"Excuse me?"
"I need to be loved for the man I am inside. And you're the right woman for me."
"That's the reason for the plastic sheet?"
"Sure, I'm not a freak you know. I am house proud."
"Of course you are."
I took a deep breath. I imagined a giant red button on his forehead. "Here's what I'm going to do for you, Owen. First, close your eyes."
He closed his eyes and his penis grew as quickly as his smile.
"No peeking, Owen."
He grinned and panted like an eager puppy dog.
I took off my heels and sprinted for the door. I turned the handle and I've never been so glad in my life for a door to open.
I ran the Hell out of there and didn't stop running until I was outside.
I heard a window open and Owen shouting or was it singing? I didn't stop to find out.
I ran until I was standing outside the main doors of the Campus Love party.
Outside I found Hemingway smoking a cigarette.
A tense smile crossed her face. "I've not smoked since my brothers dared me when I was eight years old and I threw up over them. That's what this party's doing to my nerves."
I burst out laughing. "Have I got a story that beats yours hands down anytime?"
She stubbed out her cigarette under the heel of a stiletto.
"Fancy a drink at my place and you can tell me all about it?"
I wanted to more than anything. "I really would, but I promised to support my house mate, Mai. It's her company. Besides, it's too early to give up yet."
I thought I detected a flicker of annoyance across her eyes which quickly faded. She smiled and took my hand gently but firmly.
"OK, Robyn. Onward into the valley of death we venture... or something like that..."
Arm in arm we returned to the party.
CHAPTER SEVENTY THREE
Inside, I wished Hemingway good luck and left her to go find Mai Ling. I found her with Brad at a small and intimate bar.
Brad spotted me, "So Sherlock Holmes, how goes the case of the mystery hot date?"
I sighed, "Alimentary, my dear Watson."
"Don't you mean elementary?"
"Not after my experience."
Mai looked worried. "What happened?"
I made them swear to never tell a soul before I described the incident with Owen.
Neither of them looked particularly shocked.
Mai smiled. "Robyn, in some ways you're so innocent. So I guess you need to get back to the rest of the list of guys?"
I nodded. "Anywhere but the Love Cave."
Mai said she'd be right back.
I took Mai's seat and Brad leaned in.
"There must be better way than dating half the freaks on campus."
"If you can come up with one then I'm all ears."
"Kublai Khan has been asking Mai about you."
"He's my other problem."
"Robyn, anyone who gets on the wrong side of Khan pays the ultimate price. I can't believe the Feds are making you get to him."
"It's the only way to save Harry."
Mai returned. "Everything's set up."
"Where?"
Mai pointed out a table for two in an intimate, quiet corner of the club near where Mai and Brad were camped out.
"If it goes well," Mai said, "you can grab one of the waiters for a bite to eat. If he's not the one, I'll come by every five minutes to introduce another one from the list."
"A lot can happen in five minutes, Mai."
"OK, take this tablet." She handed me hers. "Tap the red button and I'll know you need rescuing."
Brad sighed. "I get the feeling I'm going to be busy for the rest of the evening."
According to the tablet I was to expect a nice looking guy called Nathan. He arrived and seemed quite shy. Whenever a male waiter or a male party guest walked by he turned his face away from them.
Every time I asked him a question about his profile and tried to steer him towards his supposed love of blues music he seemed distracted.
I was beginning to think it was just me, but I had to ask.
"Nathan, are you trying to avoid being recognized."
He shrugged. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason. Just you seem a little on edge."
Finally, he confessed he was afraid his jealous boyfriend would suspect he was dating girls behind his back.
"It's not a problem I'm still technically in a relationship, is it?” he asked. “I mean, as soon as I get with someone else I'll end it with Sylvester. He's not my type anyway. Too macho. I'm definitely up for being a serial monogamist. Commitment is my long term ambition. You can relate, right?"
"Absolutely. That so good to know."
Under the table I hit the red button about thirty times until Mai turned up.
CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR
The next guy was my dream boat sailing in. Yeah, right!
Trevor was supposed to be six feet five tall and barely made it to five feet five. He had an odd limp and so I felt sorry for him. When he said he was starving I suggested we order a snack.
As the food arrived, he confessed that the stacked heel on one of his boots had broken off. Would I mind if he took off his boot?
Thinking he was going to rub his feet in front of me as I stared at my scallops; my finger hovered over the red button. But I resisted.
"So you like the blues?"
"I love soccer."
"Excuse me?"
"Chelsea. The blues."
Along with a sock with holes for his toes to poke through, he took out a small electronic weighing scales. On the scales he placed a small bowl and set the read-out to zero.
"I weigh food," he confessed. "It's a habit that I find pays dividends."
I gave him a quick once over and told him he seemed in good shape and perhaps he should forgo weighing his food for one night.
"After all, Trevor, don't you find it a little awkward weighing your food when you take a girl out to a nice restaurant."
He shook his head and reached over for my plate.
"Trevor, I'm not the possessive type with food, and in the right atmosphere I think sharing food can be a fun and sensual experience. But I don't yet know you well enough and besides, not the whole plate."
He tipped my scallops into the bowl he had placed on his scales. He stared at the number and tutted.
"Robyn, what did you have for breakfast?"
"You’re actually weighing my food?"
"Of course. I expect a woman to know how to stay in shape."
Clearly his socks had more knowledge of blues music than he did. I hit that red button faster than you can say hand me back my scallops, mister.
CHAPTER SEVENTY FIVE
Gerald arrived as I was tucking into my scallops before they got cold.
He was a football jock. Big, tall and used to getting his own way. Just as I swallowed my first mouthful of scallops he began relaying what he didn't like about his last few dates. In particular, how much of a burden it was when they threw themselves at him.
He hoped I was different.
You can bet on that!
Gerald stared at my half-finished plate with a pouting bottom lip.
"So you like blues music, Gerald?"
He snorted. "That's just what guys say on their profile to make themselves sound cool. It goes along hand in hand with how much they earn and what kind of car they drive. Everything to impress the lady."
"Is that so?"
"But I'll tell you what gives me the blues, Robyn. Tell me, did you shower before you came out?"
I blinked and stabbed a scallop with the right amount of thick garlic butter melting all over it.
"Any particular reason for asking?"
He shrugged. "The last girl I met on Campus Love had the worst smelling vagina I've ever licked."
I glanced at the flaccid scallop skewered on the prong of my fork and let it fall to my plate. I pushed away the plate.
"Are you done, ma'am?"
"Oh yes."
"Will there be anything else, for you folks?"
"Just a strong coffee for me." To wash out the taste of scallops.
She took my plate as Gerald reached into his tight jeans and pulled out a hundred. Plonking it on the table.
"Gerald, I can't let you pay for my dinner," I said.
He shook his head. "It's not for your food. It's for the sex, later. If you're done we should go now as I want to get in another round before the party ends."
I blinked. Hard.
"That's very thoughtful of you, Gerald."
He leaned forward. "It's your lucky night, Robyn."
"Is that so?"
"The antibiotics course for my gonorrhea treatment is almost complete. So if you want sex without condoms," he winked, "that's fine with me, babe."
"I'll bear that in mind, Gerald."
I punched the red button.
CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX
Mai delivered Abdul.
Mai whispered, "He's on Brad's engineering course, apparently."
"Is that a recommendation?"
"To be honest, Brad hasn't seen him about much lately. But he says he's a nice guy."
Abdul was a nice looking young man. He oozed sweet old fashioned charm by asking my permission to take the seat opposite.
"Be my guest, Abdul. So you like blues music?"
"I love all American roots music. It is the warrior cry for the homeland. The siren of freedom from oppression. The music that resonates for the dispossessed and desperate."
"Clearly you've thought about it long and hard. Would you say you are, in a good way, a little obsessed with the blues?"
He thought about it for a minute. Then another minute. And a third.
Finally, he said, "I feel we have forged a bond. An eternal friendship that I feel compelled to act upon. So you feel the same way, Robyn?"
Oh shit! "Um, sure, we can be friends."
He reached in his jacket and produced a small velvet box. He folded back the lid and revealed a tiny ring.
"Oh, Abdul, I really think it's too soon."
"True love can never come too soon, do you not agree?"
I did. "But shouldn't we take time to get to know each other, first. Perhaps start with listening to your blues collection."
"I sold it."
"You did?"
"For the ring."
"Why?"
"We must wed tonight. I have a priest in readiness. I found him on the Internet. He is a distant cousin. He specializes in cases like mine."
"Cases like yours?"
"For my green card. My student visa expired due to some technicality I do not understand."
"Abdul, wouldn't you be better served by selling the ring and hiring an immigration lawyer?"
"My lawyer was arrested."
"That's too bad. But there are other lawyers."
"My family back in Afghanistan can send you ten thousand dollars for agreeing to marry me. Fifteen if you produce two fit and healthy sons. The heir and the spare, so to speak."
He got down on one knee. "Is this acceptable to you?"
I took a deep breath. "I'd like to take a moment to think about it?"
I hit the red button.
My cell phone rang. It was Harry.
"Excuse me, Abdul."
I briskly walked away and took the call.
"Harry?"
"Robyn."
"Are you OK?"
"I'm out on bail."
"You’re kidding."
"It's true. An hour since."
"That's fantastic news. Where are you?"
"I need to speak with you. But not over the phone."
My stomach back flipped. "Where?"
"The old wooden jetty out by the lake."
"Why not back at your cottage?"
"It's not safe, Robyn."
"Harry, what's going on?"
"Can you be there in twenty minutes?"
"Of course."
"Good. I love you."
He hung up.
I ran through the crowded night club and bumped into Hemingway.
"You look like a girl on a mission, Robyn?"
"I can't stop. I'm sorry."
I ran towards the exit and felt a tap on my shoulder.
I turned to see Brad. "Robyn, I'm sorry about Abdul."
"Forget it."
"How can I make it up to you?"
"Did you drive here? I need a ride."
"Sure, where to?"
CHAPTER SEVENTY SEVEN
Brad parked up next to Harry's Campus Police SUV. The tinted back windows prevented me from seeing if he was inside.
I spotted Harry waiting at the far end of the old wooden jetty at Lake Kimberley. The place where we had our first date.
I left Brad in his car and ran out to Harry. I threw myself into his arms and felt his warm embrace. We kissed passionately for what seemed a long time before he reluctantly pulled away.
His face was solemn and wet with my tears.
"Robyn, I have to go away."
"What are you talking about, Harry?"
"I have a lead I need to follow."
"What lead?"
"I can't say."
"Why not?"
"It's too dangerous, Robyn."
"After what we've been through together, you can't play that card with me."
He smiled and sighed. He nodded. "OK, you win."
"So what's this lead?"
"First I need to get something from the cottage. Will you wait here with Brad?"
Butterflies in my stomach stirred. "Harry, you're not coming back are you?"
He smiled. "Nothing would keep me away. I won't be long."
"Swear it."
"I promise. Hope to die."
He reached into his jacket and took out a flat box of dark blue crushed velvet. He gave it to me.
"Open it."
I popped the brass clasp on the front of the box and lifted the lid. Inside was a necklace with a small silver pendant engraved with a Viennese mask and a pair of crossed swords.
"I don't understand."
"I had it made as a reminder of what brought us together. I'd like you to wear it as a symbol of my love for you."
I held it up to the light. The design was intricately crafted. "It's beautiful."
"Turn around."
Harry stood behind me and brought the chain around my throat. He fixed the clasp together.
He kissed my shoulders slowly and I shivered with anticipation of feeling his lips on mine. I turned to kiss him, but he was already halfway to his car.
As he approached his car, waved to Brad and climbed in behind the wheel. Harry then started up his car and reversed it up the old track and turned towards the old bridge where Lake Kimberley broke off into a set of rapids that fed the river Kimberley.
He shot down the empty approach road along the shoreline for a half mile before taking the sweeping bend at speed. He disappeared around the tree lined corner.
I waited a few seconds for Harry's SUV to reappear at the foot of the bridge.
Ten seconds went by.
Twenty.
Thirty.
A full minute.
I glanced at Brad. He climbed out of his car and joined me. From the Jetty we both strained to see the foot of the bridge through the fast gathering mist.
A bright orange light burst up over the trees near the bridge. It was followed quickly by the sound of a huge explosion.
I jolted and screamed, "Harry."
I sprinted along the road. My heart thundering in my ears. A few seconds later I heard Brad's car pull up beside me,
"Robyn, get in,"
I jumped through the open passenger door and Brad stamped on the accelerator.
Less than half a minute later Brad hurled his car around the corner and jumped on the brakes.
He stopped as a fireball consumed Harry's SUV. I leapt
from the car, but Brad grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back.
"Harry, no!"
"There's nothing you can do, Robyn. Harry's dead."
CHAPTER SEVENTY EIGHT
I couldn't feel the winter rain beating down on Harry's funeral service. I couldn't feel much of anything. Accept a burning desire for revenge.
To find the killer Shard. It was the only thing keeping me going.
The mist off Lake Kimberley crawled through the campus graveyard. It seemed to whisper my name in Harry's voice. Tormenting me with the pathetic hope that he was still alive.
But I had remained at the scene of the explosion throughout the recovery operation by the Emergency Services. A burned and charred body had been pulled from the wreckage of Harry's SUV.
Unrecognizable as the man I loved.
Throughout the service, Mai and Brad stayed at my side. Mai squeezed my hand throughout.
She kept trying to dab my face with a tissue. But each time she was surprised to see no tears. I told her there was nothing of me left to shed tears. I had died in that explosion along with Harry.
Everyone from Harry's police department were in attendance. A twenty one gun salute followed the priest’s final words.
Hemingway attended on behalf of the Kimberley Times. It paid a glowing tribute to a lost hero taken before his time.
Harry had no family. I was his family.
I watched a kingfisher diving into the misty surface of the lake leaving hardly a ripple. It reappeared in the low golden sunshine like a phoenix rising from the ashes with a squirming salmon between its beaks.
I tried to imagine my future life with Harry. The prospect of marriage. Of a family together. All of it like the kingfisher's ripples of a vanishing dream. Nothing remaining to prove that Harry and I ever existed.
Special Agent-in-charge Jackson accompanied Ben and together they paid their respects to Harry.
"It wasn't meant to end like this, Robyn."
"Thank you, Ben."
Brad offered to drive me back to Mai's apartment.
I looked out across the lakeside shoreline towards Harry's cottage.
"I'd like to walk first. I'll be along later."
Ben offered to pick me up from the cottage and drive me back to Mai's once I was ready. I nodded.
Alone, I walked the mile or so to Harry's cottage. I went inside and aimlessly looked around.
A part of me was obsessed with wanting to know what was so important that he had to come back to his cottage before revealing his mysterious lead.
Guilty Secrets (Campus Love and Murder Sorority Eyes Romance Book 1) Page 19