Out of Body

Chapter 32

“Just like that,” Gray said, watching Sidney’s taillights swing down the driveway and turn out onto River Road. “What do you make of it?”

“She didn’t need the elaborate setup to give you her information,” Marley said. She paused. “Or maybe she thought she did. I believe she’s scared—even if I’m not completely sure why.”

“I think she’s really scared.”

“Did you believe her when she talked about someone trying to frame her?”

“Why would she make it up?” He kicked up some gravel. “I’d like to know more about her relationship with Amber.”

“Yes,” Marley agreed. “She wants us to tell the police about Danny, doesn’t she?”

“Yep. Question is, what if she’s being straight with us and it would be dangerous for her to talk—to the cops? Or if it came out that she was responsible for letting information out that got to them.”

“She doesn’t really have information,” Marley pointed out. “She’s guessing. And we don’t know if everything she says is true. She was suggesting Danny Summit could be a murderer.”

“We’ve got to think. Nothing’s standing still with Nat. He’s got people taking New Orleans apart.”

Marley laughed. “It’s funny the way you talk about cops when you used to be one.”

“It has its advantages,” Gray said. “I can put on a couple of different hats and the appropriate brain is inside.”

This time Marley sniggered. She put a hand to her face and made a snorting sound.

“That funny?” Gray said.

“It’s a pretty interesting picture.”

“That bottle of wine’s still on the back gallery,” Gray said. “Maybe that’s what we need to help us think clearly.”

“It’s getting awfully dark out here.”

“I saw citronella candles back there. I’ve got you for protection. You’ve got me for protection. And I’ve got a gun.”

“Let’s have some wine,” Marley said. She hooked a hand under his arm and they returned to the back of the house.

Gray lighted two buckets of citronella with matches left for the purpose. He put one bucket on the table and opened the wine. The ice in the bucket was long melted. Sidney hadn’t forgotten to bring a wine opener, and she’d left it behind with everything else she’d brought with her.

They sat, drinking white wine that tasted good even if it was tepid, and listening to frogs and crickets while fireflies winked in the tops of tall grass.

“Knock, knock, Marley.”

Momentarily disoriented, she turned to Gray who looked out into the darkness.

She gave a long, long sigh. “Sykes?”

“Permission to enter?”

“Very funny. You’re already in.”

“Nope. Only on the doorstep. I’ll go away if you insist.”

“What are you doing here, Sykes?”

“You’ll just have to let me off the hook. Uncle Pascal again. He’s not himself, girl. He’s jittery and it’s all your fault. It doesn’t help that our dear papa is passing through and asking questions.”

“He doesn’t have any right to ask questions. And I thought he’d already left.”

“He has,” Sykes said. “But Uncle Pascal’s been so uptight all day in case Papa asked more about what’s going on with you, he’s a wreck. So here I am to make sure no one has to rescue you.”

“And I’m great, thank you. You’re kind to care.”

“I came for our uncle.”

“Of course,” Marley said. Sykes preserved his reputation as selfish and only out for himself. It might fool most—Marley wasn’t among them.

“I’ve got some interesting tidbits of news,” Sykes said. “Our papa might really be making progress digging up the Millet mysteries.”

Marley felt excited and jumpy, but had to keep a blank face. “You have terrible timing. I want to know all about it, but I can’t now—obviously.”

“You’re quiet,” Gray said. “But your mind is doing somersaults.”

She sat very still and calmed herself. She flattened her emotions and pushed Sykes to a corner of her consciousness.

“You’ve known Nat Archer a long time,” Marley said. “Is he someone we could talk to off the record?”

Gray was quiet for a while before he said, “I think so. He’s always been a maverick—never played the rules completely straight. What d’you have in mind?”

She wasn’t sure.

“Ask him to come out here,” Sykes said. “It’s not far. He’s in a war zone and he’s an army of one being fired on from all sides. Everyone wants this case broken and they want it broken yesterday. The new disappearance could be all it takes to set off mass hysteria.”

“I haven’t heard too much about those old unsolved disappearances with what’s going on,” Gray said. “But the Pearl Brite incident might be enough to start people making connections.”

“Why—” Marley cut herself off before she could ask what made him make those comments right when he made them. It sounded as if he was answering what she’d heard Sykes tell her. “You’re right,” she said, trying for a breezy tone.

“We need a scrambled frequency here.”

“You’re talking about something that’s nothing to do with you,” Marley said. “What do you know about the case? Have you been spying on me?”

“No. And it hurts me for you to think I would. I live here, too, remember?”

Marley ignored Sykes. She couldn’t make herself feel guilty for tromping on his delicate sensibilities. She almost laughed.

“So you think we should try to get Nat out here?” Gray said.

She cleared her throat. “Gray, I didn’t say anything about asking Nat to come out here. You’re reading my mind.” Or in this case, picking up on what I’m hearing from my brother.

“No. You said that.”

“No, I didn’t,” Marley told him.

“You’re looking for these signs or whatever.”

“It might be nice to have Nat come out where the territory feels neutral, though,” Marley said. “He always seems on duty. Do you think he drinks too much?”

“You never stay on topic.”

“Butt out, Sykes.”

“Why? You gonna have sex under the stars?”

“Nat knows what he’s doing,” Gray said. “He’s always in control. We’d better get back to the Quarter and find him.”

“No sex under the stars? Aw, shucks.”

“My turn is going to come, bro. Just you wait.”

“You don’t need anyone’s permission to call this cop yourself. Just do it.”

Marley consigned herself to dealing with these two. “I’m calling him.” She found her phone in her bag. “What’s his number?”

“I wish you wouldn’t do this,” Gray said. But he took out his own phone, punched in a programmed number and handed it to Marley.

“He’s got possibilities, sis. Some guys would have refused to give you the number, let alone dialed it for you.”

Marley agreed, but didn’t give Sykes that message. She waited, watching stars pop in a pewter sky above the black-shadowed crowns of trees.

“Nat Archer.”

Marley swallowed and set out her proposition. She finished with, “I think it’s time I explained a number of things I haven’t wanted to talk about. I don’t think I’ve done any harm yet, but maybe I can make a difference now.”

“I’m on my way,” Nat said. “Thanks, Marley.”

She smiled and closed the phone.

“Why the smile?” Gray said.

“He’s a nice guy.”

Gray leaned toward her across the little round table. “That’s a switch. D’you have any idea how sexy you look by candlelight?”

“I’m gone,” Sykes said and Marley felt his instant absence.

She widened her eyes at Gray. “I like you by candlelight, too.”

He peered at his watch.

“What is it?” Marley said. “Did you forget an appointment.”

“Nope. I was just figuring out how long we’ve got before Nat can make it out here. Long enough. Just. Sit on my lap. Please.”

She tingled all over, but more in some places than others….

Gray reached for her hand and guided her in front of him. She started to turn sideways, but he held her where she was.

He ran his hands slowly up beneath her white cotton skirt, parted her aching thighs and settled her where she fitted the best, squarely astride his hips.

For seconds they absorbed the physical shock of their contact. They connected with their mouths and the night turned all white heat and the rushing clamor of arousal.