Part 7

"Nice place you got here." Peck hoped his voice sounded more enthusiastic than he felt, he was sure working hard at his performance, had been all day.

Tawnia's rouged lips broke into a broad grin and she ran her tongue across them tantalisingly. "Flatterer!" she giggled.

Something deep down in Peck, long hidden and almost forgotten, stirred – had to admit she had kept herself looking good, even after three kids, she had all the right bits in all the right places. "Thanks, Face!" she beamed. "Coming from a guy with such knowledge and exquisite taste as you, I know that's a compliment!"

They were standing on the terrace of Tawnia's ocean view home, looking out across the golden beach to where the pure blue of the Pacific lapped lazily up at the shore – an idyllic paradise for rich, successful people.

Peck felt even more incongruous and uncomfortable. "I scammed a few like this myself," he muttered, unsure if he was saying it for her or his own benefit.

Tawnia's eyebrows rose and she peered at him curiously, trying to assess if it was the old Faceman confidence speaking or something more defensive and worrying. He ignored her questioning gaze, just as when he looked out at the beautiful vista before them, he ignored the memory that came to him causing a rush of heat to flash straight for his crotch – it wasn't far from here, just a little ways down the beach, where he and Murdock had first……

…………He cut the thought off abruptly, strangling it at birth. He was already feeling too exposed, too vulnerable, he could not afford to open his defences any further, could not allow the weakness. Instead he clutched his wine glass with one hand and the balustrade rail in front of him with the other, eyes fixed determinedly on the far horizon.

It was Peck's Coming Home party, arranged at Tawnia and Brian Leftcourt's house because, quite simply of all the people who had offered, they had the biggest home available. When Murdock had explained the plans to him as they drove back from Sacramento, Peck had felt a growing sense of disquiet – he really did not want to be here with all these people at all. He wanted to be alone, just him and Murdock… but he also knew that these people were his friends and he could not disappoint them, so he had switched on his dazzling smile and determined to endure.

Only now he was actually here and being fretted over by these people it was even harder than he had imagined. The gregarious part of him loved it all of course, had indeed missed this sort of attention while he was in prison but very soon there seemed to be too many, who were so friendly, so eager that he had an overwhelming sensation of suffocating in sugary kindness. It had driven him out to the terrace, where Tawnia had followed nervously, unsure whether she was doing the right thing.

It was an incredibly hot day, the heat shimmering starkly above the sand and the sidewalks, sapping the strength of all and threatening to consume everything in a ball of intense fire. Most people had headed straight into the A/C cooled dimness of Tawnia's house. However, Brian Leftcourt, Tawnia's husband, was defying the heat over at the side of the house supervising the barbeque, he was careful however to stay well under the cool comfort of his sun shade and was endeavouring to consume lots of beer to ensure he survived the heat.

The giggles of the only other souls brave enough to be outside drifted up to the terrace. The kids of ages between five and fifteen had been covered in sunscreen and after donning their bathers, galloped off with whoops of excited glee to the sea. They could be seen now at the waters edge splashing and swimming in the cooling relief of the ocean.

"I'm glad you're home," Tawnia said, her eyes following Peck's to alight on the children. She felt the telltale rush of maternal pride as she easily picked out the blonde, bronzed forms of her three teenagers through the hazy heat.

Face looked back at her then and smiled. "Thanks," he said and then continued. "And thanks for doing all this for me." He waved his hand vaguely to indicate everything about them before replacing it firmly back on the rail.

Her eyes narrowed. "I had help from everyone. We all pulled together. We wanted to show you that there are lots of us who care about you, Face." She reached across and laid a cool, perfectly manicured hand on top of his on the rail. "No matter what happens we'll be here for you. She looked him straight in the eye. "Whether he wants it or not, through his own hard work and achievements, the little orphan boy has found himself a family! And we're it!"

Peck nodded, looked down as he swirled the wine that remained in his glass and then gulped the warm rich liquid down a little too hurriedly. Suddenly he felt very hot even on the shaded terrace. He didn't know quite what to say; being lost for words always made him uncomfortable and he shuffled nervously from foot to foot.

Knowing him of old and sensing his edginess now, Tawnia smiled as she withdrew her hand. "Want a refill?" she asked.

He nodded again, not trusting his voice, and running a shuddering hand through his hair, he seized the opportunity to look away from her soft yet challenging stare back to the ocean. He cleared his throat, searching for something to say, anything to detract her from talking about him, but his former prowess for small talk seemed to have deserted him.

He was immeasurably thankful and could not contain his sigh of relief when a shriek of uncontrollable and slightly crazed laughter rent through the air. It came from the other side of the house and they moved around the terrace as the others crowded out of the house to see what was happening.

Murdock had commandeered the bike of Tawnia's oldest daughter, Jesse, and was now riding it, in a somewhat wobbily fashion around the yard. His lack of balance was probably due to two things; firstly Amy Allen was perched precariously on the handlebars but also Murdock was intent on throwing his head back as he sang 'Rain drops keep falling on my head!' at the top of his voice.

"Shut up fool!" BA's uncompromisingly growl could be heard and then the softer, sweeter voice of his wife, Aisha, as she placated her man, a role she often played in such circumstances these days.

Tawnia began to laugh, joining in with everybody else, while Amy was shaking her head fearfully as she clung on. "Murdock, I don't think this is such a good idea!" She tried to make herself heard over the song but the pilot just wiggled his eyebrows and continued to sing as they wobbled dangerously.

Face shook his head and contemplated going back inside but Murdock's voice stopped him. "Yo Sundance!" he shouted. "What do you think?"

Peck smiled despite himself; Murdock could always be relied upon to lighten any dark mood. "Looking good, Butch," he grinned.

"I thought so too!" Murdock was going around again and talking over his shoulder up to the house where Face was approaching, consequently he was paying no attention to where the bike was veering.

"Murdock!" Amy screamed.

The front wheel of the bike ran off the tarmac of the yard and into the clinging sand of the beach which stopped it dead. Murdock carried on pedalling and the back wheel unaware that its partner had stopped carried on turning, with the result that the back end of the bike was lifted into the air and its two riders were pitched painfully forwards over the handlebars and into the sand.

There was a moment of stunned silence and then everybody was running towards the downed couple, concern playing across their faces. Amy moaned and was gently helped to her feet. She turned back towards Murdock, who wisely had decided to stay on the ground. "You idiot!" she said although her tone was still playful, just. "I told you it was a stupid idea!"

Mo and Tawnia moved in to reassure and cluck appropriately at her. "More alcohol," Amy's husband, Frank offered advice in a somewhat slurred voice. "Give her alcohol – it'll deaden the pain!" They led her away back into the house and everyone else drifted back too, Frank staggering noticeably.

"Nice one, fool!" BA spat as he reached down his big, solid hand for assistance.

Murdock ignored the offer, pulled himself up indignantly and began to brush the sand off his Bermuda shorts and T shirt. "How come sand gets everywhere?" he asked to no one in particular which was just as well because his two remaining companions ignored him.

"Oh, I don't know, BA," Peck said mildly as he watched everyone else making their way back inside. "I reckon Murdock deserves some sort of a medal, I mean taking Amy for a ride – I bust my butt trying that for ages and never got anywhere close!" He clasped his arm around the pilot. "I'm proud of you, kid!"

"Fool rides a bike like he flies a plane!" BA scowled. "Bad!" His face creased then and he let out one of his charming chuckles. "At least he landed on the softest part of his body." He moved away to follow the others. "His head!"

Peck stepped back, crossed his arms and looked Murdock up and down, sniffing appreciatively. "Class, Murdock," he said. "Class! I'll give you full marks for artistic impression on that forward roll sans bicycle - truly unbelievable. And how did you ever talk Amy into it?"

"Persuasion – 'tis a virtue!" Murdock grinned proudly. "Learned it from a master – a true artist!" He picked up the bike and regarded it critically. "Oops," he muttered biting his lip thoughtfully.

Brian's voice came from over by the fire, where he had watched the whole escapade, chortling to himself. "Hope you haven't damaged that. Jesse'll kill you if you have!" he called helpfully.

"Maybe BA will fix it for you, Murdock!" Peck smirked.

Murdock lifted the bike holding it awkwardly so the father of its owner could not see the slightly buckled front wheel rim. "It's not so bad – just a little bent," he muttered. Then he raised his voice "It's fine, Bri!" he called. "No problem!" Brian waved back and then returned his attention to the food.

"You need to mend it, Murdock," Peck sighed. "I've seen Jesse in a rage – not a pretty sight and you've managed to upset Amy too. Who is the Neanderthal now?"

"Learned it from a master!" Murdock repeated solemnly, then grinned. "I do my best!" he said with a flutter of his eyelids. "And it was worth it to see you smile. Anything is worth it to see you smile!" He tried to bend the wheel back as his lips pursed in thought.

Peck watched him curiously but appeared to have no inclination to help. Murdock wondered, for the millionth time what realyl was going on behind those eyes.

Since the heart wrenching conversation in Sheriff Hopkins' cell, Murdock had been increasingly worried about his friend. The conman had finally fallen asleep and Murdock had lain in the dim light listening to his breathing. At first it had been rhythmic and calm but as Murdock listened the breaths had become more ragged.

In the past, when Face had been disturbed by a dream, Murdock had gone to him but this time, locked in his own cell, he was obviously unable to do so. Instead the pilot was forced to lie on his back and listen.

Peck began to mumble and Murdock concentrated all of his senses on trying to decipher what the other man was saying. Peck seemed to be having a conversation but it was muttered in a very low voice. Murdock thought he picked up Hannibal's name a few times but little else.

As the murmuring continued it grew louder but no more clear and Peck's agitation increased, his body flexing and spasming as he thrashed about on the bed. He began to shout the word "No!" quite clearly, getting louder on each occasion. Finally Murdock could stand it no longer and, biting down the flicker of betrayal that his actions caused him, he called for the guard.

It had taken a long time to pull Peck from wherever his dream had taken him. Murdock had pleaded to be allowed into his friend's cell but fearing an escape attempt, the guard had refused. Instead he shook Peck until bleary blue eyes opened and tried vaguely to focus on him. Then he left them alone again. Murdock had tried to talk but Peck was so exhausted he could not summon up the energy and simply lay on his bed thoroughly spent. By the time dawn lightened the sky outside Peck finally appeared to be sleeping again.

Murdock, on the other hand, found it impossible to find sleep once more. His worries and doubts had jittered around his head keeping him constantly on edge. So he had lain awake and thought and waited.

After the Sheriff had released them and sent them on their way with a few more choice goddamns and a threat of what he would do to them if they ever set foot on his turf again the next morning, Murdock had tried to talk to Peck about his worries but the man had simply refused to discuss any of it. Instead he became more distant and reticent to talk about anything at all, withdrawing into himself rather than face the issue. How typical of the man!

Now later the same day, Murdock had worried about the effect this party would have on him so soon after his release but Face had appeared willing enough to come. However, even though he had put on his best act for the guests all afternoon, Murdock had seen that none of Peck's stunning smiles had actually reached his eyes which had remained veiled and remote all day.

In fact the first time Murdock had actually seen a true killer smile had been when he had looked up to see those bottomless blue eyes above him as he lay in a painful heap in the sand when he had been entangled with Amy only minutes ago. Remembering that, he rubbed his head, letting the breath whistle through his teeth as he touched the sensitive and growing bump there – man, it would hurt in the morning! And he had to get the bike repaired.

But, as he walked back towards the cool relief of the dim house, shyly running his arm up and around Peck's shoulders and thrilling to the fact that not only did the other man not complain, he seemed to lean in even closer, Murdock realised that he didn't really care!

Brian shouted across that the food was ready and so everyone moved towards the terrace to eat. On her way out of the front room Mo switched off the TV which had been unwatched in the corner soundlessly showing CNN for most of the day. Consequently no one saw the latest newsflash as it scrolled across the scene just before it went dead;

"Attack on Sheriff's office in Sierra Nevada…. Police suspect LA gangs take their war to the mountains….five dead, more injured."

In truth no one would have noted it if they had, save for a curious glance at such a strange turn of events. The only person who would have known its import was walking arm and arm with his lover across the yard and he wasn't going to see the news until late the next day. By that time the world would have moved on – scandals in politics, deaths in wars, governments rising and falling, and new heroes on the sports field would ensure that the happenings at Sheriff Wyatt Hopkins' office deep in the mountains would be consigned to a few words hidden in the inside pages. And everybody knew Templeton Peck only read the business news section anyway………..


TBC