Death and Deceit (11 page)

“Come on, little one,” he said pulling Jessie from the bed.

“You’ve decided on the sofa?” she asked when he led her from the bedroom.

“No.” He guided her steps towards the bathroom door and she laughed.

“The bathroom?” she said.

“The shower,” he answered, thrusting back the heavy, blue curtain.

They stepped into the bathtub and Kent pulled the curtain again. When he turned
on the water it sprayed gently on their heads. Jessie laughed again squealing, “Oh, that’s nice.”

“This will be even nicer,” he said brushing her wet hair from her forehead and kissing her face. He found her lips quickly then followed down the front of her, kissing every inch or two.
Her skin felt steamy and damp

Little kisses and droplets of water caressed Jessie’s skin. She began to cool down
just enough to enjoy the moment. It was time to give back and Jessie sought his lips again. She raised his head as he was now kneeling in front of her kissing her thighs. “Stand,” she said. When he did she kissed him deeply, flicking her tongue inside his mouth, savouring the sweetness there. She reached down and touched him. She stroked the pulsation and felt him grow even more rigid. She shivered in the cool fountain of water.

He could feel the goose flesh on her skin and felt a need to warm her. Instantly
he thrust into her. He heard her gasp as she pulled her lips from his. But he found her mouth again and held her face with both of his hands. Moving quickly but gently he
thrust again and again, going deeper into her each time, burying himself between the soft, warm folds of her insides.

A weakness crept up Jessie’s legs but he held onto her. She squeezed her eyes
tight and concentrated all her strength into giving him pleasure in return. Her thirst was intense, so much so she licked moisture from his shoulders whenever he left her lips to seek out other places for his kisses.

They were one now, at least moving as one. Beneath the watery spray their wet bodies
swayed behind the shower curtain. She was the first to cry out and his cry followed hers. Their bodies slowed in tempo and they clung to each other. Soon he reached forward and shut down the water. He pulled from her then knelt and began licking water from her ankles. His tongue caressed her body as he moved upward lapping moisture from her skin.

She looked down at the top of his wet head. “I have towels,” she said with a giggle.

He laughed and rose to stand beside her. He threw back the curtain and they stepped from the tub. Jessie opened a closet door and retrieved two large, downy bath towels. She passed him one and wrapped herself in the other. They walked arm and arm to the bedroom and lay on their backs, eyes to the ceiling, not speaking, just touching hands and resting.

In the morning he dropped her off at work. “What about lunch?” she said.

“Sorry, I’m working across town today. Will Liz be around?”

“Maybe. She doesn’t often do a Wednesday class, but I’ll call her.”

“Good. Don’t be alone.”

Jessie left him then and went on with her morning aerobic classes. During a break she called Liz to arrange lunch, and they met at their usual restaurant. She hung her purse on the back of the chair.

“Thanks for meeting me, Liz. How come you missed your class on Monday?”

Liz sipped a cherry coloured drink with a mini umbrella of pink and white stripes
resting on the glass. She sat the drink down and rubbed steam off the rim. “I have this cold.” She coughed lightly to emphasize it. “Why aren’t you having lunch with your lover, Jess?”

Jessie blushed. Could Liz tell? She had told Liz Sunday that nothing had happened over the weekend when they’d visited Wakefield. She hadn’t talked to her since then and now Liz was calling Kent,
her lover
. She might as well confess.

“He’s working over town today. And you’re right. He
is
my lover now. We made love last night.”

Liz reached for the tiny umbrella and crushed it in her hand. “Oh,” she said in return. “And what about the messages? Has there been anymore?”

Jessie told her about receiving the strange message. “Yes, on Sunday night. Shortly after I’d talked to you. But that’s not all. On Monday there was an accident at work. A beam fell almost on me. I was so upset when I met Kent that he went home to stay with me. He’s moved in, Liz.”

Liz leaned back while the waitress placed sandwiches in front of her and Jessie. When she left Liz asked, “Have you ever wondered about Kent?”

“What?”

“It seems to me the messages started right after you met him, didn’t they? And has he ever been present when you received one?”

“What are you saying, Liz? That I should suspect Kent? That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?” Liz looked sour as she bit a small portion from her sandwich. “It must be someone who knows you personally to be able to mention your mother’s illness.”

“That’s what I thought,” Jessie quickly agreed. “I suspected Gary Burke until I thought of that. I didn’t think he’d know about my mother. Do you think he might? He knows where I work. I don’t even know what he looks like. Maybe he’s been hanging around there.” Jessie picked up one half of her sandwich and was just about to bite it when she stopped. “How did you know about my mother being mentioned in the message?”

Liz placed her coffee cup in the saucer, jarring it slightly and spilling some over the edge. “Damn, I’m always doing that,” she said and mopped up the liquid with a napkin. “I suppose you told me,” she replied to Jessie’s inquiry.

“Did I? Maybe so. I’m not myself today.”

“I imagine making love to Kent could do that to you.” Liz smirked.

“You wouldn’t believe how...never mind, Liz. What I can’t believe is how you could even think about suspecting Kent — of all people.”

“I’m just saying he’s the logical choice. Gary Burke had a whole week to bug you after you last talked to him, but you didn’t have a message until you’d dated Kent. And as I recall you didn’t see him that night, did you? You aren’t with him any time a message occurs, are you?”

“But why would he? What reason would he have to harass me?”

“To gain your trust. He’s protecting you now, isn’t he? He did it to get close to
you. Mark my words you probably won’t ever get another bad message as long as he thinks he’s won you.”

“Well he hasn’t,” Jessie said pushing back her chair. She threw down her napkin
on her unfinished sandwich. “I’ve gotta go. I have to think about this. If you’re right, Kent’s a real sicko. Sicker even than Gary Burke.”

****

Jessie was quiet after Kent picked her up at work. If he noticed she hadn’t said much, he didn’t question her. He seemed content that she was with him even if she wasn’t talking. He sang with the radio and winked at her a couple of times. Jessie squirmed trying hard not to think about what she and Liz had talked about at noon. But she remembered an occasion when she had first met Kent. She had been planning to send an e mail to her brother and she had asked Kent to help her do it. A perfect opportunity for him to see her address. If he wanted to he could probably conceal his return address on the messages. After all he knew a lot about computers.

At the apartment Kent helped Jessie toss a salad and cook pasta. After they’d eaten he stripped off his tie and relaxed by the TV. “Cooler tonight, thank God,” he remarked, then winked at her. “But the heat does bring out a good side of you I recall.”

Jessie ignored his sexual comment. “I think it’s gonna rain,” she said. “My left ear always gets red and itchy.”

He laughed. “You’re a strange girl.”

“And you?” Jessie asked. “Are you what you appear to be?”

He looked at her oddly. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Jessie stood in front of the sofa where Kent had stretched out. Her hands were
joined tightly in front of her, and she swayed slightly, nervously. “I don’t need you to stay here any longer, Kent. I’ll be fine. I appreciate your help, but I don’t want you to live here.”

Kent looked up at her, drawing a blank face. “What’s wrong, Jessie? You don’t seem yourself tonight. Ever since you got in the car. Something’s different.”

She turned on her heel and threw a hostile glance his way over her shoulder. She
moved into the kitchen area and stood by the counter. She was not only upset with him but also angry with herself, because the mere sight of his lanky frame lounging on her sofa turned her fingers to thumbs. A cup she’d been handling tumbled to the floor. She bent to retrieve it. “I’m fine. I said I want you to leave.”

He rose and walked closer to her but kept a small distance back. “Did I do something wrong? Didn’t I toss the salad right?” He attempted to joke. His smile was like the sun blasting out from behind a storm cloud. His eyes held hers with a steady gaze.

Jessie was of two minds and so confused her head spun. She frowned anxiously
and with serious eyes she said, “Look, Kent. We moved too fast and I’m not ready. Last night was a mistake.”

“Oh. I suppose under the willow tree was another mistake. You said you loved me, Jessie.”

“I was wrong. I...I don’t know how I feel. I need some time.”

After a silent moment he answered. “Okay, if that’s how you feel. I’ll give you
time. But, I’ll pick you up tomorrow, and tomorrow night I’ll stay for a while...if you want, and go home to sleep. How’s that?” His own mind had been thinking along that
line ever since the morning he’d sniffed her scented gown. If she wanted him in her bed he’d be there. But if she refused him he couldn’t see how he could stay outside her bedroom and get any sleep at all.

“No,” she said. “I can’t even see you.”

“Jessie, for Christ’s sake.”

“Will you leave now? I don’t want to have to ask again.”

She walked away from him and he didn’t have a clue why. “All right, I’ll pack up.”

When he walked out a few minutes later, she didn’t say goodbye even though he
had. The apartment was suddenly emptier than it had ever felt. Jessie crumpled on the sofa and tears sprang freely. Why was all this happening? Why couldn’t she find love like other people? Why was there always a catch? Was there no decent love left in the world?

Early Friday morning Jessie was awakened by the phone. It jolted and frightened
her. Was he now harassing her by phone too? Then thinking of her mother she ran quickly to answer it.

“It’s Alan, Jessie. I’m at Mom’s. She’s in the hospital again. I got here today and
she looks terrible. We had an argument over you, and suddenly she got white and couldn’t breathe. She’s been asking for you.”

Jessie bristled. “How could you upset her like that, Alan? Tell her I’ll be there as
soon as I can.”

She hung up shaking. If only Kent was here to hold her. He couldn’t be the
stalker, Liz had to be wrong. But still she couldn’t be sure. She didn’t know who to trust anymore. For sure she could count on Liz. She glanced at the wall clock...only 3:30 a.m.
She couldn’t call Liz yet, but she couldn’t sleep either. She made herself tea and walked the floor. At four she decided to pack. She didn’t know how long she’d be home but she would take the first bus available in the morning...after calling in at work.

At six she called Liz. After explaining about her mother’s condition, Jessie loaded her worries onto Liz. “I don’t know what to do Liz. Last night I sent Kent home.
I told him I needed space. Now I’m not sure I did the right thing. I want him with me. Do you think I should call him?”

“Absolutely not,” Liz’s shrill voice echoed through the receiver. “You did the
right thing. Until you know who’s stalking you, you can’t trust him. I’ll drive you home. You shouldn’t go through this alone, and with the trouble between you and your brother, he’ll be no help to you.”

“But what about work?”

“I’ll call in sick.”

Good old Liz, always there in time of need. Jessie hung up and waited for Liz to arrive. By 7:10 they were on their way out the door. “Wait,” Liz said. “Did you check
your mail this morning?”

“My e mail? No. I’m afraid to.”

“Do you mind if I punch it up?” Liz asked quickly.

Jessie gave her a hesitant glance. “I suppose not,” she said.

Liz stood in front of the monitor. “I was afraid of that,” she said in a low voice.

Jessie stepped up beside her and looked at the screen.

You shouldn’t have deceived me, my love. Only trouble will befall you now. Only
heartache and maybe worse will prevail in your life, or what’s left of it.

Liz looked over at Jessie. “Are you thinking it’s him now?”

“I don’t know,” Jessie mumbled not wanting to accept the fact that the lovelorn message might be from Kent.

“I half expected this. That’s why I asked you to check,” Liz said. “It’s typical.
He’s been cast off, let down. Now he’s getting back at you. I don’t think he’d seriously hurt you. He’s trying to scare you into calling him. He wants you back anyway he can
get you. I was wrong before about Kent when I wanted him for myself. He’s not for you, Jessie, or me. Just let it go. She erased the message before Jessie’s intervention could stop her. “I thought you’d want to get rid of it,” Liz explained.