Frustration & Release
The next day as Charlie returned to the streets to engage in other more novel ways of gaining information (and play more combat basketball) and Dani elected to stay home and enjoy the pool. It had been months; maybe years since she'd spent time just lounging by a pool and reading trashy beach novels. It turned out trashy novels were in short supply at Crews' house partially because of his minimalist outlook on life and partly because that wouldn't have been his taste even if he collected books.
The evening prior she'd received a lecture of the Zen nature of washing dishes by hand. Dani explained in clipped responses she was the least bit interested in attaining any Zen state that involved washing dishes by hand and adjourned to the bedroom. Charlie joined her a half hour later, but didn't seem bothered that she'd left the domestic duty to him. Maybe he really did get something out of it, but she didn't care to find out how.
Dani left her bikini top on and pulled a pair of shorts over her derriere and went down the hill to find a local store to buy some things. She wandered over the bookrack and found something suitable. She bought a six-pack of Corona, ostensibly for Charlie although her eyes did flicker to the bottles and wonder how good one would taste in the heat of the day. She paid the young girl behind the register and was not paying attention, when a man stepped out of the shadows and spoke to her.
"Detective Dani Reese?"
She wheeled; startled that he knew who she was and that she'd been so comfortable that she'd let her guard down. Her harsh whisper was an unavoidable expression of her apprehension, "who wants to know?"
"Relax," the man held both hands up, "I mean you no harm." His accent was Slavic, Eastern European, possibly Russian but he hadn't said enough for her to be sure. "I saw you once at Ritual. I used to work there, perhaps you remember?"
She nodded yes, but really wasn't sure.
"You are the partner of Charlie Crews, no?"
Again she nodded.
"I owe him much. He released me from my prison with Roman. I know Roman told you that your father was dead. It is not true. He lives," the man disclosed. "I owe this to you. Your father crossed Roman, but he was never able to find him."
"Crossed him how?" Dani asked now leaning forward all questions. "Where is he?"
"Nyet," the man spoke. "I can say no more, but for the man who has tiger's claw. We owe you this much - ask the Pope."
"I don't know…" she interjected.
"Your man will," the Russian said and he stepped into the alley and disappeared into a black SUV.
"My man….." she exhaled in relief, "…had better answer his god damned phone," she muttered as she climbed into Ted's car.
Charlie had taken the Maserati that day and she was left with this little purple box to drive – too lazy to retrieve her own navy blue Toyota hybrid from home. She loathed Ted's car, but Charlie insisted on having his since she was staying home. He teased that he'd have to buy another one for her, if for no other reason than to get to use his car again.
Naturally he didn't answer his cell phone. After ninety minutes of trying she gave up and returned to her original plan. She left her cell on the island in the kitchen and retreated to the pool. She resisted temptation and left the beer in the fridge and took another Perrier to the deck with her.
Late in the afternoon, Charlie checked messages and found four missed calls from Dani. Would it kill you to leave a voicemail? He complained to no one in particular. He loved her but she had some habits that infuriated him. One of them was that she refused to leave messages. He dutifully called back and sighed in exasperation as her phone rang through to her terse voice mail. He left a message and tried not to sound mad.
"Hey, it's me. Sorry I've been out of touch. I've got one more stop to make. Call me when you get this." He waited half a second before adding, "I love you," a bit awkwardly. He snapped the phone shut and endied the call.
She hadn't phoned back by the time he finished up with some hard cases down in the barrio around sundown. He called again and was again greeted by her forlorn detached voicemail greeting. He hung up without leaving another message and concentrated on the drive home.
He loved driving at this time of night. The streetlights came on, but the sun wasn't yet gone. Everything seemed brighter, but the shadows hid all the ugliness. He drove into the hills that held his home while the last rays of sunlight were still bathing the canyon walls in delicate pinks and orange shades. He entered a still, quiet and empty house - his solace and sanctum where he breathed a deep cleansing breath. After a short walk through of the downstairs he noticed the pool lights were on and light bounced from the undulating water flickering through the kitchen. He smiled and went outside to join Dani thinking the young brunette in a swimsuit would be a nice way to end his long day.
"Hey," he said softly as she broke the water in the blue green light.
"Come in," she beckoned with water dripping from her chin and rivulets of water in her hair and eyes. He began taking off his clothes with his shoes and socks first. He stripped down to his jeans and then cast a questioning look at her.
She grinned, "There's nothing under those jeans I haven't seen before."
"I was thinking about the neighbors," he smiled back. "Maybe I'll just grab some trunks. Hold on, I'll be right back."
"Chicken," she taunted and slung her bikini top up on the deck and arched an eyebrow at him in challenge.
"Okay," he responded walking to the shallows. "If that's how you want to be," he stripped off his jeans. She was waiting for boxers or briefs, but Charlie was going commando and that surprised her.
"Get in this pool," she hissed. "It's only 7PM, there could be little kids out there." She started to laugh blowing bubbles in the water as he waded into the shallow water.
His smile was broad and true. He had to admit it felt good to wade into the cool pool after the heat of the day. Wading into her would feel even better. "Come're," he beckoned. "I wanna touch you," he murmured across her collarbone as she stood under him. He loved the view his height advantage provided. "I missed you," he said simply and honestly as he dipped to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and legs around his waist.
This was far better than making out in his car he thought as he pressed her against the wall of the pool. Things became frantic and heated quickly as he lit her body with fires that burned under the cool water. They tried to make it out of the pool, but got only as far as the underwater steps in the shallows before he covered her body with his and pulled her tightly against him.
They rocked in rhythm awkwardly before he reversed things and sat back against the top step and pulled her across him. She straddled him and he got better leverage thrusting hard and fast against her as she egged him on with naughty things whispered in his ear. She dug her nails into his back and he redoubled his efforts. This was what she liked, hard, fast and heated. She bit into his shoulder to keep from crying out.
"Ow," he yelped.
"Oh, don't be such a baby," she groaned and then growled into his ear. "I'm trying so hard not to scream," she panted breathlessly. "The neighbors will call the cops," she told him.
"Honey, scream all you want. We are the cops," he grinned gripping her tightly and drove hard to a fast finish. She shuddered against him before his own orgasm ripped through him.
They lay panting in the shallows for a few moments of bliss before their eyes reopened and they exchanged looks. Then they simultaneously broke into raucous laughter that joined the calls of the coyote as the moon rose.
They luxuriated in the warm water talking in low tones, sharing what they'd learned during the day. Charlie traipsed into the kitchen to get a beer and a cold Perrier for Dani. She eyed his beer, but left that alone. She didn't need liquor to be with Crews. She called out for him to bring towels, which he dutifully fetched from the bath for later.
Dani shared the meeting with the unknown Russian and his reference to the Pope. Charlie confirmed this was a name known to him from Crescent City and assured her he'd check into it. She accepted the partial information and didn't press him for more. They were figuring each other out, leaving room and space in their relationship. This bespoke their trust in each other and underlying knowledge that no one could or should share everything.
He'd left the DMV photos with the Special Forces soldiers and avoided further injury in a second pick up basketball game that was the price of admission to any conversation with the close knit clan of warriors. He declared himself lucky it wasn't football season yet or she'd have had to come get him from the soldier's "two hand rough touch football" games. She gathered the impression that they, like Crews, had seen and experienced things most people only view through the prism of a movie or television screen. He talked about them with respect and admiration, even the one who'd done time with him.
She realized there was still honor and there were honorable men, even in prison. It was something she'd never considered before. That Charlie looked out for Ted she knew, but she always thought he was alone in that regard – now she knew he was not. She recognized that she didn't know or understand the circles Crews was spiraling through and conceded she couldn't contribute much to what he was doing in those circles. She wasn't useless, but she wasn't useful either. It was something new for her.
The following morning he stood examining himself in the mirror before shaving. He sighed heavily, holding the razor in his right hand. He was sore all over. He needed a haircut. His leg was scraped from some forgotten contact with the wall of the pool last night – more evidence of their amorous intent. He sported a rather impressive looking black eye, several bluish blue hickeys on his neck and a deep purple bite mark on his shoulder. This woman was going to kill him – but what a way to die.
She stood watching, "You look like an Irish street fighter," she commented smirking.
He turned to look at her. She was standing in the doorway, backlit by the sun, wearing nothing but his baby blue dress shirt. Her hair was mussed and her legs crossed. He sighed again, "and you look like a Hindu goddess."
She walked to stand under him and her dark eyes looked up at him through long lashes. He reached for her knowing they'd were going to get a late start again this morning. He'd never been so happy to be this late for anything in his life as she led him back to their bed.