Page 14 of Pleasure Island
5
Liam
“I had to be crazy,” I muttered as I narrowly avoided getting hit, trying to merge onto the exit ramp I needed.
The GPS told me I was going in the right area.
I recognized the big buildings around me – from TV and the like. The New York City skyline was one even I recognized.
I was having more trouble recognizingmeright now.
I’d left Texas several days ago and rented a car to drive all the way to the East Coast.
After finding out about Matt, I’d looked him up. It had taken some doing to track him down, but I’d finally managed it, and we’d spent more than an hour on the phone catching up.
We’d skirted around the elephant in the room while we were on the phone, although I knew I’d have to face it once I saw him.
Matt had been convicted of killing his mother, something the whole family had believed, including me. We were cousins on his mother’s side, and I’d always looked up to him. Although he was a few years older than me, he indulged in the case of hero worship I had for him, letting me tag along with him and the older guys he’d hung out with.
He’d gone to jail, and it was like for the rest of the family, he ceased to exist.
But after reading about how he’d been cleared of the crime, I did what I should have done ages ago – reached out.
And that was how I found myself driving down a street that held more cars than I thought I might have seen in my entire life.
Matt lived in Manhattan now, and he’d told me he’d love to see me.
I’d decided to take him up on that…and more.
I had money tucked away in my bank that I’d rarely touched while in the army. I’d had some idea of using it for college, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do so it was still just sitting there.
I was going to do what Matt had done. Start over.
And what better place than to try to do it in than New York City?
* * *
The carrental place where I had to return my ride was only a couple of blocks from Matt’s apartment.
The lady behind the counter had offered me a subway map, but I had no intention of getting on that thing without some idea of how it worked, so I passed.
I had my rucksack and an oversized duffel that carried all my clothes, my shoes, and a few books. I’d had to hike carrying weight before, and this was just walking a couple of city blocks.
Once I got my bearings, I set off in the right direction – I hoped.
Finding Matt’s place turned out to be the easiest thing since I’d crossed into the metro New Jersey area earlier.
The door was locked.
I frowned at it.
“You’ve got to use the buzzer if you want to go inside and visit somebody,” an older man said. He nodded to my right, and I saw the button, just like the doorbell back home.
“You know what apartment you need?” he asked, pushing to his feet from where he’d been sitting on the steps.
I told him, and he nodded, showing me how to use the system.
I must haveNOT FROM HEREtattooed on my forehead.
