Desire After Dark (7 page)

She stared at him for a moment before she started the car and pulled out of the driveway.

He waited until she was out of sight, then dissolved into mist and followed her to the diner.

Vicki couldn't help it. She kept glancing over her shoulder as she walked from her car to the diner. She had the oddest feeling that she was being followed but there was no one behind her, at least no one she could see.

She frowned, remembering how Antonio seemed to walk without making a sound. But he wasn't invisible, even if his footsteps didn't make any noise.

With a shake of her head, she went in the back door. She left her coat and her handbag in her locker, put on a clean apron, grabbed her pad, and went to relieve Gladys.

She nodded at Bobbie Sue, noting that there were only a few customers in the diner. But that was normal for this time of night.

Things picked up as the night wore on. It was about eight o'clock when Tom Duncan sat down at table four.

“Hi,” she said. “Steak again?”

He shook his head. “No, I think I'll try something else. What do you recommend?”

“The shrimp looks good.”

He tapped one finger on the table. “How about the meat loaf?”

“I'd stick with the shrimp if I were you.”

“All right, shrimp it is.”

“Do you want rice or fries with that?”

“Fries.”

She jotted it down. “Coffee?”

“Sure.”

“Be right back.”

She brought him a cup of coffee but she didn't have time to stay and chat. Saturday nights were always busy. She saw Maddy and Rex sharing a hot fudge sundae and smiled. Two dates in less than a week. Perhaps there would be a wedding soon.

She was clearing table two when she happened to glance out the window. She was startled to see Antonio looking back at her through the glass. At least she thought it was Antonio. Before she could be sure, he was gone.

With a shake of her head, she went back to clearing the table.

Tom left a few minutes later, but only after reaffirming their date for Sunday night.

The rest of the evening passed quickly. It was half an hour before closing time when Vicki saw Antonio enter the diner. All the booths and tables in her section were full. But then a strange thing happened. She saw Antonio stare at Bert Summers, who was sitting at a booth in the back. Bert hadn't even finished his pie and coffee when he dropped a ten dollar bill on the table and headed for the door. Looking faintly smug, Antonio took the booth Bert had vacated.

Curious and strangely annoyed, she went to his table. “What did you do?”

“Do?”

She gestured at Bert, who was just walking out the door, then pointed at his barely touched plate. “Why did he leave so abruptly?”

“Maybe he remembered an appointment.”

“You did something to him. I saw you.”

“What did you see?”

“I don't know. You looked at him and all of a sudden he just got up and left without even finishing his order.”

“Perhaps he was no longer hungry?” Antonio replied, his face inscrutable.

“Why didn't you just take one of the empty tables?”

He lifted one brow. “Why do you think?”

She pursed her lips, her brow furrowed in thought. Something wasn't right here, but what? “Was that you outside the window earlier tonight?”

He nodded.

“What were you doing out there?”

“Nothing, why? Is there something else you wish to accuse me of?”

“No, of course not,” she said, feeling properly chastised. “I'm sorry.” Looking up, she saw Gus watching her. “You'll have to order something.”

“Coffee.”

With a nod, she left the table.

At closing time, the diner was empty save for Antonio, who continued to sit at the booth in the back corner, his coffee untouched.

“What's with him?” Bobbie Sue asked, coming up beside Vicki. “He comes in here practically every night and never eats anything.”

“I'm not sure.”

“I think he's kind of creepy, you know?”

Vicki shrugged. “He seems nice enough.”

“If you say so.” Bobbie Sue removed her apron and wadded it into a ball. “I'm going over to the Blue Horse for a while. I told Steve I'd meet him there. Do you want to come along?”

Vicki considered that for a moment. The Blue Horse Tavern was a dive located on the outskirts of town. They catered mostly to the young crowd who wanted to dance and drink a few beers but didn't want to make the trip into one of the bigger cities. She had received her first kiss on the dance floor at the Blue Horse.

“Sure,” Vicki said.

“No sense taking two cars,” Bobbie Sue said. “Why don't you go with me?”

“All right.” Vicki glanced at Antonio, not surprised to find that he was watching her. “Just let me finish cleaning up.”

As she approached his booth, Battista stood and dropped a twenty dollar bill on the table.

“You're a very generous tipper,” Vicki remarked as she cleared the table.

“I like the service.”

“Thank you. Good night.”

With a nod, he turned and left the diner.

 

The Blue Horse was in full swing when Vicki followed Bobbie Sue inside. The lights were low, the music loud, the air thick with the combined smells of perfume and perspiration, lust and alcohol.

They made their way to the bar, where Bobbie Sue ordered a cosmopolitan and Vicki ordered a strawberry margarita. As she sipped her drink, Vicki nodded at several people that she recognized.

“Look, there's Linda Fay,” Bobbie Sue said, pointing at a brunette who, unfortunately, had a long face that resembled a horse's. “She always was a homely thing, bless her heart.”

Vicki nodded sympathetically. A few minutes later, Bobbie Sue went to dance with Steve Mitchell. Steve was a handsome young man who'd had a crush on Bobbie Sue ever since high school. Unfortunately, Bobbie Sue didn't see him as anything but a good friend.

A moment later, a good-looking guy strolled up to the bar and asked Vicki if she wanted to dance. They were making the usual small talk when Vicki felt a sudden chill. She glanced over her shoulder, her gaze drawn to a man standing at the end of the bar. He was tall and slender, with slicked-back blond hair. He wore a black turtleneck sweater and black slacks with a sharp crease.

Her heart skipped a beat when he pushed away from the wall.
No
, she thought,
please don't let him ask me to dance
. But even as the thought rose in her mind he was skirting the dance floor, walking toward her.

Her partner let her go with a smile and a murmured, “see you later,” and then the stranger was taking her in his arms. He held her tightly, his hands cold on hers. This close, she could see that his eyes were a rusty yellow, like the color of dead leaves.

“So,” he said, “do you come here often?”

The sound of his voice sent a shiver of unease down her spine. “No,” she lied. “Do you?”

“From time to time.” Releasing her hand, he reached out to stroke her hair. “Lovely,” he said. “Is it your natural shade?”

She stared at him, remembering that Duncan had asked her that very same question. “No,” she lied. “No, it's dyed.”

Lifting a lock of her hair, he sniffed it. “I think not.”

“I have to go.” She twisted out of his grasp and hurried toward the bar where Bobbie Sue was chatting with Steve.

“Hey, girlfriend,” Bobbie Sue said, smiling.

“Bobbie Sue, we need to go. Now.”

“Why?”

“Please, Bobbie Sue, take me home.”

“Sure, hon.” Bobbie Sue kissed Steve's cheek. “Catch ya later, sugar.”

“Come on!” Vicki grabbed Bobbie Sue's hand and practically dragged her out of the tavern.

“Vicki, slow down! What's with you?”

“That man in there. The one I was dancing with. The blond…I…He gave me the creeps.”

“Is that all?”

“No! I think”—she glanced nervously over her shoulder as Bobbie Sue unlocked the car doors—” I think he might be the murderer.”

“What? Are you serious?”

“Yes. Quick, get us out of here!”

“Don't tell me twice!” Bobbie Sue gunned the engine to life and drove out of the parking lot, tires squealing.

Vicki looked out the back window, her heart pounding. “Drive around for a few minutes. I want to make sure he's not following us.”

“Vicki, you're scaring me.”

“Good, cause I'm plenty scared myself!”

Bobbie Sue glanced in the rearview mirror. “Do you see anyone?”

“No.” Vicki sank back in her seat, suddenly wishing that Antonio were there. She wouldn't be afraid if he was with her. The thought surprised her but it was true. In spite of everything, she felt safe with Antonio. She glanced over her shoulder again, but there were no lights following from behind.

“So, how's it going with Steve?”

Bobbie Sue shook her head. “It isn't.”

“You know he's crazy about you. Do you think it's fair to keep leading him on?”

“I'm not leading him on. He knows how I feel. I mean, he's just as sweet as can be and fun to be with, but it's like dating my brother. I mean, I love him, but I'm not
in
love with him. It's like you and Arnie. There's just no spark. You know what I mean?”

“Only too well.” Vicki glanced out the back window again.

“Sometimes I don't think we'll ever get married. Maybe we should move to greener pastures.”

“Yeah, that's what my mother says.”

“Is anyone following us?”

“I don't think so.”

Bobbie Sue drove around for ten minutes, then headed for the diner. It was closed when they got there, the parking lot dark, when Bobbie Sue pulled up beside Vicki's car.

“Do you want me to follow you home?” Bobbie Sue asked.

Vicki considered that a moment, then shook her head. “I don't think so.” She laughed self-consciously. “Maybe I was just overreacting.”

“Well, you know what my mama always says, better safe than sorry. Have a good weekend. I'll see you Monday.”

“Night, Bobbie Sue.”

Vicki unlocked her car and got behind the wheel, quickly locking the door behind her. In spite of what she'd told Bobbie Sue, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her as she pulled out of the parking lot and made her way down the dark, deserted streets toward home. A shiver skittered down her spine when she drove past Sharlene's house. She needed to visit Sharlene's folks, but she just couldn't. What could she say? What kind of comfort could you offer someone whose daughter had died such a horrible death? How did a family ever get past the tragedy and move on?

Vicki slowed as her house came into view. Until now, she had always loved the fact that her house was the last on the block and that the woods started where the street ended. Now, she felt suddenly vulnerable and alone.

As she had the night before, she opted to park in front of the house instead of in the garage. Shutting off the ignition, she wished she had remembered to leave the porch light on.

Grabbing her handbag, she got out of the car and ran up the stairs to the front door. Her hand was shaking so badly, she couldn't get the key in the lock.

“Here,” said a deep, familiar voice, “let me.”

“Antonio.” She wondered if he heard the relief in her voice.

Taking the key from her hand, he unlocked the door, then handed it to her.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside. When she turned to thank him, she saw that he was still outside. “Well, don't just stand there, come on in.”

He followed her into the house, his presence putting all her fears to flight.

“What has you so upset this evening?” he asked, though he knew very well why she was upset.

Vicki dropped her handbag on the sofa and ran a hand through her hair. “I…It's probably nothing, but…” She sank down in the chair across from the sofa, her hands folded in her lap. “I went out to the Blue Horse with Bobbie Sue. It's a dive a few miles from town. There was a man there…He, I don't know, he just seemed spooky somehow, and he asked about my hair.”

“Go on.”

She looked at him, her brow furrowed. “He asked me if it was natural. There was something about the way he said it.” She shivered. “I guess I let my imagination get the best of me. Anyway, I made Bobbie Sue drive me back to my car. And even though I didn't see anyone following me home…” Her frown deepened. “I was sure there was someone behind me.” The way she had been sure the other night, only to find that it had been Antonio following her. “Maybe he was using some other means of transportation, too,” she murmured, remembering what he had said the other night.