'Boy, you're on the crest of a wave. It's time for you to decide whether you want to ride it or chicken out. Many men chicken out and regret it later,' said Crocker.
'Maybe Christine would like to go to the movies this week,' said Neil.
'Hah! haha!' Mr. Crocker's cane lifted in the air as he pounded it down with enthusiastic enjoyment 'Now you've got the spirit! That's the attitude!'
'I'll ask her before I go home tonight.'
'And she'll say yes! You know she will. Why, that girl's just dying to go out with you!' Mr. Crocker banged his cane once more and began to wheeze.
Neil stood. He could see it was time to let the old gentleman rest, he was getting too excited. But before he could go Mr. Crocker turned to him and removed his glasses. Mr. Cracker seldom did that, it meant he had a final word of great importance.
He looked up with his red, aged eyes and said, 'You won't forget me now, will you? You'll remember who your coach is and let him know how things work out?'
A youthful twinkle sparkled from his eyes and Neil smiled. 'Of course, Mr. Crocker. I'll let you know what happens.'
The glasses lowered like curtains on a stage and Mr. Crocker drifted off to sleep. Neil went back to the ladder and collected his tools. As he walked to the pump house he met another tenant.
'Excuse me.' It was a man, tall, with a pencil-thin mustache on his upper lip.
'Hello,' said Neil. The man was staring at him with a strange intensity. The man's face was wet with perspiration, he seemed nervous, tense.
'My name is Felix Nader. I live in that apartment right over there.' Felix pointed at the apartment right next to Helen's. As a matter of fact, their two patios were only separated by the tall fence between.
'Oh.' Neil had no idea what the man wanted. 'I was hoping we could talk. You see, I'm the person who took your photograph the other day when you saved the little girl.'
'Oh? That was you? I was wondering who took It. Gee, thank you. I'm very grateful,' said Neil.
Felix smiled. Neil was suddenly reminded of a cat, a feline, feminine pussy cat. The man wiped his hand nervously across his curly bush of hair and said, 'I made some copies of the original and wondered if you'd like one. They're much nicer than the newspaper prints.'
Neil nodded. 'Yessir, I would. My mom would be thrilled to have one.'
The smile came back. 'Fine. Then come along and I'll give you a couple.'
Felix's apartment was drab and dark even though the sun shone brilliantly outside. The kitchen was more darkroom than cooking area. Trays of chemicals, an enlarger, photo frames, and driers were placed on the sink and table. A line of cord ran across the room, with large photos clipped on it by means of clothespins.
'I use this as my darkroom,' said Felix. 'When I have a model I use the living room for shooting. It works out quite nicely, except my roommate is angry because of the mess.'
'You have a lot of equipment,' said Neil. 'Are you a professional?'
Felix's face puckered up proudly. 'Of course I am. As a matter of fact, I made myself some nice money with your photograph.'
'Oh.' Neil saw the large lights on tripod stands in the living room. Several cameras were on the shelf. The man was certainly prepared.
'I was shooting some photographs on my patio when I heard all the commotion. I peeked over the fence just in time to take the picture.' He held out an eight-by-ten-inch glossy photograph of Neil with the soaking girl. Isn't it divine? I hardly had time to make the setting, but it came out quite clear.'
'Yes, it did,' said Neil. The photograph was the clearest yet. His crotch, embarrassing bulge and all, was defined so well it looked alive.
'Here are two more. One for your mom, one for your wall, one for your girlfriend. Do you have a girlfriend?'
Felix was standing quite close and Neil felt uncomfortable His senses were telling him to pack up and get out fast. But he had to be polite. 'Uh… no, not really. No steady girl.'
The photographer's face fell with mock sadness. 'Oh, that's too bad.'
'Well, I better get back to work. I wouldn't want Mr. Walker catching me goofing off,' said Neil. He started for the patio door.
'One more thing,' said Felix. Neil could tell by the sinister lilt of the man's voice that he was about to learn the real reason for being enticed into the apartment He slowly turned around.
There it was. Not an eight-by-ten, but an eleven-by-fourteen-inch glossy photograph of extremely impressive quality. Neil gulped. Felix grinned his finest Cheshire grin. It was obvious the photographer didn't stop with only one photo that day.
Neil was staring at a photo of his bare ass. His own bare ass with the muscular, round buns seated deep between the wide-spread thighs of the grateful mother, Helen. Her head was tossed to the side and her ecstatic face was totally captured in living detail.
The next photo Felix proudly held up was from the same angle. This time Helen had one hand deeply Imbedded in the crack of his ass as she urged him in and out. Then he was shown three more pictures taken while his sperm was coating Helen's wonderful breasts. Both faces showed in these. Neil felt beads of sweat all over his body.
The final photographs were of Helen astride his wildly bucking body. They were magnificent, clearer than any he had ever seen. Too clear – their faces were in each one.
'I used my thirty-five millimeter for these,' Felix said. 'I'm thrilled with the way they came out'
'Listen,' said Neil. 'If her husband sees those she'll get in a lot of trouble. You shouldn't have taken them.'
'Oh? Yes, I guess you're right It would be a shame if he saw them. He'd be furious with her. He'd also probably kill you. He's a very big man said Felix.
Neil nodded. He was well aware of Helen's husband's size. 'Why did you take them?' he asked.
'Oh,' Felix grinned again, 'I'm doing a photo essay. You see, I was taking pictures before the girl almost drowned. Then I took them when you saved the girl. I decided I had to have some to show what happened afterward.'
'You did?'
'Absolutely.' Felix laid several more pictures on the table. They were all of Helen as she sunbathed in her yard. Neil realized why Felix was ready with his camera when he saved the little girl The skinny rat was taking pictures of Helen through the fence as she lay completely naked in the sun.
They were excellent also. Tremendous quality, frightening subject matter. 'What are you going to do with them?' asked Neil.
'Nothing,' said Felix. 'That is, if you do me a favor.
'Oh?'
'Yes. And if you don't, I'll see to it that one of these shots with you and her together happens to get to Helen's husband.'
'Oh no,' mumbled Neil.
'He'll be insane with anger. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes…'
'What's the favor?' asked Neil. He knew he was trapped. Felix had him by the balls. He hoped it wouldn't be something disgusting or impossible.
'Sit down.' Neil sat obediently. 'I want you to do some more modeling for me.'
'Yes?'
'Models are so damned expensive these days. I have one coming day after tomorrow, you'll like her. I want you to pose with her while I take some really good shots.'
'You mean… like those?' He pointed at the pie-hires of himself and Helen fucking.
The grin came back. 'Exactly.'
Neil swallowed. He wasn't too keen on having his photo done like that but he had little choice. 'Do I get the negatives of the ones with Helen?' he asked.
'No. But we'll burn them together if you like. I want to be sure they're destroyed, if you cooperate,' said Felix.
