Bad Company by P A Duncan

Author:P A Duncan [Duncan, P A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781728911243
Publisher: Unexpected Paths
Published: 2018-12-07T22:00:00+00:00

When Alexei emerged from Lewis’ office, Charlene waited for him in a hallway. She said nothing and looked away as she took his arm.

“Well, honey, you must have done just fine,” she said. “I’m taking you to a cozy little guest house nearby. You’ll get a good night’s sleep. I can help you with that.”

Her voice was flat, no intonation.

They walked through the good-sized house and exited to the rear via French doors. In the moonlight, Alexei made out a small cottage about twenty yards away.

At the cottage’s door, Charlene took a key from her jeans and unlocked the door. She went in first and turned on the lights. Eyes alert for anything, Alexei entered.

The cottage was one large room encompassing a kitchenette and a living room with a fireplace and an oversized sofa. Off the living room was a good-sized bathroom, which he spotted through its open door.

“It’ll do for tonight,” Charlene said. “The sofa opens up into a bed, and the fireplace is nice.” She went to the fireplace and pressed the igniter. Flames sprang up, giving the stark room some coziness. Charlene came up to Alexei and rubbed his arms. “I need to welcome you properly,” she said. “I know you said you had this war wound, but there are lots of ways to make love.”

Boizhe moi, he thought, does she believe this crap.

Her arms circled his neck and pulled his face down to hers. When he felt the tip of her tongue try to part his lips, he broke the kiss. He took her hands from his neck but held onto them. “I lie about war wound,” he said.

Her smile trembled. “Well. Good.”

“You must understand. It is my wife.”

“You’re married?”

“Not now. She was army nurse captured by Mujahideen. Things they did to her. Unspeakable things. She… She died in my arms.”

Tears pooled and fell from Charlene’s eyes, and he didn’t care if they were sincere if it put her off this seduction scene.

“You must think I’m a harlot,” she said.

“No, no, it is… I hold her memory sacred.”

“And you don’t want to be unfaithful to her memory.”

“Yes, is truth.” That was lame enough she might buy it.

“That is so beautiful. I respect you so much for that.”

He imagined Mai’s hoot of laughter when he would tell her about this. “I am sorry to disappoint,” he said.

“No problem, honey. I won’t dishonor anything so beautiful.”

Something passed over her eyes. Relief? It was so fleeting, he couldn’t read it for certain.

“You get some rest,” she said. “Tomorrow’s a big day.”

“Spaceba. Thank you.”

“Check out what’s on the counter. I’ll be back in the morning to wake you up. Good night.”

She left him alone, and in some haste.

A box on the counter contained the promised gun, extra magazines, and boxes of ammo. Alexei loaded a magazine and shoved it into the gun. He chambered a round and went to the sofa. He lay down in his clothes, gun cradled in the crook of one arm. He stared into the fire until he slept.

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