“Listen, can we have a truce? I’ll take my hand from your mouth if you promise not to scream and if you’ll give me a chance to tell my story.”
Again, muffled noise filtered from between his fingers.
“Hell, if you’re asking me to let go of you completely, I don’t know whether I want to do that.”
She became a frenzy of jabbing and kicking.
“Okay, okay. I was joking. I’ll let you go. You agree to the terms?”
Todd had to wait a few seconds for the nodding of her head.
Please, Lord, make her keep her word, he prayed, letting his grip slowly slacken. When free, Amy spun around to glare at Todd.
“How the hell did you get into my apartment?”
“Those old locks aren’t hard to pick, Amy.”
“Yeah, well, I keep meaning to replace it. It came with the apartment.”
“Not good safety practice to use a former tenant’s lock. Can never tell who they know.”
“You were acquainted with them?”
Todd shook his head. Amy’s flesh was flushed right down to the roll of towel mid-way down her bosom. Her hands reached up and pulled the pale peach terry cloth further up over the fullness of her breasts. He wondered what her legs looked like.
“How ‘bout we go sit on the couch and talk?”
“I talk better with clothes on, Mr. Coleman.”
“I can’t let you go walking off to the bedroom alone.”
He saw her sparse brows furrow into a frown.
“I’d say we were at logger-heads, Mr. Coleman, because I’m not about to sit down completely naked with a—”
“Suspected murderer.”
Briskly she nodded.
“How about I give you my jacket,” he said, pulling the jacket from his shoulders.
“Are you kidding? That may take care of the top half, but it will hardly cover my... the rest of me.”
Todd pulled his jacket back on.
“You’re quick,” he said.
Amy threw him a disgusted look.
“Okay, do you have a robe or something like that to put on?”
“In the bedroom.”
“Well, then, why didn’t you put it on before you came out here?”
“Because, Mr. Coleman, I didn’t expect company.”
“You eat in the nude?” The idea conjured up some pleasant visuals inside his head.
Amy sighed.
“I was going to switch on the television before I got dressed. I wanted to hear whether there was any news on your where—”
Todd smiled and spread his arms out wide away from his body.
“And here you are. Yes, I know,” she moaned.
“Let’s compromise, Amy. I’ll walk you into the bedroom and turn my back while you quickly slip into a robe. On condition that you don’t try to bop me on the head, or you might suffer a serious penalty.”
Her eyes opened wide.
“I certainly understand.”
“No, you don’t. I was thinking more of spanking than what was going through your mind.”
Chapter 5
Stay... For Supper
Amy carefully stepped around Todd Coleman while never taking her eyes off him. Finally she faced the door straight down the hallway and attempted to judge whether she could run for her bedroom and lock the door before he could imprison her again in his vice-like hold.
“Don’t even consider it, Amy; my legs are longer, although I’m not too sure of that,” he said, taking a step back to assess her.
Now’s your chance, Amy, go for it.
“The only thing you’d manage to do is lose your towel, and I might not want to give it back to you.”
Courage deserted her, and she walked the hall to her bedroom, while Todd followed closely.
“Did you kill that man, Joey Landis?”
“No.”
Simple reply, but it wasn’t an explanation for what was going on. He seemed to sense her thought.
“I’ll give you the full story when we’re settled in on the couch.”
Once inside the bedroom, she immediately went to her futon bed and searched through the bed linen for the cotton robe she had removed that morning.
“Boy, you keep a messier bedroom than I do. I guess that’s your dirty laundry in a ball over there.”
“I was in a hurry this morning.”
“By the size of that pile, I’d say you’re in a hurry every morning.”
Todd walked over and picked up a silken garment. It was a pale pink teddy with white lace in all the right places.
“I bet you look good in this.”
Forgetting the robe, Amy grabbed the delicate material from his hands.
“Yeah, I think it would be kind of nice if you changed into that instead of a stuffy robe, unless the robe matches.”
Amy tossed the teddy onto the futon and swung open the doors to the pine armoire. Rolled into a ball on the floor of the armoire was her navy terry robe, the one with the collection of breakfast stains.
“Would you mind turning around?”
“Going to surprise me, huh?” Before he turned around he warned her not to try anything tricky. Given the difference in their sizes, he was apt to come out the winner.
“Shut up and turn around.”
He did, while keeping his eye on the vanity mirror in the corner of the room. He watched as Amy let the towel slip to the floor, revealing her bare back and shapely buttocks. Now if she’d only spin around frontwards, he thought. Instead, Amy bent over and picked up a dark heavy fabric. When she stood, he saw that she was slipping an unattractive wrap over her shoulders. His moan must have been audible, because Amy shouted that she wasn’t taking all that long.
“Honey, it’s not the length of time you’re taking, it’s that awful sack you’re putting on.”
“What?” Amy swung around, clutching the robe together. “But how did you know what I was putting...” Her eyes opened wide when she saw the location of the vanity mirror. “You peeping Tom,” she shrieked and picked up a fleece-lined slipper to throw at him.
“Lord, don’t tell me you’re going to put those ugly things on, too.”
Amy dropped the slipper and quickly sashed the robe. Out of spite, she wiggled her feet into the tan fleece slippers and started for the living room. But once seated on the couch she quickly discarded the hot slippers and tucked her legs under her.
Todd followed carrying the teddy.
“This would sure look a lot better than that...”
He sat down and started sniffing the air.
“What’s the matter?”
Todd leaned toward Amy and took several quick sniffs.
“Wow, that thing smells musty.”
“I haven’t worn it in a long time.” She was about to say that it was clean, but realized no one would believe her. Certainly not Todd, who was sitting inches away from her. “I meant to launder it.”
“When? Back before the war?”
“Which war?”
“I was thinking of the Big One.”
“I wasn’t even born yet. My parents weren’t even born yet.”
“Feels nice, too.” Todd was rubbing the silk teddy between the pads of two fingers.
“Put that down and get on with your explanation,” Amy said, drawing the collar of her robe up over her neck.
Todd spread the teddy across the arm of the couch.
“What do you want to know, Amy?”
“Did you kill Joey Landis?”
“No.”
“Who did?”
“It’s possible that someone in your office either killed him or commissioned the murder.”
“Why would a person in a legal firm get involved in a killing?”
“Because they had something to hide.”
“And what was that?”
“Illegals. Listen, Amy, I’m going to be straight with you because... basically, I need to trust someone.”
“Why me?”
“Gu
t feel. I work for the Federal Government, kind of in an unofficial way. They call me in from time to time to do undercover work. I’m known through my career in the Marines. Joey and I worked together. Matter of fact, it was Joey who had the contact for this caper.”
“So he was your partner.”
Amy saw the pain cross his face. His eyes hooded by furrowing brows, his nostrils constricted, and his lips stuttered over unsaid words.
“He was more than a partner, wasn’t he?”
Todd nodded.
“Want some coffee? Or I might have a beer left in the fridge from the pizza party.”
“The beer sounds good.”
She sprang to her feet. Her soles slapped against the wooden slats of the floor as she walked.
“Good thing you can’t see the inside of my refrigerator from there,” she said while taking out two beers. “We hit pay dirt,” she said, holding both bottles up.
“So what’s this ‘illegals’ stuff you’re talking about?” She twisted off the bottle caps and began her search for clean glasses.
“I’ll take mine out of the bottle.”
Amy shrugged. “I’ll join you.”
Back on the couch, Amy handed a beer to Todd. She felt the warmth of his hand cover hers until his palm slipped down to hold the bottle.
“Aren’t you hot in that thing?”
“You were telling me about the illegals, Todd.”
“Yeah.” Todd swallowed back a mouthful of brew. “There is a person in your office who is helping get illegal aliens into this country and making big bucks at it. The Feds approached the accounting firm you use and asked if we could pull a switcheroo for a few days. Man, let me tell you, I had to bone up on a lot of accounting I had forgotten.”
“You did very well,” Amy said earnestly. She was rewarded with a smile.
“Thank you. Anyway, I had orders to go in and search the records as quickly as possible before anyone suspected. Unfortunately for Joey, there must have been a leak.”
“How could you have searched for the papers? That wouldn’t have been part of your job while doing the taxes.”
“Well, I was told there was an attractive office manager, which there was, who if I wined and dined might be able to give me access to the right information.”
“What? You mean that dinner we had was only because you wanted to use me, and besides, you paid for it with my own tax dollar, didn’t you?”
“Actually, it’s all our tax dollars.”
Amy gave a big harrumph and then got up to pace the floor.
“But, Amy, I enjoyed the evening. I even enjoyed sitting in that barren windowless conference room with you.”
“Oh, is it my turn to say ‘thank you’ now. Forget it, buster. And you can remove your rear end from my sofa and get out of here!”
“To go where?”
Amy sucked in air to tell him, when he interrupted by standing and slipping his leather jacket off.
What a body, she thought. Nope, no way I’ll get sucked into this mess because of lust.
“Leave,” she calmly said.
“Can I crash the night? I don’t even have the telephone number for the contact. Joey never gave it to me.”
“Can’t you just go to the police and tell them your story?”
“Everyone will deny it. I’m alone, Amy.”
Vulnerable. Amy thought he looked like the most vulnerable man alive until she noticed a dark object protruding from the back of his waistband.
“What’s that?”
“A little something to keep me company.”
“You’re not alone, then.”
“I have a permit for the gun.”
“Was it the one used to pistol-whip Joey before he was stabbed?”
“No, but my other gun is missing from the apartment.”
“You’ve a got a real arsenal.”
“It’s part of my work, Amy. But I don’t go around killing my partners.”
“How many partners have you had?”
“Only Joey.”
Amy breathed slightly easier.
“Todd, why did you come to me?”
“Because no one will look for me here.”
“There is at least one person who knows that we had dinner.”
“Yeah, you’ll probably be asked some questions, but I doubt anyone will search your apartment for me.”
“You expect me to lie.”
“I don’t expect anything, Amy. I know better than that. I’m asking for help.”
“You’re a user. You were going to use me to obtain some sort of evidence, and now you want to use me to hide you out.”
“And to help find the person who murdered Joey.”
Amy blanched.
“Listen, Amy, I don’t expect you to do anything dangerous. You must work overtime on occasion; maybe you could look through some files while you’re there.”
“I work for a law firm. Most people work overtime, and I’d have to stay until midnight to be able to prowl around like that.”
“Then do it. I’ll pay the cab fare home.” He saw her frown. “I’d pick you up, but someone would recognize my car. Do you own a car?”
“My life is simple. No car. No condo. No pets. No ex-husband. No kids.” No boyfriend for the last six months, she silently added. “My mother lives on the opposite coast. I owe no one money.”
“Pretty dreary. I’d say it’s about time for a little excitement.”
“Being a voyeuse I get excitement from my job. I hear all sorts of client problems at the office and thank God I don’t have them.”
Todd moved toward her and she took a step back.
“Where are you going?”
He stopped a few inches from her.
“You have a loose eyelash that’s about to fall into your eye.”
“How can you see it from there?”
“I’m very observant.”
“Part of your job,” she said, allowing him to come closer.
He pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket and gently wiped her left eye.
“Hold still, I almost have it.” His left hand cradled her cheek as the right brushed the white cloth over her lid.
His hand smelled male, and she felt a rush of warmth cover her body. Too soon for menopause, she figured; had to be the hulk before her disturbing the stability of her hormones. In a low voice, she asked whether the stray lash was gone. He gifted her with a smile and a nod that ended up in a kiss on her lips.
What am I doing, she screamed inside her head, while her tongue tasted his in slow, leisurely waves. Her arms slipped around his middle. Her fingers kneaded his back until she reached a cold object, then Amy quickly pulled away.
“Do you always have to carry that thing?”
“Right now I feel better with it where it is.”
“I don’t. You can stay for supper if you find someplace to put that.”
Oh no, he’s going to leave, thought Amy as he lifted his jacket. Instead, he removed the gun from his waistband and slipped it into a pocket of the jacket.
Chapter 6
An Uncomfortable Night
The old eyelash trick always worked, Todd thought, as he tried to get comfortable on the sofa cushions, which Amy had graciously thrown on the floor when he had asked where he could sleep. Todd had managed to use one of the throw pillows to raise his legs on an equal level to the cushions. Getting the whole makeshift bed covered with a sheet was another problem. Slices of the bed kept slipping away.
But finally he was lying very still, knowing that any quick move would disrupt the precarious equilibrium of his bunk. Amy had let him use the bathroom first while she cleaned up after the meal, and now he could hear the water running in the bathroom. He remembered the sight of her in the vanity mirror and was dismayed to feel himself harden. He was uncomfortable enough without the additional temptation.
“Think old, smelly blue robe,” he repeated to himself several times. It didn’t do any good, because his mind
kept slipping the nubby material off her shoulders, letting it drop onto the white tiles of the bathroom floor. In the past, no woman had ever told him to sleep on the floor. He groaned and wondered whether he was loosing some of his masculine charms. Nah, not at thirty-six. It must be exhaustion; after all, he hadn’t slept in more than forty-eight hours. Yeah, well, why doesn’t the rest of him want to sleep? he wondered, still aware of his desire.
The water stopped, and he could hear the usual female assortment of bottles and jars clanking. Good Lord, he wondered, is she going to come out with cold cream all over her face and her hair done up in curlers? Maybe he’d be better off if she did. His arousal was certain to deflate then.
She was even trying to sing. It sounded like a tactical action to drive him out of the apartment. A high note made him grimace. The sounds finally stopped. He hoped she had sung herself hoarse. He didn’t think he could take anymore without surrendering.
The bathroom door squeaked open. From the darkened living room, he could see a splash of light hit the hallway. Amy followed.
“You asleep?” she whispered.
“Hardly.”
“Uncomfortable?”
“Definitely.”
“I might be able to borrow a sleeping bag from someone at work. That’s not saying that I’ve decided you can stay.”
“You mean I can take it with me and sleep in an alley?”
“Certainly not! How could I be sure of getting it back?”
Todd groaned.
“You’re not very appreciative. I could be considered an accessory to murder for letting you hide out here. And how do I know that in the middle of the night you won’t sneak into my bedroom and slit my throat?”
“Too messy. I don’t like the sight of blood.”
“What?!”
“Amy, I didn’t kill my partner, and I’m certainly not going to hurt you. Have I laid a hand on you?”
“Well, the eyelash... But then I guess you were doing me a favor.”
Todd didn’t know why, but he felt a slight twinge of guilt.
“Go to bed, Amy.”
She moved further into the hall and walked toward him. The light behind her outlined the curves of her body beneath the thin cotton gown. He wondered whether she was aware of that fact. Finally she was close enough for him to smell the soapy sweet fragrance of her body. And no, there were no curlers in her hair or whitish mask covering her face.
The Taxman Killeth Page 4
