Chapter Four

 

“Where are we?” Richie asked and tried to look out of the window.

“Don’t know exactly. But that’s the Central Park.” Tico answered and point at the huge dark trees outside the car.

“So are we at 5^th Avenue?” Richie frowned lightly.

“Nope. Opposite side. It’s 8^th Avenue.” Jon said after he recognized the street.

“Ok, and why are we here?” David wondered.

“We are following Kimberly, you dumbass.” Jon replied still slightly pissed.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t answer the question, pretty boy.” David countered.

“Uhm, boys…we stopped.” Richie interrupted the fight.

They all tried to get a look out of the window and saw Kimberly getting out of her car. She stopped shortly and waved to follow her before she entered the building.

“Well, let’s go.” Jon said and jumped out of the car. There was no chance he would let her disappear. When he walked towards the entrance of the building he gulped. It was The San Remo. Located directly at Central Park and only occupied by New York’s high society. Bono had a small apartment here for a while, but sold it again. How can she afford such a place? He wondered.

“I already thought you wanted to stay in the car.” She greeted them when they entered the huge lobby.

“No, no. We just weren’t sure you really live here.” Jon said.

She smiled lightly. “Well, I do. Come let’s go.” She walked towards the elevators.

“Good evening Miss Anderson.” The concierge said when she walked pass him.

“Good evening Ed.” She gave him a warm smile. “How’s the family? Did your wife recover from giving birth to the twins?” The men stopped and found out that Ed’s wife was feeling much better now and was finally home with the twins.

“Thanks again for the nice presents, Miss Anderson.” Ed said before Kimberly could walk away.

“You are welcome Ed. Gave me another opportunity to go shopping.” She winked at him and eased his tension before she turned to the elevator.

Richie and David wanted to enter one of the elevators when the doors opened, but Kimberly stopped them. “That’s the one for the North Tower, but we need to go up into the South Tower.”

They looked at her surprised. “You are living in one of the towers?” Jon asked stunned. She nodded and entered the elevator.

“So, you went shopping for Ed?” David asked. He wasn’t only curious, but also tried to do something against the uncomfortable silence that appeared as soon as they were in the elevator. Jon wasn’t a help in here, he needed to focus on staying calm and not screaming.

“Yeah, he and his wife were shocked when the doctor told them they were having twins. They don’t have much money and already one child would bring them to their limits. So, I thought I do a little shopping, you know….clothes, stuffed animals, baby bottles, a baby buggy for twins, and such stuff you know… and shortly after the babies were born I sent it all over.” She explained while searching for the keys in her handbag. “I need to think about something for their baptism next month.” She mumbled to herself when the elevator doors opened and she entered the hallway.

The men were looking at each other impressed. She really seemed to care about this family and wanted to help them.

“Are you afraid of dogs?” Kimberly asked before she opened the door.

“Nah, not of those small ones.” David said snidely.

Her right eyebrow rose. “I was talking about dogs not about a foot-horn.”

“A foot-horn?” David watched her confused.

“Yeah, a dog that’s so little it makes a noise when you step on it…accidentally.” She said with a dead serious face.

“You are kidding, right.” Richie asked.

“Nope. So are you afraid of dogs?” She asked again.

They shook their heads and followed her carefully into her apartment. Who knew how huge these dogs would be?

Jon was stunned when he entered the apartment. He’d been in the best hotels around the world and his own apartment wasn’t bad either, but this one was amazing.

The small hallway they entered opened to a big living room with huge windows and a patio that gave a great view over Central Park. Walking over to the comfortable looking couches and armchairs, which were placed tragically in front of the TV and the windows, he could see a huge dinning table for at least ten people to his right and behind it the kitchen which was separated from the dinning area by the kitchen counter.

As he got closer to the patio he could see another room to his right, which had doors to the terrace as well and contained a billiard table. In the dim light of that room he could see another one behind the billiard table, maybe her office, Jon thought.

“You have a grand piano? A Steinway?” David suddenly screamed happily.

Jon turned around. He was so focused on the view that he missed the grand piano, drum set and several guitars and other instruments placed next to the stairs, which lead to the second level.

“Yeah. Would you like to play?” Kimberly asked laughing. David looked as excited as a little boy at Christmas morning. Carefully he sat down and started to run his finger over the keys. A loud and deep “Woof” could be heard and David stopped dead in this play.

Kimberly laughed. “They don’t like it when the instruments are used. Sensitive ears, you know. Normally I let them outside before I play.”

The men looked around and saw two big dogs lying on a cover in the dinning area. One with mainly dark fur and the other one in light colors.

“Come boys, I let you out.” She said and the dogs jumped up immediately and followed her to the patio doors. As soon as she opened them the dogs raced outside. Now Jon could see that there was also a small garden and not only the patio with its great view.

“What kind of breed are they?” Tico asked curious. The dogs looked different, but somehow very much a like. It was a strange thing.

“Akita.” Kimberly said. “One is a Japanese Akita, the other one an American Akita.” Tico nodded. That explained the similarities.

“The dark one with those deep brown eyes is an American Akita, right?” he said after watching them run around for a minute.

“Yeah, and this little buddy here…” she pet the head of the dog with a honey colored fur and nice blue eyes. “…is a Japanese Akita.”

“What are their names?” Jon asked.

“Uhm…” Kimberly blushed furiously. Ok, that’s the moment I want to kill Fran. She said it would never happen.

“Are you ok?” Jon asked surprised when he saw her blushing.

“Uhm…yeah…” she watched the dogs another second, then took a deep breath and then called. “Kidd, Sambo come here.” The dogs turned immediately and walked over to her.

The men looked at her stunned. Then David had to laugh and the rest couldn’t resist joining in.

Kimberly looked at them grinning. Good thing they have humor.

“So which one is Kidd. The light one?” Jon asked still chuckling. Kimberly nodded. When Jon tried to pet the dogs head, he was greeted by a low growl.

“Kidd off!” Kimberly said in a strict voice. The dog stopped instantly. “I’m sorry, they are very protective of me and right now they just ain’t sure you will treat me right. When you come over more often, they’ll get used to you.” She added after a small break. Jon’s face lit up. She wants to see me again.

“Ok, I have to ask…what do you do for living? How can you effort all this?” Jon asked softly.

Tico shook his head. Damn Jon, do you always have to know everything? Can’t you be more diplomatic? To his surprise Kimberly smiled and didn’t freak out after Jon’s bold question. Tico had the feeling she knew the question would come.

 “Curious again, huh?” she asked with a small smile. Jon grimaced. “I will tell you, but before I would like to change when you guys don’t mind.” They didn’t. “Drinks are in the fridge. Feel like home, but you better try not to pet the dogs.” They all nodded when she walked upstairs to her bedroom.