Ladyfish

by Andrea Bramhall

  “Junior!” Finn wiped her face and glared across the water at him.

  “I see you’ve already met my wayward cousin.”

  Finn turned around and smiled through her dripping hair. “Yeah, he’s a barrel of laughs.”

  “Hey, Ladyfish, you coming swimming?” Junior was dragging himself out of the pool and heading for the diving board.

  “Yeah, in a while.” She took Finn by the elbow and moved her away from the pool. “You might want to back up if you don’t want to get wet again.”

  “I think it’s too late to worry about that now, don’t you?” She pointed down at her soaked shirt before she pulled her hair back into a ponytail. “He’s a big kid.”

  “I know. Always has been. You wouldn’t believe he was a SEAL, would you?”

  “Well, maybe. He’s got enough muscles.”

  “Don’t tell him that; he’ll get a big head.”

  “Too late.” Neither of them had noticed Junior sneaking up on them until he grabbed Finn around the waist and jumped backward into the pool with her in his arms. Finn screamed until the water silenced her. By the time Oz reached the side of the pool, she was swimming for the side. Junior was floating on the water holding his crotch and turning red.

  “It serves you right.” Finn grabbed Oz’s hand and allowed herself to be pulled out of the water.

  “It was only a joke.”

  “Very funny.”

  Oz grabbed a towel. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine. Not sure about him though. You didn’t want to be an auntie did you?”

  Oz laughed. “Not to worry. I’ve got three other cousins who can do the honors.”

  Finn pulled her shirt over her head and tugged off her shorts. Oz couldn’t tear her eyes away. She’d seen Finn in all kinds of swimwear over the last week or so, but seeing her actually disrobe affected Oz in a way she hadn’t expected. There was something more intimate about it, something more revealing than just seeing Finn appear in a bikini. She felt her cheeks flush, first in response to seeing Finn, then in embarrassment when Junior let out a long whistle. She wanted to drown him as Finn’s cheeks turned bright red and she stared at the ground.

  “I’m sorry about him.”

  “It’s not your fault. Maybe I should go change.”

  “No, don’t.” She grabbed hold of Finn’s arm. She didn’t want her to leave, even for a few minutes. She just wanted to be near her and couldn’t understand why she was so drawn to Finn. She had seen beautiful women before, in all manner of undress. Why did Finn affect her so much? Finn looked down at Oz’s hand on her arm then met her eyes, her question clear. Oz let go of her arm and shrugged. She grappled for some kind of response. “He has to learn to behave like a human being some time.”

  “So I get to play guinea pig?”

  “I was thinking more like a teacher.”

  Finn put a hand over her chest. “Oh my God, I’m so lucky.”

  “Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”

  “Sure it does.” Pete came up next to her and wrapped an arm about Finn’s waist. “It’s the lowest form of wit, but wit nonetheless.”

  “Gee, thanks, sweetie.”

  Oz grinned. “Are you having a good time, Pete?”

  “Oh, yes. Your cousins are certainly entertaining.”

  “Hey, Pete, are you coming in?” AJ shouted from the water.

  “Excuse me, ladies.” Pete took a run and executed a perfect cannonball, and Finn and Oz managed to jump back and avoid the spray.

  “Boys.” Finn shook her head before turning to look at Oz. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. He didn’t get me.”

  “That’s not what I meant. You look a little…I don’t know.” She shrugged. “You don’t seem yourself.”

  Oz blanched at the thought she was so easy to read. She forced a smile to her lips. “I’m just a little tired. I didn’t sleep too well.”

  “I’m a good listener.”

  Oz debated telling her the truth. Talking to Finn didn’t seem like a bad idea, and that bothered her almost as much as the memories had earlier. “I’ll bear that in mind.”

  “Do you want a drink?”

  Oz breathed a sigh of relief when Finn seemed willing to let it go. “Sure. I’ll come with you.”

  “No, you stay here. I’ll just be a minute.” Oz watched Finn walk away, unable to take her eyes off her ass.

  “She’s certainly not ugly.”

  Oz grinned as her father wrapped his arm about her waist and her mother pulled her into a tight embrace.

  “I never see you. Why haven’t you been around?”

  “Mom, I’ve been busy working.”

  “You’ve been doing more than just working, Olivia.” Her mother pulled back and looked at her. “I can see it in your eyes, baby. You need to let those things go.”

  “Mom—”

  “Don’t Mom me. I know when you’re hurting, Olivia. I can see it. It wasn’t your fault. And you need to let go of it.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  Oz wanted to pull away from her mother and just walk away, to start running and not look back. She knew that none of them blamed her, but that only made it worse. The guilt she lived with day after day over the people she couldn’t save and the lives she had taken, gnawed at her soul until all she wanted to do was keep on running.

  She saw Finn coming back out of the house. She pulled away and accepted the drink Finn offered her. “Finn, this is my dad, Billy, and my mom, Ellie.”

  Finn held out her hand. “I’m very pleased to meet you both. Can I get you something to drink?”

  “I’ll get them.” Her dad headed for the house.

  “Olivia tells us you’re here training to be a dive instructor.”

  “That’s right.”

  “And do you like it?”

  “I love it. Oz is a fantastic teacher. I’m very lucky to have her.”

  Oz couldn’t stop herself from staring at Finn as she spoke, but she barely heard a word she said, she was so focused on the way her lips moved when she smiled. The soft rose color against the deepening tan and white teeth had her itching to lean forward and taste Finn’s mouth with her own. The haphazard ponytail that she wanted to run her fingers through and the skin exposed by the skimpy bathing suit had her balling her fists at her sides to stop herself from reaching out and touching her. She realized they were both looking at her, waiting for her response to something.

  “I’m sorry, I must’ve spaced out. What were you saying?” Oz knew from the smile on her mother’s face that she hadn’t gotten away with her distraction and its true cause.

  “Finn was saying how lucky she is to have you as her teacher.” Her mother was grinning widely while Finn and Oz both shifted uncomfortably.

  “I think I’ll go and join Pete in the pool. It was lovely to meet you, Ellie.”

  They both watched as she disappeared beneath the water.

  “She’s lovely.”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “You like her?”

  Oz nodded.

  “You going to ask her out?”

  “You know I don’t date. Besides, I don’t even know if she’s gay.”

  “Oh, please. She looked at you the exact same way you were looking at her. And I thought you were going to eat her alive!”

  “Mom!”

  “What?”

  “You can’t say things like that to me.”

  “Why ever not?”

  “Because you’re my mom.”

  “Olivia, you are thirty-six years old and well past the blushing virgin, so don’t even try and pull that with me.”

  Oz felt her cheeks flame as her mother shook her head and joined her Aunt Alex under the gazebo. Her mind was reeling playing over her mother’s words. Was it true? Did Finn look at her like that? Was Finn attracted to her too? Did it matter? She knew Finn wasn’t the kind of girl to fall into bed at the drop of a hat, but that was the only thing Oz knew how t
o do. She watched Finn playing in the pool with Pete, Junior, and AJ, laughing and smiling as they splashed and dunked each other, and she knew it mattered. The memories invaded again, and she knew she would never deserve a woman like Finn in her life. It was easier to believe there was no mutual attraction. No mutual attraction, no one gets hurt, no one gets disappointed. Especially her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  William Sterling made his way across the hotel bar and sat in a dimly lit corner near the back. He ordered a whiskey and waited.

  He quickly downed the drink and picked up the napkin under it, checking its message before he wiped his lips, then he balled it up and stuffed it in his pocket. He made his way to the lift, punched the button, and waited. He slid his hands into his trouser pockets and fiddled with the coins on the left hand side. Ordering them. Small to large. The smallest coins closest to his fingertips, then slowly, one by one, switching them round.

  The pennies pressed against his palm. The angular profile of the fifty pence piece sat in the crease between his knuckles.

  The lift arrived. He punched the button for the fifth floor. And waited, shifting the penny back to his fingertips, the fifty pence against his palm.

  The doors slid open and he quickly walked to the room number written on the back of the napkin.

  He knocked once and entered the room as the door was opened, spreading his arms before he was asked and waiting as the electronic wand was waved across his body.

  “He is clean.” The man-mountain moved away and a tall, thin Arabic man moved toward him, his arms spread wide.

  “Thank you, Hakim. William. It is good to see you, my friend.”

  “Masood.” They clasped wrists and wrapped each other in a stiff, one-armed embrace.

  “Can I offer you a drink?”

  “Thank you, Masood, but I will decline your generous offer. I have other matters I must attend this evening.”

  “Of course. Shall we?” He indicated the seats and they sat down. “You have good news for me?”

  “I do.” Sterling opened his briefcase and pulled out a sheaf of papers. “My people have managed to create the toxic bacteria that we discussed. We have been calling it Balor, as you know. This information indicates its lethality and predictions for its effects in non fatal cases.” He handed them to Masood, who looked at them briefly before passing them to another man.

  “This is Dr. Shikhar. He will understand this information far better than I could possibly hope to.”

  “Of course.” Sterling smiled.

  “While we wait for him to verify the information, perhaps you would indulge me in some information.”

  “Of course.”

  “Tell me how this works?”

  “Well, my scientist has managed to develop a technique to incorporate toxins into a relatively harmless bacterium.”

  “Can this be any toxin?”

  “In theory, but we have been working with botulism as you requested.”

  “And what have your results shown?”

  “As you know, using botulism as a weapon is limited, as the bacterium doesn’t make the host contagious. By incorporating it into this harmless little stomach bug, I’ve managed to do just that.”

  “You have made botulism contagious?”

  “Well, my scientists have.”

  “And it is effective?”

  “Very.”

  “We are amongst friends here; please tell me a little more about this Balor bug you have developed.”

  “Our tests show that the numbers are extremely impressive. Infection rate in the non-vaccinated group is one hundred percent. Mortality rate in the untreated is over ninety percent, and those infected survivors are debilitated to the extent that constant care is required. Our estimate for contagion spread is dependent on the method and geographical location of initial dispersal, but even our most conservative estimates establish global distribution within a month.”

  “This is excellent news, my friend. Now tell me, William, how is your family? Your daughter, is she well?”

  “Very, Masood. She is holidaying in America at the moment. She was instrumental in the development of the bacterium, and I have rewarded her with a holiday before she returns to announce her upcoming wedding and continue working on other projects for me.”

  “An exceptional young woman then?”

  “Absolutely. I am very proud.” William found it curious that the man was asking after his daughter and wondered why.

  “As you should be. I understand she is very beautiful too. Brains and beauty. You are a lucky man, William.”

  The thinly veiled threat became clear, and William knew he couldn’t leave it unchallenged. He didn’t care if Masood did anything to Daniela for her sake. No, his pride alone could not withstand the slight. “As are you, my friend. You have many sons. I am sure that they will be exceptional too. Strong boys you can be proud of.”

  Masood inclined his glass in silent acknowledgment of the stalemate, and when the doctor returned and whispered into Masood’s ear, he watched William as he listened.

  “Excellent, William. I am assured that this is everything you have promised. Now we must talk numbers.” He reached into the folds of his robe and withdrew a sheet of paper, then handed it to Sterling. William unfolded the page and scanned the figure.

  “I have invested significant resources on this product, Masood, as I am sure you can appreciate. As a businessman, I appreciate that you must try to achieve the best deal possible, and so must I. This is not adequate recompense for my investment.” He placed the paper on the small table next to his chair.

  “William, I would have been insulted had you accepted the number on that page.” He smiled, a plastic smile that barely twitched the corners of his mouth.

  “Double it.”

  “That would be unacceptable for me. Perhaps we can meet in the middle, as you Brits say.”

  “That would be acceptable. Delivery will be to the New York address you gave me earlier. I will contact you with the exact date in due course.”

  He stood, shook Masood’s hand, and left. Smiling, he fiddled with the change in his pocket.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “What time is your flight?” Finn dropped an armful of clothes next to Pete’s suitcase.

  “Not until ten. If we leave for the airport at six, we should be fine and miss the worst of the traffic.”

  “Okay.” She folded a pair of shorts and stuffed them into his case. “I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since I left you in this room. It feels like it was just yesterday that we got here.”

  “I know, three weeks and the time has just flown!” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a hug.

  “Are you all packed?”

  “Nearly, I just need to finish in the bathroom. I can’t forget to steal stuff. The concierge will look down on me if I don’t.”

  She laughed sadly at him. “Who told you that?”

  “The concierge. He was the guy helping out behind the bar on the first day we were here.”

  “Ahh, the waiter with the tan.”

  “And no bikini lines.”

  “Really?”

  Pete nodded emphatically.

  “You dog!”

  “Woof.” He chuckled genuinely this time as she pushed him toward the bathroom. “So the diving’s going well?”

  “Yeah. I’m loving it. It seems pretty natural too.”

  “And Oz? You’re still getting on okay with her?”

  “Yeah, fine. Really good actually. She’s a good teacher, and so far I really enjoy working with her. Plus, she’ll do almost anything I want if I let her drive my car. Why are you asking?”

  “Just checking you’re still okay with everything. When we were helping you move in with Mrs. Richmond, I thought I picked up a few vibes between you two.”

  “Pete, stop. She’s my friend and my teacher. That’s it. We get on well; that’s all. I thought you liked her?”

  “I did. I do. I
mean, she’s great fun to be around. It’s just that she’s the kind of girl you have a lot of fun with. The kind of girl you climb out of the window to go and see. You’re the kind of girl you take home to meet Mum and Dad. Do you know what I mean?”

  “She’s been around the block once or twice, while I’m all sweet and respectable.”

  “Exactly. She isn’t the kind of person you should be relying on.”

  “How would you describe yourself, Pete? Take home to Mum and Dad or climb out the window for?”

  “I’m definitely a climb out the—” Realizing what she was implying, he sighed and stopped talking.

  “I can look after myself. I might be innocent, but I’m not naïve. She has been friendly, supportive, and willing to be my friend. What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing. I just worry about you.”

  She wrapped her arms around him. “I know. Thank you for caring enough to worry, but you know we have to let go now, don’t you?”

  He squeezed her harder. “I know. I don’t have to like it though. I feel like I’m leaving part of myself here.”

  “You are. Definitely. The best part of yourself.” She felt him chuckling against her. “But I am too. We’d make each other miserable if we tried to make a life together. Turkey basting aside, we’d start to resent having to keep so much of our lives a secret. We’d end up hating each other.”

  “I could never hate you.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Yes, I do. And so do you.”

  “Pete, I love you, and I want to keep it that way. You’ve been my best friend for as long as I can remember, and I really don’t want to lose you. You’re the only person I know for sure ever loved me. I need to keep that in my heart. I don’t ever want you to hate me.” The tears welled in her throat making it difficult for her to speak. “I couldn’t stand for you to hate me.”

  “So you push me away instead.”

  “Pete, you agreed with me that this was the best way.” She grabbed his hand. “Has anything changed? Have you suddenly decided that the concierge was just a bit of fun and that you want to be with me for the rest of your life? Would I make you happy? Satisfied? Marriage is about more than sex, I know, but you can’t tell me you’d be happy watching porn and jerking off for the rest of your life!”