"Twenty-two," Ray admitted.
"Really?" asked the woman. "What did you get? It was probably my dad's work. May I see it?"
"Sure." Ray shrugged. He pulled off his sport shirt and turned around.
"Oh, yes," the woman commented. "The Celtic guardian." She put silky soft hands on Ray's shoulder. "Yes, this is his work." Reverently touching each scale on the burnt orange and golden dragon set against a Celtic cross, it seemed the tattoo artist was transported to another world. As she traced the wingspan and finally the broadsword in the creature’s talons, she sighed, "It's beautiful." She dropped her hands to her sides, back in the here-and-now. "Did you get this during Mardi Gras?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Dad told me a story about a couple of guys, fraternity brothers, who came in here to get tattoos. Something about the incident made him tell it over and over while he trained me. One guy got the Celtic guardian. He said that as he was doing the work he felt as if he was painting a masterpiece. Dad said it was as if he was giving the man a gift. He thought maybe it really would protect the man because he felt the guy would be in harm's way his whole life. What's your name? What do you do for a living?"
"Raiford, Ray, Reynolds. I'm a cop."
"Oh!" She put her fingers to her mouth. "Has it protected you?"
Amazing that the man remembered. Ray nodded a little bewildered. "I'm still alive after all this." Ray pointed to several scars in his side, back and abdomen.
"Are those a result of on-the-job injury?"
"Yes." Do I want to ask my next question? "What did he say about the other guy's tattoo?"
"The double-headed serpent?" the girl responded.
Ray had no doubt she was talking about Robert and him. His heart thudded as the same weird feeling he got when Robert got his tattoo came over him again just talking about it. In a moment of utter quiet, Ray heard the pages of the catalogue Raif was looking in turn. Hardly above a whisper he said, "Yes, my friend got a red-and-black double-headed serpent. I thought it was atrocious."
"So did my dad. He never liked doing that one." She shivered. "He said that he felt as if he was pouring evil into the man's soul. Dad took it out of his repertoire. He told me he never did it again. What happened to that guy?"
"He's dead, murdered."
"I'm sorry." The woman gently rubbed his shoulder in sympathy.
Ray tensed and stepped back a few inches. "Me too."
She changed the subject to something lighter. "Would you like to know something else?"
"Sure."
"Dad told me lots of stories. He said that was the only day he ever did two Celtic guardians in one day. They do take a longer time because of the color and intricacy. He said not five minutes after the guy left a cute little redhead and her friend came in. The friend got a pretty little fairy, and the redhead got the Celtic guardian." She laughed with the sound of a carefree spirit. "Now, wouldn't it have been ironic if you two had met."
"We did. I married her."
"Are you serious, Ray?" Her dove-gray eyes stretched in doubt.
"Yes."
"That's wild. You sure you want to get these brother tattoos?"
"Is your father here?"
"No, sorry. He died a few months ago." Her voice hitched, but she put a smile on her face. "The business is mine, but I'm really good. He taught me everything he knew."
"I'm sure you're good. Do you have a name?"
The woman chuckled. "Of course I have a name. Neely. Neely Rivers."
"Nice to meet you, Neely. My brother's name is Raif."
"Ray and Raif Reynolds."
"No," said Raif, "that's a strange story, too. We were adopted by two different sets of parents. Raiford is both our names. My last name is Gautier."
"You two are probably the most interesting customers I've ever had."
"Well, Neely, what would you suggest?" Raif asked.
"Do you have any tattoos, Raif?"
"No." Raif shook his head.
Neely pointed to Ray's Celtic guardian again. "Dad always said a tattoo should reflect something about the person. Like, my rose symbolizes life and beauty. The simple Chinese symbol over your hearts will speak volumes about your love for each other. Go simple. Who goes first?"
Ray pointed at Raif. "My big brother."
"Fine," Raif said as he took off his shirt with shaking hands.
"Okay," said Neely. "I can understand why the cop looks good at forty-something if he tries to stay in shape and lays off the doughnuts, but what's your secret? What do you do for a living?"
Raif smiled. "Thank you for the compliment. I'm an architect. I run five miles a day and weight train three times a week."
Neely flirted, "This is gonna be a pleasure even though you're both married." She had noticed the wedding rings.
While Neely artistically inked Raif's symbol, Ray thumbed through tattoo books, stopping on a delicate angel. He traced it with his finger. Unlike most angel pictures he had seen of blonde hair this one had copper tresses. It’s lean, lithe body delicately draped in baby-blue ribbons to hide obvious female anatomy, she looked to be taking flight, one hand stretched toward the heavens, the other to her back and legs bent as a ballerina leaping. Her face glowed in the reflection of gold from her halo and her wings were touched with soft lavender. "Yeah, you could be my angel," he murmured.
Ray turned to Neely and watched her work for a minute. "Neely, do you think you could do another one for me today?"
"If you want. Whatcha got in mind?"
"This angel with 'Larkin' underneath in a delicate script."
"Your wife?"
"Uh-hum. My guardian angel."
"Sure, Ray. Not a problem. Raif, you want one for your wife?"
Raif looked a little perturbed at the thought of more needles.
Ray laughed. "He doesn't like needles."
"No, but I love Chris," defended Raif.
Neely giggled. "I didn't hurt you."
"No, you did a good job," Raif confessed.
Neely put a bandage over the tattoo and gave Raif a bottle of solution to use and written instructions for initial care. "It'll be tender, but you can handle it. If you want one for Chris, look through the books while I work on Ray. I'm good at what I do."
It took Neely a bit longer to etch both Ray's tattoos. She kept up a light banter as she worked, learning a great deal about her patrons. When she was done, Raif was still looking through the books.
"No luck?" asked Neely.
"You don't understand. Chris is incomparable. She's one of a kind."
Neely held up a finger. "Let me show you this one. It costs a bit more." She pulled a book from behind the counter and flipped to a whimsical unicorn whose mane in the picture spelled "Neely."
As if painting again, Neely whisked her fingers across the artistic rendering. "I designed this one myself," she explained. "Is Chris's name actually Christine?"
"Yes."
"I can make the mane read Christine. I can put it on your arm just like I did Ray's. Notice that the color is subtle. The pastels of pink and lilac to offer shadowing and the golden lettering are easier to ink than the vibrant colors in Ray’s angel. It won’t take nearly as long as the angel did."
"It looks airbrushed." Raif nodded. "I like it—strong and beautiful at the same time. Let's do it."
As she worked, Neely talked some more. "I have loved every minute of this day. I hope one day I'll meet someone who will love me as much as the two of you love your wives."
Raif assured her, "You will. You're as beautiful and full of life as your rose."
♥♥♥ The brothers left the parlor fairly late. Raif commented, "Won't the girls be surprised?"
"Oh, yeah," agreed Ray. "Yours more than mine. I'm starving. Let's find some food. You said The Top of the World."
During dinner, Ray was quiet. "Want to talk about it?" Raif asked.
"I was just thinking about what Neely said about her father's intuition about Robert's and my tattoos. I can't help but wonder
if there was some sort of spiritual connection. Look at what I've survived. Look how Robert turned out."
"No, Ray, the tattoo didn't release anything. However, the choice of tattoos revealed the real person."
"I hope you're right. But I have double, no triple, protection now. I have my Celtic guardian, my guardian angel, and my brother."
"Always! Hey, we're marked for life!"
"Let's go have some drinks at Pat O's to celebrate."
"You're on!"
5 Mia
Ray and Raif consumed several hurricanes from Pat O'Brien's as they kicked back and listened to the jazz band that played. They finally staggered into the room well after midnight. Raif fell onto the nearest bed and moaned, "Oh, God, make the room stop spinning."
Laughing, Ray said, "You are so drunk. How many did you have—three?"
"So? I don't drink much. You know that."
"I didn't force them down your throat. You brought this on yourself." Ray pulled Raif up. "Go take a leak and come sleep it off. You'll feel like hell in the morning, but you'll live. I'll drive home."
♥♥♥ The next morning, Raif forced himself to eat one biscuit and a couple of slices of bacon at the hot breakfast bar offered by the hotel. "My head hurts," he groaned.
Ray smirked at his brother. "Finish you meager breakfast and take a couple Advil. It'll help." After filling his plate with a little of every item offered, Ray brought Raif a large glass of water. "Oh, and drink this. OJ and coffee are fine, but the water will help clean your system." Ray ate heartily and held out his hand when they checked out. "Keys."
Raif handed over his car keys. On the way home, he leaned back on the seat quietly for a while as Ray drove. After a time he said, "Tell me about Mia. What was she like?"
"Beautiful, but weak. She was five-ten, a hundred twenty pounds, long straight brown hair, hazel eyes, full, sensuous lips, big boobs. I really loved her, Raif."
"I know you did, but tell me about the woman. You've said less about her than Robert." Ray furrowed his brow. After a long sigh, he said, "I met her late one night when Baker, who was my partner at the time, got a beer bottle broken over his head when we tried to break up a bar brawl. Mia was one of the nurses in the emergency room. She was a surgical nurse, but she picked up extra shifts in the ER. She said she needed the money. While Baker got stitches, we talked." She had the sexiest voice, husky, but sexy. "It wasn't very busy that night. I got her number. We went to a movie and had dinner the next Friday and started dating for two years."
Ray changed lanes and took the exit that led to the parish road toward Eau Boueuse.
"Mia was a good nurse, but in her personal life she always needed somebody to take care of her. Maybe I wasn't very good at taking care of people then." He glanced at his brother who had his eyes closed. "Are you asleep?"
"No, I'm listening."
A car passed them. The cop glanced at his speedometer. Seventy. That jerk has to be doing at least eighty on a two-lane highway. Ray grumbled, "If I was in my car, I'd give them a ticket."
"Chill. Tell me more about Mia."
"Mia just did not handle stress well, especially in our home life. We argued a lot. I often felt as if I had to walk on eggshells with her. I'm pretty sure she might've abused the pain killers she took for a back injury she received in a car accident. I couldn't prove it, but sometimes she seemed a little strung out. I guess I didn't really want to know. I was in denial." I should have made sure. Damn! I didn't do my job.
"You've gotten better about that. I remember how you used to walk out of the room when you didn't want to deal with things."
"You've helped me learn how to deal with difficult situations."
Another car passed them. "Damn it!" Ray muttered.
Raif opened his eyes. "Want me to drive?"
"No. I'm going over the speed limit myself. They're being reckless."
"Ignore it. Stop changing the subject. Tell me more."
Ray sighed. "She was so moody. She could go from being sweet and loving to throwing a tantrum in a matter of minutes. Mia was a smoker. I lost count of how many times she threw the ashtray at me. I thought maybe if she felt assured of my love, she would be stronger. So, I proposed, and she accepted. Then, I got shot. I suppose she thought Robert could take better care of her. After all, if I got killed, I wouldn't have been around to take care of her, and Robert made a lot more money.
"When he broke her heart and she wanted to get back together, I just couldn't be her savior anymore." He shook his head. "I wanted to be her lover, her partner. And I needed to be taken care of just a little bit. I guess I might've been a selfish prick."
Ray had to stop at the railroad crossing for a train. He draped his wrist over the steering wheel and continued as the short train carrying oil tankers chugged by.
"When she came to see me, she looked so tired. She had obviously been crying. I fought the urge to hold her and comfort her, but I had to let her go so I could live. Does that sound ridiculous, big brother?"
"No. It was the same with Abigail. When I finally let go of all the pain, I was able to love Chris. Chris is my rock."
"Yeah, I know. I almost lost Larkin because I held on to my pain so long. Thank God I got wise like y'all told me."
"Ray, what happened to Mia? Where is she now?"
"I have no idea." He gave a one-shoulder shrug. "I'm not sure I want to know. She was a lifetime ago. I do wonder how she's taking the news about Robert. The last I heard she had moved to the big metropolis of New Orleans. As needy as she was, I don't know if she could've survived in the big city."
"You still care."
I wish I could say I don't. "I want only the best for her. I'm not angry with her anymore. I pray that life has treated her well. Maybe she found somebody to take care of her."
"Well, you know, Abbey married a Wall Street tycoon. Maybe Mia got lucky, too."
"I hope so."
Raif sat up a bit. "Abbey has only been back home once in all these years. She came back when her mom died. She hardly spoke to Walter, but it was her mom that filed for divorce and was married again within a month. She looked at Audrey so contemptuously. I wanted to slap her."
Ray snorted a laugh. "I can't imagine you slapping anyone."
"Well, that was one time I was tempted. Our birth mother did not deserve to be snubbed like that. Abbey has never had a child. She was too selfish for that."
With a chuckle Ray said, "I'm still trying to picture you slapping her though. Maybe Chris could have done it for you. Now, that one I see." He accelerated across the tracks. "Mia wasn't really selfish. She just needed too much. But she couldn't really give. I don't think she had much to give. I don't think she would've made a very good mother. She needed too much attention to care for a child."
"Wow!" Raif laughed under his breath. "We sound like two philosophical old men."
Ray shook his head vehemently. "Uh-uh! No, no, no. Maybe you're old, but not me! Although the way pretty little Neely looked at you, I don't think she thought you were old."
"Oh, please, Ray. Neely wasn't looking at me." Raif twisted in his seat and grinned. "Was she?"
Ray laughed. "Her tongue was hanging out."
"Oh, I think you're exaggerating. She was flirting with both of us, and she made a pretty penny by it, too. Moreover, it was just flirting. Now, stop changing the subject. Have you ever thought about finding out what happened to Mia?"
"No. I don't want to know because if it's bad, I'll feel responsible."
"She brought whatever has happened on herself."
"I know that, but still, if I don't know, I can imagine the best."
"You're not an ostrich, Ray. Don't bury your head in the sand. Maybe you should know."
"I'm not ready for that, Raif. Dealing with Robert's death is enough right now."
"I understand. Let's change the subject before we get home. How do we explain our additions to our spouses?"
"They're self-explanatory. And the kids will think they'r
e cool."
"Yeah, just like their dads. I guess we should get your car. Maybe the piranhas won't be there, but my wife might. We could lock her office."
"Lord, help me!" joked Ray. "I've created a monster. Look what a little liquor and a tattoo have done to my brother!"
They laughed as they parked, but Ray was haunted by memories of Mia.
6 Unlikely Suspects
The brothers walked into Ray's office to be greeted by a welcoming committee. "It's about time you got back, Chief Reynolds." Agent Lawrence Dantzler stood and extended his hand.
Ray shook the man's hand. Dantzler continued, "It's good to see you, Ray."
An imposing figure, his surname screamed his heritage which was reaffirmed by his appearance. At six and a half feet, two hundred thirty pounds, platinum-blond hair, clipped very short, and sky-blue eyes set in a face that ended in a square jaw that could take a punch, unfelt, he could have been a marauding Viking.
"Oh, yippee! The FBI is here," Ray said, voice laced with sarcasm. "At least I have a good guy in my corner."
Chris Gautier snorted a laughed. Ray cocked an eyebrow in question, but Chris shook her head.
Ray grinned at Dantzler. "I see you still have the crooked nose. Are you still fighting in the mixed martial arts circuit?"
"Getting a little old for the ring." He touched his nose. "It's my badge of honor," Dantzler quipped. "It's been a long time since we've seen each other."
"Yes, it has," said Ray, "but not long enough, Lawrence, considering the circumstances that always bring us together."
"Almost true. I did come for your wedding. How's your lovely Larkin?"
"Terrific."
Dantzler turned to Raif. "Raif, how are you?"
"Excellent," Raif replied, shaking hands. "You look well, Lawrence."
"I am. Your charming Chris has been keeping me company. I should've stolen her when I had the chance. Alas, you never know what you have until it's gone." It was true that Chris had dated Lawrence Dantzler early in both their careers while he still made appearances in the ring.
"So I see," said Raif a little possessively and to prove his point Raif hugged Chris and gave her a resounding kiss. "Well, we're back now. Ray and I had to do a brotherly thing."
Heartless (The Raiford Chronicles) Page 4
