Blue Macabre Page 11

  The computer was about to be ruled out as a problem when Delbert noticed some small, wispy black marks on the wall where the surge protector was plugged into its receptacle. He bent down for a closer look. Chris leaned over him and said, “What are you looking at?”

  Delbert nearly lost his balance. “Nothin’, nothin’. I just thought I saw some burn marks on the wall. Have you ever seen sparks or anything?”

  They stood facing each other. “Of course not. She keeps it turned off when she’s not using it. Nobody’s even touched it since I’ve been staying in this room. We told you that already,” he said as he set the photograph on the dresser.

  The older man brushed past Chris to exit the room, avoiding him, and traipsed down the hall to find Jenny. As she looked up at him from the couch he said, “Well, not much there either. I still think the money’s on the water heater. Although-“

  Chris interrupted him. “He didn’t find anything. I’ll get you a new water heater if he thinks it will help. We’ll pick one up the next time we go to town, along with the connectors. I can install it myself. Would that sit well with you, Mr. James?”

  Delbert shifted his weight back and forth, one foot to the other. “You just call if you need anythin’, okay Jenny?” He waved to her as he headed out the door. Chris followed, adding, “I’m just going to see him out. Be right back.”

  He shadowed Delbert to his pickup, and stood by the fender on the driver’s side as the older man climbed into the cab. Delbert glanced at the younger man more than once as he fumbled for his seatbelt. He tried two or three times before he finally buckled it.

  Chris leaned on his elbow on the hood.

  Delbert spoke through the window to him. “Are you sure there’s nothin’ wrong with that computer? I think you oughta tell your sister about them burn marks – that’s botherin’ me.”

  “What the fuck makes you think she doesn’t know? They’re probably old ones from something she tried to overload.” He stood straight, then reached and pressed his hands flat on the fender edge of the hood and stiffened his arms as if he were stretching. He turned his face upward toward the sun and shook his blonde curls vigorously. He turned his gaze back to meet Delbert’s eyes and riveted his stare; the older man dribbled urine in his shorts. Delbert fumbled the key into the ignition and started the engine as Chris pushed himself away from the truck and raised both arms in the air as a parting gesture. Delbert spun a little gravel from Jenny’s driveway, failing to notice the blistered paint on the hood where Chris had touched it.

  As he watched Delbert drive away, the blue of Chris’s eyes intensified.

  The cat sat just inside the screen door, watching.

  Chapter Eleven

  Delbert floored the accelerator in his haste to get away from the Rawlins house. The county truck balked and then gradually picked up speed. He slumped in the seat with relief when he reached the main road leading inland from the lake. He rolled the window down a little as he flicked the turn signal and turned left onto the highway. He opened the second button on his work shirt and tugged a bit on his collar.

  Cruising west on state route 504, sunshine through the window glass warmed him. He reached to turn on the radio, and pushed a button to find a station. The intense sunshine made him squint; he tugged the bill of his cap farther down over his head. He hummed along with a favorite tune.

  Approaching on the right-hand side was a small mart and gas station. He pulled off the highway and parked, ambling inside and heading for the cooler. As he grabbed a soda and went to pay for it, the shop owner passed him in the aisle.

  “You feeling okay, Delbert? You look kinda pale.”

  Delbert wiped his brow and shrugged. “I’m okay, I guess. Just need a day off, which fortunately comes round tomorrow.” He left coins on the counter for the drink and headed back outside.

  As he reached for the door handle, he was forced to gasp for air. With effort he wrenched open the door and sat down heavily on the bench seat. He pulled off his hat and wiped his brow again with his sleeve. He rolled the window down the rest of the way, and the cool breeze caressed him. He popped the top on the soda and took a long drink. His breathing eased; he grinned as he looked at the can and saw he’d bought a cola with caffeine in it. “There’s always tomorrow to start on that no-caffeine diet Doc told me to get on,” he said aloud. He restarted the engine, buckled his seatbelt, and headed down the road.

  A few miles further, the closer he got to Castle Rock, the more he squirmed on the seat, edgy and restless. He cringed as a cramping pain surfaced in the left side of his neck. Massaging it with one hand, he slowed a little and tried to concentrate on driving. The rush of cool air whistled past his left ear.

  Moments later, he was near the freeway overpass when the cigarette lighter exploded like a missile from its niche in the dash. The truck’s radio followed suit by blasting apart from the dash with a roar and spraying chunks of itself across the width of the cab. Delbert’s bowels cut loose as his heart fluttered; a stream of urine soaked his leg as pain shot through his left arm, his heart palpitating erratically. All of the lights, inside and out, lit up at once and then shattered in unison. The truck careened at an alarming angle across the other three lanes of highway, smashing into the brick-walled side of a motel. Immense pain crushed his chest. He grimaced and fainted as the horrified motel owners scrambled to his aid.

  Paramedics rushed him to the trauma center of the Longview hospital. They kept him alive in the ambulance until he could be treated in the coronary section of intensive care. Hooked up to life support, he was dimly aware of his surroundings, recipient of multiple tubes and electrodes. His physician and a consulting cardiologist were both fascinated by the intriguing irregularities of his heart’s electrical rhythms. Neither doctor had ever observed such abnormalities in someone still alive.

  The Official Use Only pickup was towed to the county maintenance yard. Totaled, it would be destined for a date with a crusher. Thorough examination revealed the entire wiring harness had fried itself and anything even remotely associated with the electrical system had blown itself to bits.

  Chris sat at the table complacently thumbing through an ancient copy of National Geographic he’d discovered in a recess of the living room bookshelf. He reached for his coffee and as his fingers brushed the handle of the mug he looked up, eyes brilliant blue, piercing but not seeing anything. Unnoticed by his sister, still occupied with her knitting, he sat that way for several minutes.

  The cat backed into the corner by the door to the deck. She crouched against the floor, eyes narrow and glassy.

  Finally, with no small effort, he blinked. He looked at the dishes on the table, as if he could not recall how they got there or who had eaten from them. Returning his attention to the magazine, he closed its cover and gently pushed it aside. He folded his hands on the table and studied them in great detail. It occurred to him they looked better than they had in quite some time. He curled his fingers into fists and their strength was reassuring, comforting. Mentally he checklisted himself; he realized he felt better and more vital than he had in any recent memory. He mused over his foolish actions, getting drenched on the beach the night before.

  The cat stirred and meowed softly, padding over to Jenny and slithering around her legs. “Want out?” Rebecca mewed. “Chris, let her out for me, please?”

  He went to the back door, but the cat retreated beneath the sofa. He snapped at Jenny. “How can I let the bitch out when she won’t come?”

  Jenny looked surprised. “Sorry.” She laid her work on the cushion beside her and got down on the floor. “C’mere, Becca.”

  The cat looked back at her. “C’mon.”

  Chris sat back down at the table.

  “Well fine then.” Jenny got up and went over and opened the door anyway. The cat rocketed out. She closed the door after her and said, “Wonder what’s up with her.” She resumed her work, and he watched her hands deftly weave the yarn, her knitting needles making tiny cl
inking sounds. The rhythm was mesmerizing and he stared out at the lake.

  A short time later he realized the soothing sound had stopped. As he looked over to see why, she’d paused her work and let the knitting lay in her lap. She gazed through the picture window, adrift in her private lake of thoughts. He wondered what she was thinking about. He watched as she rose from the couch and looked out the kitchen window toward Andy’s. As she passed by him, he lowered his eyes and pretended to reach for the magazine. “I think I’ll go see if Andy’s up,” she said. “Back soon.”

  Andy’s glass door was open, Andy himself trying to clean up his kitchen. He greeted her with a hug and kiss. “I have something much more interesting for you to do than dishes,” she said as she led him back to his bedroom.

  “What did you have in mind?” He smiled and leaned against the door jamb.

  She smiled and began slowly removing her clothes, piece by piece letting them fall to the floor. Pulling back the covers she lay down, sliding across the soft sheet. She stretched out on her back, spread her legs, and reached between them.

  She arched her back as he entered her.

  Chris watched from the kitchen window as she went up on the deck of Andy’s house. He suffered a pronounced ache in his loins, for as she’d passed him at the table he’d suddenly been overwhelmed by her feelings. He’d not had time to analyze; her passion and desire for Andy had seized him and affected him and he’d had great difficulty in just maintaining a false mask of control. He stood at the sink, eyes shut tight, as she’d disrobed. White lights sparkled behind his closed eyelids. He sensed it when she was naked and on the bed, attune to her desire, his internal radio receiving signals he definitely didn’t want. His penis swelled uncomfortably and he hunched over the sink, fists clenched, sweating from armpits and crotch. As the couple joined together for a climax so did the single, his dick pulsating painfully as he soaked himself. His head throbbed; he felt violated and nauseous. He did not want to think or try to reason. He rushed awkwardly through the living room to the deck door, peered out through the glass, and strode outside kicking off his shoes. He cannonballed from the far end of the deck, hitting the cold water with a huge splash. The shock of it cleared his mind immediately. His feet found the soft lake bed and he stood in chest-deep water, shaking the water from his hair like an animal. He sighed deeply.

  Glancing at the neighboring houses, he hoisted himself up onto the deck and warmed himself in the sunshine. The crooked half-grin appeared.

  A couple of hours later, the phone rang as Jenny was making sandwiches for the three of them. She picked it up and cradled it in her neck as she worked.

  “Jenny? Hello!”

  “Suzanne! How in the world are you?” Jenny smiled with pleasure.

  “I’m doing great – would you believe I just now got my mail and found your card – thanks so much! It was cute! I’ve been running around getting things together for the baby. Jen, I’m sorry about your brother and the accident. I just couldn’t believe it. How horrible.”

  “I’m still having a problem with it myself. Chris is here now, and he has good days and not so good days.”

  “I can’t imagine. The whole thing kind of creeps me out. Is he going to be there long with you? I’m sure it is very therapeutic for him.”

  “I don’t really know,” confessed Jenny. “I’d be happiest if he moved back here, although that big money he’s used to making won’t follow. We’re just kind of going with the flow at this point.”

  “Did you ever hear what actually caused the accident?”

  “Maybe you can answer that for me, someday. He doesn’t say much. Let’s change the subject – I’m getting depressed. You feeling okay?”

  Suzanne smiled through the invisible phone lines and patted her distended belly. “We’re feeling pretty good these days, except for all that kicking. Some nights it’s hard to sleep much. Hope she doesn’t get her days and nights too mixed up once she finally makes her appearance.”

  “If anyone can handle it, you can. Am I going to see you again before the time comes?”

  “Well,” said Suzanne, “I’ve got a few days cleared on my schedule and thought it was about time we had a good chocolate binge. Would it be convenient for you – your brother there, and all?”

  “I’d love it!”

  Suzanne laughed. “I can sleep on the couch. I don’t want to put anyone out.”

  “Nonsense. Plenty of room, you know that. When can you come?”

  “Don’t be too surprised, but I was really hoping you’d say yes, so I can come soon. I’m already packed – mostly, anyway – and I can probably get away from here by mid-afternoon.”

  “Great! So – you’ll be here maybe three or four?”

  “Sure. Hey – I’ll stop on my way through and bring you a big box of goodies from ‘our store’.”

  “Mmmm. Haven’t had any since the last time you came up. I’m so excited! Now, drive carefully – don’t speed. I wouldn’t want you to tangle with one of our good-looking state troopers.”

  “And how is Andy?”

  Jenny stepped outside to tell Chris lunch was ready. She towered over him as he lay flat on his back, sunning on the deck. “Hey there you! How long have you been out here?”

  He shielded his eyes with one hand and squinted at her. “Dunno. Guess I fell asleep. The sun felt so good I couldn’t resist.” He rolled over onto his knees, the stood up and stretched. “And just what have you been up to?”

  She put her hands on her hips and looked over at Andy’s. “Just went over there for a little while, that’s all.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing, nothing, just teasing you.”

  She sat in one of the deck chairs. Teasing, huh. Well – do you remember my friend Suzanne?”

  He dragged over a chair. “Yeah. Your woo-woo buddy.”

  “Are you a natural asshole, or did you take lessons?”

  “I took lessons. Expensive ones, too.”

  “Thought so. Only the best for YOU. Anyhow, butt, she’s coming up from Portland for the rest of the weekend. Hope you’ll survive.”

  “Oh no,” he teased in falsetto. “We’ll be drenched in chocolate and our chakras will be cleansed.”

  She smacked his leg. “Yeah, well, bite me. Don’t forget she has way better connections to the Universe than either one of us.”

  Conversation was interrupted by a wooly tirade. Trooper lunged for Chris since he was the nearest target, a barrage of slick slobbers and wildly wagging tail.

  “TROOPER!” The dog cringed. “HOME!” Andy stepped up onto the deck.

  Chris waved one hand lazily as Jenny said, “Just finished the sandwiches. Want a soda, or beer?”

  “Beer,” Chris popped in. “Hit the spot.” She shooed Trooper away with her foot and headed inside.

  Andy took Jenny’s chair. “How you feeling today? I sure thought after last night you’d still be in bed, down and out.”

  Chris considered Andy’s curiosity. “Let’s just say I made a miraculous recovery and leave it at that. As bad as I felt last night, I wouldn’t wish two or three days of it on anyone. Thanks, by the way.”

  Jenny reappeared with lunch, relaying to Andy the saga of her friend’s impending visit. Chris watched and felt as if he were some kind of strange mental sponge, a foreign nagging irritation pestering him. As he watched the two together and munched his sandwich, their obvious affection for each other grated his nerves. His underlying emotions ran an eclectic gamut of jealousy, hurt, and loneliness. He sighed deeply as Trooper licked the moisture from the bottom of his beer bottle. Feeling ignored, his train of thought chugged on to the land of self-pity. From far away he heard Jenny say “That okay with you?”

  He said, “Sorry?” and straightened up in his chair.

  “I asked Andy over for dinner tonight too, since Suzanne will be here. Is that okay?” He felt a bit of irritation in her voice.

 
“Sure, I’ll even cook for you again if you promise not to beat me.” He cowered in his chair.

  “Don’t tempt me.”

  Andy laughed. “I actually came over here to see if you might like some fresh fish tonight. I was planning on taking the boat out today. Wanna come? I’ve heard the bass are biting.”

  With lightning speed Chris weighed his choices. Staying home, going for a drive, watching the tube, sitting in the sun all afternoon. None seemed appealing, so he decided to accept Andy’s offer. At the very least might be fun to catch a few for old time’s sake. As he said “Sounds great” the others did not detect even a moment’s passage. He added, “Lemme go change – be right back.”