by L. L. Soares
They’d both had too much to drink, but Viv was better at hiding it. She was terrified that he’d raise his voice too loud and wake the others.
She started taking off her clothes. Grif looked around at the room. There was a mattress in one corner. A small stereo sat on the floor not far from it, plugged into the wall. There were a few books, and a trunk in another corner, but most of the floor was bare. He noticed a small laptop computer tucked behind the books.
“You don’t go for much furniture do you?” Grif asked. “Living the life of a monk these days?”
“I need space to work out.”
“You always were into discipline. I always wondered why you didn’t join the Marines or something.”
She stripped down to her sports bra and panties. He just stood there, by the door, watching her.
“Well, are you going to go to sleep?”
“I’m hungry,” he said, seeming to revert back to the child he once was in her eyes. Her little brother.
She gave him an angry look.
“No, I mean food.”
“Fuck it,” she told him. “It’s real late. Just get some sleep.”
She went to the mattress and pulled back the sheet. Normally, she would have done some yoga before going to sleep, but there wasn’t enough room with him there.
“Okay, okay,” he said. He kicked off his shoes and unbuckled his belt. As he got undressed, she was stretched out beneath the sheet, watching.
“You having fun?” he asked her. “Should I dance around more?”
“You sure are taking your fucking time.”
“Look, we’re adults here. This isn’t some kind of fucking pajama party, where we have to worry about the parents busting us if we stay up too late. You sure are acting weird about this whole thing.”
“I’m tired. I would sleep a lot better if I knew you were going to stay out of trouble. I brought you here against my better judgment. Don’t make me regret it.”
“What is it you think I’ll do that’s so horrible?”
“You really don’t want me to answer that, do you?”
“You think I’m going to do something bad to your precious Jeremy, or his
girlfriend?”
“Cut the bullshit, Grif. We both know you’re not very good at controlling your impulses. If some whim should come over you, who knows what the fuck you’re capable of.”
“I’m really insulted, sis. To think that you have such little faith in me.”
“Grif, don’t play games with me.”
“You know, if I wasn’t so tired and drunk, I’d leave right now and go find somewhere else to spend the night.”
“Big loss,” Viv said. “Now come to bed.”
He stood there, naked. “So how do I look?”
“Fine,” she said. Her voice indifferent. He spun around slowly.
“Like what you see?”
“Knock it off.”
“I know I liked what I saw. You’re as hot as ever. But then again, I guess you and I have real incentive to stay looking our best, right? Sounds like you have to work at it more, though. I am able to stay nice and trim, with no effort at all.”
“Lucky you,” Viv said. “Shut the light off when you come to bed.”
“What’s with the mattress on the floor, anyway? Jeremy too cheap to spring for a proper box spring?”
“I like it this way. I like to be low to the ground, okay?”
“Whatever,” he switched off the light and half-stumbled in the dark toward her. She reached out a hand and grabbed his leg when he got close enough. Then he squatted down and let her guide him under the sheet.
“Now get some sleep.”
“You know, I can’t stay long. I really have to get out of town soon.”
“I know,” she said. “You already told me several times.”
He was drunk and babbling.
“Chances are we won’t see each other again for a long while.”
“It was a long time since I saw you last. It always is.”
He snuggled up against her. “We don’t have much time. You sure you just want to sleep?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“Come on, Viv,” he said, and tried to find her with his lips. She turned her head away.
“Go to sleep, Griffin.”
* * *
Colleen woke up in the middle of the night, hungry and curious. She’d heard Viv get in earlier and could have sworn she heard two voices, hers and a man’s. That was about two o’clock. Now it was three and she was wide-awake.
Jeremy snored gently beside her. It wasn’t loud enough to be a problem at all. In fact, the sound was kind of reassuring. She slid out of bed, careful not to wake him, and grabbed the robe at the foot of the bed. It hadn’t been knocked onto the floor after all. She wrapped it around herself, and opened the door.
The light was still on in the kitchen. She’d suggested leaving it on in case Viv returned. Jeremy hadn’t seemed to care either way. Not out of indifference toward Viv, but because he said she had a knack for staying away for days on end, and he wasn’t sure if she needed it.
Well, it will come in handy for me, Colleen thought, walking down the hall. She could see the light up ahead and to the right. A beacon, allowing her to pass through the shadowy hallway without having to turn on any other lights.
The house was quiet. Colleen lit a cigarette and then opened the refrigerator and looked inside. Jeremy sure kept it very well stocked. There were so many items to choose from, that she wasn’t sure what to take first.
“Anything good?” a man’s voice whispered.
She turned, startled, but tried to maintain her composure. He stood there in the light, dressed only in black bikini briefs. His well-muscled torso caught her attention first. This must have been the man Viv had brought home for the night.
His face was something more than handsome. And at first, she smiled. But then there was the glow and a momentary overlay of latticework; so similar to the vision she’d had when she first met Viv. Like vines, except this time the vines seemed almost snake-like, the way they moved.
“What is it?” he asked her. “Am I that ugly, that I scare you?”
“No,” she said, as the vision passed. “Not at all. I just thought I was the only one awake in the house.”
“I haven’t had much to eat all day and couldn’t wait anymore. I can’t sleep with my stomach growling the way it’s been. Could you spare a few morsels for a man in need?”
Colleen decided to disregard the vision she’d had. After all, Viv had also had an aura like that, and as far as she could tell, Viv was no threat. Not like the man who had killed Turney. His aura had been much different. Scary.
This guy wasn’t like that at all.
“It really looks like I’ve startled you,” he said, looking down at himself. “Maybe it’s the way I’m dressed. I’m sorry, I didn’t even plan to get out of bed. It was an impulse. I guess you’re lucky I put on anything at all. But maybe I should go back and get some clothes.”
“No, it’s not that,” she said, and turned to look back into the refrigerator. “What are you in the mood for?”
He grinned slyly. “I’m not fussy. Whatever you were going to have, I would be more than happy to share.”
She didn’t want to take out anything that needed to be heated up. The microwave would make noise. She took out some sliced ham and cheese. “How about sandwiches?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
She started taking things out and putting them on the table next to the bread. Mayonnaise, tomatoes, lettuce. Then she got some knives. “Help yourself,” she said.
He started putting the ingredients together. “Do you have any mustard, instead?”
“Sure,” she said, and got it for him. “Have you known Viv long?”
He smiled, taking the mustard jar from her. “Long? I’ve known her all my life. She’s my big sister.”
“Really?” Colleen asked, wondering why he was sleep
ing in her room, dressed
only in those briefs. Maybe it was silly of her to wonder about that.
“I really don’t know Viv very well,” Colleen said. “But she seems nice. Are you going to be visiting her long?”
“Not really. I have some pressing business I have to take care of. I’m actually just passing through town, and thought I’d look sis up.”
They quietly put their sandwiches together. Colleen started putting jars and packages back into the fridge. “Would you like a beer?”
“Actually a soda would be fine,” he told her.
She grabbed a can of Coke and handed it to him.
“I’m Colleen, by the way.”
“My name’s Griffin, but you can call me Grif for short.”
He was really quite handsome. If Colleen thought that Viv was attractive enough to be a model, then she was even more sure about Viv’s brother. With such strong good looks, there’s no way he wouldn’t have found a way to use them to earn a living. It would be a crime if he didn’t.
“Are you a male model?” she asked, blurting it out before she could decide against it.
He laughed. “Hardly.”
“I think you’d be a natural for it.”
“Thanks, but I’m too restless for that. I can’t see myself standing still long enough for anyone to take pictures of me. That sounds like such a drag.”
He took a bite of his sandwich. “Thanks for the food, though. I really needed
this.”
“Didn’t you get anything to eat with Viv tonight?”
“Actually we did, but I haven’t eaten much the past few days, I’ve been so busy. I guess my hunger is still catching up with me. Besides, we did a lot more drinking than eating.”
“Has it been long since you two saw each other last?”
“Years,” he said. “That’s why I’m sad I can’t stay longer. We have so much to catch up on.”
He washed down his food with soda. “You’re Jeremy’s girlfriend, right?”
She smiled. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. Do you know Jeremy?”
“Never met him. But Viv has told me so much about him. He sounds like a great guy.”
“He is.”
“Viv told me about you, too. Only nice things, of course.”
“Really?” Colleen said. “We haven’t had much chance to talk. I really had no idea what she thought of me.”
“Well, you don’t need to worry. She likes you just fine.”
“Would you like some chips?” Colleen asked.
“I’m fine.”
She was leaning up against the counter by the sink. He was standing near the dining table.
“Have you known Jeremy long?” Grif asked.
“I’ve only known him for a few weeks,” she said. “It’s a long story.” She really didn’t want to talk about the night Turney died and how she got here.
There was something new in his eyes. Something she could not identify. A subtle change in his demeanor. As if he had suddenly seen something he hadn’t noticed before. Something he found attractive in her.
“No problem. I don’t need to know every detail. Do you like it here?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s really nice here. Much nicer than where I was staying before.”
“You’re really cute, by the way. Jeremy has good taste.”
“Thank you,” she said, wondering if she was blushing. She could feel heat on her forehead.
He moved closer, leaning on the counter beside her.
“This sandwich is actually pretty good,” he said, finishing it off. “It really hit the spot.”
“Good,” Colleen said. She could faintly feel his breath on her. He was that close.
Without warning, he leaned in and kissed her. His tongue was just about to explore her mouth, when someone cleared their throat.
Grif pulled away. They both looked over at Viv, who’d entered the kitchen. She was in her underwear. Looking at them both, now, Colleen could see similarities in their features. For a second, she caught sight of the ivy auras again. This time in stereo. It made her jump.
“I thought you were going to get some sleep?” Viv asked Grif. She seemed genuinely upset to see Colleen and Grif huddled together.
“I told you I was really hungry,” Grif said. “And I heard someone else moving about. I figured it wouldn’t hurt anything to ask for a bite to eat.”
“I was more than happy to make something for him,” Colleen said, feeling guilty. “I was hungry, too.”
“So I see,” Viv said. “Are you done in here Grif? We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“I know,” Grif said. “Yeah, I’m done here.”
He winked at Colleen, “Nice talking to you. I guess I should get some sleep, though.”
“Nice to meet you,” Colleen said, not knowing what else to say.
Grif and Viv went back down the other hallway, to Viv’s room. She heard the door open and close again.
Colleen did not move from where she was still leaning against the counter. She could still feel Grif’s kiss.
I wonder if she’ll tell Jeremy I was kissing her brother, Colleen thought. It was bad enough it had happened at all, when she was supposed to be involved with Jeremy. But to have a witness, too. And she knew how protective Viv was of Jeremy.
She stood there, frozen. Unsure of what to do. She wanted to go back to Jeremy’s room and pretend nothing happened. But now, she wasn’t sure what to expect in the morning. She didn’t know Viv well enough to predict how she’d react. Were she and Jeremy so close that she’d tell him what had transpired? Or would she forgive Colleen a momentary indiscretion, especially since her brother was so very good looking?
Things like monogamy were so new to Colleen. She hadn’t even resisted when Grif kissed her; the thought hadn’t even entered her mind. Was she really suited for a real relationship? Or would she break Jeremy’s heart the first chance she got?
Maybe Viv should tell him, she thought. Maybe I don’t deserve to be here at all.
It was then that she heard sounds coming from Viv’s room, just loud enough to attract her attention away from her thoughts. Voices, too, but the words weren’t clear.
Slowly, Colleen moved away from the counter and walked around the refrigerator. She stood at the end of the hall from Viv’s room. The hallway was empty, but there was light coming from the room, through the keyhole.
She wanted to walk away, back to Jeremy’s bed. But her curiosity was too strong. The sounds were familiar, but she found it difficult to believe. She had to see for herself.
As quietly as she could, she moved down the hall, toward the room. She did not make a sound. She squatted before the door and looked inside.
Viv and Grif were on the floor. They had removed their underwear. Grif was lying on his back and Viv was on top of him, moving. They both were breathing hard.
The kinds of sounds people made when they were trying hard to keep from making noise.
They both had such attractive bodies. She could have watched them forever.
Oh my god, Colleen thought as she watched them. They’re brother and sister, and they are fucking.
Suddenly, she wasn’t so worried about Viv telling Jeremy anything about that kiss. She had her own story to tell, should the need arise.
* * *
“There’s a man’s here to see you,” Carla said when Sam came into the office. He had a severe headache and had almost called in sick. The last thing he needed was an unexpected visitor in his lobby.
“He doesn’t have an appointment, right?”
“He’s a police detective,” Carla said. “He was very insistent.”
“Really?” Sam said. He looked over at the man sitting across the room, who was looking expectantly in their direction. He was obviously waiting for them to finish talking before he got up from his chair and introduced himself, but Sam recognized him already. It was Detective Carroll from that day at the morgue.
“Mrs. Ad
dleson won’t be here for another hour. Would you like me to try to call her and reschedule?”
“Hopefully it won’t take that long,” Sam said.
Carroll rose from his chair and was coming over.
He held out his hand. “Dr. Wayne? I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Ben Carroll,” he pulled out his badge. “Detective Ben Carroll. Could I have a few words with you in private?”
“Sure I remember you,” Sam said. “Can I ask what this is about?”
“Some patients of yours, Dr. Wayne.”
“You realize that there is confidentiality between a therapist and his patients?”
“Please, Dr. Wayne, hear me out. This is rather serious.”
Sam looked over at Carla, then back at the detective.
“Okay,” Sam said. “Let’s go in my office.”
Sam led the way. Once they were inside, Sam closed the door.
“Please sit down, Detective,” he said, motioning to the chair where his patients usually sat. Carroll went over and sat down.
“I really don’t want to bother you, Dr. Wayne, but this is a very grave matter.”
“First of all, I’m not a doctor,” Sam said. “I’m a therapist.”
“I’m sorry. I just assumed.”
“No problem,” Sam said. “I just wanted to make that clear. I’m a psychologist, not a psychiatrist.”
“Of course.”
Sam sat in his usual chair, across from him.
“So what seems to be the problem?”
“It’s about two of your patients, Mr. Wayne. Brenda Carlisle and Charlie Jarrold.”
“What about them?”
“They were both attacked last night. Mrs. Carlisle is dead. Horribly mutilated. Charlie is missing. But his mother and her boyfriend weren’t in very good shape, either.”
“That’s horrible,” Sam said.
“Horrible isn’t half of it. If you saw the crime scenes, they would probably scar you for life.”
Sam lowered his head, and tried to regain his composure. The news really shocked him.
“Mrs. Carlisle had been seeing me for a while. I didn’t know Charlie very long. What can I do to help you?”