Northern Moonlight (21 page)

“Consistency is not always an indicator that a man will stick around.  Bruce was the most predictable person for the whole time we were together and then out of the blue, he packs his life up to move to Africa!” 

Sabrina indulged Cara, realizing that she could not go very long before dragging Bruce back into the conversation. “You’re right, Cara.  Anyone can change at any time.  It’s just that Gio seems to have a hard time expressing his emotions.”

“Are you serious?  Every man has trouble with that!  Give him a chance.  You’ve only been seeing him a short while.  If you expect too much from men, you might stay single.”

Sabrina was jolted by the truth of Cara’s words and knew that she could not run away from a relationship with Gio, even if running would be the safer route to take.  She gave Cara a grateful squeeze and began to take a series of photographs that Darlene
would expect on her desk.  Sabrina made the rounds, snapping pictures of gala attendees fawning over the exhibits as well as capturing the elegant atmosphere of the gallery.

Across the room, Gio and Max were sampling two glasses of Pinot Noir from New York State’s Finger Lakes district.  “It’s nice how they keep up with the local sprit of things and offer domestic wines.” Gio commented off-handedly, inhaling the summery raspberry aroma. 

“Yeah, the wine is fine…but Sabrina’s sister is finer!  What a knockout.” Max slapped his thigh enthusiastically as Gio gave him a warning look.

“Leave the woman alone.  Sabrina says that she’s just gotten out of a relationship.  Besides, she didn’t seem too thrilled by your leering eyes.”

Max was unaffected.  “Never you mind what I do.  I don’t have sordid intentions with the young lady.  I just want to get to know her better.” Max’s rebuttal silenced Gio.  After half a lifetime of friendship, Gio knew that it would only stoke Max’s interest in Cara if she were labeled as romantic taboo.

“Do whatever you want, Max.  I’m here for one reason only, and that’s to corner Glen Cooper and get him to talk.”

Gio’s eyes scanned the room for any man remotely resembling Cooper, but no one fit the description.  Even after all the time that had elapsed since Gio spoke to Cooper as a teenager, he instinctively felt that he would know when the man was in front of him.  Even if Cooper looked completely different, something in Gio’s gut would identify him.  “I don’t think he’s here yet.” Gio sighed impatiently.

“Then let’s go get the ladies instead of standing around together like a couple of chumps.” Max clipped, already walking in the direction of Cara, whose sunny yellow dress stood out in a roomful of women clad in black. 

Gio was about to join his friend when he saw something that made him halt dead in his tracks.  Through the gallery doors walked a man and a woman with linked arms.  Gio knew instantly that it was Glen Cooper.  The man looked vastly the same as he had that bleak night of interrogation, save for the fact that he now wore gold-rimmed glasses and was completely bald.  The woman by his side appeared to be much younger and costumed in a ruffled purple dress with fur shawl draped over her powder white shoulders. 

It took all of Gio’s will-power not to rush to the door and immediately begin an inquisition.  He mentally cemented himself to the spot, knowing that patience would be his greatest asset in extracting any information whatsoever from Cooper.  With a final
hard stare in Cooper’s direction, Gio headed towards the buffet table where Max stood chatting charismatically with Sabrina and Cara.

“Did I miss anything?” Gio asked distractedly, sliding an arm around Sabrina’s waist.

“We were just talking about Cara’s upcoming graduation from law school and her subsequent plans.” Sabrina apprised Gio for the benefit of the group.  Then, in a hushed voice meant only for him she asked, “Is everything alright?  You look pale all of a sudden.”

Gio nodded unconvincingly and then confessed, “Cooper’s here.  I saw him walk in with a woman.”

“Where is he, Gio?” Sabrina asked as Gio frowned.

“Never mind that right now.  He just got here, and I don’t want to approach him yet.  Remember what we talked about outside.” Gio said quietly, aware that Max and Cara could hear him.

Max supported Gio’s idea.  “He’s right.  Let Cooper make the rounds, drink some wine, blabber about some photos, and then Gio can make his move.” 

“Can you at least point him out to us?” Sabrina persisted to Gio’s annoyance.

“No, Sabrina, I don’t want to make a scene now.  Please just let it go for now.” Gio spoke pleadingly, and Sabrina acquiesced, realizing the importance of remaining discreet.

“Fine, I won’t say another word about it.  Try some of this bruschetta.” Sabrina encouraged, hoping to ease his mind a little.  Gio accepted the food she offered and smiled at her.  He glanced over at Max, noting that he was even more enraptured with Cara than before.

“Instead of practicing law in a traditional forum, you might think of doing consulting work.  Independent private investigation agencies like mine are always in search of good legal counsel.” Max advised her.

Cara was comfortable to talk about career with the stranger, as it was a neutral subject and forced him to keep his eyes on her face.  “That’s an avenue I hadn’t thought of yet.  Very interesting.  I don’t think I would want to work for a stuffy corporate firm anyway.” Max laughed appreciatively at her comment.

“That is a view I whole-heartedly share.  I’ve never worked for a corporate stooge.  Tell her, Gio.” Max jabbed his buddy in the arm.

“He’s never worked for a corporate stooge.” Gio repeated robotically, trying to keep Cooper in his sight.

“Thanks for the endorsement.” Max said sarcastically, earning a slight smile from Cara.  “What I’m trying to say is that educated people like yourself should think outside the box and, from what I’ve heard from you so far, it sounds like you are.”

Cara concurred, taking a quick nibble of pastry puff before answering.  “You’re absolutely right.  I’ll keep your thoughts in mind.”

Sabrina decided it was safe to leave Max and Cara alone for discussion, so she led Gio away from the buffet table and over to an easel propping up a haunting black-and-white image of a New England blizzard. 

“There’s a timeless quality about black-and-white photography, you know? Everything in the photograph seems to be standing still, even though the snow is falling.  It gives an illusion of stasis.” Sabrina shared, as Gio turned his concentration onto her.

“You’re right, it is a timeless photograph.  It could have been taken last year or last century for all we know.” Gio agreed grimly.

“Exactly.” Sabrina smiled, pacing a few steps to the left and looking at another black-and-white photograph, this one of the forest.  “It’s interesting how the photographer chose not to make this a color print.  The whole purpose of a forest picture is to showcase the greenery.  What do you think?”

Gio glanced absently at the picture.  “I think the photographer was trying to go against the grain and make the picture more memorable.  There are countless color pictures of forests, but a black-and-white one leaves more to the viewer’s imagination.”

Sabrina was pleased with Gio’s interpretation and was about to contribute another piece of analysis when a gravelly male voice behind them broke into the conversation.

“I’m glad you like my girlfriend’s photograph.”

Before Gio had time to whip around to face the owner of that grating voice, he knew that it was Glen Cooper.  In a tidal wave of memory, the interrogation swept over his consciousness, and he could hear that same voice barking out questions about his family.  Desperate to keep his emotions in check, Gio turned around in slow motion and fixed a hard stare directly on Glen Cooper’s age-lined face.  From behind his gold-rimmed glasses, Cooper peered curiously at Gio, taken aback by the fierceness of his regard.  Gio continued to stare the man down, unblinking, waiting for a flicker of recognition to spark in the man’s face, but he could discern none.  Cooper’s girlfriend
stood there, dumbfounded, perceiving the tension emanating from Gio, but not understanding it. 

Registering the emotional intensity in Gio’s stare, Sabrina knew in an instant that the man must be Glen Cooper.  She remained silent, waiting to see what move Gio would make.  Gio tightened his mouth angrily, still wading in a pool of traumatic remembrance of the night in 1966 that now seemed as though it had just happened. 

Cooper squirmed visibly under Gio’s harsh perusal and broke the silence by explaining, “My girlfriend Kate is one of the featured photographers tonight.  I overheard you admiring her work.” As Cooper spoke, Gio’s jaw clenched even tighter and he made no move to speak.

Cooper and Kate were both disturbed by the man’s predatory stance and were about to walk away when Sabrina interjected, “Kate, your photographs are marvelous.  As a fellow photographer, I’m very impressed.” She smiled warmly at the woman for the benefit of civility and in hopes of striking up a light conversation so the couple wouldn’t flee.

Kate was mollified and smiled proudly, saying, “Thank you so much.  These are some of my most cherished projects.  They’re like my babies, and I was a little hesitant to have them on display, but my dear Glen convinced me that they should be shared with the world.  So, I entered them in the competition, and half a dozen of them were selected for exhibition tonight.” She gesticulated as she spoke, waving her arms around in all directions to indicate that her work dominated the gallery that evening.

Politely, Sabrina said, “It would have been a shame to keep these pictures all to yourself.” Thinking of a ploy to keep the couple loquacious, Sabrina prodded, “Are you a professional photographer?”

Cooper and Kate exchanged a look of amusement as the latter responded, “Oh no!  I’m just a novice with the camera, but it is a hobby of mine.  How flattering of you to ask, though.” The woman’s darkly shaded eyes and crimson lips beamed at Sabrina.

Gio continued to stay rooted in place, his eyes never leaving Cooper’s increasingly disconcerted face.  Finally, Cooper asked, “Do I know you?” He regarded Gio quizzically, trying to recollect ever having met the volatile looking man.

Choosing his words prudently, Gio responded, “We’ve met before.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you.  Where did we meet?” Cooper questioned, half-fearing that the man would pounce and attack him like an animal.

Gio’s eyes glittered maliciously as he replied evenly, “In Mount Hollow.”

Cooper’s expression altered slightly as he replied with a hint of condescension, “Where did you say?  Mount Hollow?  I’m afraid I’ve never heard of the place.  What state is it in?”

Gio’s heart raced at Cooper’s baffling response.  Why was he hiding the fact that he was originally from Mount Hollow?  Feeling as though he were at water’s surface and panting for air, Gio said carefully, “Mount Hollow is here in Vermont.  It’s my hometown and I believe your hometown as well.  If I’m not mistaken, you worked as chief investigator for the fire department there back in the 1960’s---Glen Cooper.” He spoke the name bitingly, unable to conceal his erupting anger.