Chapter Twelve
David A hand clenched tightly into a shaking fist knocked on my door. "David?" It was the one I'd agreed to kill. It was Nicole. "David please.you've got to let me in!" The heavy wooden door swung open to put a dark silhouetted form into view. Nicole immediately ran to it to throw her arms around them without taking the time to be sure it was me. "I didn't know where else to go. Please, you've got to let me stay here." "Well, after your entrance and plea, I might.but this isn't my house." Two soft hands took Nicole's arms and lay them, straight at her side. Anya stepped back into the weak light coming through the window from the moon. It was bright enough, though, to distinguish that she was two things: she was a she.and she therefore most certainly was not me. Nicole let out a gasp. She was obviously upset. Her whole body trembled. "Wh- who are you?" "A friend-and neighbor of David's. I'm house-sitting 'till he gets back." "Where is he?" Anya didn't know what to tell her. "He's at your place, I believe, talking to your husband." "Why?" "They're working out a deal." "For what? Which piece?" She motioned around the room at my art. Mind reeling, searching for an answer, Anya decided she had to get Nicole out of there. "How do you expect me to know? I'm his house keeper, not his business partner or a buyer!" Nicole straightened. "Does he even have a partner?" "You ask a lot of stupid questions, don't you? Look, I do not know." She emphasized the last four words and spoke slowly to be sure she was heard correctly.
* * *
I, meanwhile, was returning home.ascending the stairs since the elevator had broken down for the fifth time that month. It was so old; I would have thought the landowner would've replaced it years ago. Anyway, I was on my way up when Nicole came rushing down from my room. She ran into me, not paying attention, and fell. I caught her before she could tumble down the stairs, wrapping my arms about her waist to keep her aloft. "Thank you.I-"Then she recognized me. "David! I was just looking for you!" "So I see." She sighed, both with weariness and frustration. "I'm sorry about the message I left, that last one was." her voice trailed off. "It's all right." I was still holding her. I didn't have to anymore, she had straightened, but I didn't want her to think anything was wrong. "Come on up." I coaxed. Nicole's eyes fluttered up to mine. "Would you mind?" "I never have before." That brought a smile to her face and she moved closer to deliver a passionate kiss. I couldn't refuse it, because she'd know something was up if I did, so I held her in my arms tightly until the kiss was finished; then I led her up the stairs to my studio.
David A hand clenched tightly into a shaking fist knocked on my door. "David?" It was the one I'd agreed to kill. It was Nicole. "David please.you've got to let me in!" The heavy wooden door swung open to put a dark silhouetted form into view. Nicole immediately ran to it to throw her arms around them without taking the time to be sure it was me. "I didn't know where else to go. Please, you've got to let me stay here." "Well, after your entrance and plea, I might.but this isn't my house." Two soft hands took Nicole's arms and lay them, straight at her side. Anya stepped back into the weak light coming through the window from the moon. It was bright enough, though, to distinguish that she was two things: she was a she.and she therefore most certainly was not me. Nicole let out a gasp. She was obviously upset. Her whole body trembled. "Wh- who are you?" "A friend-and neighbor of David's. I'm house-sitting 'till he gets back." "Where is he?" Anya didn't know what to tell her. "He's at your place, I believe, talking to your husband." "Why?" "They're working out a deal." "For what? Which piece?" She motioned around the room at my art. Mind reeling, searching for an answer, Anya decided she had to get Nicole out of there. "How do you expect me to know? I'm his house keeper, not his business partner or a buyer!" Nicole straightened. "Does he even have a partner?" "You ask a lot of stupid questions, don't you? Look, I do not know." She emphasized the last four words and spoke slowly to be sure she was heard correctly.
* * *
I, meanwhile, was returning home.ascending the stairs since the elevator had broken down for the fifth time that month. It was so old; I would have thought the landowner would've replaced it years ago. Anyway, I was on my way up when Nicole came rushing down from my room. She ran into me, not paying attention, and fell. I caught her before she could tumble down the stairs, wrapping my arms about her waist to keep her aloft. "Thank you.I-"Then she recognized me. "David! I was just looking for you!" "So I see." She sighed, both with weariness and frustration. "I'm sorry about the message I left, that last one was." her voice trailed off. "It's all right." I was still holding her. I didn't have to anymore, she had straightened, but I didn't want her to think anything was wrong. "Come on up." I coaxed. Nicole's eyes fluttered up to mine. "Would you mind?" "I never have before." That brought a smile to her face and she moved closer to deliver a passionate kiss. I couldn't refuse it, because she'd know something was up if I did, so I held her in my arms tightly until the kiss was finished; then I led her up the stairs to my studio.
