hungry?”
“No thanks, I ate on the way over. Where’s Bitty?”
“Most likely in bed reading, let’s go outside.”
Blue light from the Zap-n-Trap hanging off the pergola fell across Sig’s forehead revealing his high widow’s peak.
“Whatcha got?” Eli asked pulling his hair down.
“He’s home.”
“Is he alone?”
“Yeah, his back door was unlocked and there’s something else.” Eli crossed his arms.
“He’s got a barn outback.”
***
Vanessa had stayed at the hospital the remainder of the day in hopes that her daughter would awake, she didn’t. Tired and mentally exhausted she went home to unwind. Sipping her rum and Coke she thought for a long while in her brown corduroy Lazy Boy recliner.
The glass in her right hand was now empty leaving a damp water mark on the arm of the chair. Sam’s words came to mind, “I’ve gotten to know him, more than you. He’s genuine.” How could Sam be so wrong?
The house was silent and felt deserted without her there. Vanessa got up to turn on the TV, but not before making herself another drink. Passing the kitchen table she glanced at Sam’s pocketbook laying on it. Vanessa had brought it in earlier when Eli and Sig returned Sam’s car.
The Six Million Dollar Man was on, Vanessa smiled, Sam loves this show. Sipping her drink Vanessa felt something, almost tugging her. Putting the glass down, she turned her head back at the kitchen table. Sam ’ s tan Buckskin pocketbook. Standing up, she crept towards it and drew open the bag.
Vanessa removed her daughter’s hair brush, a compact, wallet and an 8-track tape. Loose change, Wrigley’s spearmint gum and a few Revlon makeup pencils lay scattered on the bottom. With tired, heavy eyes she viewed the items, then noticed something.
There were numbers written in blue pen on the back cover of the tape, it was a phone number. Vanessa read the number several times, it wasn’t anyone she knew. Turning the cartridge over she saw a white piece of paper sticking out of the jacket sleeve. Taking it out she opened it and read the letter.
If Sam had these feelings for Bill, then why would he go after her ? It just didn ’ t make any sense. Vanessa knew what a good judge of character Sam was. One question slowly rose to the surface above all others. What if Sam wasn ’ t with Bill? What if she was going there to meet him but came across someone else?
The temperature in the house felt like it had just risen ten degrees as Vanessa picked up the phone and dialed Eli’s number.
***
Bill lay down on his new latex and foam rubber mattress and sprawled out. His body and mind were tired. He closed his eyes. The constant humming from the white ceiling fan spinning above placed him in a hypnotic state. His thoughts turned to her while falling asleep. He admired Sam ’ s candidness, her honesty. She was smart, artistic, sexy and beautiful. Those hazel eyes coming down the hall to Marvin Gaye ’ s “ What ’ s going on ” were mesmerizing. Picturing her he felt an attraction that was undeniable.
Bill was almost asleep when a creak in the hallway roused him. With his eyes still shut he smiled and expected to see her when he opened them. Instead he saw two shadowy figures wearing ski masks. Groggy and alarmed Bill reached for the Louisville Slugger behind his mattress. Unable to reach it in time, a hard blow to the back of his head made everything go dark.
Coming too, Bill’s head throbbed. The pain was reminiscent of an accidental slap shot from Mike Dunlea in the fifth grade. Everything was spinning when he opened his eyes to darkness. There was some sort of sack over his head . Feeling the dry burlap rubbing against his face, he tried to speak but couldn’t. A rag, pungent with the taste of gasoline, was stuffed in his mouth. It made him nauseous. The tops of his bare feet were dragging across warm dirt, someone quite strong was carrying him, effortlessly. He tried to move
“No thanks, I ate on the way over. Where’s Bitty?”
“Most likely in bed reading, let’s go outside.”
Blue light from the Zap-n-Trap hanging off the pergola fell across Sig’s forehead revealing his high widow’s peak.
“Whatcha got?” Eli asked pulling his hair down.
“He’s home.”
“Is he alone?”
“Yeah, his back door was unlocked and there’s something else.” Eli crossed his arms.
“He’s got a barn outback.”
***
Vanessa had stayed at the hospital the remainder of the day in hopes that her daughter would awake, she didn’t. Tired and mentally exhausted she went home to unwind. Sipping her rum and Coke she thought for a long while in her brown corduroy Lazy Boy recliner.
The glass in her right hand was now empty leaving a damp water mark on the arm of the chair. Sam’s words came to mind, “I’ve gotten to know him, more than you. He’s genuine.” How could Sam be so wrong?
The house was silent and felt deserted without her there. Vanessa got up to turn on the TV, but not before making herself another drink. Passing the kitchen table she glanced at Sam’s pocketbook laying on it. Vanessa had brought it in earlier when Eli and Sig returned Sam’s car.
The Six Million Dollar Man was on, Vanessa smiled, Sam loves this show. Sipping her drink Vanessa felt something, almost tugging her. Putting the glass down, she turned her head back at the kitchen table. Sam ’ s tan Buckskin pocketbook. Standing up, she crept towards it and drew open the bag.
Vanessa removed her daughter’s hair brush, a compact, wallet and an 8-track tape. Loose change, Wrigley’s spearmint gum and a few Revlon makeup pencils lay scattered on the bottom. With tired, heavy eyes she viewed the items, then noticed something.
There were numbers written in blue pen on the back cover of the tape, it was a phone number. Vanessa read the number several times, it wasn’t anyone she knew. Turning the cartridge over she saw a white piece of paper sticking out of the jacket sleeve. Taking it out she opened it and read the letter.
If Sam had these feelings for Bill, then why would he go after her ? It just didn ’ t make any sense. Vanessa knew what a good judge of character Sam was. One question slowly rose to the surface above all others. What if Sam wasn ’ t with Bill? What if she was going there to meet him but came across someone else?
The temperature in the house felt like it had just risen ten degrees as Vanessa picked up the phone and dialed Eli’s number.
***
Bill lay down on his new latex and foam rubber mattress and sprawled out. His body and mind were tired. He closed his eyes. The constant humming from the white ceiling fan spinning above placed him in a hypnotic state. His thoughts turned to her while falling asleep. He admired Sam ’ s candidness, her honesty. She was smart, artistic, sexy and beautiful. Those hazel eyes coming down the hall to Marvin Gaye ’ s “ What ’ s going on ” were mesmerizing. Picturing her he felt an attraction that was undeniable.
Bill was almost asleep when a creak in the hallway roused him. With his eyes still shut he smiled and expected to see her when he opened them. Instead he saw two shadowy figures wearing ski masks. Groggy and alarmed Bill reached for the Louisville Slugger behind his mattress. Unable to reach it in time, a hard blow to the back of his head made everything go dark.
Coming too, Bill’s head throbbed. The pain was reminiscent of an accidental slap shot from Mike Dunlea in the fifth grade. Everything was spinning when he opened his eyes to darkness. There was some sort of sack over his head . Feeling the dry burlap rubbing against his face, he tried to speak but couldn’t. A rag, pungent with the taste of gasoline, was stuffed in his mouth. It made him nauseous. The tops of his bare feet were dragging across warm dirt, someone quite strong was carrying him, effortlessly. He tried to move
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