Drifter's Blues (Erotic Noir) (9 page)

‘Hello, Kyle.’

The shock of the adrenalin surge was like electrocution and Kyle almost fell off his feet. Whirling round, he saw the dark shape in the chair behind the door. The man was in silhouette, but Kyle recognised him as Blair Thurgood.

In the dimness, his teeth gleamed white. Something else glinted, and Kyle realised what it was even before Thurgood flicked on a table-lamp nearby and the room was flooded with brilliant light.

In his hand Thurgood held a semiautomatic pistol, and it was aimed straight at Kyle.

Six

Donna floored the accelerator of the Mercedes, sending stumbling merrymakers scurrying for their lives as she tore through the streets. It was Saturday night and the bar crowds were in full flow, which made driving exceptionally difficult.

Shit
, she thought, biting her lower lip so hard she tasted blood.
Shit, shit
.

The dashboard clock said it was eleven fifteen. Kyle had planned to break in at around ten. So if he’d followed his plan, he was probably already on the run, or even in police custody.

Donna had tried to appear as relaxed as possible during dinner, smiling and nodding politely at the banal conversation around her, but all the while she’d been unbearably tense inside, hoping against hope Kyle would bring it off. She’d felt her cellphone buzz twenty minutes ago and had felt an instant stab of exultation. Had he done the deed already and made his escape? She excused herself and went outside in the balmy summer evening air to take the call.

But it wasn’t Kyle.

She listened, the horror expanding in her stomach and chest. Her fist gripped the phone so tightly she heard the metal and plastic creak.

Blair wasn’t where he was supposed to be. He’d left the conference in Atlanta some hours earlier.

Which meant he was either on his way back home, or had arrived there already.

She ended the call, took a long second to center herself and try to slow her hammering heart, then went back in to the dinner. She told her hosts she was a little tired and had to get back. It was late enough that she didn’t think she raised any suspicions, and she kept up the façade of cheerfulness until she was in her car and pulling away.

Had Blair suspected something was up, and was that why he was returning home? Or had he simply decided against a night of passion with Madison and chosen to spend the night in his own bed? It didn’t really matter, Donna knew. Not now. All that mattered was that Blair was more than likely at home and waiting for Kyle. Had in all probability met him already. And God only knew what the outcome of that encounter might be.

Nightmare scenarios played themselves out in her imagination as she drove. Blair had tortured Kyle into confessing on tape to the plan, and to her, Donna’s, involvement in it. Hell, never mind
involvement
– the whole thing was her idea. Or, alternately, the armed response team had arrived, Kyle had panicked and made a run for it, and he’d been injured, or even killed. She didn’t dare call Kyle’s cellphone in case Blair took the call and traced it to her.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Fighting rising hysteria, Donna brought the Mercedes’ speed down a little. She really didn’t need to be stopped by the cops at this point. At last she came off the Manchester Expressway. In ten minutes she’d be home, and face whatever was waiting for her there.

*

‘Nice of you to drop by,’ Blair said amiably.

He was still seated. The gun in his hand was tilted slightly downward so that it was pointing in the direction of Kyle’s groin. Blair looked comfortable with the weapon, Kyle thought, as if he’d practiced shooting it before.

‘But I think you’re being just a tad too diligent, Kyle,’ Thurgood went on. ‘The pool really is clean enough.’

Kyle opened his mouth but nothing came out. Not because he was too frightened to speak, but because he really had no idea what to say.
This isn’t what it looks like
? Yeah, right. That’d be convincing.

Blair’s gaze shifted to a point over Kyle’s shoulder. ‘Pretty, isn’t it? Original art. Nothing quite like it. Once you’ve owned one, you’ll never be satisfied with a reproduction again.’

Kyle was still holding the oilskin sack in one hand. If he threw it just right, he could obscure Thurgood’s vision for just a second, and that might buy him some time to dive out the door. But it was a stupid idea; he knew it as soon as it formed in his mind.

‘But then you’re something of an admirer of art yourself, aren’t you, Kyle?’ Thurgood sat back in the chair, the gun still aimed vaguely in the direction of Kyle’s crotch. ‘You have an eye for the naked female form, that’s for sure. In particular, my wife’s.’

Kyle drew breath to speak, but again realized there was nothing he could say to ease the situation. There was little point denying it, and he wasn’t going to grovel before this man. On the other hand, saying what he wanted to say – that Donna was too good for Blair and deserved better than the way he treated her, that he, Kyle, was in love with Donna and intended to take her away from all this and give her a better life – didn’t exactly seem a wise course of action either. Not now, with that goddam gun pointing at his balls.

‘How did you know?’ he managed, surprised at how level his voice sounded to him.

Thurgood let out a hearty guffaw. ‘
How
? Good God, son. You really do embody the notion of a “dumb blond”.’ His smile was still in place but his eyes had changed. There was a hardness there now. ‘You don’t think I’d leave a prime piece of pussy like my wife alone at home all day long without putting some kind of insurance in place, do you?’

Kyle didn’t understand. It must have showed in his face because Thurgood said, ‘Surveillance cameras. Mostly in her bedroom, which is where I assumed the action would take place. But she’s a devious one. So I rigged some up in the chalet with its nice soft bed. And guess what I found when I got home a couple Mondays ago?’ He shook his head, let out a long whistle. ‘Christ, boy. The two of you should charge admission for a performance like that. Fuck California – the US porn industry would relocate to Columbus, Georgia, in an instant if they could get an eyeful of what I’ve got on tape.’

Kyle was transfixed, as if a spear had pinned him to the spot. Dread clutched at his throat.

Blair nodded in the direction of Kyle’s crotch. ‘That’s quite a schlong you’ve got there, Kyle, you lucky stud. In fact, in other circumstances I might’ve gotten quite turned on by watching the two of you at it.’ He sat forward again, his face darkening suddenly. ‘“Other circumstances”. Specifically, circumstances where the hot babe being fucked on the screen
isn’t my wife!
’

He roared the last words through clenched teeth, his gun arm coming up. Kyle recoiled despite himself, bringing his own hands up in a useless attempt to protect himself.

‘Don’t shoot,’ he muttered.

As suddenly as Thurgood’s expression had changed the first time, it reverted to one of cheery good humor. ‘Oh, I don’t intend to shoot you, Kyle my boy. No, I’ve got something a little more…
creative
, shall we say, lined up. For both you and that whore.’

Don’t call her that
, Kyle thought, fury displacing his fear. Well, he couldn’t deny what he and Donna had been doing together, not if Blair had them on film. But surely the man couldn’t know about his intention to steal the painting.

Again it was as if Blair had direct access to his thoughts. ‘Anyhow, where was I? Oh yeah. I was talking about art. See, I know Donna’s always coveted that painting. Don’t get me wrong, she has no real appreciation for it as a work of art. She’s a fuckin’ philistine. But she loves its worth. She knows it’s her mealticket out of this marriage. Or it would be if she could get her dirty hands on it.’ He rocked his head from side to side. ‘Which is why I’ve made it clear to her that if we ever get divorced, she’s not getting it. And if anything happens to me, if I’m ever found dead in the bathtub having stupidly dropped my radio in or something, it’ll immediately be auctioned off and the proceeds donated to charity.’ He held up a finger and grinned, wide-eyed, like a joketeller about to get to the punchline. ‘And the charity I’ve chosen is… a dogs’ home!’ He slapped his knee. ‘Doesn’t that just tickle you?’

Kyle was trying to process it, trying to make sense of what Thurgood was saying.

The older man went on, ‘She didn’t tell you all that, did she? When she got you to agree to her little scheme to rob me. Didn’t tell you that her preferred plan would be to arrange a little fatal accident for me, except I anticipated that and checkmated her by altering my will. So let me guess. You and her are going to elope together, right? Go down to Mexico and live off the proceeds of that painting, like a couple of star-crossed lovers.’

Kyle said nothing, his face burning. Thurgood studied his face intently, then shook his head.

‘Jesus. That snatch of hers really has got you hooked. Can’t say I blame you, really. I used to feel that way about her.’ He waved the gun carelessly and Kyle felt a flicker of apprehension. ‘Look, Kyle. Get real. Yeah, you’re a regular studmuffin. Hung like a horse, and oh, you eat pussy real well too, by the look of it. Remind me to ask you for some tips sometime. But you’re hardly in Donna’s league. She’s educated, she’s classy, she’s used to the trappings of wealth. You, ah… how can I put this politely? You ain’t those things. How long do you think it would last? How long before she’s fucked sore, and starts to yearn after sophisticated, stimulating conversation?’

‘You asshole,’ Kyle said harshly, his teeth gritted.

‘Hey! It talks!’ Blair turned his eyes heavenward. He frowned. ‘There was something else… Oh yes. You’re probably wondering how I knew you were going to break in tonight. Well, I didn’t. How’s this for a coincidence? I assumed that because Donna knew I was out of town this weekend, you and she would plan yourselves a little fuckfest for tonight, maybe even up in the house this time. So I left the conference early and headed back here to surprise you. Imagine my own surprise when I found nobody at home but the alarm disabled. So I put two and two together, and guess what? It comes up four. Every time.’

He watched Kyle for ten seconds, then raised his eyebrows. ‘No comments? A man of few words, I see. I like that. The strong, silent type.’ He grinned again. ‘Not sure just how silent you’ll be when I get started on you.’ Thurgood gestured with the gun. ‘First things first. I want you to call her and tell her to come here. Don’t explain, just say she needs to come right away. And if you try to warn her, in any way, I’ll blow your nuts off. You won’t be such a stud after that.’

Kyle didn’t move. Blair waved the gun again.

‘Take out your cell. Nice and slow, now.’

Kyle reached his fingertips into his pocket and pulled out the phone Donna had given him. He dialed a random number, then held it to his ear.

Holding Thurgood’s gaze, Kyle said into the dead tone at the other end, ‘Donna? It’s me. The job’s done, but I need you to come pick me up. Right now.’ He spoke hastily again, as though talking over her objections. ‘Look, I’ll explain when you get here, okay? Everything’s fine. See you soon.’

He folded the phone away. Blair nodded.

‘Good boy. Now, where are my manners? Sit yourself down. You’re going to need your energy.’

Kyle reached over and pulled up a chair.

Thurgood said, ‘Because we may have to wait a little, I might as well entertain you with a little preview of what the evening has in store for us. Would you like that?’ When Kyle didn’t reply he went on. ‘Like I said, I found watching you and Donna on that tape… well, I found it gave me a semi, if truth be told. But I noticed that you were the one doing most of the giving. So I thought it’d be nice for you to do a little receiving for a change, Kyle. Because you deserve it.’ Again the raised eyebrows. ‘That float your boat?’

Kyle didn’t know what the guy was talking about; but then he wasn’t listening properly anyway. He’d seen in the periphery of his vision a carved stone bust on the desk a few inches to his left. He had no idea how heavy it was, and he wasn’t going to get a chance to heft it, so he’d have to guess.

‘What I’m driving at, Kyle, is that Donna is going to get to pleasure
you
. And I don’t mean blow you. I know she’s already done that. No, I’m talking about the delights of anal lovin’. You follow me, Kyle? You won’t believe the things a guy can fit into his asshole. I saw a movie about it once. Well, tonight we’re going to find out just how much you can take. And Donna’s going to be the one doing the administering.’

Kyle turned his head a fraction so that he could gauge the distance he’d have to reach to grab the bust. As he did so, he noticed the bust was of Blair Thurgood’s own head and shoulders. He was struck again by the guy’s vanity.

‘Maybe we should get a little wager going, to add spice to the evening,’ Blair was saying. ‘I wager you can fit a whole eggplant up there. No – better still. An entire Waltham Butternut. How does that grab you?’

Kyle tensed his muscles, psyching himself up. He’d wait till the guy was in mid-sentence, then…

‘Only problem is, I reckon we’re fresh out of lube. No KY in the whole house, unless you’ve got your own on you. Well, shoot. I guess you’ll just have to do your best with spit. Course, it’ll be a little rough, but –’