I'm a fool to kill you

SIXTEEN

The phone call had caused Ava to stir. I figured she was close to waking up, so I called the desk and asked for the food to be delivered to the room. The knock at the door when Randy arrived did what the phone couldn’t do. As I was setting the food on the table, Ava came out of the bedroom, rubbing her face.

‘Eddie?’

‘That’s me,’ I said.

‘I–I thought it was a fucking dream.’

‘Nope,’ I said. ‘I’m here. You hungry?’

‘No,’ she said, as if the thought of food made her sick, ‘I have a fucking headache and I need a shower.’

‘OK,’ I said, ‘have a shower, and then you can at least have some coffee.’

‘Coffee,’ she said. ‘OK, that doesn’t sound too bad. I’ll be right out.’

I nodded, and she went back into the bedroom, leaving the door open. Next I heard the shower turn on and — despite my best efforts — I couldn’t help imagining Ava under the spray, soaping herself.

I set the food out on the table, a burger-and-fries platter and a full steak dinner, as I had ordered. I didn’t know which one I would eat. I figured once Ava came out of the shower she’d be hungry, and I planned to let her have her choice.

I had a cup of coffee while I waited, trying to drown out the sound of the water. Even if Ava was in trouble, why would somebody have wanted to jump me? I’d only just come on the scene. I didn’t even know anything yet.

I carried my coffee cup to the front window and looked out. Was there somebody still lurking out there? It was getting dark. What would they do when they had the cover of darkness to help them?

I heard the water go off, so I walked to the coffee pot and poured out a cup. Ava came out of the bedroom wearing a silk robe tightly belted at her waist. Her hair was wet, skin still damp, which made the silk do interesting things to her body. I could easily tell that her nipples were not only large, but dark.

I was in better shape when she was in the shower. At least I could try to block the images from my mind. There was no blocking out the way she looked in that robe.

I handed her the coffee.

‘Thank you.’ She sipped it. ‘Suddenly I’m a bit hungry.’

I lifted the covers from both trays.

‘Burger or steak?’ I asked.

‘Believe it or not, I’m a burger-and-fries girl,’ she said. ‘My rural upbringing.’

‘Burger it is, then,’ I said, moving the plate over in front of her as she sat down. I sat and pulled the steak plate in front of me. I didn’t care for brussels sprouts, but the baked potato looked good.

I poured two glasses of cold water.

‘I suppose you called Frank?’ she asked.

‘I spoke to him.’

‘Is he coming?’

‘Uh, no,’ I said. When I saw her face fall I added, ‘I told him not to.’

‘Why the hell not?’

‘Because something’s going on,’ I said, ‘and I want to find out what it is before I give Frank the all clear.’

‘You’re protecting him?’

‘I hope I’m protecting us all,’ I said.

‘From what?’ she asked.

‘That’s what I’m hoping you’ll tell me.’

She lifted the burger and bit into it — a real bite, not a dainty lady bite. Even without make-up she was easily the most beautiful woman I had ever seen eat a hamburger.

I picked up my knife and fork and cut a hunk of steak. It was a bit chewy. I’d had much better at the Sands.

‘Ava?’

‘Why do you want to get yourself involved in my problems, Eddie?’ she asked, wearily.

‘Because I want to help you.’

‘Because Frank asked you?’

‘That’s part of it.’

‘What’s the other part?’

‘Maybe it’s because I fell in love with you when I saw One Touch of Venus,’ I said, ‘or it could be the shower scene in Mogambo.’

She finished chewing, swallowed and smiled.

‘Is any of that fucking true?’

‘Well,’ I said, ‘maybe the Mogambo part.’

‘Everybody fell in love with Grace Kelly in that movie,’ she said.

‘Oh, not everybody,’ I said. ‘Definitely not me.’

She popped a French fry in her mouth and said, ‘You’re sweet.’

‘And you’re being evasive.’

‘I’m not,’ she said. ‘I’m trying to eat.’ She took one more bite of the hamburger and then put it down with an air of finality.

‘Jesus, I must look a fucking sight,’ she said, suddenly.

‘Ava-’

She stood up.

‘I have to get dressed and put my face on,’ she said. She headed for the bedroom.

‘What about your burger?’

‘You finish it.’

The steak wasn’t getting any better so I grabbed her burger and took a bite. Well done. I put it down. I had a couple of fries, wondering if she had any reason to go out a window. Or maybe there were French doors from the bedroom.

Why would Ava run from me?