by Kelly Utt
“Tell me what happened at the police station,” Penelope prompted, getting down to business. “Does the Rosemary Run force have jurisdiction here?”
“Yeah, they do. I went in and gave a statement. That’s all. I didn’t even speak to the detectives yet. A clerk named Pamela Woo asked me a few basic questions. I expect they’ll be back in touch soon.”
“Where’s Reggie?”
“I’m not sure,” Marshall replied. “They kept him longer. He gave a statement, too, but said he had to take care of something. I’m not sure how much police know about Reggie’s operation at this point.”
Penelope winced. The water was cold, but it wasn’t bothering her much this time. Her mind was focused on other matters. Marshall had been right. The water was invigorating.
“Do you know what happened to Audrey?” she asked quietly.
“No. And you know I’d tell you if I did.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Marshall swam closer to Penelope, positioning himself just inches away. She could feel the heat from his body.
“Is that what you and the ladies were talking about before Hana pushed you in?”
Penelope nodded. “It was. I wanted the four of us to get our stories straight. I don’t know what the rest of them saw. Only a little that Cheryl told us about. I saw… Things that I probably shouldn’t have.”
“Are you afraid, Pen?”
Penelope considered her answer before she spoke. She wasn’t usually one to confide her feelings.
“A little.”
Marshall wrapped one arm around Penelope and pulled her close. His strength was enough to keep her afloat. All she had to do was rest, cradled in his embrace.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I’d never let anything happen to you.”
Penelope sighed, the romance of it all washing over her and making her go weak in the knees. As she gazed into Marshall’s eyes, she couldn’t help herself. It felt like now or never.
She lifted her head and kissed him, more passionately this time. Their lips pressed against each other hungrily. The desire between them was electric. Penelope squared herself up in front of Marshall and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Her dress floated upwards around her waist, but she didn’t care. She let it happen.
They kissed, long and tenderly, while Marshall slowly swam them closer to shore until finally, he reached a depth where he could stand. Once their heads and shoulders were safely above water and he had gained solid footing, he let his hands reach under Penelope’s dress and grip her firm backside. He wanted her. Badly. She knew just how much as his firmness reached towards her, throbbing with life and aching to be invited in.
Penelope throbbed, too, the pressure between her legs intensifying until she thought she might burst. She wanted to feel Marshall inside of her. It seemed like she always had. She’d dreamed of this day. Aside from Audrey and Reggie and a brewing police investigation, it was every bit as magical as she’d imagined.
“Take me,” she whispered between kisses, her hands meeting his and guiding them underneath her panties.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “Like this?”
She moved one palm to his manhood and stroked it firmly, paying special attention to the sensitive tip. “Exactly like this. Do it now, Marshall Erving. I want you.”
Without so much as a glance over their shoulders to see if anyone was watching, Marshall reached down and tore at the zipper of his pants, freeing his cock into the open water. Penelope moved her mouth around to one of his earlobes and down his neck, nibbling in all the right places as she continued to stroke. Marshall took a finger and gently moved Penelope’s panties to one side, allowing him access. He paused to finger her folds and stimulate her soft bud before grabbing her hips with both hands and ramming himself into her.
It was pure ecstasy for them both. Penelope wrapped her legs around Marshall’s waist and he drove deeper and deeper inside. Birds continued to chirp and the sun continued to shine as they consummated a physical union that had been years in the making. It felt natural, as if the two of them belonged in nature, making love vigorously, the same as wild animals.
They heaved and gyrated, savoring every glorious sensation as they hurried towards blessed release. Penelope climaxed first, unable to squelch her cries of delight. She moaned and writhed in front of Marshall for what seemed like a long, delicious while, making his orgasm that much more intense. When he finally burst, it was with the intensity of a fire hose, his liquid more forceful and filling than any Penelope had known. They held each other, muscles tensed, in their own world where they remained oblivious to much of what was happening around them.
Until they heard a voice nearby. Someone had been watching.
“Penelope? Marshall?”
5
Penelope nuzzled her head into Marshall’s neck and kept her tight grip on him. She was experiencing the most incredible afterglow of her life. She’d been waiting on this moment for so long. She didn’t want to be interrupted. And she wasn’t sure she even cared who had been watching. Marshall didn’t turn either. He continued to hold Penelope, their bodies intertwined. Neither of them felt the cold anymore.
“Um, what’s happening in there?”
It was a woman’s voice. Penelope could tell that much. She wondered if she ignored the woman, she might go away.
“Leave us be, Hana,” Marshall said, his posture steady. “This doesn’t concern you.”
Penelope wondered how he knew Hana’s voice without looking. Earlier, she’d known Hana’s hands on her back. But something was different about the woman’s voice now. It sounded strained. Suspecting trouble, Penelope turned to face her.
“What?”
“I need help,” Hana said.
Penelope looked at Marshall skeptically. “I’m not sure if we should believe her.”
Marshall turned, eying Hana without loosening his hold on Penelope.
“Look,” Hana began. “I don’t care about the two of you in there like that. We’ve all known you're in love with each other. That’s old news. You have been for years. And Marshall, we figured there was some other reason you married Reggie. You don’t love him like you love Pen. So blah, blah, blah, and congratulations. Let’s move on, shall we?”
Penelope and Marshall looked at each other. Marshall shrugged, indicating his agreement.
“Alright,” Penelope said, moving away from Marshall in the water and getting her clothing turned around properly again. “What do you need help with?”
“Yeah,” Marshall added. “What’s wrong? Because from where I’m sitting, you probably deserve whatever trouble you’re in. You’ve been a real prick.”
Hana scowled. Even in her time of need, she was abrasive to deal with. She didn’t have the good sense to be humble. She put a hand on one hip. “I saw someone. Behind the hedges on the front lawn.”
“When?” Marshall asked.
“Maybe it was the gardeners,” Penelope offered.
“It wouldn’t be them,” Marshall explained. “The yard and gardens were all prepped for the party yesterday. There’s nothing left for them to do for at least a week.”
Hana glanced behind her. “Could you two get out of the water? I’m uncomfortable here alone.”
Penelope chucked. What sweet revenge this was, and she hadn’t even needed to dish it up herself. It was long past time that someone or something take Hana down a peg. She was too conceited and detached for her own good.
Marshall nodded, fastening his pants then helping Penelope to the shore. They looked flush as they stepped out of the water, whether from sun exposure or physical exertion. No one could deny that the pair looked happy. That was a good thing, if unexpected on this particular day.
Hana gestured towards the dock, and Marshall and Penelope followed. Hana let the two of them have the chairs. She stood with her back to the bay while they wrung their clothes out and spread the fabric for maximum exposure to the warm breeze.
“What?�
� Penelope asked the woman. “Afraid to face the water in case I might push you in?”
Penelope felt emboldened with Marshall at her side. Finding the nerve to make sweet love to him hadn’t hurt either.
“I’m sorry about that,” Hana said in a rare admission of guilt. “I shouldn’t have.”
“Thank you,” Penelope replied.
“Yeah, thank you,” Marshall echoed. “That’s better.”
Hana smiled briefly, then began to fidget with a fingernail again.
“So, now you want to get serious about our situation?” Penelope asked.
“I do.”
“Just to be clear,” she continued. “You couldn’t be bothered when it was only Audrey’s ass in danger. But now you see someone on the front lawn and you’re freaked out.”
“You don’t have to make me sound so selfish,” Hana returned.
“Oh, you do that all on your own,” Marshall added, raising his brows.
Hana slumped her shoulders, then sat down on the dock. Penelope thought she suddenly looked small. Like a young child instead of a grown woman. Fear will shrink even the strongest and tallest among us.
“I get it,” Hana said. “But it’s time to be serious. Like Pen said earlier. I did see something last night. And now… well, I’m afraid that someone might want to keep me from talking about what I know.”
“Okay,” Penelope replied. “I’m glad we’re on the same page. But that’s quite a leap, isn’t it? When I mentioned someone coming after us, I didn’t envision them hiding in the hedges.”
Marshall shrugged like he wasn’t so sure Hana was wrong. “I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve seen things around this place that would surprise you both. I can vouch for danger lurking.”
“Seriously?” Penelope asked.
“Yeah, seriously,” he confirmed.
“So, you’re saying a bad guy— for lack of a better description— could realistically be hiding in the hedges to silence us before we tell anyone what we saw.”
“Possibly. But I meant what I said, Pen. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Penelope swooned. Hana rolled her eyes.
“Great. That makes me even more concerned,” Hana muttered under her breath.
“How about you ladies share what you saw?” Marshall asked.
Hana answered without skipping a beat. “I’m not so sure I should. Especially now.”
Marshall shook his head in frustration. “I’m not the bad guy,” he said. “You came back here, interrupting, and asked for help. How are we supposed to help you if we don’t know what’s going on?”
“Agreed,” Penelope added. “My sentiments exactly.”
Hana remained silent.
“Then let’s do it this way,” Marshall tried, scooting to the front of his chair. “Let’s go look for the guy out front. If we find him, I’ll ask some questions and assess the threat.”
“No!” Hana exclaimed. Her reaction surprised them.
Marshall took a breath. Penelope followed his lead, inhaling deeply, then exhaling. She had to be conscious of her breath when in stressful situations.
“Should we go to the police?” Penelope asked Marshall.
“No,” he said swiftly. “We don’t want to draw any more suspicion to ourselves and the things that happen on this property. You know that.”
“I know,” Penelope said. “But this is important. It’s different.”
“Different how?” Marshall returned.
“Different because a young woman disappeared… or was murdered…”
“We don’t know that, Pen,” Marshall answered. “I don’t know that, anyway. Do you? Because I didn’t see anything suspicious.”
Penelope chewed her bottom lip. She thought about how she wasn’t good at lying. And she didn’t want to lie to Marshall. But she wasn’t sure she wanted to speak freely with Hana anymore. She didn’t feel safe.
“Um, well…” Penelope began. “Maybe we should talk about that privately.”
Hana’s eyes flicked upwards. “Hey…” she began.
“If you’re more comfortable that way, then of course,” Marshall reassured, reaching up and smoothing Penelope’s hair. “It’ll be just us.”
“Guys…” Hana tried again, the color draining from her face.
“I think I am,” Penelope replied, oblivious to Hana’s distress. Hana was a drama queen. Like the boy who cried wolf.
“Guys!” Hana yelled now, pointing to the hill behind them.
Marshall and Penelope turned, not expecting the sight that awaited them.
There, coming down the hillside towards the dock, was Reggie, his deep brown skin glistening with perspiration as his large nostrils flared. But that wasn’t what frightened them. Walking beside Reggie and carrying what looked like a weapon in his pants pocket was a huge blonde-haired man in a suit. He was at least as tall as Marshall. He towered over Reggie. Penelope couldn’t tell if Reggie was with the big man voluntarily, or if the man was forcing Reggie to follow his instructions.
6
“That’s him!” Hana said in what sounded simultaneously like a yell and a whisper. “The guy from the front lawn.”
“This guy was hiding in the hedges?” Marshall asked in disbelief. “Really?”
“Yes!” Hana confirmed. She slid forward, cowering behind Marshall.
Marshall stood up tall, puffing his chest out and using both arms to tuck Penelope and Hana behind him.
As the blonde man got closer, he reminded Penelope of the Russian from the Rocky Balboa movies she used to watch with her dad when she was a kid. He was menacing. She thought he couldn’t possibly be with Reggie. Could he?
“Who’s this?” Marshall asked his husband, his voice deep and firm. “And why is he here?”
“Not now,” Reggie said as the two men approached the dock. He grimaced.
It was apparent that Reggie was there against his will. Penelope could see it all clearly as she peeked around Marshall. The blonde man did, in fact, have a gun, and he was pointing it at Reggie.
Marshall’s posture stiffened. “Talk to me, Reggie. What does this man want?”
The blonde man grunted, motioning behind Marshall. “The girl,” he growled. “Give her to me and no one will get hurt.”
Penelope sucked in a gulp of air. She wasn’t sure which girl he was talking about. Terror struck her like a bolt of lightning and held onto her. Her mind spun at a dizzying pace as she tried to think. She’d been at the mercy of men before. She wasn’t a stranger to that. She’d even dealt with angry men who were aggressive towards her. But this seemed far more frightening than anything she’d ever seen. This man was on a mission. It seemed like he’d be willing to hurt anyone who got in his way. Penelope shook with fear. Her only comfort was knowing that Marshall would keep her safe. She believed that much.
“I don’t think so,” Marshall said. “These ladies aren’t going anywhere. Not as long as I’m here to have a say in it.”
“The dark one,” the blonde-haired man shouted. “Now! Or people will get hurt.”
Hana yelped. “I didn’t see anything! I don’t know anything! I swear.”
She reached out for Marshall and practically climbed him like a tree. Marshall bore her weight, allowing her refuge behind him.
“Dammit, Marshall,” Reggie grunted. “Don’t try to be a hero, for Christ’s sake. Do what he says. Give him the girl.”
Marshall looked at Reggie, an expression of disappointment on his face. He wrinkled his nose. “Is that how it’s going to be, Reggie? You’re going to sacrifice your own people now?”
Reggie shook his head as the blonde man moved the gun in his direction. “I don’t see what choice we have.”
Hana suddenly sobbed, her usual cocky demeanor shattered. Penelope remained still and silent, hoping not to draw attention to herself. Neither of the ladies had any idea what to do. They felt physically vulnerable and unable to even put up a decent fight. At least, not compared to Marshall. He was
the one who had options. They weren’t good options, but they were options, nonetheless.
“We always have a choice,” Marshall said.
“Spoken like a hero,” Reggie mumbled. “We don’t. You don’t.”
Penelope feared for Marshall’s safety and her own, but she suddenly remembered something about him that she hadn’t thought about in a long time.
Marshall once told her he had served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He hadn’t wanted to make a career out of the military, so he’d enlisted for a four-year term and then gotten out when that term was finished. Marshall wasn’t the type to talk about it much. He didn’t wear Marine Corps t-shirts or have a bumper sticker on his truck. He was humble, never one to brag. But one warm August night a couple of years ago, when he and Penelope had been drinking beer and telling stories, he had told her about his service. Maybe his training could be put to use now.
Acting out of instinct, Penelope nudged Marshall in the small of his back from behind, poking as if she had to tell him something. He turned his head ever so slightly, acknowledging her.
“Be brave, my dear,” she whispered. “I believe in you. Semper Fi.”
Hana didn’t react. But the words seemed to give Marshall the boost of confidence he needed. He stood up even straighter, his hands balling into fists.
“Okay,” Marshall said to the blonde man. “She’s right here. If you promise not to hurt anyone else, you can take her. I see now that my husband is right. We don’t have any other choice. Since you have a gun. You win.”
“What?” Hana screeched, clawing as she pulled herself further onto Marshall’s back.
“Trust him,” Penelope whispered, hoping the blonde man couldn’t hear. Hana’s body relaxed just enough to allow herself faith in her friends.
The blonde man grunted and moved forward. “No funny business,” he instructed. His voice was gruff, as if he’d been chain smoking most of his life. There was an edge to it.