The Thomas Girls: Book 4 of the Adelaide Henson Mystery Series

by William Cain

  Jimmy lands, on time. Outside the weather looks great, tall white clouds gliding in over the hilly landscape from the blue Pacific. He knows what to do. He and Madison have talked about it a lot.

  Her. Her eyes, her smile. He’d lay down his life for her. She holds back, and he can live with that. This petite red-head, or brunette, or blond … whatever she is. It’s changed as she ran away, that much she told him. She promises to tell him everything on this trip. He already does know one thing, though. He loves her. If things go the way he wants them to go, she’ll be his bride within the year. He hopes the spark is still there, fearing meeting her face to face for the first time in a while. Then, just as fast as the thought crosses his mind, he knows he can’t wait to see her. He thinks she wants to see him just as badly. He’s hoping and praying. Praying and hoping. It’s all he can do.

  After he disembarks, while walking toward baggage claim, he sees it. A man, not a traveler, is following him. At least that’s the way it looks. Cops always show their hands, he muses. Jimmy continues on, to the carousel. Standing there, he knows what he has to do to shake this tail. Madison told him someone would probably follow him. She said she’d explain everything when he arrives. Just do what he’s practiced so many times to change his appearance and he’ll leave the man following him behind. His large, checked bag is dumped down the chute onto the carousel. He takes a deep breath and tells himself that this is go time.

  Entering a restroom to the side of baggage claim, he jostles with passengers entering and leaving it. Looking at his watch, he enters a wide handicapped stall and places his bag on the toilet. Opening it, he takes a flight bag out of it. A bag a pilot might use. Looking again inside the large bag, he slicks his hair back, puts on the pilot’s cap found there, tucks his white shirt in, and clips on the tie, also found inside the large bag. Next, he pastes his mustache on, places glasses on the bridge of his nose, and dons his shiny new, black shoes. He exits the busy airport restroom. He lost his cheap watch, but before he did, he glanced at it. He did it all within 15 seconds. He rehearsed it at home, in Tyler, over and over, just like Madison told him.

  The tail is left watching as Jimmy makes it to curbside, jumping into a taxi, and he’s off.

  Madison is staring down the road. She can’t help herself. After what seems like infinity, she’s rewarded as the car she hopes carries her dreams to her pulls up and stops. When the driver leaves, the two of them stare at each other for a short while, standing on that corner, each hoping the same thing, each afraid of the same thing. When he steps slowly over to her, she runs into his arms, giving him the biggest kiss known to man.

  The look in her eyes says love.

  ◆◆◆

  When Madison returns home, she calmly walks into the living room, places a dollar on the table next to her grandmother, and says,

  “Here’s your money.”

  17

  To love another person is to see the face of God. Victor Hugo

  “So that’s it? That’s everything?” Jimmy asks.

  “Yes. I don’t think I left anything out,” Madison replies, looking into the palms of her hands, which are laid in her lap. She’s unpretentiously told Jimmy her life story, humbling herself. Now she hopes he doesn’t judge her poorly and leave. When you tell someone your darkest secrets, the door opens to the unexpected. Your future isn’t in your control. You take that one chance to find out something. Will he stay?

  “She doesn’t look like much of a murderer to me. You sure about it?” Jimmy asks, referring to Reggi. He first met her in Tyler. His impression is that of a sweet older woman. Madison’s grandmother, Reggi Thomas, makes good meatballs and plays cards with the other seniors. Things that seniors do.

  “She has a problem. Like I said. It’s an understatement, I know. Anyway, I think you’d agree we’re all capable of doing almost anything. She got, let’s say, carried away. Part of the reason we’re here is to help her recover. I love my grandmother. I guess that’s what started all this.”

  “And the Underground? Without them you’d be in a world of hurt?”

  Madison thinks before replying, “We need them. But since you’re here, maybe not so much.” Raising her eyes to Jimmy, she tells him, “You make me feel safe.”

  Jimmy smiles when he hears that. “I want you to feel secure, Madison.” He wants more than that, but now’s not the time.

  He sits next to her on the bed, placing his arm around her waist, holding her close. She rests her head on his chest. Slowly she looks up to him, her needs are his needs. He places his lips on hers and they kiss softly at first. When she places her hand on his thigh and turns ever so slightly towards him, it begins. Their love.

  Jimmy and Madison find each other blazingly kissing and finding each other. His hand reaches for her blouse and she stops him. He’s confused at first, but then Madison takes her hand off his thigh and reaches to her neck, unfastening her top button. Then the next button. Now he understands. She wants to undress herself slowly. She wants him to watch. She’s good, smiling and playing with him. When she finishes the final button on her blouse, it parts to reveal her bosom. Her free hand falls to his lap, and she squeals lightly as she finds what she expects.

  Reaching inside her loose shirt, he discovers her. Kissing her, and she kissing him, each becomes more and more aroused. Breathing heavily, he’s unsure to take any new steps, satisfied with this moment. The two of them haven’t made love before, even after all the time spent alone in Tyler. Each enjoys the moments of heavy petting, delaying the inevitable. Madison’s cheeks are flushed with anticipation, as flushed as Jimmy’s breaths are heavy.

  Lost inside the other, the lovers entwine themselves until they can take no more. Their grip on themselves is strong and unbreakable. Their love is their power, and they let it consume them. Let it define this time together. Time that has no end. As they lock eyes, kissing and touching, holding and squeezing. Time is meaningless. Their passion speaks loudly of their love, each knowing this is what love is. Madison starts to weep softly, caught in the grip of this compelling story.

  Jimmy doesn’t stop her. Rather, he holds her, and they lay back onto the bed, their legs dangling over the side. He holds her tightly and she holds him back. The two remain like this for a long time, listening to the street noises and birds chirping, the wind blowing by. Their hearts beating, their breathing accompanied by the rise and fall of their chests.

  Shortly, they hear Reggi ascending the stairs. When she finds them like that, she smiles at them and wrinkles her nose. “That is so cute. I hate to ruin it, but Greg is coming by in a while. Take your time, but you really should freshen up.”

  Looking at Madison, she scolds her mockingly, “Run a comb through that mop of yours. You too, Jimmy. Sheesh.”

  After she leaves the doorway to her room, Madison looks to Jimmy, “You should probably bring your toothbrush when you come back here tonight.”

  Jimmy grasps the meaning of her words.

  This is going to be some day.

  ◆◆◆

  When they’ve put fresh faces back on and combed their hair, Madison tells Jimmy, “Remember what I said about what to tell Greg. Keep it clean and keep it simple.”

  “I know, I know. I live a few streets away. I’ve just moved here myself, around a year ago. It’ll be easy.”

  “This man, Greg, is part of the Network. He’ll be suspicious. Your best choice is to act boring. Then he’ll feel less threatened and stop hammering you with questions. Can you do that?”

  Playfully, he raises one finger to his lips. In his best school-dunce mime, he replies, “Me no knooowwww.”

  Madison slaps his arm, laughing. Then she hugs him, “Remember what I said about tonight, OK?”

  “I’ll be there,” and he kisses her strongly, she responding in kind.

  When Reggi appears, she interrupts them and says to Madison, “Remember what I said about your bedroom doorknob?”

  Madison instantly knows her grandmother’s ref
erring to placing her underwear on the doorknob as a do-not-disturb sign. She gives Reggi a wide-eyed look of shock.

  Jimmy’s perplexed. Reggi is unperturbed, shooting Madison a lofty look as she asks him, “Did Madison tell you about the bet she lost, Jimmy?”

  Before he can answer, there is a low rap at the front door. Madison leaves them to see Greg in while Reggi and Jimmy head to the kitchen. Shortly, Madison returns to them where they are preparing small plates to snack on. They can hear Madison and Greg talking as they enter. When the two do, Greg stops after he sees Jimmy.

  “Hello! Madison told me someone from the neighborhood was over. I don’t know why, but I thought she was talking about one of the senior citizens she plays bridge with. Pardon my initial shock. That was stupid,” Greg says. Looking over to Madison, his expression says, You didn’t tell me it was a man around our age.

  Jimmy is an engaging and friendly person. When they shake hands, Greg’s grip tightens. He holds it a little longer than he should. The two women are intermittently staring at the handshake and each other, wondering if this is already headed south.

  When the two men finish their greeting, Jimmy tells Greg, “That was some grip. What did you say your name was? I don’t think I caught it.”

  Greg’s stare is unbroken. He’s decided he doesn’t like this new friend of Madison’s. Still, his weak smile remains as he answers, “Madison didn’t introduce us. My name is Greg. I live in the area, near the beach.”

  Jimmy returns Greg’s stare with a friendly gaze, oozing with confidence, “And I’m Jimmy. My home is off Flora St. Just moved here last year.” He stops the unfolding of his history, trying not to appear as if painting a picture too soon. It looks suspicious.

  Greg nods. He’s already wary of this new person. It shows. It’s all over his expression and reactions. He knows it and tries to hide it. Looking to Reggi, he asks, “What’s for lunch, Donna?” It’s a test. Greg wants to know if this man Jimmy knows her by her new identity, or her real name, Reggi.

  Jimmy doesn’t flinch. Rather he turns to find napkins on the counter. Selecting a number of them, he hears Reggi’s directions, “Set it for four, Jimmy. Greg’s staying for a bite to eat. The pitcher of tea is in the fridge.”

  “You bet,” Jimmy replies, feeling Greg’s eyes on him. From his side, he can just make out Madison’s bearing. She’s pleased. Jimmy has done well, and the first few awkward moments are over. If Greg remains suspicious, that’s his problem. He won’t be getting any more information from Jimmy. She knows it. Greg knows it.

  The group moves toward the table, toward the medium that calms all turmoil – food.

  Jimmy’s harmless, there’s nothing more to be had from him, Greg decides.

  Or, is there?

  ◆◆◆

  In the evening, Jimmy returns from his hotel room to Madison and Reggi’s home. When he knocks, it’s answered before he finishes. Kissing Madison lightly on the cheek, he lingers a little longer than usual. This evening will be theirs. As he steps through the threshold, he brings up his hand. In it, he holds a toothbrush. Her smile widens when she sees it, and she kisses him aggressively. He’s not surprised and he’s not put off. If one could tell which one wants the other more, it wouldn’t matter. It’s like being hit by a truck or a bus. It’s the same.

  He presses up against her, pushing her softly to the wall, passionately. He begins to slide his mouth down her neck as she moans quietly, softly. When they part, she arms the alarm and locks the door. Then she leads him, turning off the hallway light as they tiptoe upstairs.

  Reggi is in her room at the other end of the house, having eaten a light dinner earlier. She kind of knew what the evening was going to be like, watching Madison take a scented bubble bath, shaving her legs.

  Outside, Greg had been approaching the house himself, flowers in hand. He stopped short when he saw Jimmy arrive before him and enter the house. He saw the downstairs light go out shortly after. Now he’s witnessing what he dreads. He’s the odd man out. She doesn’t want him. He sees the upstairs light turn on, the one in her bedroom. He sees it soon extinguished and the room darkens again. He knows what they’re doing. Glumly, the entire house is dark as he dwells on the thought of Madison and Jimmy having sex. Turning, he can’t look any longer. He throws the flowers into a nearby trash can out for refuse pick-up.

  And walks away, back to his hotel.

  He’s crying into his hands.

  18

  Never let the fear of striking out get in your way. Babe Ruth

  John Paulson doesn’t need Greg anymore after the address of the girls has been found. Greg served his purpose as far as he’s concerned. John wants to leave him behind, no longer watching him from his hotel room. The only time he sees the guy is when he’s at the home the women have taken residence in. This is fine with him since he thinks the man only needs watching when he’s around them. John thinks he’s dangerous to anyone around him and is extra vigilant when he’s near. There’s one thing that John doesn’t get, though. He’s puzzled that an organization like the Underground would have Greg as part of their private club. He believes it has something to do with money. Almost always does.

  Tonight, John is on his perch. From this perspective, he can see the front door clearly, the tall front lawn tree being off to the left. When he needs to, he can walk to the other side of the building, looking directly into Madison’s and Reggi’s bedrooms, should the drapes be pulled back. What he sees at this moment is Reggi in her room, watching a show. It looks like Jeopardy, with Alex Trebek. He loves that show, and begins to wonder if things were different, if he had led a different life, that maybe he’d be in there, watching that show with her.

  It’s sad. There’s no other word for it. You can’t go back in time. What you do and what you say are out there and you can’t take it back. What he’s done in his life, the majority of it, anyway, borders on the criminal. He was a horrible husband and an even worse father. It ended because of him. It was his fault. Yes, Reggi had a temper, too. But he blames himself for not having been a better man, letting time and family slip away. No, you can’t take it back, but you try to make up for it, make up some of the ground that was lost. All you can do is try, and show those you hurt that you’ve changed, that you’re trying. He wants to get this message across before his day comes. It’s all he wants in life now.

  Sighing deeply and wiping his eyes, his attention begins to return to Reggi when he notices a movement from the corner of his eye. The school building he’s on top of, three floors up, is twin structured, with a gym in the middle. There are actually two three-story buildings connected by the gym in the middle, that being around a story and a half, John guesses. On top of the other building stands a figure in black clothes, around one-hundred yards away. If John’s right, the person is staring at the house the women are in. At least, it looks that way. He really can’t tell. Maybe it’s a maintenance worker, but he discards that possibility when the figure doesn’t move. The moon isn’t bright tonight, and it’s hard to get a good enough look at the distant person to tell if it’s a man or woman, or even how tall the figure is. One thing is certain to John, though. This is not a good development. In all the time he’s been shadowing the women, from New York, all the way to Las Cruces and now here, there has been another person following them. Whoever that is, they aren’t interested in John, himself. Or, perhaps, just not observant enough to know that John has been there, too.

  This is disturbing. John decides to get closer to see if can make out any identifying traits, a face, height, gender, anything. Slowly, he moves very cautiously, noiselessly. As he does, he reminds himself how dangerous this is. Someone is killing people around Reggi to drive her back into her insanity. If this is the same person, then John is putting his life in danger. Still, he continues on. As he does so, he wonders if this is bravery or stupidity, or both. He chides himself over this new intrusion, this new person that has entered the picture. Chides himself that things can’t just
be smooth. In the end, he decides this is what he came for. To protect the women. If this person is a danger to them, John is compelled to carry out his self-assigned mission. He doesn’t want to die, but he’s pledged that he will if he has to.

  When he reaches the ladder leading to the rooftop of the gym, he begins to descend slowly. He’s thankful for his sneakers, touching each ring noiselessly. He prays he hasn’t been noticed. All it would take is a simple look around and he'd be seen, maybe. The ladder seems endless, and his body begins to ache. His resolve begins to fade and he begins to reconsider this foolish move. Then he remembers. All those years, long ago. The kind of man he once was. That evil man. His resolve is steeled and he forces himself onward, reaching the rooftop of the gym. He decides to take a break before the ascent. It’s not the ladder, descending or climbing, it’s doing it slowly and without any racket. That’s the hard part.

  When he reaches the ladder on the other side of the gym, he tests it slightly to make sure it stands firm and won’t betray with loose rattles. This is where he takes his breather. He looks up and begins to consider what he’ll need to do when he arrives at the top. Just who is this person, anyway?

  On the top of that building, the black-clothed figure is fixated. Not just at the house, but a certain room in that house. The drapes are pulled back and the old lady is watching a game show. With a very good view of the goings-on in that room, not much escapes attention.

  What is seen, which wasn’t seen before, is that the old woman isn’t looking in the direction of the broadcast. The set is on, but she’s not watching it. Rather, Reggi begins to talk. At first, it’s a couple of words. Then the words are accompanied by slight expressions. This carries on for a short while. The intermittent words and expressions become more fluid. She’s talking out loud, perhaps.

  Soon, Reggi is talking more and more, using her hands. She begins to wave her arms at times, apparently yelling at someone. When Reggi looks this way and that, alternating between laughing and crying, screaming and talking, she does so as if a person or persons are with her. She moves her head side to side, engaged in conversations and arguments, clutching her chest in defense. Accusingly, she points and becomes wide-eyed, practically screaming.