Page 36 of Night Blind

“Okay, in your accounts?”

“No Helen, the money is all yours. you did the job, so it’s yours,” Cherry said.

“What, all of that money is mine?”

“You earned it, it’s yours.”

“Well, look at that,” Helen said, staring into the glass of freshly poured red. “This day just keeps getting better and better. Does he have any pork chops in there? We need some pork chops, fried, with mashed potatoes, and some green beans. Ooh, I can cook some of Ruth’s biscuits. You know she taught me how?”

In silence, they worked to clean the weapons. An hour later, they started a simple dinner of spaghetti with turkey meatballs and a side salad. The pork chops would come the day after, once they went to the market. Helen was in the mood for a pie, and in the pantry was a jar of spiced apples she’d use to make an easy dessert. While kneading the dough for the crust, her mind wandered to Mustang.

“If you can feel me, Mustang, thank you. Lord, what a man,” she said, smiling to herself.

****

Corvallis, Oregon

Mustang sat at his kitchen table taking inventory of his life. He’d never been one for a great number of friends or a manwho needed constant companionship. Four days with Helen McDaniel was making him rethink a great number of things.

He was drawn to her quiet power and brilliant light which she often tried to dim but couldn’t. As much as he was drawn to her, it was not his intention to take her to his bed, but when she had asked, explaining why it needed to happen now rather than later, a man only had so much resolve, especially after she laid it out so eloquently. Seeing the scars on her breast left by that monster, he wished he hadn’t stopped her from killing the bastard. Fate had intervened and handled the matter for them both. The Collector was no more.

“I made the lady a promise which I need to keep,” he said, picking up his Technician phone. He pressed 2 and waited for a connection. A voice answered after the second ring.

“State your need,” a voice said.

“Archangel,saddle up for the Mustang,” he said.

“How may I be of assistance?”

“I need to place a few orders, and you’re the most likely to make this happen,” Mustang said.

“Listening.”

“One, a Chevy Colorado, used, low miles, good condition, four doors if possible, in dark green. Two, a new mid-sized SUV, both vehicles for Helen McDaniel,” he said to the Archangel.

“Really?”

“She asked me for what she needed, and I’m delivering,” he replied.

There was a pause in the line, “Did you fornicate with that woman?”

Mustang responded, “Do you ever mind your business?

“Fair enough. What are the other two items?”

“These two, you’re going to love,” Mustang said, trying to hold his laughter. After the request, he said, “Transferring fundsto you now along with your fee. Please let me know when the items have been delivered.”

“Anything else?”

“Yeah, love you, hope to see you at Christmas. Mustang out,” he added, without the custom whinny he had perfected as a teen. He leaned back in his recliner, holding a beer which had grown warm, and thought of Helen.

There was one more item he needed to send to her. This item would be off the books. Maybe two items. His heart felt full when he thought of the wee hours of the morning. She’d given herself to him so freely as if the sensations she experienced were all so new to her. The facial expressions of the pleasure she experienced with each of his movements brought him back to her soft mouth, the tender kisses, and even her asking him if what she was doing felt good and pleased him.

“Shit, now I understand why The Collector was obsessed with that woman,” Mustang said. He looked at his crotch, “And you shut up too.”

It was going to be a long night.

Chapter 13- Direct

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