“Cody’s right,” Tony said. “You can’t go to relatives or friends. That’s too obvious. You can’t hide out in the area, it’s too close-knit a community. Word is bound to get out. We need to put together a plan.”
“Where can I go?” Carol asked, brushing away tears.
I’d been thinking about the answer to that question ever since I’d known Carol and the children were coming back to the house.
“New York City,” I suggested, as we walked back to the kitchen.
Carol’s jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious. What are we going to do in New York? Live in a hotel? Or should we just hang out on the street?”
“I’m not being funny. This killer—wants the kids next. That’s clear. We need to protect them. I have a friend I would trust with them. I’ll be around to guard them, too. That would leave Tony and Abby free to continue their investigation here—paid, of course, for their work.”
Carol slammed her fists on the kitchen table. “I’m not leaving my children!”
“In that case, Cody and I will go with Ruthie and John, while you and Abby attend to the funeral,” Tony said. “I’m for getting them out of here as soon as possible. The killer seems to be on our heels as much as we try to stay clear.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said, “and it makes a hell of a lot more sense than staying here.”
Carol shook her head. “The funeral’s in two days. I have to be here.”
“Abby can move you to a motel, under police surveillance,” Tony said.
Carol opened her mouth—no doubt to argue—but Tony lifted a hand.
“The first place anyone will check are the more expensive area hotels, you need to stay where no one will think to look for you. Abby can register you under her name. With everything that’s going on, I’m sure the police will honor a request for increased protection.” He stopped and looked at the hamburger that was still sitting in its own grease in the skillet. “We need to eat. Cody, let’s finish cooking. Maybe after dinner everyone will have a clearer head.”
Carol walked to the kitchen door and then turned. She inhaled and blew a puff of smoke toward me.
She began slowly as if she wasn’t sure what to say. “Cody . . . I’d like to thank you for protecting my kids tonight. They’re all I have in the world.” She turned and walked away.
Tony looked at me and smiled. “Congratulations, champ. You just won the first bout in a knockout.”
The kids enjoyed the dinner and even laughed a bit at my silly jokes. I got the impression they tolerated me because they had never met anyone like me. John appeared to be taking his father’s death harder than Ruthie—he seemed more intense during the meal, though it was hard to tell because of his natural childhood resiliency. At any rate, I didn’t envy the kids. After all, I was an orphan of sorts—my parents threw me out of the house when I was fifteen for being gay.
After the dishes were cleared, everyone was exhausted and ready for bed. Tony came up with the sleeping arrangements, which suited me. Abby was sleeping on a couch in Rodney and Carol’s master suite, while the kids bunked with their mom in the king size bed. One big happy family. The other bedrooms would go empty. Tony and I would be in my guest bedroom on the other side of the house. I couldn’t wait.
Tony and I walked from room to room to make sure every lock and window was secured, then we went back to my bedroom. Carol armed the security system before retiring.
Tony said he was going to take a shower. He stepped into the bathroom and closed the door. I decided it would be a good idea for me to shower as well. About fifteen minutes later, he stepped out wearing a towel and nothing else. He put his pants and shirt over a chair. I looked for briefs or boxers, but didn’t see any.
I decided it was now or never, what the hell. I left the door open and stripped. The bed was directly across from the shower door, but Tony was nowhere to be seen. I stepped into the shower and luxuriated in the hot, soapy water. I stayed in until my hands began to prune, because the experience of expensive soaps, shampoos, marble tile, and a state-of-the-art showerhead was so unlike my tiny, water-stained New York bathroom, I never wanted to get out.
When I finally opened the shower door, I still couldn’t see Tony. Curious, I wrapped a towel around my waist and stepped into the room. He was standing at the window, peering out through a crack in the curtains. His broad shoulders were on display. His deltoids formed a nice V; his waist was trim. I didn’t want to interrupt his thoughts, so I pulled down the bedspread, blanket, and sheet, which I had hastily made in the morning. I dropped the towel to the floor and crawled into bed, covering myself with the sheet. I waited there a few minutes until he turned.
My god. I was looking at a dream. His pecs were perfectly formed. A healthy helping of chest hair spread down to his stomach, leading to a treasure trail that disappeared beneath the white towel. His eyes sparkled as he walked toward me. His black hair and light brown skin were set off by the towel. His thighs were meaty under the cloth and an appendage of noticeable size hung between them. My own manhood stirred and I struggled to contain the erection that was rapidly forming. I was fooling myself. Tony noticed and smiled. He pulled the sheet down somewhat coyly and peeked. I was more than willing to oblige.
“Nice,” he said. “I’ve been wondering what it looked like.”
He undraped his towel and tossed it on a chair.
Oh god. I had died and gone to heaven.
A furry coating of hair covered his finely cut abdomen and led downward to a thick uncut penis. It stirred under my unflinching gaze.
I rolled on my side toward him and waited.
“Easy there,” Tony said. “Don’t you think we should get to know each other?”
“Why?”
He got into bed and slid underneath the sheet. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“Okay, truce. Clearly, there’s an attraction. We don’t have to act on it tonight—or ever. We’re not teenagers.”
“Baby, I will have the worst case of blue balls in America if nothing happens tonight,” I said. “And, by the way, why so coy with me up until now? And all that beating around the bush about the cops giving you a hard time? No wonder you felt uncomfortable.”
“No one ever knew—ha!—and I didn’t ‘come out.’” He smiled and then looked at me with those eyes. Goose bumps broke out on my arms under his gaze. “I would have if anyone had asked, but I like to take things slow and easy. No need to rush into anything, right? Believe me, I’ve gone through a lot of shit to get where I am today. I’d rather know I’m doing the right thing, or do nothing at all when it comes to relationships.”
“I’m convinced it’s the right thing—and tonight’s the right night.” I reached for him.
“Look, it’s been a difficult day.” He pulled back. “I don’t mind snuggling, but . . . ”
“Snuggling it is,” I said and wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
A knock on the door interrupted us.
“Who is it? I asked, barely able to hide my irritation.
A small voice whispered outside.
“Who?” I asked again.
“John,” came the louder answer. The seven-year-old waited.
“Shit,” I whispered to Tony, “get some underwear on.” I grabbed some boxers from my bag and Tony pulled on his pants, both erections falling fast. I looked at him.
“I don’t like underwear,” he said to me.
“You’re kidding me, right? Free-balling?”
“Yes,” he whispered. “You should talk. We’ll compare our lists of vices someday.” He pointed to the door. “See what the kid wants.”
I held the towel in front of me and opened the door. John, looking as angelic as hell, stood there in his starched pajamas. He looked at the floor with downcast eyes. “Can I sleep with you guys? I don’t want to sleep with a bunch of girls.”
I looked at Tony. His dreamboat face lit up happily.
“Come in, partner,” Tony said.
“You can sleep between us. You’ll be nice and safe, and so will we.”
Crap, I thought. Foiled by a seven-year-old.
We all crawled into bed, me in my underwear and Tony in his pants, with John between us.
Tony looked at me and said, “Didn’t you ever want to have kids?”
I coughed. “I plead the fifth.”
“What’s that?” John asked.
“Go to sleep,” Tony said. “I’ll explain it later. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”
“It’s going to be a long night,” I said and reached over and turned off the light.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
WE ALL MET AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE THE NEXT morning to make plans. We watched through the big window in the back as the cops scoured the woods for about an hour. A couple of them talked to Tony and told him they had found nothing. They left a short time later.
Carol seemed distracted and distant while we talked about our best options for protecting the children. I understood what she must have been thinking: How the hell did this happen? I’m sending my kids off to New York City with two men I hardly know.
But what other choice did she have? Tony was right. She and the kids were too well known to stay with relatives or friends. Sticking close to Abby and asking for police protection was her best bet at staying alive. At least in New York the kids could blend in with the millions of other people.
By our last cup of coffee, we had formulated our plan. Tony and Abby would drive Carol’s Mercedes away from the house to the motel, with Carol and the kids hidden in the backseat. Abby suggested making it a game for Ruthie and John’s sake, which we all agreed was a good idea. No need to scare the kids to death on the day of their father’s funeral. Tony would drop the two women off at Abby’s apartment to pick up her car and they would proceed to the motel for their stay—however long it took to wrap up Rodney’s affairs. While Tony started out for New York in Carol’s Mercedes with Ruthie and John, I would take the Crown Vic and follow them to New York, hoping to rendezvous near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for a caravan into the city.
We’d all spend at least the night at my apartment before taking the kids to Ophelia Cox’s apartment—I didn’t tell them that Ophelia was a drag queen. I wanted to bring up another part of the plan, although I figured it might not go over too well. We were about to leave the table when I popped the question.
“Carol, do you have a wig I could borrow? And a nice dress?”
Tony nearly spit out his coffee. Carol and Abby looked at me in amazement. Ruthie laughed and John sniggered.
“Before you all think I’m crazier than I am, consider the brilliance of this plan. We’re about the same height.” I worded what I wanted to say delicately because I didn’t want to scare the kids. “If I leave in the first car, dressed like Carol, I think she’ll be safer.”
Without missing a beat, Carol said, “I wouldn’t be caught dead in that heap you’re driving.”
“Now wait a minute,” Tony said, “don’t trash Vicky.”
Carol tapped her polished red fingernails on the table. “Oh great, you’ve named your car. I think I’m the only sane one in this house, besides the kids.”
“It’s not the car that matters so much—it’s the illusion of me being you that would distract someone,” I said.
“The whole idea is crazy,” Carol said.
“You saw my work in Manchester. You know how good I look.”
Carol sighed and then lifted her hands in resignation. “Heaven protect me.”
“Well, we should get started,” I said. “Beauty doesn’t happen in a minute.”
As it turned out, Carol had plenty of wigs in her living room–sized closet, and enough dresses to make Cher jealous. She also had enough cosmetics in her bathroom to make any drag queen swoon. Carol threw a few dresses on the bed and gave me permission to do anything I wanted to make them fit. I had to make small slits on both sides, but otherwise the dress I chose was perfect. Fitting into Carol’s shoes, on the other hand, was a bit of a challenge; but if the dress was long enough it didn’t matter too much. I found some open-backs that worked if I didn’t mind my toes being a little cramped.
The transformation took about an hour, so I was the last to walk into the living room, but when I did, the reception was unanimous. The blonde wig, the long-sleeve, calf-length blue dress, and the rudimentary makeup had done the trick.
No, I didn’t look exactly like Carol, if you were looking directly at me, but a sniper at one hundred and fifty yards might be hard pressed to tell the difference. He would have to make a split-second decision whether to fire. And the indecision might be enough for me and the others to get away with our lives.
Tony whistled. Carol actually smiled. She and the kids were huddled under a blanket that would serve to hide them in the backseat. I spun around in a broad circle, swinging the black clutch Carol had given me. The whole scene was surreal, as if we were heading, with suitcases in hand, to some bizarre costume party. Tony and Abby checked the house to make sure it was secure before we walked to the garage.
“Good luck everyone,” I said and considered that we had an eight– to ten–hour drive before reaching the city. “Tony, you have the directions to my apartment?”
Tony nodded. “I was the one who found—well, you know.”
He had driven Rodney to my apartment what seemed like years ago.
I also wanted to make sure we met at a rest stop near Harrisburg. “We’ll plan to meet soon. By the time you drop off your sister and Carol, we’ll both be on approximately the same timetable.”
Tony cocked an eyebrow. “What have you got cooking up that pretty sleeve?”
“Don’t mix metaphors. I’m making a quick stop before I get on the interstate. Nothing important.”
“I don’t believe you,” Tony said, raising an eyebrow. “Stay safe.”
“Always.”
I watched them get into the Mercedes and then I squeezed into the Crown Vic. Carol’s dress was a bit tight on me. Tony waved and pushed the remote garage door opener. It slid open and I backed out into the circular driveway. The day was sunny and mild for a change. I parked the car in the driveway and waited for Tony to back out the Mercedes. I planned to turn right at the gate and then circle back. Tony would turn left after I pulled out onto the road.
When both cars were out and the garage door was secured, I started down the lane toward the gate. My heart raced as I neared the wrought-iron metal. What if the sniper lay in waiting? I hoped lightning wouldn’t strike twice, but I couldn’t be sure.
Tony hit the button for the gate and it swung open. I searched the trees for any sign of movement, but it was like looking into the ocean for a fish. There was nothing to see but tree trunks, naked branches, and evergreens.
I gunned the Crown Vic and turned right, squealing the tires along the way. I ducked as low as I could to stay out of possible gunfire, but nothing happened. Soon, I was five hundred feet or more down the road, well beyond the gate. In the rearview mirror, the Mercedes adopted the same mode of escape, only going the other direction. Tony punched the accelerator and the car roared off toward town. I drove a country mile, then turned around and whizzed past the property. The gate was closed and all was well.
No one knew I was headed to Ralston’s.
I drove the same route we had taken the day before. I pushed the hell out of Vicky and arrived in the parking lot in about forty-five minutes. I parked so the car’s plates were out of camera range. I checked my makeup in the visor mirror and decided I was presentable enough, certainly not gorgeous. On the other hand, I didn’t want to look too beautiful at a shooting range. My lipstick was smeared a bit. I had swiped one of Carol’s and put it in the purse. I reapplied and then got out of the car. The shoes were a dead giveaway. I hoped the yokel behind the desk would be so oblivious he wouldn’t notice. My hands lacked makeup—another problem. With so much wrong, the guy behind the counter would have to be a total idiot not to noti
ce.
I adjusted my dress and walked to the door. It buzzed open and I stepped inside. The man behind the counter was not the man Tony and I had seen the day before. He was younger, good looking, and wore the same logo shirt, but without the RM initials. He was an early morning shift employee.
He looked at me and smiled. Then he winked. He knew I was a man and it didn’t bother him one bit. Considering the fast drag I came up with, I wasn’t surprised. Like Carol in the Crown Vic, I wouldn’t have been caught dead in New York in the outfit I was wearing.
“Can I help you?” he asked. I could tell he was trying to control his laughter.
I shot him a beat-down stare and flipped the curls on my wig. “I’d like to see you come up with something better in an hour’s time.” That shut him up. “I need to rent a pistol for practice. That okay with you?”
He got a little more serious and said, “We don’t ask for anything from our customers except state issued ID. What kind of gun are you looking for?”
“Glock. Nine millimeter.”
“We’ve got several. Give me a few minutes.” He started for the cage to look at the rental guns. As he walked away, I could have sworn he said under his breath, “Must have been a hell of a party. Sorry I wasn’t invited.”
I needed less than a minute. As he fiddled with the lock, I slipped my hand over the counter where the log-in book had been yesterday and my fingers landed on the cover. I gave it a quick tug and it popped into my left hand. I lifted it and looked. It was the same book Tony and I had pored over. The cutie had disappeared behind a wall. I hiked up my skirt, secured the book between my panty hose and stomach, and walked out the door.
I ran to the car, wrestled the book out, threw it on the seat, and started the ignition. I hightailed it out of the lot. Several cars passed me going the other direction as I sped down the same road I had taken to get there. I kept looking in the rearview mirror to see if the door to Ralston’s had opened, but it hadn’t. Soon, the highway curved and the building disappeared from sight.
An Absent God Page 9