocked my door. He insisted that he go in first, it made sense, but it was still annoying. I stepped in after him, as he disappeared down the hall. I rolled my eyes, as I began putting a few things into an empty box. I stopped when I heard a cat yowl from the bedroom. "Pharaoh!" I called out as the gray and black cat came scurrying down the hall.

He ran to me and I scooped him up. Julian came storming into the living room, " What's his problem," He said pointing at Pharaoh. A large scratch on his hand dripped blood onto the floor. "I was just trying to move him-" I interrupted him. " He's scared, he doesn't like strangers," I said stroking the hissing feline. At that moment Jasper decided to pop up onto the back of the couch. "Oh great, another one," Julian said as she spotted the black cat.

I sat Pharaoh on the couch as I retrieved their carrier from the bedroom. I also grabbed the first aid kit from the bathroom. I tossed the kit to Julian as I gathered the cats. "There now they're not in the way," I said as I turned to look at Julian. He stood there holding the kit, staring daggers into me. The blood trickling down his arm.

"You're getting blood on my carpet." I pointed at his arm. "Mis," he said sitting the kit down on the dining table behind him. The old nickname punched me in the gut. I shook my head, "-again, that's not me-," I began before he turned the tables and cut me off. "Then what is your first name?" He asked as he sat down to open the kit. I hate lying, I deal with liars every day, I'm also not very good at it. "Fine, alright, I'm Missouri Blackwell. You worked with my father." I stalked out of the room, only to have him follow me.

" Why did you change your last name?" he asked as I grabbed clothes and a suitcase from my closet. I haphazardly folded clothes before shoving them inside. A small bit of relief settled over me, he obviously didn't know the whole story. " It's none of your concern," I said flatly, zipping up the suitcase. I looked up at him, the annoyance clear on his face.  He sighed, "You ready to go." He asked, gesturing to the door.

***

Julian's building isn't bad, just not my taste. It's ten stories with no elevator. The radiator sputters on and off, so the place is freezing, and my view of the river has been replaced with a laundromat. Okay, it's awful and I hate it. I can't just go to work because my boss informed me this morning that I'm now on leave for my protection. Julian all but threatened to handcuff me after I tried leaving earlier.

The cats were restless in the temporary home. Pharaoh was shedding from anxiety and was practically attached to me. Jasper paced back and forth, tail twitching and he walked. I mostly comforted them and dozed on and off. It was almost two A.M. when we got here, and I really didn't sleep. All three of us jumped when a knock came at the door. "It's me," Julian's muffled voice came from behind the door.

I sighed and opened the door, " Shouldn't you be at work," I said as Pharaoh balled up in my arms. "Good morning to you too," he said in return and held up a mug of steaming coffee. " The captain wants me to stay close to you, at least for the day." I adjusted Pharaoh as I took the mug from him.

We stood there awkwardly for a beat. "So what's his name," he pointed to the fluffy black cat who sat between us. "Jasper," I said sipping the coffee. "He's got a staring problem," he said holding Jasper's Orange eyes in a staredown. " At least he's friendlier than King." he crossed his arms as he looked back at me. "Pharaoh, his name is Pharaoh."

I saw the bandage wrapped around his hand. I sipped more of the coffee, "I'm sorry he scratched you. His previous owners- were unkind to him." I stroked Pharaoh with my free hand. Julian rubbed the back of his neck, "Sorry I scared him. He was in front of the closet, and he wouldn't move.'' Julian sipped from his own mug.  Jasper reached up and swatted at the drawstring on Julian's sweatpants.

He smiled down at Jasper, It really was Gwen's nephew, he never got his chipped tooth fixed. His eyes crinkled up in the same way. " How many tours did you do?" I asked as I could finally make out the tattoo on his arm. Julian stared at me for a moment, "Your tattoo, it's the marines insignia. Unless you just have it for the fun of it." I said the awkwardness settled back over us. "Two, I did two tours in Vietnam." The way he said it was odd like it was rehearsed.

At that moment a loud thud came from inside my apartment. Julian rushed past me causing Pharaoh to panic and knock my glasses from my face. I shut my eyes as I heard them clatter on the ground. The mug went flying from my hand in the process. "I'm so sorry," Julian said and I felt him grasp my arm. I could feel him looking at me. "What was it?" I asked as I knelt to search for my glasses. "Probably just a pigeon."

I felt around and accidentally grabbed a shard of a broken mug. I felt the skin break, "What are you doing let me help you!" Julian sternly said as blood dripped from my palm. I could feel him moving around me as he reached down and grabbed my glasses. "What is with these glasses." My eyes popped open and I looked away from him as I grabbed them. 

"What happened to your eyes?" he asked as I put them back on. "Don't you mean what happened to my face!" I snapped as I stood up. "That's not what I meant." He stood up crossing his arms. I hate that he's taller than me now. "Those aren't glasses, not really, you can see just fine." I tried to walk past him to leave, but he grabbed my shoulder to stop me.

I whipped around and shoved him, "DON'T TOUCH ME!"  He blinked at me, and I was almost as surprised. I don't raise my voice often. He trudged past me and slammed the door behind him.