Come Out Tonight 5 страница

When this is all over, she thought, I’ll take a nice, long bath. I’ll soak in the tub for an hour…

He’s got my keys!

When this is all over, she told herself, he won’t have them. Obviously, it won’t be over until I’ve got everything back…

Including Duane?

She supposed she didn’t want him back. He’d gotten her into this, testing the damn rubbers on a slut in the back of his van.

How could he do a thing like that? she wondered. Knowing I was waiting for him in bed? What kind of miserable bastard is he?

I thought he cared about me.

The slut probably has bigger boobs.

Like who doesn’t?

“Fuck him, anyway, ” she muttered.

Tears filled her eyes.

Stupid me, she thought. I should’ve just stayed in bed. But no, I had to get all worried and go looking for him and run into my pal Toby.

I’m getting my ass abducted ’cause Duane’s a backstabbing piece of shit…
Sobbing, tears running down her face, she finished cleaning her shoulder, then soaped and rinsed her other abrasions, and finally wrung out her sock. Still crying, she hopped on her right foot and pulled the sock on. Then she struggled into her shoe.

Duane wasn’t that great in the first place, she told herself. I oughta be glad it’s over. And be really glad I didn’t find out what a lying cheating bastard he is after he put it to me. This was my lucky night.

She laughed and shook her head.

It is my lucky night, she told herself. I got away from two dirty rotten bastards. A little the worse for wear, but nothing that won’t heal.

A sadder man, but wiser.

“Woman, ” she muttered.

No longer crying, she stared at her face in the mirror and shook her head.

“What a wreck, ” she said.

Bending over the sink again, she splashed her face with water. Then she straightened up and turned off the faucet. And stood there, looking at herself.

Her face was dripping.

Her blouse, splashed with water and clinging to her, was open an inch or so all the way down to the single remaining button at her belly. She pulled its edges together, then sighed.

Then flinched as someone knocked on the door.

“Are you all right in there? ” a man asked.

“Fine, ” she said.

“You can come out any time. ”

“The men’s room says Hombres on the door. ”

“Yeah, I know. What I’m saying is, you can stop hiding in there. He’s gone. ”

“Huh? ”

“The chubby guy. He drove off a few minutes ago. ”

She shut her blouse all the way, pressed her left hand against it, and opened the restroom door.

The man met her eyes.

You!

She felt herself shrivel inside.

“Just thought you might want to know, ” he said.

“Thanks. ”

“Looks like you’ve been having a rough time. ”

“Yeah. A little bit. ”

“Maybe I can help you. ”

“Oh, I don’t know. ” Shaking her head, she said, “But thanks. ”

“I tell you what, ” he said. “Come on over to my table and sit for a while. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee. You look like you could use some time to recover and sort things out. ”

Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

But the man didn’t seem quite so creepy, now that he’d spoken to her. He still had very intense eyes and a hard face. Nothing about him, however, suggested that he might intend to do her harm.

If he wanted to attack me, she thought, he could’ve done it when I was in the john.

“I guess I wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee, ” she said.

“Good. ”

She followed him out of the alcove. With a glance toward the windows, she saw that Toby’s car was no longer at the curb. She quickly scanned the restaurant. The bikers had left, but the crazy woman and the college kids remained at their tables. A gawky-looking man in glasses was leaving the pickup counter with a tray in his hands.

No sign of Toby.

“That’s my table over there, ” said the gray-haired man, nodding toward it.

“I know, ” Sherry said.

“I know you know, ” he said. “I’ll get the coffee. You can go on and have a seat. I’ll be right over. ”

“Okay. ”

As he headed for the counter, Sherry walked to his table. His old coffee cup was still there, along with a few wadded napkins. The other side of the table was clear. She sat down, turned to the window and peered out.

Turning her head from side to side, she looked again for Toby’s car.

The entire length of the block, nothing was parked at the curb.

He seemed to be gone, all right.

But Sherry didn’t like it.

Better, by far, to be able to look out the window and see his car, see him waiting behind its wheel…and know where he is.

Chapter Thirteen

The man came to the table carrying a tray. On it were two large styrofoam cups of coffee, a couple of small plastic tubs containing creamer, several paper packets of sugar and sugar substitutes, two red plastic stirrers and some napkins. He set down the tray in front of Sherry.

“Help yourself, ” he said.

“Thanks. ”

He sat down across from her, reached out and took one of the coffees. “They’ve got good coffee here. Good food, too. ”

“Yeah. ”

Though he didn’t quite smile, the corners of his eyes crinkled. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. ”

“I don’t? ”

“Not from me you don’t. You’ve been looking at me like I’m Charlie Manson. ”

Was it that obvious?

Blushing, she said, “Well, the way you were staring at me…You made me nervous. ”

This time, he laughed. “I make a lot of people nervous. ” He took a creamer off the tray, peeled back its top and dumped it into his coffee. “I don’t mean to, ” he said. “But I like to keep my eyes open. You never know what you’re going to see. ”

Keeping her blouse shut with her left hand, she reached out with her right and lifted her coffee off the tray.

“My name’s Jim, by the way. ”

“I’m Sherry. ”

“Sherry. As in ‘Sherry Baby? ’”

“That’s it. ”

“Named after the song? ”

She nodded. “My parents loved it. ”

“Great song. The Four Seasons. They had a lot of great songs. Before your time. ”

“I’ve got their CDs. ”

Jim tore a packet of sugar and dumped it into his coffee. “I’ve got ’em on vinyl. That’s ’cause I’m an old fart. ” He grinned and crinkled his eyes.

Sherry huffed out a laugh. “How old’s that? ” she asked.

“Fifty-two. ”

“That is old. ”

“You’re telling me. ”

“Shouldn’t you be in bed by now? ”

He laughed. “I should be. You’re right about that. ” He twirled a stirrer in his coffee. Still half smiling, he looked into Sherry’s eyes. “You want to talk about your situation? ”

“I don’t know. ” She took a drink of coffee. It was hot and bitter. “I thought you said they had good coffee here. ”

“You’ve gotta doctor it up. ”

“Guess so. ” She took a creamer off the tray.

As she peeled away its top, Jim said, “I saw the two of you in here earlier. ”

“I know, ” Sherry said.

“I know you know. ”

She poured the creamer into her coffee. “He was helping me look for someone. That’s what I thought, anyway. ” She stirred, and the coffee changed color from nearly black to tan. “But then it turned out to be a trick. After we left here, he started getting funny with me. ”

“Put moves on you? ”

“Yeah. Well, first he hit me a couple of times. And he tore my earring off. ” She turned her head to give Jim a good look at her ear. “Then he…messed around with me. He was trying to take me somewhere to spend the night with him. That’s when I got away. ”

“Who is this guy? ”

“His name’s Toby. Toby Bones. ”

“Toby Bones? ”

“Yeah. ”

“What is he, a pirate? ”

She almost laughed. “I think he’s a mental case. But I don’t really know much about him. ” She picked up a sugar packet, ripped it, and emptied it into her coffee. “I didn’t really know him at all until tonight, but apparently he was a student in one of my classes a few weeks ago. I remember his name from the roll book. ”

“That’d be a hard name to forget. ”

“And I didn’t. ”

“You’re a teacher? ”

Nodding, she said, “A sub. I guess Toby developed an interest in me. ” She took a stirrer off the tray and twirled it in her coffee. “Sounds like he’s been following m

e around. He knows stuff about where I live. And where my boyfriend lives. ”

Former boyfriend, she thought.

“And now he has my purse. I managed to leave it in his car when I jumped out. Smart me. ”

Frowning, Jim nodded. “So he now has your keys and so forth. ”

“He’s got everything. And I’m here with nothing. Just the clothes on my back. What’s left of them. ”

“And me. ”

“Huh? ”

“You’re here with me, ” Jim said. “I’ll do what I can for you. ”

“Well, thanks. ”

“First things first. How badly are you hurt? ”

“Just scrapes and bruises, I guess. ”

“There’s an emergency room a few blocks from here. I’d be glad to drive you over. ”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. ”

“Are you sure? ”

“I’ll be okay. Besides, I can’t spend the next two hours sitting in an ER. I’ve gotta deal with all this. ”

“Deal with it how? ”

“I don’t know. ” She picked up her coffee and drank some. With the cream and sugar added, it tasted almost like warm cocoa. “Toby’s out there someplace—God knows where—and I somehow doubt he’s decided to call it quits for the night. Plus, my boyfriend’s missing. Or maybe not. I’ve gotta find out for sure about him. But I don’t want to get nailed by Toby in the process. ”

“I can protect you from Toby, ” Jim said.

But who protects me from you? she wondered.

He seems like a good guy, she told herself. But so did Toby right up to the instant he whacked me in the face.

Who’s to say Jim isn’t worse than Toby?

“I’m not sure what to do, ” she said.

“You could call the police. ”

“Last time I tried a phone, it wasn’t working. But I’m not sure I want cops involved in this, anyway. They’d have to know everything. Some of the stuff…it’d be so damned embarrassing…”

As she sipped her coffee, she imagined how things might go with the police. See, my boyfriend had to make an emergency run to the Speed-D-Mart for condoms. It would have to be that or a lie, and she didn’t like the idea of lying. Especially to the police.

Any guy hearing the truth would immediately picture her naked. From there, he’d start thinking about what it might be like to screw her.

And that would only be the start of the humiliation. The cops would figure she was an idiot for accepting a ride from Toby. You don’t know this guy from Adam, but you go off in his car in the middle of the night?

Then their imaginations would start running wild again when she told them about the sexual assault.

“They might even think I was asking for it, ” she told Jim. “I mean, nobody forced me to get in the car with Toby. And the way I’m dressed…They’ll probably book me as a suspected hooker, or something. ”

“You look fine. It’s too bad your blouse got ruined. ”

“I’m barely decent, ” she said.

“That’s not your fault. ”

“Anyway, I’d rather not get the cops involved in this. It’d just be opening a can of worms. Even if they catch Toby…” She shook her head. “I want it to be over. I don’t want the whole world to find out about all this. I don’t want to get questioned or give statements or testify. And if Toby ends up in prison, I don’t want to spend years worrying about what he’ll do to me when he gets out. I just want it to be over. ”

“How do you plan to manage that? ” Jim asked.

“I’m not sure. But I do know that I’ve got to keep the authorities out of it. This has to stay between me and Toby. ”

“Well, I’ll stay out, too, if that’s what you want. But I’d be happy to give you a hand. Right now, you’re stranded and Toby might be out there waiting for you. I don’t think you want to go walking off by yourself. Do you? ”

Sherry turned her gaze toward the window. The broad, well-lighted pavement of Venice Boulevard reminded her of an airport runway—a runway in the middle of the night with no flights coming in or going out.

Leaves and litter hurried by, leaping and diving in the wind.

On the other side of the road, trees were shaking.

Toby’s car was nowhere to be seen.

She saw nobody on the sidewalks.

She met Jim’s eyes.

“I guess you’re still afraid of me, ” he said.

“I don’t know you. That’s how I got in trouble with Toby. I mean, you seem like a really nice guy, but…how do I know you’re not some kind of maniac pretending to be a nice guy? ”

He frowned as if giving deep thought to the matter. Then he said, “I suppose you can’t know for sure. You’ll just have to trust your own judgment. ”

“My judgment hasn’t been so great lately. Not where men are involved. ”

He suddenly grinned. “I’ve got just the solution. ” Leaning sideways, he reached into a front pocket of his trousers. Sherry heard jingling sounds. Then his hand came out with a key ring. He unclipped a small, black plastic device and slid it across the table.

“What’re you doing? ”

“That’s the remote for my car. Controls the alarm and door locks. ”

“What am I supposed to do with it? ”

He unclipped a key. “This is for the ignition. ” He slid it over to her.

“Jim? ”

“Take my car, ” he said.

“What? ”

“It’s just outside in the parking lot. A blue Saturn. Take it. I’ll walk home. It’s not that far. ”

“Are you saying I can take your car without you? ”

“Sure. Do whatever you need to do. I can get by without it for a while. ”

“You’re not serious. ”

“You can drop it off at my place when you’re done. My address is in the glove compartment.

“I can’t take your car. ”

“I want you to. ”

“Nobody lets a stranger drive off with his car. You don’t even know me. What if I decide to keep it? ”

“You won’t, ” he said.

“How do you know? ”

“You’re not a thief. ”

“You can tell by looking? ”

He tipped his head to one side and squinted at her, his eyes twinkling. “I think so. ”

“Tell you what, ” Sherry said. She pushed the remote and ignition key back to his side of the table. “You drive. ”

Chapter Fourteen

“Wait here, ” Jim said. “I’ll check the parking lot and make sure the coast is clear. ” He shoved open the door and went out into the night.

Sherry stayed just inside the Nacho Casa.

Jim returned in about fifteen seconds and opened the door for her. “No sign of him. Ready to go? ”

“Ready. ”

Hunched over and leaning into the wind, Jim hurried across the parking lot. Sherry followed him, holding her blouse shut with one hand, pinning her skirt down with the other. The hot wind blew against her. It hurled grains of debris that bit at her bare skin and raw wounds.

Jim stopped at a low, dark car. Ducking, he pulled open the passenger door. Sherry climbed in, and he shut the door. It closed with a quiet solid thud, sealing out the wind and grit and noise.

She reached for the seat belt, then stopped.

Let’s just leave it off, she thought. I might need to get out of here fast.

Not that I don’t trust him.

Jim dropped into the driver’s seat and shut his door. “Where to? ” he asked.

“How about the Speed-D-Mart over on Robertson? ”

Jim started the car. “What’s the main cross-street? ”

“Airdrome. ”

He backed out of the space, pulled forward to the lot’s exit, then turned right.

This has happened before, Sherry thought. It made her uneasy, even though she knew that a left turn onto Venice would’ve been illegal.

“It’s the other way, ” she said.

& nbs

p; “I know. ”

“I realize you can’t go that way. ”

“I could. If you don’t mind a few bumps. ”

“That’s all right. ”

At the first intersection, he turned right. This wasn’t the route Toby had used. Plus, they were now heading in the proper direction. Sherry felt some of her tension slip away.

“This is awfully nice of you, ” she said.

“I like your company. ”

“Lucky for me you were there. ”

“I’m there most nights. ”

“Why is that? ” she asked. “I mean, if you want to tell me. ”

“I’m a people person. ”

A laugh jumped out of her.

Jim turned his head and smiled. “I don’t mean that the way you probably think. ”

“You mean you’re not a ‘touchy-feely’ kind of guy? ”

“Right. I just like to watch people. From a distance. So I go where they are. Late at night, that limits my choices. A place like the Nacho Casa is perfect. Open all night. Different people coming in all the time. Most of them sit down and stay a while so I have plenty of time to observe them. ”

“So…you sort of spy on everyone who comes in? ”

“That’s about it. ”

“That’s a wee bit strange, Jimmy. ”

He looked over at her and laughed softly. “Keeps me out of trouble, ” he said.

“I’d think it might get you into trouble. ”

“Doesn’t usually. ” Not signaling, he suddenly cut hard to the left and swung onto a sidestreet.

Alarm slammed through Sherry. “What’re you doing? ”

He swerved, stopped at the curb and shut off the engine and lights.

“Jim! ”

“I want to see if we’re being followed. ” He turned his head to the left, apparently to watch the side mirror.

“Are we? ” Sherry asked.

“We’ll know pretty soon. ”

“I didn’t notice a car behind us. ”

“Neither did I. But it’d be hard to see if its headlights are off. ”

A sensible precaution, she thought.

Or is this just an excuse to stop? This is just the sort of thing Toby pulled. What’s he gonna do next, pound me and start feeling me up?

Why did I get into the car with this guy? What am I, a moron? Don’t I ever learn from my mistakes?

Good going, Sherry. They can put it on your tombstone.

HERE LIES SHERRY GATES. SHE NEVER LEARNED.

“Looks like we’re in the clear, ” Jim said. He started the car and pulled away from the curb. “I’m a little surprised. I figured Toby would probably hang back, keep an eye on things, and follow us. ”

“Guess he didn’t. ”

“Guess not. Makes me wonder what he is doing. ”

“Maybe waiting at my place, ” Sherry said. “He knows where I live and he has a key. ”

“But he knows you know that, ” Jim pointed out. “He might figure you’ll be expecting to find him there, so he’ll avoid it. At least for tonight. ”

“Maybe, ” Sherry said. “Or he might think, since I expect him to be there, he’d be an idiot to stick around, and I’d realize that, so I won’t really think he’ll be there, so that’s where he goes. ”

Jim turned right, and they were again moving in the proper direction. Looking at her, he smiled. “If Toby thinks you think that, he’ll stay away. ”

“But if he thinks I think he’ll stay away…” She groaned.

“I tell you what. We’ll expect Toby everywhere. And we’ll deal with him when we have to. ”

“Okay. ”

“It’ll be less confusing that way. ”

“Planning to stick with me for a while? ”

“Let’s just see what happens. ”

“What do you do, hang out at the Nacho Casa waiting for damsels in distress? ”

“Not exactly, ” he said.

“I’m the first, huh? ”

“Not exactly, ” he said.

She was surprised to feel a small pull of disappointment. “Oh, you do this sort of thing all the time? ”

“I do stuff. But not often. Mostly, I just watch. ”

“When do you do more than just watch? ”

“Seldom. ”

“That’s not what I meant, ” she said.

“I know. ”

“I know you know. ”

Jim laughed.

“Why me? ” she asked.

“You looked like you could use a hand. I saw what happened to you out in the street. You almost didn’t make it. ”

“You just sat there and watched? ”

He nodded. “It only lasted a few seconds. Then you were on your way over here, so I just stayed put. And kept an eye on things. ”

“Would you have stopped Toby if he’d come in? ”

“He didn’t come in. ”

“What if he had? ”

“Hard to say. ”

“You like to be evasive, don’t you? ”

“Do I? ”

“What do you do, anyway? ”

“In terms of what? ”

“For a living, for starters. Or do you just hang around places day and night staring at everyone and looking for babes to rescue? ” “I do this and that. ”

“You’re a bank robber. ”

“Nope. ”

“A private eye. ”

“I’m just Jim, okay? ”

“Jim…? Oh, my God, you’re James Bond! ”

“Afraid not. ”

“What is your name? Your last name. Or is that a state secret? ”

“It’s Starr. With two r’s. ”

“Jim Starr? ”

“Yep. And yes, I was born with it. And no, I’m not a stripper. And yes, I am the star of my own life. ”

“Does everyone give you the star treatment? ”

“I get the treatment, all right. ”

“And you made fun of a guy named Bones? ”

“What’s your last name? ” he asked.

“Gates. ”

“Sherry Gates. ”

“Want to make something of it? ”

“Any relation to the Chief? ”

Surprised, she said, “No. ”

“Hell of a guy. ”

“Ah-ha! You just gave yourself away, buster. I now know that you’re not a criminal or shithead. Anyone who still calls Darryl Gates the Chief after all these years…Oh, my God! You’re a cop! ”

Suddenly remembering what she’d said about staying away from the police, she felt herself go hot with embarrassment.

“Oh, man, ” she muttered. “I should’ve known. It should’ve been so obvious. ”

“I’m not a cop, ” Jim said.

“A former cop. ”

He stopped for a red light. Sherry realized that the road in front of them was Robertson Boulevard.

“I was never a cop, ” he said.

“Liar. I bet you quit the force like all those others back when Gates retired…”

“And they replaced him with a park ranger? No. But I probably would’ve quit if I’d been in the department. ” The light changed to green. He eased forward into the intersection, then turned left.

“You were LAPD, ” Sherry said. “Come on, admit it. ”

“Nope. ”

“Come on, Jim. We’re going to be there in a couple of minutes. Tell me. ”

“I’ve never been in law enforcement. ”

“Then what are you? ”

“Just a regular citizen. ”

“How do you earn your living? ”

“Haven’t we already gone over that? ”

“Come on, tell me. What are you? ”

“I am what I am. ”

“You’re Popeye the Sailor Man! ”

“Toot toot, ” he said.

She laughed. “Come on, Jim! ”

“It doesn’t matter, ” he said.

“Then why won’t you tell me? ”

“Then you’d know. ”

“You’re a therapist! ”

“Good guess. ”

“Are you? ”

“Do you think I am? ”

She flung out her arm and whacked him on the thigh.

“Here it comes, ” Jim said.

Turning her face toward the windshield, Sherry saw the Speed-D-Mart just beyond the next intersection. From here, she had a full view of Duane’s parking space by the side of the store.

His van was gone.

Chapter Fifteen

“Do you want me to pull in? ” Jim asked as they neared the Speed-D-Mart.

“No, don’t, ” Sherry said. “It’s not there anymore. Duane’s van. It was parked right there. ”

“The van of the guy you were looking for? ”

“Yeah. Duane. My boyfriend. ”

Maybe my former boyfriend, she thought, depending on what he’s been up to.

“What now? ” Jim asked.

“I’m not sure. Maybe you can drive me over to his apartment. I need to find out for sure if he’s back. And what was going on. Can you make a left? ”

“Here? ”

“Yeah. ”

No cars were coming, so Jim hit the brakes and swung to the left. As the tires sighed quietly on the pavement, Sherry felt her body sway toward the passenger door. Jim straightened out the car.

“It’s just up the block a little. The third building on the left. Maybe you could pull in. ”

Slowing down, he steered into the driveway. Then he braked to a halt. Just down the ramp, the path was blocked by an iron gate. “I’d better back us out of here, ” he said, and reached for the gear selection lever.

“Wait. Let me take a look. ”

She climbed out. Holding her blouse shut as the wind whipped against her, she hurried down the driveway. She stopped just in front of the gate and peered through it. The interior of the parking area was well lighted. Most of its spaces were full. She spotted Duane’s white van in its usual space.

Ducking against the wind, she returned to Jim’s car.

She pulled open the passenger door and leaned inside. “It’s there all right. He’s back. I guess I might as well go on up. Thanks an awful lot for—”

“Why don’t you climb in? We’ll find a parking place on the street. ”

“It’s not really necessary. ”

“I can’t leave my car here, ” Jim said. “I’m blocking the driveway. ”

“Well, I can just go on up. ”

“I’d lik

e to stick with you till we’re sure everything’s okay. ” He patted the passenger seat. “Come on. We’ll park on the street and I’ll see you safely to Duane’s door. ”

“Okay, ” she said. “If you’re sure you want to. It probably isn’t necessary, though. ”

“Can’t be too careful. ”

She climbed into the car and pulled the door shut.

“Thanks, ” Jim said. He backed out of the driveway and pulled forward onto the street.

“Are you planning to be my permanent bodyguard? ” Sherry asked.

“You won’t need one if you don’t get through tonight. ”

He drove slowly up the street, turning his head from side to side.

“It’s tough to find parking places along here, ” Sherry said. “Too many driveways. And most of the apartment buildings don’t even have enough spaces for their tenants. ”

“We’ll find a place, ” Jim said. He stopped at the corner, then drove across the intersection. Halfway down the next block, he added, “Sooner or later. ”

“If we don’t find one pretty soon, ” Sherry said, “we’ll end up at my place. ”

“Would you rather go there? ”

“It’s actually a few miles. ”

“No problem, if that’s where you’d like to go. ”

“That’s where Toby is. ”

“Maybe. But I’ll go in with you and…”

“I’d rather not have to deal with him again tonight. Or ever, for that matter. ”

“I’ll deal with him. ”

“Or maybe he’ll deal with you. No thanks. I’ve had enough excitement. I can just stay at Duane’s tonight. Even if he did…” She imagined him in the back of his van with Grace underneath him, both of them naked, Grace gasping as he thrust into her. “Whatever he did, ” Sherry said, “he won’t throw me out. Tomorrow, I’ll go back to my place and have someone change the locks. ”

“Here we go. ” Jim slid his car into a stretch of open curb between two driveways. “It’s a little bit of a hike. ”

“That’s okay. ” She swung open her door. As she climbed out, the wind blew under her skirt and hurled it up. She let go of her blouse to battle it, so the wind jerked her blouse wide open. The only button came undone. The blouse started to fly off her shoulders, but she quickly caught it and pulled it shut.

Looking over her shoulder, Sherry saw that Jim was making his way, hunched over, toward the front of the car. He’d probably seen nothing of the wind’s attempt to strip her.

Quickly, she tucked her blouse down the waistband of her skirt.

“A blustery night! ” she called to Jim.

He smiled and shook his head. His hair was a wild, blowing tangle. His clothes flapped.

Sherry waited for him on the grass strip beside the curb. The grass felt soft and warm under her bare right foot. As Jim approached, she stepped over to the sidewalk. The concrete didn’t feel good, but at least she could watch its flat gray surface and avoid kicking a sprinkler head or putting her foot down in broken glass or a dog pile.

Jim came to her on the sidewalk. “I forgot about your bare foot, ” he said, speaking loudly to be heard over the moans and howls of the wind.

“It’s okay, ” Sherry told him.

“Are you sure? Maybe we should get back into the car. I can go ahead and park in Duane’s driveway. If I’d remembered about your foot…”

“No. It doesn’t matter. It’s not that far, anyway. ”

“Want to wear one of my shoes? ” he asked.

She looked down at Jim’s feet. He wore high-top leather hiking boots. Large ones. “What are they, size fifty? ”

“Twelves. ”

“I think I’ll pass. But thanks for the offer. ”

“I’d be more than glad to carry you. ”

Sherry huffed out a laugh. “I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself. ”

“I’d risk it. ”

“Well, I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks. ”

As they hurried down the sidewalk, Sherry felt the gusts flinging her short hair every which way. It blew its hot breath against the nape of her neck. It snapped the sleeves and sides of her blouse while it pasted the center against her back. It pressed her skirt against her rump and legs. Sometimes, it gave her a rough shove as if it hoped to throw her sprawling on the concrete.

“Your boyfriend picked a great night for his disappearing act, ” Jim said.

“I shouldn’t have let him go out. It was my fault. ”

“Did you get an urge for a snack? ”

“Huh? ”

“Did you send him to the store for a snack? ”

“Not exactly. ”

“How long was he gone? ”

“About an hour. Then I went looking for him. Another big mistake. I should’ve waited. ”

“Maybe so. ”

“What do you mean ‘maybe? ’

” Bumping gently against her, Jim said loudly into her face, “You met me, didn’t you? ”

“Is that supposed to be the silver lining? ”

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