by H R Jones
“How about some oysters on the half-shell to go with it? Phillipe gets them fresh every day and knows just how to prepare them.”
“Sure, I’ll start with the half dozen.”
“I’ll have Phillipe prepare them for you and get you another ‘Hang Ten’ as well.”
By the time she came back with his order and his second drink, he was feeling no pain. He tossed his head back, letting the liquor of an oyster assist its slide down his throat, then he reached for another. “Those are great.”
“Well, just take it easy…don’t eat them too quickly, have some of your drink. I’ll come by and check on you in a little while.”
“What’s your name sweetheart?”
“Folks just call me Leaha.”
“What a beautiful name, it sounds like a flower. May I buy you a drink, Leaha?” He could see her blush even through her caramel-hued skin.
“I’m not done work till after six.”
“That’s okay. I’m going to run home after I finish my oysters and drink to get cleaned up. I’ll be back at six.”
“Okay, what’s your name?”
“Ricky, Ricky Sands, just call me Ricky. So we have a date, Leaha?”
“Sure um… uh, Ricky, I’ll see you here at six.”
Thirty
By the time Ricky Sands made his way back to the White Shutters, the blood red, searing sun was beginning its slide down the western sky into the waters of the sea. It was a little after six.
He sat at the bar and asked the bartender for Leaha.
“You Mister Sands?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You treat her right! No funny stuff; don’t make promises you can’t keep?”
“Yes, yes sir.” He’d never been grilled like that.
“She good kid, just so you understand.”
“Oh yes, sir, I understand.
He sat at the bar, shelling peanuts, popping them one at a time in his mouth, sipping a beer, as he waited. It was nearly half past six when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Spooked, he spun around, as if he might deck the offender. Instead, his jaw went slack. He hopped off the bar stool, stood with his mouth open, taking in the vision before him.
“Leaha! You’re stunning!”
“Thank you, Mr. Sands, sorry I’m so late.”
“It’s no problem, and call me Ricky.”
“Let’s sit outside on the veranda; it won’t be so noisy. It will be easier to talk there and finish watching the sun set.”
He ordered drinks, asking to have them brought to the lanai.
Ricky, taking her gently by the elbow, guided her toward a quiet area away from other patrons. People could be heard laughing, ice clinking in glasses, and the surf coming in, as they rocked back and forth in a glider, a gentle breeze blowing in from the bay cooling the heat of their skin.
They sipped their tropical drinks, talked about their day, how beautiful the weather was, and the spectacular sunset on display before their eyes. Their conversation eventually turned to tidbits about themselves.
Of course, Ricky didn’t tell her about his real life and the women he’d left lying under the old oak trees back home. Instead, he told her he was independently wealthy. Well, that was mostly true. And, he talked about how he’d worked for his father for years and when he’d passed, a while back, he’d decided he needed to take a break. After all, he’d worked hard all his life and taken care of ‘the old man’ too, so here he was in the balmy Keys, taking some well-deserved time for himself. Well, at least, part of that was true.
He could tell Leaha was impressed.
She told him of her life, of being raised in the Keys. How she hadn’t wanted to leave, but, “There aren’t a lot of opportunities, here, so I went to college to get a degree. I tried living ‘up north,’ but I didn’t like it so much. And, I was lonely, missing my family, friends, the regulars who come here to the White Shutters, and the workers here as well, who are like family to me. So, after a few years in the real world,” she laughed lightly, “working and being on my own, I decided I didn’t belong there. I belonged here, and I came home.”
“Well, I for one am glad you did,” Ricky said as he snaked his arm around her shoulders, pulling her to him, kissing her cheek.
His hot breath on her face, his movie star good looks, the fruity alcohol-filled drink, and the soft breezes melted any barriers she’d thought she’d built up. She turned to him, searching his eyes and suddenly had the feeling she wanted more from this man than just a peck on the cheek.
Ricky could see the fire of desire flickering in her dark eyes. It was a look he’d come to recognize in women. He slipped his arms around her, drawing her closer, then gently brushed a lock of hair from her face. Tilting her chin up with his fingertips, he kissed her full, trembling lips. The sigh and the flushed pink cheeks he felt against his skin, told him that less was more. Just as he was about to kiss her again, Koko returned to see if they needed another round, or if they wanted to order.
Leaha’s voice caught in her throat. She spoke in a husky whisper. “I’ll have the lobster roll special with another of these,” she held up her glass. She couldn’t take her eyes off Ricky.
“And you, sir?”
Never taking his eyes off of her, he replied, “I’ll have the same as the lady, and another ‘Hang Ten’ for me.”
Koko scurried off.
As soon as he’d gone, Ricky held Leaha in his arms. In a voice thick with passion, he mumbled, “Oh, Leaha,” and firmly pressed his lips to hers, tasting her sweetness with his tongue.
He held her away from him for a moment, drinking in her beauty, longing to take her away to a place where they could be alone.
They ate rather hurriedly. He paid the tab, grabbed their drinks, and with his arm around her waist, guided her down the beach to the water’s edge.
They strolled along the sand, away from the raucous laughter and bright lights, and let the waves lick at their toes, as the last bit of the crimson sun made its final descent into the cooling waters of the bay.
She took his hand and led him to a secluded spot only she knew, where they could be alone. Away from prying eyes.
Her skin glistened in the light of the full moon as they lay next to one another on the sand, gazing at the stars, kissing, touching. Her long hair drifted on the tide as it moved in closer and closer with each surge of the evening surf.
Ricky forced himself to take it slow and easy, though it was all he could do to hold back. He knew he needed to gain her trust first. This was all part of his seduction game. When he’d won her over completely, then he’d show her how to play.
~ * ~
They’d both had a lot to drink. He asked to take her home.
“No, not yet,” she demurred.
She didn’t sound convincing. He held her closer, kissing her, not wanting the evening to end. “Please, Leaha, let me walk you home.”
He felt her body-heat and could see, even in the sparse light from the White Shutters, her face flush with desire.
The fruity alcohol drinks, the rhythmic pounding surf, must have swayed her because with a deep sigh she said, “All right, I guess. I don’t know.”
He could see in her eyes that she was trying to hide her need.
Ricky took her gently by the arm, turned her toward him, saying, “I want to see you again, Leaha.”
Her voice quivered. “All right, tomorrow. I’ll meet you on the lanai when I finish work. I don’t know what time it will be, but it will be late.”
“It’s okay,” he replied, his voice raspy with need. “I have nothing to do.”
His desire for her was building to a point he didn’t know if he could control himself. He placed his hands on either side of her face, then parting her lips with his tongue, he pressed into her. He felt her legs quiver and her body shudder with desire as he kissed her ever more deeply.
“Oh, Ricky, no.” Her protest was weak.
“I won’t hurt you, Leaha…” he gasped in short
, hot breaths.
She had all she could do to not succumb to him. Feeling her resolve starting to melt, she gently pushed him away. “No, Ricky, not here, not like this.”
She could see something resembling a shadow pass over his face, and quickly realized she may have given off mixed signals. She caressed his cheek with her hand, and kissing him, whispered, “I want to get to know you, because I’ve never been with a man like you. When it happens, I want it to be special.”
~ * ~
Ricky was barely able to control himself. He knew he needed to go more slowly. If he didn’t, he’d lose her and any chance to show her what a real man was, and make her his own, his treasure.
He smiled at her. “You’re right, it needs to be special.” He kissed her again, slowly exploring her mouth with his, whispering how he’d wait for the time when they could be one. “I’ll see you tomorrow night?”
“Yes, tomorrow night.” She turned and fled from his arms.
He watched her as she disappeared through the palmettos and palms into the starlit night.
Thirty-one
Old habits die hard. Rory, or Ricky Sands, was beginning to chart a course of ruination of yet another innocent young life.
As he walked back to his beach shack, he recalled Caroline. Leaha’s coloring is different, but she reminds me so of Caroline. Sweet, lovely, dead Caroline. I don’t want to lose Leaha. All the others are gone. They didn’t go along with my plan. They betrayed me. They said they wanted me, needed me. Then when I showed them what I needed, they didn’t want me anymore. I had to make sure they’d never tell, didn’t I? He balled up his fist, hitting the wall. It left an imprint in the soft wood of his flimsy shack. I had no choice. I had no choice…he tried convincing himself…what if they’d told?
Nell’s the only one who got away, but she paid. She paid for walking away. She’ll never be the same after what she tried to do to get rid of my kid and herself too. It’s too bad she didn’t succeed. Now, every day she has to look into the eyes of the little bastard and know they’re my eyes. And, every morning when she looks in the mirror, she sees what’s left of her once beautiful body, horribly scared and ugly. He flopped on the bed, a tear actually falling on his pillow as he remembered, All she’d needed to do was let me love her.
I’m glad I finally found Libbie, though it took long enough. She thought she was so clever! Well, I showed her what clever is, didn’t I? It just took some perseverance on my part, but I found her. He started to laugh hysterically. The bonus was Ronnie, her sister, but she didn’t want to help me either. Too bad too. She was easier to get rid of, though. Just had to wait for her shift to end, then knock her off her feet. He snorted at his own sick version of Ronnie’s demise, literally. He laughed his maniacal laugh again.
Ricky got up, fixed himself a drink, laid back down, remembering the others buried under the trees of Star Farm beside Caroline, Margo…he fell fast asleep before he could recall them all.
~ * ~
Ricky rolled out of bed early, before dawn. After a brisk walk down the beach, in a secluded spot he’d discovered, he plunged al fresco into the body soothing surf.
He wrapped a towel around his waist as he walked back to his shack, and fixed himself a light breakfast. He ate in the hammock, one leg draped over the side, the warm breeze swaying him back and forth.
Most of his days were idle. He couldn’t have a real job, of course, it would mean giving out information he didn’t want to share. He got by doing odd jobs for some of the locals. They paid in cash, under the table, so to speak, so he didn’t have to worry about paying taxes or going into his off-shore accounts, already set up in his new name.
Thirty-two
The only thing Ricky had on his mind this day, though, was Leaha. He had to draw her in first, groom her for that special role she would need to play in his life. He’d need to seduce her, making her believe he was her one and only. If the previous evening was any indication, he felt confident it wouldn’t be long before she’d fall completely under his spell and be putty in his hands. Ricky knew he’d have to go slow. Not rush it, but play it cool. If he didn’t, Leaha would be lost to him forever. In which case, he’d have to find a special place for her, just as he’d done with the others, and there were no stands of oak in the Keys.
~ * ~
Ricky spent his afternoon searching the beach area for a secluded spot in the event he needed a special place for Leaha, in case she wouldn’t take part in his fantasies.
After walking some distance, he thought he saw just the place. It lay a few yards off shore. It wasn’t very big, way too shallow to dock a boat nearby, and too full of scrub. It was not a beach on which one would spend hours enjoying the view, having a picnic or a game of volley ball. There were a few palm trees, which looked to have seen better days, at the center of the little spot of land. However, many trees were down, some dead, others looked to have been victims of a recent hurricane, twisted and grotesque looking. There were a few clusters of vegetation he didn’t recognize, still standing after the winds, tides and storms.
The tide was out, and he waded across to the small cay. He could see signs of some sort of living thing having made the scrap of land its home at some point. He wasn’t sure what it could’ve been, so proceeded cautiously, using a piece of drift wood to poke in the scrub surrounding the bushes and driftwood.
Ricky walked the outer perimeter. It was little more than a pimple in the water, really. There wasn’t much area that wasn’t covered in some sort of foliage, but it would have to do, if need be. It didn’t appear to be a spot where fishing boats or pleasure boats would come round to tie up or anchor, and be able to play in the surf. Those sorts of people seemed to hang out in the lovely sheltered coves and beaches found on the other side of the Key.
He made his way back to his beach shack, quite pleased with his find. It was very hot, the sun blazing white. Ricky took a quick swim, fixed himself a drink and lay back in his hammock.
He awoke with a start. The drink in his hand had spilled on his shorts, jolting him upright. He must have slept quite a while, as it was late afternoon, and the sun was already beginning its long journey back to the sea. Ricky lay back in his hammock, anticipating his evening with Leaha.
By nine-thirty, having cleaned up and dressed for the evening, he was growing anxious and began to pace. He could not wait a moment more. He made his way to the White Shutters, ordered a drink, found a place on the lanai, and made himself comfortable. He was just out of Leaha’s sight. He wanted to be able to watch her move with grace and beauty between the tables, taking orders and delivering drinks. He couldn’t wait to be alone with her, to press her perfect body to him once again. To seduce her into surrendering.
~ * ~
Clouds crossed the moon as he waited in the shadows of the White Shutters. He checked the time again. It was after ten. He wondered if he’d played his hand too quickly and she’d changed her mind. Just as he was thinking of leaving, he heard the rustle of palms. He turned to see Leaha. He gasped. She was a vision in a white eyelet strapless dress, no shoes, a yellow flower tucked behind her elegant little ear. Her shiny, long, silk-like hair tumbled and bounced down around her shoulders as she ran.
Ricky got up, moving toward her. Holding out his hands, he grasped hers. They stood for a long moment breathing in and exhaling the warm tropical air as one. He searched her eyes…her lips full and moist, twitched as he moved in closer.
Ricky placed his arm around her waist, drawing her to him, lifted her chin with his fingertips, and covered her mouth with his. He could feel her body relax, her mouth drawing him in. He guided her to an area behind the White Shutters, maneuvering her back against the outer wall. Ricky pressed into her, kissing her neck, her cheeks, hot with desire, and her eager mouth.
His voice hoarse and filled with carnal emotion, he said, “Let’s get out of here.”
They ran down the beach to the darkness by the shore, where the only light came from the moon’s gl
ow on the crest of the waves.
Ricky felt heat radiating from Leaha’s lips when he leaned in to kiss her again.
Away from prying eyes, and overcome with desire, she clung to him, sliding down his body.
Ricky dropped to his knees in the sand, cradling her in his arms, as they caressed one another’s secret places.
It was very dark as they headed back up the beach, the moon playing hide and seek with the clouds. Once again, Leaha said no when Ricky asked to walk her home.
“I’ll know when the time is right,” she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek before she turned to run into the night.
He was pleasantly confused. “Wait, Leaha?”
She stopped, turned, asking in a whisper, “What is it?”
“When can we see each other again?”
“Meet me here tomorrow, at noon.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Ricky was amazed at how quickly Leaha was falling under his charms. He had been so sure she’d be the most difficult of all his women to seduce.
Still, he’d have to cool it. He wouldn’t want to ruin it, and he would if he pushed her too hard.
This may finally be the one I’ve been searching for, he mused as he strolled back to his shack.
Thirty-three
Lieutenant Grutner, Buckton’s chief of police, was grousing to Gretchen about the number of bodies they’d discovered at Star Farm, but no leads on what or where Rory could be.
“You know, Gretchen, we haven’t heard word one about that bastard since before Margo disappeared. I know he had something to do with Libbie’s death out at Otter’s Creek in New Mexico. I’ll bet you dollars to donuts he was involved in that too. He’s slippery as an eel and knows how to hide out. Thank goodness we got rid of Lyle. That little creep was his pipeline to this office.”
“This might not be the best timing,” Gretchen began. “You know Norm and I are going to be celebrating our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. The kids have given us some money with the provision we use it for a trip. You know our son-in-law just got one of those fancy travel trailers and he wants us to take it to Florida. They had a fit when we didn’t do something special for our twenty-fifth. As you know, I’ve been saving up vacation time and I’d like to take six weeks off.”
