“I just can’t believe someone would do something like this,” I say. “Call up the cops and report a domestic disturbance. Do you think it’s possible it was a mistake?”
“Not impossible,” Officer Lewiston says, relaxing a little. “These things happen.”
“Well, no harm, no foul, right?” says Anton. “Say, Officers, do either of you fish? I was just on a trip out to…”
The two cops sip their coffee while Anton makes small talk with them. He’s seamless. The way he threads the conversation with little reassurances, painting a picture for the two cops of our pretend life together.
“ … Took a vacation to Bermuda last year. Beautiful place, have you ever been? … Bowling league on Tuesday nights… She’s a reader, chews through romance novels like hard candies…”
I find myself listening to the fake narrative like a child hearing her favorite bedtime story. For a moment, even I start to wonder if it’s real. He’s that good.
When the cops finally finish their coffee, they stand up in unison. “We should get going,” Officer Lewiston says. “We’re taken up enough of your time.”
Anton waves them away. “Not at all. I’m sorry I was a little short when you first walked in. I was just surprised.”
“Understandable. We’re sorry to have disturbed your evening.”
Anton walks them both to the door and lets them out with a smile and a wave, then shuts the door firmly behind them. I stand at the kitchen counter and stare at the two empty coffee cups left behind.
A second later, Anton’s shadow falls over me. “That went well.”
I look up at him. “Depends on your perspective.”
“When did you call the cops?” he asks.
“I didn’t,” I snap.
He raises his eyebrows. “You expect me to believe that they just showed up? Did they imagine the 911 call?”
“Maybe Mrs. Donnelly got suspicious about the ‘doctor’ she met the other day.”
“Impossible. I charmed the pants off the old broad.”
“Yeah, you do seem to have a natural gift.”
He smirks. “Not a gift. Gifts are given. Skills are honed.”
Rolling my eyes, I take the coffee cups and turn my back on him as I wash them in the sink. I swear I can feel his presence lurking right behind me, but when I turn around, he’s still leaning against the counter in the same position he was in when I turned around.
“I didn’t call the cops,” I say finally.
“If only I could believe that.”
“Think about it. You were watching me the whole time. When would I have had the time to make the call in the first place?”
“You could have asked someone else to make the calls for you.”
I shiver. “I’d never involve anyone else in this nightmare.”
“Maybe whoever’s helping you wants to get involved,” he suggests. “Maybe whoever’s helping you wants to play the knight in shining armor.”
I frown. “What are you implying?”
“That you like to rebound fast.”
I glare at him. “Jealous?”
“Would you prefer it if I was?” he asks. He steps around the counter and saunters towards me.