“Oh, great. It’s the only place in town, isn’t it?”
“Far as I know. Brian Blake also appears to be among the missing.”
“What the hell’s going on?”
“I don’t know.”
“Oh, man. This town. I knew when we got here it was a creepy place. I wanted to get out of here last night. And I might’ve, too, except for you.”
“Except for me?”
“It’s all your fault,” Tyler said, and squeezed his hand.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Besides, I don’t think I could’ve pried Nora away.”
In the sand at the bottom of the hill, Tyler kicked off her sandals. She picked them up and hooked her arm through Abe’s. The sand felt hot, almost burning. Nora and Jack were a distance up the beach, wading through the wash, but they’d left their clothes behind in a heap. Tyler dropped her sandals next to the pile. Abe put down the towels.
“Shall we go in?” Tyler asked.
“We both need to cool off.”
With a laugh, she dashed across the sand. Abe ran along easily beside her. Cold water splashed up her legs. She kicked through a knee-high wave, charged into one that chilled her to the hips, then dived. She went rigid with the cold blast, but moments later it no longer felt so bad. She swam out, the swells lifting her, easing her down. When something seized her foot, she thought shark! And then she thought, Abe.
She tugged free, came up for air, and whirled around. A moment later, Abe’s head popped to the surface, hair matted down, face shiny and dripping. She swatted water at him. He ducked under the surface. She watched him glide forward, saw his arms reach out, felt his hands on her hips. He pulled her down. His body slid against her as if it were oiled. He nuzzled the side of her neck, kissed her mouth. They rolled under the water, embracing. One of his thighs pressed between her spread legs and she quivered and scissored her legs shut, trapping it there. She shoved a hand down the back of his trunks, fingered the crease of his rump, clenched a firm buttock and writhed against him. But her lungs started to hurt. She pushed herself away from Abe, clawed to the surface, and gasped for air. Abe came up in front of her. Treading water, they panted for a while.
“Trying to drown me?” Tyler finally asked.
“You trying to drown me?”
“What a way to go,” she said. The words reminded her of Dan on the corridor floor, his throat torn out.
“What?” Abe asked.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“I keep…forgetting about Dan. Then I keep remembering.”
“Yeah.”
“Would you mind if we get out now?”
“Not if that’s what you want.”
“We’d better.” She forced a smile. “Before we lose our suits.”
“As good a reason as any.”
Side by side, they swam closer to shore. Then they waded out, the waves nudging their backs as if to hurry them along. “Let’s just walk,” Tyler said.
“Towel?”
“The sun will dry us.” She took Abe’s hand, and they walked on the hard-packed sand, the wash of the ocean sometimes swirling over their feet. The sun felt hot and good. Gulls wheeled overhead, squealing. Jack and Nora, a distance up the beach, were strolling slowly toward them.
“There’s something I want you to know,” Tyler said.
“Uh-oh.”
“Not really. It’s just that…I don’t want you to think…God, how can I say this? I felt the way I do about you before all this about Dan happened. You remember this morning in my room?”
“How could I forget?”
“That was before…the tour. I’d already made up my mind not to…get involved with him.”
Abe nodded as if he’d known that.
“I just don’t want you to think the way I…I mean, I’m not on some kind of bizarre rebound. It has nothing to do with him. Hell, I wanted you last night. But he was in the way, even though…oh, God, doesn’t that sound wonderful? He was in the way and now he’s not.”
“I think I understand, Tyler.”
“You guys went in!” Nora said as she and Jack came near. “Didn’t you freeze your buns?”
“It wasn’t too bad,” Tyler said. “Give it a try.”
“No way. I’m gonna spread out one of those towels and catch some rays. We’re gonna stay awhile, aren’t we?”
“Sure,” Abe said. “One thing, though. Is anyone opposed to staying over again tonight?”
“All right!” Nora wiggled her eyebrows at Jack. “How about you, Tiger? Think you’re up to it?”
“There might be a problem with the Inn,” he said to Abe.
“Weird, huh?” Nora asked. “What do you suppose happened to those people?”
“I promised the cop I’d check about that,” Abe said. “None of you noticed anything strange last night, did you?”
Nora said, “Not a thing.” Jack shook his head.
“If the motel’s going to close up,” Tyler said, “we’d better find out.” Her heart started racing. “Why don’t Abe and I go on ahead and check it out? We can register, if everything’s okay, and meet you back here.”
“Terrif.”
“That okay with you, Abe?” Tyler asked.
“Let’s go.”
They left Nora and Jack spreading towels on the sand, and trudged up the slope. Tyler was eager and nervous. The parking area seemed very far away, as if the path had stretched itself simply to frustrate her. At last, they reached the car. Abe opened the passenger door. He rolled down its window, and tossed the towels into the backseat.
“Whoa,” Tyler said. “I’d better put something on.”
“You look fine,” he said.
With a shrug, she climbed in. She jumped at the burning touch of the seat cover, then settled down and watched Abe wince as he sat behind the wheel. “Hurt?” she asked.
“I can take it.”
“We should’ve put clothes on.”
“I like you this way.” Reaching over, he slid a hand up her leg. He patted her thigh, met her eyes for a moment, then started the car.
Tyler slumped down in her seat as they passed through the middle of town. Abe kept glancing at her, looking a bit amused. He drove in silence.
Nervous? she wondered.
“We’ll check the office later,” he said finally.
Except for Gorman Hardy’s Mercedes, the courtyard of the Welcome Inn was deserted.
“My room’ll be fine,” Tyler whispered.
He parked in front of it. Tyler stepped out into the shade. A mild breeze chilled the sweat on her skin. Leaning over the backseat, she gathered her handbag and all her clothes.
Her hands were trembling. She dropped the room key on the stoop. Abe picked it up and unlocked the door.
The room was dusky, the curtains drifting out from the open windows. The bed Tyler had slept in last night was still unmade. She stepped over to the dressing table, and emptied her arms.
In the mirror, she saw Abe come up behind her. Parting her hair, he kissed the nape of her neck. He caressed her sides, her belly. She watched his hands glide upward, and moaned as they cupped her breasts through the filmy bikini.
“Tyler,” he whispered.
“Huh?”
“It’s a nice name.”
“It’s a weird name.”
“I like it. I like everything about you.”
“Flatterer.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you like my sweat?”
“I like how it makes you slippery,” he said, sliding his hands down her belly.
“Soap will do that, too.”
“Mmm.”
“Let’s take a shower.”
He fingered the ties at her hip. She lifted his hand away. “Patience. We’ve got to rinse the salt water off our suits.”
He laughed softly and followed her into the bathroom. Leaning over the tub, Tyler turned on the hot water faucet. She kept a hand under the spout. The water, cold at first, slowly became warm. She flinched with surprise when Abe touched her rump. His hand was big and warm. It moved slowly lower. She gasped and felt her legs go weak when it stole between them. She gripped the edge of the tub to hold herself steady. Steam rose from the splashing water, hot against her face. She looked around. Abe gave her an innocent smile, and his hand went away.