Authors: Layne Macadam
*
Wolf snapped a series of frames with the digital SLR, but as he zoomed in on the couple, Ice’s irritation came across in the viewfinder loud and clear.
He lowered the camera and interpreted Ice’s glare for the benefit of the others. “I guess we’d better behave, Ice has lost his sense of humor,” he said, stashing the camera before Kathy had a chance to catch on.
As if on cue, they turned away as one and started filling their plates with food.
“Not a word,” Sarah warned as the pair came ashore.
Hawk passed Kathy a towel exclaiming, “Was it hot enough out there for you?”
Sarah scowled, but when she faked a trip, spilling her soda all over Hawk, Wolf read it for what it was; an attempt to prevent the kid from making any more blunders. God alone knew what would come out of his mouth next.
“Sorry Hawk, I’m just so clumsy lately,” she purred.
“No harm done Sarah,” Hawk replied without a clue.
Havoc tugged the brim of his hat lower to hide his amusement. Frosty hadn’t been fooled either. Wolf saw the conspiratorial wink he gave Sarah as he helped her into the chair, but the evil glare Ice shot Hawk promised retribution. This was turning into one kooky day.
“Thanks Hawk.” Kathy colored up as she accepted the towel. “Do you think they saw us?” she whispered to Ice.
“Nah, they were too busy fixing lunch.”
Wolf was close enough to eavesdrop and wasn’t ashamed he did, not one iota. The lie slid so easily off Ice’s tongue—that had to be a first. As a rule, he’d just tell it how it was, but with this little lady, Ice was all caveman. Wolf figured he’d lied to spare her knowing they’d been the floorshow, and that was a revelation.
Chapter 11
The shadows were lengthening. Everyone had had their fill of food, skiing, and fishing when Frosty announced it was time to make a move. Ice and Wolf collected the first load of gear and waded out to the boat. Wolf tossed his lot over the side, hauled his ass in after it, and took the gear Ice handed over, stowing it on board. The tide was coming in and it was deeper now than when they’d first arrived.
“Climb aboard and I’ll take her in closer.”
Ice pulled himself into the boat. He’d been waiting for an opportunity to get Wolf alone all day to broach the subject of Kathy’s roses. Not one to beat about the bush, he came straight to the point. “Kathy got flowers while I was away.”
“Didn’t realize you were serious, thought she was just your neighbor.”
Ice knew that was bullshit. They’d all witnessed his little exhibition earlier with Kathy.
“Was it you?” he tersely asked.
“Me? Who sent the flowers? You can’t be serious.”
Ice pinned him with an unwavering eye while he waited for an answer.
“God, you are serious.” Wolf’s eyes widened with shock. He exhaled a deep breath and put his hand on his heart. “The answer is no Ice, I did not send your girlfriend flowers.”
Ice ignored the taunt. “You like her, you’re attracted to her.”
“Sure I like her, what’s not to like? You should know better Ice, than to think I’d ever tread on your turf, not ever, not for any reason. You know the ragging is all in fun, we don’t mean anything by it.”
Wolf had been deliberately flirting with Kathy all day, and Ice knew it for what it was; harmless fun meant to get a rise out of him. But he had hoped the flowers were as simple as Wolf and the guys overstepping the mark. He should’ve realized they’d know the explicit messages would not only stir him up but would embarrass Kathy, and that was not their style. It was the answer he feared. It opened the door to a whole range of possibilities, none of them good. Ice extracted the two cards from his pocket and handed them over. “What do you make of these?”
Wolf read both, his blank expression unreadable as Ice waited for his verdict.
“Pissed off ex-lover would be my guess.”
Ice shook his head. “Not an option, there are no ex-lovers.”
“She told you that and you believe her?” Wolf sounded incredulous, and truthfully, he couldn’t blame him for that.
“Trust me, there’s none.”
“At her age, and with her looks you’re trying to tell me she’s still the big V, no way?”
Ice gave him a cold hard stare, Wolf’s disbelieving scoff almost made him confide, but he remained stoic, no way was he going to elaborate on his and Kathy’s sex life with any one of these clowns regardless of how tight they were.
*
Wolf knew he’d overstepped the mark and tried to regain some ground. “Okay, okay, if not an ex-lover, then it’s someone who wants to be doing a little mattress time with her.”
“I’m afraid you might be right. She’d been getting weird phone calls for weeks until I got her number changed. Now this.”
Wolf listened, intent on storing every detail as Ice explained.
“She thought she saw an old flame from her hometown yesterday, but when she tried to attract his attention the son of a bitch disappeared into the crowd. Although they never fucked, they did date, and he was mighty pissed when she moved away. Kathy said he’d been acting weird before she left, following her about everywhere, and it really creeped her out.”
“A stalker? That doesn’t sound good. You got a name?”
“Ian Roberts.”
“Tell you what buddy, I’ll hang on to these cards and see if I can track down who sent them and why,” he volunteered.
“Thanks, I’d appreciate it, and keep it under wraps will you? I don’t want Kathy getting spooked over something that might turn out to be nothing.”
“Consider it done. I just pray this is some harmless admirer, but I’m afraid it’s got the stink of something more sinister.”
“I hope you’re wrong, but my gut is telling me the same thing.” Wolf fired up the engine and steered
Red-Hot
closer to shore where Frosty was already wading out with Sarah. Hawk wasn’t far behind with an armful of skis. Ice helped Sarah on board before hopping over the side and going back to join the others.
* * * *
Havoc and Kathy were still on the beach gathering up the rest of their belongings ready for the second trip back.
“Y’all saw Shane and me making out in the ocean today didn’t you Havoc?”
“Yep, but we didn’t look long.”
“I’m so embarrassed,” she drawled.
“Don’t be, and don’t take any notice of Hawk either. He didn’t mean anything. The kid engages his mouth before his brain, that’s why we call him Boy Blunder.”
Kathy laughed. “Poor Hawk, you guys are so mean.”
“Nah, it’s all good fun.”
“Yeah, until someone loses an eye.” She giggled.
By the time Shane reached the shore, Kathy and Havoc had everything packed and were waiting for their ride back.
“Wolf should be back in about twenty,” Shane announced, dropping beside her and draping a proprietary arm across her shoulders. “Got any plans for tonight, Havoc?”
“Yeah, got a hot date,” the big man answered with a silly grin. “My mum’s flying in to spend a few days with her sister who lives in San Diego,” he explained for her benefit. “And I’ve been roped in to take ‘em out for a feed tonight. God knows what they’ve got cooked up for me tomorrow.”
Although Havoc grumbled, his affection for his mother and aunt was obvious and it warmed her heart to hear.
“But don’t go blabbing to Wolf. You know what he’s like. He’d tag along with his bloody camera, happily drop me in it, and then take a freaking picture. So far I’ve managed to keep this visit from him.”
“Yeah, he’s driving everyone nuts with the thing,” Shane remarked. The edge to his voice had Kathy praying Wolf hadn’t snapped a shot of them earlier in the water.
Wolf was back in less than twenty, and the trio waded out to the speedboat with the remaining gear. The sun was sinking at a rapid pace and there was a distinct chill in the air. Shane gave Kathy a leg over the side, and she took a seat up front next to Wolf.
“The others have split. Sarah was tired, and they had to pick up the kids, and Hawk’s got a hot date.”
“The kid’s turning into a regular Casanova.” Havoc’s remark was laced with innuendo.
“You got that right, I can’t keep up with his conquests.” Wolf chuckled as he gave
Red-Hot
more throttle and she skimmed over the waves.
When they reached the marina, Shane secured the boat and Havoc handed Kathy onto the jetty.
“Thanks for a wonderful day guys,” she said.
“We’ll do it again soon, but next time you have to ski.”
“I’m not committing to anything.” She laughed.
Shane tucked her arm in his. “Yeah, catch you two later,” he said. “Oh and by the way Havoc, when you see your mom tonight, say hi from me.”
Wolf stopped what he was doing and looked up. “You didn’t tell me your mom was in town,” he accused.
“I guess it slipped my mind.”
“So where are we taking her?”
Havoc groaned, Shane grinned.
“You’re a terrible torment,” she scolded as Shane escorted her to the parking lot.
“It’s called payback, babe.”
* * * *
Sonny was getting itchy feet, fed up with being on the sidelines. He wanted Kathy with him, and he wanted her here now. He was well and truly over playing the waiting game, but he couldn’t just snatch her and bring her back here. Or could he?
Sending flowers had achieved zip. He thought she’d have bragged about them at work but no. He needed to do something constructive. He had her new phone number and was deliberating whether to tip his hand and give her a call, or whether to just go get her.
Socrates would know what to do.
Socrates was brilliant; he always thought things through thoroughly, weighed up the pros and cons before making a recommendation. He’d even advised him when Lindy was becoming uncontrollable.
When he’d first brought Lindy home, she’d been such an obliging little thing, eager to please, to do his bidding, cooking and cleaning for him, but then something changed. He saw her studying the door from under her lashes, trying the windows when she thought he wasn’t paying attention. When he confronted her, she’d said she was hot and needed air, but he wasn’t dumb. Just like Patty, she was so predictable. She wanted to get out and spread her legs for some other dude, and no way was he allowing that. In the end, he’d had to chain her up while he was at work for her own protection. She’d have had the morals of an alley cat if he’d given her more freedom.
The more he pondered, the more he realized the necessity of bringing Kathy home, but first he had to clear it with Socrates. Socrates could fly into a rage at the drop of a hat, and he didn’t want to put him off side, not yet. He’d keep him in the loop, but if he failed to sanction it then he would defy him.
Sonny wasted no time logging onto the computer determined now more than ever to bring Kathy home.
Socrates,
Time’s up, am bringing her home.
Sonny.
Stepping away from the monitor and over to the refrigerator, Sonny took out a beer and wondered what Socrates would have to say about that. Leaning against the sink his face was sullen as he peered out the kitchen window into the lengthening shadows. He could handle the days; filling his time during the sunlit hours wasn’t a problem. It was the nights he disliked. They were lonely and long and stretched ahead like a void.
Swallowing the last of his ale, he tossed the empty into the bin and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Patience wasn’t his strong point; he was getting twitchy. He crossed to the computer hoping for a message and was intrigued when he read the response.
Sonny,
If you must have a pet, get yourself a pigeon
Socrates.
Socrates was a mastermind.
Sonny still had some contacts off the island and knew just the pigeon to do the job. It would be a cinch, all the dude would require would be enough greenbacks to keep him in narcotics for a week, and now was as good a time as any to make the arrangements.
He flew out the door and down the back steps, swung up into the pickup, and reversed down the drive. The road was deserted as he backed onto it, another advantage of living in the sticks he decided as he turned in the direction of San Diego.
It was dusk when he arrived. The setting sun cast a golden halo like glow over the city skyline. The weekend traffic was thin as he turned off the main drag into a deserted alley. It was still too early for the night crowd who would converge on the city all too soon.
Parking beside a dumpster, he checked that the car was locked before setting off to walk the short distance to Chuck’s place. A necessary precaution as this was the sleazier side of town, and he didn’t want to take any chances by giving a thief an even break.
He’d known Chuck from high school and had run into him again six months ago. Chuck was a loser then, and he was an even bigger loser now, a hopeless drug addict who’d prostitute his own mother for a buck.
Sonny climbed the rickety stairs to the fifth floor apartment, the elevator displayed an OUT OF ORDER sign, but even if it had been working, he wouldn’t have risked using it. The door opened a crack when he knocked, but only as far as the metal chain allowed. Bloodshot eyes blinked back at him myopically from behind the timber door.
“Oh, it’s you,” a croaky voice announced.
“Let me in, I got a proposition for you.” Sonny wasted no time on formalities. He didn’t want to risk being seen, didn’t want to be connected to Chuck in any way.
He heard rattling as the security chain was unlatched. The door swung wide revealing a man with lank shoulder-length hair dressed in grimy denims and a shirt that hadn’t seen the inside of a washing machine in many a long day.
Sonny wrinkled his nose as he barged past him and flopped onto the black beanbag in front of the television, his proposition foremost in his mind. Chuck sauntered over, tucking his reddish-blond hair behind his ears, and stopped in front of him, his interest peaked.
“So what’s this job you got for me man?”
“It’s a sensitive issue, so you need to be discreet. Do you think you can handle that?” One never could tell with an addict.
“Sure, discreet’s my middle name. I told ya before I’m not cheap, but I can be bought.” Chuck sniggered as he extracted a small packet of white powder from his jeans’ pocket. Crouching low over the coffee table, he heaped the substance into a small mound. “So what’s the deal?” he inquired as he picked up a short plastic straw lying nearby and snorted the cocaine. It was done with an ease and offhandedness denoting much practice and no qualms.