Body Rides (63 page)

Vince and Sue stared up at her. Their mouths hung open.

Neal wondered if others could see her, as well; so high up, she was above the fences and shrubs enclosing the property. Neighbors might be watching her from their pools, from the windows of their houses, from the street.

Look! Up in the sky!

Why doesn’t she dive? Neal wondered.

She’ll end up falling!

Maybe not, Neal thought. Her bouncing looked a little less reckless than earlier. She was no longer being flung higher and higher with each hop. Now, she seemed to be keeping a steady rhythm and height.

Almost as if she planned to continue for a long time.

Till she knows I’m safe?

She’d stripped off her top to grab Vince’s attention, to pull him out of the house. She’d climbed the diving board to keep his eyes glued to her. And now she was holding him at poolside with the spectacle of her leaps, the promise of her dive.

A moment after her splashdown, Vince would return to the house.

Gotta get my ass outa here!

Neal hated to miss the dive.

He watched one more bounce. Then, clutching the sack of money to his chest, he whirled around and rushed for the bedroom door.

Before crossing to the foyer, Neal stopped and peered into the den. Nobody there. Beyond the glass, Vince stood by the pool.

Clapping!

Neal raced to the front door, jerked it open, stepped outside and eased the door shut. He ran up the walkway and through the open gate. The street was empty, shrouded by shadows. He ran to
Marta’s Jeep and stuffed the paper sack into the narrow storage compartment behind the rear seat.

Now all I’ve gotta do is get the gals out of there
.

Can’t signal with the horn
.

What should I do, ring Vince’s doorbell?

Why not?

Feeling squirmy in his stomach, Neal listened to the chimes ringing inside Vince’s house.

What if he doesn’t open up?

He’ll open. He’ll be worried it’s the cops. Might even hope it’s a couple more luscious babes arriving
.

As Neal reached forward to ring the bell again, Vince asked from the other side of the door, ‘Who is it?’

‘I’m here to pick up Tracy and Katt.’

Moments later, the door opened. But not all the way. It only opened the width of Vince’s shoulders. He stood in the shadowy gap and frowned out at Neal. A towel, draped over one wrist, hung like a rumpled curtain from his belly almost to his knees.

‘Are they expecting you?’ he asked. He spoke slowly, as if being careful not to slur his words or stumble on them.

‘Well,’ Neal said, ‘I dropped them off a while ago. They said I should come back in an hour.’

‘I see. And you are?’

‘Ken. Tracy’s my kid sister.’

Vince tried to smile, but he suddenly looked uneasy. ‘Ah. I see. You’re her brother.’

‘Yeah. She and Katt came on over to swim with Elise. Are you
Mister
Waters, Elise’s husband?’

‘I’m Elise’s husband,’ he said. But he didn’t say his name or stick out his hand. ‘Unfortunately, she and the others – Tracy and what?’

‘Katt.’

‘Ah. Yes. You just missed them. They all went off to dinner just a short while ago.’

‘They did?’

‘I’m afraid you just missed them. But you might be able to join them at the restaurant. They were on their way tooooo . . .’ Vince frowned and shook his head. ‘Some Italian place. Let me think.’
Still shaking his head, he nibbled on his lower lip. ‘No, I’m frankly not sure. They just decided to take off on the spur of the moment. I’m sorry you missed them.’

Neal scowled at Vince. ‘But they knew I’d be coming over in an hour. I can’t believe . . .’

‘Elise gets these
whims
. She’ll run off at the drop of a hat – usually dragging along a few unsuspecting friends. There’s simply no stopping her. But anyhow – be not alarmed. They’ll be turning up back here . . . oh, by midnight at the latest.’

‘
Midnight?
’

‘The moment they return, I’ll have Elise take them home. Or I’ll return them myself. How’s that?’

‘Not good. We have plans for tonight. Are you sure they aren’t here?’

‘I’m absolutely, one hundred per cent sure they’re not here. They’ve gone out to dinner. At Andre’s? You might try Andre’s.’

‘Just tell them I’m here, all right?’

‘I can hardly do that. And I resent the implication that I’m being less than truthful. Good-bye, now.’ He started to shut the door.

Neal rammed the door open. Vince yelped and stumbled backward. As he fell, he flung out his arms. The towel flew. For a moment, he looked like a dancer trying to squeeze himself under the limbo stick. Then his bare back smacked the marble floor. He grunted.

Neal flung the door shut. Pulling the pistol out of his pocket, he rushed to Vince’s side. He crouched and jammed the muzzle down hard midway between Vince’s nipples.

‘Don’t say a word,’ Neal told him.

‘Please. Don’t hurt me.’

‘That’s four,’ Neal said.

And whipped the pistol straight up from the center of Vince’s chest. It struck him under the chin. His teeth clacked together. His head must’ve been raised slightly; an instant after his teeth collided, the back of his head
thonked
the floor. His eyes bugged out. Then he squeezed them shut. His entire sweaty red face seemed to be squeezed into furrows of pain. Blood spilled from a gash on the point of his chin.

At the sound of a door sliding open, Neal looked up. Sue leaned into the house. She squinted toward the foyer. ‘What’s goin on?’ she asked.

‘It’s me,’ Neal called. ‘Time to go. Tell Tracy.’

She called over her shoulder, ‘Tracy! Let’s get.’ Then she rushed over the carpet. As she approached the foyer, she slowed down. She stopped beside Vince and stared down at him. ‘He don’t look real good,’ she said.

His eyes opened. He squinted up at Sue as if staring into painful sunlight.

‘Shut your eyes or I’ll shut ’em for you,’ Neal said.

He shut them.

Marta came running into the house. She was gasping for air, dripping. She must’ve just climbed out of the pool. She still wore only the pants of her swimsuit. The top swung in her hand, flipping and jerking as she hurried through the den.

She stopped beside Sue. Out of breath, she bent over at the waist and clutched her knees. Water spilled down her body, dribbled off her chin and breasts, formed a puddle around her feet. ‘Jesus,’ she gasped. ‘What . . . happened to him?’

‘I did,’ Neal muttered. ‘Come on, let’s get out of here.’

Sue started to say, ‘Did ya find . . .?’

Neal guessed what was coming. He didn’t want Vince to hear it.

The blow from the gun opened Vince’s cheek and knocked his head sideways. He went limp.

‘I found it,’ Neal said. ‘It’s in the car.’

‘I guess he’s . . . out cold,’ Marta said, still bent over and breathing hard. ‘First time I’ve ever . . . seen him . . . without a hard-on.’

‘He’s a real lady’s man,’ Neal said. ‘He had big plans for you two.’

‘We oughta get,’ Sue said, ‘or else he’s gonna come to and you’ll have to whack him again.’

‘You ready?’ Neal asked Marta.

She gave him a quick grin. Her swimsuit top had fallen to the floor. She dipped down and snatched it up. Standing straight, she slipped her arms into the straps, cupped her breasts in the soggy hide, and reached behind her back. A few seconds later, she said, ‘All set.’

Neal opened the door. He watched Vince while the women rushed out.

No sign that the guy was regaining his senses.

Neal waited until Marta and Sue reached the road. Then he backed out of the house and pulled the door shut. He shoved the pistol into his pocket and ran.

At the gate, he glanced back. The front door was still shut.

Marta and Sue were already climbing into the Jeep. Neal fished the keys out of his pocket, then raced for the Jeep like a sprinter, the keys jangling. Marta turned in the driver’s seat. She stretched out an arm. He slapped the keys into her hand. As he vaulted the side, the engine grumbled to life.

The Jeep lurched forward and picked up speed.

Neal gazed down the road behind them.

No sign of Vince.

Moments later, they swept around a bend and there was no more reason to watch the rear.

‘I believe we made it,’ Neal said.

Marta turned her head. ‘Do you think he’ll call the police on us?’

‘No way. Cops are about the
last
thing he wants to see. He’s terrified they’ll show up and arrest him.’

‘So he
was
involved?’ Marta asked.

‘Sure was. He hired Glitt to do the murder, just like we figured.’

Sue grinned over her shoulder. ‘Wait’ll he finds out his
money’s
gone. Ya
did
get it, right?’

In answer, Neal reached down into the storage space behind his seat. He gripped the bag by its crumpled top and lifted it into sight.

‘All
right!
’

Marta glanced back. ‘Hope you looked inside.’

‘Oh, I did. Chock full of cash.’

‘Where was it?’ she asked.

‘In his bedroom closet. I found it while you were doing your high-dive act. Which, by the way, was spectacular.’

‘You watched?’

‘Some of it.’

She made a face as if she’d tasted something bad. ‘Terrific,’ she muttered. ‘You weren’t supposed to see that.’

‘It was great,’ Neal said.

‘It was humiliating. I only did it . . .’

‘I know why you did it.’

She scowled. ‘You were supposed to be looking for the money.’

‘I know.’

‘Y’oughta be flattered,’ Sue told her.

‘I couldn’t help myself,’ Neal said. ‘You were a sight to behold.’

‘Terrific. Glad you appreciated it. I just wish you hadn’t watched, that’s all. It made me feel . . . like a slut or something, doing that for a slimy creep like him. Not to mention, I thought I’d end up breaking my neck. That board was so damn high . . . I could see the top of his
roof
. I kept jumping up and down, and I’m thinking any second you’ll honk the horn so I can quit. I’m praying it honks before I slip and fall and kill myself. But you’re apparently at a window enjoying the show . . .’

‘The horn doesn’t work,’ Neal explained.

‘What?’

‘I tried it. It doesn’t work.’

Marta beeped the horn.

‘That’s odd,’ Neal said. ‘It didn’t work when
I
tried it.’

‘Did you have the ignition on?’ she asked.

‘No.’

‘That’s why.’

‘You’re kidding.’

‘Nope. The horn’s like the radio. Won’t work when the car’s shut off.’

‘That’s stupid.’

Looking back at him, Sue said, ‘Reckon ya had to ring the doorbell and conk the daylights outa Vince, all ’cause ya didn’t know how to work the car horn.’

‘I guess so.’

‘Haw! What a hoot!’

‘I thought you knew that about the horn,’ Marta told him. ‘Why do you think I left the key in the ignition?’

‘I needed to turn it?’

‘Yeah. Like for the radio.’

‘Well . . .’ Neal shook his head.

‘You’ll be danged,’ Sue supplied for him.

He laughed.

Staying off main roads as much as possible, Marta picked turns at
random. They made their way slowly, sometimes taking out-of-the-way detours, but generally moving closer to her apartment building.

Even most of the sidestreets were thick with traffic.

Guys in nearby cars stared at Marta and Sue. Some hooted, whistled, called out remarks and offers. Marta ignored them. Not Sue. She smiled at some of the guys. Waved at others. But then a laughing teen with friends in the bed of a pickup truck curled one hand into an O and poked his finger in and out of it. ‘Ain’t that charmin,’ Sue muttered, and flipped her finger at him.

‘Jesus H. Christ!’ Marta blurted. She swung out a hand and smacked Sue’s upper arm. ‘Don’t do that! You’re in L.A., for godsake. You’ll get us killed.’

‘Ya see what he done?’

‘It doesn’t
matter
what he did.’ Marta swerved to a curb and stopped the car.