Sintown Chronicles I: Behind Closed Doors (92 page)

“I know too much for you to continue to lie to me,” Leora snapped. “The tapes were made many years ago, before my daughter-in-law ever heard of Dot. Penny, wake up, child. Your secrets are out. You don't have a friend in the world except Billy and me, and Billy can't help you. I can."

“You keep looking at my pussy, old lady. You want to lick it?"

Leora ignored her. “The sex tape business made rich men out of Pete Harlow and your uncle. In addition to finding the tape copies you also found a huge sum of cash."

Penny turned pale. Her mouth became dry. Her lips clung together as she said, “You ... you're dead wrong about that. If I have money why am I working my ass off in the greenhouses?"

Holy horsehair! Leora thought. I've struck the nail on the head.

“Billy,” Penny shouted. “Bring some more coffee."

“It is not you, but Billy, who is working his ass off, and you're not paying him one cent to do it. The greenhouse business provides you with a cover for your real sources of income."

The two women glared at each other until Billy filled their cups and again left the room.

“You think you have it all figured out, don't you? You can't prove anything. You're bluffing,” Penny challenged.

“The sum of the cash you found was so great you couldn't spend it without arousing suspicions. You needed to find a way to launder the money. Drug dealers have to launder their money too. With Al's connections to the underworld, he took the money to have some of his hoodlum friends make it legitimate. Instead of settling for a commission, they murdered Al and kept all the money for themselves."

“What if they did? What's that got to do with me?"

“I think you kept some of the cash intending to launder it through your greenhouse business. The hoodlums Alfred was dealing with are not angels and they are not stupid. You may be certain of that. If they tortured Alfred before they murdered him, do you think it is possible Alfred told them about you—about the tapes—about your blackmailing business—about the cash you kept?"

Penny said nothing.

“If he did, how long do you think it will be before they come after you?"

“Damn,” Penny said. “I've gotta pee."

Left alone, Leora explored the living room, looking repeatedly at the door with the padlock on it.

When Penny returned, she wore a tee shirt and blue slacks. “Lets suppose for a minute that some of what you say is true. What's your interest in all this?"

“If you die, the baby dies with you,” Leora said coldly. “I don't want Jo to have the baby if the father is Billy Morgan or your uncle's, but I do want her to have it if neither Billy nor Amos Stone are the father."

Penny mumbled something.

“I didn't understand you,” Leora said, noticing the moisture building up in the young woman's eyes.

“Billy is not the father. Neither is Uncle Amos. He never touched me. Mack McGee is the father, and I seduced him—not the other way around. I didn't start screwing Billy until after I was pregnant. What do you suggest I do now?"

“You've already started. You've realized you are in a dangerous situation and that I am the only one who can help you. I'm afraid there is more, dear."

Penny looked up. The tears were cascading down her cheeks.

“The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Department knows everything I do—probably more. They will be here sometime today—about noon or a little after I would guess—with a search warrant. They'll find the money and the tapes, won't they, Penny?"

She nodded.

“Will they find any evidence of your blackmail endeavors?"

“No, there are no written records, but there is Uncle Amos’ diary."

“Getting arrested and sent to prison is not the worst thing that could happen to you. You would be safe from the mob, at least. But I don't want your baby born in prison."

“What can I do?"

“First of all, promise me that if I get you out of this mess you'll undo all this blackmailing of folks in Dot."

Penny nodded her agreement.

“The sheriff knows about the cash and tapes. I want to quickly get all the videos that have Dot women on them out of your house."

Penny smiled thinly though her tears. “I already have them sorted."

“How much money is left of Amos Stone's horde?"

“A little less than a half million dollars."

Leora whistled. “How much was there before Alfred took his share? Don't answer that. I'd rather not know. I'm going to take the selected tapes with me. We'll let the deputies find the remainder of the tapes, Stone's diary and the cash. It'll be a hassle, but after the IRS gets their share you'll still have a nice nest egg left over. Answer all of the detective's questions honestly, but there is no need to mention the blackmail or the tapes featuring Dot women. Agreed?"

Penny nodded.

“I've changed my mind about the diary. It names individuals on the tapes, doesn't it?

Penny nodded again.

“I'll take the diary. These women have suffered enough."

“Who's going to protect me from the mob?"

“That, child, we'll have to leave up to the efficiency of the Sheriff's Department."

Penny found Billy working in greenhouse seven. “Billy, sometimes you must simply trust me. I can't always explain things. Do you trust me, Billy?"

“Penny, you're my very best friend. I trust you."

“I want you to go home—to your mother's house—right now. Things are going to happen here that I don't want you involved in. If a deputy comes to your mother's house, answer his questions honestly."

“Even if he asks if you and I are having sexual intercourse?"

“Yes. I want you to take this bag to your mother,” she said, holding out a small plastic bag. “It's money, Billy. Your mother needs it, and you've earned it."

“Will Billy ... will I ever see you again, Penny?"

“I hope so, Billy. With all my heart I hope so, but our relationship will never again be the same."

“We will be good friends but will not have sexual intercourse. Is that it?"

“That's part of it, Billy. You'll live with your mother and come here every day to work in the greenhouses. We'll continue your lessons and we'll play lots of basketball."

“Has Billy ... have I done something wrong?"

“No, Billy, but I have. Mrs. Nickels is trying to help me, but I don't know how it is all going to work out."

“After Penny ... after you get out of trouble we can have sexual intercourse again?"

“No."

“Why?"

“I ... I think I am in love with Sean Taylor. I didn't mean to fall in love with him. It just happened."

“Sean does sexual intercourse better than Billy?"

“No. I don't know. I have not had sex with Sean."

“I don't understand?"

“I know you don't Billy. Please trust me."

“Does Sean love you, Penny?"

“I don't know,” she said as she wagged her head and walked sadly away.

Penny tried to put a little sunshine into her voice. “Good morning, Sean. This is Penny. How are you?"

“What time is it, Penny,” he said sleepily.

“It's six-thirty—time for every hardworking man to be up and at ’em."

“You're right,” he said. “I overslept."

“I have to ask you something and it's extremely important that you answer me honestly."

“Okay."

“Do you like me, Sean?"

He laughed. “Why else would I be spending every spare minute with you?"

“Do you love me, Sean?"

He dropped the telephone. He sat up on the side of the bed and retrieved it from the floor. “Penny, are you still there?"

“Yes."

“What a way to wake a guy up."

“Your answer is?"

“An honest answer is extremely important, is it?"

“Yes."

“I think I might love you, Penny. You're the only woman I've ever dated. I'm not sure I know what love is."

“How would you feel if I were suddenly taken out of your life?"

“Oh, God,” he said with obvious anguish.

“Right answer. I want you to come to my house right now. I want to fuck you and then I have a long story to tell you."

He did not respond.

“Are you still there, Sean?"

“Yes."

“Will you come?"

“Penny, I've never ... I've never..."

“I'm a good teacher, Sean."

“Maybe I'd better take a shower, brush my teeth and put on clean underwear first,” he said.

“Good idea."

“Good morning, Mother,” Randy said as he padded into the kitchen. “You are up early. Boy, that bacon smells delicious."

“Good morning, son. I wanted to make you and Jo a good breakfast. Your usual cold cereal is not my idea of the way to start a day."

Randy poured two cups of coffee and carried them to the master bedroom. “Did you find out where she went so early this morning?” Jo asked.

“I didn't have the guts. I guess Mom deserves to have a few secrets. If she wants us to know, she'll tell us."

Penny, wearing only a white terrycloth robe loosely tied at the waist, greeted Sean with arms spread wide. Her open mouth met his closed lips. Moving her tongue from side to side, she suddenly forced it deep inside his mouth as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Slowly she pulled her tongue back and then plunged it deep inside again. She ground her hips against him and rolled her breasts against his chest. His hands remained motionless on her back.

She broke the kiss. “Sean, honey, you're not in Sunday School. Let your hands go where they want to and do what they like."

She sucked on his lower lip and maintained the suction as she pulled away, causing a popping sound when his lip regained its freedom. She repeated the action on his upper lip and finally she felt his hands gradually roam south. His hands stopped on her lower back.

“A little lower,” she urged and then rammed her tongue into his parted lips. She felt his erection growing but his hands returned to her shoulder blades.

She stepped back and dropped the robe to the floor. “Meet Barb and Betty,” she said, looking down at her swollen breasts.

His eyes bulged.

“Suck them,” she whimpered.

He stooped, picked up her robe and held it for her. “I'm not ready for this, Penny. Please put your robe back on."

She felt her cheeks flush as she turned her back to him and stuck her left hand into the sleeve of the robe. In my entire life, she asked herself, has any other man ever refused me?

When both arms were in place he lifted the robe over her shoulders, pulled it together and tied the sash. With his hands on her stomach, he drew her back to him, then jumped away in alarm. “You're ... you're pregnant!” he exclaimed.

“Just a little bit,” she joked. She turned and snuggled her body close. Her lips found his.

He tentatively followed her retreating tongue into her mouth with his own. She fondled his scrotum with her fingers while rubbing the heel of her hand against his erection. She was disappointed in the size of his penis.

“Stop,” he cried, suddenly pushing her away and grabbing his crotch as he bent over.

“Sean, sweetheart, if you don't want to have sex with me its okay."

“Damn,” he moaned. “I've never been so excited in my life."

“You came?"

His face was aflame with embarrassment as he nodded.

“Wonderful!” she cried. “I knew your first time would be over in a hurry. The second time will last much longer and the third will be longer still."

“Penny, beautiful Penny,” he said with his back to her. “How can I say this so you will understand?"

As she approached he turned and placed his hands on her shoulders, keeping her at arm's length. “I ... I ... It's wonderful that you want to have sex with me, but it isn't right. It's ... It's just too ... too clinical."

“Not romantic enough for you?"

“Maybe that's it."

She stepped back, pulled the robe tighter across her chest and retied the sash. “Sean,” she said slowly, “I just ... well ... I want you to know how I feel about you. I'll be here for you whenever you're ready."

“But you're pregnant, Penny. How did that happen? Who's the father?"

She sat on the sofa with her knees pressed together and looked at him until she was certain she had his attention. “Sean,” she began, “I am capable of telling very convincing lies. I haven't known you long, but I promise I have never lied to you about anything. I haven't told you all I know, but I've never lied to you. I swear to God I will never lie to you."

“Are you going to tell me about your swollen belly?” he asked as he sat beside her and put his arm around her shoulders.

“Yes,” she said. “It's a long story and I'm going to start at the beginning. When I'm through, you may walk out of my life forever. I wouldn't blame you. But if we're going to have the relationship I long for, you must know it all and accept me for who I have been, who I am, and who I may someday become."

“Mrs. Nickels?"

“I am Leora Nickels,” Randy's mother said to the pimply faced youth at the front door.

“I'm Sean Taylor. I've come to set up a computer for you."

“Oh, holy horsehair!” she exclaimed. “I told my son and daughter-in-law I wanted one, but I didn't know they already ordered it."

Sean's smile seemed to reach from one ear to the other. “They said you'd be surprised. Where do you want it?"

“Why, I don't know,” she said. “I have other things on my mind and haven't given it much thought. I suppose the best place would be the desk in my bedroom.” She looked at the boxes piled up on the porch. “Is all of that just one computer?"

“It's a computer, monitor, printer, scanner, battery backup, paper and extra print cartridges."

“Mercy. Will I ever learn to use all that? You bring it in while I clean off the top of my desk."

When he brought the last box into the bedroom he asked, “Are Randy and Jo here?"

“Yes. They have their studies upstairs."

“Do you mind if I close your door?"

“I suppose not. I guess it's too much to hope that you intend to sexually molest an old woman like me?"