by Sam Lollar
He walked out the front door, and I made sure it was locked behind him. I was dazed as I walked back to the patio. I was so drained from the experience that I picked up my book and went into the guesthouse to go to bed. Wait’ll I tell Scott about this.
Surprisingly, after reading a few minutes, I managed to fall asleep rather quickly. The next thing I knew, it was morning. I was still in my swim trunks and robe, with my book in my hands. It was nearly eight, so I got up and showered. I put on some clothes and wandered out to the patio table where, as I hoped, the women were having breakfast.
“Good morning, dahling,” Miss LuLu said exuberantly. “Do sit with us and have some breakfast. Ruby and I had the most marvelous time last night, didn’t we, dear?”
“Oh, yes indeed.”
“Well, tell all. What did you two do?” I prodded.
“We went to the ballet for starters, saw The Nutcracker and then went to a party at Larry Hagman’s. Barbara Eden was there, too, which, was a rarity. I guess they don’t socialize off the set. His mom—she’s Mary Martin, you know—was there and of course we’re all old friends, so we just had a wonderful time. We didn’t get in until around two thirty, did we, Ruby?”
“It was late is all I know. I’m afraid I had a bit too much to drink. But the dancing and carousing was a lot of fun. Too bad you didn’t go with us, doll.”
“No one asked me,” I said, in mock indignation. “Besides, I had a grand and weird time here.”
“Weird? What happened that was weird?” Miss Ruby asked.
“Isaac came by.”
“Isaac?” they both exclaimed simultaneously. “What on earth did he want? To file a lawsuit against you?”
“Oh, no, just the opposite.”
“Wait a minute,” we heard Scott bellow as he came onto the patio. “Did I hear you say Isaac was here last night?”
“Yes. Come sit down and listen. You won’t believe this.”
I told them of the visit from Isaac and how eager he was to go to bed with me. “But what most frightens me is that he says he will definitely see me again.”
“I’ve said this before: stay away from him,” Miss LuLu said. “He’s nothing but trouble.”
“I agree, but what can I do if he keeps coming over here?”
“Well you only really have about three days to worry about it anyway. We’ll head back to Texas then, and you’ll be done with him,” Miss Ruby said.
“That’s true. I hate to say it, but I think I’m ready to leave after this battle with Isaac.”
The phone rang, and Scott picked it up. Apparently, Mark was on the line. They chatted for a bit and finally rang off. Scott shook his head. “Aaron, you’re not going to believe this, but Isaac says you came over to his house last night and put a move on him. Mark says Isaac’s been ranting about the ‘queers down the street’ since he got home. That Isaac’s a nut case of the first order.”
“God, Scott. Ask the butler. He opened the door for Isaac last night. Is there something I should do? Maybe I should go back to Texas now, rather than wait for y’all. What do you think?”
“Let’s just try to avoid him as much as possible. We won’t leave you alone here at the house where he can get to you. In fact, we’ll prevent him from getting you alone at all.”
“I don’t see how. You can’t watch me twenty four hours a day.”
“We won’t have to. As long as you’re here at the house, you’re safe. And I’m sure Mark will take care of Isaac. I’ll bet this is the last time we’ll hear from that guy. I told Mark we’d call the police if Isaac came around here again,” Scott said. “Now let’s change the subject—what’s on the agenda for today, guys?”
I had a suggestion but wasn’t sure anybody would want to do it. “Could we go to the Scripps Institution in La Jolla? My aunt’s been there and says it’s fantastic.”
“Why not?” Miss Ruby said. “I’ve never seen it, and I have heard how great it is. Yes, let’s do it. We’ll have to take that Lincoln, though, because the Rolls is being serviced.”
“You mean that classic Lincoln?” I asked gleefully.
“No, dear heart. Just the new blue one. Our recent road trip in the old Model K was a bit much for it, my mechanic says. He’s got to replace something or other that we damaged. Oh, well, it’s just a car.”
“We’d better get ready quickly,” Scott said. “It’s a two-hour drive there. Let’s get dressed and head out in about a half hour.”
“Do you want a picnic prepared?” Miss Ruby said.
“That might be fun. Yes, let’s do,” LuLu replied.
In a half hour, we were on the road to La Jolla to see the aquarium. Our drive was fun, as I was able to put Isaac out of my mind for a while. The trip was gorgeous along the ocean, and the aquarium was dazzling.
We returned late that afternoon and decided to get dressed up and go out to eat. We went to a snazzy restaurant in Hollywood that had mediocre food but a great clientele. Again, we saw many movie stars and I just ogled everybody. Scott said he had a late date with Mark, so we were home by nine. I was a little disappointed I wasn’t going out, too, but didn’t let anyone know. The ladies and I spent the evening pretty much like so many of the others: on the patio and me in the pool.
Chapter Twenty-eight
The Adam 12 Plymouth
About eleven, the ladies decided to turn in, and I followed suit. Lying there naked on the bed, I was just getting comfortable when I heard a rattling in the kitchen of the guesthouse. I quickly pulled on a robe and went to investigate. As I got to the bedroom door, someone grabbed me and put his hand over my mouth. I was so stunned, I couldn’t even yell out for help.
*
“My God, Dad. Was it Isaac again? You must have been terrified.”
“Oh, I was, believe me. Really terrified.”
*
“Shh,” the man said. “It’s all right, baby. Be calm. It’s just me, Isaac.”
He slowly pulled his hand away from my mouth but didn’t release his grip on the rest of me. He had both my arms behind my back. I tried to make out his face in the darkness. When I realized he was wearing a ski mask, I was terrified. This man was a bona fide basket case. I yelled as loud as I could. He put his hand back over my mouth.
“It’s okay, darling. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I don’t want those old women to hear us. I snuck over the back fence. I know how much you’ve missed me, and I’m just delighted to see you. Why don’t we go sit on the sofa?” He managed to slip a pair of handcuffs on me, my hands still behind my back.
With a death grip on my arm, he led me over to the sofa and sat me very close to him. I tried yelling again, but he slugged me in the stomach. That took my breath away. He took the ski mask off and whispered in my ear.
“I’ve missed you so much, sweetheart, I couldn’t bear for us to be apart any longer. I know you’ve said we shouldn’t see each other again, but I know you didn’t mean it. I think it’s time we both accepted the fact that we’re in love with each other. Oh, Aaron, I’ve wanted you so much.”
Leaning over on top of me, he forced my robe open and put his leg between my knees, rubbing his knee against my genitals. He rubbed his crotch against my leg and began kissing me ferociously. I was trying to scream at that point, but he had his tongue in my mouth whenever I opened it to yell out. Finally, in desperation, I bit his tongue so hard it bled.
“Get off me, you maniac. You’re insane. Get away from me.”
“Now, Aaron, don’t be upset about last night,” he said, totally oblivious to the blood dripping out of his mouth. “I told you I couldn’t stay with you all night. But remember, sweetheart, that I did tell you I’d be back. So please don’t continue to be angry with me, darling. Besides you look so sad when you’re angry. And I know you can’t really stay mad at me for long. You love me too much.”
“Isaac, get this through that twisted brain of yours—I do not love you. I have never loved you. I don’t even know you. I want you to get o
ut of here, or I’ll call the police.”
He grabbed the phone and yanked the cord out of the wall. Now what do I do? I asked myself. So I started fighting him. I kicked and bit as hard and fiercely as I could. But he kept chuckling.
“Aaron’s in a bad mood, isn’t he?” he asked me in that infuriating, patronizing tone.
“You better fucking believe I’m in a bad mood. Get out of here.”
I didn’t know it at the time, but the ladies could hear the commotion through their bedroom windows, which overlooked the pool. They had gotten hold of Mark and Scott and told them to get over to the house right away, that Isaac had gone crazy. They had also called the police.
The police were there in about three minutes, pounding on the doors to the guesthouse. By that time, Isaac had one hand over my mouth and the other holding me by the handcuffs. With my robe open, I was completely exposed. He dragged me into the bedroom. “Keep quiet, sweetheart,” he whispered. “They’ll be gone in a minute. Those old biddies must have thought I was a burglar.”
The police broke in through the patio doors, guns drawn, and searched the house. It didn’t take long for them to find us in the bedroom. “Get on the floor,” they commanded. With me lying on the bed, face down, they focused their attention on Isaac.
Mark and Scott showed up in short order. “Officers, he’s my brother,” Mark said, entering the guesthouse.
“It appears your brother has been attacking this young lad. We’ll have to take him to the police station and sort everything out.” Turning to me, he asked, “Will you be filing charges, young man?”
“You’re damn right I will,” I said as someone helped me to my feet. “Someone close my robe. And get me out of these fucking handcuffs.”
The police escorted Isaac from the house after freeing me with the key they found in his pocket. We all walked behind the cops to the front door where I saw a second Plymouth Belvedere cop car, one I later recognized when I watched reruns of Adam 12.
“Aaron, you’re not really going to press charges, are you?” Mark asked.
“I sure as hell am.”
“Please don’t. It would be so damaging to him, and to me as well, not to mention my family. Please reconsider.”
“Nothing doing. That fruitcake scared me half to death, and I want him to stay away from me. All of you get away from me.”
“But, Aaron, if you press charges, you’ll have to return to L.A. over and over again until the case is settled. Do you really want this hanging over your head?”
“Mark’s right, Aaron,” Scott said. “Let’s just calm down and get a good night’s sleep. It’ll look better in the morning.”
“I don’t see how it can look any better in the morning, Scott. What happened, happened. He tried to rape me. No rose-colored glasses are going to change the facts. If Miss LuLu and Ruby hadn’t called the police, I would have been raped by him. And God only knows what all else he had in mind. That man needs to be committed.”
“You’re right, Aaron,” Mark said. “If I promise to get him into some treatment program, will you reconsider?”
“If you put him in the looney bin, I’ll think about it. I don’t ever want him to be able to get to me again. If I ever see him again, though, I’m going to the police.”
I managed to sit down as the ladies came into the guesthouse. Everyone sat around me, voicing their concerns.
“How do you feel, kid?” Miss Ruby asked me.
“How do you think I feel? Terrified.”
“I’ve no doubt of that. But we’re all here now. He won’t be bothering you again.”
“I only hope you’re right,” I replied. “I think I want a drink. And I know I want to go home.”
“A drink’s a great idea,” Scott said enthusiastically.
We all retired to the patio and sat around the table. As we were getting comfortable, Mark went to the police station.
“You must have been terrified, dahling,” Miss LuLu said.
“This is worse than some of the movies I’ve been in,” Miss Ruby noted, adding, “and I’ve been in some real bombs, believe me.”
“Yes, remember the one…” LuLu began, and the ladies told of several of their worst bombs, some with plots not dissimilar to my own situation. After about an hour or so, and several strong drinks, I calmed down enough to go back to bed. I was still in my robe, so I decided to shower before hitting the sack. I never heard Scott come in, so must have immediately fallen asleep.
Early the next morning I woke to the butler’s rap on the door, saying I had a phone call from the police. For some reason, I needed to come down and sign some forms before they could do anything with Isaac. I said I would be down shortly. No sooner had I hung up than the phone rang again. This time it was Mark.
“I’ve been at the police station all night, Aaron. The press have been relentless. I’ve been photographed from every angle, and I look my absolute worst, I might add. What have you decided to do about Isaac?”
“I don’t know. To tell you the truth, I’m really not too concerned about you, your brother, or how you look. The police just called and told me to come down and sign some forms.”
“Oh, Aaron. Please don’t. I’m begging you. The story will go worldwide and my career will be over. Please rethink this. The studio lawyers said the studio will pay you a hundred thousand dollars if you’ll let this go away. I know it sounds like they’re trying to bribe you, and I suppose they are, but they have a lot invested in me and want to keep any scandals out of the news. Please take the money and don’t pursue this.”
“Give me a few minutes, Mark. I really don’t want to cause you any harm. I just want that fucking maniac locked away somewhere.” I hung up and sat at the table with my head in hands, wondering what to do.
Miss LuLu wandered out and sat with me. “What’s on your mind, doll?”
“Isaac, what else? Mark just called begging me not to come to the station or file a complaint against Isaac. His studio’s offered me a hundred thousand bucks to drop the whole thing.”
“Take the money,” she said. “This kind of thing happens all the time out here. Why not cash in on it a little? Mark is right, you know. If Isaac were pursuing a woman, the press would still make a big deal out of it, but it would have no effect on Mark’s career. If they found out Isaac tried to rape you, then the suspicions about Mark would surface all over again.”
“But the police put in their report that Isaac was after me. Can’t the press get that document?”
“I’m sure the studio has taken care of that by now. They probably do have too much invested in Mark to just throw him to the wolves. Mark’s safe as long as you remain quiet. I know that’s a pretty big burden, but that’s reality.”
“I can’t destroy Mark. He’s done nothing wrong. I guess I’ll just stay out of the police station. Should I call them and tell them?”
“Yes, I think that makes a lot of sense. Do you have the phone number?”
“The policemen left me a card last night.” I dialed the station and eventually got to speak with the person in charge of the case. I said I didn’t wish to file charges, that Isaac was probably drunk and didn’t know what he was doing. The policeman I spoke with was not happy about my not filing charges, but acknowledged that it was my decision.
About a half hour later, Mark called again. “Thanks, Aaron. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate your actions. Isaac’s with a psychiatrist right this very minute, and I’m pretty sure that he will be committed at least for a few days. Long enough for you to get back to El Paso. You’ll find a check waiting for you when you get back to the motel.”
“I feel like a high-priced whore, but it does make me feel better.”
He suggested we see each other the next day, Scott, the ladies and me. He had to take care of Isaac for the moment. “I don’t know what I’m going to tell my mom and dad,” he said. “It would kill them not only to find out that Isaac’s gay, but that he tried to rape you. They alr
eady assume I’m gay, but to lose the chance of having grandchildren altogether is going to hurt deeply.”
“Oh, who knows? Maybe you’ll have kids after all.”
“Not unless a miracle happens, because you have to have sex with a woman to have a baby. That’s something I’m not likely to do.”
A bit later, Scott came out to the patio where I was still sitting, with my morning orange juice. “So, what did Mark say?”
“That Isaac’s locked away somewhere,” I said.
“Aaron, did you really press charges?”
“No. Isaac’s in some psychiatric ward somewhere. I couldn’t destroy Mark’s career. Plus they’re paying me a hundred thousand dollars to keep quiet.”
“A hundred grand? Holy shit. I really am glad you decided not to pursue it. We only have a couple of more days before we leave on Sunday, anyway. On to a different topic, what would you like to do with the time? Back onto the old topic, what are you going to do with the money? Didn’t you get a settlement from the Imperial lady, too? You’re rich, kid.”
“Yeah, fifty grand. Being rich is going to take some getting used to. Oh, yeah, Mark suggested that we all get together tomorrow.”
*
“So that’s where all our money came from,” Number Three said.
“Our money? What do you mean our? That’s my hard-earned money, sport. But, yeah, that was the foundation for whatever wealth we have as a family. Junior, your grandmother had a lawyer friend who threatened to sue the Imperial lady and managed to get fifty grand from the rich old gal.”
*
“Do you want to see Mark again?” Scott asked.
“As long as Isaac’s out of the picture, I would like to see him once more before we head back. Scott, what are your feelings about Mark?”
“I like him a lot, Aaron. But I’m not in love with him. We have great sex, but it’s more fun than romance. I’m all right. Don’t worry about me.”
“I am concerned. If you really liked him a lot, it would be hard for you to return to Texas.”