Erica waited in the living room where Thad appeared minutes later wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt and slippers for his feet. Erica too was surprised by the ghastly destruction his apartment had gone through.
"Don't tell me you're redecorating?" she asked, waving her hands at the mess. "Whatever happened here?"
"Someone, a guy whose face I should have broken when I had the chance, sneaked in here last night and wrecked it as you see it. I don't know how he got to know where I lived, but it seems he now does. Where're Artie?"
Her features turned sad. "He checked out yesterday evening. He's putting up with either some friend or at a motel, I don't really know. I tried talking to him but he wouldn't listen to me. He's been really stubborn."
"Why? Over the fact that I was with you?"
"What do you think? I've tried calling him but he doesn't pick the phone. I even went to that college school where he works and knocked at his door, but he didn't answer. Got me feeling all lonely and stressed out with myself. Anyway, I never knew or heard anything going on in your apartment last night, or else I'd have called you too. I even came by in the evening but knew you weren't home."
"I stayed at a friend's place. I just got back a while ago and met everything like this. The bastard even thrashed the kitchen and bedroom."
"Who's the woman in there with you? You certainly don't waste any time leaving me and picking up strays."
That tickled Thad in ways he didn't like. "Shut the hell up, will you, Erica. She's no stray, she's my secretary. Not another word about her from you, I'm still pissed off right now to take any of your mouth."
She gazed down at her feet like someone who just been chided. "I'm sorry. I'm just ... I don't know ... I'm worried about Artie. I'm afraid he might do something silly. I wish he'd come back home."
"He will come back home, trust me on that. Right now I've got some cleaning to do."
"Okay, I'll leave you alone then," she walked towards the door then stopped and turned to face him. "Does this mean the end of us, Thad?"
He shook his head. "Let's not get into that right now, Erica. We'll work things out fine once Artie's back home. Just don't worry too much. If he's not back by tomorrow, I'll go see if I can talk to him."
"I'll feel a lot better if you do. Call me if you need me."
She walked out his apartment and went up the flight of stairs to hers. Thaddeus listened to the sound of her footsteps walking away then scratched his head as he turned his attention to the lingering mess before him. Sarah appeared at the end of the hallway wearing one of his t-shirts that came down to her thighs. She figured what was on his mind was about cleaning up the place.
"Do you need any help?" she called out to him.
He turned to look at her and the sight of her standing there wearing his oversized t-shirt seemed so hilarious to him he had his first laugh of the day.
"I certain can use a couple pair of hands I guess," he said, still sniggering at the sight of her and waved her over. "Come over and give me a hand with this furniture."
************
More than an hour later they were both sweating by the time finished cleaning up the living room. Thaddeus dumped much of the broken furniture in a large recycle bin at the back of his apartment. The broken glasses he gathered them in thick nylon bags and left them outside for the garbage people to take with them when next they drove by. Elsa perambulated about, jumping on tables while they worked. They took less time with the kitchen and bedroom; Thaddeus was happy the bastard besides breaking and smashing much of what he laid his hands on hadn't bothered stealing anything from him. He had locked his handy pistol inside a gun cabinet and kept it along with some moneyβ'Get-Out-of-Jail' money, he often referred to itβinside the box and kept them hidden in a recessed hole underneath the bed. He checked to make sure it hadn't been found and was glad to see it all there.
They made themselves something to eat when they were done cleaning and afterwards shared a bath together. Kisses and caresses followed. They didn't bother drying themselves as Thad took Sarah to the bedroom and fucked her once more. He laid her on top of the bed and fucked her from behind harder than before and didn't let up until he came inside her. They returned to have another shower again. Constance called his phone later on. He lounged on the bed and they conversed while Sarah sucked his cock.
It was past noon when Thaddeus decided it time to start his work. There was someone he needed to see urgently about the Blondie menace. He took Kayla's photo album with him; he would call Alice along the way and tell her to sit tight and wait for him at her place. He dropped Sarah in front of her place, gave her a kiss and promised to keep in touch then drove off. His next destination: 2001 Century Lane to see a beautiful friend who now probably hated his guts.
***
Things were in his favour when he arrived there and met with the doorman who told him that yes, Hilda Carmichael still resided in the apartment building, at the same number since last time. Thaddeus took elevator to the floor where she resided. He hadn't mentioned her name when he'd been questioned by the cops about the case regarding her sister's missing son. He'd never wanted to ruin her name, and Constance too had been grateful for that. They were still family after all, even though neither sought to reason like the other.
He arrived at her floor and went to her door which bore the same number as last time he'd been here and pressed the apartment bell and waited. Seconds passed before someone undid the lock from the other side and Thaddeus tensed himself as it came open. Hilda was standing there; she looked at him with surprise in her eyes.
"Thad," she blurted.
"Hi there, Hilda," he relaxed himself and smiled at her. "Still looking lovely as always."
Her eyes turned concerned when he took off his hat. "My God, what happened to you?" she indicated at the bump on his head.