by Debra Lynch
I pried his hands off my shoulders and made my voice as whiny as possible. “I’m sorry. I was just so scared.”
He took off through the weeds. I kept up with him, the bramble and razor-sharp native plants slicing at my ankles. “Dennis. Stop. Listen to me. I told you when we met. I can’t have my name getting out there with a felony. People know me. They look up to me.”
His gaze sliced through me, his cold brown eyes like ice chips. “You should’ve thought of that when you came into my store. Or do you not have a brain in your head?” His voice became mocking. “I practice yoga. I eat vegetarian food. I meditate. I take care of my sick aunt. I’m a good little girl.” His eyes narrowed. “Oh yeah. And I like to steal things. Things that are not mine.” I watched as Dennis’s face transformed into an ugly mask of pain. His hand pounded on his chest. “I like to steal people’s hearts. Tromp all over their souls. That’s what I like to do.”
I could talk my way out of this. “It’s not like that. I told you. I got distracted in the store. It was just meant to be—”
“Just meant to be what? Explain it to me because I don’t get it.”
“A little fun.”
He turned away and broke into a fast hike. His voice was shrill. “Oh, that’s rich. Just a little fun. Is that what you’ve been doing with me?” I trotted to keep up. “Is that all I am is a little fun? Another toy for you to play with just like you play with that Levi guy? Is he part of your fun and games, too?”
“No!”
He whirled around to face me, his face blotched with tears. “I see I finally got your attention. Just the mention of Levi’s name and you sound like a teenager.” He let out a sob and jogged toward the train tracks. I stumbled over rocks and loose shale toward Dennis. The ear-splitting blare of the train whistle sounded in the distance.
He faced me and jerked the hemp bracelet off his wrist. He doubled over, his voice wracked with sobs, and pressed the bracelet in my hand. “When the police come talk to you,” he said.
All the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Christ almighty, he turned me in. My stomach twisted. There went my plans. “Why would they?”
He wiped tears with the back of his hand. “It’s what they do in situations like this.” The vibrations of the train reverberated under my feet as my heart beat like a bass drum.
“Situations like what?”
“Just tell them I didn’t want to be alone.” He stepped on the train tracks and spread his arms wide.
What? He hadn’t turned me in after all. Holy smokes. The freakshow was suicidal. Oh my god. Was he really going to do it?
I watched in fascination as the train came into view. The horn blared so loud my entire body shook with the shrill sound, its heavy bleat shrieking over and over.
Sudden dizziness hit my core. I was going to see Dennis’s guts splatter all over the tracks. When people say It was like watching a train wreck. I couldn’t look away, I’d get to experience it firsthand.
My pulse sped up, and my senses heightened. It’s weird what filtered through my awareness—the warmth of the sultry summer night brushing my skin, the dark blue of the sky above tinged with orange on the horizon. I felt like screaming, yelling, and shouting for the train to move faster.
The train bore down on Dennis. I glanced up and saw the conductor’s shocked face morph into a mask of terror. The siren sounded over and over, heat from the tracks and exhaust from the train so close I thought I’d get vaporized.
This was it.
All my troubles would be over in one blood-splattered second. I wish I could say it was horrific, but it wasn’t. I wanted to throw my arms up in the air, rejoice, and thank the suicide gods.
I would treasure the sight of Dennis’s demise. When the inevitable interview with the cops occurred, I’d come up with a convincing story—he was high on meth and LSD, there was no reasoning with him. Let them try to autopsy whatever was left. Good luck with that.
Slow down there, Rachel. Damn. There’d be an investigation. What if the cops discovered my connection? I’m a great actress, but what if they ransacked his place and found the evidence of my crimes?
Dennis’s arms trembled, his eyes pinched shut as the train whistle blasted, and the conductor screamed something. His hands gestured a dire get off the tracks NOW! motion.
The engineer tried to get my attention, but I was lost in the moment. When the police interrogated me, I’d come up with a brilliant presentation. My plan could still work. Maybe even better with Dennis out of the way.
The train hurtled toward Dennis, so close that pebbles showered me, a few sharp pieces nicking my arms and legs, the dust flying through the air and covering my face with a layer of soot.
Seconds before the train obliterated Dennis, he opened his eyes in horror and dove off the tracks landing at my feet. The train shot down the rail taking with it any hope of Dennis’s death.
His lungs heaved as he sobbed like a baby. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” He shakily pulled himself to standing and reached for me, his bony fingers gripping my hands.
I jerked my hands away. “Jesus Dennis. What’s the matter with you?”
He crumpled into the dirt, bawling his eyes out as I looked on in disgust. He must’ve stayed in that position for a full minute. He rolled over and pushed himself to his knees, his tear-stained face covered in soot. I placed my hands on my knees and stared him in the eye. “What are you going to do with the video?”
He let out a sob. “Nothing.”
“You swear?”
“Yes! I just want us to be friends. Good friends.”
Damn it. The pathetic man didn’t even have it in him to commit suicide. Where was his verve? I dropped my face into my hands and felt like sobbing myself.
Couldn’t I catch one freaking break? As soon as I had that thought, this one followed close on its heels: Good god, what’s become of me? Did I hate Dennis so much that I wanted to see his guts splattered all over the tracks? Would I have been able to live with that visual?
The answer was disturbing, one that would keep my therapist employed for years.
The answer was a big fat, yes.
The next day after Levi and I finished recording The Namasté Getaway, Dennis called.
“How’s my personal yoga video coming along?”
I took a sip of my green drink and pursed my lips. “Fine.”
“Did you wear the yoga top I like? The blue one?”
Seriously? Dennis was right back to his happily blackmailing self. Where was the phony “My life is not worth living” of last night? When he cried and told me he wouldn’t expose my breaking and entering video, I could take that promise right to the bank. The bank of Screw-You-Rachel.
I placed both elbows on the kitchen island and put my head in my hands. “I’ll get it out of the dryer.”
“Is that a yes or a no?”
I stood up and felt like hurling my glass across the room so it would shatter against the wall. “It’s a yes.”
“By the way, there’s a new movie tonight at The Lot. You know the place? Newport Center.”
“Yes, Dennis. I know it.”
“I’ll meet you there at seven.”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “What’s the movie?”
“The Stephen King. IT Chapter Two.”
“The one with the clown?”
“That’s the one.”
“But that’s a three-hour movie. I have to get up early to—”
“I don’t give a damn what time you get up. Are you meeting me or not?”
“Fine.”
“Make sure you bring money. I like the flatbread pizza. They bring it right to your seat and everything.”
I hung up the phone, telling myself that all I had to do was get a psychopathic murderer on my good side, and I was home free. Simple. Easy. Who was I kidding? This was the craziest scam I’d ever fabricated, and I’d been around plenty.
I met Dennis at the theater. The Lot was not just a mov
ie theater. It was one of those movie theater experiences in the high-priced shopping mall in Newport Beach complete with reclining chairs, food and drink brought to your seat by a white-coated server, a cocktail lounge in the reception area.
The Lot even had an open-air dining area boasting the latest in outside designer furniture. Champagne brunch, craft beers, imported chocolates, hand-churned ice cream, open fire pits. This was the place to people-watch the latest in plastic surgery the OC had to offer. Butt lifts, Botox, facelifts, boob jobs, and my personal favorite: bee sting therapy to the lips. One woman sat sipping her designer beverage through lips that were so inflated she gave Donald Duck a run for his money.
We settled into our seats in the dim theater. Dennis’s aftershave overpowered the space, and if I had any hopes of snacking during the movie, they went right down the tubes. Dennis opened the menu. “I think I’ll order one of everything.” He chuckled when he saw my face. “Just kidding. I’m not that hungry.”
Dennis’s “not hungry” turned into a porcini mushroom flatbread pizza, an extra-large strawberry Slurpee, a Caesar salad with extra dressing, a box of Red Vines, a large popcorn (we can share!) and a pint of fudge swirl ice cream. Non-GMO, of course.
Jeez. This was some bizarre alternate universe date. Talk about Twilight Zone. I was sure that I’d blink and wake up on another planet or some shit, as odd as sitting next to Mr. Freakshow felt. Could I really maintain my acting persona when all I wanted to do was reach over and murder him? Hmm. Maybe the cover of darkness the theater provided would work. Nice thought, but not happening.
My chest seized when Dennis tried to touch my hand as he offered me hot buttered popcorn. “Have some.”
On the gigantic movie screen, one of the characters stood in a dingy bathroom, inspecting his face in the mirror. A shadow appeared behind him, which morphed into the likeness of the town bully whose rotting corpse should be putrefying in a cold, dank grave. The bully slurred something about it being his time, and he lunged at the defenseless man and stabbed him right in the effing face! Blood gushed everywhere as the audience gasped and screamed.
I clutched my sour stomach as Dennis shoved the popcorn bucket into my face. I cut him off with a chop of my hand. “Not hungry.”
The sinister corpse-bully and Dennis’s horrid face would haunt my nightmares that dark evening.
Over the next week, Dennis became my freaking shadow.
“I’m enrolling in your vinyasa class! Let’s go shopping for yoga clothes! There’s a new vegan restaurant by my house! Let’s check it out.” The way Dennis grabbed on to freedom, and on to me, you’d think he had spent the past twenty years behind bars. Which, in fact, he had because of the three-strikes law.
But every time the phone rang, I was convinced it was a detective calling to haul me down to the station for questioning. Every time Dennis and I were together, I watched my back, convinced he would follow me into the restroom in search of another tampon. The thought was enough to cause dry heaves.
I played along with his sick little game because I had a game of my own brewing. I came up with a mantra: Rachel is good, Rachel is smart, and gosh darn it, Dennis trusts me!
One afternoon after yoga class, I pulled Dennis aside. “You know I really owe you more than a few movies and shopping trips.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“You’re right. It wasn’t nice of me to ruin your place like I did.” My eyes lit up, and I clapped my hands. “Let’s redecorate your house.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Well, well. You really are coming around. We can do that. So long as you’re paying.”
I put on my best simpering voice so Dennis would think he was in charge. “Of course.”
As I went through the charade of making Dennis think I was his best friend, I forced myself to relax with my mantra. As the time for my scam neared, I meditated, I sent positive thoughts into the universe. I visualized all the great things that the sweet little Thai yoga instructor promised would be mine through my vision wall.
Just wait ’til he got a load of my plan. Everything was in place. My inner cheerleader screamed with joy. Here we go!
I could hardly wait.
I could almost pretend like I had a normal life as Levi and I prepared dinner in my kitchen that night.
“And this, my fair one, is my closely guarded family recipe for Caprese salad.” Levi bent over the worktable and carefully placed a few basil leaves over the sliced tomato and buffalo mozzarella. “The secret is in the basil. I grow it myself.” He winked playfully, and the way his black T-shirt rode up his muscular torso made me want to run my fingers along his olive skin.
I wasn’t completely dead. My feelings for Levi were growing, and it confused me. Scared me a little, even.
“You do not grow it yourself.” I took a sip of cabernet. “Unless you call buying the plants at Trader Joe’s homegrown.”
He spun around and clinked glasses with me. “That’s what I love about you.”
“What’s that?”
“You call me on my bullshit.” He sprinkled an unidentified herb over the salad. “And this gives us that hallucinogenic kick we love.”
I nearly spit my wine out. “It does not.” I narrowed my eyes. “What’ve you got there?”
“Pot.”
I pinched some of the herbs between my fingers and sampled it. “Tastes more like parsley to me.”
He swatted me on the butt, and I let out a happy yelp. Levi stood against the counter and crossed his arms. “I went into that place we’re promoting today.”
“Which place is that?”
“The Treasure Trove.” My spine stiffened. “Met another fan. Named Dennis. Seemed a bit off. He’s the security guard.”
Oh hell no. I forced my voice to sound normal. “Is that right?”
“Yeah. He wouldn’t stop shaking my hand. Odd little man.” He shook his head. “Guess it comes with the territory.” Oh god, what did they discuss? I was about to ask Levi when my phone buzzed from where it lay on the counter.
When I saw it was Dennis, I snatched it up fast. The text said, See you at the furniture store tomorrow after work. Be there at six.
Levi spoke, but the room sounded like it was underwater as the ocean slammed on the shore. “Oh Jeez. Sorry about that,” he said when he poured more wine in my glass and some slopped over the side. “Let me get that.” He reached for a dishrag and efficiently cleaned up the mess.
Another text came through. Can’t he do anything right?
My body froze to the spot. With wild eyes, I looked outside, and Dennis was standing in the shadows of my deck. He wore an all-black outfit, a black knit cap covering his balding head.
With trembling hands, I smacked the stemless wineglass on the counter so hard it cracked, red wine seeping onto the marble.
“Rachel! Careful! You’ll cut yourself.”
I busied myself wiping up the mess then frantically searched the deck, my gaze bouncing back and forth. No sign of Dennis.
“I … I’m fine.” The next thing we heard was the shrill whooping of our car alarms. “Oh, my god.” Dennis was out there, and Lord only knew what he had planned. Without giving myself a chance to think, I sprinted to the front door.
Levi thrust out a protective hand. “Stop. Don’t go out there.”
But it was too late. I was already running, my blouse nearly popping a button as he held tight until he couldn’t anymore. I flung the door open and covered my mouth with my hand.
Levi stood so close to me I felt his breath on my neck. “Don’t move.” The windshields on my Tesla and Levi’s SUV were smashed, the car alarms whoop whooping noises so loud I covered my ears. My pulse sped up as heat flushed through my body. God damn him. It wasn’t enough to terrorize me? Dennis had to hurt Levi, too? What if, oh god, what if he bludgeoned Levi like he’d done to that poor man on the beach? No!
Before I had a chance to say anything about it Levi bolted outside and took off down the road at a spri
nt. “Motherfucking coward!”
I rushed outside and yelled after Levi, “Stop! Be careful!” But I knew Dennis would be long gone. My gaze flicked up at my security cameras. Sure enough, they’d been sprayed with something, probably wasp spray because it was easiest to use from a distance and very effective.
Dennis was escalating, and this was not a good thing for Levi, Madeline, or me. “Damn it!” I slammed my open palm against the hood of my car and instantly regretted it when the pain shot up my arm.
Levi trotted back to me, and I jumped when he barked out, “Did you see him?”
“No!”
“Some skinny punk ass kid. God damn it! Took off so fast I couldn’t catch him.”
My muscles quivered as I collared Levi. “It’s okay.”
He shrugged me away. “What do you mean, it’s okay?”
I covered my ears as the car alarms’ shrill whooping sound pierced my eardrums. “Shut them off!” We both raced into the house, grabbed our key fobs, and disabled the alarms.
We stood face to face under the inky black Laguna sky.
I couldn’t afford to upset Dennis before my next con went into effect, and I only needed a couple of days. I closed my eyes and forced myself to pull in calming breaths. “There’s always a rash of break-ins this time of year,” I said.
“We need to call the cops.”
“No! I mean no. You know all that’s going to do is make our insurance go sky high. I’ll take our cars to Timmy down at Laguna Auto Repair. He’s a student.”
Levi raised his hands and looked up and down the street with wild eyes. “We need to report this.”
I gripped both his hands and held them tightly in my shaking hands. “Look at me.” His mesmerizing green eyes stared into mine, his lips parted. When I compared Levi to Dennis, it made me physically ill. How had I gotten myself in so deep with Dennis when I could be enjoying my life with Levi?
My voice was low when I spoke. “The guys at the auto repair will give us a deal.”