Blood Red

She had to hope. Kelli looked out the front window of the house and stared at her neighbor’s place. A car had just pulled up and moved up the driveway all the way to the distant front door. She couldn’t see who it was that got out, aside from the fact that it was female and shapely.

I can hope, she thought. I have to hope. He’s my little baby boy.

III

Maggie pulled up outside of Jason Soulis’s house and stared in awe again. The place was incredible.

As soon as she opened the door, the man was waiting at the threshold. He smiled as she approached, and she smiled back. Whether or not he’d meant to, Soulis had given her an opportunity that had proved to be very rewarding.

“Hello, Mr. Soulis.” She moved toward him and smiled. He watched her the entire time she came in his direction, and returned the smile. He stepped back from her as she entered the house, and gestured for her to move toward the dining room.

Another feast had been laid out.

“Please, my dear, call me Jason.” He pulled out the chair for her and waited for her to be properly seated. “You are well, Maggie?”

“I am, thanks for asking.”

She was dressed in casual clothes again and so was he. Well, what passed for casual with him at any rate. He was wearing a pair of navy Dockers and a burgundy turtleneck sweater that she suspected was extremely overpriced. He carried it off well.

“You look lovely.” His dark eyes drank her in with the patience and reverence of a wine connoisseur. She smiled back and gave a small nod of her head in acknowledgment of the compliment.

This time when she sat down to eat, he joined her. He ate only a little, but as with everything else, he seemed to savor the meal. Only when they were done and having brandy in the study did he discuss business.

“You have concluded your business with the Catholic Church?”

“Yes, and with the Lutheran pastor and the Baptist minister.” She wasn’t lying. The latter two had been arranged earlier in the day. Pastor Henderson had been a hard sell, but the Baptist minister had been only too eager to accommodate.

“Wonderful.” Once again he looked her over, his face almost expressionless and his eyes alight with pleasure. “You are a very resourceful woman, Maggie. I had feared you wouldn’t be able to accomplish the task I set for you.”

The conversation was a little surreal, but she did her best to take it in stride. “Well, there are still more names on your list, Jason.”

“True, but I think you’ve already proven to be up to the challenge. I had serious doubts about you managing to seduce the Lutheran minister.”

“Really?” She smiled a little, remembering how reluctant he had been. “Why is that?”

“Well, I have it on good authority that the man is homosexual.”

Maggie chuckled. “Well, that explains a lot, actually.”

“So, you wish to continue with our arrangement?”

“As long as you want me to,” she kept her cool. It wouldn’t do to sound too excited about the prospect.

Jason nodded and walked over to his desk at the far end of the room. He counted out a preposterous amount of money in hundred-dollar bills, and set them down on the small table where her empty brandy snifter now rested.

“That’s double what we had agreed to.” Not that she would complain, but better to be honest than lose out on the rest of the take.

“No, Maggie. That is the agreed-upon amount, with a bonus if you spend the night here, with me.”

“I was hired for the night anyway, Jason.”

“No. I hired your services from Tom, and that money has already been delivered. This is a different matter entirely.”

“I’m not one to turn down a generous offer, but aren’t you paying twice for the same services?”

“No, Maggie.” He looked her in the eyes, his stare intense enough to damn near hypnotize her. “No. I do not see the two as inseparable. Yes, I paid to have you here for the night. I did not pay Tom to have your sexual favors. That is a separate transaction, between you and me.”

“Not in his eyes.”

“His eyes are insignificant. It is your eyes that interest me. If you wish, you may stay with me and have a separate room for the night. That concludes any business I have with Tom Pardue.” He shrugged. “If you wish, you may also take the bonus I have offered you to be with me for the rest of the night. The decision is yours.”

The damnedest thing about it was that she knew he was completely serious. If she said she wanted to sleep in a separate room, he’d let her. “I want to stay with you, Jason.”

He smiled and held out one hand. She took it, marveling at the cool, soft feel of his fingers.

IV

They poked and prodded Avery for over two hours before Alan told them enough was enough. He sent the doctors packing with their blood samples and their heart rate monitors. His boy was home and tired. That was all that mattered. He wanted to rest in his own bed, and Alan intended to give his son everything he could possibly want.