Karl Gordon Is Back

Chapter 17: In The Nick Of Time

The storm had been building since morning.

Karl noticed it the moment he stepped out of the bathroom and drew the curtain aside. The sky hung heavy above the street with dark clouds that rolled slowly over one another.

The trees along the fence leaned in the wind, their leaves shaking violently, scattering across the driveway.

He checked his watch. Late.

Not dangerously late but close enough to make his chest tighten.

He crossed the bedroom in long strides and reached for his phone on the bedside table.

No missed calls or texts for Anna still. He'd have to worry about that later. Right now, he needed to meet Ruchie for that game and possibly get the document signed.

His last text to Ruchie's secretary still sat unread from twenty minutes earlier. I’m on my way.

Karl turned toward the wardrobe, pulled on a clean shirt, then stepped into his shoes. He grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair and headed down the hallway.

The house was unusually quiet, way too quiet for the usual buzz of Saturday mornings. That alone should have warned him.

He reached the small console by the front door and picked up the empty key hook. His hand froze. The hook swayed slightly from the motion, bare. He stared at it for a moment longer than necessary.

His jaw tightened. He checked his pockets, nothing. Karl turned slowly toward the living room.

“Melody.”

No response.

He walked in, already knowing what he would find. She was sitting on the couch, legs crossed, phone in hand, her shoes kicked off beside the table. The storm’s light poured in through the wide windows behind her, casting her face into a dull shadow. Her attention was on the screen, but her eyes went up to meet him when she realised he was near.

“Looking for something?”

“Where are the car keys?”

She didn’t look up. “Your car keys?” she asked casually.

“Yes.”

She scrolled lazily. “I took them.”

“Give them to me.”

She laughed quietly. “No.”

He stepped closer. “You don’t have the right to take my property.”

She glanced up at him, eyes glinting in the partial darkness. “And where are you going without telling me? You think you can just walk out of this house however you please?”

This was his house?! Of course he can waltz out of here if he wants to!

“I have to report my movements to you?” Karl asked, a laugh threatening to escape him. “Hand me my keys, Melody.”

She placed her phone down on the armrest and rose slowly, smoothing her skirt as she stood. “I asked you a simple question yesterday, Karl.” She said, “Are you sleeping with Anna? And the next thing I know, you're threatening to sell the house and now you're rushing out of the house to where? To see her?”

His mouth tightened. He really didn't have time to spare to go back and forth with this woman. It's going to start to rain soon and his only bet if getting down to Ruchie in time is if he drives

He looked past her, toward the front door. “Give me the keys.”

“So you are going to see her!”

Karl massaged the corner of his eyes, he's so close to losing his shit with this woman!

“ for fuck sake, Melody!” Karl snapped, “Give me the bloody keys!”

She gasped, “Did you just swear at me?! You're doing this to me because of her?! You're really choosing her over me?”

He paced the living area, “Oh my goodness.”

God, it's like she's a direct messenger from the devil at this point! Why wont she just give him the damned keys! Why is she threatening him on a crucial day like this?

“Cancel your appointment.”

He froze and turned to slowly, “What?”

“Cancel your appointment with Anna or I swear I'll fire her!”

“I’ m not going to meet Anna!” Karl snapped. Why the hell does Melody have to drag Anna into this anyway?!

Melody laughs, "I don't believe you. If you step out of this house, I will fire Anna!”

Karl scoffed, his eyes staring at Melody like she had just grown two heads or something. Goodness, she's such a monster! How come he hadn't noticed this before?!

He glanced at his wrist watch, he really didn't have the time for banter! He's been doing just fine without using his car. He'd have to take a taxi then.

Finding a ride on this storm would be a hassle.

“I will not have you sleeping with my assistant!” she snapped.

“But you can go ahead and fuck my bestfriend, no?”

Her face stiffened, silence enveloping the entire room. “That is not the same thing.”

Karl covered the distance between them, “It's not? It infuriates you doesn't it? That I might actually fuck your assistant?”

Her jaw clenched, “You…”

“Don't worry.” He cuts in. “I'll make sure to give you front row seats when I do.” He glanced down at the car keys in her eyes. “You can keep the keys. For now. I'll have it back once you and your family move out of my house..”

Karl made his way towards the door but Melody hurried after him, shoving herself between him and the door.

“You’re not going anywhere,” she said. “Not to her! No!”

A sudden crack of thunder tore through the sky, close enough to make the window vibrate.

Karl turned and made his way to the back door without another thought.

Melody blinked. “What are you doing?”

He walked straight ahead, pulling the door open as soon as he reached it. Rain dropped heavily on the floor as he glanced at the rack for the umbrella, it was empty.

He tucked the document Ruchie was to sign under his jacket and pulled up the zipper.

“Stop,” she called after him, heels clicking as she hurried towards him but he didn't.

The rain hit his face immediately, soaking his hair within seconds. Wind tore at his jacket, forcing him to brace himself .

Melody stood in the doorway, staring after him. “We're done, Karl! We're fucking done!”

He didn’t look back. The street had transformed in minutes. Water streamed along the pavement, pooling at the edges of the road.The wind howled down the narrow lane, pushing against his body with enough force to make him lose his footing.

Karl pulled his jacket tighter around himself and began to walk. He didn't care how heavy the rain got, he managed to get Ruchie to meet him, he would have to make this work anyway he can.

Rain blurred his vision. His shoes slipped once, sending a jolt up his leg. He steadied himself on a lamppost and continued forward.

His phone vibrated in his pocket but he ignored it. He focused instead on the road ahead. They were to meet at a cafe, about thirty minutes walk from his house. With a taxi it would have been ten minutes but not a single taxi could be seen for miles.

The wind surged suddenly, forcing him to stagger sideways. A loud crash echoed from somewhere behind him as a plastic bin overturned.

Karl’s breath came harder now, his clothes clung heavily to his skin. By the time he reached the main road, the rain had reduced a bit, cars drove past with headlights on. .

His phone vibrated again. This time, he stopped and checked his messages. It was a text from Ruchie's assistant.

Assistant: Mr Karl, keeping Ms Ruchie waiting is quite audacious! Five minutes. That's all you have.

Fuck.

How is he supposed to get down there in five minutes? If melody had just given him the damned keys!

A taxi honked at him, “Going?” The driver asked.

“Yes!” Karl hurried towards the exit and settled in. “Beavs cafe.”

“Sure. Where you're headed must be important. Walking in this rain.” The driver tuts.

Four minutes later, the café’s sign finally came into view, its dim light flickering weakly through the rain. He paid the driver, thanked him and hurried towards the cafe. He slowed as he reached the entrance, forcing himself to steady his breathing.

Warm air rushed over him as he pushed the door open, the bell above the door chimed.

Several heads turned. Mostly men in dark suits, hands already resting on their weapons, ready to shoot if need be.

Karl raised his hand in surrender, walking into the cafe slowly.

Ruchie sat alone at the small table near the window, a chessboard already set between two cups of untouched coffee.

Her gaze flickered over to him and a sign escaped her lips. Her eyes moved slowly over him; his soaked hair, his dripping jacket, the way water pooled beneath his shoes.

“You made it,” she said.

Only then did the men relax and only then did Karl's hands come down.

“If you were a minute late, my men would have turned you down for wasting my time.” Ruchie said with a rather scary smile, “I am that petty.”