by Greg Miller
“How long has it been? Gavin would have called me back by now if he was alright. So that means Gavin definitely isn’t alright. Okay, so maybe I really should call the police then. Yes, we’ll get arrested, but at least Dennis won’t be able to kill Gavin, and, if Dennis is the murderer, then he’ll get arrested and everything will be fine. Okay, so it makes sense to call the police either way.”
Emily picked the phone up and stared at it. “But why do I feel like I shouldn’t call the police? Why does it feel like a mistake? Is there something I’m not considering? And, why do I feel like I’m being watched?”
She looked up to see a dark figure by the passenger side window. The door flung open, and Emily let out a scream, but he grabbed her mouth, muffling it, as he slid into the seat beside her.
“Emily,” Gavin said, pulling off his ski mask. “It’s alright, it’s me.”
“Gavin,” she gasped with relief, and threw her head back against the seat. “Oh God, you scared the hell out of me! You don’t know how worried I’ve been. How did you ever get out of there?”
“In a minute. The police are probably on their way so let’s just get out of here. Don’t turn the lights on yet, and don’t drive past the house. Go out the other way.”
“Right,” Emily said, giving her head a quick shake before starting the engine and driving off. She made a right turn to go around the block before flicking on the headlights. She waited until they were leaving the neighbourhood before speaking. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense, tell me what happened!”
“Okay. I went in the garage and lifted the tarp that I thought might be covering the engine, but it was just a snow blower, so I got out of there pretty quickly. I was hiding behind the bushes when Dennis walked by and while he was down there I went to the house to check the other garage. You didn’t see me go through the front door when he was looking around by the road?”
Emily knitted her brows. “No, I guess I was focused on him. So you were in the other garage when we got reconnected?”
Gavin nodded. “I went through the house to get there but there was no way out, other than the overhead doors, so I left through the back door in the kitchen.”
“Wow,” Emily said. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”
“So, don’t you want to know about the engine?” Gavin asked as they drove past the filling station on the corner, and a car pulled out behind them.
“You found the engine in the other garage?”
“Well, he had an engine alright, but it wasn’t the one.” Gavin sighed. “The numbers didn’t match.”
“Hmph.” She snorted. “I don’t even care about the engine right now. All I care about is that we didn’t get arrested, and you didn’t get shot, and we’re on our way home.”
“Shot?” Gavin chuckled. “I wasn’t going to get shot.”
“He had a gun, Gavin. I saw it!”
“Yes, I know, but –”
“No. This breaking and entering stuff is a bad idea. I thought I was going to lose my mind. Never again.”
The clock on the dashboard said 2am, and there were few other cars on the road. As Emily took the ramp for the highway, Gavin noticed the headlights of a car behind reflecting in the passenger side mirror.
She brought the car up to speed and they traveled along in silence.
After a while Gavin noticed the headlights reflecting in the mirror again and turned around to look back at it. “Can you slow down a bit?”
“Why? I’m doing the speed limit.”
“I know,” Gavin said. “I just want to see if this car in back will pass us.”
Emily took her foot off the accelerator and the car gradually decelerated.
“That’s good, keep it there for a minute …” The car behind slowed down too, making no attempt to overtake. “I don’t think he’s going to pass.”
Emily glanced over at him. “You think he’s following us?”
“I’m not sure yet. Some people just like to follow and drive like that.”
“Could it be Dennis?’ Emily asked in a worried voice.
“I don’t think so.”
“When did you first notice him back there?”
“When we took the ramp to get on the highway. But I think it could be the same car that pulled out behind us at that filling station.”
“Oh, shit.” Emily began staring in the rear view mirror.
“Just keep your eyes on the road,” Gavin said, as the car drifted into the other lane. He reached up and turned the mirror so that he could watch the car behind, and Emily could concentrate on driving.
“What’s he doing?”
“He’s just hanging back there. It could be an unmarked police car – sometimes they’ll follow like that.”
She knitted her brows. “Not for this long, I wouldn’t think.”
“Probably not.” Gavin sighed. “This is our exit coming up. Let’s see if he gets off, too.”
Emily let up on the accelerator and moved into the exit lane. “What’s he doing now?”
“He hasn’t slowed. It looks like he may be staying on the highway,” Gavin said, watching in the rear-view mirror.
“Did he get off? Is he still following us?”
“I just lost sight of him around the bend, but I don’t think so. I think he stayed on the highway.”
“Oh, thank God.” She gave a sigh of relief.
Emily glided to a stop at the end of the ramp and turned onto the main road. She drove slowly up to the intersection where the traffic light had just turned red.
Gavin looked up at the mirror and groaned.
“He’s still following us?”
“Yeah. He just came off the ramp, driving very slowly behind us.”
Emily grimaced. “Who in the hell could it be? And why is he following us?”
“I have no idea. He stopped about a hundred feet back. I think he just wants to toy with us.”
“Should I run the light and try to lose him?” she asked in a panicked voice.
“No,” Gavin said, continuing to watch the car in the mirror. “When the light turns green, don’t go, just stay here for a minute.”
“Alright.” She gulped.
The light turned green and Emily waited for what seemed like an eternity while Gavin watched the car behind.
“What’s he doing?”
“Nothing. He’s just waiting back there. But now he knows that we know he’s there. So when the light turns yellow you should go, and then we’ll see what he does.”
“Okay.” Emily shivered.
“Just take a deep breath,” Gavin said, “and try to stay calm. I don’t think we’re in any danger. I think he only wants to scare us.”
“Well it’s definitely working,” she exclaimed.
The light changed to yellow and Emily floored it. The engine roared with squealing belts and clinking valves, accelerating the Honda as quickly as possible through the intersection.
“Slow down, slow down,” Gavin said as they flew past a thirty mile-per-hour speed limit sign.
“Did he run the light? Tell me if he ran the light!”
Gavin looked up at the mirror. “No, he’s still way back at the intersection.”
Emily breathed a sigh of relief, finally lifting her foot off the pedal.
“You should slow down more,” Gavin said. “You’re still speeding.”
“I want to be sure I lose him.”
“I don’t know if we can lose him. I think he may know where we’re going.”
Her eyes widened as she glanced over at him. “So what can we do?”
“If he follows us all the way to Watkins Glen, we’ll just go to the police station.”
As he checked the rear-view mirror to see if there were any headlights behind, Emily unexpectedly jerked the steering wheel. Gavin
was thrown against the passenger side door. When he looked ahead, he saw that she’d turned off onto another dark road.
“What are you doing? This isn’t the way to Watkins Glen,” he said, sitting himself upright again.
“We aren’t going to Watkins Glen,” she replied, staring intensely ahead as she navigated the twisting road.
“Where are we going?”
“To Ithaca. I need to get my stuff. I get paranoid enough as it is – I’m moving in with you.”
CHAPTER 11
Gavin stepped out of the steam-filled bathroom. He tightened the knot on his bathrobe, and made his way through the cluttered living room, almost tripping over a video game controller that Emily had left in front of the sofa. He reached the guest room door and knocked, but there was no reply. After a moment, he knocked a little harder.
“Go away,” Emily yelled.
“Emily, you need to get up now.”
“I’ll be there later. Let me sleep!”
“Emily, it’s Sunday. We have to go to the club’s brunch.”
“Oh, right,” she drawled. “Just let me rest a little longer.”
“I’ve already showered, and we need to get going.” Gavin listened but there was no reply. “I’m going to get dressed now, so don’t fall back to sleep.”
“Ugh,” she groaned.
Gavin heard the bed creaking as she dragged herself out, followed by a series of muttered profanities that made him cringe. Finally, the door swung open.
With squinting eyes and tangled hair, she shot Gavin a sneer before staggering through the living room in her army green tank top and boxers. Gavin couldn’t help admiring her long legs as she meandered toward the bathroom.
After she’d disappeared, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He glanced into the guest room and saw a large stuffed teddy bear staring back at him from amid the tossed sheets.
Twenty minutes later, Gavin was dressed and ready to go, with car keys jingling in his hand. He was on his way back to the guest room when he heard Emily’s voice from behind. “Sorry if I was a little ill-tempered earlier.”
Gavin turned to see her sitting behind the kitchen table wearing a white bra. He went and stood in the doorway. The ceiling fan was spinning wildly, and the breeze blew through his hair. “It’s no big deal. I thought you were getting ready?”
“I am ready.” She smiled. “I just need to put on a blouse.”
Gavin glanced down at her chest. “Yes, I can see that.”
“These muffins are stale, by the way,” she said, breaking off a piece.
“Where did you find those?” Gavin frowned. “I can’t even remember when I bought them.”
She shrugged and put the piece in her mouth.
“You really need to hurry up or we’re going to be late.”
“Okay,” she said, stuffing the rest of the muffin into her mouth. She stood up, revealing a pair of tight jeans.
“And do you have to traipse around half naked every morning?”
Emily grimaced, moving her eyebrows up and down as she tried to finish chewing. “I’m not ‘traipsing,’” she replied. “But, yes. It’s really hot in here. I don’t understand. Are you really that much of a prude?”
“Believe me, I’m not a prude.” Gavin sighed.
She squinted at him. “Then what? You don’t mean this is getting you turned on, do you?”
Gavin’s eyes narrowed. “Emily, don’t be coy.”
“Coy? Don’t be silly. Aspies are never coy. I wouldn’t know how to be coy.”
“I’m not sure I believe that,” he said.
“It’s true.” Emily smiled. “And I really don’t understand. So you are saying that I’m turning you on?”
Gavin stared at her. “Let’s just say that I don’t want to be attracted to you right now.”
“What do you mean by ‘right now’?”
Gavin shook his head and started to turn away.
“Why can’t neurotypicals ever just say what they mean? I’m not afraid to say that I’m attracted to you. Well, not right now, it’s eight o’clock in the morning, but at other times, I am.”
Gavin remained silent.
Emily looked sad. “Is it because you still think I’m crazy?”
“No,” he said softly. “I don’t think you’re crazy. The more I get to know you, the more I like everything about you.”
She looked into his eyes and began to smile. “That’s really nice. Thanks for saying that, but you haven’t seen one of my meltdowns yet.”
“No.” Gavin chuckled. “And I’m hoping not to. Let’s not jeopardize what we’re doing right now. Let’s just focus on our work at the shop, and on finding whoever has that missing engine.”
Emily nodded. “That makes sense. I think you’re probably right.”
Gavin’s Jaguar decelerated past an antiques shop and an old cobblestone building came into view. Emily yawned, focusing her eyes on an elegant sign that had ‘The Stone Mill Public House’ written on it in Edwardian-script.
Gavin made the turn and drove slowly through the parking lot. They spotted three Jaguars parked together at the very end.
“Those belong to Dennis, Armando, and Bill,” Emily said, stretching her back. “I guess Jay and Bonnie aren’t here yet.”
“I wonder if Bill ever drives that SS-100 replica of his?” Gavin asked as he pulled into a spot close to the others.
“I think so,” Emily replied. “I saw it in the club’s photo gallery.”
“I’m hoping Bonnie and Jay bring their other E-Type today.”
Emily raised an eyebrow. “If they were the culprits they must know that we’re looking for the engine now, so do you really think they’d bring it here for us to see?”
“No,” Gavin said. “I’d expect them to try and hide it from us. That’s why I’m hoping they bring it – it would help us to rule them out.”
“Ah.” She nodded. “So now we’re looking for a Jag that one of them doesn’t want us to see.”
He reached to unbuckle his seat belt.
They heard the loud, obnoxious roar of what was definitely not a stock exhaust system, and turned to see a little dark red Jaguar sedan entering the parking lot. It accelerated fast, almost sideswiping a parked car as it rapidly approached on a collision course to hit them.
Gavin cringed and Emily closed her eyes.
The car swerved away at the last second and came to an abrupt, screeching stop. Then it sped backward into the spot beside them.
“Oh my God,” Emily gasped. “Jay drives like a maniac!”
Gavin squinted. “I think that’s actually Bonnie driving.”
Emily strained her neck to see if it really was her behind the wheel. Bonnie looked back, and returned a strangely seductive smile.
“Hey, it’s great to see you guys again,” Jay said, as they all got out of their cars.
Gavin nodded and shook his hand. “That’s quite an entertaining parking technique.”
Jay shook his head, exhaling. “I hope she didn’t scare you.”
“I was rather hoping I did,” Bonnie said, walking around from the other side, pulling off a pair of black leather driving gloves. “The two of you really do look like the most perfect couple.” Bonnie smiled and went to give Emily a hug.
Emily’s arms stiffened as she reflexively pulled away.
“So, this is your Jag. It’s a beauty,” Jay said, admiring the car.
“Thanks, I’m really pleased with it. I like yours, too.”
“Nah, come on.” Jay scoffed. “It’s just a beater.”
“No, seriously. I think these X-Types were very underrated. I just thought they had ABS …” Gavin said, glancing over at Bonnie.
“Yeah.” Jay laughed. “Those modulators are so damn expensive I decided just to bypass it. It make
s the car a lot more fun, too.”
“I can attest to that,” Bonnie said with a wink.
Gavin focused his eyes on Jay. “You know, I was actually kind of hoping you’d bring your other E-Type today.”
Jay wrinkled his forehead. “Really? Why’s that?”
“I just love seeing them,” Gavin said. “Do you ever drive it?”
“Yes. Well, I mean, no,” Jay stuttered. “Not in a while. It needs some work.”
“What kind of work?” Gavin inquired.
Jay rubbed his forehead. “Um …”
“I think that’s enough car talk for now, boys,” Bonnie said. “We’re already running late and should really get inside.”
“Yes,” Jay agreed.
Gavin studied Bonnie’s face for a moment and she gave him another wink.
They walked around to the front of the building, and up the awning-shaded steps to the front door which Jay leapt to open for them.
Once inside, they were greeted by a primly-attired hostess. “Welcome to The Stone Mill. Are you with the Jaguar Club?”
“That’s right,” Jay replied, as Gavin and Emily looked around at the wallpaper and furnishings which gave the foyer a warm, historic ambiance.
“We’ve got you in our private dining room – right this way,” the hostess said, and led them through an area that was filled with seated guests.
They passed a long buffet table and a chef who was making crepes, before arriving at a smaller dining room. There, beyond a few more tables already full of other club members eating away, they saw Armando, Dennis, and Bill and his wife just sitting down having returned from the buffet with full plates. Bill spotted them as they approached and smiled.
“Is this alright?” the hostess asked, motioning to a table beside where the others were seated. “Just help yourselves to our buffet,” she said, and glided away.
Armando stood up from the table and shook Gavin’s hand. “So glad you made it.”
“We’re glad to be here,” Gavin replied, as Emily looked around the room avoiding eye contact.