by J. R. WRIGHT
Marti, tears streaming down her face, nodded in response.
“Now, I want you to go pack a bag. And maybe one for Gloria — for the car. Those people up there packing the other things are cops… off duty cops. And they’re armed, so you’re safe. It’ll be those same cops driving the truck and providing escort the first five hundred miles. If you’re tired, one of them can even drive your car, okay?” Dunbar said. “Now, the truck is a rental, one way, so wherever you land, just turn it in at a dealer there. All paid for by the great city of St. Louis, okay?”
“But then, won’t somebody at some city department know where we’ve gone when they get the bill? Won’t that have a destination on it that could leak out? And if the Koffees should decide to come after us…”
“Then you should turn the truck in somewhere before your destination. Then just re-rent it, fully loaded, in another name,” Dunbar suggested.
“Okay,” Marti said, wiping tears. She had a better idea for what to do with the truck, but for now she would keep that to herself. “When will Gloria come?”
“At three a.m. Smitte will bring her over.”
“Is there any way I can go? I have to say goodbye to Parker.”
“Well, okay… then I’ll drive you over,” Dunbar said, reluctantly. “I’ll tell Smitte to stay put, then.”
With that said, Dunbar escorted Martina up. Once there, she went directly to her bathroom and climbed in the shower. She had some crying to do, again, that had to be taken care of before anything else. Oh, God, would it ever end?
Two hours later, when Martina emerged from the apartment building, she was thrilled to see it was still raining. Not only because she’d always loved the fresh smell of it, but also because tonight it gave purpose for the full length white trench coat she wore. Opening her umbrella, she descended the steps to where Lieutenant Dunbar waited at the patrol car, also under an umbrella.
Once in the car, Dunbar wasted no time in pulling away. He did a quick U turn and floored the accelerator. This unnerved Marti to the point that she grabbed up her purse from the floor and reached in for the pistol. Quickly she removed the empty clip and replaced it with a fresh one, from a side pocket.
“It’s good you had that extra gun?” Dunbar said, not questioning that she did, or why she never told him before that she possessed her own weapon. “But I see your purse didn’t come away unscathed.”
She put a pinkie finger in one of the several bullet holes. “No,” she said lowly, not particularly interested in small talk. Especially about something she was trying very hard to forget. Besides, there was another daunting challenge presenting itself only minutes ahead of her that dominated her thoughts now.
Parking conspicuously at the entrance to County General, Dunbar climbed out and escorted her past a group of police officers there and on inside. At the nurse’s station, where Piper had been just hours before and still was, in fact, looking a bit dismayed, they took a right. This was the route the bearded man, wearing the yellow slicker, had taken earlier, when she first saw him. That’s why she’d become concerned initially; Parker’s room was ahead and to the left at the next intersection.
Finally at the room, Dunbar asked, “How long will you be?”
With that, Marti took a deep breath and said, “I don’t know, Harry. How long does it take?” She then pushed her way in. In the semi-darkness, once the door was closed, she found her way to the bed, kicked off her heels, removed the trench coat and carefully draped it over a chair.
“Is that you, Doc?” Parker asked in a subdued tone. “It’s good to know someone else is awake at this ungodly hour.”
“Shhhhhh!” She leaned in for a kiss, finding his lips to be warm and inviting.
“What’s that you have on?” he asked, taking in every inch of the skimpy black nightie she wore. “Is that…?” He was about to comment further.
“We don’t have much time, Parker,” she said softly and went for his lips again.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” He glared at her. “It’s all over the hospital, what happened last night. I heard your name mentioned from the hallway — nurses talking.”
“Are you ever going to shut up?” She went for the lips again, hoping not to be rudely interrupted again.
“I always knew you were one to keep your promises, Doc.” He produced an inviting smile.
“Okay, then shut up and let me do it,” she said, covering his mouth with her hand, briefly. It was always so easy for her to get him silently aroused before. Why was he being this way now, when finally she was fully prepared to go all the way? Well, almost fully prepared.
Parker reached out a hand, gripped her firm buttocks, and drew her closer to the bed. Now, this she hadn’t bargained for. Her plan called for her being in control, throughout. It was her way of giving him a parting gift… a gift of herself… What could be sweeter? But now it appeared he was taking… where was the gift in that? Using his other hand, then, he pulled her in for a firm kiss. That included a hungry mouth. Just who was seducing whom? Marti wondered again, submitted, and melted onto him, like cheese on a burger. His hand slipped down her buttocks and soon she was being pulled, ever so slowly, onto the bed — onto him. That’s when Marti broke away, and when she did, emitted a hearty laugh… No way was this set up going to work, she knew!
“Woops!” She covered her mouth, immediately. “That laugh was a little loud,” she said, wondering what Dunbar, outside the door, thought of her now. But knowing nothing would happen of consequence with a sheet dividing them; she now tossed it aside. This, of course, compromised Parker, naked and erect beneath it. But, as usual, he didn’t seem to mind, and quickly gathered her in again. This time his efforts brought her atop him, in a laying position, and she found his lips again. He may be ready, but at this point, she was the little girl at the ice cream counter for the first time, wondering if the Push Up displayed would be as pacifying as her fingers had been in the past.
Becoming anxious after a time, because time was short, Marti rose up to a sitting position and lifted herself, allowing Parker to find and unsnap the bottom of the nightie. Easing slowly down then, she felt some pain along the way, but thankfully, it subsided quickly. Certainly the desire was there now, her breathing became heavy, but what in the name of god was she to do now? Parker was doing what he could, but being belted down limited his movement to minor hip action. Eight, skate, and rotate, came to mind. Gloria had said that. But what did it mean? Make a figure eight? Pretend your skating? And rotate… Rotate! That was simple…and it felt good. Gloria had said to pleasure yourself above all else, and she was certainly doing that now. Her breathing kicked up another notch and so did Parker’s. It seemed like she was doing something right, so she increased the effort, whipping up a real cake now. She moaned breathlessly to test the vocal part Gloria had mentioned, then wondered if it wasn’t for real. No doubt now, she was boiling over with desire and anticipation of something heavenly happening, eventually. Parker was certainly enjoying himself, the way he moved now, forcing himself as high as the belts would let him go, his hands everywhere. Then she felt it coming…a freight train, just around the bend, roaring down the track… She tossed her head, arching into it. Yes! Yes! Yes! And to make it special, it appeared Parker was on the same train, coming along with her for the ride. Then, it was certain he was when she felt the fluttering pulsation of him inside her.
She fell to him now, gaping, gasping, exploring, enraptured in the ecstasy which went on, and on, and on…
Then, after what seemed a long time, reality returned, and she remembered who was waiting for her just outside the door. With agility, then, she leapt from the bed and ducked into the bathroom. After a quick scrub, she came out with a warm washcloth and did likewise for Parker, who seemed to take pleasure in that, as well. She re-covered him with the sheet, and leaned in for a final kiss before returning to the bathroom to retouch her lipstick and brush her hair. Then it was on with the trench coat, the heels, a light
spray of perfume, and she was set to go.
“You’re not coming back, are you?” Parker glared.
“Never say never, Parker!” she said, sincerely. “After that experience, you can rest assured I won’t be forgetting you anytime soon.” She laughed, leaned in with a departing peck, and then she was gone.
Staring at the door after she had gone, he couldn’t help but smile. “Goodbye, Doc. It was good knowing you. Rest assured, I won’t be forgetting you anytime soon, either.” In fact, he missed her already.
Not finding Lieutenant Dunbar outside the door, as she’d expected, Marti cautiously proceeded on to the waiting area. It was there she saw him, along with Gloria and Smitte, stepping from the elevator. Thank God he hadn’t waited outside Parker’s door, as she’d thought he had. Now, with relief, she could feel with some confidence that he hadn’t a clue as to what had happened back there. Just the thought of it again, however, brought a renewed exhilaration for having finally experienced this grand pleasure she’d lived so long without. This, though, brought on a blush, which was readily picked up by Gloria, who rushed toward her now, relieved to see her friend was here.
Gloria had been briefed on what was coming down. Remarkably, she was alright with it, and the three of them hurried from the building. At the apartment building, Marti was happy to see her treasured car parked at the curb, looking spotlessly clean and with a new rear window. Her and Gloria’s suitcases were visible in it, and it appeared the procession there was prepared to pull out. Dunbar beckoned Marti aside as others went to their respective vehicles.
“There will be an unmarked car in front, and another in the rear. Get to know them; they are your escorts. And Martina, I have something here for you and Gloria, to help you get settled, wherever you land.” He handed her a rather fat beige envelope.
“What is it, Lieutenant?”
“I won’t stand for another argument, Martina,” he threatened, tilting his hat away from the bandage above his ear, as he prepared for the worst. “It’s five thousand in cash.”
“Oh, no, Harry!” She waved it at him. “This is your money, isn’t it?”
“Where would I get that kind of money, this time of night? Of course it’s not my money. It was taken from some drug pusher or something. We’re allowed to use cash we get like that for a worthy cause, now and again.”
“And I’m a worthy cause?”
“I think so. I’m going to miss you, kid.” He pulled her in for a hug.
“Thank you, Harry.” She pecked him on the cheek.
“I guess you’d better get going. I see they’re pulling away.” He stepped back, fearing he may fog up if she hung around another second.
“Okay.” Marti turned for the car, where Gloria already sat. Smitte had helped her into it. “I’ll call you, sometime!” she shouted back from the door.
“You do that!” He tipped his hat, then checked his watch. “Three a.m.,” he said to Smitte nearby. “Right on time.”
“You okay, boss?” Smitte then asked, after Dunbar seemed to be in deep thought for an unusual length of time.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” He looked over. “I was just trying to remember what life was like before that one came along.”
“Quiet… Awful quiet.”
“That’s what I was afraid you’d say.” Dunbar moved on toward the patrol car, lowering his umbrella as he went. Thankfully, it had stopped raining.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Marti took in the unique beauty of the ancient buildings, as much as she could see of them by the dim glow of the street lights as they passed, remembering how grand they had appeared when she first arrived here in daylight, just five weeks ago. What high hopes, she had thought then that this would be the place where she could fit in and remain awhile — find a job, meet a man, and start living normally for a change, just being herself. Now she wondered what being herself really consisted of… Certainly she was no killer, just a week ago. And certainly she was a virgin less than a half hour ago. But what did all this change really mean? Was she just a victim of circumstance, or had she invited all the hell that had come her way of recent? These were things she would need to resolve, over time, if she were to ever see herself as the same person she once was, again. Then, just as the tears were about to begin to roll down her cheeks, Gloria crashed her thoughts by saying, “How was it?”
Knowing exactly what she meant by that, Marti couldn’t help but break out into exhilarating laughter that, almost immediately, evolved into miserable weeping. “Gloria…it was the most marvelous experience… I…I…can’t explain it in the glorious words it deserves. Oh, God it was so beautiful!” she shouted out. “Now… Now, I feel like a woman! How great is that?”
“Alright!” Gloria shouted gleefully, bringing up a hand for Martina to high five, which she promptly met half way. “God, for a moment there I thought you’d had a bad experience. I was starting to feel bad for you. Did you wear the red night dress?”
With that, Marti quickly untied the belt and unbuttoned the trench coat to reveal the skimpy, see through, black nightie and the matching web nylons she wore with it. “Yeehaa! Ride ’em cowboy!” She laughed, again.
“Okay, now you’re starting to get silly! Parker must have pushed all the right buttons?”
“If he missed any, I don’t know where they might have been hiding,” she said, while trying to remember what Parker did do with those hands, which seemed to be everywhere, throughout.
Up ahead, the huge truck they followed slowed and signaled to get onto highway 66 West. “Here we go,” Marti said. “Are you ready for this?”
“You bet I am. Here’s to a new beginning, Martina,” Gloria said soberly, displaying her hand again, and receiving the same result. “I can drive now, if you want? I’m rested, you’re not. Besides, you may be wanting to get out of that thing.”
“The nightie?” She looked down. “No way! I’m wearing this cotton picking thing until it rots off my ass!” she squealed, laughing wildly. “I’m not done with the memory yet!”
Gloria tossed Martina a sideways glance, wondering if she’d been that silly after her first time. Finding it difficult to recall, she scooted down in the seat and focused on the rental truck’s taillights ahead of them.
It was just after daybreak when they pulled into a truck stop for gas and breakfast. While the attendant filled the tank, washed the windshield, and checked the oil, Marti took jeans and a sweatshirt from her suitcase and went to the women’s restroom. On her way out, after changing, she violently slammed the black nightie into the trash can. “Take that, Raym Koffee, you sonofabitch! May your ass rot in hell!” She then gave the metal can a swift kick, as if it were him, leaving a huge dent. Feeling a bit better now, she stepped outside.
“What did you say?” Gloria, who had been standing guard at the the door, asked.
Thinking fast, Marti replied, “I said, from here on out, I hope things go well.”
“That’s not what you said,” Gloria glared. “And what was that loud crashing noise?” She went in to investigate for herself. Coming back out moments later, after using the toilet and washing her hands and face, she said, “Well, I hope you got it all out? What happened to letting the nightie rot off your ass?”
“Did you take it from the trash?” Marti looked to see if she may have it on her somewhere. If so, she planned to repeat the process.
“Are you kidding me?” Gloria said in a huff. “It’s now on the hook inside the door. I decided to let some trucker mama have some fun with it.” She laughed. “It’ll probably end up hanging from some eighteen wheeler stud’s rearview mirror.”
“In that case, maybe it’ll end up having a life of its own.” Marti smiled at the thought of it traveling the country for years to come. In that regard, it certainly had gotten off to a rousing start.
In the restaurant, they spotted the six off duty cops seated around a corner booth and took a table nearby. Before they were even fully situated, one of them sprang to his feet
and came over. Marti recognized him as the guy who had asked her name in the Brass Badge, when Dunbar took her there for fried chicken. The expression on his face now said he was all business.
“Ladies,” he greeted, touching the bill of the Chicago Cubs baseball cap he wore. “We’ll be pushing it hard from here on in to Oklahoma City. So I have to ask you, would you like one of us to take the wheel of your car for the remaining seven hours or so? I know you must be awfully tired.”
It had been near twenty-four hours since Martina had slept, so she looked to Gloria for the decision. Seeing her doing the best she could to make moon eyes at the rather handsome man, through her battered face, was almost comical. Then when she said, “Would the one taking the wheel be you, by chance, officer?” Martina openly laughed.
“It could be, if you want?” He smiled back at Gloria. “The name’s Tom, ma’am.” He absently tipped his cap again.
“Well, then I think we ought to do it, don’t you Martina?”
Not wanting to spoil her friend’s fun, Marti shrugged and said, “Whatever.” She probably owed Gloria this.
And so it went. After breakfast, Marti put the suitcases into the trunk and climbed in the back seat. Then, once on the road, she stretched out as best she could, and before long she was sound asleep. She didn’t awaken until four hours later, when they stopped for fuel and food again. Having Gloria alone for a moment in the bathroom, she asked, “You haven’t told anyone where we’re planning to go, did you?” She knew she must have chatted up the driver the entire way, since she was smitten with him.
“Look at this face,” she said, suddenly angry, pointing a finger at it. “Do I look stupid?”
“Yes,” Marti said, and laughed. “You look pretty stupid.”
“Well, I’m not,” she said, and laughed a little, herself. “But we did have a good talk. He’s divorced, Martina.”
