Step To The Graveyard Easy Part 14

"Clinical?"

"Want to talk about it afterward. Tell each other how great it was."

"I don't see any point in verbal replays."

"Neither do I. If s.e.x is any good, it's private when you're done. Words just spoil it." She yawned, stretched. "You married, salesman?"

"Once. Not anymore."

"How long'd it last?"

"Twelve years."

"My first mistake didn't last twelve months. Or even six."

"That's too bad."

"I was nineteen," she said. "His idea of fun was s.h.i.+tkicker bars, dirt bikes, and fifteen-second f.u.c.ks. No kidding, fifteen seconds every time. You could set your watch by it. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am. Joe the Rabbit."

Cape was silent.

"Number two wasn't much better. Better in the sack, but he liked it rough and kinky. At least he made decent money-I stuck him good for the two years of sadom.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.tic bulls.h.i.+t I put up with."

He let that pa.s.s, too.

After a time Lacy leaned up on one elbow, gazed down into his face. "I keep thinking about what you told me," she said, serious now. "The photographs, the woman with the gun, all the rest. You don't have any idea what it's all about?"

"None."

"She didn't give you a hint?"

"All she said was what I told you. Boone's in over his head with somebody named Rollo, and she wants out."

"Rollo. Real name or a nickname, I wonder."

"Could be either one."

"You think Stacy's in any danger?"

"Probably not from Tanya. She talks tough, but I doubt she's lethal."

"Boone?"

"Maybe. He's harder to read. Others involved... who knows?"

"Somebody besides Rollo? What makes you think that?"

"Tanya knew I was here and where to find me. Somebody local had to tell her. Maybe Rollo, maybe not. And how did he know?"

"She could've seen you on the street or in one of the casinos."

"Possible, I suppose."

"But you don't think so."

"I don't trust coincidence. And I get the feeling that whatever's going on, there's a lot more to it than a simple con game."

"Such as what?"

"Your sister suggested kidnapping."

"My G.o.d! With her as the victim?"

"Or her husband. High ransom demand, either way."

"I don't believe it."

"I didn't either, but now I'm not so sure."

"Why would they pick on Stacy and Andy, of all people? And Vince?"

Cape said, "The local angle again. If Rollo's n.o.body they know, then there has to be somebody else involved. Somebody close enough to one or both of them to have access to those photographs."

"Come on, salesman. No way."

"It's the only answer that makes sense."

"Brrr. Now you're giving me the creeps."

"You know of anyone who might want to harm your sister?"

"You mean like an old boyfriend or somebody else with a grudge? No. Andy, though... he's made his share of enemies."

"Anybody in particular?"

"Not that I know about."

"Someone who has it in for both him and Mahannah, maybe."

"You'd have to ask Vince. Don't bother with Andy-he wouldn't tell you."

"Well, it's not up to me," Cape said. "Police are the ones who should be doing the asking."

"Andy won't take your advice and call them. Vince, either."

"No?"

"They don't want anything to do with the law, not if they can help it. Neither of them is what you'd call above reproach in his business dealings, if you catch my drift."

"I catch it."

"Andy's worked more angles than a geometry professor. That's how he made his pile."

"None of my business."

"Stacy says the same thing. Little Miss Ostrich." Lacy sat up, swung one long leg off to the floor. "I need a drink," she said. "You want one?"

"Not just now."

"Be right back."

In the soft lampglow Cape watched her get off the bed, walk languidly across the room. Naked, she had an unusually interesting body. High, up-thrust b.r.e.a.s.t.s, fleshy hips, those long slender legs, the largest and thickest patch of pubic hair he'd ever seen on a woman. She liked to show herself off, too. Sultry walk, pause in the doorway, half-profile and then a full frontal view, turn again to exhibit the fluid thrust of her a.s.s as she went through into the living room. Anna had had few inhibitions; Lacy had none. Pure s.e.x, dressed or undressed, vertical or horizontal.

Pretty soon she came back, stood beside the bed looking down at him while she sipped her drink. "No more heavy stuff, okay? Not tonight."

"It's your house and your bed."

She set her gla.s.s down, stretched again so her b.r.e.a.s.t.s lifted even higher, then lay down and fitted her body against his. Immediately her hand probed between them, clutching, fondling.

"These things fascinate me," she said, "the way they go up and down. As if they have a mind of their own."

"p.e.n.i.s envy."

"Hah. I don't want to own one, just borrow one now and then." Her touch was having the desired effect. "I was nine years old," she said, "the first time I saw one hard."

"Whose was it?"

"My loving daddy's. He raped me with it."

"Jesus, Lacy."

"It happens. More often than you might think."

"You tell anyone?"

"No. He cried afterward, said he was sorry and begged me not to tell anybody. Cry, apologize, beg-he did that every time. Nice as pie when he was sober, a s...o...b..ring pig when he was drunk. And he drank a lot, Pops did."

"How long did it go on?"

"Until I was twelve."

"What ended it?"

"He did. With his army forty-five. I guess he hated himself as much as I hated him. I still remember that day-happiest day of my life. If he hadn't done it, I would have myself when I got older. I used to think about killing him all the time, when he was crying and apologizing and begging."

Cape said nothing.

"I don't know if he went after Stacy, too," Lacy said. "Probably, but she won't talk about it. Flat-out refuses."

Still silent.

"Uh-oh, I'm turning you off. Up and now down again."

"Not exactly erotic conversation we're having here," Cape said. "I thought you didn't want any more heavy stuff tonight. Or s.e.x talk in bed."

"Right. Beats me why I told you the deep, dark family secret." Her fingers continued their rhythmic movements, gentle but insistent now. "I'll shut up," she said. "We'll both shut up."

Didn't take her long to make him ready again. She knew plenty of little tricks, only needed a couple of them. She mounted him this time, and she was even noisier, more demanding, almost frenzied. As if she were trying to prove something to herself-that she really did enjoy s.e.x, really did like men, in spite of her father and Joe the Rabbit and the sadom.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t and all the others she'd known and been screwed by and had cause to hate.

Cape left her shortly past midnight. He didn't ask to spend the night, Lacy didn't issue an invitation. She lay naked on the bed, watching him dress, not saying anything until he was ready to go.

"So when do you leave Tahoe?" she asked then.

"Sunday morning."

"You could come over again tomorrow night."

"Mahannah's poker game. Or didn't I mention that?"

"You mentioned it. I hope you come up winners, but if they take your money early, I'll be here."

"I'll keep it in mind."

"You do that."

He said, "I hope you come up winners, too. In the long run, I mean."

"I will," she said.

"Easy does it?"

"Right. Easy does it, and you make your own luck."

"Not always."

"Often enough." Sleepy cat stretch. "So long, salesman. If I don't see you again, it's been fun."

17.

Lacy was right about Vanowen and Mahannah. They didn't want anything to do with the law. Voice-mail from Mahannah when Cape got back to the Lakeside Grand. The pair of them had talked it over and they were in agreement: no cops. Don't tell anybody else what happened, Cape. We'll discuss it tomorrow night before the poker game. Get to my place by seven-thirty.

People. But it was their problem; let them handle it their way. He'd done all he could. Come Sunday, he'd be out of it for good.