(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.)
____________________________________
MIDNIGHT Episode 018: PaLACE
____________________________________
"I'm not knocking your methods Nick, but are you sure it's safe leaving Midnight under those conditions?" Dawn Bearpaw once again let the enigmatic Nick Sanchez drive her former master's spirit, his ashes having been spread into the paint of his Ford Raptor as if a guardian angel. "I mean the dust alone from that wall collapsing is bad enough without her sharing that cell with a domestic wife beater and that nutty grandma in the fur coat."
"She's fine. That guy won't let anything happen. Trust my judge of character Bearpaw. Like you did in serving Tom here." He pats the steering wheel. "He steered you in the right direction, didn't he?"
"You got me there. God, I miss him." She began to weep then toughened up just as rapidly. "If I'm being honest here, he put me through far worse, but he knew powerful people. I... felt safe in his possession. Sometimes things... were not in my favor, yet I did walk out of it shaken and smiling."
"Then you understood who had you by the soul."
"Yes... I did! I think that's why I have his ashes and his truck, and his home. He's with me wherever I go."
"Keep him closer still."
"Are we heading to Harbinger Shoals now?"
"After I drop off Caprice."
"Why is it she's riding in the truck bed again? She's not... a slave, is she?"
"Nope! But long as she's laying down back there nobody can see her riding with us."
"Uhh? There was enough room in the backseat to lay down in."
"Tom didn't want her on the furniture. Surprised you were allowed." He winked at her.
"That's an interesting observation considering in his home I wasn't allowed even in his bed." She paused then looked back out the rear window, "Wow! He allowed her in his bed even now."
"You've never been in that truck bed? All those binding hooks welded in everywhere?"
"Only with a cage beneath me so I didn't actually touch the bed."
"Caged too? I'm liking Tom more and more."
With a sheepish smile she concluded, "I think he'd like you too." Suddenly, it felt wrong sitting in the passenger seat, it was furniture. Yet how could she not occupy the furnishings when she did drive this beast? Tom was obviously overlooking his grooming of her in that aspect, or he would never have left her his prize possessions.
Eight minutes later Nick Sanchez drove by his borrowed beach house eying his mirrors to see if he had any tails. With nothing nagging his keen senses he turned the Raptor around then went back to the lengthy driveway leading into the home of Marcus Jericho. "Trucks not going to fit in the garage. Hang on!"
"Hang on?" Her eyes flared up as he took an embankment of high grass and drove across the lawn to the beach side of the house. Careful not to go into the sand he hid the truck on the blind side of it all. The bumpy ride sent Caprice Comstock all over the bed of the truck. The two-minute assault and battery left her shaken up and cussing. As Nick came to a halt and shut the truck off, she sat up and still could barely see over the sidewalls. She heard ocean so she knew they were here.
"That was fun. Tom used to take me off road, but I was always in the front watching the world coming at me." She pointed at the trucks hood. "He used to tie me face down on the hood spread eagle and wearing a protective hood. Not so much fun going through tree overgrowth and being scratched up all over by limbs. He used to call that Mother Earth's way of saying who the real boss was. He was just following her orders. Said he learned everything he knew from her."
"So, he took a switch to your ass."
"A couple hundred switches. Yet, I came through it with no scars. Not even mentally."
"You're alright Bearpaw. Tom here likes the place. Why don't you go for a quick swim to cool off while I get Caprice settled?"
"Don't want me seeing how you live? You a slob?"
"Something like that."
"No bikini, you mind?"
"Just you and Tom." The headlights were facing the water like bulging eyes. "Show off for him while I'm gone."
Getting out Nick put the tailgate down and found Caprice stunned and pointing at him, "You did that on purpose."
"Did what?"
"Tossed me around like a rag doll. Made me sit on hot metal. Is this more of my training?"
"Not training you. Told you you're only on call for a good time. You're Dolan's cunt now!"
"I like Dolan. Always have, but it was never the right time with Ollie hanging around. You know this is going to get ugly Nick. Ollie will trash my car and my home. I wouldn't be surprised if I find everything torched like Esteban did to Midnight's home. Another day I won't have anything but the clothes I'm wearing."
"From the ashes!" He told her then patted the truck bed, "Isn't that right Tom?" Ashes to ashes, rust to rust!
"Who's Tom?"
"Tomorrow!" He sighed; it was befitting. "Get your ass out of bed. You can camp here a few days until we can agree on safety. If Oliver comes looking for revenge after I laid him out and threatened him, he's a very stupid man."
"It's not him I worry about. It's his affiliations."
"His biker club? I think a few of them fear me now yet respect me for not having them arrested. We both had the chance." He nodded at Dawn wiggling across the beach toward the ocean waves. Her long, very long mane billowing about like an angel's wings. It had her ass covered save for when the wind offered glimpses. Walking out into the surf and submerging he sighed and respected Tom in turning his gaze away. "All yours Tomas!"
Caprice dropping to the ground let Nick shut the gate before following him up into the beach house. At the wall of accordion doors leading to his bedroom he found an alarm pad and keyed in a code that turned off its sensitivity. Opening only a single panel allowed them entry. "Shoes off."
"Clothing too?" She giggled.
"You can do that when you shower. Rules! No snooping. TV has cable. There are a few groceries in the pantry to fix. Survive until I come back for you."
"Do I have to stay inside? Can I lay out and sunbathe? Go for a swim like Bearpaw?"
"Should be safe here. I'm not sharing the alarm codes with you in case you get abducted. I won't let Oliver or anyone else gain entry here." He taps the glass, "Bulletproof glass. Presidential grade! I'm giving you a gun but do not use it unless you have to. Don't shoot me when I come home. Better yet don't shoot yourself in the foot."
"The breeze feels incredible coming through the door. Sorry Sir... but I'm losing my stitches." She ignored him and stripped out of her clothing for comfort. Nude she did a little dance then spanked her ass in front of him. "Don't get turned on."
"Not even a twitch." He ignored her beauty he needed to take a leak. While in the bathroom Caprice hugged the door frame and watched Dawn strolling about in three feet of water, her hair silky black due to being wet and like an extra-long tail behind her. Being bi-sexual Caprice smiled, "I always thought that kid was gorgeous. I really hope she doesn't get hurt because of her association with Nick. Speaking of association, I didn't finish telling Nick about the real threat that backs Oliver. I wonder if Dawn warned him of..." Just as she pondered the situation a monarch butterfly landed on the hood of the Raptor as if a hood ornament. Dead center of the hood between the two headlights. To a superstitious person it would almost look as if it were watching Dawn dancing about in the surf.
While Caprice couldn't see the butterfly on the hood, she had noticed it in flight. It reminded her of the dead butterfly story she heard from the waitress Lynette, her son Ronny being the active culprit in the butterfly's demise after burning a wing off. Sick kid Ronny! A click startling her she turned to see Nick holding a 9MM handgun with another clip under his armpit. "Click! Click! Boo!" He smirked. "Ever fire one of these?"
"I have. Oliver used to take me to the firing range. The Rez has one. Of course, he used me as a target with a beer can on top of my head. Twisted fucker! Stupid me for letting him. I was too scared of him not to. It took a while for me to grow some... bawls. By balls I mean stopped shedding tears and left him, bawls as in crying my eyes out. For all the good that did me as you can tell."
"Sounds like the Rez has a lot more to offer than poverty shows."
"Oh yes! There's a wealthy class side to the Rez. One that has quite a lot of control as you must imagine. Casino, hotel if not a huge one. If you've only seen Newton Waterfall's home, you were on the poor side. Newton lives within his means even though he has money and influence being an Elder."
"I wondered why the police force had a new ride."
"Yep! I never finished my earlier warning. Ollie is kind of like a henchman for the casino owner. Has Lillian mentioned the name Nodin Merrick?"
"No. Who is he?"
"Fourth highest elder. Newton is oldest, then it goes to Bobby Black Fox and Cordell Dance Among Hail, then Merrick. There's a few elders below Merrick."
"What's so important about Merrick?"
"Seen the Godfather movies?" She laughed. "Never turn your back on Merrick or underestimate him. His influence is money. Drugs! Prostitution! He set Ollie up with his small-scale strip club called SanTease. Well, technically Merrick's daughters did. Rich kids with small scale responsibilities. Crimson and Mikaela, they're twins. Only kids Merrick has, he was never blessed with a warrior son so I guess Ollie might be the closest thing without being blood. How do you think his gang have Harley's instead of dirt bikes? Definitely not on their good looks."
"I noticed how new they were. I am observant."
"Not doubting you Handsome." She accepts the 9MM and ejects the clip. "I'll put it back in later. Somehow, I feel safe here Nick. Thanks for putting me up."
"Only temporary."
"Where are Irene and Midnight going to go? Esteban, I presume hell."
"Tilly and Sheldon's getting ready to fly out to Colorado on vacation. They can house sit."
