Always Mercedes
"Good morning, Mr. Flynn," Smithers said in answer to his early morning knock at the front gate. "Miss Evans is expecting you." Smithers pointed with his chin.
"Thanks."
He hadn't seen her in six months. It seemed like a lifetime.
Mercedes was lying on her stomach on a lounge chair. She didn't move when Donald sat down beside her. The top straps of her bikini were undone.
"Donald, could you oil my back please?"
"Sure." He reached down for the tube and squeezed a dollop into his palm. He sniffed at it. It smelled like it should have had a tropical drink umbrella stuck in it.
"Small circles please."
Donald started between her shoulder blades, admiring the find musculature he felt there.
"Mmm. You're even better than Eric."
"Eric?"
"My masseuse. I could sure use him right now. Tony was very rough on me last night. It felt great at the time. But this morning I could hardly walk right."
"And Tony is..."
"My personal fitness trainer."
"Figures. It shows. You've really developed."
"Do you think so?" Mercedes sat up not bothering to retie her top.
She liked what she saw in Donald's face, and it showed in her own. Donald would have liked her look, only his eyes were occupied elsewhere.
"You like them?"
"I— "
"You don't think they're a little much, do you?"
"How?"
"A gift from Francis. He made me an offer I couldn't refuse."
"You like them?"
Mercedes frowned. "What difference does that make? Francis does."
"That's important to you?"
"We're playing a little game. I give him something – then he gives me something."
"Like?"
"Diamond earrings, a pearl necklace, lots of other expensive stuff to."
"Money?"
"Just petty cash."
"What's he holding out for?"
"I'm the one who's holding out."
Donald turned away from her and looked at the still surface of the pool. "He's your grandfather, you know?"
"We know better than that."
"Hey. Whatever floats your boat."
She placed her hand on top of his drawing him back to her. "Look, I want to smash the cockroach against the wall."
"So, what's stopping you?"
"I'm so close. He even showed me the will. And he promised he'd sign it when..."
"When... "
"Look, I've already flushed any chance I ever had for a normal life down the toilet. This is all I've got left now. I am not going to blow it."
"So why call me?"
"Because..."
Donald waited for Mercedes.
"Because I need someone to take care of me, watch over me for a while. Someone I can trust. Someone I care for."
"Me?"
"No. The other dinosaur sitting next to you."
"Sure. You're welcome to stay for as long as you want."
"Thanks," Mercedes said, bringing her face to his hand and kissing it. "Can you stay?"
"No. I'm still finishing up a few cases."
"I'll walk you to the gate." Mercedes stood, pulling Donald to his feet.
"Don't you think you better slip into something a little less comfortable?"
"Right." She slid on a silk Kimono. "Listen don't ever kid yourself, big breasts are a royal pain in the neck."
"Other men, myself included might argue the point with you."
YOU ARE READING
Easy Money
Mystery / ThrillerYou know what? Life is queer. After Kyle's girlfriend kicked him out, he's working the streets of West Los Angeles as a Gay-for-Pay. Kyle's got by. Barely. One day Kyle wakes up from his park bench to hear Private Dick Don Flynn say, "How'd you lik...
