Love Lies Dying (19 page)

“Don’t get too excited,” John said. “Keep your eyes on the road.”

Again, the silence.

John turned to watch Zoe as she drove. Her face was beaming now; she wore a large smile and her eyes were wide. The bun at the back of her head continued to hold her hair, although a few strands had begun to escape. The rivets in her t-shirt were illuminated from the lights of the dashboard.

“Why did you ask that?” he asked.

“Ask what?”

“About whether I thought you were beautiful.”

“I just wanted to know, that’s all.”

“But you must know that already.”

She shook her head, “No. I didn’t.”

“Come on, stop fooling.”

“I didn’t know it,” she glanced over to him. “No one’s ever said that to me before.”

“Of
course
they have!”

“No, they
haven’t
.”

“I don’t believe you,” John replied. “You can’t tell me that Fox never said that to you, or one of your other boyfriends or
someone else
has never said that to you.”

She shook her head, “They haven’t.”

“But you’ve had relationships,” John continued.

Zoe nodded, “Yeah, relationships based on sex, Johnny. Nothing more. I know I’m a good fuck, in fact, I’m a great fuck. People have told me
that
, but no one’s ever said I was beautiful before. I’m great in bed, on top, on bottom, on my knees, on the ground, 69, you name it and I’ve done it. I’m terrific no matter what position you put me in, but I’ve never been called beautiful before.”

Her voice broke on her last words and she raised her hand to her face, as if to steady it and to control the tears that were trying to escape.

John reached over and rubbed her shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Zoe pulled herself together and continued. “You see, Johnny, you’re the kind of guy who has sex with someone because you
love
them. The guys I’ve been with want to have sex because you’re worth
screwing
. There’s a difference.”

John nodded, “Yeah, I see that now.”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

He nodded and took her hand.

“Yes,” he whispered. “And I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?”

“Sorry that you’ve had to deal with all these assholes who want you only for your body.”

She turned to him and smiled, “Thanks, Johnny. That means a lot to me.”

“You deserve better. You deserve someone who will love you and treat you right and with the respect you should be given.”

“I know.”

“You need to be as far away from Fox as possible.”

She nodded, “Yeah, I know that too. But we’re driving straight towards him now. Escaping from him is never going to happen.”

“Oh yes it is.” John replied. “I’m going to help you get away from him. And we’re going to succeed.”

She glanced over at him once again. “I hope you’re right.”

“I’m right.”

“I hope we do succeed.”

“We will. We’ll fight him at his own game and I’ll make sure that I leave Hepburn Lakes with both you and Helen. You can stay with us until you get on your feet and then you’ll be free.”

Zoe squeezed his hand tight. “Thanks, Johnny, that means a lot to me.”

“It’s the least I can do.”

“If there’s any way I can repay you,” she continued.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“But you should get
something
in return.”

“It’s not necessary.”

“Maybe I can help you and Helen.”

“Huh?”

“You know, with the problems you’ve been having.”

John frowned, “I don’t think so.”

Zoe had an excited look in her eyes. “Yeah, I could! Maybe I could talk to you both, sit you down and see if we can bring you two closer together.”

“You don’t have to do anything, believe me.”

“Maybe we can work through the problems together. You know, the way we’ve talked through mine.”

“I don’t think it’s that easy, Zoe.”

“Yeah, sure it is! We’ll find out Helen’s reasons for the way she is and I’ll find out yours and we’ll work something out.”

“I don’t
think
so!”

Zoe continued to stare at the road. John followed her stare and watched as the road stretched out before them. He looked for anything different in the small patch of light shining from the headlights in front of them.

It all looked the same.

He wondered where Helen was now, and whether she was okay. He wouldn’t let Fox harm her, but there was very little he could do or say about it until they met face to face tomorrow. Then he would teach the bastard a lesson.

At least, he hoped he could.

Hang in there Helen,
he thought.
I’m on my way.

“What about a threesome?”

“
What?
” he turned to face her, his jaw dropping.

“I said, what about a threesome? Would that help?”

John was astounded. “Are you
serious?
”

“Of course!” Zoe seemed surprised by his question. “Maybe a threesome would help Helen feel more relaxed or something. Maybe we can all work it out that way.”

“A
threesome?
” John shook his head.

“Yeah, you know. Helen and me and you.”

“I
know
what you mean! I just can’t believe you suggested it!”

“Why not? It’s perfectly natural.”

“Natural?”

“Sure! And that way maybe I can bring you two closer together. Guide you both and work things out.”

“Ahuh.”

“What do you think?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“I just don’t think so, Zoe.”

She pouted, “It would be fun.”

“I don’t think Helen would go for something like that, believe me. She’s not
that
kind of woman.”

Zoe smirked, “But you would?”

John shook his head in amazement and let out a laugh. He stared at her and paused before answering.

“Don’t ask things like that, Zoe.”

She giggled. “I thought so. Caught you out there! You’d
like
it, wouldn’t you?”

“Zoe, don’t –”

“You’d be in a threesome with me anytime, right?”

“Please, can we
change
the subject now?”

“I don’t know why you’ve turned all conservative on me all of a sudden,” she threw him a wicked glance. “It’s perfectly natural. What three people decide to do in the privacy of their own home is their own business. There’s nothing to worry about. You’d sure enjoy it.”

“I’m sure I would,” John replied. “But it’s
not
going to happen.”

Zoe laughed. “Come on, Johnny, are you telling me you’ve never had a threesome?”

“Never.”

“Not once?”

“Not once.”

“Really?” Zoe looked surprised.

“Really.”

“Well, you’re missing out on a great time,” she said.

“Oh, so I guess you’re Queen of the Orgies then?” he asked.

“
Orgies?
Yuck! No way. I’m no orgy girl. A threesome isn’t an orgy, Johnny. It’s just a lot of fun.”

“And how many have you had?” he had to ask.

“Only two,” she replied.

“Only two? You sound disappointed.”

“I’d like to make it three,” she smiled at him. “You, Helen and me.”

“No way,” he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

“You don’t know what you’re missing!”

“I think I have a pretty good idea,” he replied.

They drove further without saying anything.

This girl is full of surprises,
John thought as he shook his head.

Eventually, he couldn’t resist. “You’ve done threesomes before?”

“Yeah,” Zoe replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “I mean, first of all, it wasn’t my idea. I had a girlfriend who liked having threesomes with her boyfriend and another girlfriend of hers. But then that girl moved to another state. So, my girlfriend asked me if I’d be interested in doing it with her and her boyfriend. Of course, I was a bit nervous to begin with, I didn’t just jump in there and say, ‘Okay, what position do you want me in?’ But after a few drinks I got relaxed enough to try it and then we had a real good time. Eventually though, she and her boyfriend broke up. So, once I talked it over with Ricky, we invited her to join us. She was thrilled with the idea.”

“You invited her to have sex with you and
Fox?
”

“I think Ricky was even more excited than she was! Men really seem to enjoy it.”

“You knew how dangerous Ricky was, and you invited her to join you?”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Zoe continued. “She was a long-time friend of Ricky’s. She knew the score. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if they’d slept together before anyway. Or since, for that matter.”

John shook his head and sat in silence.

“It’s perfectly natural,” Zoe continued.

“Yeah, yeah,” John replied.

“So what do you say?” Zoe said after a pause. “You, me and Helen?”

“Huh?
No!
The answer is still no!”

“You mean you
seriously
wouldn’t have a threesome with Helen and me?”

“Exactly.”

There was silence again in the car.

Why have a threesome when I could just have you,
he thought to himself.

Then he felt ashamed for thinking it.

Still…

Suddenly, Zoe slammed on the brakes and pulled the steering wheel savagely to the right. The tyres screamed in the darkness and the Jeep swerved and shuddered onto the shoulder of the road.

“Hey, what the –?” John reached out to grab hold of something to steady himself.

The Jeep skidded along the gravel shoulder, the tyres throwing up a dust cloud around them. Eventually they came to a halt.

Zoe unbuckled her seatbelt, turned and leaned forward to face him. Their faces were inches apart.

“So you won’t have a threesome?” she asked again.

“No, I’ve already said that.”

“Why?”

“It doesn’t matter why.”

“Oh, I think it does,” Zoe’s eyes squinted as she stared into his soul.

“No, it
doesn’t
.”

She nodded. “Yes, it does. I’m starting to piece together your puzzle, Johnny.”

He sat back in the passenger’s seat. Suddenly the Jeep felt smaller; the air hot and dry.

“I don’t know what you mean,” he replied.

“All the pieces are starting to fit.”

“Pieces? What pieces?”

“It’s not that you
won’t
have a threesome with me,” she whispered. “It’s that you
won’t
have sex with your
wife!
”

John stared at her.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” her face broke into a half smile.

John knew he didn’t have to answer.

Fifteen

“I think it’s just over the next hill,” Zoe said as they continued driving into the night.

The Jeep shuddered along as the tyres bit into pot holes and bumps. The road had begun to deteriorate a few minutes after they had driven through Hepburn Lakes.

John had been relieved when he saw the sign welcoming them to Hepburn Lakes, as it meant their journey was almost over.

He had looked out the window as the town passed by in the hope of seeing some form of life. But all the house and shop windows were dark and there was no sign of anyone. The general store was the only building with a light burning in the night, and it was blinking on and off. Even the local hotel and bar was closed. And then, within seconds, they had left the town and were continuing along the lonely road.

A few minutes after that, Zoe had slowed down the Jeep and had begun looking from side to side.

“It’s around here somewhere,” she had mumbled.

Then she spotted the turn off to the left. John was sure that if they weren’t looking for the road, they would have driven straight past it just like everyone else.

“We’re almost there,” she had smiled to him as she turned the steering wheel and drove on.

He wanted to get to the church as soon as possible. He needed time out of the Jeep so he could get his thoughts together. They hadn’t spoken much since they had talked about having a threesome and Zoe had worked out he wasn’t sleeping with Helen.

Was it that obvious?
he thought to himself.
If she could see that so clearly, who else could?

He needed time to plan how they were all going to escape from Ricky tomorrow, but all he could think about was Zoe. As he stared out the windshield of the Jeep, he pictured her naked on the sofa, then he remembered her on the bed today, spread with his bathrobe around her, her legs apart. Her parted vulva so tantalising.

“I just want to help you, Johnny,” she had whispered.

He remembered her pierced belly button and the diamond that sat inside it, and the way she had giggled when she had caught him erect in the shower.

And then he remembered her cowering behind the sofa, scared to move, and the stories she had told him about Fox and the way he hurt her.

That’s better, pal,
he thought.
Concentrate on Fox and how you’re going to turn the tables on him tomorrow.

They crested the hill and Zoe put her foot on the brakes.

“Yeah,” she said, almost to herself. “I think it should be on the right here somewhere. You can’t see the church from the road, but there’s a steep driveway along here somewhere.”

They continued driving slowly. John peered into the darkness, looking for the driveway and hoping that no one was at the church waiting for them.

He hadn’t thought about that possibility before, and now that he did, he was suddenly scared to venture any further into the night.

We should’ve driven up here tomorrow morning,
he told himself.
At least then we could see if anyone was already here awaiting our arrival.

But he kept the thought to himself as he didn’t want to panic Zoe with another possible problem. He just made sure that he was ready for anything.

There’s no turning back now.

John spotted a gap in the foliage ahead.

“There,” he pointed it out to her. “Is that it?”

Zoe glanced to where he was pointing.

“Yeah,” she replied. “I think so.”

She stopped the Jeep and stared up the dirt driveway.

“You know, a horrible thought just crossed my mind,” she said.

“I know,” John nodded. “It’s probably the same one that just crossed mine.”

She turned to face him, “What if they’re already up there waiting for us?”

John nodded. “I know. I just thought that myself.”

“What will we do then?”

“I don’t know. Is it likely that Fox would be up there? Do you think that’s the kind of thing he would do?”

Zoe stared back up the driveway and her forehead creased. “No,” she replied. “I don’t think it is. Fox doesn’t need to be sneaky like that. He’s got too much power. He’s more likely to be standing there waving us up the driveway. I don’t think he’d hide and wait for us.”

“Okay,” John said. “I believe you. If that’s what you think.”

Zoe nodded.

“Well,” he said. “Shall we?”

She turned to look at him once more. He couldn’t read her face now. It was a mixture of emotions he hadn’t seen before.

“You don’t want to go up there now?” he asked.

“No, no,” she replied, shaking her head and turning back to stare out the windshield. “I do. I’m…I don’t know…just trying to get my thoughts in order.”

“I know,” John reached out and rubbed her arm. “I’ve been trying to do that too. But sometimes events move quicker than thoughts.”

“Yeah, don’t I know it!” Zoe replied.

She sighed deeply and turned to face him.

“This is your last chance,” she said.

“Huh?”

“Your last chance to pull out. I can drive you back to Hepburn Lakes now and leave you there. I saw a hotel as we drove through the town. I can drop you there if you like. Once we drive up that driveway there’s no turning back.”

“I understand,” he replied.

“Do you?” her eyes pierced through him in the darkness. “Do you
really?
”

“Zoe, I’ve already told you,” he said. “I have no choice. I’m here to help you and Helen and hopefully by this time tomorrow we’ll be heading back home.”

“I know you say that, but –”

“I’m not turning back without you.”

She smiled at him.

“Thanks, Johnny,” she said. “Even though there’s been all this trouble, I’m glad I’m here with you now. You’re the only one I need.”

“Good. So let’s get up that driveway and check out this church while we still have time.”

She giggled and turned back to look through the windshield. “Yes, sir!”

The Jeep accelerated towards the driveway.

John stared out through the windows, checking both sides of the Jeep and peering into the darkness trying to spot anything out of the ordinary. He didn’t know what he was looking for, but he stayed alert for anything that looked suspicious. But it was too dark to make out anything other than large clusters of trees and bushes. If there were anyone watching them, there was no way John would be able to see them.

The Jeep shuddered as it climbed the steep unpaved driveway.

“Nearly there,” Zoe said, her voice vibrating with the vehicle.

John realised he was holding his breath and bracing himself, almost as if he were preparing for something to go wrong or for Fox to spring out in front of their headlights.

They reached the top of the driveway and then the ground levelled out. John let his breath out with a gush and tried to get his bearings. But it was still too dark and he was limited to only that which he could see with the help of the headlights.

“Bumpy,” he muttered.

“Thankfully we have the Jeep,” Zoe replied as she steered along the driveway. “Imagine getting up that track in your car.”

John nodded.
Maybe it
was
a good idea to bring the Jeep,
he thought.
Fox could have us going across some rough terrain tomorrow to get to the meeting point.

“Yeah, you were right about coming in the Jeep,” he said.

“Aren’t I always?” she smirked at him.

“I’m beginning to believe that, yeah,” he replied.

She giggled again. “It took you long enough.”

John turned back to stare out the windshield.

“Now, take it nice and slow,” he said to her. “We don’t want to drive into something nasty.”

“I know,” Zoe said. “I’m so nervous, I’m shaking. Who knows what could happen?”

“Just keep your wits about you,” he replied. “Look for anything out of the ordinary.”

“It’s exciting, don’t you think?” she asked.

“Huh?”

“All this danger and not knowing what will happen next. Doesn’t it make you sort of excited?”

John frowned, “No. It makes me scared and on edge. Not excited.”

“But can’t you feel the electricity? The zing in the air?”

“No, Zoe,” John said in a steady voice. “I feel the cold and the fear.”

Zoe shook her head as she continued driving along the path. “No, there’s more to it than that. There’s a power, a
force
that’s guiding us. It makes us strong and ready for anything. It’s exciting and powerful.”

“Well, whatever. Just keep your eyes open for anything.”

“It makes me feel so horny,” she said in a deep voice. She glanced over to him.

“Concentrate, Zoe,” he said to her. “Please. We don’t have time for this.”

“I’m so hot, Johnny. I need you.”

“Watch where you’re driving and concentrate!” he yelled.

And then they were blinded by the lights.