Sweet Poison (32 page)

“None of your business.”

“Corey … listen. I need to talk to him. I’ll do anything you want, just … I need to hear his voice.”

He scratched his cheek. “Okay. Fair enough. He’ll call later.”

“Thank you.” She sounded almost breathless.

“Look, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to hurt you or anything, I just wanted some time with my kid.”

“Right. I understand.”

She was a liar. He saw it now in a way he never had before. She’d say anything she thought he wanted to hear. He had to make sure she kept her end of the bargain. He had to take it to the next level. “No cops, you got that? I see any cops or hear about any AMBER Alerts and you’ll never see Dean again.”

“I promise, Corey. I mean it. I swear it on everything I love. I trust you, okay. Just bring him home safely. That’s all I want. Corey, please! That’s all I want.”

Julia had just come out of the women’s room when she saw Kenzie cross the hallway in front of her. She was alone. Jane had to be around somewhere, but since Kenzie was all by herself for the moment, it presented Julia with an interesting opportunity.

As Kenzie stood by the bulletin board, reading the newest talking points, Julia stepped up behind her and said, “Looking for the blackjack table?”

Kenzie turned her head ever so slightly. “Go away.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were Jane’s girlfriend?”

She turned all the way around. “I could ask you the same question.”

“I didn’t know who you were.”

“Same here. What do you want?”

“I like you, Kenzie. A lot. You gave me your phone number when we left the hotel … after our night together. And what a night.”

“I don’t remember.”

“I don’t believe you.” She moved a little closer. “I was thinking of calling you.”

“I’m glad you didn’t.”

“What if I said I thought we’d be good together.”

The comment seemed to rattle her. “I’d say you’re a head case.”

Julia couldn’t help herself. She moved in for the kill. “Maybe I should tell Jane about our tryst.”

“Go ahead.”

“I guarantee she won’t like it.”

“Nobody holds me hostage. Nothing is that important.”

“Really?”

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you doing this?”

“I know what I like and I go after it.”

“Well, I’m not available. And neither is Jane. So find someone else to chase.”

Just then, Jane came through the door. Kenzie was facing away from her, but Julia saw her and smiled. “Hi. I was just getting to know your partner a little better.”

Kenzie stepped away from Julia. “Are you done?” she asked, glancing at Jane.

“Yeah.” She looked unusually solemn.

“Something wrong?” asked Julia. She saw the hesitation on Jane’s face, wondered what was behind it.

“No,” said Jane. “But I think Kenzie and I better hit the road. Cordelia’s coming over to the house tonight to decorate it.”

“Oh, right,” said Julia. “I remember. Tomorrow’s Halloween, her favorite holiday. Well, you two have fun. Good talking with you, Kenzie.” She squeezed Kenzie’s arm as she walked away.

H
i, Mom,” said Dean. He was sprawled on one of the double beds in the hotel room, still in his swim trunks, the ones Corey had bought him at the Mall of America.

Corey was on the other phone in the room, listening.

“Where have you been?” cried Serena. “Are you okay?”

“Me? Sure. Corey and I been having a great time. We went to the Park at MOA this afternoon, and then we saw a movie. We’re staying at this really cool hotel, way high up. And, um, we just got back from swimming. They got this way cool slide and Corey and me slid down it tons of times. I think we’re gonna eat pretty soon. Corey said they deliver the food to the room. On a table that rolls. I wanted a burger and fries. Oh, and some hot chocolate, ‘cause it’s cold out.”

“That does sound like fun.” She cleared her throat. “Are you being a good boy?”

“Well, I had two candy bars. I told Corey it would make you mad.”

“I’m not mad, honey. I just miss you.”

“Yeah, I miss you, too. I been riding around on Corey’s cycle. I love it, Mom. Can I get a cycle when I’m older?”

“We’ll see.”

“Corey said he’d teach me how to drive it, and to fix it and everything.”

“What are you doing tomorrow morning?”

“Huh? Beats me. Something fun, though. I really like Corey. I wish you’d trade him for Johnny.”

Another bout of throat clearing. “I love you, Dean.”

“I love you, too.”

Serena sounded like she was about to cry. They were saved by the sound of a knock on the door.

“I think the food’s here, Mom. I better say good night.”

“You’re the most important person in my life. You be safe.”

“I will. Bye.”

“Bye, honey. Bye. I love you.”

Corey set the phone back in its cradle. After he signed for the food, he handed the waiter a five-dollar bill.

Dean sat on the edge of the bed as Corey lifted the aluminum tops off each dish.

“Wow, this is so cool.”

They ate their food watching a
Simpsons
rerun. When they were done, Corey turned off the TV and sat down next to Dean on his bed. “We better get your pajamas on.”

“I’m not cold.”

“No, it’s pretty warm in here. But you want your swim trunks to dry out so we can go swimming again in the morning.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Maybe you should take a shower?”

“Do I have to?”

Corey could tell he wasn’t going to be much of a disciplinarian. “No, I guess that can wait.” Ruffling Dean’s hair, he said, “Look, there’s something important I want to tell you. It’s serious, so I want you to sit still, stop picking at your toe, and listen.”

Dean licked some ketchup off his lip. “What?”

“You remember that photo I showed you this afternoon? You thought it was you, but it was really me when I was your age?”

“Yeah. You said we had a ‘family semblance.’ “

“Resemblance.” The freckles on his son’s face, the slight gap in his front teeth, how could they not be father and son? “Well, the reason we look so much alike is because … because I’m your father.”

Dean looked up at him with curious eyes. “You are?”

“Did your mom ever talk to you about your father?”

“She said he wasn’t around anymore. That he’d moved away.”

“Well, I am around. And I want you to know that I intend to be a part of your life … for the rest of your life.”

He seemed to think it over. “You’re my dad for real?”

“For real. You know how some of your friends look like their moms or their dads.”

“Oh, yeah. Totally.”

“Same with us.”

Dean grew quiet. After examining his toe again for a few seconds, he said, “I wish you coulda been around when I won that blue ribbon at school.”

“What did you win it for?”

“Running.”

“Hey, that’s great. You like sports?”

“I like baseball. And swimming. And I played bowling once with Johnny and mom, but I wasn’t very good at it.”

“You’ll get better.”

He cocked his eye at Corey. “You’re really my dad?”

“Yup.”

He nodded. “Cool.”

In the middle of the night, Corey woke with a start. Blinking his eyes open, he saw that Dean had crawled in bed with him.

“I got scared,” came Dean’s small voice, muffled by the covers.

“Oh, buddy, there’s nothing to be scared of.”

“I heard a noise.”

“It’s a hotel. Lots of people are staying here.”

Dean snuggled closer.

“You wanna sleep with me?”

“Yeah.”

“You warm enough?”

“Yup.”

“Think you can get back to sleep?”

“I think so.”

Corey put his arm around his son and hugged him tight. “I won’t let anything hurt you. Ever.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Those simple words nearly dissolved him.

They were up the next morning by eight. As Dean watched cartoons, Corey flipped through the yellow pages, trying to figure out what they could do until noon.

“You hungry?” asked Corey.

Dean went into a trance whenever he watched TV. Corey did the same thing.

“Well, I am.” Setting the yellow pages on the table, he picked up the hotel menu. “Maybe we should go out somewhere. Oh, but we thought maybe we’d swim again. Well, I gotta eat something or I’m gonna starve.” He grabbed the phone.

The cartoon changed to an ad. Dean did some channel surfing, looking for something better. Disgusted, he went into the bathroom.

The least he could do was turn it down, thought Corey, grabbing the remote. Glancing briefly at the screen, he saw the words
AMBER ALERT
flash across it. Moving closer and turning the sound nearly off, he watched as a picture of Dean appeared. A voice said his name and that he’d been missing since yesterday afternoon, when he’d been abducted from his school.

“ ‘Abducted’?” repeated Corey.

The voice went on to explain that the boy’s father, Corey Hodge, had taken him. Hodge was driving a red and black Italian motorcycle. Both father and son had red hair. Any information should be—

Corey snapped off the TV as Dean came back into the room.

“Hey, I wanted to watch that.”

“Not now, pal. We gotta hit the road.”

“You said we could swim again.”

“Yeah, I know, but the time got away from me. They kick you out of here in the morning so they can get the room ready for some new people.”

Dean made a sour face.

“But I got lots of plans for the day.”

He couldn’t believe Serena had gone to the police, not after she’d promised. He’d given her his word that he’d have Dean back by noon. Couldn’t she wait
that
long? She’d had him for eight goddamn years. All Corey had asked for was a few hours.

“We both need to get dressed. You can wear your new jeans if you want.”

“Okay,” said Dean, looking less than enthusiastic.

Corey dressed, then stuffed everything into a small duffel and hoisted it over his shoulder. While Dean pulled on his socks, Corey turned the TV back on, this time to a movie station.

“Shouldn’t we turn the TV off?” Dean asked on their way out the door.

“Nah, let’s leave it on.” He hung the
DO NOT DISTURB
sign on the outside doorknob. Instead of going downstairs to finalize the bill, he spirited Dean out a side stairway. Corey stuck his neck out the back door and looked around. So far so good.

“Come on, buddy. Let’s go find us some breakfast.” He glanced at the cycle parked in the lot, then walked away from it.

“Aren’t we gonna drive?”

“Nah, let’s walk. We need the exercise.”

I
nstead of making a dinner for Halloween, Jane filled the buffet in her dining room with appetizers, wine, a tray filled with local cheeses, French bread, and several of her favorite fall sweets—individual cranberry tarts, a pumpkin-spiced cheesecake, an old-fashioned English trifle, and a classic tarte tatin. If they were going to be jumping up and answering the door every few minutes, a sit-down dinner didn’t make sense.

Cordelia invited several actors from the theater, some of her poker pals, as well as a few of Melanie’s friends from the paper. Jane’s neighbor Evelyn Bratrude even put in a brief appearance, as did a number of Jane’s friends, mostly other restaurant owners and chefs. Melanie brought Tallulah, and before long the house was filled with laughter and conversation. Everyone was in costume.

Kenzie had gone out and found herself a grim reaper outfit. Jane wore her chef’s coat, a tall paper chef’s hat, and vampire teeth. Cordelia came as Marie Antoinette, complete with long silver wig and blood dripping from her neck. Melanie was Elvis the vampire in black leather and a cape. There was a Wolf Man; a woman with a hag mask, straw in her hair and a pitchfork; a devil in a red jumpsuit. The only
costume that didn’t work was the Egyptian mummy. The costume kept unraveling and the woman finally took it off.

Cordelia set out the treats for the kids in big bowls. She took the lead in answering the door and handing out the swill. At one point, Jane noticed that she had tears in her eyes.

“It’s Hattie,” said Cordelia. “I miss her like crazy. I just know she’s going to be home for Christmas this year.”