Alejandro stared ahead, nostrils flaring.
“Kiss my ass!” cried the bird.
“Atta boy!” said Dette around a mouthful of half-masticated pasta.
Everyone else seemed to have lost interest in dinner.
For being much drunker than she’d intended, Dette thought she was doing a pretty good job of winning them over.
* * *
Nick was sure of three things: One, there would be no more laughter this evening; two, Dette, had not been invited; and three, Alejandro was not fond of her. In fact, the guy seemed absolutely hostile toward her.
And Madison was none too happy herself.
As Nick watched the inebriated girl wobble in her seat, he sensed trouble coming. Two girls and a handsome blond guy … he knew where this was headed. But he knew this was more than a mere love triangle.
Nick cleared his throat. “How have you been, Ms. Watkiss?”
Dette made an eager noise in her throat as she chewed, swallowed, and downed half a glass of Coke. She either didn’t notice or didn’t care that the glass she drank from belonged to Alejandro. “You’re so sweet to remember my name, Chief! We’ve only met a couple of times, and look at you! What a gentleman!” She patted his arm and Nick caught a wave of liquor that did not tempt him off the wagon. “I’ve been good.”
But she didn’t look good. She looked like a hooker after a long day on the streets. This was not the same girl he’d met in O’Riley’s Rocks. She’d aged. What the unholy hell is going on around here?
“Oh!” exclaimed Dette. “I almost forgot!” She bent and reached into the large handbag at her feet, swaying enough that Nick had to steady her. She rooted around in the bag, finally pulling out a pint of rum. “It’s the good stuff!” With an unsteady hand, she topped off her own drink then made a move to tip some into Nick’s glass.
He placed his hand over it. “I’ll pass, thanks.” He was delighted to note he had no desire for a drink. None whatsoever.
* * *
Alejandro glanced at Madison. His look asked: Can I leave now?
Madison gave him a small headshake: Just ignore her. Don’t cause a scene. But she was furious. Dette knew she was having the chief over for dinner. Why did I even tell her? She made a mental note to add Always keep dinner parties a secret from uninvited guests, to her Life Lessons list. She was humiliated, and kept looking at Nick Grayson, hoping he didn’t think this was the usual way of things. Nick ate, his face unreadable, but his eyes were taking everything in.
Madison stood and went to the kitchen to get a fresh glass of soda for Alejandro.
As she poured, she watched Dette shovel lasagna into her mouth. Her breasts were popping out of her shirt and the constant giggling and flirting was enough to rob Madison of her appetite. She hoped all that pasta would soak up some of the rum, and fast.
She placed the glass in front of Alejandro and took her seat.
“Are you okay, Dette?” she asked.
“Don’t I look fine?” Dette jutted her chest out and giggled.
“Actually, you look-” Madison stopped herself. She cast Nick Grayson an apologetic glance: I’m terribly sorry, and God, this is so humiliating.
Nick gave her a nod: It’s fine.
But as soon as she got Dette alone, Madison planned to give it to her with both barrels. She didn’t know what had gotten into her lately, but this was the last episode of Dette’s Skank Show Madison was willing to watch. It was time to change the channel.
Dette slid her chair closer to Alejandro.
Or cancel the show.
* * *
Alejandro did not like Dette being so close to him. She giggled and smiled and acted happy, but she was full of darkness. It was all around her - within her. He couldn’t name the darkness, but it was there. His eyes kept returning to her moon necklace. It was shiny and silver and Alejandro had found that he usually liked shiny silver things. But he did not like this, not at all, and he wasn’t sure why.
And I do not like Dette. He hoped she would not stay the night again. Because she was Madison’s friend, he had not mentioned Dette’s attempts to seduce him. Something told him that to lay with her would be a very bad thing.
Dette caught Alejandro staring at her necklace and pushed her chest out, smiling. She thinks I am admiring her form. He looked away quickly.
“You always smell so good, Alejandro!” said Dette. “Even better than Maddy’s lasagna!”
“Thank you.” Alejandro had learned that it was polite to thank people when they said nice things.
The chief asked, “What kind of aftershave is that, Alejandro?”
Alejandro did not know what aftershave was. He looked at Madison. She opened her mouth but was cut off by Dette.
“Whatever it is, it smells like you rolled around in lotus blossoms!” Her knee pressed against his. “Naked.”
The chief seemed perplexed. “Lotus blossoms?”
Alejandro did know what those were, but he did not think he smelled like them. He did not think he smelled like anything at all.
“So tell us,” said Dette. “What kind of aftershave is it?”
“I do not know.”
“You don’t know?” asked Dette. “How can you not know?” She giggled. “Or is it your natural scent?” Under the table, she touched Alejandro’s knee.
He wished very much to leave.
Madison said, “Would anyone else like more lasagna before I show Nick my father’s private collection?”
“Booooo,” said Dette. “Fossils and rocks are so boring. I vote we play a game.” She gulped down more of her drink, and slid her hand several inches up Alejandro’s thigh. Then several more.
Alejandro swallowed hard, but said nothing because he did not want to upset Madison.
“I think you’re going to love it, Nick,” said Madison. “Especially the artifacts he and Thomas Wainwright found in the desert.”
“Thomas Wainwright?” asked Nick. “The priest?”
Madison’s eyes lit up. “Yes. He and my father were great friends. You know him?”
Dette yawned and slid her hand up higher.
Alejandro tried to shift away from her touch, but she moved with him.
“I do!” said Nick. “We’ve, uh, hung out together a few times.”
“Really?” said Madison. “That’s wonderful. He’s a great guy.”
“He really is.”
Alejandro felt trapped. He did not want to cause a scene - he had promised Madison he would try and act normal in front of Nick Grayson, but he was not prepared for Dette.
Quick as a cat, she caught his groin in her hand and began massaging him. He sat ramrod straight as she gave him a firm squeeze. Her touch was dark like the rest of her. Sudden rage and roiling nausea warred within him and without realizing it, he began growling low in his chest.
Madison and Nick turned toward the sound.
“Do not touch me.” Alejandro’s breath was an explosion of cold white clouds. Beneath them, the floor groaned.
Madison dropped her fork.
Dette gasped and froze.
Nick Grayson stared at the dissipating mist with wide eyes.
“I told you,” said Alejandro. “I do not want you.” He knew he was not behaving properly - he could tell by the faces that stared at him - but he could not tolerate Dette’s touch.
Dette slowly removed her hand. “I don’t know what you mean, Ale-”
“Yes, you do.” Overhead, the chandelier jittered. “I do not like you touching me.”
Dette turned to Madison. “He’s … he’s lying. I haven’t touched him at-”
“You are lying.” Frosted breath came thick from his mouth, the ground moaned, and the table trembled.
“What the blue fuck?” Nick Grayson looked from the table to the chandelier, then back to Alejandro.
Dette watched, her painted eyes raccoon-wide.
“Alejandro,” said Madison. “Just calm down, okay?” She silenced her rattling plate wi
th her hand.
“She is lying,” said Alejandro. In the kitchen drawers, silverware jounced and rattled.
“Okay,” said Madison. “I believe you.”
Dette recoiled as if she’d been struck. “You believe him but not me?”
“I do not lie.” As he spoke, Dette’s rum-soaked Coke glass shot off the table and shattered against the wall.
“Alejandro!” said Madison. “Stop.”
Nick Grayson gaped, cutting glances between them. “He’s doing this?”
Madison’s eyes pled with Alejandro, their blue depths softening his sharp fury. “I do not want to sit next to her anymore.”
“Okay,” said Madison. “Dette.” She gave her friend a pointed look.
“Seriously?” Dette stared at Madison, then tossed her napkin down and stood.
Alejandro exhaled a deep breath that steamed from his nostrils like roiling smoke.
The silverware stopped.
For a moment, they all looked around, waiting for the quakes to return. Except Alejandro. His eyes were on Madison. Her look told him to be calm and he did his best to please her.
After a few seconds, Nick Grayson said, “What the hell is going on?”
Alejandro looked at the man. He appeared uneasy and it didn’t fit him; it was like seeing a man in clothing that was too small.
“Oh, relax. It was just another fucking goddamned earthquake,” said Dette. “I think the real issue here is the way I’m being singled out!”
Alejandro’s voice was a low growl. “I want you to leave now, Bernadette.”
“Who the hell are you to tell me to take a hike? Why don’t you take a hike?” Dette looked at Madison. “Who is this guy anyway?”
Madison’s gaze was stony.
Dette crossed her arms, weaving a little. “I guess it’s time for you to make your choice, Maddy. Him or me.”
“I’m not discussing this now, Dette. You need to get some sleep and-”
“Him or me?”
Alejandro could smell Madison’s anger - it was like wood smoke and charred things.
“Are you giving me an ultimatum, Dette?”
“That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Nick Grayson’s gaze flicked between them. He was very still but Alejandro felt the low buzz of quiet tension around the man; he was like a great cat, ready to pounce.
Madison placed her hands on the table and slowly pushed herself up. “Fine.” She sounded calm, but the spice of her anger was strong. “You weren’t invited here, Dette, and you’ve made a complete ass out of yourself and ruined a perfectly good dinner for all of us.” She glanced at Alejandro. “I’m with him. I think you need to leave.” There was something in her tone that brought Dette’s hazy eyes into sharp focus.
Dette shot a look at Alejandro. “This is your fault. I wish you’d never shown up! Why don’t you go find your real family and stop ruining our lives?” She stared at him. “Say something! Or are you waiting for your … your bitch to give you instructions?”
Madison gasped. “Bernadette!”
Alejandro rose to his full height.
Dette shrank back when he pinned her in his gaze.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” said Nick. “Let’s all simmer down before things get-”
“Oh, shut the fuck up, Barney Fife.”
Nick Grayson rose. His height was impressive - he was several inches taller than Alejandro and something in his stance made him seem even larger. “Ms. Watkiss, Madison has asked you to leave her home.” His voice was steady and very sure of itself. “I’m going to ask you to respect her wishes. I’m asking nicely, once. And if I have to ask again, I’m not going to be so nice.”
Dette watched him. She raised her chin, wobbled a little, and stared at him. Then her face crumpled and tears sprang to her eyes. “But … but where will I go? I can’t drive, not like this!” She swayed, nearly losing her balance.
Nick spoke low. “You can either take a taxi home or spend the night in the drunk tank. Your choice.”
Fresh tears burst. “I can’t afford a taxi,” she whined, turning her eyes to Madison. “Not on what she pays me!
Nick Grayson took her arm. “Pick up your bag, Ms. Watkiss. I’ll drive you home.”
“But I’m sleeping here toni-”
“No, you’re not,” said Madison.
Dette looked at Nick, who shrugged and said, “You can pick up your car tomorrow.” He looked at Madison. “I hope we can continue our conversation.”
“Of course,” said Madison. “I’m really sorry about-”
“It’s all right. We’ll do it another time.”
Alejandro was glad. He liked the chief of police very much and wanted him to come back. He especially liked him when he took charge of bad people and helped Madison.
Nick glanced at him and Alejandro smiled.
The chief nodded. “Let’s go, Ms. Watkiss.”
“Fine.” Dette tottered, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Let’s go. I don’t want to be here anyway.”
Madison’s face was red. “I hope you’ll come back soon. You still have to see my father’s collection, Nick. And I’d love to see Thomas Wainwright again if you’d like to bring him with you next time.”
“I’m sure he’d like that.”
“Fuck all of you!” cried Dette. “Fuck you especially, Alejandro!”
Nick Grayson prodded her out the door. “I’ll be in touch.” Then he disappeared.
Madison shut the door and put her hand over her face. “What the hell is wrong with her?”
Alejandro sat down and grabbed the honey bottle, his mouth watering.
Madison sat down, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I’m so humiliated.”
Alejandro ripped the gold bow off, opened the cap, and began squeezing honey into his mouth. Nothing happened. He shook it.
“Here.” Madison took the bottle and removed the inner seal. “You need to do this first, remember?” She handed it back to him.
He filled his mouth.
“Alejandro?”
He looked at her, swallowing.
“I know you don’t know who you are, but … but do you know how you … do some of the things you do? I mean, the room quaking and the … frozen breath. How do you do that?”
Alejandro shrugged. “I do not know. It just happens.”
She sighed and closed her eyes. “And Chief Grayson saw it all. He’s going to have a lot more questions, and I don’t know any of the answers. This is insane, all of it.” She looked at him a long moment. “Who are you, Alejandro? And what the hell is going on?”
“Dette is bad.” Alejandro poured more honey into his mouth.
“See? That’s what confuses me so much. What do you mean Dette is bad? Bad how?”
He shrugged. “I do not know.” He thought of Chief Grayson and wished he hadn’t left. “I would like a sweater like Nick Grayson’s.”
Her mouth became a tight line. “I can’t do this anymore.”
Alejandro blinked at her. “You cannot do what?”
“This.” She paused. “You.”
“You do not like Nick Grayson’s sweater?”
She shook her head. “No, it has nothing to do with that. It’s you. Things have been different since you got here. We need to figure out where you belong and get you home.”
“But I live here now.”
“No,” she said. “You don’t. You don’t belong here. You know that, don’t you? You must know you aren’t in the right place.”
Alejandro felt the beginnings of worry. He did not know where else he was supposed to be and he didn’t like what Madison was saying. “I do not feel like I am in the wrong place. I like how I feel here, with you.”
“But you are in the wrong place, Alejandro.” She laughed, but it was not pleasant. “Alejandro. That isn’t even your name. I don’t even know your name.”
“Yes, you do.” he said. “I am Alejandro. You said so. I am Alejandro Esper-”
“You
’re not Alejandro anyone! That’s just it. You don’t know who you are, I don’t know who you are, no one knows who you are … and I don’t know why you’re here!”
“Because you called for me. I saved you.”
Her eyes were sad. “And you did save me. But it’s time for this to end.”
“End?”
Madison sighed. “I’ve had enough … craziness.” They watched each other a long moment, not speaking. Then Madison said, “I’m going to bed.” She stood and disappeared down the hall. She did not smile at him or tell him goodnight like she usually did. She did not even tell him to stay off the roof or to keep his garments on.
Something had changed and he wondered what he’d done wrong. Is it because I did not act normal? Is it because I caused the house to quake? He didn’t know, but he hadn’t done any of that on purpose. Sadness overcame him and all of a sudden, he felt very alone. If this is not my home, then where is it? He stared at the table where the bottle of honey stood half-empty. For the first time, he did not want any more of it.
Unbridled Night
For long hours, Nedra Gimple had been trailing Olivia LeBlatte. She’d followed her to the office, to Cafe Spastica’s twice, and to a number of vacant houses she was showing to clients. After that, the realtor had stopped at Vang’s Bangs where she spent an obscene amount of time getting herself prettied up, no doubt to help her husband-stealing crusade. That, and because she looks awful! The woman had aged horribly since Nedra had last laid eyes on her. What does Jeffrey see in her, anyway?
It didn’t matter. Jeffrey would be seeing no more of the woman, Nedra had made sure of that by wedging a folding chair under the knob of the basement door. And thanks to his years-long diet of pork rinds and cheese puffs, Jeffrey wouldn’t be getting through any of the tiny basement windows either. I’ll let him out when I’m good and ready!
It had been a very long day - and evening - but now, Nedra watched as Olivia LeBlatte pulled her shiny red Volvo into the driveway of her two-story Spanish-style home.
Nedra, who’d hung back half a block, parked down the street and waited until the Real Estate Jezebel let herself in before parking her pearl Escalade behind the woman’s Volvo. Her tires screeched as she brought the vehicle to a sharp stop just a couple of inches from the back bumper, blocking her in case Olivia tried to make a getaway.
The Angel Alejandro Page 36