'No… NO!' Celeste shouted, crying and writhing off the bed.
'Celeste… Celeste! What the hell is the matter?' Hope cried, reaching for the other girl.
'I can't… not now.'
'Why not now?'
'Because, goddammit, I'm scared, Hope. I'm scared to fucking death.'
Wiley called several times from Edie's apartment, with no answer. At her insistence, he let her blow him because she wanted to see what it felt like to have that much meat down her throat. After he came, he showered and left, promising her he would keep in touch.
Edie assured him that, because of his talent, the next time would be a freebie.
He killed a couple of hours around town, even going back to LaBelle's, trying to get a gay line on Holly Carpenter. No luck. It was dark when he headed back to the apartment.
At the corner he tried one last time from a pay phone. She picked it up on the third ring.
'Holly Carpenter?'
'Yes. Who's this?'
'That's not important, but my name's Wiley.'
'You're right, it's not important. Bye.'
'I wouldn't hang up if I were you. This is important.' He gave her the address of the apartment house and his apartment number. 'It's the one right next to Ginny Monet's.'
There was a long pause at the other end of the line, and her voice cracked when it came back. 'Yeah, so what? I don't know the neighborhood.'
'I think you do, and the house, and the apartment.' He paused, then mentioned the date.
Her breathing was suddenly heavy, rasping. Then, in a hushed whisper. 'Who is this?'
'Just a next door neighbor with big ears and big eyes.'
'That still doesn't tell me anything.'
'That's telling you plenty.'
'Okay. Wiley? You said Wiley, didn't you?'
'Yeah. Wiley.'
'What do you want?'
'I don't know yet.'
'I suppose you know that my family has money.'
He didn't, but he lied. 'I've checked a little. I'd like to see you.'
The voice was brittle. 'I'll bet you would.'
Wiley lowered his voice to a hissing rasp. 'Make it easy on yourself.'
'Okay, okay, don't get pissed. How about tomorrow at noon. You got the address?'
'I got it. You're in the book.'
'Noon. Tomorrow.' She hung up.
Wiley went through the book until he found her. He jotted down her address, then scanned the rest of the Carpenters. There were several but only one with a Nob Hill address: Jonathan Carpenter.
He dialed. The voice that answered was black. 'The folks is in Europe. This is the maid. I'm Ruby.'
'Hi, Ruby. I'm Jeff Smith down at the Chamber of Commerce. We're doing a little poll about important Bay area families.'
'Yeh?'
'Isn't Mr. Carpenter the one with Carpenter Industries?'
She laughed. 'Nah. I don't think the Judge got any industries.'
'The Judge. Well, well. And is his daughter the famous model?'
'Do models make a living?'
'Yes. Quite a good one,' Wiley said.
'Then Miss Holly ain't no model. Hell, she ain't made a livin' her whole life.'
'Thank you, Ruby. Very much.'
He was whistling as he went up the stairs. Trina came out of her apartment and saw him. 'You sound happy.'
'Yeah, maybe.'
'Then you must have gotten rich or satisfied.'
'Why do you say that?'
'Because, when a man looks and acts like you do now, it can only be because he's inherited a million dollars or gotten a great piece of ass. And you don't sound like anybody died.'
'How old are you, really?'
She laughed. 'Was she pretty?'
'So, so.'
'Too bad. I think Mom wanted to try you on tonight.'
'Jesus, Trina, I wish you…'
'I just call a spade a spade.'
Wiley sighed. 'Sure.' He stared at the door behind Trina. Her father was coming out. He looked up at Wiley with blurred eyes, mumbled something, and walked through the lobby, out the front door and down the front steps.
Wiley wondered if he drank all night. He wondered if the man ever drew a sober breath.
'Was she good?' Trina asked, interrupting his thoughts. 'As good as me?'
'Huh?'
'Don't tell me you spent the afternoon alone.'
Wiley scowled down at her, but that only made her giggle. He finally grinned and went up to his room. He guessed he couldn't really blame Trina with what she had to grow up with. She'd probably end up with a guy like her father, or on the hook, like Edie. And that would be a damn shame.
He shaved, showered and lay on the bed, nude. It was ten-thirty. He hoped he could sleep. Tomorrow was going to be one hell of a big day.
The shower had done him some good. His body didn't feel so tired. He heard the door opening and drew a sheet over the lower part of his body. It was Laura Fine. She frowned at him.
'Is something wrong?' he asked.
'Well…'
'What is it?'
'Is Trina here?'
'No. I just saw her downstairs in the lobby a few minutes ago. She-must be around somewhere.'
'I don't know what I'm going to do with that girl.' She hesitated.
'You can look around if you want to,' Wiley said. 'She isn't here.'
Her attitude softened. 'Oh, I believe you.' She moved into the room. 'Were you napping?'
'No. Just resting.'
'I didn't want to disturb you.'
'You're not. Come on in.' He sat up, his chest bare.
She closed the door and advanced into the room. She eyed his naked chest hungrily and Wiley remembered the visit of the other night. She had been very obliging. She sat on the edge of the bed.
Laura had on a loose sun dress, cut low in front and back. A good portion of her big breasts were bare. She crossed her knees and a foot of thigh showed. Wiley knew she was doing it deliberately, but he was damn tired.
Then he remembered how she had gobbled his dick the previous night and wondered if she were there to do it again. The thought made his cock swell under the thin sheet.
'I overheard you and Trina in the hall. Are you tired because of this afternoon's woman?'
When he hesitated, she giggled and said, 'None of my business, of course. You're young and handsome. I guess the girls go for you.' She passed her hand over his chest and the touch thrilled him. Even though he was tired, there was something very sexy about his landlady. Laura had good heavy breasts and a full woman's body. Her forefinger pushed against his nipple. She looked at him with baited breath. 'I bet you think I'm forward.'
