since Nov. 26, 2004.George pointed to the gray house with blue trim, 7512. Oh, my. That’s where he’s keeping my baby? Oh, God, give me strength!
"Just walk by casually. Don’t look like you’re looking at anything."
He nodded and walked on, keeping his arm tight around her. The house was dark, except for the porch light and the light over the stove peeking out through the small kitchen window. Matilda could see a light--a lamp, perhaps--beyond the curtains of the master bedroom. When they passed by the other end of the house, she threw a quick glance over her shoulder and saw the light on in the garage. I bet that’s where she is! The bastard probably has her hanging by her toes from the rafters. Oh, Karen! What ...
"The backyard is fairly large. We might be able to sneak in behind those trees."
She nodded. "Though I bet there’s a sliding glass door. If the curtains are open, they’ll be able to see us." God forbid!
Once again, they stopped at the intersection of 12th Way and 12th Avenue. George squeezed her hand. "Tonight, after dark, we’ll come back. We’ll break in and we’ll get her back." Man! Who's the crazy one now? "That gives us a few hours to think about how we’re going to do it."
"We better not stand here. We’ll look suspicious." Gotta get out of here and get him back in the mood. Oh, yeah! Matilda took his hand and led him back down Horne Street.
Back at La Casa, the heat hit them before Pooky, who was dying to be let out. She hit the thermostat. Damn! Damn! I’m not gonna think about that horny guy. Oh, no!
"I’ll have to talk to the landlord about that."
Excuse me? Did those words actually come out of his lips? Am I hearing right?
"How long has it been acting up?"
Who knows? Who cares? "A while, I guess. It’s cold, then it’s hot. Never in between. I wish it would make up its mind." Hell, even my mind’s definitely made up. Ha! A first!
"You okay?"
Matilda Blu could not believe the words he spoke. Man, oh, man! It’s like falling in love all over again. Oh, George! Quit the sweet talk and lay one on me, baby! "I’m just tired." Typical excuse. Next, I’ll be saying I have a headache. "I have a little headache." See? What did I tell you? "I’m going to lie down for awhile." But you can come with me! Oh, yeah! My headache would definitely go away ...
George nodded. "Yeah, I guess you should." Whoa! Uh... He caressed her cheek, moving closer and closer. Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Is he? Will he? He looked into her eyes. Is he... "Mattie, I ..." He pressed her lips to hers and kissed her long and hard. Wow! How the hell did I live without this? How did I live?
"I don’t know how I lived without you, Mattie." Feeling’s mutual, babe! He tucked the sheet around her. "Don’t want you to get cold." Cold? Not a chance.
She snuggled closer. "I thought I could live without you. I even thought I could hate you for all the crap you pulled." Thought? To hell with what I thought! Like I knew any better!
"But ..."
But nothing. I was--I am a fool. Once a fool, always a fool. But hey, babe, I’m all yours! "I guess I just realized how much I still need you, want you." A definite on the wanting part!
Matilda closed her eyes and sighed as he kissed her and fondled her some more. More! Yes! More! He’s good. He always was good! Oh, man! I’ve missed his lovemaking!
The rustle of clothing awoke her from her peaceful slumber. George sat on the edge of the bed, buttoning his shirt. He leaned over and kissed her. "It’s 9:30. Almost dark." Wow, how time’s fun when you’re having...uh, never mind! He pulled the sheet off her and stared at her nudeness. Ooh! Get your eyes full, baby! Matilda sat up next to him. He handed over her clothes, daring to caress her. The thrill of your touch sends a tingle down my spine ...
"Let’s go get our baby." Karen, here we come!
Once again, the Subaru flew down Martin Way. Nerves refrained them from talking, though Matilda Blu sang along with the radio. ‘... In my midnight confessions, well, I’m telling the world that I love you. In my midnight confessions, well, I say all the things that I want to. Na-na-na Na-na Na-na-na ...’ George caught her hand and pressed it against his lips. He gave her a reassuring glance. ‘Don’t worry, baby. Everything will work out alright ...’
"Let’s park in the next subdivision."
She drove past to 13th Avenue and stopped just beyond the first house. Both donned in black, George and Matilda slipped between the two houses, over the fence and into the trees in the backyard of 7512. I feel like Bond, Jane Bond, 0069. Through the branches, she saw the curtains opened on the sliding glass doors, a light on in the corner rear bedroom and the rear garage door opened a crack. The back yard was lit by the rear porch light. Shit, no matter which way we go, someone will surely see us. Oh, Karen, give us a sign or something! She jumped when she felt George’s lips next to her ear.
"You climb the fence into the other yard, sneak down the back side and see if you can pry open the bedroom window." With what? My nails? He handed her his sportsman’s knife. Oh, of course, a knife! Silly me! "I’m going to take a peek into the garage." The garage? Why did it sound so ominous? Matilda stroked his cheek. Be carefully, my darling. He smiled softly and vanished.
You’re crazy! You’re crazy! You’re fucking nuts! Man, this grass is wet! I better get a vacation after this shit! Now even with the corner bedroom, she scaled the fence and landed in the house’s shadow. Where’s George? Oh, God, don’t let him be ... ah ... She held her breath as he crept to the garage door. Oh, sure, this is nothing. I can get this window open, just as much as he can look in the garage and not get himself killed. Man, oh, man! I need a drink.
The window shade moved. Matilda slipped back into the shadows. Not one sound. Not one little sound! The shade flipped up. A bald man with a dark goatee peered out. Behind him stood a young woman, bound and gagged. My God! Karen! Oh, God, she’s alive! Suddenly the bald man shouted something. Oh, no, there’s more than one! Shit! She let out a crisp whistle--which got George’s attention--and scaled the fence.
Oh, shit! We’re gonna die! They’re gonna get us! It was only minutes, but it seemed like hours before she reached the car. C’mon, baby! Don’t let them get you! You can make it! George opened the door and climbed in, panting.
"Let’s go."
Wait! They’re following us. A getaway is what they would expect. No, time for decisive action!
"Take off your clothes." He didn’t budge. She grabbed his collar, pulled him over on top of her and kissed him roughly.
"Now’s not the time."
Oh, yes it is! "If they see the car leave, they’ll suspect and follow us. Without our clothes, they won’t know who we are." Crazy, insane excuse! But something’s gotta work. Something. "George, baby, I know you want to ..."
He crushed his lips upon hers. Yes! Articles of clothing flew in all directions. The windows quickly fogged. Even better! He moaned when he found her, against the gear shift. She cried out. God, this better work!
Three thugs approached the car, now rocking. They shined their flashlights against the foggy windows and could barely make out a woman’s face by the steering wheel. She glanced momentarily in their direction, before bending back in the throes of ecstasy. One of the thugs grunted. They all turned back towards 7512.
"Did you find them?" The bald man stood by the fence, his arms crossed impatiently.
"Nah. Just a couple of kids getting it on."
Neither were able to speak for a long while. George rested his head on her chest, silent from exhaustion. Her fingers toyed with his dark hair. Man, this was how it used to be! Oh, baby, I’m never letting him go!
"George, do you remember the trip to the beach when I was first pregnant with Karen?" He nodded. "And you had to pull over every five minutes so I could puke?" Nice romantic memory, girl! Oh, well!
"You were so upset, worried that I was angry with you for being sick. Actually, I was so excited that we were going to have a baby that I didn’t care. I was happy. That was the peak of my happiness." Oh, man! It truly was!
"I love you, George." There, I said it. "I don’t want to lose you again."
"You won’t." Big sigh of relief, girl! "I love you, Mattie Blu."
Eww! Fur ball! Pooky lay on her stomach, watching her every movement. Damn cat! Don’t you ever sleep? Matilda moaned and rolled over, sending Pooky off the bed in a hissy fit.
"Cat getcha?"
Very funny! "When doesn’t he get me?"
"When I’ve got you." More kisses. God, I love this man!
Once dressed, she wandered into the chilly living room. Smack! Damn thermostat! Pooky sat on the Sunday morning paper, batting her as she shoved him to the side. Yeah, yeah, you bring it on, fuzzball! She glanced at the second page and remembered. The lottery numbers! Shit! The ticket lay on the coffee table. 11-17-34-39-42-44. Nah, I’m imagining it! She blinked. Again, 11-17-34-39-42-44. A winner! I’ll be goddamned! Oh, George ...
"You’re putting me on, woman!" See for yourself, genius! He took the paper and the ticket. "11-17-34-39-42-44. Damn, I don’t believe it! We can get the money!" Gee, what do you know! He swung her around wildly. Uh, babe, you’re killing me! He set her down. "I’ve got an idea." He dialed the number on the back of the ticket.
"We interrupt this program to bring you a live report from Olympia." The director cued George.
"Ladies and gentlemen. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the State of Washington and to all of you who participate in the lotto drawings. Last night, my wife and I were fortunate enough to win the entire ten million dollar jackpot. While we are deeply indebted to the State and to our daughter’s lucky numbers, we would like to offer half of our earnings to the recently released Spanaway Sam to do with what he pleases and the State will guarantee permanent removal of his criminal record. To reward you, we would like you to meet us at Tumwater Falls within 72 hours. Wear a red hat. Thank you."
Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed.
"Was I convincing enough?"
"Not bad." Hell, I couldn’t have done as good! "Do you think it’ll work?"
"It has to. Karen’s life depends on it." A thought I can’t reckon with. Oh, God!
Oh, man, does this place bring back memories! My, oh, my! Matilda Blu looked over the bridge at the green falls turning into foam.
"You remember the last time we were here?"
Remember? How could I forget? "You asked me to marry you." Man, how long has it been? Twenty years? No, it couldn’t be ...
"Twenty years, man." George put his arms around her. "I’m glad we survived everything we threw at each other." Damn miracle we did!
"Me too." What can I say? I’m a romantic at heart. And you, George, are still as handsome as you were then. Man, you are a hunk of cheese!
"Hey, there she is!"
Karen? Oh, baby! You’re still alive! Hallelujah! Is she alright? Is she safe now? Did anyone follow her? Oh, God, I hope not!
"Well, well, well. You two look like Ma and Pa Kettle." Ma and Pa Kettle? Hell, did we really look that old? Karen hugged them both tightly. Tighter. Tighter. I’m not letting her out of my sight!
"Are you okay, baby?" Good ol’ George! He still has his voice.
Karen nodded. "Let’s go home."
Go home? That’s it? What about the ransom? What about Spanaway Sam? Now, wait just a minute ...
"What about the ransom, young lady?" I’ll get to the bottom of this if it kills me!
"What ransom?" Oh, too sweet and innocent. Definitely her father’s child!
"You were held prisoner. We were supposed to pay a million dollars to Spanaway Sam or we’d never see you again." Didn’t any of this ring a bell? Hello?
Karen smiled. "It was joke. It was all a joke." A joke? She says that so casually. That little ...
"What do you mean, a joke?" Go George! You tough guy!
"I wanted you two back together, and I knew the only way would be if something happened to me. I convinced my boss to call you and say that I was kidnapped. I stayed at Greg’s in the meantime."
"Greg?" Who’s Greg? And why were you staying with him? And what were you doing with him? Not a wise thing to bring up in front of dear old dad!
"My boyfriend. You met him, remember?" Uh, yeah, sure ... I guess. My memory must be failing. "He lives across Martin Way from Tanglewilde." Where? Oh, my ...
George crossed his arms. "At 7512 12th Way?"
"Gee, Dad, you’re really with it! Say, how did you guys figure out where I was anyway?"
Take a wild guess! "Your mother’s a snoop. She read those articles about Spanaway Sam, went to the courthouse and got his address. So, which one was Spanaway Sam?"
Karen laughed. Not a wise choice kid! "He doesn’t exist." But the articles? How ... "Greg is the editor of the Daily-O, so he wrote a bogus article about a murderer named Spanaway Sam. Then we had a fake record put on file at the courthouse. His mother’s a clerk." That stupid clerk was his mother? Oh, shit!
"So, it was all a joke?"
"Yep."
"What about the money?"
"That’s yours. Hey, now you can afford to send me to college!" Sure, it’s our money, just as long as we fork out the dough for tuition. Typical teenager!
"Tell me one thing, Karen." You will tell me more than one, but we’ll start there. "Who were all the guys that chased us through the subdivision?"
"Oh, Greg, his father, his brother and me."
You? Oh, boy! I wonder if she saw ...
"By the way, I hope you guys prefer doing it in a bed after that." Smart ass! "Who’s bright idea was that anyway?"
George pointed at Matilda. Hey, now! Like you weren’t an active participant!
Karen chuckled. "I have to say, that was the biggest surprise out of the whole thing, besides the fact that you’re both zillionaires." Yeah, I bet it was!
"So are you going to marry Greg?" Marry Greg? What the hell am I saying?
She blushed. "Eventually, now that I’m rich."
Rich?
Oh, hell! Now I’ll have a wedding to pay for! George! This is all your fault!
All his fault. All his fault.
Copyright © 1999, Talia M. Wilson
Revisions copyright © 2001 & 2004
since Nov. 26, 2004.