Some Degree of Murder

Thursday, April 15 th 1611 hrs 507 West Corbin

TOWER

I heard the arguing in the backyard when I was half way up the walk. I couldn’t make out the words, so I veered off the walkway and around the side of the house. I loosened my tie and slipped out of my jacket.

The wooden fence groaned when I opened the gate and stepped into the back yard. The arguing ceased. Ben was seated in a lawn chair, a book in his hand. I saw his wheelchair at the back porch. Teri sat in a small kiddie pool, facing Ben, who was studiously ignoring her.

“What’s going on here?” I asked. “The neighbors called in a DV.”

Teri smiled, but Ben’s eyes were fixed to the paperback on his lap and his shoulders hunched over protectively.

“You deaf there, Benjamin?”

“He’s just mad,” Teri told me. “You’re home early.”

I turned my gaze to her. She sat comfortably in the small, blue kiddie pool. The water was to her waist. She wore a swimsuit bottom and a T-shirt. Her hair and shirt were both wet and I could plainly see her breasts outlined by the thin cotton of the shirt. I was suddenly grateful for the sunglasses on my face.

“I took off early. Why’s he mad?”

“Because I want him to have some fun and enjoy the weather.” She removed her hand from the pool and flicked water in Ben’s direction. He ignored her. “It’s not like we get weather this good this early very often.”

“It’s not going to last. I can feel a good rain coming.”

I watched her flick more water at Ben.

“Well,” she said, “I just thought it might be good for Ben — “

Another flick of water, and a sly smile from her.

“-to experience a little real life. He’s been spending too much time on that computer with his new game.”

Ben closed his book and looked up at her, then over at me.

“Just because I don’t want to go swimming in arctic weather is no reason to splash me.” With that, he turned back to his book.

Teri eyed him for a few moments, then raised both hands from the water and gave him a double flick.

“Teri!” Ben yelled.

“Ben!” she yelled back and broke into laughter.

Ben struggled not to laugh, but Teri’s laughter was so real and so infectious he didn’t have a chance. I found myself grinning as I watched them.

Ben turned to me suddenly and asked, “Uncle John, can we order some pizza tonight?”

“Sure.”

“Can Teri stay?”

“If she wants.”

He turned back to her and she shrugged. “Sure. If grumpy buns here is willing to smile, I guess I can be talked into some pizza.”

She stood in the pool. The water streamed off of her and the T-shirt clung to her body like a second skin. I admired the flat of her belly and curve of her hip. She smoothed her hair back into a ponytail and squeezed out the water. When she pulled the shirt tight and wrung water out of it, I wondered if she were doing it on purpose.

I tore my gaze away from her and headed for the back door.

“You want to call in the order, John?” she asked.

I stopped and turned to face her. She stood in the pool, her shirt still pasted to her body, facing me and smiling. Unabashed. Or innocent. Hell, I couldn’t tell which.

“Pepperoni?”

She nodded, then tilted her head and smiled at me. “Extra cheese?”

“You got it.”

Her smile broadened in thanks. Then she flicked more water at Ben with her foot.

I turned and headed in the back door.