“Maybe I should open a bank account while I’m here. I feel strange having this much cash around.”
“After breakfast, we can buzz over to Dino’s bank and open an account.”
“Excellent plan, Kacy, my sweet. In fact, get dressed. We’re going out to eat. I saw a cute little eatery a few blocks from the theater I’ve been wanting to try.”
“Excellent plan, Deacon, my love.” She winked and went into the shower.
Deacon couldn’t understand the need for another one. They had bathed late last night. He found clean clothing, including socks and some new boxers. Wondering where these came from, he put them on.
“Do you like them?”
Her habit of dropping the inflection at the end of her questions amused him. He had always been told British people did that, but hadn’t ever heard it until now.
“Yeah, they’re great! Nice fit. Thank you.”
“You didn’t have many, and most of them were pretty worn out. No worries,” she held up her hands to still his protests. “I know how attached you lads are to your knickers. They’re still in there, just at the bottom of the drawer.
He kissed her soundly, smacking her on the bottom. “You’re something else, you know that?”
“What’s that then?” She raised a curious eyebrow.
“What’s what?” Her question caught Deacon up short.
“The something else that I am.” She waited patiently for him to answer.
His puzzled frown set her laughing loudly.
“You should see your face! You don’t know whether to take that seriously or not.” Giggling, she patted him on the ass. As quickly as she had started to laugh, she made her face solemn. “But seriously, what else?”
Deacon raised an eyebrow. “You really want an answer?” Apparently she did. “What else, besides warm, friendly, loving, creative, intelligent, sexy as hell….”
“Okay, okay! Too many compliments make a girl conceited.”
“I can never compliment you too much.” He kissed her gently, taking her carefully in his embrace. “Let’s go eat, I’m starving! If we don’t leave this second, we might not go for at least another hour, maybe two.”
“Oh, all right. I’m rather hungry myself.”
“To the Bat Mobile, Robin!”
“Holy Crumb Cake, Batman!”
Locking the door, Deacon pulled it shut, car keys in hand. He was always very careful about his keys, having locked himself out many times in the past.
Kacy was sliding into the passenger seat when Deacon’s phone rang. Taking it from his pocket, he glanced at it before he answered. It was a local number he didn’t recognize.
“Deacon Stewart, how can I help you?”
“Mr. Stewart, this is Detective Reyes. I’m calling regarding that envelope you found in the car.”
“Yes, glad you got that all right.”
“Did you open it?”
“No, should I have?”
“It was very disturbing.”
“Oh? How so?”
Deacon turned away from the car, dropping his voice a little, urged by Reyes’ quietly emphatic tone. Kacy watched him with concern.
“There were two pictures and a newspaper clipping with a typed note, printed off a computer. The note said, It was no accident.“
“What about the rest?”
“An obituary of the previous owner of the theater, the graffiti on the playhouse and a photograph of the incident which killed Peter Du Champs.”
“Oh, my God. How could his death in any way be connected with this?”
“We’re working on it. Meanwhile, stay close to the Du Champs woman. We’ll be around, only a call away.”
“If I stay any closer to Kacy, I’ll be sharing her clothes.”
There was a suppressed guffaw and a sneeze at the other end, followed by sounds of the phone being rubbed with a cloth.
“Sorry about that, Mr. Stewart. Spewed my coffee. It’s probably better you not tell her precisely what’s in there, given her recent loss.”
“I agree with that,” Deacon said casually.
“Don’t worry, Deacon. We’ll track this kook down. I’ll be in touch.”
“What was that about?” Kacy asked as he ducked into the VW.
“Nothing special.”
Her gaze turned from curious to steely in a heartbeat. “Why are you lying to me? Don’t lie to me, Pete!”
©2021 Dellani Oakes
Dellani Oakes 