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Authors: Joey W. Hill
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don’t do…this.
And it’s hard for me to understand how to handle it. I don’t want to hurt either of you, so let’s focus on this morning’s routine, all right?” Her voice sounded a little desperate, even to herself. “Can we just get back to the morning routine? I’ll meet you inside in a minute.”
They retreated reluctantly with another of those pregnant exchanged glances,
leaving her alone, standing with her back to the edge of the stairs. Turning carefully, she stared down the road after his car. She felt the beat of her heart hitting the wall of her chest, resounding in her stomach like a cavern.
He’d been wrong. It wasn’t her that was the drug. It was him, for as he drove down the street, she felt the emptiness, the desire to have him back beside her like a physical 37
Joey W. Hill
pain nothing could assuage, except something she wasn’t sure she was capable of doing.
Please, come to me.
38
Mirror of My Soul
Chapter Four
The right connections could get you where you had no business being. Tyler went up the walkway of the modest patio home. It was located in a quiet retirement
community designed to appeal to senior citizens of modest income, the type of home that would appeal to a widow who’d spent her career as a social services worker.
She’d opened the door when he drove up, waited for him behind the screen. He felt her assessment of his car, his appearance, even the way he walked as he strode up the paved path. While he made eye contact, determined not to project anything but
confidence, he felt like a thief pretending to be the owner of the house he was about to rob.
“You look like you’ve been mugged.” Komal Gupta said as he made her top step.
“Since you look like money I assume that’s the case, since I also assume that’s what greased the wheels that brought you to my door.”
“No, actually it was my connections in the government, earned by risking my ass in places where hell would be considered a vacation resort.” He met her barb for barb but kept his tone mild. “I know this is wrong, Mrs. Gupta. I know it goes against your ethics and you wouldn’t be doing it unless your former boss, a person you greatly respect, hadn’t leaned on you hard. But I need to understand some things. I’m hitting a brick wall.”
“Walls of brick are built to protect the occupant from the harshest elements.
Helping you pull out the foundation so that wall can crumble and leave the occupant vulnerable doesn’t seem something I’d be willing to help with. Why would I?”
“Because you care about her. And because I’m in love with her. And sometimes
brick walls are a prison, not a protection.”
She studied him another long moment. “Come in and we’ll see what we can talk
about. And I’ll choose what that will be. If you can’t accept that, get back in your car.”
He inclined his head, stepped over the threshold. After a measuring glance, she closed the door and showed him to a small sitting area with couches and chairs comfortable for the frame of a small woman. It suggested that this had become her home since her husband’s passing. When Tyler looked at her, he saw a woman with a kind round brown face, her hair in a fat gray-black braid down her back. She emanated the reassurance that he sensed would have comforted a child. Many children.
“I’m sorry for my comment, Mrs. Gupta. I’m sure you’ve dealt with far worse
situations than I have. At least most of mine dealt with adults.”
She cocked a brow. “This isn’t a contest, Mr. Winterman. You may be right, but I’ve rarely risked my life. Perhaps my soul, but never my life.” She sat down, crossed her 39
Joey W. Hill
legs and pinned him with her dark eyes. “There are times you see things so horrible you become certain that nothing like God could exist. And if there is an All-Powerful Deity, It is a murdering son of a bitch for turning Its back on those who are so helpless to the evil of
And it’s hard for me to understand how to handle it. I don’t want to hurt either of you, so let’s focus on this morning’s routine, all right?” Her voice sounded a little desperate, even to herself. “Can we just get back to the morning routine? I’ll meet you inside in a minute.”
They retreated reluctantly with another of those pregnant exchanged glances,
leaving her alone, standing with her back to the edge of the stairs. Turning carefully, she stared down the road after his car. She felt the beat of her heart hitting the wall of her chest, resounding in her stomach like a cavern.
He’d been wrong. It wasn’t her that was the drug. It was him, for as he drove down the street, she felt the emptiness, the desire to have him back beside her like a physical 37
Joey W. Hill
pain nothing could assuage, except something she wasn’t sure she was capable of doing.
Please, come to me.
38
Mirror of My Soul
Chapter Four
The right connections could get you where you had no business being. Tyler went up the walkway of the modest patio home. It was located in a quiet retirement
community designed to appeal to senior citizens of modest income, the type of home that would appeal to a widow who’d spent her career as a social services worker.
She’d opened the door when he drove up, waited for him behind the screen. He felt her assessment of his car, his appearance, even the way he walked as he strode up the paved path. While he made eye contact, determined not to project anything but
confidence, he felt like a thief pretending to be the owner of the house he was about to rob.
“You look like you’ve been mugged.” Komal Gupta said as he made her top step.
“Since you look like money I assume that’s the case, since I also assume that’s what greased the wheels that brought you to my door.”
“No, actually it was my connections in the government, earned by risking my ass in places where hell would be considered a vacation resort.” He met her barb for barb but kept his tone mild. “I know this is wrong, Mrs. Gupta. I know it goes against your ethics and you wouldn’t be doing it unless your former boss, a person you greatly respect, hadn’t leaned on you hard. But I need to understand some things. I’m hitting a brick wall.”
“Walls of brick are built to protect the occupant from the harshest elements.
Helping you pull out the foundation so that wall can crumble and leave the occupant vulnerable doesn’t seem something I’d be willing to help with. Why would I?”
“Because you care about her. And because I’m in love with her. And sometimes
brick walls are a prison, not a protection.”
She studied him another long moment. “Come in and we’ll see what we can talk
about. And I’ll choose what that will be. If you can’t accept that, get back in your car.”
He inclined his head, stepped over the threshold. After a measuring glance, she closed the door and showed him to a small sitting area with couches and chairs comfortable for the frame of a small woman. It suggested that this had become her home since her husband’s passing. When Tyler looked at her, he saw a woman with a kind round brown face, her hair in a fat gray-black braid down her back. She emanated the reassurance that he sensed would have comforted a child. Many children.
“I’m sorry for my comment, Mrs. Gupta. I’m sure you’ve dealt with far worse
situations than I have. At least most of mine dealt with adults.”
She cocked a brow. “This isn’t a contest, Mr. Winterman. You may be right, but I’ve rarely risked my life. Perhaps my soul, but never my life.” She sat down, crossed her 39
Joey W. Hill
legs and pinned him with her dark eyes. “There are times you see things so horrible you become certain that nothing like God could exist. And if there is an All-Powerful Deity, It is a murdering son of a bitch for turning Its back on those who are so helpless to the evil of
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