He made no comment and she continued. “I believe that you would...”
She was interrupted by a loud knocking on the door.
Perry actually jumped and turned to look toward the door as if he thought some horrible creature had come to devour both of them. How could he have let her distract him so thoroughly. He resolved not to let that happen again.
“Do you see what I mean?” She asked getting out of her chair quickly. “I was unaware that anyone was approaching. That sort of thing could be very dangerous.”
“I know,” he had to agree as he got up to follow her. At least he must have had her undivided attention for a few seconds as well.
Tyler McDaniels and his two companions stood on the porch huddled under the small roof filling it to capacity. Perry opened the door while Angelica peered out at them from below his left arm.
“Tyler!” Perry greeted his unexpected guest. “What a surprise. Do come in.” He stepped back nearly crushing Angelica in the process.
The three men dripping wet, stepped inside on the silver gray carpet.
Tyler looked down and then glanced at Angelica apologetically.
“Angelica, would please find some towels for these gentlemen?” Perry looked down at her. He knew she hated it when she had to play the part of the wife whenever he gave her instructions. At the moment, he did not care and thought of several more instructions he would have liked to have given her.
“Sorry about the rug, Mr. Aliger,” Tyler muttered as Perry led them into the dining room.
“And put on a pot of coffee!” Perry called loudly after Angelica’s retreating figure. He hoped she would be very angry.
He turned to face Tyler. “What? Oh, the rug. Don’t worry. That’s what they are made for, right?”
“Sure,” Tyler nodded and grimaced as he looked down at Billy Johnson’s heavily muddied work boots. It was too late to do anything about it. “I brought a couple of friends with me. I hope you don’t mind. Billy Johnson and Mike Padgett... Mr. Aliger.”
Perry shook their hands in turn and gave each of them an appraising look. His face took on a peculiar expression as he shook Billy’s hand. Tyler did not miss the exchange and knew that Billy was most likely engaging in one of those redneck macho games. Billy grinned at Perry and then winked at Tyler when he let go of the man’s hand.
“Have a seat, won’t you?” Perry told them and waved his uncrushed hand at the big table.
Angelica reappeared with the towels and handed one to each of them before disappearing into the kitchen again.
They watched her go and then returned their attention to Perry who pulled out one of the chairs to offer Tyler a seat. Mike looked around nervously at the furnishings and ran one hand over the wood of the table. He patted the fluffy white towel on his arms and then wiped the water droplets from the shining wood.
“What kind o’ wood is this, Mike?” Billy asked looking up at him. “Is that cherry wood?”
“Nope.” Mike looked at his reflection in the wood. “Mahogany, I’d bet.”
“That’s right,” Perry affirmed and then added “You’ve got a good eye for wood.” He gathered up their towels. “I’ll be right back.” He headed off down the hall with the towels.
Billy immediately took hold of one of the crystal candle sticks and upended it, dropping the candle on the wood.
“Stop it, Billy,” Tyler told him in a low voice.
“Just checkin’,” Billy grumped as he looked at the bottom of the heavy, crystal piece. “Twenty-four per cent lead crystal. Made in Austria.” He read from a tiny gold and green sticker. “Yep. It’s the real stuff. Ain’t it dangerous to eat out of stuff with lead in it?”
“Whatcha plannin’ on doin’, Billy. You gonna drink outta the candlestick?” Tyler asked him in disgust. He wished there had been some way to keep Billy from coming with them. He regretted it sincerely.
Billy picked up the candle and pushed it clumsily back in the holder and replaced it in the center of the table. The candle was crooked and there was a white mark on the table. He smeared it with his hand making it bigger.
“Leave stuff alone,” Mike told him. “We’ve already ruined the damned carpet.”
“The maid’ll clean it,” Billy growled and made a face at Mike.
“They ain’t got no maid,” Mike told him. “They ain’t even got a TV in there.” He nodded toward the living room which could be seen through the arched doorway. “It ain’t right,” he whispered.
“What ain’t right?” Tyler asked him. “Maybe they’re Jehovah’s Witnesses or something.”
“Yeah,” Billy looked around. “They don’t go for that kind of stuff. They say it’s a tool of the Devil.”
“Don’t mention him here!” Mike hissed at him. Beads of sweat had replaced the rain on Mike’s forehead.
“Cut it out, Mike,” Tyler told him. “You’re givin’ me the creeps already.”
“They got one of them fancy pianos,” Billy commented as he craned his neck to see into the living room. “They say the Devil plays a fiddle. Ain’t never heard of him playin’ a piano.”
Perry returned to sit at the head of the table near Tyler.
“So! What brings you fellows out in this weather?” He asked.
“Well,” Tyler shot Billy one last warning look. “Don Baxter from the hardware store said you were interested in buying some handicrafts from the local... artists. We wanted to see if you’d be interested in some woodcrafts.”
“I see.” Perry smiled. “I never expected to find a trio of woodworkers here in Magnolia Springs.”
“We ain’t all woodworkers,” Tyler told him. “Mike, here is the artist. He makes clocks and plaques and shelves and stuff. We think he does real good work. I offered to bring him over and introduce him to you. Billy just came along for the ride.”
“Is that so?” Perry asked and looked at Mike with interest. He did not want to make eye contact with Billy Johnson. “Did you bring some examples of your work?”
“Naw,” Billy answered for Mike who appeared to have lost his ability to speak. “He’s got some of the real stuff out in the truck.”
Tyler rubbed his eyes and looked at Billy.
Perry glanced at Billy and then at Tyler.
“You wanna see ’em?” Billy asked him apparently aware that Perry was unwilling to deal with him.
“Of course,” Perry nodded. Tyler shrugged and poked Mike in the ribs.
Mike stood up like he'd been shot. “I’ll go get them.”
“Naw,” Billy said and stood up. “Me ’n Tyler’ll get 'em. You stay here and tell the man about your work.’
Mike looked panic-stricken, but sat back down. Tyler made a pained face at Billy, but got up to go with him.
Perry looked closely at Mike. The man looked as if he would fall over dead any minute.
“So.” Perry said lightly. “How do you make your clocks?”
“I... I...just cut ’em out of wood,” he said in a rush. “Just plain ol’ pine.”
“I see,” Perry nodded.
“Them ain’t contact lenses, are they?” Mike looked at him wide-eyed.
“What?” Perry looked around the room. “I’m sorry...”
“Your eyes.” Mike stared at him. “They ain’t contacts, are they?”
“Oh, no. They’re real.” He looked at the man in surprise.
“I ain’t never seen eyes like that,” Mike muttered and then looked up as Angelica came in to set out cream and sugar and cups and saucers in front of them. “Why don’t ya’ll have no TV?”
“A television?” Perry’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “We don’t believe in televisions, do we sweetheart?” He looked up at Angelica who shot him a disdainful glance. “We believe they are tools of the Devil.”
“Hmmp,” Mike nodded and looked away from him. “What did you all do to Chris Parker?”
“You certainly say what’s on your mind, Mike,” Perry laughed. “When?”
“He ain’t
stuttered since he come over here to your house,” Mike told him.
“He only needed a boost of confidence,” Perry explained as he watched Angelica retreat in to the kitchen. “My wife took care of that little problem for him.”
“Oh, yeah?” Mike eyed him suspiciously. “Is she a doctor?”
“No,” Perry told him levelly. “Chris didn’t have a medical problem. He had a complex.”
Angelica appeared again with the coffee pot and a plate of cookies. She smiled at Mike who stared at her in wonder and then shot another reproachful look at Perry before retreating into the kitchen once more. It was obvious that she had no intention of joining them.
“She’s a real beautiful lady,” Mike said softly as if speaking to himself. “I still don’t understand it.”
“There’s nothing to understand, Mike,” Perry said quietly. “She has a way with people. She makes them feel good about themselves.” He knew Angelica could hear every word he said. “She’s an inspiration to me. She is a real jewel.”
“Maybe so,” Mike nodded. “She’s real pretty.”
“Yes, she is quite lovely,” Perry agreed. “But she hardly knows it. She is as unpretentious as they come.”
Mike looked doubtful and narrowed his eyes.
“Rain’s lettin’ up!” Tyler announced cheerfully as they banged through the front door. He and Billy toted cardboard boxes covered with plastic into the dining room and set them on the floor beside the table.
Perry began to pull things out of the boxes immediately. He was delighted with the results of Mike’s handiwork. Angelica came back once more to pour up the coffee for them and eyed the muddy carpet. Perry looked at her with pure amusement in his eyes. She pulled out a chair at the opposite end of the table and sat down to watch them unwrap the clocks and knick knacks.
Billy picked up the white China cup and sipped the coffee tentatively before wrinkling his nose.
“Ain’t got much of a kick,” he told them. “You ever drunk Irish coffee, Mr. Aliger?”
“No.” Perry looked at him briefly. “I didn’t know they grew coffee in Ireland.”
“They don’t,” Billy grinned. “But they sure know how to drink it.” Tyler rolled his eyes at Billy.
Mike was busy laying out his masterpieces on the table.
“Oh, I see,” Perry answered Billy abstractedly as he picked up a clock shaped like Texas with a windmill and bluebonnets painted on it.
“Ya’ll got any whiskey?” Billy looked at Angelica. She shook her head.
“Billy...” Tyler tried to get the man’s attention.
“That’s OK,” Billy said pulling a pint of Jack Daniels from his bib pocket. “I got enough for everybody.”
Tyler tried to reach across under the table to kick Billy but couldn’t reach him. Billy unscrewed the cap and poured a hefty dollop in Perry’s cup and then stirred it for him. “There you go,” he said and poured some in his own cup. He offered some to Mike and Tyler who both shook their heads.
“Maybe we ought to be goin’,” Tyler said and stood up. He didn’t like the way things were looking. Billy was already half drunk from hanging out at Harold’s. “It’s gettin’ kind of late.”
“I haven’t seen everything yet,” Perry frowned up at him.
“Don’t worry about me, Mr. McDaniels,” Angelica got up. “I was about to go to bed myself. You gentlemen... and Perry, go ahead and enjoy yourselves.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Aliger,” Tyler told her and Mike and Billy nodded to her.
Perry reached for his cup and looked at Billy. He sipped it cautiously. Billy’s face lit up mischievously. Tyler was beginning to get nervous. Mike was caught up in showing Aliger the finer points of his works. Billy could be downright mean when he was drunk.
Perry took a drink of the coffee and wrinkled his nose slightly before resuming his study of Mike’s wares.
“Tell me about how long it takes you to make these, Mike,” Perry said and picked up a small shelf with heart-shaped cutouts on top and pegs underneath. Tyler was amazed to hear Mike begin to elaborate in detail about how he made the pieces, describing the various machines and tools required to cut, rout and carve the designs on the wood. Mike seemed to have lost his reticence to speak with Perry Aliger. Perry paid close attention to Mike asking all sorts of questions. Tyler watched with growing horror as Billy continued to ply Perry’s cup with Jack Daniels every time Mike diverted the man’s attention. It was not long before Perry was drinking almost straight whiskey from his cup. His face was already flushed a deep shade of pink by the time Mike had finished describing how he coated the clocks with three layers of polyurethane to give them a smooth, almost glassy appearance. He noticed that Perry’s eyes had the same glass-like appearance. Billy sat back smiling smugly at Tyler and watching Perry with a fiendish look on his face. Why did Billy want to mess around with the guy? Tyler couldn’t believe it. He tried to head it off by pouring their cups full of coffee again, but Billy began the same process as Mike went on to describe where he got his ideas and how he had learned to paint the intricate little flowers and birds while he’d been off sick one year with a broken leg.
When they had finished examining every piece Perry went back to the original clock with the windmill and bluebonnets.
“I especially like this one.” He held it up to admire it and blinked rapidly as if trying to focus on it. “A true work of art.” He smiled crookedly at Mike.
“See here,” Mike took it from him and turned it over to point to a little box stamped on the back. “This is a stamp Carla bought me. It’s got my name and the date I made the clock in there.”
“Yes, I see it. I think.” Perry leaned forward to peer at the small lettering.
Tyler hadn’t realized the passion that Mike had for his hobby. Mike simply glowed as he talked about his work. He’d thought it was just something Mike fooled around with to pass the time, but Mike was really a serious artist. He was damned proud of his work and it showed.
Finally, Perry stood up, swayed slightly and pulled his wallet from his pocket then sat back down heavily in his chair.
“I’d like to have all these if they are for sale,” he said and frowned at his wallet. “I’ll give you... three hundred for this and I’d like to have about twice as many for the shop as soon as you can deliver.”
“Before we talk money,” Billy sat up. “Let’s see...” He counted the pieces on the table. “There’s eleven pieces here. That would be... less than thirty dollars apiece.”
“And?” Perry leaned forward to look at the big man. He wondered why Billy would be negotiating the price for Mike’s work.
“And I know you can get at least forty-five dollars for the shelves and fifty for the clocks.” Billy told him. “I want to make sure you don’t beat Mike out his fair share of the profit.”
“Aw, Billy,” Mike looked at the man frowning. “Three hundred dollars is fine with me.”
“Yeah, Billy,” Tyler agreed. “Let Mike decide. It’s his stuff.”
“I have some friends in New York,” Perry told them. “They’d be willing to pay more for your shtuff. It’lld sell for..for...for more up there. I’ll put you in toush with them and you can work out the detailss.”
“That sounds great, Mr. Aliger.” Mike stuck out his hand to shake on it and took the three one hundred dollar bills from him.
“All right then!” Billy said loudly and stood up and picked up his coffee cup. “Let’s give a toast to Mike’s new found fame.”
Perry pushed himself up and picked up his cup which was once again almost straight whiskey. He took a deep breath and focused his attention totally on his cup.
Tyler let go a sigh, but was happy that Billy was standing. He stood up and prepared to get them all out of there as quickly as possible.
“OK,” Tyler said and picked up his own cup. “One last drink and we gotta get out of these people’s hair.”
They clunked Angelica’s china cups together over the
table spilling the contents on the wood and then drank down the cold coffee.
“Let’s go,” Tyler said and set his cup down. He’d seen enough to know that Billy had something on his mind.
They headed for the door with Perry following them. Tyler already felt guilty for the hangover he knew Perry Aliger would have the next day. It was completely obvious that the man did not drink alcohol on a regular basis.
Perry held the door for them. The rain had stopped altogether and everything glistened in the porchlight.
Billy turned back to shake Perry’s hand again. “It was a real pleasure doin’ bidness wichya,” he told him and Tyler saw Perry grimace as Billy squeezed his hand again.
“C’mon Billy. Quit with the bullshit,” Tyler told him irritably and caught him by the arm. Mike was already halfway down the stairs. He stopped and looked back up at them. Mike had finally noticed the danger signs when Billy had insisted on the toast to their success. He’d tried to hurry Billy along, but it was too late. Perry looked down at his hand and then slowly raised his eyes to look into Billy’s face. Something he had avoided doing during the entire visit. Billy grinned at him and Perry resumed his little half smile, but there was something totally different in his demeanor. Tyler pulled on Billy’s arm.
Billy looked down and took a step back nearly knocking Tyler down the steps.
“Goddamned rats!” He said and kicked his foot at something on the porch.
Perry looked down and then went to the railing to peer into the darkness below.
He turned to look at Billy and Tyler forcibly pulled Billy down the steps.
“You should learn to respect life more, Mr. Johnson,” Perry told him quietly and started down the steps behind him. It seemed to Tyler that he sobered almost instantly.
“C’mon, Billy!” Tyler said desperately as they stumbled down the stairs. When they reached the bottom of the stairs. Billy tore himself away from Tyler and turned back to face Perry.
“You ain’t tellin’ me I need to respect a rat, are you?” Billy asked him and then laughed. “Maybe you need to learn a little respect yourself. You know what you need is a good-natured ass-kickin’.”
The Pandora Effect Page 27