Chapter Thirty-Four
Shimmering shadows twisted and tugged and appeared as skeletal hands, ripping Isobel’s dress and clawing at her skin as she forced her way down the narrow stairway. Suddenly naked, she stumbled and fell headlong as between her thighs a snake with two heads coiled itself around her, before sinking its blood red fangs into her. As she thrashed and kicked, the bonds of the slimy skin became the coldness of a damp sheet, and she awoke with her body wet from her own sweat. She pulled her limbs away from the covers that bound her, and groped for the lamp beside her bed, knocking it to the floor. Other than the dim red glow of the digital clock, blackness engulfed her.
Fully awake now, a conflicting mix of sexual energy and primal fear gripped her, and she struggled to make sense of her confusion. She shivered at the recollection of the fight in El Cajon; of the lust-filled leer the two thugs had given her, of what had happened, and of what so nearly might have happened. The drama had shattered her image of Lance, and changed irrevocably her feelings towards him, of that she could be sure. But whether it had made her more drawn to him, or repelled by him, she did not know.
She pulled the bedclothes tight around her, willing sleep to reclaim her, but saw only Lance’s steely features. The man had demonstrated himself to be far from the idle dilettante she had first imagined, and she feared what he might be capable of. He would have pulled the trigger and taken a human life without a moment’s hesitation, and with all the detachment of a hired assassin. The image of a gun filled her mind, encased in Lance’s strong hand. Her fingers edged down her tingling skin, onto her belly, and twirled through the triangle of curls below. As they inched inexorably onwards, into the wetness between her legs, she heard again the deafening blast as a bullet left a barrel, and cordite filled her nostrils. She could not hide from the charge of electricity that ran through her veins. Her release came in a shuddering rush, quicker than she could ever remember. She turned on her side, her body tranquil but her mind still full of uncertainties, until eventually she drifted back into sleep.
By the time the sun rose over the bay, dilemma had been replaced by resolve. Whatever grief or joy lay ahead, she determined she would meet it head on rather than let her fears and doubts fester inside. With a newfound confidence that she could be master of her own destiny, she sent a text to Lance asking if he had any free time that morning to catch up for coffee and he replied straight away, asking if she could be in La Jolla around mid-morning.
She made a pot of tea and took it into Maria. Placing it carefully on the bedside table she practically bounced onto the bed, waking her friend in the process.
“It’s a beautiful morning, Maria, we shouldn’t waste it.”
Maria pulled herself up on her pillow, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “What time is it?”
“It doesn’t matter what the time is, the sun is shining and the birds are singing, we need to be up and out and enjoy the day.”
“Lance has been on the phone and asked you to marry him?”
Isobel wiggled onto the side of the bed, perching comfortably next to the tea.
“He has done no such thing. But I am meeting him in three hours for a coffee, so I thought we’d make an early start.”
“If you’ve any thought of going for a bike ride—”
Isobel interrupted her with a genuine laugh. “No, I thought we’d go shopping as we planned, but up to Fashion Valley, which will fit in well with meeting Lance.”
Maria took a sip of her tea. “How did all this come about? Are we not now going to the baseball?”
“Nothing has changed. You’ll still get the chance to pose and pout in front of forty thousand people. I simply messaged Lance and he’s free for an hour.”
“Wasn’t that somewhat impulsive of you? Wouldn’t it be better to wait and see if Arnie’s guys come up with something today rather than risk making a fool of yourself?”
“I have no intention of making a fool of myself. It was I who called Lance; if I let anything happen he would think I was throwing myself at him. But neither do I intend to sit on my hands worrying about what the research boys may or may not discover.”
Maria reached out and touched her thigh. “Sounds like you’re finally beginning to work out what and who it is you want. Unless you just have your mind on fun, that is.”
Isobel stood, lifting the tray with her. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we. Lance has been very kind and he has been messaging me to see him. It’s only right that I should be polite back. But the only thing we’ll be doing today is having a coffee.”
They spent an hour together browsing through the Fashion Valley mall before Isobel took her leave.
“If you have the opportunity to do something foolish,” said Maria, “and I’m not talking about having a double eggnog, then don’t worry about me. There are enough shops here to keep me well occupied all day. But if you aren’t back by two, I’ll feel free to take a taxi back if I choose.”
“I will be back long before then,” said Isobel, “I promise you.”
“Is that what you had in mind when you chose that glove of a dress this morning? It is, how shall I put this, somewhat daring.”
“It was the first thing that came to hand. You don’t think it’s too obvious, do you?” said Isobel, vainly tugging at the neckline to cover her cleavage.
“For a coffee house in La Jolla?” said Maria with a dismissive wave of her hand. “You’ll blend right in with the beans.” She gave Isobel a kiss, the acceptance of her own weaknesses reflected in her eyes. “You’re a big girl. Do whatever your heart tells you, even if it’s just for a day.”