Chapter 16
BANG!!!
The sound of a gunshot rattled Tobin from her sleep, and she sprung up in bed, eyes wide open, to see Alex standing at the foot of her bed, dressed, holding Tobin’s gun, tears in her eyes.
“Alex-“ Tobin began, putting her hand up.
“Liar!” Alex screamed, and threw Tobin’s FBI badge onto the bed.
“Alex, please, I can explain-“ Tobin stared again.
“You’re a fucking liar!” Alex yelled, gun arm shaking.
“Please, Alex. Please, put the gun down”, Tobin said, hands up, pleading.
Alex stood there staring at Tobin. Tears were streaming down her face. She stared at Tobin for another moment and then started to lower the gun. “How could you do this to me?” she asked in a shattered whisper.
“Alex, please”, Tobin said. She started to get out of bed, but Alex raised the gun again, so Tobin remained in bed. “Alex, this is what I wanted to tell you”, she began to explain. “I wanted to tell you, so many times, but I just couldn’t risk you getting hurt if you knew the truth.”
“How could you do this?” Alex asked Tobin. “Don’t you have a soul?” When Tobin didn’t answer Alex said, “Fine, so you don’t have a soul, you heartless asshole. Then maybe you can at least tell me what you’re doing. What case are you working? And why the hell did you ever come into my life?” Tobin stared at Alex for a moment, and when she didn’t answer, Alex yelled, “Tell me!”
“I’m working a case involving bank robbery”, Tobin explained. “The perpetrators may be surfers.”
Alex huffed. “And that’s why you asked me to teach you to surf”, she said, putting it together. “You used me to get undercover.”
“Look, Alex-“
“How could you do this to me, Tobin? How could you!?” Alex screamed. “After everything we talked about, after all of the things I told you about me, how could you!?”
“Alex, please - I’m so very sorry.” Tobin took a deep breath and then exhaled, measuring her words. “Look, when I started working on this case, it was true – I really did just need to get undercover. But…after I met you, I started falling for you, Alex. And that’s the truth. The God’s honest truth. I’ve fallen for you, Alex. I’ve fallen for you, and I want to be with you.” She stared at Alex, who stared back at her, saying nothing, tears still streaming down her face. “Look, Alex, I’m really sorry about everything, I truly am. But please – please understand that I did want to tell you, and once I fell for you, the only reason I didn’t tell you is because I was worried about your safety.”
Alex stared at Tobin for another moment and then asked the question that she wanted to ask the least. “Did your parents really die in a car crash?”
“Alex-“
“Did your parents die in a car crash, Tobin?” Alex said, measuring each word.
Tobin stared at Alex and then exhaled a deep breath. “They live in Basking Ridge, New Jersey”, Tobin said.
Alex stood there, staring at Tobin. A fresh set of tears started rolling down her cheeks. She stared at Tobin through teary eyes and said, “How could you, Tobin?” one last time, then lowered the gun, dropped in onto the floor, and then grabbed her purse and ran out of Tobin’s apartment.
“Wait, Alex!” Tobin said. She sprung out of bed to go after Alex, but her injured knee gave way. She heard a sharp crack, and then she fell down onto the floor, crying in pain, as she heard Alex’s car start up and drive away.