He handed her his card. “Do me a favor,” he said. “As soon as she shows up, call me on my cell phone, no matter what time it is. Also, I’d appreciate it if she didn’t know I’m looking for her. Do you think you could help me out with that?”
She could
And would.
And stuffed the card in her pocket.
“I like your eyes,” she said. “Especially the green one.”
From there he went straight to Davica’s place. They took a long run in the rain and then showered together. She kept trying to massage his cock and he let her, but only a little.
“As soon as I have this case buttoned up,” he said, “you’re going to get more of the little fellow than you ever wanted.”
She frowned and rubbed soap on his chest.
“You’re driving me nuts. I can’t wait that long.”
“Me either,” he said. “But it may be any day now. Let’s just give it a little more time.”
She rubbed her stomach on his.
“You’re the biggest tease I’ve ever met in my life.”
“Trust me, I’m not trying to be.”
While Davica went into the kitchen to see if she could find anything edible in the freezer to microwave, Teffinger went into the garage and sat behind the wheel of the Corvette.
A plan came to him.
A plan precipitated by the fear that Derek Bennett might actually strike Aspen tonight.
Or if not tonight, then this weekend.
He pulled out his cell phone and made a number of calls to set it in motion. Everyone cooperated and sprang into action, even though it was Friday night.
Then Davica opened the passenger door and stuck her head in. “There you are,” she said. “I found food.”
“Excellent.”
He was starved and would need the energy for tonight.
“You look weird,” she added.
“I’m just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Whether I should bring you with me tonight or not.”
“You better,” she said. “You owe me something after the way you keep teasing me. So where are we going, exactly?”
He stepped out of the mid-year beauty and carefully closed the door.
“You’ll see.”
W hen Aspen got a call from Teffinger early Friday evening, she was shocked to find that he was taking Jacqueline Moore’s warning so seriously.
She was even more shocked at what he proposed.
But she agreed to go along with it.
So did Christina Tam.
They packed, threw two suitcases in the trunk of Christina’s car, and met Teffinger at the Table Mountain Inn in downtown Golden. He checked them in under an alias, paid cash, and helped carry their stuff up to the room.
It was a nice two-bed suite with a New Mexico decor.
“You guys don’t have to stay holed up here,” he said. “I can’t see how anyone could trace you here. But if you feel the need to go out, stay within walking distance.”
“I need to get drunk,” Aspen said. “I’m getting totally stressed out.”
“Go for it if you want,” Teffinger said. “Just be sure you keep your cell phone with you.” He cocked his head. “So you’re pretty sure that Bennett knows you’re staying with Christina?”
Aspen nodded.
“It’s common knowledge in the firm, after my apartment got busted into,” she said. “I can’t image Bennett not knowing.”
Teffinger looked at Christina.
“He’d know where you live, right?”
“Right. There’s a firm directory. Plus I’m in the phone book.”
“Okay. Looks like we’re set, then.”
He started for the door, but Aspen grabbed his arm. “Who are you using for the decoy?”
“I don’t know, vice is going to get someone for us about your age and size,” he said. “I told them to be sure she’s pretty so we keep it as real as possible.”
She smiled.
“You are such a flirt.”
He shrugged. “Actually, I really did say that.”
“See what I mean?”
After Teffinger left, Aspen and Christina walked down Washington Street until they found a dark place with upbeat music and ordered Margaritas at the bar.
“I just hope that the people inside the house don’t go snooping around to kill time,” Christina said.
“Why?”
“You know.”
“No, what?”
“My dresser drawer,” Christina said.
“Why, what’s in there?”
“You know, my vibrator.” Christina punched Aspen on the arm. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know.”
Aspen laughed.
“Okay, busted. I think that I might have taken one short peek in there once.”
“As long as you didn’t use it,” Christina said.
“No need. I have my own.”
They clinked glasses.
On Friday night Gretchen wanted to go out and get drunk, so Draven decided to take her to an old biker bar that he used to frequent in downtown Golden, up the street a block from Foss Drug. It turned out to still be a bar, but the ragged edge was gone.
Someone had civilized the place.
Shit.
Nothing ever stayed the same anymore.
Still, it wasn’t bad, so they grabbed a booth, sat on the same side next to each other, and drank Jack while they talked about what life would be like in California.
A couple of women sat at the bar drinking Margaritas.
One of them looked familiar.
The Asian one.
The one with the designer glasses.
Outside lightning cracked and the sky dropped rain with a vengeance.
Gretchen reached under the table and rubbed Draven’s dick.
“I love the rain,” she said.