“That’s okay I’ll come with you so you don’t get lost.”
“Well… um… I’d rather you didn’t. Some of these bikers are a pretty rough lot. They’re covered in tattoos and their language is pretty crude. And besides, I can talk the talk with Joe if you’re not around.”
The skin above her eyes puckered in thought. “But you don’t know the area. You told me you had never been to Marin before.”
“I haven’t. But I’ve got a map and Joe has given me detailed instructions. He told me he lives on a ten acre lot with the name, Devil’s Dance Ranch, burnt into the crossbar above the old wooden gate. He said I can’t miss it.”
Danny fidgeted uncomfortably in the chair, and then added. “Do you mind if I borrow your car? I promise I’ll take real good care of it.”
“No, of course not. The keys are on the table by the front door.”
“I’ll just go and get changed,” he said and headed for the guestroom.
When Danny stepped out of the bathroom dressed in black jeans and black T-shirt he noticed Nicola standing in the doorway.
“I always wear black when I’m with the guys because we usually start pulling bikes apart – and black doesn’t show grease and oil stains.” He slipped his feet into a pair of black sneakers, grabbed a baseball cap and black bin liner from his bag and shoved the map into his hip pocket.
Nicola pointed to the plastic bag in his hand. “What is that for?”
“Oh, that’s to put the parts in. Sometimes they have some grease or oil on them.”
He walked over and gave her an awkward peck on the cheek. “I shouldn’t be late but if I am, don’t wait up, I’ll try not to wake you when I come in.”
Nicola stood at the door and as she watched the red taillights of the BMW disappear around a bend she wondered if the decision she made had been a wise one after all.
NINE
Ross stuck his head around the open doorway and grinned. “How are my two favorite girls doing tonight?”
I looked up from my laptop and shook my head. Having been married to the same man for more than forty years, I knew when he wanted something.
“Don’t try and sweet talk us, buster, I’m onto your tricks. Have you finished cleaning up the kitchen?”
He grinned. “All done.”
With a body by Pillsbury, poured into tight jeans, and a baseball hat pulled low on his head, he was about three hundred pounds of exaggeration, and twenty pounds of muscle. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got nothing against a man wearing a good hat; with Ross it served as a neon sign indicating his intentions.
I looked at him over the top of my glasses and said, “What about the washing?”
“I just put the last load into the machine, so if you can take it out when it’s finished and pop it into the dryer, I’ll put it away when I get back.” He hitched his jeans up over his truck-tire midriff and backed closer to the door.
“I haven’t got time. You’ll have to do it when you get home. And I noticed the ironing is piling up. When were you planning to take care of that?”
“I plan to get it done tomorrow while you girls are off playing.”
I saw the regret bloom across his face as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Ross started back-peddling in an effort to make amends.
“Sorry, Hon I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” he said looking suitably contrite.
“Don’t worry about it, Ross I know you didn’t mean anything by it,” Rosie said.
“So, where are you off to now?” I asked him.
“To see a guy about a bike,” he answered, grinning.
“I didn’t ask who, I asked where?”
“Oops, sorry love. San Anselmo, on Sir Francis Drake Drive.”
“If you’re going out you can call into Safeway on your way home. The shopping list is on the fridge.”
He looked at my sister and smiled. “Anything special I can get for you, Hon?”
Rosie reached over and patted me on the arm. “I’ve got everything I want, right here,” she said and held up a large bag.
“We called into Safeway on our way home and picked up some chocolates and pastries,” I said.
“I baked a fresh batch of cookies this morning in case you girls got a fit of the munchies, so you should be well covered. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be off,” he said and headed for the door.
“Haven’t you forgotten something?” I called after him.
Ross turned around. “Umm... No... I don’t think so. I was just going to get the shopping list from the kitchen.”
My eyebrows arched in a McDonald’s moment as I looked at him over the top of my glasses, my finger beating out a rhythm on my cheek.
Suddenly recognition bloomed across his face. “Sorry, love,” he said as he bent down and kissed me on the cheek and then kissed Rosie on the top of the head.
As I listened to the sound of his footsteps retreating down the hallway, I looked over at Rosie and shook my head.
“I know it’s not his fault but sometimes my patience is sorely tested.”
“Things could be worse, you know, Bubbie.”
“How do you figure that?”
“He could have forgotten to take the shopping list with him.”
I jumped off the bed and raced to the kitchen. I looked at the refrigerator door where I’d put the shopping list earlier, and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Don’t scare me like that,” I yelled down the hallway. “Girl could have a heart attack from the shock.”
I collapsed against the refrigerator door and waited for my heart to stop pounding.
*****
It was after twelve when Nicola heard the car pull into the driveway. She closed the book and placed it on the coffee table. As she walked down the hallway the front door opened and Danny wandered in, softly humming to himself.
“Hi there,” he said as he dropped the keys on the table.
“Hi, yourself.”
Danny glanced at his watch. “Sorry for the late hour but we got involved in Joe’s latest acquisition and didn’t realize the time. I hope I didn’t keep you up.”
“No, not at all, I was just catching up on some last minute reading. Did you get what you wanted?” Nicola asked as she followed him to the guestroom.
“Sure did. Joe had just the part I’ve been looking for.” Danny dropped the strange shaped object into his bag and nudged it under the bed with his foot. “Now I can get the motorcycle I’ve been working on for the last two years, finally finished.”
Nicola nodded, not really listening to what he was saying she was trying to figure out what the stains on his clothes were. Suddenly it dawned on her. “Oh my God, Danny, is that blood? Are you hurt?” She reached out and touched the dark stain on the front of his T-shirt and noticed it was dry.
Danny looked down. “Oh that. No, don’t worry. It’s not mine. Joe ripped his arm while he was working on the bike and must have brushed up against me.”
“Is he all right?”
“Oh, sure, barely a scratch, us bikers are a hardy lot. When you work on bikes it happens all the time because you need to get your hands into some pretty tight places.”
Neither spoke, neither moved. He could feel the warmth from her hand on his T-shirt. Danny took a step back and smiled.
“I don’t know about you but I’m bushed. My body is telling me I’m still on Sydney time. I’m going to go take a shower to get rid of the smell of grease and turn in,” he said.
An awkward look passed between them then Nicola said, “Sure, you go ahead.” She reached up and kissed him lightly on the lips, turned and walked away.
Danny watched her walk down the hall. When Nicola reached the door to her bedroom, she turned and smiled.
“Good night, Danny. I hope you sleep well,” she said, and disappeared inside.
After his shower, he stepped out of the bathroom finger combing his wet hair, a towel draped around his waist and found Nicola standing in the doorway looking sh
y and unsure. He could see the outline of her nipples through the oversized T-shirt that came midway down her thighs. His skin felt electric, his whole being seemed to hum, he wanted to reach out and touch her–but was afraid he’d scare her off.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t sleep,” Nicola said softly, as she took in his lean, tanned body and well defined muscles that rippled when he moved; his skin the color and texture of honey glistened with droplets of water. She took a deep breath, and waited... but when he said nothing Nicola felt foolish. “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” She turned and started to leave.
Suddenly Danny found his voice. “Nicola, wait.”
In two strides Danny crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her. “Oh Jesus, I want you, Nicola. I’ve wanted you from the moment I first set eyes on you at the airport,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with desire.
He lifted her bodily off the floor and pressed her against the door. He could smell oranges in her hair and roses on her skin. He kissed her with a passion that had been pent up inside him for too long.
Nicola answered his intensity with a passion of her own, pressing her mouth against his. She wrapped her arms around his neck, gripped his hips with her thighs and pressed her body hard against his.
Without breaking away from their kiss, he carried her across the room and laid her down gently on the bed. When he pulled the T-shirt over her head he saw she was naked underneath. Nicola arched her back and brought her breasts up towards him.
“Nicola.” His voice caught in his throat as he pulled her close and kissed her, tenderly at first then urgently, his tongue probing, his hands all over her body.
Nicola closed her eyes and took in the essence of him. She was aware of the closeness of a man she barely knew, and surrendered herself to him.
Danny ripped the towel from his hips, raised himself up and entered her. Nicola moaned as she wound her legs around him and pulled him inside, her thighs cradling his hips.
His breath was warm on her face, his eyes dark with desire, his thrusts were measured and deep. Nicola clung to him, matching his rhythm with her own. Suddenly their breathing quickened. Danny’s body tensed. He let out a roar as Nicola moaned and shuddered beneath him. He throbbed inside her–and then his body quieted. He reached out and gathered her into his arms and she laid with her body curled into his.
* * *
Later that night lying in the bed, he listened to the undisturbed sound of her breathing and thought of long summer nights when the soft riffle of wind in the trees came in through the open window and brought with it the sound of waves breaking up along the shore; and a woman with wheat-colored hair and sapphire-blue eyes, and a smile that would light up his world, lying next to him.
Danny brushed a tear from his eye. He knew it wouldn’t be easy–but he didn’t think it would be this hard.
*****
Rosie sighed. “God, I can only dream of passion like that.”
“Me too,” I said as I shut down the laptop and slid off the bed. “Do you need anything before I go, Hon?”
“How about Danny to visit my dreams?”
“Mine too. But I guess I’ll just have to settle for the over-the-hill-Harley Hoon in the next room.” I kissed the top of her head and turned off the light.
TEN
The afternoon sun filtered through the redwoods as a warm breeze ruffled the leaves on the bay laurels and maple trees. My sister was lying on the white wicker chaise lounge in the garden enjoying a brief respite from her treatment while I worked on my story–her eyes closed; her face cantered towards the sun. Ross and Drew had gone to a Blue Grass Festival in the city and Cody was spending the weekend with his brother in Santa Cruz enjoying the college experience.
“Bubbie?”
I continued tapping the keys my mind on the screen. “Yes, Hon?”
“Read me what you’re writing.”
I looked up and smiled. “Would you like something before I start–a mug of Milo or a cup of tea? What about something to eat? Ross said he left fresh fruit salad in the fridge; and the cookies he’d left cooling on the rack should be ready by now.”
“No. I don’t feel like anything. I just want to hear the sound of your voice so I know you’re still here when I close my eyes.
“Of course I’m still here, where else would I be?”
She gave me a wan, tired smile. “I don’t know. I just like to have that comforting reassurance.”
“You’re a funny little thing, sometimes,” I said as I felt the tears gather in the back of my throat. “Okay then, here we go, but I’m not sure if this part is appropriate.”
Rosie picked up a twig and threw it at me. “Don’t wrap me in cottonwool!”
*****
“She lay in a nest of autumn leaves. Her hair, shimmering in the dappled moonlight, was spread like a fan around her. Her green eyes looked skywards, unseeing, while curious black birds collected on the branches of an oak tree nearby.
As she lay amongst the brown and gold leaves, a dark stain pooled around her and soaked into the earth, turning everything deep vermillion as blood oozed from the gaping hole in her head.
High overhead the birds looked down in silence; and the leaves stirred and whispered as a soft breeze riffled through them.”
I heard a sharp intake of breath. “You’ve killed her!” she accused, like the prosecutor in an old B grade movie.
Unlike many criminals, I owned up to the deed. “I have.”
“But I liked her. I didn’t want her to die. What’s Danny going to do now?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see.”
She harrumphed loudly and pursed her lips in a tight curlicue. Paused, and then said, “All right. Now that she’s dead what are you going to do with the body?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“You haven’t decided! Bubbie you’re going to have to make a decision soon. You can’t leave a body lying out there in the open where someone is bound to find it.”
“You think I don’t know that!”
“Well, I guess you know what you’re doing. Good thing you’re the writer in this family, not me. Here you are, you’ve just committed your first murder and you’re all calm and collected. If it was me I’d be a mess.” Suddenly her expression changed from concern to anticipation. “Have you written any more?” Despite all her protests I could see my sister was actually enjoying herself.
“I certainly have, Ollie.”
Bright rays of sunlight streamed in through the glass and fell in pools of gold on the polished wood floor in front of the sofa where Nicola sat with her feet tucked up under her, the morning paper spread open on her lap...
“Stop right there!”
“What?”
“I thought you just killed Nicola.”
I could see she was confused. I hope the reader would feel the same way. Hate those stories where you know everything in the first few chapters and then there are no surprises to hold the interest of the reader right up to the end.
“I just killed someone. I didn’t say it was Nicola.”
“But you said…”
“No–you assumed. Have I ever lied to you?”
“You lie to me all the time. What about that time when I was six-years-old…”
“Are you going to re-hash that old thing again? I mean–in the last month?”
“How would I know? You always keep a straight face. I wouldn’t know if you were lying or not. So…, if it wasn’t Nicola you killed–who was it?”
“Do you want me to continue reading, or not?”
She waved her hand in the air and nodded.
“Okay, then just be quiet. No more interruptions unless it’s to tell me you want something to eat, or go potty!”
“Oh! You are soo bossy!”
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you, that’s what big sisters are for?”
Nicola smiled at the sound of soft footfalls padding down the hall. She looked up as Danny wandered into the roo
m barefoot and bare-chested, dressed in faded blue jeans that hung comfortably from lean, narrow hips, his face tranquil and dreamy, his eyes heavy lidded from sleep. A day’s growth of golden fuzz shadowed his face.
“Morning, sleepy-head,” she said.
Danny took in the vision before him. The bright sunlight that poured in through the large window created a shimmering halo on her chestnut hair as it hung about her shoulder in waves.
He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
“Good morning, beautiful. I didn’t realize it was so late. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I thought I’d let you sleep. After your long flight I figured you must have been exhausted.” Nicola’s eyes crinkled when she smiled. “And, we certainly didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Mmm.” Danny grinned. His fingers lightly caressed the side of her face as his thoughts strayed back to the previous night. As memories go it was up there with the best. He might feel like shit this morning – but, hell it was worth it.
“When I woke up, I reached out for you but you were gone. Then, when I looked at the clock I was surprised to see it was after nine. I’m usually up and in the surf by sun-up.” Danny’s lips brushed against the soft silky tresses as he breathed in the fragrance of her hair.
“What time should we leave for the airport?” he asked.
“The plane leaves at 1.35 so we should leave here in a couple of hours to allow for traffic. Would you like something to eat? Eggs and bacon, French toast?”
Murder and Mayhem Page 6