My Kind of Town
Stay or go?
>> 2002 Wilder
As HPD Detective Sherlock Gomes held her close in the foyer of her condo and whispered his plan in her ear, Dr. Laurie Tang knew it was designed to do one thing above all, get her away from a potential intruder. Unfortunately, she couldn't disagree with Sherlock's assessment -- the curtains were partially closed, and neither of them had touched the curtains before going up to the pool. But somebody had. Perhaps hoping to avoid detection by reflection in the glass.
Laurie also knew that Sherlock, who was affecting her in ways and places no man ever had, was putting himself in the line of fire. She didn't like the plan, but in the heat of the moment could think of no other.
Outside, the sound of sirens racing to Queen's still filled the night.
"Here we go," he whispered, kissed her cheek, stepped back.
Gomes pulled the silver Glock 9mm short-barrel from its holster, and following their script said in the resigned voice of man who really has passion on his mind, "OK, Laurie, all those sirens are calling your name. I'd better let you get changed."
"I'd rather stay, but ... Wait! Oh no, I left my cell phone upstairs at the pool!"
"We're both in a hurry, why not just call security?"
"Because I can get there faster, trust me."
"Tell you what, you're needed in the ER. I'll go up for the phone while you change."
"You're such a gentleman. Thank you ... OK, just one more kiss ..."
Crouched around the corner that led to both a guest bathroom and the master bedroom, Salvatore Innuendo had to make a decision. Step around the corner and shoot both detective and doctor as they stood in the narrow foyer hugging and kissing again? Celibate by self-punishment since that day in Rome when as a young Vatican Security Office agent he failed the Holy Father and allowed him to be shot, Innuendo hated the sound of fevered breathing. And this would easier than shooting priest-murdering Nicaraguan rebels in a coral. But if he missed, his shots would penetrate the door, set off alarms or alert the neighbors. Better that he wait, take her alone, then get Gomes when he returned. Laurie glanced back as she opened the door, saw Sherlock with his pistol drawn covering her escape.
When the door clicked shut, it took all of her resolve not to run, but to do as Sherlock instructed and walk quickly to the elevator and then call HPD dispatch. Entering the elevator, she punched in the number Sherlock had given her and went over his instructions of what she was to say.
Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek.
His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin
with weekly summaries on Sunday.
He can be emailed at dchapman@midweek.com