by Greg Miller
“When was this?”
“Sometime last summer.”
Gavin furrowed his brow, turning back to Emily. The DJ’s honeyed voice came over the speakers as Gary Numan’s Cars began to play. “… and here’s one I know you’ll all like. Let’s get out on the dance floor!”
Peter frowned, shaking his head. He took a last sip of coffee and placed his napkin on the table. “It’s getting late, and this is for young people now.”
Gavin reached across the table to shake his hand.
Peter held on to it. “Please keep me informed … and be careful.”
Gavin nodded. After Peter had left, he turned to Emily. “I wonder if Armando really sold that car.”
“I don’t know, but I’m becoming increasingly convinced that he and Dennis are in on it together.”
He rubbed his temple. “But why would they be acting so differently from one another? It doesn’t make any sense. I wonder if there could be some other explanation.”
Emily knitted her brows. “Like what?”
Gavin shrugged. “Do you want to leave? I don’t know what more we can accomplish.”
“Okay.” She put her purse on the table, then gave Gavin a nudge.
He turned to see Bill and Nicole looking over at them. Nicole whispered to Bill before getting up from their table.
“You aren’t leaving already, are you?” Nicole asked, looking at Emily’s purse.
“I think so,” Gavin replied. “Gwen’s been dealing with a headache, and we have a long drive home.”
“But it’s still so early. Did you take an aspirin?”
Emily nodded.
“Dennis just told us about your accident,” Nicole said, sliding into the seat beside her. “What happened?”
“There isn’t much to tell,” Gavin replied. “I took a corner too fast and lost control.”
“But it must have been pretty bad if the car was totaled.”
“Yes,” Gavin said, looking her in the eyes. “We had a very lucky escape.”
“Well, thank goodness for that.” Nicole sighed. She turned to Emily with a smile. “I really enjoyed chatting with you at the winery, Gwen – I was hoping we’d get to talk a little more.”
Emily lowered her head, staring at her.
“I’ve just been speaking with Bill,” she continued, “and we’d like to invite both of you up to our summer house for a weekend. It’s in the Thousand Islands.”
Emily turned away, watching Nicole from the corner of her eye.
“Oh, really?” Gavin said. “That’s very nice of you.”
“Think of it as a mini-vacation.” She smiled. “You can relax, take it easy, or you can go and see the sights. We could all get to know each other better.”
Gavin looked at Emily.
“You don’t have to give me an answer right now,” Nicole said. “You can talk the idea over, and let me know.”
Emily’s eyes narrowed, turning back to her. “When do you want us there?”
“Whenever you like.” Nicole laughed. “Bill and I stay there the whole summer.”
Emily wrinkled her nose. “Next Saturday work for you?”
“Yes. That’d be perfect!” Nicole laughed again. She shook her head. “And I was afraid you’d say no.”
“We look forward to it,” Gavin said. “Thank you.”
“Wonderful.” She grinned, putting a hand on Emily’s stiffened shoulder. “I can’t wait to tell Bill. Please stay a while longer – you should go out on the dance floor, enjoy yourselves.”
Gavin slowly turned back to Emily as she left. “I’m really impressed with how you handled that.”
“Thanks.” She smiled. “I didn’t want to be rude, and figured we could always cancel if we decide that it’s too dangerous.”
“Oh.” Gavin chuckled.
They watched as Nicole sat back down with Bill. Dennis and Armando looked up, then began laughing together.
Gavin bit his lip. “I wonder if they all really could be in on it together.”
Emily took a deep breath. “I have little doubt that Nicole’s invitation is an attempt to lure us into a trap – just as you predicted.”
“Let’s not worry about it now,” Gavin said. “I think we should do what she said, and show them that they haven’t unnerved us.”
Emily twisted her nose. “Dance? I have no sense of rhythm. I’d just make a fool of myself.”
“I’m usually not much for dancing, either,” he said, gazing at her. “But I’d also really like to dance with you.” His eyes glistened.
Her lashes fluttered. “I’m not very coordinated. I should probably warn you that I’ve injured some of the people I’ve tried dancing with.”
Gavin looked out at the dance floor. A dozen stiff and aging couples were twisting around to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller.’ His smile faded. “Maybe we’ll wait for a slow one.”
A short time later they were cheek to cheek beneath the sparkling blue and white disco lights, swaying to the melody as Crowded House sang “Hey now, hey now, don’t dream it’s over …”
CHAPTER 15
The drone of the highway and the sound of the wind buffeting the soft-top filled the Morgan. Gavin passed a sign that read ‘Cape Vincent – Thousand Islands Seaway’ and moved into the exit lane. “We’re almost there.”
“Thank goodness,” Emily said, not bothering to look up from her phone. “It seems like we’ve been driving forever.”
Gavin wrinkled his forehead. “I wonder if there really are a thousand islands up here?”
“Yes, indeed,” she replied. “There are actually 1864.”
He glanced over at her. “Really?”
Emily nodded. “I just checked.”
“What are you looking at now?”
“I’m reading up about Boldt Castle.” She smiled. “I really like castles.”
The Morgan glided to a stop at the end of the ramp and the noise of the highway died down.
Gavin made the turn and, after proceeding a short distance, pulled off to the side of the road.
Emily looked up. “Why are you stopping? Is something wrong?”
“That sign said 12-F,” he said. “I thought we were supposed to be on 12-E. Could you hand me that map in the glove box?”
“Do you want me to check my GPS?”
“Thanks,” he said, “but I’d rather use the map.”
“Okay.” She shrugged, opening the compartment. “Although I don’t understand your aversion to global positioning technology.”
Gavin unfolded the map on the steering wheel. “It isn’t really an aversion. I just like using maps. They’re a lost part of the driving experience.”
“So you’re helping to preserve a cartographic tradition?”
“I guess you could say that.” He chuckled, leaning forward to study the map more closely. “We’re okay. It turns into 12-E a little further up.” Gavin re-folded the map and handed it back to her. “I think I’ll put the top down, now that we’re off the highway.”
The breeze lifted their hair and the sunlight warmed their faces as the Morgan’s engine grumbled along a straight, flat stretch of road.
Emily fidgeted with her phone. “I’m feeling a bit apprehensive now. How about you?”
“I guess I have mixed feelings,” he replied. “On the one hand, I’m wondering if they’re planning to kill us, and on the other, it actually feels nice to be getting away for the weekend.”
Emily relaxed a little. “I suppose there is a possibility that this isn’t a trap.”
“We have to be very careful, though, and assume it is.”
“Of course,” she said, “I agree. But I also keep thinking about Dennis and Armando. Their behavior was a lot more suspicious than Nicole’s invitation, wouldn’t you say?”
Gavin nodded. �
�I just doubt our adversary would let us see him acting any differently.” He took a hand off the steering wheel to scratch his temple. “I wonder if their odd behavior could have been a planned distraction. And who’d be in a better position to orchestrate that than Bill?”
Emily’s eyes widened. “If Dennis and Armando turn out to be waiting at Bill and Nicole’s place, I say we jump right back in the car and go to the police,” she said.
“I don’t think they will be.” Gavin bit his lip. “I wonder if Bill has a boat. It’s a very big lake. If they wanted to make it look like an accident it would be pretty easy to say that we took it out, and never came back.”
Emily shivered, turning away.
“Sorry,” he said. “I was thinking aloud. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s alright.” She sighed. “I’d rather know what you’re thinking than have you keep anything from me.”
Emily gazed at the passing scenery. “If they did kill us …”
“That’s not going to happen,” Gavin said, reaching for her hand.
“I hope not,” she said. After a moment, she continued. “Is there anything you wish you could have done? If you knew you were going to die, that is.”
“Well, I’ve always wanted to go to the Goodwood Revival in England, for one.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s this big classic car gathering. They have vintage races, and people even dress up in period clothes.”
She pulled her hand away, crossing her arms. “Are cars the only thing you ever think about? Have you ever considered the possibility that you might be sublimating something else?”
Gavin looked over and saw Emily’s pouty lips, together with his own reflection in her sunglasses. He nodded. “Probably.”
“Well, I’m glad that you realize it, at least.”
“How about you?” He chuckled. “What have you always dreamed of doing?”
Emily twisted her lips. “I’ve always wanted to go someplace that’s truly romantic. Venice, maybe.”
Gavin frowned. “But, there aren’t any cars in Venice.”
She tightened her lips. “Exactly.”
Gavin turned onto a narrow road that ran close beside the water, with no wall or guardrail separating the two. He stepped on the accelerator, enjoying the twists and turns. The waves hitting against the rocks sent spray high in the air, and with the top down they were perilously close to getting wet.
Emily grabbed both sides of her seat as the car raced along. “Slow down, or we might die right now on this road! Are you sure we’re going the right way?”
“Reasonably sure.” Gavin smiled.
The road rose up a steep incline and came to an abrupt end by a lighthouse, surrounded on three sides by water. Gavin brought the car to a stop and shut off the engine.
Emily breathed a sigh of relief. “Do you want your map again?” She smirked.
Gavin looked up at the whitewashed tower before them. “Lighthouses are nice, too. Don’t you think?”
She tipped her head, staring at him.
“You mentioned liking castles, and I’ve always liked lighthouses.”
“Oh, yes. I do, too,” she said. “But, I think there could be something Freudian about it.”
“Let’s get out.” He chuckled. Gavin brushed off his pleated khakis, and rolled up the sleeves of his striped shirt, then went around the front of the car to where Emily was standing in her denim shorts and white summer blouse.
Beyond the lighthouse, the white caps stretched as far as they could see, and the sound of seagulls above and splashing below filled the fresh air.
Gavin gazed at Emily with her hair blowing in the wind until he looked down at her feet and smiled.
“Are you laughing at my socks and sandals?”
“No,” Gavin said. “I think it’s very sexy.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t tease me. I don’t care if it looks goofy, my feet get cold.”
He moved closer and ran his fingers across her cheek. She immediately put her own fingers to the same spot, scratching at it with her fingernails.
Gavin lifted her sunglasses up on her head, revealing her confused eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“I want to kiss you.”
“You do?” she said. “It’s about friggin’ time.”
He took hold of the belt loops on her shorts and drew her closer, until his lips were inches from hers.
“Did you know this lighthouse was here?” Emily whispered.
“Yes,” Gavin replied. “I saw it on the map.”
Their lips touched, but she pulled her head back. “Did you plan on bringing me here to make out?”
He went to kiss her again. She strained to look over at the lighthouse. “It’s a very romantic spot. I really have to give you credit.”
“Thanks,” he said softly.
“I should probably shut up now.” She nodded.
Emily breathed deeply as his lips pressed firmly against hers. Their tongues touched and Gavin slid a hand along her side, from the waist up. With one hand at the back of Gavin’s neck, she pushed him back against the car, kissing him passionately until, suddenly, Gavin winced.
“Oh my God! I’m so sorry,” Emily exclaimed, having accidentally bit Gavin’s lip.
“Don’t worry,” he said, trying to kiss her. Then he saw her alarmed darting eyes.
“Gavin, you’re bleeding. I really think we should stop.”
Gavin drew away and wiped a spot of blood from Emily’s lower lip. He wiped his own mouth, and his fingers came away red.
“Do you have a first aid kit?”
“I don’t think I’ll need one.” Gavin laughed, bending down to look in the car’s side mirror, tentatively touching the cut with his finger.
She stomped the ground. “Ugh, I feel like such an idiot!”
“Don’t worry,” Gavin said. “I’ve had shaving cuts that were worse. Could you get some tissue from the car? I don’t want to drip any blood on the leather.”
“Yes, of course.” She ran around to the passenger side door.
Emily returned with her purse and took out an antibacterial hand wipe. “Here, let me do it,” she said, tearing the packet open.
Gavin winced again as she proceeded to clean the blood from around his mouth and chin.
“I still can’t believe I did this.” She frowned. “I’m a walking disaster.”
“No, you’re not.” He smiled.
She closed her eyes. “Can we please just forget this ever happened?”
“That really won’t be easy.”
“I know.” She sighed.
“Because apart from the laceration, I thought it was wonderful.”
“Really? Did you really think it was wonderful?” Emily pressed the tissue against Gavin’s lip as he nodded. “Hold still.” She smiled. “I thought it was wonderful, too. That’s why I got a little bit carried away.” She examined his lip for a moment. “There. I think the bleeding has stopped.”
They looked into each other’s eyes.
“There’s no rush to get there. Let’s stay a little longer.”
Emily nodded and Gavin took her hand. They walked to a bench beneath the lighthouse, and sat gazing out at Lake Ontario.
“I’m feeling apprehensive again,” she said, giving his hand a squeeze. “This lake really does seem like the perfect place to kill us.” Emily grimaced. “How do you think they would do it?”
Gavin rubbed his forehead. “If they wanted to make it look like a boating accident I suppose they might try to drug us. Then maybe tow us out at night and capsize it, letting us drown.”
“What can we do? We can’t exactly avoid eating or drinking while we’re there.”
“Not many drugs work instantly. If one of us feels anythin
g unusual we should immediately make an excuse to leave, and call 911.”
Emily took a deep breath. “I’ll be the food tester. I have a fast metabolism and weigh less, so it would probably affect me quicker. Let me try everything first and, if I begin to feel anything, I’ll say that I’m feeling tired from the trip.”
“Alright.” He sighed.
“I think they’d be more likely to try something at dinner, when it’s closer to dark, don’t you?”
Gavin nodded. He put his arm around Emily and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Don’t worry. I have my gun, and we’re going to be alright.”
They watched a passing sailboat in the distance for a moment.
“It’s weird … I don’t feel worried now,” she said as a seagull appeared and glided around above. She put her head on Gavin’s shoulder. “I feel strangely at peace.”
They descended the hill from the lighthouse and followed a road which ran beside the Saint Lawrence river. After a few miles, they started passing some impressive old homes.
“This is it,” Emily said. She spotted the number on the mailbox and pointed it out.
Gavin proceeded up the driveway to a large, dusty rose colored Queen Anne. It had a wide porch, a balcony, and a cone-shaped turret rising from the side.
“What a gorgeous house,” she remarked, as the car rolled to a stop.
Bill and Nicole appeared as they stood up from behind the porch’s railing, waving beneath the gingerbread trim. Gavin and Emily got out of the car and a Springer Spaniel charged down to greet them, its tail wagging.
“Hello, and who are you?” Emily smiled as the dog jumped on her. She knelt to pet it.
“Stay down, Lacey,” Bill shouted from the porch steps.
Gavin smiled, watching Emily fuss over the dog, as Bill and Nicole made their way over to them.
“We’re so glad you’re here,” Nicole said, opening her arms.
“Thanks so much for inviting us,” Gavin replied, shaking Bill’s hand. He touched Emily on the shoulder.
“Oh, hi,” she said, looking up from Lacey. She stood to receive Nicole’s unwelcome hug.
“This is quite a home you have,” Gavin said, looking up at the house.
“It’s Nicole’s.” Bill grinned. “She comes from old money – I definitely married up.”