A Luna's heart

CHAPTER 2- CHANGE OF PLANS

GREY'S POV

The glow grew larger. Slowly, the shape of a man walking towards me became visible. The night was suddenly lit. The man had turned on a powerful torch. The light was blinding. Instinctively, I put up my hands to shield my eyes. The man must have seen me. He hesitated and then turned the light away from my face. The angle at which he kept the flashlight illuminated a little of the street and the man's features.

It was Brent, the janitor of the building I lived in. Removing the glowing cigarette from his mouth, he looked upward and blew perfect smoke ring.

“Grey," Brent said again.

This was followed by a prolonged coughing fit. Still a few paces away from him, I could still hear the liquid, wet sound the cough made in his chest.

He hawked, spat into the street and took a drag on the cigar again. His nicotine stained teeth, pot belly and squinting eye were a clear indication of the beer and endless cigars he consumed.

“Yes...Brent, what is it?"

“Guessed it might be you, Grey. You're the only one of them folks in this shitty building who bothers to do these bleeding morning runs. Why do you even bother? You are a regular ladies man, you are. Look at those muscles. Run to clear your head?"

I didn't reply, merely raised my brows in enquiry. He had come too close to the truth.

“Mrs. Hardy wants you. Called 'bout an hour ago." He flicked his hand in the direction of the building. The call probably came on the janitors' telephone which worked sometimes when he didn't forget to pay the phone bill. “Phone damn near startled me. Was asleep then. Can't understand what some rich folks get up early for. The missus sounded like she'd been up for hours. If I had me just a slice of Hardy's money, I'll wake up at noon or when I damn well please. You look like money would really suit you, aye?"

I didn't reply. I watched as he gave me a once over, eyes lighting on my custom made sweatpants, and Gucci sneakers. I felt a little apprehensive. I had forgotten to change my entire wardrobe when I came here. To fit in here, I obviously had to do a better job. Forgetting to change basic things like the way I dressed wouldn't do. People like Brent would see through me in an instant.

“She said you both had an appointment early today and she called to remind you," Brent continued.

I nodded in acknowledgement and turned to leave.

“Why didn't she call you instead?" he asked.

“She doesn't have my number... obviously."

I ran on, leaving him staring after me. Jane Hardy had asked for my number both times we met, hinting at having an affair with me. I had evaded her requests, giving her instead the number of the apartment building where I lived. She was the wife of the owner of the construction company which I worked for.The sound of my footfalls echoed in the deserted street.

As I ran, I recalled the day I had met Jane Hardy. It was a sunny day, hot, even for Lair Falls. I had been two days at my job. I had stopped to take some water- not that I was thirsty or even tired. It would raise eyebrows if I had been working for hours without taking a break. The other men were sitting around, faces flushed, obviously exhausted.

I was about to return to when a bright red Ferrari drove past. It stopped a little way in front. The driver got down and opened the door of the back seat. A lady stepped out. She made all men stare, myself included. The sun accentuated the golden highlights in her blonde hair. She wore a transparent sleeveless chiffon blouse over jean shorts. Her watch, the sunglasses framing her delicate, oval shaped face, and purse screamed money. One of the men behind me gave a low appreciative whistle.

“Mr. Hardy's wife," said the foreman, coming to stand beside me. "Wonder what she's doing here. Probably wants to see her husband."

The woman began crossing the road, walking towards us. I saw three things simultaneously, that she wasn't wearing a bra under her blouse, she had air pods on, and that a red truck was skidding, tires squealing against the brakes, heading towards her.

In my mind's eye, I could still picture the face of the truck's driver; his mouth opened in a soundless scream, struggling with the steering wheel and vainly trying to control the vehicle. I heard gasps of horror around me.

“Jaaaane," someone yelled. It sounded like Collin, Jane's husband.

Her head swivelled in the direction of the voice. Instinctively, I knew she wouldn't get out of the way in time. Wthout thinking, I shot forward holding Jane close to my body with one hand; the other hand in front of me pushing against the vehicle. I had felt the jarring impact as the vehicle collided with me. I pushed and felt the metal give under my hands, forcing the truck to stop. Slowly, I took my hands off the truck. I could clearly see the dents five of my fingers had made in the truck's body. Then the screaming began.

******

I stopped running sure I had heard a muffled scream. Lost in my reverie, I had stopped paying attention to where I was going, letting my feet automatically take me through the by roads I had come to know. I looked around me. The day had begun to brighten and I was standing in a deserted street. To my right was an alley. The scream seemed to have come from that direction. In the light of the slowly rising sun, I saw a glint of steel which I immediately recognized as a knife, held by someone, slowly advancing towards the neck of a prostrate figure.