by William Cain
The figure sees all this, and wonders why the young woman in the house, Madison, hasn’t heard any of this and gone to investigate. Then it dawns on the black-clothed person. Reggi isn’t making any sound. This is very satisfying indeed. Just what the doctor ordered. All that work is coming to a head now, as Reggi begins to fall head-first into her oblivion, her insanity. Perfect.
It’s decided to watch this play out a little longer. This is the best show in town. Knowing that the attempted killing of Reggi’s friends is driving the old woman into her fragile mental state means knowing the old woman’s end is near. Couple that with the killings and it’s the ultimate coup de’ grace. Love it.
What isn’t known to this person, however, is that John Paulson is coming, climbing that ladder, rung by rung, unheard. He’s almost at the top. He takes a moment to rest and catch his breath. Things will unravel quickly after he reaches the top. He must be prepared. He must complete his mission.
When the rooftop is met, John cautiously looks over the edge, briefly. He’s not rewarded. The figure must have moved. He braves the possibility of being discovered when he looks again, taking his time to survey the entire roof, seeing what he can see. Still, no figure, no one in black clothing, can be found. Perhaps, the person discovered him and fled. Or maybe, just maybe, the vents on the roof are shielding something, and when he places both feet firmly on the roof, he’ll be charged at, thrown to a horrid death on the pavement below.
He has to take the risk, finding himself standing erect, in the open. But, he’s on the roof. Reluctantly, he decides to inspect. He looks behind one vent, and then another, ever vigilant of his flank. Heading slowly to the rooftop access door, he rounds the structure that houses it before opening the door itself. He expects to find someone there, knowing his luck has run out. His nerves are at their end. He could be opening the door to his own violent demise. It’s almost unbearable to look, but he has to. When the door swings fully open, the shape of a person throws itself at him and he gutturally screams in defense.
When he finds himself still standing, he twists and looks behind him. Where did it go? What was it? Am I losing my mind? There’s no one else there. When he turns back to the door, he slowly opens the door again. What he finds is at first puzzling. Next, he begins to laugh quietly to himself. It’s a life-size cutout of a school guard, telling the kids there’s no access to the rooftop.
He’s embarrassed and grateful no one was around to see that. Assuming the person in black clothing has simply left, John takes a moment to regroup. He wipes his brow, sweaty now from the recent scare, and heads over to the edge so he can witness and watch.
A man appears at the front door of the women’s home. John remembers the man. He’s from Texas. He’s Madison’s friend. He saw the two of them together there, several times.
A new movement below catches John’s attention. He can hear the footfalls before he sees the man. It’s Greg. He has flowers. He stops while he witnesses what unfolds at the women’s front door.
The man from Texas begins to knock and the door opens. Madison must be expecting him. When John looks down, he sees Greg continuing to stare at the front door, across the street from the house, unseen.
Inside the home, the downstairs light is turned off and an upstairs light flipped on briefly, then off again.
Turning his attention toward Greg, he sees him staring at the house a minute or two, then turning away. Greg throws the flowers into a bin left on the street and walks out of sight.
Good riddance, John thinks.
Now that the women are sleeping tight for the evening, John decides it’s time to take this old bag of bones home for something hot to eat, a show, and a snooze.
Goodnight.
19
I never dreamed about success. I worked for it. Estée Lauder
The Next Day
Addie and Agatha are seated next to each other as they arrive in SLO. They met in LAX at the gate to SLO and took the puddle jumper here, together, as planned. The two women are twenty years apart in age, but more like sisters than anything else. They share a lot. Their husbands are more than pleased they get along, but it’s more than that. Sometimes Frannie will find Agatha involved in a late-night conversation about books or food, or even himself – involved with a girlfriend of hers. At first, when he found out she was talking with Addie, he was puzzled. The novelty has worn off now. It’s just an everyday part of life. The four of them are grateful to have each other, the small family that it is.
Haines handled the logistics, so they know where to go and a car is waiting for them at the rental counter. After the short walk to the garage, they select a car and they’re off. Exiting the garage, they find sunny skies of southern California above them, a warm, dry day outside. They decide to make the trip to the hotel with the windows down. Agatha turns on the satellite radio and they find an eighties rock station. Turning the volume up to complement the trip, the girls start singing to a Benatar classic. They arrive at the hotel much too soon, check in, and enter their room. They decided to room together. Each throws their things on the bed they selected.
While the officers unlock their pistol cases and suit up, Addie receives a message from Roger. It’s a note telling her that John has moved, and no longer stationary. His new location is a school. He spent an inordinate amount of time there, and he sends along the address.
At night, his new camp is in the neighborhood above Little Italy in San Luis Obispo. Roger thinks John’s on the roof. Addie asks him which side of the school roof John is on. Roger thinks the west side.
Addie brings up her maps app. Sees the homes across the street the school would be facing from the north side.
Addie holds her cell up to show Agatha. “Roger’s work,” she says, shaking it. “We know where the girls are. We move on them tomorrow.”
“Why not today? We could ask SLO P.D. for the number of the couple that was attacked, interview them, and get their neighbor’s address. There, finished.”
Addie looks at her like she has two heads, giving her best figure it out look. When she starts to speak, Agatha mouths the words with her. “Because then they’d be alerted, and they’d take off.”
Agatha, embarrassed now, adds, “I get it.”
Addie adds, “We need everyone here anyway. We have to work with the local cops. The Underground is involved. I want them neutralized. The entire task force is needed so the women don’t escape again. C’mon, let’s go as soon as we freshen up. I think some of the team is at the stationhouse already. Let’s go get our man.”
As they walk out the door of their room, Agatha asks, returning to old territory, “You and Frank still trying?”
Addie looks at Agatha sideways, mischievously. “Every chance we get.”
Agatha lightly slaps her arm, “You go!”
Addie returns the question, “You?”
Agatha looks contemplative as they approach their car. Addie feels she may have asked the wrong question. But she didn’t, as she hears Agatha’s answer, “We’re going to wait until I leave the streets. It’s going to be a few years, maybe longer. Until then, it’s just the two of us and we like it that way.”
“I thought you were trying?”
“Frannie and I had a long, long talk about it. He thinks what I do is too dangerous. He’s right. So, we’re, uh, practicing.”
Both girls share a laugh over that. The banter continues until they reach the stationhouse. There, they park and go inside, eager to meet their SLO counterparts and begin the operation. After they step through the doors, a familiar voice calls out.
“Addie? This way,” Juvieux beckons from a room away from the desk sergeant. He had seen them pull up, chatting away as they walked to the small, short building that houses the police department. San Luis Obispo is a sleepy town, if that, with non-existent crime waves. The police here are often referred to as California Thai Patrol, referencing Thailand’s crime statistics where murder and violence are so rare that cops often ride
tandem on tiny scooters handing out parking tickets.
When the couple was attacked, the police argued over who would respond. The incident was the most action the department had seen in years. And now, with this task force in town, the jockeying began again over who would be in, and who would be out.
When Addie and Agatha walk through the door held open by David, they see the familiar group from their recent planning sessions, and a couple of new members from the SLO P.D. These are seasoned professionals looking to be part of what amounts to a very big deal, whether you’re from a small town like this, or New York City.
The greetings and salutations made, the work begins.
20
At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet. Plato
The morning arrives. It’s another warm, sunny day with tall white clouds and blue skies above. Madison has woken earlier. Lying next to her, snoring softly, is the man she’s been waiting her whole life for. Watching him sleep, his chest rising and falling, is her entertainment. She’s doesn’t move much, afraid to wake him. She lets her eyes do the moving, from the bridge of his nose, to the stubble on his chin, to his Adam’s apple and chest. Lastly, her eyes fall on where the sheets begin, just below his belly button.
Last night was better than she dreamed it ever could be. Neither of them are skilled lovers. They’ve talked about this many times. Each could count their partners on one hand. Sex was never the main focus of any lasting relationship, and Jimmy had a practice of being a one-woman man. Madison was never one to play the field. Both got their points across during their talks, which only served to heighten the desire they had for one another. Then it became clear the sex talk had to end, and that it became an obsession that neither wanted. The killing in Tyler ended the discussion anyway, with Madison and Reggi leaving abruptly.
And now he is here. This kind man. When they made love last night, it lasted for hours. Along the way, they discovered what they liked and didn’t like. Jimmy was blunt about it and she followed that lead, telling him and showing him. Being honest about a subject so intimate was difficult at first. When they found that speaking plainly about it just made their lovemaking better, the floodgates opened. Madison told him she’s afraid he’ll become bored with her. He felt the same way. It was funny to the point of being ridiculous.
When Madison’s done taking her inventory, her gaze looks up at him. His eyes are open. He’s been doing the same. Looking her over and dreaming about last night. A smile parts his lips.
“Good morning, lover,” he sleepily says, at peace with this new morning.
He brushes away the hair from her cheek and lightly strokes it. “Guess what?” He says, a mischievous look in his eye suddenly appearing.
“What?”
“I have to pee, pretty bad,” and he throws the covers off him. Jumping out of bed in his birthday suit, he runs for the bath, her eyes following as he shuts the door.
When he returns, he’s covered his manhood with his right hand.
“Watcha got there, handsome?” Madison teases.
“Just a little somethin’,” is his reply.
“Oh, I don’t know. I think I saw a lot of that last night, up close,” She giggles as Jimmy reenters the sheets.
“Well, my friend here is a little shy. He’s afraid you might not want him around if you see him too much.”
“Oh really? Shy? Let me see if I can help. You know, I’m a licensed therapist. Just sayin’.”
“Oh, he needs a lot of that,” Jimmy agrees, reaching over.
When she sees him coming for her, she hops out of bed. “My turn!” She runs to the sanctity of the bath, her backside becoming Jimmy’s sole fixation until the door closes.
When it reopens, her hair is lightly brushed and he can smell the perfume he likes so much. Unlike Jimmy’s little friend, Madison is not shy. She’s wearing a thin, see-through negligee down to her waist, taunting him.
He’s mesmerized as she slowly approaches his side of the bed. There he takes her hand, romantically pulling her down to him where he catches her and lays her ever closer to him.
Their breathing is deep, the beat of their hearts is fast and quick. They look into each other’s eyes, longingly. Madison’s words are huskily spoken, slowly. Her eyes are smoky and glazed, her lips parted,
“Make love to me, Jimmy.”
21
Let’s stop apologizing for things we aren’t sorry for. Courtney Carver
“Good morning, Reggi,” Jimmy says in greeting, entering the kitchen.
“Coffee’s done, it’s over there,” Reggi offers, pointing to her left. “I put a cup out for the two of you.” When he seats himself across from her at the breakfast nook, Reggi asks, slyly, a small crossing her face, “Sleep well last night?”
Jimmy looks at her, then begins to laugh a little. “Best sleep I’ve ever had.”
“Uh-huh, I see,” Reggi answers, taking a sip. “What’s Madison up to?”
“She’s calling her mother. She said she’d be down in five,” he replies.
“Jimmy, not to be redundant or anything, but people know me as Donna. Can you keep it straight?”
“Yes, I can,” he assures her.
“Good. Now, you two want some breakfast? I’m in the making mood, so don’t hold back,” she sweetly says, and moves off to get a pan or two.
Upstairs, Madison’s call is going through.
“Charlotte Bouknight,” it’s answered.
“Hi Mom, it’s me, calling in to tell you everything is OK,” Madison says.
There’s a pause, and Madison doesn’t know why. Maybe the connection was dropped. “Thank you for calling me. You’ve always been the best daughter. You and your sister. I hope this ends soon and you can come home.”
“It will. Just stay with me.”
“I will. You keep checking in and we’re good. I love you, Madison,” there’s a noise in the background, a familiar noise.
“Where are you? That sounds like a bird. Are you outside?”
“Yes, Madison. I decided to take a holiday and go to the beach. It’s just a seagull. I need a mental health check. Having a daughter on the lam doesn’t help.”
“I know, Mom. Listen, let me go. I’ll keep calling in. Someday, we will be together again.”
“You still with your crazy grandmother?”
“Yes, I’m worried about her, though.”
The sadness in Madison’s voice is very clear. Charlotte hears it, and she tells her, “You’re the adult, not her. If you need to institutionalize her again, you’ll know. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”
Madison sees the wisdom in that, and she shows it when reassuring her mother, “It won’t get that far, I promise.”
“And we’ve never broken any promises to each other, have we?”
“No. I love you.”
“And, I love you.”
Madison ends the call and briefly gathers her thoughts. Today is a new day. She has fun plans for the two of them, her and Jimmy. Her grandmother will keep herself busy with the neighbors, and later they’ll all have dinner together.
Life is wonderful again.
22
Buy the ticket, take the ride. Hunter S. Thompson
“Do we all understand our assignments? Good, let’s go over them again,” David tells the task force group.
“SLO P.D. will handle the perimeter. This is their city and they are familiar with the people here. We don’t want the public to get the wrong idea that some clandestine government operation is going on in their neighborhood. It’s not a Stephen King novel.”
“The contingent from Tyler, Texas – Captain Boyer and the others – will run interference with the Underground. They will show up and it is expected there will be more than just one. The recent attack on the neighbors has gotten the Underground’s attention. They will be there, and they will have their plans.”
David looks over to Addie, “You have the floor.”
Addie looks the group over and begi
ns, “We will capture the women, Agatha and myself. We don’t expect trouble from them. But there are two unknowns. First, there’s John Paulson. Memorize his face from the photograph in your file. I don’t expect a problem from him, but he has a history. Second, there is a killer loose. This is who beat that couple with the bat. The same person that killed the victims in Florida and Texas. This person is here, in this town. If any of us think we have the killer in our sights, you are to give one warning and when the warning is not followed, shoot. Do not become isolated from your partner. That is what this killer wants. Any questions?”
Their stoic expression is all Addie needs to see. “That’s it then, we meet here at 9 pm tonight.”
“Again, no weapons are to be drawn against the women. So, I modified my earlier restriction. If the Underground, or anybody else other than the women, bring out weapons, you are to respond in kind,” David tells the group.
With the meeting over, Addie pulls David aside. “We have to make a decision about it, David.”
He knows what she’s talking about. It’s an uncomfortable subject, using a criminal to catch one.
“We don’t know if we have to go there, Addie. Let’s wait until we know.”
Addie presses him, “We have to plan for the eventuality, David. If we don’t catch the killer, we’ll need her help. The only reason the killer is here is because of her. If we catch the women and jail them, it’s over. The killer gets away.”
“I don’t know Addie. It’s a stretch. Higher-ups won’t be happy.”
