(This series is a collaboration with my good friend Sanchez. His ideas, I ran with it. We will see how it evolves. He has a sound concept, and characters, I'm primarily piecing it all together and seeing how it plays out. We hope you enjoy our efforts.)
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Midnight Episode 005: TREASURE
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"You must be Lowell. Only guy in the joint."
"That would be me. Mister Sanchez I presume?" Lowell Hardwick rises from his seat to offer a handshake. Nick, evading it hands him a cashier's check instead.
"Shake this."
"Unconventional but I won't pry." The Banker looks at the check, his eyes bulging. "I thought we agreed on 1.8. This is for 2 even. Did I misunderstand something?"
"Nope! The extra $200,000 is my retaining your services. Get me a checking account started with $150,000 of that, the remaining 50,000 is for you. Earn your tip, Lowell."
"And how exactly am I doing that?"
"First off my gut tells me that property has a history that goes beyond the last few owners. I expect a file of every dirty little secret it's hiding."
"Are you expecting to find buried treasure there?"
"Never know! Seems to me it might have been a nice hideaway for someone if not something. Pirates might not be out of the realm. When was that place built?"
"1882 if I'm not mistaken. It's had a number of owners over 139 years. Long before me I'm afraid. You might drop by the Bureau of Land Management, and they can give you a..."
"You want that money or not?"
"I suppose I could be your errand boy. Make a few calls. Am I making coffee too?"
"Also... you know the locals around here. I want a tree cutting crew and some landscapers out there to mow the weeds down, get it looking presentable before I can bring in contractors to shape the structures up. Hire only those who really need the money, not someone greedy."
"Illegals?"
"Don't insult me."
"I just presumed you wanted to make the money go further."
"I'm not poor Lowell. Just use that money wisely. Be a gentleman and put it in the hands of those that really need the job."
"Well, if I only hire those out of work where do I get the equipment to do the job?"
"Rent it. Receipts Lowell. You have my deed ready?"
"As soon as you sign papers and I notarize."
"Let's get down to business I have things to do."
"Take a seat, and a pen."
Ink fresh Nick Sanchez owned a home. Lowell admired the man already. He knew what he wanted. A born leader. Tough as nails and to the point. Obviously, a heart was in his steely gaze somewhere. He just might be good for Caretaker. He was already taking care of them.
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On the borderline of the Santee Rez...one property over from the gene pool.
"Did Veronica like her dress?"
"Yes. It still needs more altering, so I brought it back home." Midnight Amador told her Mother Irene while she was baking bread for their dinner, Midnight seeking a glass of water to quench her thirst. "Fresh bread. So... fattening."
"Your father likes fresh bread."
"He is finally coming home?"
"He is." Irene tried to be optimistic, her husband Esteban was hardly reliable. With only a land line phone, cell's far too man's world, that was all they had to go by. "Tonight! Come straight home after your shift at the diner."
"Yes mother."
"You were...quite late last night." Irene had only heard Midnight return home toward 10:00 PM., highly unusual.
"I met with Veronica remember?"
"Yes, of course. I only worry for your safety. Our home has no lights along the road for over a mile." Midnight knew this quite well; it was due to that fact that got her raped at age 16. Fond memories when it should not have been. Unlike most young women Midnight Isabella Amador... was different.
"The moon was out."
"Yes. Please be careful daughter."
"I will. I must go bathe before work." She turns her back to her mother and hides the fact that she swiped a knife from the cutlery set on the counter. Taking it with her she goes straight to the bathroom and locks herself inside for privacy. Her mother had not even noticed. If she had she might have presumed the worst, that perhaps her daughter contemplated suicide. Hardly the case.
Waiting on her tub to fill Midnight took off her pajamas and stood in the mirror leaning against a wall with peeling wallpaper. Their home was in dire need for repair. Peering at her reflection she ran her fingers over her pubic area where Nick Sanchez, the Man in Black had shaved her with his fierce looking blade, the kind she had never seen before. Perhaps, a predator's weapon. Finding her stubble grotesque, she turned away from her vision and obtained a washcloth. Stepping over the tubs edge she sank down into the still filling water. It was hot, for once. The water heater was on its last leg and her father didn't seem that worried until it finally pooped out. Esteban was a penny pincher they say, mainly so he would have money to spend at the local bars. She knew if he did show up tonight, he would be drunk, fuck his wife, sleep it off, then leave again by morning first light.
She often worried he must have a girlfriend elsewhere, only coming home possibly two days a week, saying he was working. Her mother Irene did not argue with him, she knew his hand well, his fist even more. Even Midnight was well aware of his belt, ofttimes the palm of his hand, the back of his knuckles, never however his fist. That was reserved for Irene. Esteban was not a nice fellow most days. Hardly ever to be honest. Still, he was a provider. Food on the table if not sparse.
Irene took orders for sewing, and blanket making when her customers bought the materials first, paying her upon final delivery of goods. Native Santee, Irene did have friends who often helped them, even if the outcast was married to another race. Midnight, however, was not embraced being of two worlds. A loner outside of her friendship with Veronica Redmane, her soul sister she called her. Veronica was not in any better shape, even her man was white. Living off the Rez was the best thing to ever happen to V. Her man William aka Will was good to her. They were happy, which made Midnight happy...for them.
Midnight herself did not understand happiness, all she had in her life was despair, a very low self-esteem, a desire only to make others happy when she could not claim it as her own. Shyness, and being awkward due to her isolation did not help. What made others happy made her feel unworthy. She...existed.
Water valve turned her water flow ended and cleaning up became priority. Once she had washed her body thoroughly, and shampooed her hair, a luxury her father might say of shampoo, Midnight held her bar of soap and moved up to her knees in the cloudy water. Soaping up her pubic area she used the knife to carefully shave her pubes. Even razors were something Esteban found unnecessary. This knife was hardly perfect, but she had nothing better for shaving not only her pubes, but her legs. Having to wear short dresses at the diner required her to keep them smooth. They were never silky soft, but at least not noticed. Finding her knife awkward in getting within the crevices around the hood of her pussy she did her best and prayed the Man in Black should he return approved. It was definitely an improvement over his butcher job to make a point. Point!
Recalling him use the razor-sharp tip of his huge blade on her clit made her tremble in the water. Sitting back down in the tub she poised her legs wide and bit her lower lip. Taking the steak knife she did as he had in tickling her clit with the tip, careful not to cut herself or ruin a perfectly good clitoris for life. The sensations made her tense up, drawing away for fear of a bloody mess. Again and again, she used it, shiver after shiver she questioned why he had shared this experience with her. Was it some lesson he was trying to offer, letting her figure out what it was meant to be? It would remain a mystery for now. Hearing an unexpected knock, she nearly nicked herself and held her breath, eyes like saucers.
