TRUSTED LIKE THE FOX

chapter 5

A lot had happened in the week that followed; wedding planning, wedding ceremony, and being surrounded by a number of rich and expensively dressed dudes made me feel completely out of place and wished that the earth would open and swallow me up.

Delphina didn't seem to care. She seemed to fit in with the luxurious way of life.

I was glad when everything was finally done, put my game face on and get back to the plan and hoped Delphina had done the same because I had only remained with a week and within that week I had to execute my plan before Perry threw me out.

That monday morning, as I lay in my bed, looking out of the window. I thought about Sentinel. It's stinking cell room, and its brutal guards seemed a remote nightmare. I was fairly certain now that I had become a lost man to the police.

Although it had been a week and I hadn't spoken to Delphina, I still found her disturbing and sensually attractive, but that didn't mean I even thought about doing anything about it.

I watched Delphina as she stood on the veranda talking to Gorman. She wore some pale-blue pajamas, and in the bright light that came down on her from the rising sun, they were interestingly transparent.

The time was just after six when I saw the grocery truck coming. It came regularly every morning, bringing the groceries and any special orders from across town. As the driver pulled up outside the lunch room, I tossed off the blanket and got out of bed.

Gorman helped the guy to carry the big boxes of provisions up the steps and into the lunch room, and Delphina followed them.

I stretched and yawned, then wondered into the bathroom. I was feeling relaxed and pretty good. As I let the cold water from the shower run over me, I thought of Sentinel. I certainly had some luck, but at the same time, I had been pretty smart the way I had handled my escape.

But my luck was running out, although I  never knew it right then. Because in that box of provisions the guy had just carried into the lunch room was something that was going to blow my safety, and my feeling of security sky high.

One of fate's little jokes.

That day was pay day.

I went over to the lunch room and into trouble. There was no sign of Gorman nor Perry anywhere.

Delphina was making herself a cup of coffee, and with the light behind her, there was no doubt about the transparency of her pajamas. "Did you know those pyjmas are transparent?“ I said suddenly.

"They're supposed to be." she said and looked over her shoulder at me.

There was an expression in her bright eyes that immediately warned me that something was up.

"Uhm, where is Perry? It's so unlike him sleeping up to now."

She smiled. That was the first time she smiled at me, a jeering smile that started an alarm bell ringing in my head.

"His sleeping alright. He has terrible hungover from last night. Does that answer your question, CARLOS PARKER." she said.

The emphasis she had put on the phony name I had given myself sent up the red light.

"I've unpacked the groceries - suppose you help me to put them away?"

I went into the kitchen. The cans of food, the two dozen chickens in their plastic bag, and the rest of the stuff were spread out on two tables.

Laying on the cans of food was a craumpled newspaper that had obviously been used to pack something in. I picked it up. Then my heart gave a violent kick against my side.