《Shadows Under the Covers》


 1

    Paul stepped out of his car, he was parked a good block or so far from his flat, but he didn¡¯t mind the exercise. He rarely ever got out to the gym anymore, and he was considering ending the hole in his wallet. It was relatively dark out, but the streetlights weren¡¯t on yet. He sighed and grabbed his briefcase out of the passenger seat, and started his way down the pavement.


    Halfway there, he saw the shadow of a woman come out of the alley. She was dressed up like a college girl fresh from a club, but she was older, around Paul¡¯s age. She flung her raven hair over her shoulder, seeing her face made Paul realize she looked familiar to him in a strange way, he supposed it was the makeup.


    She walked over to him on impossible heels, and wrapped her arm around his shoulder, she flicked the name tag on his button up and leaned in close to his face.


    Her breath was wretched and hot on his cheek, ¡°Hey Mr. Duke, you happen to have a smoke?~¡±


    He wordlessly reached into his back pocket and fished out one. She perked up intern grappling for the cigarette, pulling a lighter from her bra, and lighting it, sighing out the smoke.


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    ¡°Thanks Mista¡¯¡± Her accent drawled, ¡°What¡¯s your name?~¡± She was clearly intoxicated.


    ¡°Paul, Paul Duke.¡±


    Her face lit up, and she bounced on her feet, very intoxicated. He noted,


    ¡°No way, you''re bullshitting. Did you go to Thornburn University?¡±


    Paul opened his mouth to respond, but couldn¡¯t come up with anything to say.


    The woman noticed and continued, ¡°I remember you! Man, how you have changed!¡±


    He raised his eyebrows and admitted, ¡°I knew you looked familiar. What is your name? I am sorry I never asked.¡±


    She took another drag of her cigarette, ¡°My name is Clair, Clair Vassal.¡±


    She offered her hand, but he didn¡¯t take it. It was Her after all this time.


    Clair started again,¡°Where yins heading?¡±


    He peered into her eyes for a moment.¡°My flat, you could join me if you would like?¡±


    ¡°Of course~¡± she breathed. Her long curls reaching out for him in the wind.

 2

    Clair woke up in a stranger¡¯s bed alone, sunlight peeking through closed blinds. Probably some kid she found that had to leave for school. It was becoming a bit of a habit of her¡¯s. She rolled over hoping to find a phone or maybe an alarm clock to check the time. She saw a plain looking digital clock on the other side of the bed. It was 9:14, not too bad, she didn¡¯t have work until noon. Clair sighed in relief, she took the time to finally take in her surroundings. She was surprised to see the walls not covered in posters, but bare minus a singular generic painting on a far wall. Getting up she looked at the carpet for her scattered clothes. Noticing an attached bathroom, she poked around his toiletries and took a nice long shower, whoever this was had some of the best water heating she has felt in a long while.


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    Wearing his robes she made her way out to the kitchen, she checked his cabinets but they were empty, minus a few stray granola bars. She picked out one at random and then noticed a small note on the counter. It read,


    ¡°I left for work, my number is ###-###-####, Paul D.¡±


    Her eyebrows shot up and she took the note making sure to tuck it in her purse before she left.

 3

    Paul leaned back in his chair, this kid was getting on his nerves.


    ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Cole yesterday was the 5th time I have had your son in my office this year, so you must understand the importance of this visit. He is at risk of being kicked off of the soccer team, and stripped of his enrollment here.¡±


    Mrs. Cole scoffed, ¡°If it is so important, then why am I not speaking to your superior, or is my son not important enough for the principal¡¯s time?¡±


    Paul¡¯s headache doubled, ¡°Mam, I have the means and authority to make or break your son¡¯s entire educational, and possibly entire, future if I were to even add any one of these ¡®misdemeanors¡¯  to his record.¡±


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    Mr. Cole rose sharply from his seat. ¡°Are you threatening me? This is an outrage! My boy did nothing shy of a few dumb pranks, and now you are putting our reputation over our heads!¡±


    Paul¡¯s eyebrow quirked, and he raised himself as well. ¡°Your precious ¡®boy¡¯ has assaulted multiple students, and nearly killed one! It is a miracle that they didn¡¯t press charges, except it isn¡¯t! Now sit your ass back down and let us sort this out like adults.¡±


    They both sat in their respective chairs. Paul continued, ¡°So we both know that no one can find out what happened yesterday or today, and all I want to know now is how much are you willing to pay to get this information under the bridge?¡±.


    Mr. Cole beamed, ¡°Ten thousand by Friday, in your office.¡± Mr. Cole outstretched a burly hand, rings gleaming in the fluorescent lights, Paul took it grinning, his smile crooked and grey.