A Crying Shame Page 8

  Colonel Jeansonne spoke, through and because of his anger. Someone sure called it right when they named you people mercenary, didn’t they?”

  The smile and the shrug from Badon. I long ago learned not to take offense at remarks such as that one, Colonel. But try—through your anger—to view it from my position: I am not a resident of this parish; I own no property here; I have nothing to gain, I was paid to do a job—one specific job. You want me to do something else ... sweeten the pot, boys.”

  Tammy wriggled her ass in her chair. Oohh, you randy son of a bitch! If. your cock’s just half as magnificent as your gall, we’re going to have a wonderful time. Providing, she tempered her ardor, I can figure a way to rid us of Miss Prissy Bitch, sitting over there, very much the lady, her legs crossed ever so correctly, every action so controlled. Bitch!

  The two women looked at one another, invisible, silent cat language purring over the short distance. They understood one another very well.

  Governor Parker’s hands trembled as he placed cup and saucer on the coffee table. You rotten son of a bitch!” he cursed Badon. That was it all the time. Money. There isn’t a decent bone or thought in your body, is there?”

  Jon laughed openly.

  I oughtta run you clear out of this state!” Jeansonne snarled at him.

  On what charge, Colonel?” Jon asked innocently. He pointed to the telephone, looked at the top trooper, and rattled off a number. Call it,” He smiled. That’s the unlisted number of a very high official with the U.S. State Department. There was a ... shall we say ... ugly incident in a South American country last year. Very wealthy American businessman and his family kidnapped by leftist guerrillas. Who do you suppose went in and got them out? So you go ahead, Colonel—try to put the roust on me. Let’s just see how much trouble I can bring your way. The State Department—among others—was very appreciative of what I did.”

  Jeansonne shot eye-contact hate at Badon, but it was mixed with grudging respect for the mercenary. Despite it all, the supertrooper rather liked the man—or understood him. Yeah,” he said slowly, and you’d do it, too, wouldn’t you, merc?” Cops and mercenaries are not that far removed from one another.

  Jon did not dignify the question with a reply. He turned to the group. Think about it, people. This proposition: I’ll rid your swamp of Links. Every one of them. Guaranteed or I won’t take your money. The price is two hundred thousand. Like Mad magazine ... cheap. When you consider the risks. I’ll be taking. Half in advance, half on completion.”

  Governor Parker stood up, the others following suit. Parked looked at Badon. Hell with you! Sheriff Saucier and Colonel Jeansonne will rid us of our problem. You’ll leave eventually. I have great faith in the ability of our lawmen.”

  Jon nodded politely. He did not stand up with the governor. I am certain they are both excellent lawmen. I can but wish them the best of luck.”

  Parker looked at Sheriff Saucier. You still intend to let this man remain deputized? He’s not a resident of this parish—is it legal?”

  Probably not,” Mike said, glancing at Badon. But . . . yeah, he can keep his badge. He might be useful to us down the road. Who knows?”

  Parker snorted his doubts as to that. Miss Breaux? I apologize for my behavior and my crude language. And I mean that sincerely. Some ... types of people tend to bring out the worst in me.” He looked at Badon. Jon smiled. We’ll see our way out,” Parker said.

  The back door is that way.” Jon pointed. I’m sure you’re familiar with back doors, Governor. What with making deals and all that.”

  Jon, like many soldiers and professional fighting men, had very little use for politicians, an opinion certainly not confined solely to the world’s fighting men.

  Badon”—Governor Parker spoke through clenched teeth—you are the most despicable human being I have ever met. I cannot understand how Miss Breaux ever got mixed up with the likes of you.”

  Oohh, lucky, Tammy thought. Real lucky on her part.

  Jon said, By the way, did any of you hear a scream about twenty minutes or so ago? I thought I did.”

  Probably your guilty conscience shrieking to be released,” Parker said. He stalked to the front door and threw it open, startling his bodyguard. The governor stepped into the night.

  The large room emptied except for Tammy. She paused for a moment, looked over her shoulder, and smiled at Jon. His cold eyes remained noncommittal. She winked and stepped onto the porch, closing the door behind her.

  Bitch!” Linda said. I think she’s in heat.”

  I know she is.” Jon sighed. I felt myself being mentally raped several times.”

  There was an unexpected twinkle in Linda’s eyes. Did you enjoy it?”

  The worst I ever had was wonderful.”

  You’re awful! Jon? What businessman and his family did you rescue in South America last year? I don’t recall reading about that.”

  Badon smiled. None. I haven’t been in South America in years.”

  That phone number you gave Jeansonne?”

  He laughed. I hope he dials it. That’s a whorehouse in Washington.”

  Jon had prepared dinner for the two of them, and Linda was not surprised to find the mercenary was an excellent chef, very careful with his culinary preparations. They had talked long over the food and good wine, then enjoyed a glass of brandy in the den. She had gone to bed shortly after a light rain gently drummed on the roof. It did not last long, soon fading as it trekked eastward.

  Yes, she thought, as she lay in her bed—guest bed, actually—it had been a rather enjoyable past few hours. Then she experienced a hard wave of guilt as she realized it had been just over twenty-four hours since her brother had died so hideously.

  She shook away those feelings of blame.

  I never really knew or understood my brother, she thought. We did try, but we just could not get along. And I still don’t know why he was so adamant in his desire for me to come up here.

  She allowed her feelings once more to flood her, let them wash over her banks of control. She waited for the hot tide of tears, and was not surprised when her eyes remained dry. She really did not have to force her smile in the darkness. Too much of Mother in me, she thought. Too much Fortier.

  But damn it! She pounded her pillow, suddenly angry. I’m not snooty; I’m not stuck-up; I’m not haughty.... I’m not any of those things. But I am just like Mother: I don’t like to meet strangers; I’m uncomfortable around them. I know what I like, and what I don’t like, and I will not pretend to enjoy something I detest. I don’t care for frivolous chitchat; I hate hen parties; and I would rather have the company of a man than a woman.

  Suddenly, without any warning, she was afraid. The bed was large, and she felt very much alone. She looked at the clock on the bedstand. 11:30. 11:31. The digital dial had silently shifted.

  And she sensed that all was most certainly not well.

  Something moved against the house with a light brushing sound; a sound that was somehow familiar to her. She recalled it; after the storm, when that dreadful silence had surrounded the estate, that’s when she had heard that brushing sound. Not a limb. Not the wind.

  Them.

  Her hands were trembling and a light sheen of sweat broke out on her body. Oh, God!” she breathed.

  Relax,” Jon’s voice whispered from the door to their adjoining bedrooms. I’m here. Be calm. Let them prowl. Let them test us. Let them get careless, bold. I will not be careless.”

  Her breathing evened with his presence. He was so calm and sure of himself. Really going to get just a few of them and then leave, Jon?” she whispered.

  His teeth flashed in the gloom of the bedroom, a silent laugh. I lied, Miss Breaux. I enjoy combat. The high of it. I want them all.”

  He padded noiselessly to her bedside. Sitting in a chair, he smiled at her. She was conscious of his maleness, and quite aware of her own moistening sex. She was naked under her sheer nightgown, and she had tossed the sheet aside soon after retirin
g. She wondered just how much of her he could see in the gloom. Quite a lot, she concluded.

  I’m losing my mind! she silently urged. Monsters prowling around the house. Things out of a nightmare. My brother dead only a few hours, and I’m getting turned-on and sexed up over a savage mercenary. You’re a fool, Linda!

  But she did not take her eyes from his.

  Later,” he whispered, smiling at her.

  His remark infuriated her. The governor was right, you know?” she hissed at him. You are a son of a bitch!”

  He chuckled softly. No. Just a man.”

  And you’re going to show me all the marvels of sex, I suppose?” she said, her voice barely audible, but still holding a razor-sharp note of sarcasm.

  He rose from the chair. I think you know all about the marvels of sex, Linda.”

  Before she could reply, telling him her sex life was none of his business, she heard a faint click as his M-10 was pushed off safety—then a sound that made her flesh crawl, and brought chill bumps sliding over her skin like filthy lice.

  Get up.” Jon’s whisper was quiet, but held a note of urgency. Put on jeans and a shirt. Lace-up shoes. We might have to do some quick stepping . . . shortly.”

  Turn your head.”

  Jamais, cherie.” He smiled, eyes bold in the near-darkness of the bedroom. Never.

  Angry, she stepped from the bed and jerked her nightgown off. The small night light in the hall seemed to have been transformed into a spotlight, its illumination highlighting her ivory body.

  Jon’s eyes lingered at the luxurious bush between her long, shapely legs, the dark V quickly disappearing as she pulled on jeans and jammed her feet into tennis shoes. She bent over to tie the laces, her breasts full firm mounds, dark-tipped. She straightened, the breasts vanishing under a shirt.

  Get your eyes full?” she questioned, her voice a whisper, but with enough heat to melt ice.

  Oui.” Jon smiled. Magnifique, mademoiselle.”

  You’re . . . insane!” she hissed. Toque!”

  Goofy I don’t know about. Insane . . . perhaps. But I definitely am crazy.”

  Then you admit it,” she replied, buckling on the pistol.

  Crazy about the ladies. And you definitely are a lady. I know.” He grinned. I just witnessed that fact.”

  When this is over, I intend to slap you!”

  I intend to make love to you long before that.”

  Her eyes seemed to glow with a raging fire. You’d better be one hell of a man.”

  I am,” he said quietly, confidently. But it was spoken without arrogance. Pick up your over/ under. Check it.”

  She did as she was told. I should use it on you for your insufferable egotism.”

  Then who would protect you from the Links, ma cherie?”

  I think it’s you I need protection from, mercenaire.”

  He laughed softly. I don’t believe you want protection from me.”

  She said nothing as he moved her out of the bedroom and into the hall. She was very conscious of the heat from his big hand as it rested on the gentle slope of her waist. He guided her into the den, placed her against a wall by the fireplace, and told her not to move.

  Instead of his usual boots, he wore rubber-soled low-quarter shoes. He padded through the house like a big cat. A tomcat, Linda thought. Then, with no warning, Jon screamed, an inhuman sound. Linda almost fired both barrels of the over/under. Her heart hammered. She flushed hotly as Jon laughed at her.

  All sounds outside the beautiful home had ceased.

  Why in God’s name did you do that?” she asked, anger in her voice. And what in the hell kind of scream was that sound?”

  The scream of a big cat,” he answered in a whisper. A warning scream.” His voice was husky in the darkened house. I wanted to see how the Links would react to it.”

  And?”

  They’re not stupid,” was all he would say.

  He stood in the archway and made a coughing, huffing sound. Something slapped the outside of the house.

  Interesting,” he said. Most interesting. They know a panther’s warning sound, but not a tiger’s warning.”

  Oh, thank you so very much, Mr. Frank Buck. I can’t begin to tell you how overwhelmed I am with your knowledge of cats of the jungle.” Her tone was laced with sarcasm. Damn it, Jon! Will you please drive those . . . things away?”

  But of course, dear,” he said. Bientot.”

  Now, Jon!”

  He walked into the kitchen, silently moving to the window. There, he studied the profile of one of the Links in the soft moonlight. Strange moonlight, he thought. Blood-red.

  The Link was poised on the back porch.

  The head of the Link was huge, with tufted pointed ears and small yellow eyes. Where had he seen similar eyes? He couldn’t remember.

  The Link had massive shoulders and arms. Very strong; Jon put that into his mental filing system. Don’t let them get their hands . . . paws on you. The jaw was pure animal, but like nothing Jon had ever encountered in the jungles of either Africa or South America. Then he altered his opinion: it was not pure animal; it was a mixture of human and ape. But the nose was strangely small, humanlike.

  Three more generations, Jon thought, and they’ll be human—or very close to it. Probably close enough to pass.

  He smiled.

  The Link turned in the moonlight, as if sensing Jon’s thought waves. Human and human beast studied one another through the small space Jon had left between the boards he had nailed the previous afternoon. Jon reached out and boldly, arrogantly tapped the glass. The Link screamed, spraying the window with saliva, then it smashed the glass with a huge balled fist. Jon lifted the M-10 and pulled the trigger, watching as the force of the 45-caliber slugs lifted the Link off its feet, its face spurting blood under the hot slash of lead.

  In the den, Linda screamed as her pent-up emotions reached a level she could no longer contain. Her screaming reverberated through the house. Jon turned on the floodlights, watching as several Links raced across the lawn, over the fields, and toward the darkness and safety of the Crying Swamp.

  He laughed.

  Something slammed into his shoulder, a glancing blow. He grunted in quick pain, spun into a crouch, the M-10 lifting, finger on the trigger. He lowered the barrel. Linda had hit him with the over/under.

  You crazy bastard!” she squalled at him, her eyes wild with rage and fear, her long dark hair flying about her face. You had the fucking lights off! I thought you said you’d leave them on at night.” She screamed and cursed him, profanity overriding breeding and education. Using pure brute strength, Jon took the shotgun from her, then let the woman get it all out of her system. I saw you tap on the window!” she yelled. You were smiling. Then I heard you laugh! You’re craxy!”

  I wanted to see them up close . . . alive,” Jon calmed her. Or attempted to. That’s why I left the lights off.”

  The dead Link on the back porch trembled as its nervous system finally realized its body was dead. It slipped off the porch, landing on the ground with a dull thump!

  Oh, God!” Linda said, as long-overdue tears began running down her face.

  Jon put his arms around her and felt her at first stiffen in protest, then relax against the warm bulk of him. He held her loosely, letting her weep, knowing she was weeping not only from her fear, but from emotions held back for too long a time. She was a strong person, always in control, but even strong people could contain emotions for only so long. And it was no sin to cry. Contrary to the beliefs of some nitwit parents, who confuse the minds of their children, it is not at all unmanly to weep.

  Jon kept one eye on the window. The odor from the dead Link was awful.

  The grounds of the now brightly lighted estate were empty of Links.

  After only a moment, Linda pulled away from him and, in an unladylike manner, wiped her nose on the sleeve of her shirt. Sorry about that,” she said, slipping back into her stiff-upper-lip facade. I’m quite all right now.”
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  I rather enjoyed it.” Jon smiled. He patted her on the butt and felt her indignation at his gesture rise to the surface.

  Male chauvinist pig!” she said, slapping his hand from her derriere. You’re incorrigible.” But there was no anger in her remarks, and in the semilight of the kitchen, he could see a twinkle in her eyes.

  You’re rather nice,” he said.

  Oh ... get away from me!” She pushed him back, moving his solid bulk at least two inches.

  He grinned at her. Do be a good girl and fetch my leather gloves from my luggage. Dark brown suitcase. I want to store the Link in the shed for further study. As a matter of fact, I want to store several of them. Now that your brother is dead, and his objections—which I never quite understood—with him, I should like to call in some scientist friends of mine to examine the Links. I shall also want to purchase a half-dozen large freezers from town. Yes, we’ll purchase those today.” He looked at his watch. 12:30.

  Linda looked up at him. She slowly shook her head. It’s like I said, Badon—you’re nuts!”

  Chapter Six

  Hi!” Tammy Gray greeted Jon and Linda with a smile almost as bright as the morning sun over the bayous. Guess what, guys?”

  She stood on the front porch of the Despair house, dressed in denim and a checkered western shirt . . . with pearl snaps. Cute little cowboy boots. Little bandanna around her neck. The buckle on her belt must have weighed five pounds.

  Linda thought she looked perfectly nauseating.

  Jon looked out onto the front lawn, wondering where the woman had tied her horse.

  Tammy wondered if it would be possible to get a threesome going? Like maybe tonight? Threesomes could be such fun. Once she’d had two guys at the same time. Really filled her up ... so to speak. Then another time this girl friend of hers had brought this positively gorgeous hunk of a man over and . . . well, everybody kind of got loose after smoking a couple of left-handed cigarettes.

  I’m afraid to guess,” Linda said, enough ice in her voice to freeze meat.

  Well,”—Tammy tossed her long blonde hair—the governor sent me out here to try to change your mind, Mr. Badon. About helping us, I mean.”