Price of a Bounty - By S. L. Wallace Page 0,35
I haven’t heard from him in some time,” I teased. “I think he skipped out on the rent.”
“That’s too bad! He’s giving up the most amazing whirlpool bath.”
“Let’s go in.” I led her into the building and opened the front door.
“Please, stay as long as you’d like.” I handed her the key.
Keira stepped inside. When I didn’t follow, she turned. “Where will you be staying?”
“Tonight, I can stay here if you’d rather not be alone. Then I’ll be at my apartment downtown.”
“Well come in! How much is the rent?”
“It’s a gift.”
Keira hesitated. “Why are you doing this?”
“Why not?”
She turned and noticed a painting on the wall. “The Degas! What’s it doing here?”
“Oh that. It arrived the same day as the “accident” at the Ramsey estate, along with a card. Just so we’re clear, Eberhardt never admitted to planting the bomb. This was his way of letting me know what he’d done for you.”
“What did the card say?”
“It had a symbol on it – a serpent in the shape of an S striking at a gold coin with a G imprinted on it.”
“A gold coin representing the Elite and a snake representing?”
“A serpent representing the common man,” I said. “Disliked and mistrusted by many. It’s a creature that will strike back with full force when pressed into a corner.”
Keira continued thoughtfully, “An ‘S’ and a ‘G’.”
“The letters stand for the founders of the Resistance,” I explained.
She was quiet for a long time. “He didn’t tell me,” she said. “Not even during our last conversation. Why wouldn’t he tell me something that important?”
“Secrecy is our way of life. It’s the only way the Resistance can thrive.”
“Maybe it’s the way for the Resistance, but it’s not the way between family and friends. He shouldn’t have kept something that important a secret.” She looked at me. “Please don’t keep secrets from me, Guy. Can you promise me that?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t. I won’t tell you other people’s secrets, and I would never tell anyone something that could compromise another person’s safety. But I won’t keep any unnecessary secrets from you. That’s the best I can promise.” Would it be enough?
Keira returned her attention to the painting. “Can you get rid of it?”
“But it’s worth a fortune!” Then I noticed her expression and said, “I’ll make it my second priority.”
“What’s your first priority?”
“You.” I reached for her hand. “There are some things I promised to do for you, and I always follow through on my promises.”
“What promises?”
“Well, Scott says you’ve never been on holiday. We can leave in a couple of weeks. Before that, I should have time to take you to a museum and to the ballet, as promised.”
“Where?”
“To a museum and to the theater.”
She grinned. “No, I mean where would we go on holiday?”
I smiled back. “The lake.”
“The lake? As in away from the city?”
I nodded. Her smile was the only response I needed.
-Keira-
Who Do I Want to Be?
Guy wasn’t like other men I’d known. He said the apartment was a gift, but was he really giving it to me without expecting anything in return? I wanted to trust him. Guy had demonstrated trust in me by telling me about the Resistance, and I would never betray that confidence. But trusting him completely…well, that would take more time. What was important was that I wanted to give it time, wanted to give us time.
Again, he asked, “Do you want me to stay tonight?”
“Yes,” I said.
In the darkening bedroom, I removed my jeans and shirt and hung them in the closet. I dug through my pack and hung up my other pants and shirts as well. After pulling a simple white tank top over my bra and panties, I decided I was ready for bed. I climbed under the comforter.
Guy waited in front of the mirror that hung over the dresser. Then he followed my example and climbed into bed wearing only his boxers.
He caressed my shoulders and back. At first, my muscles tensed. Is this what he’s been expecting? Then why didn’t he…that night? No matter, it’s a fair exchange for giving me a place to stay. When I tried to roll over, he nudged me back and continued the massage. Eventually, I began to relax, and I fell asleep.
When I woke, sunlight streamed in through the open window. Guy was gone, but I found a note on the dining table.
Keira,
I had to go to work. Buy whatever you’d like for our trip to the lake. You can reach Eberhardt at 55-53-75-30. Call