Manipulating Fate (Carousel Series #2)

Chapter 10: Santa Cruz, CA | 1987

Ruby blinked as she watched David steer the bike right onto Riverside Avenue. They'd crossed the river and headed down again towards the beach. Making another right onto San Lorenzo, they drove on until it became East Cliff Drive.

"Where are we going David?" Ruby asked as the bike came to a stop.

"Home." He parked the bike and looked at her over his shoulder. Her puzzled expression garnered a smirk. "Look. I didn't tell you, and I certainly didn't tell the Boys, but I sold the rental house. You and I both know that if we'd moved in there, the Boys would have been over twenty-four seven and we'd never get anything done. So I sold it, took the cash and bought this nice two-bedroom just far enough away from the Boardwalk."

Ruby withdrew her arms from around David, having forgotten they'd stopped. She looked up the slightly sloped lawn to the small cottage with the weathered blue paint and white trim. It looked relatively cozy, more vacation rental then house. Turning a bit, she eyed the rest of the quiet street's houses; most were the same, a few larger family homes up towards the town, and smaller ones nearer the water.

"You're crazy, David. How are we going to blend in?"

David made a face then grinned. "You and me? Of course we'll fit in! Young newly wed couple with the wife attending the University and the husband who has a passion for motorcycles. Nothing uncommon about that!"

"Becoming a sire has made you lose it."

"Pfft. Look, we're not going to call that much attention to ourselves. Really. It would be so much different if the Boys and you and I were moving in. Paul alone would have the neighbors calling the cops at all hours of the night, peeping tom charges flying!" David shook his head.

"Um, ew." Ruby stuck out her tongue in distaste.

"Yeah. See. Like I said, we're just your average Mr. and Mrs. John Doe!"

"I'm not sure why you keep acting like we're married..."

"Better get used to the cover story, is all." David dismounted and helped Ruby off. "Now do I get to carry you over the threshold as well?"

Ruby saw the smirk and knew David was teasing. She gently elbowed his ribs just the same.

The cottage was charming and definitely cozy. A great room that comprised the kitchen and living area; worn furniture that David had probably gotten from the local junk stores made it seem even smaller then it really was. A TV! Ruby hadn't seen TV in ages! Working appliances filled the kitchen, not that they really needed them anymore. A short few steps into a narrow hallway and a door on either side revealed two modest bedrooms. At the end of the hall was a bathroom with a tub and shower stall decorated up in aged but clean white tiles. Everything in the house was a bit worn, but nice.

"You've been busy, David." Ruby murmured, fingering the towels in the bathroom.

David beamed his appreciation. "Thank you!" He took Ruby's elbow and led her back down to the bedroom on the right. "You can take your pick, but there's one feature I need to show you." He pulled the door closer. "These lock from the inside. I think you'll agree with me, we need locks right now." David wouldn't look at her, but Ruby knew what he was thinking.

"Yeah." She nodded slightly, looking away to the other bedroom. "I'll take the right."

David looked up and over at her, then nodded. "I'll get your stuff so you can settle in." He headed back outside to his bike. Ruby stepped into her bedroom and eyed the lock on the back of the door. There were two actually; a smaller one that was built into the doorknob, and a steel deadbolt above it that locked into the door jam. David was really serious. Ruby understood though. It'd been enough torture holding on to him on the ride here.

There was a nice full-sized bed with an off-white chenille bedspread that took up the majority of the room. The head and footboard were a dark wood that matched the dresser and set of drawers in the corner. A window looked out on the small backyard and beyond that to the river. David reappeared shortly with all her things and put them on the bed.

"I'm gonna pop down and get dinner. Anything in particular you want?"

Ruby shook her head, taking a seat on the bed. The mattress was springy but nice. "No. Surprise me."

David eyed her. "You okay, Rube?"

"It's just so different now."

"Yeah, a lot of it is. You miss them."

"Don't you?" Ruby looked up at David.

"Well, yeah, I do. You get used to the noise and having others around. And when it's gone, you notice for a while that it's gone. But there's no way in hell someone can ever get used to the stink of Paul's feet!"

The look of disgust on his face was so comical Ruby laughed till her sides ached. David smirked and joined in, then headed out for dinner. Ruby listened while the roar of his bike echoed off the houses and disappeared.

***

"Damn, that's what I forgot." David glowered as Ruby made him a plate of some paper towels.

"We can get some. No big deal." Ruby handed him a slice of pizza oozing gooey cheese cradled on his 'plate'.

"I thought I'd gotten everything." David sulked, devouring a hunk of pizza. Ruby pulled herself a slice of pizza from the box and settled on the couch. It tasted odd to eat; she really hadn't touched food since she'd made her first kill and somehow it seemed totally odd to be eating something solid. She munched thoughtfully, marveling in the textures.

David leaned over and grabbed another slice. "The Boardwalk closes at 2 tomorrow morning, so we'll head up around 2:15. Everyone should be gone by then."

"What's at the Boardwalk that early in the morning?"

"Enough empty space."

Ruby looked back over at him. "What? Why?" David just grinned.

"Oh you'll see."