Gail stepped closer and pulled up the left side of her shirt. Sylvia took a moment to get the framing right and then the phone flashed.
I sat down on the soft black leather of Sylvia’s raised working chair and waited.
Sylvia examined the photo, was apparently satisfied, and set her phone aside. She picked up a short ruler and proceeded to take measurements of Gail’s tattoo. Sylvia excused herself and left.
After Sylvia was gone, I relaxed and said, “If she’s going to be long, hand me the nachos back.”
“It’ll take her a few minutes to make the stencil,” Gail said as she passed me the Styrofoam box.
I munched a couple of more. “So, what’s it like?”
“What? Getting a tattoo?”
“Yeah, I’ve known a lot of grunts with them, but I never asked anyone about it.”
“Well, it’s not as bad as some people make out. The pain is more of a damned irritant than real pain. Your cuts are probably hurting as much as the needle will, but it can feel annoying, like a mosquito buzzing around your ear.”
“Really?”
“That’s about it, although she can spray lidocaine on your skin if you’re worried about the pain,” Gail said.
“Did you use lidocaine?”
“Hell no,” Gail said with a definite disdain for my even asking.
“Then I guess I’d better not either,” I said and shoved the last nacho in my mouth.
Gail smiled and patted my cheek. “I won’t think any less of you if you use the numbing agent, Jesse. I already know what kind of man you are.”
I pulled her to me and kissed her lightly.
We were dressed and on our way out of the Trinity Tattoo parlor in a little more than an hour and a half. I had another bandage on me, but this one didn’t cover an acute wound like the other two. Hell, a few more days with Gail and I’d be covered in bandages. The woman couldn’t help getting under my skin.
Chapter 20 – Lion’s Den
Just past the supper hour found us in a motel parking lot on the north end of Tuscaloosa, near Interstate 20/59. We’d just finished some burgers, fries, and shakes from a nearby Jack’s and were waiting for the Morenos to arrive. We didn’t have long to wait as an Ford F-350 pickup with quad doors and a camper shell pulled into the parking lot and took the space next to us.
On a nod from Gail, I climbed out and met her in front of her van. The Morenos joined us a moment later.
“Amoroso, you’re looking good.”
“You, too, Marta. Where’s Bruno?” I asked.
“He’s in the back seat,” Javier said.
“We don’t have a lot of time,” Gail said. “We have to meet Robbins and Nichols in half an hour.”
“What’s the rush? It’s at least a couple of hours till sundown,” Marta said. She put a hand on my right forearm and gave it a little squeeze. “I’d like a chance to catch up with Jesse.”
“The professors are meeting us at the home of the man who funded their dig. We believe he has another artifact from the dig and it may be the one the spirit is focusing on.”
Javier’s interest flared. “Oh? What type of artifact?”
“It’s some kind of ring. With any luck we can get it and exorcise it before sundown,” Gail said.
“And then what happens to the ring?” Javier asked.
“Relax, Javier, it’ll go back to the university’s museum when everything is settled. If you want it, you’ll have to wait until we’re done to try and steal it.” Gail said while making a point of eyeing the hand Marta still had on my arm. “I thought I warned you about poaching my partner.”
Marta smiled like a snake unsheathing its fangs. She made a show of letting go of my arm and stepping back. I guess I could have removed her hand myself, but she and I had a lot of history; I didn’t want to offend her.
“So then we’re going to see this benefactor?” Javier asked.
“Not you, just us. He’s a recluse. We were only able to get invites for Jesse and me. We would appreciate it if you wait outside and only come in if things get, ah, interesting,” Gail said.
“You want us to just sit in the truck. Hell, we’re not errand boys,” Marta said heatedly.
“That’s not what we’re saying,” I put in. “We’re just saying that if things go sideways, we’d like you to be close by for support. You’d do that for me wouldn’t you, inamorata?”
Marta’s scowl softened and she nodded. “Sure, Jesse, whatever you and your partner need.”
“Wait a second, hermana, why should we sit outside. We’re as good as any other hunter.”
“Javier, it’s not like that,” I said.
“Then tell me what it’s like,” Javier spat.
Marta put a restraining hand on his arm. “Hermano, por favor. Let’s not fight about this. Jesse asked nicely and I agreed. Let’s leave it at that.”
Javier frowned, the muscles along his jaw line tightening. He nodded once and then looked away.
“Where are we going?” Marta asked.
“I’ll forward you the address, but you can follow us to the man’s estate. Just don’t drive onto the property unless you hear the shit hitting the fan,” I said.
“Sure, Jesse, lead the way,” Marta said.
I could hear the sadness in her voice and realized that somehow she’d figured out that Gail and I were more than just partners.
I had already loaded the address into my phone and called up Google Maps. I drove while Gail brought up her tablet and contacted Leonard. She’d been on the computer with him while I was getting inked. He was supposed to be getting information on the address Robbins had given us.
“Did he come up with anything on the owner of the Adult Intimacies?” I asked.
“He hasn’t said. I’ll ask.”
