The Corin Chronicles Volume I: The Light and the Dark (15 page)

“Charles!” repeated Miranda.

“Can we go, please?” Charles said finally. “I’m not feeling that great.” He continued imagining the officers’ eyes fixed on him, dreading what he would have to do should they approach him. While confident in his ability to look after himself, he did not want any harm to befall the Fredericks family.

Kevin stopped chewing on his food and looked into his eyes. “You sure everything is okay, son?”

Twitching nervously, Charles sipped his drink. “I just want to get out of here, please.”

Swiftly, Miranda stood up and lifted Josh to his feet before facing the owner of the café. “Thanks, Michael,” she said.

“Oh, you off now?” shouted Michael. He walked toward the cash register and waved at Josh. A short and plump man, Michael was loved by everyone who entered the café. Charles had previously noticed the many kind words he received from practically every customer.

Also on his feet, Charles again glanced at the officers, who each read a magazine while eating, oblivious to their leaving. He smiled when he saw the huge grin planted on Josh’s face as he waved back to Michael. With a wave of his own, he mumbled, “Bye.”

The drive back to the Fredericks’s apartment lasted no more than five minutes. Continuously admiring the love and affection Miranda and Kevin showed toward Josh, Charles remembered the love he felt for his birth mother. Although much time had passed, he could still remember her smile when she comforted him. The pain at losing her continued to haunt him wherever he went. Although content with answering to the name of Charles, which he had done for nearly a year, he desperately wanted to be called by the name his mother had given him.

The night skies of New York further enhanced the sheer beauty around him. The skyscrapers always mesmerized him, though he had seen them many times before. The many cultures that thrived within this one city served as a constant reminder that people on Earth, regardless of race or creed, seemed to be able to live in perfect harmony.

Living with the Fredericks gave Charles an insight into unconditional love—a trait he had not seen for many years. When the police officers had entered the café, he had thought they were coming for him again, and the fear he felt for the Fredericks at that moment made him realize that the time had come for him to continue his journey alone.

Entering their apartment building for what he believed would be the last time affected him more than he expected. Miranda held on to his arm as they climbed the steps to the front entrance, while Josh tugged playfully at his shirt, their affection only confirming that he could not allow any harm to befall them, which would be the case should his true identity be revealed.

Smiling as he walked past the clerk, he looked around the reception area for what he knew would be the last time. The decorations were Victorian, with a number of paintings hung on the wall. Some looked like seventeenth or eighteenth century portraits, but he could not be sure. The dark red carpet that covered most of the lobby reminded him of a previous house he had lived in while in Paris.

The clerk’s beaming smile did not disappear for a second. He fondly waved at Josh as he had always done. Although rare, Charles felt comfortable in the clerk’s presence. His tightly braided hair gave him an edgy and effortlessly cool look. He noticed the clerk directing a smile toward him as he joined the Fredericks in the elevator. Responding with a smile of his own, he pressed the button for the tenth floor.

The ticking clock seemed to burn a hole through Charles’s head the more he looked at it. He could remember first noting the time at 2:00 a.m. Now, at 6:00 a.m., he could remember doing nothing for the last four hours, aside from sitting in the same position, looking around his room for anything he needed to take with him. He would undoubtedly have use for the numerous cardigans and shirts Miranda had bought him, but he knew that for a true fresh start, he would have to leave behind anything that held sentimental value.

The loud sound of Kevin coughing in the opposite room startled him for a second. With a deep breath, he rose from the bed and walked toward the door, looking back at his room. The bed seemed narrower than usual. The moon shapes on the yellow duvet cover made him chuckle softly. The fact that the Fredericks happily surrendered the room their only son grew up in filled him with gratitude. The sound of Kevin coughing again, however, prompted him to head for the front door.

A few yards away, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. As he moved slightly to his right, the glow of the moon revealed more of his face. The black shirt he wore underneath his rumpled and worn leather jacket reminded him of how he looked when the Fredericks first met him in Michael’s café three months prior. Edging closer to the mirror, he shifted his gaze toward his face, with his dark blond hair covering most of it. With both hands, he held his hair up and studied himself. Seconds passed before he focused on a deep, piercing scar under his right eye. Rubbing his right index finger against it, he felt its rigidness, causing him to shudder for a split second.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” came a voice from behind him, in the direction of the bedrooms.

Charles turned around to see Josh looking at him. He wore a light-colored tracksuit with drawings of a cat and mouse all over it. “Hi, Josh,” he said. “Why are you up?”

“I heard you walking around,” Josh said. “Why are you going? Don’t you like us anymore?”

Charles edged toward Josh and held his hand before leading him away from his parents’ bedroom, to the front door. “Quiet,” he said. “You don’t want to wake your mom and dad, do you?”

Josh shook his head.

“Of course I like you,” Charles continued. “How can you think I don’t?”

“If you like us,” said Josh. “Why are you leaving?”

“It’s complicated.” Charles turned around to face the doorway.

“But Mom promised that you wouldn’t leave if I was nice.” Josh grabbed on to Charles’s legs.

Kneeling down, Charles held both the boy’s shoulders. “Listen to me,” he started. “You have a wonderful family. Your mom and dad are the best. I wish I had parents like that. The thing is, I don’t belong here. I have to leave.”

“But why?” A tear dropped from Josh’s eye to the floor. “Please don’t go. Whatever you want, I’ll beg Mommy to get it for you. I promise.”

Charles smiled softly and placed his head against Josh’s, stroking his hair lovingly. “I wish I could stay, Josh,” he said. “But I have to be on my own.”

Josh took a step backward. “But won’t you be lonely on your own?”

“Unfortunately, that’s the kind of life I’m meant to live.” Charles stood up and edged closer to the door. “You’ll never understand what I mean, Josh. Your mom and dad love you so much.” He paused for a second before opening the door silently. “Now be a good boy and go back to sleep.”

Josh shook his head again and turned toward his parents’ bedroom before returning his gaze to Charles. “Where will you go?” he asked.

Charles placed his left foot outside the apartment and smiled at Josh. “I’ll go wherever I have to.” His smile broadened before he shut the door behind him.

3.2

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T
he smell of lattes and cappuccinos on a Monday morning reminded Karl Hobbs of the seemingly normal nature of his job. His office had the best view of the Chicago skyline. Although a good thing, the envious looks of the many people who walked past his office every morning made him feel uncomfortable.

Standing by his glass office door, he looked out into the hallway at some of his coworkers. He often felt guilty about the elaborate lie he continued to tell them. Some thought he was a high-level consultant from New York, but they had never actually seen any of the work he had produced, or the major bids he was involved in. Most of his guilt, however, owed to the lies he told his secretary, Eve Simpson, on a daily basis.

Karl and his partner, William Montgomery, had changed offices a lot, in a bid to maintain their cover. With each move, the staff of the various companies assumed them to be major players, who were in such high demand that they never stayed one place for long. But with each move, Karl always insisted on retaining Eve’s services, something William did not object to in the slightest. And Eve didn’t seem to mind the latest move to their current office in the famous Willis Tower, which featured a fantastic view across most of Chicago.

Eager to impress him, Eve asked no questions and always brought his lunch to him on time. Her main job was to take calls on behalf of him and William. The calls did not come often, but when they did, she transferred them as quickly and politely as possible. He had told her that he started his career as a simple banker back home in Manhattan, and she had no reason to doubt him. He had also become more and more fluent with his excuses for not going out for after-work drinks with his coworkers or the other people who shared office space in the tower.

Noticing Karl leaning against the door, Eve immediately stopped sorting her stack of files and jumped to her feet, about to make her way toward him. “Do you need anything?”

A raise of his finger told her that he wanted to be left alone. She returned to her seat, occasionally glancing back.

Most of Karl’s attention remained on Eve at that moment. Since the passing of his wife, he had not looked at any woman as more than an acquaintance. Eve, however, had a warmth about her. A sophistication that continuously drew him closer. Her blue eyes glowed every time he looked into them. Her soft, brown hair flowed across her face, sometimes catching the side of her mouth. He enjoyed watching her spit it out every time it happened, as it reminded him that she was not a model of perfection.

With the time pushing on toward 10:00 a.m., the ringing of Karl’s private phone caught his attention, pulling him away from the door. Few people even had the number to this line, and not even Eve was allowed to answer it. He walked past Eve’s desk to the inner office and shut the solid, oak-paneled door behind him. Then he took his seat at the mahogany conference table.

After the fourth ring, Karl answered the phone, still reeling from his lack of caffeine. “Agent Hobbs,” he said in a slightly muffled voice.

“Karl,” returned the voice on the phone. “What’s wrong with you? You sound cranky.”

“Senator Walsh,” said Karl, surprised. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“How many times do I have to tell you? Call me Angus. Anyway, you haven’t answered my question, Hobbs—why are you so moody today?”

“Oh, it’s just William. He hasn’t brought me my latte, and you know how I am in the morning without one.”

“Oh that,” Angus sounded irritated. “Hell, go and get one, you lazy… You know what? I’ll bring one up to you myself.”

“What?” shouted Karl. “Are you here, in Chicago?”

“In the flesh, my friend. Why, you missed me?”

“You never leave Washington. What’s going on?” Karl’s voice carried a worried tone.

“All will be revealed when I get there. Do you want this coffee or not?” Angus spoke quickly.

At that instant, the door swung open, and a perspiring William walked into the office with some haste. “No need,” Karl said. “William just got here.”

“Good, I can see both of you at the same time.” Angus promptly hung up the phone, without explaining what he meant, much to Karl’s annoyance.

“Who was that?” asked William. He placed a box of muffins on the table and handed Karl a large latte, with stains dripping down the side.

“You bring my latte late, and you spill some of it.” Karl’s face remained in a constant frown.

“Relax. It’s only a fricking latte.” William unpacked his briefcase, bringing out his laptop and a few sheets of paper.

Sipping on his coffee, Karl watched his partner dig into a bran muffin, frustrated at his appalling timekeeping. Still, there was no denying that William was a good agent. Although they were both single, William led a more carefree life and enjoyed the occasional flirt around the office and in bars. But he always maintained their cover and never got close enough to anyone in a way that could compromise their mission. He also had a natural charm about him, something Karl admired. His brown eyes and dark hair reminded him of a modern-day James Bond, one with rippling muscles and buckets full of testosterone.

“The big guy is on his way here,” Karl said finally.

“What?” William mumbled through a mouth full of muffin. “Here, today?”

“Yep, he says he wants to speak to both of us. He didn’t say what about though.”

“Do you think it’s about Dallas?” William said in a panic. “You think I might be off it?”

Karl shook his head. “No way. He needs you. You’re a good agent. Constantly late, but a good agent. Besides, he’s promised us one more agent for as long as I can remember. It will hardly make any sense if he got rid of you, especially now that we’re so close.”

William sighed loudly. Although equals in terms of rank, he always looked at Karl as the leading agent, frequently turning to him in times of doubt. A knock on the door caught their attention, and a second later Eve walked in to drop off some files. Like every morning, Karl laughed, listening to William’s continuous attempts to compliment her about anything whatsoever. This time, he made numerous comments about her handbag, causing Eve to walk out laughing.