Page 39 of Whispered Sins

Once Armand was up front, I read him the address and sat back as he put the car into drive. I couldn’t remember the last time I had gone to Brooklyn. It wasn’t far, but felt like a whole other world from the high rises and wealth of the upper East Side.

Forty-five minutes later, we pulled up to a small, brick apartment building. Armand walked around the side of the car and opened my door. I thanked him as I stepped out onto the curb. I looked down at the address in my hand. Apartment 2B.

I noticed a pizza delivery guy exiting the building and jogged up to catch the door to let myself inside. I walked down the hallway toward the stairs and noticed a fluffy white cat at my feet. As I stopped to greet her, she weaved her way between my legs.

“Hello there,” I said, bending down to pet her.

“Beatrice!” I heard someone call.

I looked up and saw an older woman clutching a fluffy pink robe around herself, her gray hair rolled tightly in pink sponge rollers.

“Beatrice. There you are!” she said, walking over.

I picked up the cat and stood.

“Cute cat,” I said, extending my arms out to give her cat back.

The woman took it and cradled it before looking at me. I noticed her eyes widen slightly. She looked me up and down, her mouth open in surprise.

She scrunched her eyebrows together. “Aren’t you…”

“I really should be going,” I said.

I headed toward the stairs and began climbing them. I could hear the woman mumbling to herself. It wasn’t unusual to be recognized, but I didn’t need anyone knowing I was in Brooklyn or what business I was on.

I walked down the hallway and stopped in front of apartment 2B. I took a deep breath before knocking. My nerves caused waves of nausea to roll through my stomach. The last time I had seen Addison was when she was sleeping in my bed. I didn’t know how much I would end up missing her. Missing someone was not something I did.

I heard the numerous locks of the door click before it finally opened. To my disappointment, it wasn’t Addison standing there. I checked the address on the post-it. This was the place.

“May I help you?” asked the woman standing there. She was short with a brown angled bob that hit just above her shoulders. Judging by the scowl on her face, she didn’t look too pleased to see me.

“I’m looking for Addison Heartly,” I said.

“Heart’s not here right now.”

“Heart?”

“Yeah, that’s what herclosefriends call her.”

Ah. I was dealing with the protective best friend. Fuck me.

“Well, will you let her know I stopped by?”

“And you are?” she asked, even though her icy stare made it clear she knew exactly who I was.

“Daniel Jacobs.”

“I don’t think she wants to see you.”

“Please.”

“No. I think you should go.”

I desperately wanted to call out Addison’s name. Heart’s name. Whatever she was called. I just wanted to see her. But clearly she didn’t want to see me.

She started to close the door.

“Wait. Please,” I said.

---