Claws in the Dark | ✔

III (Part II)

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Sunday

Miles was up before everyone else, at 6:30, and went downstairs to the kitchen for some coffee.

The sound a vehicle pulling into their driveway caught his attention, and he went to the front door, opening it. A U-Haul was being carried by a pick-up truck with the logo SIMMON'S MOVERS. It stopped just before hitting the garage.

Two men stepped out of the truck and one of them walked over to Miles, while the other went to open up the U-Haul.

"Good morning, Sir," said the man standing in front of Miles on the porch. He had on blue overalls with the same logo on the front, and a nametag that said 'Mike'. "Are you...Mr. Trenton?"

"Morning. Yes," he answered.

"I'm just going to need you to sign here." Mike held out a clipboard with a document attached, and he pointed to where Miles needed to sign with a pen.

After signing, Miles left the front door open so that Mike and the other guy could bring in their stuff. He went back into the kitchen to pour his cup of coffee, then came back to the front door. As soon as he stepped out on the porch, a newspaper was flung in his direction, tilting the cup of coffee in his hand. Some of it spilt on the jersey he was wearing, burning him, and he cursed out loud at the paperboy who threw the paper; he also growled and glared at him as he rode out of site.

"I hate when that happens, too," a voice came from behind him. Mike was on his way back out to bring in another box from the U-Haul.

Miles scoffed and picked up the newspaper, then brushed past Mike and went inside.

Gina was coming down the stairs when he walked in, a sour look on his face and a coffee stain on his jersey. "Well somebody's in an awfully dull mood this morning," she mocked, and he just gave her a mean look. "And why'd you leave the front door open?"

"The movers," he replied curtly.

She walked over to him. "Well, they're early." Mike walked in the front door just as she kissed Miles, and smirked at her. Weird. She went into the kitchen to get herself some coffee.

When the sofas were brought into the living room, Miles sat in one next to the window and opened the papers to read. The first article was about the 'monster' the residents believed killed Clifford and Bridget Grimes.

There were apparently no updates on the murder, but the police were still doing everything they could.

Miles shut the newspaper and placed it on the table the other guy, Nelson, just brought in, as George ran into the living room and towards him.

"Morning, Dad."

"Hey, bud," he said, ruffling his hair. He lifted him up and set him on his lap, and Gina walked into the room and sat on the sofa, besides Miles.

"Morning, Mommy," George told her, leaning in to hug her.

"Good morning, my little minion." She placed a small kiss on his head, then sat back in the chair and sipped on her coffee. "Are they done yet?" she asked Miles.

"No, we're not," Mike's voice rang from the door as he and Nelson brought in their TV. They hung it on the wall, a few feet away from the fireplace. "We've got about seven more boxes to bring in." He was about to walk out the door but stopped when he saw the most beautiful girl coming down the stairs dressed in a short, V-necked, white tank top and a short, blue, denim shorts.

Rebecca's eyes caught sight of him when she reached the bottom of the stairs, and she exchanged a smile with him. It was her first effortless smile in years, and with someone besides her father.

"Hi!" She chucked her shoulders and twisted her body so that he could run his eyes over her. Walking up to him and stretching out her hand, she said, "I'm Rebecca."

"I'm...uh...I'm..." He struggled to continue as he ogled her breasts, which seemed to almost be popping out of her top.

"...Mike," Nelson finished for him as he passed into the house, a box in his arms.

"Yeah, that," Mike chuckled nervously.

"Nice to meet you." They shook hands, and then she left and went into the kitchen.

Mike thought stared at her retreating rear-end as she walked away, licking his lips in the process.

"Snap out of it, pervert." Nelson hit him in the back of his head, and he blinked a few times, tearing his gaze away from Rebecca's butt. "Help me bring in the last of the boxes, will you?"

"Okay, okay." And they went through the door.

Gina went into the kitchen to fire up the stove and make breakfast, and Miles went upstairs to prepare for work. He had to go into Grandville PD's precinct and partner up with a couple of detectives there. He usually worked alone, so he wondered if they'd be able to keep up with his pace. Only one way to know.

He got his towel from the bedroom, and proceeded to the upstairs bathroom, closing the door when he got in. He stripped down and stepped into the shower, turning the tap to the slightly steamy side.

He soaped his skin and rinsed off when he heard something tumble from outside the shower. He couldn't see past the glass because it was fogged. He turned off the tap and reached for the towel he threw over the wall.

Wrapping himself, he slowly slid the shower door open and stepped out. A bottle of body wash was just lying there, in the middle of the bathroom floor. He walked towards it, frowning, and picked it up. He looked around the spacious bathroom, from the toilet to his left in a corner to the sink which was on his right.

Strange.

A mirror hung on the wall, and he stared at himself for a moment. He couldn't help but acknowledge his bulging biceps, and flexed them, a smile on his face. He looked good for his age - 37. While nodding in approval of his muscles, the bathroom door opened and Mike walked in.

"Oh...shit, sorry." He looked away, blocking his eyes from Miles' body. "Your wife said no one was in here. I should leave."

"No, no. It's okay. I was just leaving." Miles rested the body wash back down on the sink and began to leave. "Just don't break or take anything," he said, patting Mike's shoulder as he exited.

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◀ MARDAIS ▶