I was a bit confused about this sudden turn of events. I had gotten used to the feeling of security Justin’s presence provided. Obviously, Justin had talked with Sissy about it earlier so I let it drop. Besides, if our theory was correct and Justin had taken the actions he told me about the first night he was here, there was no longer a threat out there. I looked at my watch, “It’s already after nine on Sunday night. PJ’s not going to do anything tonight. I’ll wait until tomorrow morning to call her. Shouldn’t make any difference.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Justin packed his few belongings into a backpack, again reviewed the operation of the intrusion detection system with me, and he was gone. I verified that the system was operational after he drove down the driveway and turned to see Sissy watching me from the doorway to the kitchen. I said, “Hey, I can help you clean up the kitchen. That pizza was great by the way. With all of our analytical discussion out there I don’t think I ever told you how great it was. I really like homemade pizza.”
Sissy motioned toward the kitchen and said, “All done. Wasn’t much of a mess. No big deal. I finished up while you and Justin were talking about the detection system.”
“Oh, great. Best of all worlds. I make the offer but don’t really end up having to do anything.”
A warm smile brightened Sissy’s face and she said, “I have something for you to do. I’m going to take a shower and since I think I’ve recovered from my overindulgence of last night I’d like to have a nightcap before we go to bed. You can get us drinks while I’m gone.”
“Your wish is my command. Anything in particular you had in mind?”
“Surprise me.” With that she turned and headed toward the bedrooms.
I rummaged through the well-stocked bar in the great room and found a bottle of Hennessy VSOP Cognac. Even after several years in the bar business I was no connoisseur. I recognized this as one of the top shelf liquors we stocked at Cap’s. Although, that’s not much of an endorsement as Cap’s is truly a beer and shot type of joint. I found a couple of snifters and poured two healthy drinks.
I turned with the snifters in hand just as Sissy came back into the room. She was barefooted wearing a short pale yellow sundress. Her deep Florida tan really stood out against the pale yellow. She looked radiant. “Wow, that was a fast shower.”
“I only wanted to freshen up with a quick splash off. I took a shower and washed my hair earlier today.”
Sissy walked over to the entertainment center and found a music channel on the cable system. The room filled with the soft strings of a classical guitarist. She turned the volume down to a soft background. “Mind if we stay in here. I thought it would be a welcome change.” I understood that what Sissy really wanted to do was divorce herself from the serious issues we seemed to be discussing every time we were on the patio.
I handed Sissy her drink and sat down on one end of the couch expecting her to take the overstuffed chair. She bypassed the chair and alighted in the center of the couch folding her long legs under her. The hem of the sundress slid up to the top of her thighs as she turned to directly face me. She held her glass out and we clinked saying simultaneously, “Cheers.” I took a sip and felt the warmth as the cognac slid down my throat and began to subtly radiate its magic through my body. I closed my eyes and felt a calm descend over me. Relax Jack. Just relax and enjoy the moment.
I opened my eyes as Sissy began to speak. Her voice was soft. Not just soft in volume but soft in tone. “Jack, I’ll never be able to thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me since this whole mess started last week. I don’t want to think about what would have happened to me without you. I must admit that I have underestimated you the past few years. Mickey always told me what a standup guy you were, but I guess I didn’t see it. I should have. I do now. You’re the best. Thank you for being my friend.”
I was speechless. Sissy and I had always had what my Dad used to call an arm’s length relationship. We kept each other at arm’s length with verbal jabs. The kindness and sincerity in Sissy’s voice had me momentarily disoriented. Finally, I found my voice, “Sissy, I think the world of you. I’ll always do whatever it takes to protect you. I told you that and I meant it.” Then I quipped, “I don’t know what Mickey told you, but you know you couldn’t believe but about half of what that old Irishman said.”
Those blue gray eyes were glowing as Sissy replied softly, “The old Irishman really did know what he was talking about when it came to assessing people and he always said you were top shelf. He said you just have a little dust on your label.”
I contemplated the analogy while taking another sip of the cognac. Sissy took another sip and sat quietly. I was aware of the soft guitar strings in the background, the warmth of the cognac inside me, and an incandescence surrounding Sissy. Beyond that, the world had ceased to exist.
It surprised me when I realized I had my arm on the back of the couch and my hand was gently stroking the back of Sissy’s neck. I had no recollection of making the conscious decision to reach toward her. She nuzzled her neck against my hand and said, “I’m glad Justin had to go away tonight. This is very relaxing. I feel much calmer. There is something about him. He emanates tension.”
“Yes, this is very pleasant. I guess I know what you’re talking about with Justin, but he’s sure been a Godsend. He seems to really know what he’s doing when it comes to this kind of stuff. I was surprised that he was going out tonight. When did that come up?”
Sissy cocked her head, “He got a call this afternoon. It was after you left to go to Cap’s and change your clothes but before I’d called Dockery. From what I overheard it sounded like someone wanted to see him right away. He told them there was no way he could come then. Later, after you called following your meeting with Dockery, he called someone and told them he would be there by eleven.”
“Interesting.” I muttered more to myself than to Sissy.
Without forewarning, Sissy stood, drained her snifter and said, “I think it’s time to go to bed.”
I couldn’t help but think that all good things must end. This one just didn’t last nearly long enough. I said, “Sure. Guess it’s about that time.”
I checked the door locks and told Sissy I was going to take a quick shower. We were standing in the hallway and I was momentarily at a loss as to which bedroom to turn to. The night we arrived I had taken the front bedroom, I guess to be between the outside world and Sissy, and she had taken the back, but out of fear she had come into bed with me. The second night had been the same. The night Justin arrived I’d put Sissy to bed in the front bedroom and I’d taken the back with Justin on the couch in the great room. The next night was a repeat. So tonight which room is each of us sleeping in? My question was answered when Sissy casually said she’d meet me in bed. Oh God, give me strength!
I took a long hot shower. A cold shower would have probably been more appropriate but suddenly every inch of my body ached from the cumulative effect of the emotional roller coaster of the last few days. I finished my shower, toweled off and pulled on a pair of boxers.
The blinds on the bedroom window were partially open, and a combination of exterior security lights and moonlight streamed in, providing subtle illumination to the majority of the room. Sissy was already tucked under the top sheet. She was laying on her back with her auburn tresses in a haphazard splay across the pillow. Her eyes were closed and I wasn’t certain, but it looked like she was already asleep. I made my way around the bed, checking the location of the 9 mm, and looked back toward the bedroom door contemplating whether it was better to leave it open or closed. Somehow closed seemed more secure, but I might not hear the intrusion detection equipment in the great room if the door was closed. Not that I would if the door was open. It’s not like I’m some kind of commando who sleeps with one eye open. I opted to leave the door open.
As I turned back to get into the bed I saw it! The yellow sundress that Sissy had been wearing earlier was laying at the foot of th
e bed. So, not only does she expect to spend the night in bed with me she is nearly naked. Does she think that because I don’t ignite any sexual passion in her that she has no affect on me? One look at the growing tent in my boxers should dispel any such thoughts. I took a deep breath and slid into bed laying on my side with my back toward Sissy. Sissy, obviously not asleep, nestled up against my back and put her arm over me pressing her hand into my chest. I felt the tingle of her fingernails gently tracking up and down the center of my chest. In a husky stage whisper Sissy purred, “Are you going to spend another night poking me in the back with that thing or are we going to put it to good use?”
I was speechless. This didn’t make sense on several levels. What happened to her being gay? Maybe she’s bisexual? For a simple boy from the Midwest this was all very confusing. I scrambled, “Well . . but . . ah . . .”
“You confused about me being gay?”
“I ah . . . well . . . I thought . . .”
Sissy tugged on my shoulder rolling me onto my back. Propping herself up on one arm she looked me in the face and chuckled, “The gay thing is something Mickey and I came up with to keep guys from hitting on me at Cap’s. Every stud that came through the door was hitting on me. I didn’t mind the tourists because you can flirt with them and still hold ‘em off. They know their chances are slim but they try anyway. The fact that they fall short doesn’t usually cause any problems and they still tip. It’s the regulars that were the problem. They look at me as a challenge. Something to be conquered. When they fail repeatedly night after night their ego is damaged and they get surly and quit tipping. Just an ugly situation all around. So Mickey and I came up with this idea. He spread the story that I was gay. It was perfect. The locals saved face. They could still fantasize and flirt but knew that there was no dishonor in failure. After all, I’m gay. Those who knew the truth became like a little club. The insiders would decide when someone was accepted and thus let in on the secret. It was the perfect solution.”
My mouth was agape. It was so elegant. That cagey old Mickey. “Why did no one ever take me into the little club?”
“It started with Mickey. He said when you arrived you were too much of a cock hound.” She saw the look of hurt on my face, “His words not mine. After Mickey died and you stayed it was evident that while the title may be crude, it fit.”
“Come on. I’m not that bad. Besides, what about my rule of not hitting on those who work at Cap’s? Just because I didn’t think that you’re gay doesn’t mean that I would hit on you.”
“Oh the rule. What about . . . .what was her name . . . the blond bimbo . . . ?”
I cut her off, “All right, so I wasn’t deemed worthy of knowing your secret. What’s changed now?”
Sissy rolled up on top of me and cupped my face between her hands gazing directly into my eyes, “Because Jack Nolan, like I told you on the couch, I have seen qualities in you in the past few days that I didn’t know you had. You do have the capacity to care for others. To put others before yourself. There is more to you than I ever knew existed.” She kissed me with a blend of passion and tenderness. Our lips seemed to melt together. My head was swimming. I had been insulted, complimented, and seduced during the span of a few heartbeats. Sissy’s bare breasts were pressing against my chest and my arms were around her with my hand cupping her firm bare butt. It was confirmed, Sissy had been waiting for me in my bed naked. I had played this scene out many times since my arrival in South Florida, but I’d always been the lead. This was truly unfamiliar turf.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
I have no idea how long our lovemaking lasted. It may have been an hour or several hours. I just have no idea. It was like nothing I had ever experienced, not even with Katherine. It was a blend of tender feeling and passionate sex that seemed to integrate in a seamless ebb and flow. Sissy was both in charge and submissive in synchronization with my every breath and touch. When a wave of passion swept over me, she was totally responsive to my touch. I could feel every fiber of her body tighten like the head of a Robert Daniel’s snare drum before releasing in a rolling crescendo. When my passion ebbed and my breathing slowed, Sissy took charge with fingers and lips that would ignite fire in a tombstone. At some point we climaxed at the same instant and collapsed in a tangle of arms and legs. The last thoughts I had before being overtaken by sleep, was that nothing will ever again measure up to this experience.
It was a noise, subtle but distinct, that woke me. The first thing I noticed was that the room was totally dark. No longer was light from the outside security lights filtering through the window blinds. Something is not right.
To keep from waking Sissy, I slowly disengaged my arms and legs and slid from under the sheet into a kneeling position on the floor. I didn’t want to frighten her by waking her if I was only overreacting. I found my boxers and pulled them on while straining to listen to every sound. Every house has its nocturnal sounds and after four nights of restless sleep I had become keenly attuned to the sounds of this place. I could hear nothing out of the ordinary. Then it dawned on me . . . I was hearing nothing. Not a sound. Not the faint hum of the air conditioning unit outside. Not the ticking of the clock on the wall in the great room. Not the sound of the refrigerator in the kitchen as it clicked through its cycles. Nothing. I heard nothing.
I grabbed the 9 mm and raised to a stooped crouch moving through the dark room to the doorway. My eyes were adjusted to the darkness and I could see fairly well. I looked into the hallway and saw nothing unusual. I glanced back at Sissy who was sleeping peacefully and stepped out into the hallway. I crept down the hallway to the point it opened into the great room. Immediately, I saw the flashing red lights of the intrusion detection equipment reflecting off the great room walls. Shit, we have intrusion but no alarm. I went to the equipment and immediately had my explanation. I had forgotten to activate the audible alarm. Only the visual alarm was alerting and it was flashing in three sectors. Either intrusion was coming from three directions or someone was making their way around the outside of the house.
I turned to return to the bedroom to wake Sissy when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. The exterior lights were out, but the moonlight created a shadow of someone moving across the back patio. Could Justin have returned? Of course not, he’d have called. No Jack, this is someone here to kill Sissy. You as well, if you get in the way. I sure as hell am going to get in the way.
I pushed my body tight against the wall and started inching toward the rear of the great room toward the patio. I froze as I saw the patio door slowly sliding open. Damn! Didn’t I lock it? Obviously not Jack. Stay focused. I suddenly wished I’d paid closer attention the couple of times I’d been at a firing range. I’d always looked at shooting as a recreational outing and never thought I’d point a gun at another person. Suddenly, I couldn’t remember if the gun had a safety, and if it did, how do I release it.
I looked down at the gun in my hands and when I looked up the figure was standing inside the door pointing a gun at me. A large boxy automatic. As time stood still in that second before I was shot, I fixated on the fact that the end of the barrel was yellow. An instant later, I fell to the floor unable to control my muscles. I could feel two darts, one in my thigh and one in my hip, connected to the gun by thin wires. I had been hit with a Taser. As the hulking dark figure approached, I struggled, unsuccessfully, to regain control of my muscles. Without a word he slapped duck tape across my mouth. Using plastic flex cuffs he bound my hands behind me and my legs at the ankles. At that second, I believed I was experiencing more terror than ever in my life. I was wrong. It would get worse.
He leaned down near my ear and growled, “I’m going to have fun with your little friend,” rubbing a gash on the side of his face he continued, “she’s going to pay for this. Then I’m going to kill her. Very slowly. You’re going to watch it all. You’ve fucked with the wrong people.”
With that, he moved through the great room and into the bedroom hallway. My God Jack
, what have you done? You’re in way over your head in attempting to protect Sissy. Everyone was telling you that but you refused to listen. What the hell is it? Your ego? Your hardheadedness? Your desire to be Sissy’s hero? Doesn’t matter why, because it’s too late now! Sissy is going to die and then you’re going to die!
As my muscles came back under control, I struggled against my bindings but it was useless. The most I could accomplish was to squirm on the floor like a fish on a dock. Why the hell didn’t I listen to people? PJ told me! Moe told me! Justin told me! Justin! Where the hell is Justin anyway? He told me that he’d killed this guy. Damn it, I knew there was something wrong about Justin. He is all bullshit. What about the equipment he brought? Shit, who knows, maybe his brother-in-law is in the private security business. Maybe he bought it on the Internet. What difference does it make Jack? Obviously, he didn’t eliminate the threat. You really fucked up and now Sissy pays!
I heard Sissy scream from the bedroom and then what sounded like a loud open handed slap followed by a loud growl, “Shut up, bitch.” Seconds later the dark hulking figure reemerged from the hallway with Sissy. She was naked with her hands bound behind her. He had his hand entwined in her hair, holding her bound hands with the same hand, jerking her head back at a severe angle. His other arm was around her waist lifting her off the floor. She was flailing her feet attempting to kick him. The look of terror in her eyes went clear to her soul. He released the grip around her waist and jerked up on her arms behind her back. She was doubled over at the waist looking directly at me. Her eyes were pleading for help! Pleading!
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
The cell phone buzzed and the old man looked down at it for several seconds before finally answering. He had been dreading, but expecting, this call.
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