"This is good Aunt Marie," Danielle's cherry voice said, "What else do you have in it besides slices of lemons?" She grinned as she sat her cup down on the picnic table. She knew that to ask was one thing and to be told was totally something else. Aunt Marie wouldn't tell her. She never gave away her recipes. But, she did expect to be asked anyway, and Danielle didn't want to let her down.
"That's my secret, now isn't it, dear" countered Aunt Marie, with a silly smile. She gathered up the left over dishes and took them into the kitchen.
"I'll never tell."
Danielle laughed and flipped open the newspaper. Everyday there was something new about the murder. She found it exciting to read. According to the articles she'd read thus far the killer didn't resemble her in the least. The killer was at least six feet tall, and she wasn't six feet tall, nor did she wear size ten shoes, her hair wasn't red, it was black.
But...an idea danced across her mind...Josie had red hair. Was it possible that Josie and Ben had a thing going on? She'd heard that Josie had gotten into some trouble down at the foxtrot, in South Zanesville, a few months ago. The sheriff had gone in to break-up the conflict. After that it was all hush, hush.
A sound interrupted her thoughts. It was coming from the side gate. "Excuse me," said a voice she recognized as belonging to John. His slim, straight form seemed to be leaning inward on the freshly painted white gate more than he needed to lean inward.
"I was just passing by and saw you sitting out here-alone- and I wondered if you'd like some company."
She licked her lips...she could read him like an open book. It'd been sometime since he'd had sex. The sex he'd recently had wasn't all that good. He was suffering for some well deserved, well received sex, and of course he wanted her. Her insides cowered in hunger. Was this a good idea? She looked at him and smiled.
"Sure John, do come in and sit down." She motioned towards a chair not far away from her. If he got too close she wasn't sure she could handle herself in public.
He strolled into the yard slowly, like he was scared she'd scream, and he'd have to make a quick retreat. "You're sure I'm not bothering you or anything?" he asked as he sat down. An uncomfortable look crossed his face.
"No," she whispered assuredly, "Why don't we take a walk?" her mind raced ahead trying to recall a concealed spot that was within walking distance. He was just too hot to waste.
Pictures of the little lake flashed into her mind. The one located behind her aunt's neighbor's farm, it was just next door. As a child she'd spent many summers swimming in that lake and riding around in the boat they kept tied up at the boat dock. It was a perfect place; a place filled with magic. It was the place she'd gotten to know Jack...
Jack been transplanted, here, like herself, for the summer because his father had been sent overseas for a big business deal his company had been working on. If he was able to secure the deal, his family would never want for anything. He'd landed the deal and his family had done well.
