49
Watching Cody and Dakota, who would never grow up, trick-or-treat while he and Audrey held hands and waited on the sidewalk had been fun, but Rick had been so anxious to get back to the house that he could barely concentrate long enough to make coherent conversation. He told Audrey that it was because he was nervous about seeing Big Jack, and she accepted that, but her brother kept watching him. He knew there was more going on than Rick would admit to, and now Rick worried that O’Keefe would be a problem later. All afternoon O’Keefe had asked him what his plans were, which was actually sort of funny because he truly didn’t have any plans. All he knew was that tonight he would confront Robin.
Rick announced that the trick-or-treating was done at six forty-five, and Cody and Dakota, who had collected more candy than Rick had ever seen, both protested, but only mildly. They returned to the car and headed for the house.
The last light of day died as they pulled up the driveway. His stomach in a knot, Rick killed the engine and got out, scooping Cody into his arms.
As they passed the oak, the jacks were as thick and active as Rick had ever seen them, but there was no sign of Big Jack, and he felt so little fear that even the talismanic phrase I’m Thomas was unnecessary. Even when they combined and rose right in front of him, he steadfastly ignored them, walking unflinchingly through their greenish forms, feeling the chill wind that went with them and not caring.
He stopped at the front porch and handed Cody to Dakota. “Wait just a second. I promised Carmen I’d look in on Jade.”
“Piper—”
Rick ran up the steps. “I’ll leave the door open and I’ll be right back.”
“I’m going with you,” Audrey said, trotting after him.
That was fine. He entered the living room and began to cross to Jade’s door, intending to do as Carmen asked, just knock politely and tell her good night.
“Fuck me,” Jade moaned from within her rooms.
Behind him, Audrey made a strangled sound. Rick turned and grimaced at her, then whispered, “Let’s go.”
“That was fast,” Dakota said as Rick locked the front door.
“She’s having her last fling.”
“Last fling?” Audrey asked.
“Piper’s going to find her a rest home tomorrow,” Dakota explained as they quickly walked up the side of the house and around to the Zapata cottage. “Hopefully one well stocked with dirty old men.”
The interior of the cottage was warm and cozy, and while Cody spread his booty on the floor and Dakota checked the locks on the house’s two entry doors and the latches on all the windows, Rick and Audrey started making popcorn in the microwave.
“We’re as tight as bugs in rugs,” O’Keefe announced, entering the kitchen. “What have we got to drink?”
“Pepsi or Dos Equis,” Rick said.
Dakota opened the fridge, took a beer for himself and a plastic bottle of orange juice for Cody. “What do you two want?”
“Beer,” Audrey said absently.
“Pepsi,” Rick said, ignoring Dakota’s look of surprise. He took a bag of popcorn from the oven, stuck another one in. “Did you want to change clothes, O’Keefe?”
“Piper, dear, I like dressing this way.” He grinned. “It makes me feel sexy.”
“Sorry. I forgot. Watch out for the cat,” he added, forcing a grin, trying to act normal. “His claws will shred your frock.”
By eight o’clock, halfway into Young Frankenstein, Cody had passed out on the floor, the victim of excitement and too much chocolate. While Audrey put him to bed on the little couch in the tiny second bedroom where Carmen kept her sewing machine, Rick stood and sauntered into the kitchen.
“Get me another beer, will you, Piper?” Dakota called.
“I have something better,” Rick called back, eyeing the bottle of Sauza Gold on top of the refrigerator.
“Well, bring whatever’s better, but bring a beer, too.”
“Sure,” Rick said. He took the bottle down. A few shooters would make Dakota stop worrying and watching.
Icky Ricky, icky Ricky, come out and play.
He shivered. This was the first time he’d really heard the greenjacks’ song all evening. You heard the voices because you let your guard down.
“Boo!” Audrey cried, poking his ribs from behind.
He jumped, almost dropping the bottle.
“Oh, Rick, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you!”
“It’s okay,” he said shakily. “You’re allowed on Halloween.”
“What are you going to do with that?” she asked, pointing at the bottle.
“Well,” he said, opening the fridge and rummaging in the fruit bin until he found a lime, “have you ever had a shooter?”
She made a face. “Yes. Yucko. Is there any margarita mix?”
“Try that cabinet.”
Maybe Audrey’s was the better idea. After all, he didn’t want to get the O’Keefes too plastered to take care of Cody, just relaxed enough not to miss him when he slipped out the back door.
“Eureka,” she said, pulling out a green bottle of mix. She set it down. “Glasses?”
“Over there.”
He waited until she’d set them beside the mix, then shooed her out of the room. “I’m the host,” he said, a tub of margarita salt in his hand. “I’ll do the mixing.”
“Rick, let me help you—”
“No.” He kissed her nose, then led her into the living room, instructing her to sit on the couch by the lovely Marilyn, who demanded his beer.
Rick just smiled. “Forget beer,” he told him. “I’m making margaritas. It’s better for that girlish figure.”
Dakota batted his eyelashes. “I didn’t know you cared.”
“Slut,” giggled Audrey, poking him in the ribs.
Rick left them to their teasing and returned to the kitchen, where he mixed three large drinks, two with double shots of tequila, one with no alcohol.
By nine they were running Frankenhooker, and Rick had just delivered a third drink to Dakota. Audrey had stopped at two, saying she’d fall asleep if she had any more, but long, tall Dakota seemed to be a bottomless pit.
“You don’t seem very drunk, Piper,” he commented as Rick sat down next to Audrey, who was giggling at the movie.
Rick didn’t feel capable of anything more than a stupid grin, so he gave Dakota that and said, “I’m just tired.” He sipped his drink and grinned again. “I’m a little sleepy.”
“This is supposed to be a party,” Dakota said, his voice slurring slightly. “Don’t go pooping out on me. You either, Audrey.”
They sat there for twenty minutes, Dakota engrossed in the movie, Audrey half-asleep. Quietly Rick stood, intending to slip away.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Dakota demanded.
Inspiration hit. “I’m going to lie down for a few minutes. I’m really tired, but a nap ought to be enough to keep me up for the rest of the night.” His smile, he hoped, was winsome. “Would you do me a favor and wake me up in half an hour?” Judging by Dakota’s heavy eyelids, he wouldn’t be awake that long himself.
Dakota looked doubtful. “Well, okay. But only a half hour.” He glanced at his dozing sister. “You two aren’t much fun.”
“Sorry,” Rick said, heading toward the back of the little house. “I’ll be more fun after a nap.”
Dakota didn’t answer, his attention already back on the TV screen. Rick slipped into the bathroom, and when he came out again, Dakota didn’t notice him. He slipped into the room Cody was sleeping in and opened the unobtrusive second door, which led into the kitchen on the far side of the refrigerator.
Picking up the six-inch knife he’d used to cut the lime, he slipped it in his jacket pocket, then let himself out the kitchen door.
In the bedroom, Cody awoke to the closet door creeping open. The sight of his friend scared him at first, but when Bob smiled, the little boy felt much better.