Free Apartment Seven by Greg F. Gifune Page B

primarily communicated via email, texting or over the phone. In those venues one can be anything one chooses. And I assure you, no one ever chooses to be a lonely, impotent and unattractive old man.” He replaced his glasses and cleared his throat. “I was a safe distraction, and in some ways I’m sure she felt sorry for me as well. Sad but true, I’m afraid. Look at me, Charlie. I’m a threat to no one. She loves you a great deal. She just became lonely and missed the earlier days or your marriage when things were…better…and neither of you had the problems you do now.”
    “And here I thought we were happy.”
    “Did you? Did you really? Or had you just convinced yourself you were?”
    “What the hell would you know about it?”
    “Jenna confided in me. I understand it’s the idea that she may have loved me that bothers you. But you, of all people, should know how ludicrous that is. It’s you she loves, no one else. For Jenna to be out having sex with someone else, unpleasant a concept as that is, you could deal with that if you had to, couldn’t you, Charlie? Mindless, meaningless sex you could take if you had to. But not love. Well I promise you, Jenna loves you and always has. She has never loved me and she never will.” He sipped his brandy, savored it a moment then swallowed. “I spent the last four days in the hospital recovering from my injuries, but as I mentioned, even prior to that I hadn’t seen her in quite some time. It’s been weeks since we’ve seen or spoken with each other. We no longer have any ties. Emotional or otherwise.” He took up his notebook and a pen and began jotting something down. “You said you’re your last name was Cerrone , is that correct?”
    “You don’t even know Jenna’s last name?”
    Gwynn furiously worked the pen a moment then seemed satisfied with whatever he’d written. “It’s not me you have to worry about, Charlie. Does the name Errol Charceen mean anything to you?”
    The wind shook the old house. “You know who he is?”
    “Yes,” he said. “Do you?”
    “We’ve never met, but I know he lives on Ross Avenue in Apartment Seven and that Jenna’s involved with him too. How do you know him?”
    “Through Jenna. How did you find out about him?”
    I was beginning to wonder if his brains had been scrambled in the beating. “I’ll ask the questions,” I said. “Have you been there? Have you been to Apartment Seven?”
    “No.”
    “But you know Charceen?”
    He looked away, ashamed. “We’ve met. Once.”
    “He’s the one who did this to you, isn’t he?”
    Gwynn nodded, and with a trembling hand, again took up his snifter and had a sip of brandy. “He came right to the door, dragged me out onto the front lawn and viciously assaulted me. He never even gave me the opportunity to explain things. When the doctors and police asked who attacked me, I claimed it was a stranger and that I had no idea who he was or why he’d done it.”
    “Why would you do that?”
    “For Jenna,” he said softly. “I did it for Jenna.”
    “She’s with Charceen now, is that it?”
    “Yes, and he’s a dangerous and deeply disturbed man. I’m lucky to be alive.”
    “Is Jenna in danger?”
    “Of course.”
    “Then if she loves me so much what the hell is she doing with him?” I paced about near the door. “Why would she do this?”
    “We all have problems. Jenna has her demons just like the rest of us. But I’m afraid you need to ask her those questions yourself, not me.”
    “Is she there now?”
    “I would imagine so.”
    “It’s awfully late, maybe she’s gone back home.”
    “She’s there.” He took another sip from his drink. “And she’s hoping you’ll come, Charlie. She’s hoping sooner or later you’ll come and save her.”
    “And Charceen?”
    “I think you should go and see about that maniac for yourself.”
    “You know more than you’re telling me.”
    Gwynn nodded sullenly. “All I can say is that it’s happening at