Box

46

Dr. Gideon Box.

I’ve gone through a lot of emotions over the past twenty-four hours. Heard good things, weird things, bad things. Learning I was about to be hung was the worst, hands down. I mean, literally, my hands were down, cuffed behind my back. So that was the worst.

A close second was learning I’m not the first guy Trudy’s fence-kissed.

Worse, according to her own sister, Trudy’s blown other guys at the very same fence.

And here I thought I was special.

I come out of the shower, dejected.

Renee sees it. She can tell my mood has shifted.

“I’m here for you, Gideon,” she says.

I grab my clothes from the sink as I pass her, heading to the bed. I sit, put my socks on, then stand and finish dressing.

“Can I ask you a question?” she asks.

I raise a palm. “Why not?”

“What happened to your neck?”

Something in the way she asked the question makes me do a double-take.

I can’t explain how, but I do believe Renee knows her Daddy had something to do with the rope burn around my neck.

“You just noticed that?” I say.

“Of course not! I noticed it right off. I think you might have a permanent mark there.”

Now I have two lovely thoughts. The woman I love gives blowjobs at the dumpster, and her father gives permanent rope-burn tattoos.

There’s a knock at the door.

“Room service!” a voice calls out from the hall.

I notice Renee’s still naked from the waist down.

She backs into the bathroom and closes the door. I let him in, he sets up the food, and leaves. When Renee comes out I can tell she’s been crying.

“What’s wrong?”

“This is all going badly,” she says.

“What is?”

“Our date.”

I nod.

“It’s all because of her!” she says.

“Who?”

“Trudy.”

She’s right. But I say, “That’s not true. It’s just that I had a horrible time at the police station earlier.”

“Oh my God!” she says. “You’re right! I was so excited to see you, I never asked what happened!”

I wave her off.

“It’s not that big a deal.”

“Of course it is! You were a suspect in an armed robbery! I can’t believe I never asked about your experience. I’m a horrible girlfriend. Truly horrible!”

“Don’t be silly.”

“Here’s what we’re going to do,” she says, walking around the bed. “You’ve got a fine dinner here. We’ll sit together, have some wine. You’ll tell me all about your afternoon at the police station, while enjoying your meal.”

She leans down, lifts her purse from the floor, places it on the bed in front of her.

I say, “Can I be honest, Renee?”

“Of course, darling.”

“You’re a sweet girl, and the last thing I want to do is offend you.”

“But?”

“I’m afraid I’ve lost my appetite.”

She smiles. “Nonsense! You haven’t eaten all afternoon, you said so yourself. We’re going to have a nice quiet evening and you’re going to relax and enjoy your dinner.”

“No, I’m sorry. I’m just not in the mood.”

She pulls a gun from her purse, points it at me, then cocks it.

“I insist,” she says.