success.
She turned the corner and was now a block from her apartment complex. She crossed the street and walked through the small park. There weren't too many people around, just stragglers here and there.
The air was cool, but the weather forecasters had predicted a heat wave this whole week, starting Monday morning.
She approached a long row of hedges just before the hill. She definitely heard something, because she turned to look behind her. Obviously startled, she jumped when she saw him walking so close.
"Sorry, Miss. You shouldn't be walking alone in this area this time of night. Someone was mugged just the other day."
"Yeah, I heard about that, but I'm broke, so they'd get nothing from me.” She continued to walk.
He walked with her. “Still, I'd feel better knowing that you were safely through the park. You live far from here?"
At first, she seemed not too sure of his intentions. After all, this was New York and there were plenty of creeps and plenty of angles.
"I'm sorry. Am I frightening you?” He used the sincerest tone he could muster.
"I'm fine. What are you, a cop?” She approached the final corner before the long stretch of darkness, then the main street.
"Something like that.” He smiled and winked.
She appeared confused. Did she think he flirted with her? She ran her fingers through her hair and smacked her lips together, perhaps to spread what little lipstick she had left on them.
He smirked as they entered the darkness. Two main light posts were out.
"Damn it. I hate when this happens. Why can't the damn park maintenance workers fix the freaking lights as soon as they blow out?” She huffed, full of attitude.
The pressure rushed to his face again.
He controlled his anger and was proud at his preparedness. He'd backtracked a half hour before and had knocked the lights out with some rocks. It was right after two cops on foot patrol walked through the area. The next scheduled patrol was due after midnight, so he had time.
"See what I mean. It's not safe. Anyone could come lurking out of a bush."
* * * *
Barbara looked at him suspiciously. He wore black jeans and a black shirt. His sneakers were dirty, but other than that he looked clean, decent, and she wondered what he did for a living.
If he had a good job, he could support her. Maybe she wouldn't have to work at all. The thoughts put a smile on her face.
"What's the smile for?” he whispered, stepping a bit closer to her as they entered the darkness. She could sense the stranger's size and strength. Her thoughts were all twisted and she felt confusion. The scent of his cologne drifted to her nose.
She held onto the hope he was some sort of helper, a savior sent to make her life easier. What better form than an attractive, young, sexy male? She figured he had a good five years on her or more, but she didn't care. She was desperate to have more.
With thoughts of desperation came fear. It was sudden and slight and she ignored it.
Barbara looked at the stranger, his face now shadowed by the darkness. “Have we met before?"
He smiled once more, or at least she thought he did. It was hard to make out anything in the darkness. There was that uneasy feeling again. An instant later came thoughts of grandeur. What a story this would make. A man meets a woman in a city park. They fall in love, and she doesn't have to work another day in her life.
I hope he's filthy rich.
They continued to walk down the small hill lined with shrubbery. It was the deepest, most wooded, area of the park.
"Well?” She ran her fingers through her hair. She realized he hadn't answered her question.
"We may have."
"Was I working?” She picked up her pace a little.
"That's right. Busy store you work at. There's always a long line to wait on.” He clenched his teeth, before the last syllable escaped his lips.
* * * *
His anger escalated, along with the flashbacks. He slowly took the black gloves from his pocket and pulled them onto his hands. He was in
She turned the corner and was now a block from her apartment complex. She crossed the street and walked through the small park. There weren't too many people around, just stragglers here and there.
The air was cool, but the weather forecasters had predicted a heat wave this whole week, starting Monday morning.
She approached a long row of hedges just before the hill. She definitely heard something, because she turned to look behind her. Obviously startled, she jumped when she saw him walking so close.
"Sorry, Miss. You shouldn't be walking alone in this area this time of night. Someone was mugged just the other day."
"Yeah, I heard about that, but I'm broke, so they'd get nothing from me.” She continued to walk.
He walked with her. “Still, I'd feel better knowing that you were safely through the park. You live far from here?"
At first, she seemed not too sure of his intentions. After all, this was New York and there were plenty of creeps and plenty of angles.
"I'm sorry. Am I frightening you?” He used the sincerest tone he could muster.
"I'm fine. What are you, a cop?” She approached the final corner before the long stretch of darkness, then the main street.
"Something like that.” He smiled and winked.
She appeared confused. Did she think he flirted with her? She ran her fingers through her hair and smacked her lips together, perhaps to spread what little lipstick she had left on them.
He smirked as they entered the darkness. Two main light posts were out.
"Damn it. I hate when this happens. Why can't the damn park maintenance workers fix the freaking lights as soon as they blow out?” She huffed, full of attitude.
The pressure rushed to his face again.
He controlled his anger and was proud at his preparedness. He'd backtracked a half hour before and had knocked the lights out with some rocks. It was right after two cops on foot patrol walked through the area. The next scheduled patrol was due after midnight, so he had time.
"See what I mean. It's not safe. Anyone could come lurking out of a bush."
* * * *
Barbara looked at him suspiciously. He wore black jeans and a black shirt. His sneakers were dirty, but other than that he looked clean, decent, and she wondered what he did for a living.
If he had a good job, he could support her. Maybe she wouldn't have to work at all. The thoughts put a smile on her face.
"What's the smile for?” he whispered, stepping a bit closer to her as they entered the darkness. She could sense the stranger's size and strength. Her thoughts were all twisted and she felt confusion. The scent of his cologne drifted to her nose.
She held onto the hope he was some sort of helper, a savior sent to make her life easier. What better form than an attractive, young, sexy male? She figured he had a good five years on her or more, but she didn't care. She was desperate to have more.
With thoughts of desperation came fear. It was sudden and slight and she ignored it.
Barbara looked at the stranger, his face now shadowed by the darkness. “Have we met before?"
He smiled once more, or at least she thought he did. It was hard to make out anything in the darkness. There was that uneasy feeling again. An instant later came thoughts of grandeur. What a story this would make. A man meets a woman in a city park. They fall in love, and she doesn't have to work another day in her life.
I hope he's filthy rich.
They continued to walk down the small hill lined with shrubbery. It was the deepest, most wooded, area of the park.
"Well?” She ran her fingers through her hair. She realized he hadn't answered her question.
"We may have."
"Was I working?” She picked up her pace a little.
"That's right. Busy store you work at. There's always a long line to wait on.” He clenched his teeth, before the last syllable escaped his lips.
* * * *
His anger escalated, along with the flashbacks. He slowly took the black gloves from his pocket and pulled them onto his hands. He was in
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