Falafel Jones - The Kewpie Killer by Falafel Jones Page B

Raquel. We’re both too old for this. I’m sorry. It’s hard for me to give up being your mother, your father and just being your boss.”
    “It’s OK, Mom. I’m sorry too. You deserve honesty. I enjoy reporting. I don’t want to sit behind a desk all day.”
    “Your Father felt the same way. That’s why he did stories when the mood grabbed him. Nice thing about being the Boss, you pick the ones you want to do.”
    “You’d be surprised,” Uncle Bill said. “When I was younger, I felt the same way. Reporting was exciting. Even when it was boring, it was exciting to be a reporter. Then, after you’ve lost count of the dead bodies you’ve seen, the crying witnesses to tragedy you’ve questioned, the repetitive nonsense of local politics, you yearn for a change.”
    “There are other reasons too,” Mom smiled. “After a while, you may decide that you know more about running paper than we do and knowing you, you’ll want to prove it – if not to us, at least to yourself.”
    “Maybe one day, Mom, but I’m not ready now and I’m not going to be ready for a long time.”
    “That’s fine dear. The more experience you get, the better the job you’ll do running things. Besides, Uncle Bill and I are too young to walk away just yet.”
    Uncle Bill stood up rubbed his lower back and said, “Speak for yourself, Isobel. Later, ladies, I’ve got to return a call.” He kissed me on top of the head on the way out.
    I got up too. “OK. Mom. I’ll consider it, and this time, I mean it.”
    “Thanks, Doll, that’s all I can ask.”
    A week later, I sat at my desk working on a story about a zoning controversy in the suburbs when my phone rang. I answered it and heard a familiar voice.
    “Hi, it’s Eddie Franklin.”
    I hadn’t heard from him in almost a month. He lived far away, but the way he spoke when we met made me think he would keep in touch. He didn’t. I had been disappointed for a while but thought I got over it. Now, I wasn’t so sure. I didn’t know what to say so said nothing.
    “OK, guess I deserve that. Sorry, should have called.”
    “That’s OK.” I wasn’t going to let him know I missed him.
    “No. It’s not. I really enjoyed being with you. So much so that I deluded myself into thinking we could have a relationship with me here and you there. When I got home, talking on the phone wasn’t enough. Even seeing you on video didn’t cut it. I was foolish and selfish to think I could make this work. I figured you’d be better off if I faded away and you had a normal relationship with someone you could actually touch once in a while.”
    “So you didn’t think my opinion mattered?”
    “Geez. This is one reason why I was afraid to call. Of course it does. Look cop relationships fail a lot even when we’re married and living in the same house.”
    “When we’re married?”
    “I was talking about cops. I mean when they’re married. Look, I didn’t call to fight with you.”
    “Then, who did you call to fight with?”
    “You’re sharp. That’s one of the reasons I like you. Look, I was wrong to think that if I didn’t call I wouldn’t miss you. I’ve got some time off and I’m coming to New York. I’m hoping I could see you.”

Chapter Nine – North or South
    “Business or pleasure?”
    “I won’t know till I get there. I wanted an excuse to call you so I looked for carnival deaths over the last twelve months.”
    “You didn’t need an excuse to call.”
    “Yeah? Good thing, because except for that clown killing and the murder-suicide with the bride and groom Kewpies, I’ve got nothing.”
    “They’re both sad but there’s something about the bride and groom Kewpie Dolls that gets to me.”
    “Yeah, me too, but you didn’t answer my question.”
    “What question?”
    “Can I see you?”
    “Why are you coming to New York?”
    “If your answer is no, I’m not coming.”
    I missed him too and could almost understand how his frustration kept him from