Gloria's Inn

by Robin Alexander

  I laughed out loud, thinking how silly it must look that I was sitting there talking to the dirt, but I knew my aunt was buried there and it made me feel close to her. Even though, I knew that her spirit had been set free of these earthly bonds. “Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for bringing such a beautiful person into my life. She says she loves me, ya know.” I grinned as I got up and headed back to the Inn, my home.

  “Where have you been my love? I was beginning to get worried about you.” Adrienne said as I joined her in the bar. I took her in my arms and hugged her, and then kissed her without worrying who might be watching. She smiled at me with a questioning look in her eyes.

  “I went to visit aunts grave. I thanked her for bringing someone so wonderful into my life.” I kissed her again, and made up my mind that tonight I would show her just how wonderful I thought she was.

  Dinner was pleasant for a change, and Billy seemed to make an effort at behaving himself. It wasn’t near as much fun as it was with our previous guests, and I knew it never would be. Those girls were a different experience altogether.

  After dinner most of the guests returned to their cottages. Billy and Chris and the Burkes settled down to a game of poker. Myra and Shelby joined Adrienne and I for drinks and my love filled them in on what Hank’s intentions were. Both quickly agreed to work with us by roaming the grounds at night keeping an eye out for Hank. Shelby agreed to let us use her video camera, and our plan was set.

  While Adrienne talked to our friends I ran my fingertips lazily up and down her thigh. I could tell the effect my actions were having by the tiny goose bumps rising up on her normally smooth skin. Occasionally, she would cast me a sideways glance, but I continued undaunted. Matter of fact, the more she glanced my way the higher I let my fingertips roam. The fact that she chose to wear a skirt that night made my explorations all the more interesting.

  She grabbed my hand before I could get to the spot where I truly wanted to be and gave me a grin. Billy apparently, had a few bad hands of cards dealt to him and decided to throw in the towel. The Burke’s followed retiring for the night as well. Shelby and Myra helped us straighten up the bar and we were off toward our cottages in record time.

  “What exactly were you trying to do to me back there Hayden?” Adrienne asked as she squeezed my hand on the walk to the cottage.

  “Ah my love if you don’t know then I have a lot to teach you, and we can start those lessons tonight.” I responded with a wink.

  I pulled her into a little grove of trees, and kissed her teasingly nipping at her bottom lip. She intertwined her fingers in my hair in an attempt to kiss me deeper. I ran my fingers slowly up her thighs till her breath came in gasps.

  “Not here Hayden lets go inside.” Adrienne panted against my neck.

  “No lets do it right here, right now.” I said as I ran my hands up under her skirt and began to stroke her through her panties. She groaned at my touch. “I don’t think you really want me to stop now anyway.” I whispered into her ear.

  She leaned up against the tree, and wrapped her arms around my neck as I kissed her. At first I tried to work around her underwear, but when it became frustrating I ripped the thin material off of her. I moaned when I ran my fingers between her legs and realized how aroused she was. I felt her body quiver next to mine as I touched her.

  I kissed her neck as I slid my fingers into her. Her grip on my shoulders tightened. I ran my tongue around her ear and whispered. “Don’t make a sound, not one sound, or I will tease you mercilessly.”

  The strokes were slow and deep and I took great pleasure feeling her body shudder each time I filled her. I kissed her again sucking her tongue into my mouth as I pulled out of her and began to stroke her clit. Her knees trembled and she was forced to put more of her weight on me as she wrapped her arms tighter around my neck. With each stroke I whispered in her ear all the things I planned to do to her that night, and when her breath caught in her throat and her hips stilled I smiled against her ear.

  I led her on shaky legs toward our cottage. “I have so much more in mind for you tonight my love as I opened the door and led her inside. I undressed her just inside of the doorway and led her to the bed.

  “Get on the bed and get down on your knees.” She did as I asked without a word of protest. I knelt behind her and tangled my fingers into her hair pushing her head down onto the pillow. I entered her slowly, grinning at the groan she uttered into the pillow. I took her slowly at first; her legs were still weak and trembled slightly.

  I moved as her hips dictated, but when she whispered. “Please don’t stop Hayden.” I lost all control and the desire to be gentle. My strokes became hard and fast. I watched as she clutched the pillow, and I listened to her scream into it. Without warning she pulled her body straight up and leaned back into me slinging her long dark hair over my shoulders and face.

  She gasped twice and her breathing stilled again as she laid her head back on my shoulder. “Don’t move Hayden,” She whispered breathlessly. I stayed perfectly still feeling her spasm against my fingers. When she was spent I pulled her back onto the bed and held her till her breathing became normal again.

  When she began to run her fingertips across my stomach I grabbed her hand. “No my love. My desires are satisfied for this evening. All I want you to do is drift off to sleep in my arms, and tell everybody at breakfast tomorrow that I rolled your eyes up in your head again, especially Billy.”

  “I never know what is going to come out of that mouth of yours Hayden.” She said with a grin. She settled her head down on my shoulder, and we fell into a contented sleep.

  Hank never made a sound as he walked the grounds slowly near our cottages. When he heard the beeping in the headphones, he quietly slipped them off and set the metal detector on the ground. The sandy soil made little noise as he dug into it, unearthing a satchel identical to the one we found in his shack.

  “Two down, and three more to go.” He muttered under his breath as he padded quietly back to his shack.

  Chapter 10

  “Good morning Monkey Chops.” Shelby greeted us brightly as Adrienne and I strolled into the bar a good hour after breakfast.

  “Billy and Chris have gone down to the beach. The rest have all gone into town with the one of the porters to go souvenir shopping. Looks like we have the place to ourselves for a while, which is good because you two don’t look like you slept that much last night.” Myra said with a wink.

  I could not help but laugh. Adrienne’s face turned a dark crimson red, confirming what Myra and Shelby obviously suspected. We sat at the table with them and Adrienne quickly changed the subject, which we all found even more amusing.

  Shelby sighed. I am afraid we fell asleep last night and did not keep our vigil. We never discussed who would be taking the first patrol yesterday.”

  “Well we kind of fell down on the job also, I had other things in mind when we turned in last night.” Adrienne’s face turned red again at my remark.

  “Since you two were up late last night playing slap and tickle, why don’t you take a nap today and take the first round tonight. Myra and I will take it up tomorrow night.” Shelby suggested as she sipped her coffee.

  “Sounds like a great plan to me.” I said with a smirk. “I got quite a work out last night and could use a little more sleep.” That remark earned me a playful slap from a blushing brunette.

  Adrienne and I ate a late breakfast and then went back to bed. Unlike the night before we actually did go to sleep. We managed to sleep nearly the whole day away, and woke up an hour before dinner was to be served. Refreshed from a shower and a whole days sleep we felt invigorated. We were also excited at the prospect of our guests going home in a couple of days. The countdown had begun.

  At dinner that night we listened to our guests tell of their shopping adventure. Souvenir shops were sparse on the island but they managed to find what they were looking for. Abigail and Sandy bought some baskets from the local basket makers who gave the
m an impromptu class on basket weaving.

  Billy and I did not entertain the group by exchanging barbs. Instead I decided to play nice since I would be rid of the bespectacled pestilence in only a couple of days. Instead the chatter around the table was light-hearted, until Billy brought up Brandon Fallon.

  “You still haven’t told us about that Brandon guy that disappeared the first night here.” Billy said around a mouth full of food. I was beginning to wonder about dear ole Billy. He didn’t behave like a gay guy, but I have never been one to stereotype. Something about him got on my last nerve, and his curiosity about Brandon made me seriously wonder if Hank had an accomplice.

  Not wanting a replay of early conversations Adrienne jumped in before I could answer. “The authorities have been notified. We have been very concerned for Mr. Fallon, but aside from reporting him missing there is very little we can do.”

  “Have you tried contacting his family to see if they have heard from them?” Billy was obviously going to press the issue.

  “No we have not, but we did give his emergency contact info to the Bahamian Police and they are searching for a contact.” Adrienne answered politely.

  “I guess that’s all you can do then.” Billy said, before Chris jumped in and changed the subject.

  Chris smiled. “Hayden, every now and then when you speak I detect a slight accent. Is it Cajun?”

  “I am not a Cajun so to speak. I was born and raised in Louisiana, but my family is not of Cajun French decent. If you live with real Cajuns long enough it’s hard to keep that accent out of your speech.”

  “Adrienne, are you from Louisiana also?” Jerri asked as she gave my love a smile that was all too reminiscent of Denise. I was not going through that mess again. If this woman decided to get a little too frisky I was gonna bitch slap her, guest or not!

  “I am from Florida, Miami to be exact.” Adrienne answered politely.

  “Miami? They have a lot of problems with drugs down there don’t they?” Billy piped up again.

  “No more than anywhere else I would suppose. Then again I wouldn’t know much about it since I came here relatively young. My wild youthful years were spent here on the island.”

  I wondered where Billy was going with his line of questioning, but he let it drop before it could go further. I glanced over at Myra and Shelby who wore the same perplexed expression that I am sure I did. His behavior was becoming stranger by the minute.

  After dinner Adrienne and I excused ourselves to walk the grounds, while Myra, Shelby and Sarah tended the bar and our guests. We strolled hand in hand trying our best to look casual while keeping an eye out for Hank. When we passed the same small grove of trees that we spent time in the previous night I watched as a smile graced Adrienne’s face.

  “What is going through that beautiful head of yours my love?” I asked squeezing her hand.

  “Oh just fond memories, that’s all.”

  I stopped in my tracks and spun her around. “Would you like a replay of last night? “I said in between kisses.

  “As much as I love the sound of that, I cannot keep watch for Hank with my eyes rolled up in my head.” She giggled.

  “Why would you be watching for me?” A male voice came from the shadows.

  All the blood drained from my body as I stood there holding Adrienne’s hands in mine. Her eyes grew wide with the realization that Hank was standing only two feet from us. I swallowed hard when I saw Hank emerge from the shadows over Adrienne’s shoulder.

  I stammered trying to think of a way to lie my way out of the situation. “Hank

  we

  umm were talking about something else.”

  “Cut the shit Hayden I heard you both. Now before either of you get the bright idea to scream you had better realize I have nothing to loose by killing you both. I’m a dead man anyway, so lets take a walk back to my place.”

  I felt nauseated when I saw the moonlight reflect off of the knife blade he held in his hand. Adrienne’s eyes easily conveyed what she was thinking. I shook my head no, telling her it was not a good idea to try and run he was too close and most assuredly would get at least one of us. He stepped up beside Adrienne and took her by the arm. “Lets go ladies.”

  My mind raced on the walk to his shack with ideas of escape, but he was too close to Adrienne and the fear of her getting hurt terrified me. He shoved us through the door of his house and made us sit down on his disgusting bed, while he sat in a chair in front of us.

  “I knew I should have just taken that first bag of money and ran, but of course I got greedy. There are three more bags out there that I have not been able to find. I could have sneaked back on the island and got them later, but with you two silly bitches digging up everything I was forced to change my mind.” He hissed through clenched teeth.

  “Hank just take what you have and go. We wont say a word to anyone

  ” Adrienne stammered before Hank cut her off.

  “Give me a break Adrienne! We all know better than that! That Harry Potter looking bastard you have staying with you has been asking about me all over town. I should have taken care of him just like I did Brandon. I knew they would send more than one person to look for me. That money is mine! They screwed me over so many times; I just took what they owed me. All this time I have been out here and no one has found me until now.

  That fat bastard will kill everyone at this Inn to get his hands on that money. The people that sent him and that Fallon have vast connections on these islands. Neither of you realized it, but your days where numbered when he and Fallon set their feet on Cat Island. Whether I kill you or he does it makes no difference you both are going to die, only with me it will be quick.”

  Adrienne and I sat dumbfounded. We watched in stunned silence as he opened up a briefcase and took out several passports. As he opened each one I was amazed to see a clean cut looking Hank in each picture, without the eye patch.

  “Clever disguise.” I nodded toward the eye patch.

  “Oh that’s no disguise. I lost my eye when I staged the boat accident the day I took the money. He flipped up the patch revealing an empty eye socket. Adrienne and I recoiled at the sight.

  “Smug bastards! I knew they would figure out that I had staged it when they couldn’t find the money. I had hoped to be farther away than here, but my injuries kept me from making it very far. I paid the local medicine man for his silence, but I suppose they must have paid him more.”

  When I was well enough I buried the money around the Inn. I stayed so stoned those first few months because of the pain that I cant remember where I hid the rest of the money. There is still a quarter of a million dollars buried out there and I will never be able to find it, but I will be damned if I let those sons of bitches find me.”

  He got up and began to pace back and forth through the mess that was his cottage. I looked around the room for something to use as a weapon, and came up with nothing but empty beer cans. I was afraid that Myra and Shelby would come looking for us, but was more frightened by the thought of them being in the presence of killers as ruthless as Hank.

  “They have been gone a while, don’t you think?” Myra whispered to Shelby as they sat at the bar.

  “Maybe they are busy.” “Shelby wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “They are in that frisky stage of their relationship. Maybe they are out there getting their freak on.”

  “Getting their freak on? You’ve been watching too much MTV again.” Myra gave Shelby a playful nudge.

  “I’m sure they’re fine Myra. When the guests call it a night we will go check on them if they haven’t already returned.” Shelby assured her worried lover.

  “Now you two listen up and do what I say and I promise that when you die it will be quick and painless. We are going to take a little ride down to the Marina.” He handed us both a satchel while he carried the knife and the briefcase. My mind was a blur with what to do next. Adrienne and I did as we were ordered and carried the cases to the Jeep. As I lifted mine to p
ut it in the old vehicle I used all of my weight and slammed it into Hanks face.

  “Run Adrienne!” I screamed as we both bolted off into the darkness. Adrienne blazed a trail through the brush with me quick on her heals. The blow to Hank was enough to knock him off his feet, but he was quickly closing in on us. I could hear his heavy footsteps coming up behind us and I veered off the trail, hoping he would follow me instead of Adrienne.

  He did as I had hoped thinking he could catch the slower of the two of us. It was a good choice on his part because all those years of smoking came to roost. My chest heaved and burned and exhaustion threatened to overtake the adrenaline that came with sheer terror. I could see the lights of the Inn through the trees and mustered all the energy I had to make it there, but when I could hear Hank panting just behind me I dropped to the ground in a ball causing him to trip over me and fall head long into the brush.

  I got up again and tried to run. My back ached where Hanks knees had connected with it and I wheezed as I tried to fill my lungs with air. Hank caught me by the hair and slung me to the ground, but before I could struggle free from him grasp he pressed the knife blade to my throat.

  “You stupid bitch!” He spat at me. “You are going to be responsible for everyone in that Inn dying tonight!”

  My heart sank in fear of what Adrienne had run into back at the Inn. I closed my eyes and prayed that Billy and Chris had already gone to bed for the night. Hank pulled me to my feet by my hair and pressed the knife so close to my throat I thought he had already cut me.

  “Let her go Hank!” Adrienne stood panting before us with a branch in her hand poised to strike.

  “Don’t do anything dumber than you already have Adrienne. I will slit her throat, and cut yours before she ever hits the ground. Drop that stick and come with me now!” He hissed.