Evil in Hockley Read Free

sobbed.
    Harry said,
    “It was different over
there.”
    “Like no mail pickups?”
    “My first day off the plane I saw two
men killed when their jeep hit a land mine. I didn’t want to
associate you with my experiences over there. Clover doesn’t grow
in a desert.”
    “Bullshit. Did you find somebody
else?”
    That was quick.
    “No but I hear you did.”
    “Well I guess. After a year without a
word…”
    She looked over her shoulder. People
were staring.
    She paused then whispered,
    “For fuck’s sake Harry I needed
someone, something to remind me I was alive. I wrote your
commanding officer to find out if you were still among the living.
I gave him my phone number and asked him to give it to you. Did
he?”
    “He did.”
    “What more was I supposed to
do?”
    “Nothing. It wasn’t you, had nothing to
do with you.”
    “There were only two people in our
relationship, you and me. That’s as simple as it gets. I say hello
and you don’t fucking answer and then you say it had nothing to do
with me. It had everything to do with me. As a matter of fact it
was all about me. You let me sit awake nights wondering what I did
wrong. I cried…”
    Sandy stood then rushed out the exit.
Harry dropped a few bills on the table and followed.
    She was on her way home, three clicks
away. Harry caught her then held her tight. She slapped him hard,
over and over, crying with every blow. He refused to let
go.
    A stranger approached.
    “Want me to call the cops,
miss?”
    Sandy returned to the world of the
living. Sobbing she finally said,
    “No I’m all right. He forgot my
birthday. Three as a matter of fact.”
    The stranger uttered a humourless laugh
then said,
    “Find another guy miss.”
    She pushed away and Harry let her
go.
    “I knew going out with you was a bad
idea. I only did it because of what happened to Jarrod.”
    She sighed.
    “You’re going back after the service,
aren’t you?”
    Harry didn’t have to think about
that.
    “Not for a while. Some business to take
care of here first.”
    “Revenge? You’ll get yourself killed,
is all. Or in jail.”
    “Would you come to my
funeral?”
    Sandy laughed.
    “Yah, to dance on your
grave.”
    She was all right.
    He hugged her and she pushed herself
into him.
    “You’re a son-of-a-bitch
Harry.”
    “I’ve been called worse.”
    They stood in the parking lot holding
each other.
    “You hungry?”
    She nodded then gestured toward the
restaurant.
    “Not in there though. I think we’ve
worn out our welcome. Let’s grab a burger.”
    Sandy did most of the talking that
night bringing him up to speed on who did what in the last three
years. It was almost midnight when he turned onto Broadway toward
her home and she said,
    “You’re not getting rid of me that
easy. Let’s go to your place.”

Chapter 4
     
    The house smelled fresh and clean but
was a little chilly. He closed the windows and drew the curtains.
When he turned from the last one Sandy stood behind him, completely
naked.
    “Has it been three years or did you
screw around, Harry. They have goats over there I hear.”
    She laughed.
    “No it’s been three years,
Sandy.”
    “Don’t lie to me. A woman can
tell.”
    Harry stripped then pushed her onto his
bed. They made love for about ten minutes.
    She had a grin, ear to ear.
    “I believe you. It’s been three
years.”
    “How can you tell?”
    “Come on Harry. Four
strokes?”
    “A compliment. You’re a sexy
babe.”
    “Don’t compliment me the next time.
Satisfy me.”
    They both showered then an hour later
made love again. She groaned and dug her fingernails into his arms.
If she was faking then she was a good actress.
    After they finished he
asked,
    “How many strokes this
time?”
    She laughed,
    “Two hundred and eight, not counting
the two misses.”
    They were up all night but she had the
following day off. They showered again and went out for breakfast,
not so much as a crumb in the house.
    At the local donut shop Harry