After Midnight

“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I just figured…I don’t know…I thought if I said enough really awful things about you, you’d have to come and get me.”

“It worked,” he said, and laughed.

“I was telling the truth, though, about going away with you. I want to be your partner.”

“I don’t think so.”

“You said you wanted me.”

“Still do, hon. And I aim to have you. But maybe not for my partner. I happen to think you’re playing games about that. You’ll be all nice and chummy till you get the upper hand, then you’ll nail me.”

“No, I won’t. We’ll hit the road together. I’ll help you…”

“No, you won’t.”

“I will! I want to!”

“You’re just saying this to save your sweet rear end. That’s about all you’re interested in. You don’t want to be my partner. You hate me.”

“I do not.”

“I’ve got a nasty wound on my head that says otherwise.”

“I only did that because you were hurting me. You bit me!”

“Ah, yes. I was enjoying a taste of tit teryaki.”

Real cute.

“We could be great together,” I told him. “You know damn well how tough I am.”

“Tough? Not at all. I’ve rarely put my lips around such nice, tender tits. Love ’em.”

“They go where I go,” I told him. “Take me on as your partner, and we’ll all be together.”

“Or I could take them without you.”

Don’t let him get to you!

“I won’t be much good to you dead.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.”

“I mean as a partner.”

“Oh, that. True.”

“You’re going to need a partner.”

“Now that you’ve killed Milo?” he asked.

“Right. Exactly. And you owe me for that, don’t you?”

“Owe you how?”

“No more sloppy seconds.”

“True, true,” he said. “I thank you.”

“And now you need a new partner, and I’ll be it. I can drive for you. I can do all sorts of stuff. Like help you get girls. I can even…you know…help do stuff to them.”

“Do stuff?” he asked.

“Like tie them up, help you kill them or whatever, help you dispose of their bodies. Whatever you want.” I looked over my shoulder at him. “You know I can do that sort of stuff.”

“Yeah, you’re a bad cat.”

“Bad enough.”

“Not nearly bad enough, honey.”

“I am, too.”

“You’re a pussy.”

“Tough enough to kill Milo and Tony and knock your brains half out of your head.”

Again, I couldn’t bring myself to mention Murphy. I didn’t want him to be part of this.

“If you had what it takes,” Steve said, “you would’ve taken care of Judy. You left a living witness.”

“She didn’t know enough to get me in trouble.”

“Bullshit. She knew plenty. You didn’t kill her because you’re not as tough as you think you are. You liked her, so you let her live.”

“No.”

“You had the hots for her.”

“Did not.”

“You fell for her, so you didn’t have the heart to take her down.”

“You’re nuts.”

“That so?”

“Yeah. So maybe I didn’t kill her, I beat the crap out of her and left her for dead. I figured she’d never get out of the woods alive.”

“Who are you trying to kid?” Steve said.

“Nobody.”

“She’s probably the real reason you came out here tonight. You never had any intention of hitting the road with me, you came out here to save that girl’s ass.”

“You’re nuts.”

“Or maybe whip it,” he added, and laughed softly.

“Judy had nothing to do with this,” I insisted. “I came because I want to go away with you. That’s the only reason. After you got away…never mind.”

“No, no. Please, don’t stop now. I can’t wait to hear it.”

“Why should I waste my breath? You won’t believe me, anyway.”

“Oh, try me.”

Looking over my shoulder again, I said, “I missed you.”

“How sweet.”

“I figured we’d probably never see each other again, and I suddenly realized how much I…I wanted to be with you. I know it sounds crazy. And you probably don’t believe me, anyway. But there’s something about you. I can’t explain it. All I know is that I suddenly felt this horrible emptiness inside after you were gone. And I knew that the emptiness was because…I was afraid I might not be able to find you, that I might have to go the rest of my life without you.”

“I’m deeply moved,” he said. “You loved me so much that you came after me with a sword.”

“It wasn’t meant for you.”

“But I’ve got it, and I thank you.”

“That isn’t what I…I only brought the saber along for protection. I never intended to use it against you.”

“And you never will.”

“That’s fine. I would’ve handed it to you, if you’d asked. You didn’t have to ambush me for it.”

“You know something, Alice?”

“Plenty.”

“You are marvelous. I’ve mentioned that before. But the more we’re together, the more I discover. Now I find that you’re not only sexy and stacked and gutsy and witty and tough—but you’re a quite a fine liar, too.”

“I don’t lie.”

A laugh burst out of him. “You could be President!”

“I just want to be your partner.”

“There you go again. But you know what? Considering your many wonderful attributes, I might just be willing to let you have a go at it.”

“At being your partner?”

“Exactly.”

This was pretty much what I’d been hoping to hear, but I sensed trouble. “What’s the catch?” I asked.