with my bumbling detective work, I decide to head back to the main building. Opening the back door to our kitchen, I’m enveloped by the heat and smells of the room. I stiffen after entry at the sounds that assail my ears. Rafe and Jon laughing together? This is an unexpected turn of events.
They are seated together at the table. The scent of caramelized onions with peppers, sautéed mushrooms and a perfectly cooked steak fills my head. They lean together over the center of the table, clinking their beers while Rafe completes the sentence I walked in on.
“… and then she starts to scribble it all down furiously in one of those damn little notebooks she’s always using!”
Jon continues to laugh along with him as a slow light begins to dawn in my brain.
These son-of-a-bitches are laughing at me! Me! I could crush their little brains with a single thought. I could make them writhe on the floor in pain. I could make them pee themselves.
Or, I could use this to my advantage.
It would be nice not to have them at each other’s throats. If what they need is a moment to come together, complaining or laughing at me, then so be it.
I may not be cut out to be a world-class New York City detective any time soon, but that’s okay. I am secure enough I don’t need to be good at everything all the time.
How to proceed? Their heads whip around at the sound of the door closing while I decide to continue the fragile moment of camaraderie.
“You think that was funny? Wait till you hear what I saw at cabin two… ”
By the time I’m done narrating what I’ve just been through, they both have tears coursing down their faces.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at Bob the same way,” Jon gets out between guffaws.
“Now, now. Don’t make me regret sharing. We’ve all seen worse in the rooms upstairs. It was so unexpected it made the moment funnier than the discovery.”
“Yeah, but still… a leather hood? Damn, that must have been a sight!” Jon rises from his chair to carry his plate to the counter. “Thanks for the meal, Rafe. I needed it.”
Judging from the time, he hadn’t slept the whole hour.
He stretches then leans back against the sink. “I’m still a bit bushed. Maybe I’ll head to bed early tonight. See you both later.” He heads for the door then turns back with a smile.
“Viv? How about we check out room six tomorrow morning early?” Jon says with a small smile.
I bet he’s replaying the scene Rafe was telling him. Ass.
“Fine. I’ll meet you here so we can head up together. Let’s say around eight?” He nods his agreement and leaves. Through our entire exchange, Rafe remains silent.
“I thought it best to stay quiet to allow the good vibes last a bit longer. It’s a rare moment when I don’t feel like pummeling the guy.’’
“Yes, I know. Imagine my surprise when I discovered what brought it about.” I give him a glare to remind him. He appears a bit uncomfortable. Good.
“Um, about that… see, it started innocent enough, with both of us rehashing what has happened so far… and… uh… ”
I decide to save him from himself.
“It’s okay, love. Really. I couldn’t care less. There was a moment there when I almost crushed you both like bugs, but it was brief.” I smile to lessen the sting. “We’ve certainly had an odd day, haven’t we? Considering it’s not even nine o’clock yet and we’ve got a ways to go.”
Rafe looks at me closely. “You look better than you did when you left. How are you feeling?”
“Still not myself. I need to bleed some of this energy off. I almost exposed myself tonight, and not in a good way.” I fill him in on my conversation with Drew. “I think I left it okay, but he’s a hard one to read.”
“Oh, that’s not good. We’ll see him later tonight?”
“Yes, we should.”
“You haven’t touched him yet in the week he’s been here? How come?”
“I was not at the front desk when he checked in,” I answer a little sharp. “The plane arrived earlier than expected, something about getting good tailwinds. Now I’m thinking no advanced phone call on behalf of the shuttle driver was an elaborate scheme to avoid me.”
“Relax, I’m not criticizing, just asking.” His sharp eyes take in my agitated state. I’m not normally so sensitive.