Book Four - Part 8 - Rhyming Evil - Chapter Twenty-Three
Summit’s Point – 12:40 p.m.
They had no sooner pulled to a stop, making sure no one else was around when Ellie attacked Stevie.
It was attack he enjoyed. Ellie pressed herself tightly against him the deepest, wettest, and longest kiss ever. When she finally broke away so both of them could get some air, she bent her head and started nibbling on his neck.
Stevie’s hands were caressing her back, or his hands would run through her hair. Ellie like having her hair played with.
Ellie was going further. Her hands ran up and down his chest and across his stomach. Lifting his shirt, her head lowered as she started tracing his chest to navel with her tongue and lips.
Stevie would be a liar if he said she wasn’t exciting him, and it was for that very reason, he used every ounce of his strength to fight off her advances and pull her away.
“Dang, Ellie. Slow down, girl! I’ve missed you, too, but wow—hell even, you almost got me to forget who we are.”
Ellie smiled, leaned in, and gave him another quick kiss on this lips as her hands stroked his chest and stomach.
“And just who are we, Stevie?”
“Why, we’re, uh—we, I mean, we love each other, right? And when two people fall in love, they respect each other.”
“Do you respect me, Stevie?”
“Since the first day we met. I respect you as much as I love you.”
“What about after we have sex? Would you respect me then?”
“If we had sex, as long as it’s safe sex, yes. But this isn’t the right place or the right time. Okay, I know it’s the twenty-first century and that most kids younger than us are doing it, but sex just for the sake of sex just doesn’t grab me. Maybe I’m the only old-fashioned kid left on earth, but I’d rather make love to you and have it mean something important for the rest of our lives; like when we would be married.”
Ellie’s hand stopped playing along his chest and she placed them behind Stevie’s head.
“Why do you have to be so sensible, Stevie? As much as I want you right now, I get what you are saying, and that’s another reason why I love you so much.”
They kissed again but this time it was slower, a much gentler kiss. When they pulled away, Ellie looked at Summit’ Peak walls and pointed. “That is so cool, huh?”
Stevie looked at the wall of rock facing them. The sun hit it at an angle that made the formation surface look like solid gold. It lasted almost two minutes as the sun shifted and shadows replaced the light.
After sitting quietly together and watching gold turn back to gray, Stevie pulled his shirt down and started the car.
“Now, how about that lunch at the Pit-Stop?”
“You’re on. Let’s do it!”
Hestor Hills
261 Devonshire Way – 2:46 p.m.
Four blocks away from Dianne Andrews home, Michael Collins drove past Cliff’s house. The garage door was open and empty. He wasn’t home. Probably out job hunting.
He would come back later.
216 Blake Way – 2:59 p.m.
He was able to get into the expensive apartment building by following behind another tenant and caught hold of the outside door before it closed.
He saw Michael’s name on the registry next to the mailboxes. Apt. 12-A, third floor. Four floors, sixteen units total.
He took the elevator and when it stopped, he walked out and within a few seconds found Michael’s door and pressed the buzzer. He couldn’t hear any movement from the other side of the door, and figured that Michael wasn’t home yet.
He released his grip on the gun inside his jacket pocket and swore in a whisper. He looked at his watch. 3:06.
He decided to take the elevator to the fourth floor, then take the steps up that lead to the rooftop balcony. The Blakemore hosts the only covered outdoor swimming pool to its tenants, plus the view is incredible.
He would simply wait until he knew Michael would be home.
Mike’s Haven
2nd & Dumar – 3:46 p.m.
Andrew Davis and Ryan Clinton were on the scene along with Carl Macklin Sr. and four of his F-Team members as they sifted through the destruction of Mike’s restaurant.
For many years, Mike has used this place to feed the homeless or those in need. He was always able to get financial contributions from the citizens of Montie, as well as certain food products from Wal-Mart, Baker’s Supermarket, and all the fast-food places, Lucy’s, as well as places not within downtown.
But not more than an hour after Mike closed for the day, someone, or a group of people broke into his place, used axes on the counter, tables and chairs. The vent system was shorn in half from apparently a chainsaw and his grill and fryers were overturned. Grease was spread out all across the floor making walking dangerous. Almost all of the canned goods were gone, and the meat freezer was emptied out.
Until Carl and his team could find any evidence that would point to the parties involved, all the police could do was take Mike’s statement.
“Tonight, I’m going to make a detailed list of everything I’ve lost for my insurance company and then I’ll bring a copy to you guys. At least I’ll be able to salvage a few things out of this mess.”
“Mr. Ambrose,” said Larry, “here’s my card. When you have everything itemized, call me. That way I can add your copy of items missing and damaged to my report.”
“Might be a day or two but I can do that.”
“The grill and fryers aren’t damaged though. It’ll take a couple days to rid the floor of the grease. Vent walls aren’t cheap, but they won’t cost me an arm and a leg either.
“It’s just that, well, it’ll be a week, maybe two before I can start feeding the homeless again. So many people who come here depend on me for a meal and a warm place to stay during the day.”
Mike’s lips trembled and he wiped his nose with the back of his hand.
“Why? Why would someone do this? If they needed food all they had to do was ask. They didn’t have to bust the place up.”
Ryan Clinton said, “Mr. Ambrose, we’ll do what we can for you. We will find who was responsible for this.”
Carl and his crew kept dusting every area of the restaurant and taking different pictures from various angles. Carl knew this wouldn’t be a simple identity case. Dozens of prints were pulled from the countertop as well as the broken tables and chairs. When their afternoon was concluded, Carl and his team would take back to the Lab, 346 lifted print impressions.