Gray Days and Wicked Ways, page 27
part #4 of Layton Shayne Mystery Series
“That’s early,” Alex said. “Shiloh Key is only four hours away—I looked it up Online.”
“There will be a crowd,” Sassy said. “The newest rumor is they may close the road into the key if it gets too crowded, so we need to be there early.”
“And I agreed to lightly patrol the beach area where Chip and I will be camping with his schoolmates,” Forrest said.
“Well, we’d better get some shut-eye,” I said.
ALEX AND I WERE back in our room before Forrest, who was seeing to Chip. We needed to pack after telling Chip good night. Alex gave me a hug when I’d undressed and was just in my underwear.
“That was a nice dinner,” Alex said. “And very filling.”
“I wonder what we’ll do to work off some of those calories,” I said.
“The first thing we need to do is pack,” Alex said. “By then Forrest will be back and who knows what’ll happen then.”
“Oh, I know, but I’m not telling,” I said.
We were still packing when Forrest walked into the room.
“God I’m stuffed,” Forrest said.
“And here I was thinking you need a good stuffing,” I said. We all laughed and continued packing.
“It just hit me,” Alex said. “We’re going on a treasure hunt tomorrow… a freakin’ treasure hunt. How crazy is that?”
“Compared to what we’ve been through, not crazy at all,” Forrest said. “Layton, we need to talk to Callum or someone about leaving our cars here while we’re gone.”
“Let me get dressed then I’ll go talk to him,” I said. “You two do not have my permission to start anything while I’m gone. Wait for me.”
“OK, bossy,” Alex said.
He chuckled and I kissed him, then Forrest.
I THREW ON SOME shorts, a tank top, and my flip-flops and went back to the main building to look for Callum. He was sitting in a rocker on the porch next to Dewey.
“That was some good grub tonight,” I said as I walked onto the porch.
“Hell yeah it was,” Dewey said.
“Jimmy’s packing up the leftovers,” Callum said. “He’s gonna bring a bag of goodies to your room, so you won’t starve at the key.”
“Thanks,” I said. “We’re gonna all be hitchin’ a ride with one of Forrest’s friends. Do you have a place we can move our cars to that’ll be out of the way?”
“Sassy already moved her sweet Mustang to the back lot,” Dewey said. “Forrest can move his cop car right up here. Keeps people in line to see a police car in front of a place.”
“That sounds good,” I said. “I see you’re already thinking like a manager.”
“Leave me your truck key, Layton,” Callum said. “I’ll do some work on it while you’re gone. Maybe make a few special additions as my way of showing my thanks.”
“There’s no need for that, brother,” I said.
“Don’t be so quick to say that,” Dewey said. “Callum will do you right, and in your line of business it’s not like you can’t use some of his goods.”
My curiosity was up and I replied to Dewey. “Goods like what blew up those two cop cars in front of your street might be a nice gift after all.”
“You didn’t tell us you were a mind reader too,” Callum said. We laughed and he continued. “Things are liable to get batshit crazy at the key, brother.”
“I think I’d almost be disappointed if they didn’t,” I said.
“By the way—speaking of shit and brothers,” Callum said, “Jack survived the bullet and the fall, but he’ll be a vegetable for the rest of his life. He can’t move or even talk, just sits there drooling. He’s been put in a home where my mom plans to go visit him.”
“Damn… that’s something,” I said, not really knowing what else to say. “What does your mom think about what happened?”
“She said she knows my brother’s a bad sort but the bad folks are the ones who need prayers the most,” Callum said. “There’s no denying what my brother did, even Mom admits that, but he’s still her son and if she can she’ll work on trying to help him redeem his soul.”
We were silent, then Natasha walked out of the main building, stood next to Dewey, and spoke.
“Were you able to read my handwriting on the note I gave you at the auction, Layton?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” I said. “It’s sort of cryptic though. An X marking the spot would be slightly more helpful.”
“Unfortunately there was no other writing on the map,” Natasha said. “But, I’m sure what I translated was a hint as to the location of the treasure.”
We all talked some more about the key, the inn, and other things. Before I left, Jimmy and Frankie came out and brought me two large bags of leftovers.
WHEN I GOT BACK to my room, our luggage was by the door and ready to go.
“Everything’s packed, Layton,” Alex said, standing in front of me naked. “Can you wear what you have on tomorrow?”
“Yeah,” I said, then put the groceries in the fridge, stripped out of my clothes, and put them on the table neatly. I had my arms around Alex when Forrest walked out of the bathroom. He headed our way and we opened our arms to let him in. We got in bed and Forrest started to chuckle.
“Why don’t we help the newlywed groom out some more, and not worry about being too quiet about things tonight,” Forrest said.
“Is that what you knew would happen?” Alex said to me.
“It’s exactly what I knew would happen,” I said. “Forrest and I share the same brain sometimes.”
“At the very least, your minds go to the same places,” Alex said, then squeezed me and Forrest . “You two definitely have a kinky side.”
The next morning we woke up groggily, and were like sleepwalkers getting ready for the day. Forrest showered first, then Alex and I showered together. After dressing, the three of us carried the luggage and food downstairs. Sassy was waiting by the curb with her luggage. She was dressed in a halter top, shorts, and high wedges.
“Good morning,” Sassy said, then yawned. “I took the liberty of grabbing some individually wrapped cheese danishes for all of us from the breakfast room.” She shook the plastic grocery bag in her hands.
“If you’ll watch our stuff, Alex and I will get some cups of juice,” I said. “Unless you’d prefer coffee.”
“Orange juice is fine,” Sassy said.
“I’d better get Chip,” Forrest said, then turned and almost bumped into Leticia who was carrying a very sleepy Chip, who was dressed in Scooby-Doo pajamas.
“I couldn’t manage his suitcase and him,” Leticia said.
Before Forrest could get Chip, I snuck in front of him and took Chip from Leticia. He stirred for a moment, put his arms around my neck, and fell asleep.
Forrest kissed the back of Chip’s head then spoke. “I’ll get his things.”
“Good luck at Shiloh Key,” Leticia said, then went back to her room with Forrest.
“Thanks, bye,” we all said in unison.
“Did you find out who the mystery friend of Forrest’s is?” Sassy said.
“I didn’t,” Alex said. “Did you, Layton?”
“My mind was on other things… and other people,” I said and grinned.
“You can’t blame the Diony effect for that anymore,” Sassy said and smiled. “Of course you don’t exactly need Diony anything with those two hunks of yours. I only hope whoever’s driving has a vehicle large enough to hold all our junk.”
Chapter 45
Heading Out
WHILE ALEX AND Sassy went to get our juice, a large SUV parked in front of me and I spotted a familiar face.
“Hello again, stranger,” I said.
“Hi,” Charity said. She walked toward me dressed in a short, spaghetti strap sundress and sandals. Her long blonde hair was loose. “I heard you were in need of a Russian translator.” She gently hugged me, kissed my cheek, then the top of Chip’s head.
“I was in Aurora at an overnight women’s retreat when Linus texted to let me know you needed my skills—not that Russian is my best language.”
“I’m sure it’s better than mine,” I said. “I don’t know one word of Russian.”
“Hi,” Charity said, then walked over to Forrest who just returned. “I guess we’d better start packing up the beast.”
The beast was an apt name for the enormous SUV, but at least there would be enough room for all of us.
I laid Chip down in the back seat while Forrest and I loaded the bags in the rear of the vehicle.
“If we pack things right, Chip can sleep in the back,” Charity said. “I have a blanket there and the space gets plenty of air from the vents above the backseats.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Forrest said. “I was glad when Linus told me you were driving his SUV.”
“It’s a stroke of luck that I drove this instead of my vehicle,” Charity said.
With Charity’s help, we managed to prepare a nice, cozy space for Chip while arranging the bags so none of them would fall on him.
“Where’s your bag, Charity?” I said.
“I already moved all my clothes and Linus’s to the court,” Charity said. “This dress is all I have on me, so it will have to do. However, I’ve always taken my granny’s advice—she told me to keep a clean pack of panties in the car in case of emergencies. And I have a new pack of clean panties in the SUV.”
“Heck, that’s all you really need, isn’t it?” I said.
“Charity,” Alex said when he and Sassy returned with the juice. “Are you our Russian expert?”
“Expert may be too strong a word, but that would be me.”
After getting Chip situated in the back section of the SUV—with Forrest’s help, I returned to the group.
“I can’t believe I forgot that Charity and Linus knew several languages,” I said.
“You’ve had other things and people on your mind,” Sassy said and chuckled.
“Who wants to drive?” Charity said.
“I’ll drive,” Forrest said. “I’ve got a trick up my sleeve should we need to use it.” He shook a large bag he was holding.
“Alrighty then,” Charity said. “We ready to go?”
Charity, Alex, and Sassy sat in the back while Forrest and I were in the front.
“Is everyone buckled up?” Forrest said.
“Yes,” everyone said.
“Then let’s head out on a new adventure,” Forrest said, then he started the SUV and we drove away from the inn. I only wished there were no gray clouds up above.
Contact the author
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About the Author
Gerald was called to write at various times in his life. When he was young, the writing consisted of plays and short stories. Then he explored the fine arts and literature, earning a bachelor’s degree in the latter while minoring in art history. In his studies he was fascinated by and enjoyed analyzing characters, their personalities and motivations. To him it’s always been the characters who make a story special. Once again writing has taken hold of him. In the past it was just an amusement, but now—for him—writing is a passion to live, eat, and breathe.
Other Books by Gerald Lopez
Dueling Divas (an Avondale Story)
Murder, mayhem, and love all find their way into The Next Club Superstar singing contest.
Dead Men Tell Tales (a New Eden Tale)
A contemporary tale of murder, ghosts, and romance set out West.
Blue Light By Night (a Layton Shayne Mystery)
A supernatural mystery set in a small town in Louisiana. Also, first book in a series.
For Love Of: Tangi
A heartwarming and often funny story of a young man’s coming-out and finding true love.
Green Eyes Cry, You Die (a Layton Shayne Mystery)
More supernatural suspense. This time, Layton Shayne must locate a green-eyed statue that has the power to create zombies
Miss Lucy and the Pussy Brigade (Miss Lucy Case Files #1)
First spin-off from the Layton Shayne Mysteries. Hilarious read involving the supernatural, crazy agents, and a bunch of cats.
All Queers Must Die
In a world where no one is who they seem to be and everybody has secrets… how do you find the truth? Bart Farrow is a man determined to get to the truth of what is going on in Maynard Shores.
Lost Bitches: an Abel Kane Mystery
Private detective Abel Kane is on the case. And he is willing and able to do what it takes to get the job done. What starts off as a seemingly simple dognapping case turns into much more when the mob, a pretty female call girl, and several hunky men get involved.
For Love of: Colt
Colt and Tangi are in love and they’ve survived being crowned homecoming kings. But if they’re expecting the craziness in their lives to settle down—they couldn’t be more wrong. Even though members of Colt’s football team, the cheerleaders, and the entire high school become involved in the couple’s romance, Tangi and Colt persevere. And Tangi stands strong when the time is called for him to do so. All… for love of Colt.
Black Hearts Dance
Detective Layton Shayne and his partner Alex are back, and working on a new case. While out with friends, the two catch the eye of a mysterious older woman who hires Layton to investigate the hauntings on her estate, Carson Court. Not only is Layton intrigued… he also feels compelled to take the job. New surprises greet him and Alex at every corner as they meet the hunks and mysterious citizens living in and around Carson Court. Layton knows to listen to his instincts, but this time could that lead to trouble of a supernatural nature in a house with a dark past and secrets desperate to come out?
Gerald Lopez, Gray Days and Wicked Ways
