Chapter Fourteen

“I can’t believe someone did that to your car,” Erin said for the third time as she paced impatiently around the living room. Jon was on the phone with his insurance agent, on hold again while they “figured out” if they could cover his repair expenses.

“Bastards,” he looked over at her. “It’s not that I couldn’t have the repairs done myself, but Jesus Christ I pay enough for full coverage with this damn company…”

Erin crossed her arms, more disturbed than angry. While Jon continued with the agent, she looked out the window again anxiously, as if the culprit was going to return to the scene of the crime.

While any other time she would have essentially written off the vandalism as the doings of prankster teenagers, something told her this act had a more sinister undertone. Someone had to have done it intentionally – with a purpose and a reason for damaging something expensive. Had they known the car was Jon’s? And if so, how? And how had they known he would be at Erin’s last night, when she didn’t even know herself until later that night?

She shook her head as Jon flipped his cell closed. “They’ll cover it,” he rolled his eyes. “It needs to be towed though, because of the tires. I don’t believe this.” He ran a hand through his thick blonde hair and sighed. “Who in the world…?”

Erin shook her head. “I was just wondering the same thing. Is there anyone you can think of who has a grudge against you? I mean, strong enough to damage your personal property?”

Jon shrugged. “Beats me. I don’t know of anyone who hates me that much.”

Erin laughed, trying to ease her troubled mind. “Well, maybe the perpetrator got the wrong house…the wrong car…” she trailed off, hardly believing herself.

Jon frowned. “I doubt that. It’s a distinct car. Not exactly a personal sedan. Whoever did it had a reason for doing it, I just don’t know who or why.”

A sinking feeling started in Erin’s stomach as her thoughts skimmed over one person who’d be less than hospitable toward Jon…someone who’d possibly have a motive for attacking him like that.

But he didn’t know about Jon. If that fact had kept Erin awake the other night, it now confused her even more deeply. If it were true, the pieces of this mystery puzzle didn’t fit right.

If it weren’t true, Erin was in a shit load more trouble than she’d originally thought.

***

Jon sighed heavily as he sank down on the leather sofa in his massive living room.

He’d called Richie earlier that afternoon after the tow-truck had hauled away his car and told him to meet him at his place, and after reassuring a shaken Erin that he was all right, the car would be all right, and a cab ride was no big deal, he’d left her with a kiss.

Now he set a beer down in front of an open-mouthed Richie, who’d just learned the details of their tumultuous morning.

“Holy fuck, Jon,” the guitarist ran a hand through his hair. “That’s scary shit. Any idea who it could have been?”

Jon shrugged, “Nope.”

“But I mean, you don’t have any enemies…that we know of. Who would have a reason to attack you like that?”

Jon shrugged again. He was tired of answering questions he didn’t have the answer to. “No idea. But whoever it was knew that I was at Erin’s place. Which makes it even more ominous – nobody but you knows about Erin.” He looked up at his friend.

“Well it wasn’t me!” Richie feigned defense and held up his hands. “I’d be shit-faced and delusional before I lay a hand on a car like that.”

Jon cracked a smile. “I know. I’m just lost as hell. Erin suggested that someone just got the wrong car, but I highly doubt that.”

Richie snorted. “Bullshit. Whoever it was did it with you in mind.”

Jon nodded silently.

Richie suddenly looked thoughtful. “You said no one but me knows about Erin – but what if it wasn’t someone you know?”

Jon furrowed his brow, confused.

“I mean, what if it was someone on her side? Someone jealous of your new fling…?”

Jon winced at the choice of words. “It’s not a fling, and if that’s the case, she’s got some really screwy friends.”

Richie’s brow arched high, and he paused a moment before replying, nursing his beer. “It’s not a fling? What is it, Jon?”

Jon looked at his friend, surprised at the challenging tone in his voice. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, what makes this girl different from the rest?”

Jon stared at him. “Well…everything,” he answered, as though the answer were obvious. “Haven’t we already been through this?”

“Yes,” Richie said cautiously. “But it’s only been what, two weeks? Give or take a couple of days?” he added, when Jon opened his mouth to correct him. “Jon, I know we talked about this before. But if you recall, you were the one who admitted you didn’t know what you were doing. What if you don’t know everything about this chick?”

Jon narrowed his eyes slightly before answering. “What do you mean?” he asked again.

“I mean, you can’t have learned everything about here in these mere two weeks. Everyone has secrets, you and I know that better than anyone. What are hers? I’m willing to bet you don’t know,” Richie raised an eyebrow. “That’s not something a woman spills out on the first few dates, unless she’s a nutter of course. I’m sure there’s a hell lot more to her history and past than you know, and now, after a few dates with her, your car’s been vandalized – at her place – for no apparent reason.”

Jon set his jaw. He hadn’t thought about any of this, and he wasn’t sure what he thought about it now. “Okay, so what are you getting at? You think my car was jacked because of some deep dark secret in her past?”

“No,” Richie said impatiently. “But I think the person who did it has something to do with her. You’re sure she’s not seeing anyone else, right?”

Jon snorted. “Of course. I would have known that.”

“You sure?”

Jon faltered briefly before rolling his eyes. “Yes, I’m sure! Look, that was one of the first things we established back when we met on the plane. She said she was unattached.”

“Right, because women who suddenly find themselves sitting next to a famous rock star on a cross-country flight will openly admit they’re already seeing someone,” Richie retorted.

Jon stared, refusing to believe that Erin was like that. “She’s not seeing anyone else,” he said flatly.

Richie studied him, hard. “You’re falling for this chick,” he said bluntly.

“What?” Jon exclaimed, taken aback. "Where did that come from?"

Richie continued to look at him. “You never get this defensive about the women you date.”

Jon blinked a few times, unsure what to say. “Well, she just wouldn’t lie to me.” He struggled to appear nonchalant, though Richie’s words resounded in his brain.

“Aww shit, Jon, be careful man," Richie leaned back against the sofa and looked worried. "You know what women do with guys like us."

“Look, just because you’ve had a bad experience that jaded you doesn’t mean every woman in the world is a cheating whore with a hidden agenda,” Jon snapped, a defensive rise getting the better of him.

He immediately regretted his words, however, as he saw his friend’s brown eyes darken with pain and anger. “Rich, I’m sorry…”

“Just answer me one question,” Richie interrupted. “Does she feel the same way about you as you do her?”

“I-” Jon stammered. “Well, yeah, of course – I think –”

“I’d be sure if I were you,” Richie cut him off. “It’ll make things a hell of a lot easier in the future.”

Jon fell silent and said no more, lost among his own confused thoughts.

Sunday, February 22, 2009