Chapter 29 – On the trail

The following morning, I was woken by my hostess entering the bedroom carrying a laden tray.

“You’re awake at last. I’ve brought us breakfast and most importantly coffee. You must have been exhausted, darling. Last night you fell asleep in my arms.” These words were accompanied by a reproachful moue of disappointment across her lovely features.

“What?”

My memory of events was hazy, but clearly, my bedfellow had not been satisfied by my performance, whatever that had been. I tried to remember what had ensued when we had lain down together.

“Sorry” I stammered.

“Oh, it’s fine” she spoke in a forgiving tone, then archly, “It was after our second time, after all. Darling, I never would have put you down as such a tiger. I was well rewarded for my vigil.”

I had no recollection… I must have looked my confusion for amid peals of laughter she teased “Your face! It’s okay. I’m teasing. Actually, when we got to bed, I began to stroke your neck to relax you, and you went out like a light. And that, my angel, was that. I tried everything legitimate that I knew but you were beyond rousing.”

I coloured scarlet at the ideas with which her disclosure was filling my mind.

“All the same” she continued. “I’ll be expecting you to compensate me this morning. I’m just itching to get my hands on that big round ass of yours.” Gloria accompanied this sentiment with another of the archest of looks.

“Don’t fret!” she concluded. “We will soon have the house to ourselves. It’s Millie’s day off and she’s just going.” She grinned mischievously.
“And… I want to climax at least twice before we’ve done!”

As if to verify her words the noise of an external door closing came in through the window, whose sash was ajar and whose drapes had been drawn aside. This was followed by the sounds of a car being readied for a journey. I slipped from under the covers and evading my hostess’s anticipating arms crossed the room to see what was going on.

As I watched, a vehicle emerged from the back of the house and headed past my window to the exit gates. I caught a glimpse of the maid’s figure behind the wheel. Then it was gone.

I turned to see Gloria eyeing me lustfully. “There, you see!” she pouted. “Now we’re finally alone. Darling, it’s just you and me.”

“Does Millie always go out on her day off?” I asked, curious to know more.

“Almost always.”

“And that’s her car?”

“Yes, that old grey station wagon, but don’t bother your head about it. Come! It’s time for us to continue… getting better acquainted.”

“No. I need to know. Where does she go?” My voice betrayed the sense of urgency I felt. My subconscious mind had somehow performed the feat which logic had denied me. Suddenly I understood the reason for the last look I had seen on Jocasta’s face, a look of triumph.

“Darling, this is silly. Who cares where the woman takes herself off to? Darling…?”

“It’s the key to the whole thing!” I exclaimed. “I have to go there.”

“No! You can’t. You mustn’t.” Then seeing the determined look on my face. “Really?”

“Yes, really, now. Better still, we’ll both go. There’s something I think you should see too.”

I began hurriedly retrieving my clothes. I was doubtful whether we would be in time. It took some serious persuasion to convince Gloria, but she acquiesced in the end. I had to make the concession that first we did justice to the breakfast she had brought and which as she repeatedly pointed out, had prepared with her own hands. More than an hour passed before we were dressed and on the road; minutes which I felt we could ill spare.

While I was waiting for Gloria to finish readying herself, I took the opportunity to make a phone call. I wanted to learn what secrets my raid on Midas’s office had laid bare, if any. My conversation with Guy was revelatory. At last, the tangled mystery showed signs of beginning to unravel.

Once we got going I drove fast and as I did, I filled Gloria in on some of the details; enough to get her to take our expedition a trifle more seriously. Up until then she had been disposed to regard the whole thing as some sort of game. The road before us began to climb into the hills, the change in scenery prompting cries of recognition from my passenger. It wasn’t long before she had guessed our ultimate destination.

“Oh, how precious! Darling, you are taking me to visit my old home. I have never been back since we moved away. I always thought it would be too painful to return there, but today I feel good about it. I’m so excited at the thought of seeing the place after all this time.”

When we arrived at the little town I took the same old road up to the ranch as before. I drove past the building and drew to a halt fifty yards farther up the hill. “It might be better if you wait here” I suggested to my companion. “I ought to check how the land lies.”

“Fine!” smiled my companion. “I’ll just stay and take in the sights, shall I? Actually, it would be no hardship. I’ll always love this view, but I’m coming with you.”

With her mirth ringing in my ears, we set off back down the road. I was undecided how I was going to play the coming interview. Perhaps I had better have insisted I come alone. Having Gloria as back-up gave me little moral support. Though I’d made Guy aware of what I was intending, I felt very vulnerable as we made our way down, accompanied only by the sound of our footsteps on the moist gravel.

I reached the gate and careful to make as little sound as possible I unlatched it and we slipped inside. A finger to my lips served to warn Gloria of the need for silence. A necessary precaution, I told myself, though there was no sign of life, but as I approached closer several vehicles came into view, parked at the side of the house. Their presence advertised the likelihood that more than one visitor would be within.

A grey station wagon certainly betrayed the identity of one of the callers and the sight reassured me that my guesswork had been accurate. There was also a battered looking pick-up of uncertain vintage, but what drew my eye was a sleek black Camaro which was clearly brand new. The Chevy looked entirely out of place against the woe-begone dwelling by which it had been parked.

The house appeared ramshackle and neglected. In the gentle breeze, the screen door banged to and fro as if to emphasise the dilapidated condition of its parent. Up close, however the dwelling seemed solid enough. It was not likely to fall down just yet. With as much confidence as I could muster, I stepped ahead of my client onto the front porch. The door to the interior was open.

“Hello!” I called. “Is anybody there? Hello!”

There was no response. I called again and waited. There was still no answer. I waited some more then cautiously stepped inside. Looking suitably anxious, Gloria followed tentatively, though she had less of an inkling than I as to what lay before us.

I found I had entered some kind of lobby. Dust was everywhere and it was evident that a colony of spiders had been busy in the corners. The occupant clearly didn’t believe in cleaning. Various doors led off from the passage, and I glanced from one to another, checking for any signs of activity. Listening carefully, a murmur of voices could be discerned from one of the rooms at the far end. Its door was only closed over, so I plumped for that to be the one to try.

I tiptoed forward and pulled the door wide. To my astonished gaze an individual came into view. It was… it had to be… a familiar figure, but not as I had seen her before.

Millie!