Virginity.
Uh-huh, well, he missed the boat on that one years ago. And I was never pure, innocent or especially virtuous.
You were a navy brat.
Base life had its moments, Grand. My mom made captain before she turned thirty-five. I thought it was pretty cool growing up with a parent who flew jets and got to order a lot of other people around.
Youre a chip off the old navy block, Mel.
Did you know shes a commander now?
Does she know youre a top-notch surgeon?
A noble and worthy profession, but not the one she wanted for me. Unfortunately, Im not as fond of flying or of the navy as my mother is.
Hows your nui kaikunane, Maleko?
Very good, she congratulated. My big brother Marks fine. Hes doing some kind of undercover work in Honolulu. Last time I saw him he looked like a cross between a Gypsy and a pirate. Big gold earring, long hair, slick clothes.
Is your mom okay with that?
She wasnt especially happy when he left the navy after only four years, but hes a great cop.
He has the right instincts. My division leader says any time Mark wants a job, its there for him.
Hed appreciate that. Turn left here.
I remember where Lightfoot lives, Mel. My brain didnt burn out totally on that assignment.
But more damage had been done than could be easily repaired, Meliana thought with a pang. She changed the subject. Charlies become a fixture on the South Side scene. He broke up with a woman last year because she wanted him to move away from there. He loves his apartment.
And his Deadhead music and his incense. He tried to analyze Marks captains dreams at our wedding, Mel. Hes lucky the guy was so drunk he didnt give a damn.
Youre such a stickler. Charlies brilliant. Okay, maybe he did a few too many psychedelic drugs in the early seventies, but you like harvest gold and avocado green.
I grew up with them.
I grew up with a father who embezzled money from a pineapple factory, but I manage to keep my fingers out of the hospital funding pot. Honest to God, Johnny, youre so by-the-book in some ways and so fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants in others. Its like theres two people living inside your head.
One head, Mel, two sides to my brain. He turned on the radio.
Meliana studied her husbands profile. He was gorgeous, always had been, through good times and bad. His hair, somewhere between brown and dark blond, was unkempt and far too long to be considered FBI standard. He had an incredible face, all lines, planes and angles, a devastating mouth and eyes the color of smoked charcoal. Friends used to tease them that if their kids didnt have some form of gray eyes, it would be absolute proof that Meliana had been unfaithful.
Never could have happened, she reflected on a wistful note. Shed loved Johnny Grand with everything she had inside herand that had been a considerable amount. Johnny said Chris had been hitting on her at their wedding. She believed him, but hadnt noticed. She still didnt, even in retrospect. All she remembered about that day was being deliriously happy and grateful that her father, on parole after having served six years of his ten-year sentence, had been permitted to attend.
Summers heading south, Johnny commented over the rain and music. There was a bite in the air at Blue Lake, and a lot of the birds are gone.
She continued to study him. Do you get bored up there?
Sometimes. Then I remind myself that being theres essential to my mental rehab, and I replace a shingle or two.
Does it work?
As rehab? He moved a shoulder. You tell me. Do I seem less stressed than before?
At the moment, yes. But not when you flew into the bedroom earlier. Im not going to get paranoid about what happened, Johnny. Ill talk to Charlie, get Lokie back, change my alarm code and leave the rest to Julie.
What about the card that came on Lokies collar?
I have it somewhere. Ill dig it out. Turn here.
She indicated a narrow street that read more like a downtown alley. Rusty fire-escape ladders hung from dilapidated brick and concrete buildings. Many of the windows were blacked out and the darkness and rain only reinforced the sinister atmosphere.
Its great here, Meliana remarked. Like Al Capone meets West Side Story.
In Draculas dungeon.
This is an old part of the city. You should see Los Angeles after sunset.
I have.
And New York and Miami and Cartagena and Mexico City. Ill call ahead. She punched her colleagues number on her cell. Heads up, Lightfoot, she warned. Were here. She slid her gaze to Johnny. Yeah, okay, Ill tell him.
Johnny stared straight ahead. I dont want to know.
He says for you not to use the bathroom, and no matter how suspicious the tea smells, its only a Chinese herb blend.
You believe that?
Im due in the O.R. at 11:00 a.m. I need to believe.
Johnny, whod had more than a few strange conversations with Charlie Lightfoot since the separation, cast dubious eyes over the ravaged balcony railings. Babe, I hope you know what youre doing.
THIS IS PRETTY. Charlie held Melianas black slip up by the straps and grinned like a fool. Whered you get it?
New York City. Meliana sat cross-legged on his sofaat least, Johnny assumed there was a sofa under the massive Native American blanket. Do you feel anything, Charlie? Her eyes sparkled. Other than hot and bothered?
Thats top of the list, Mel. He ran a ringed hand over the silky fabric. I see you at a swanky cocktail party. Nope, sorry, wedding reception.
Johnny frowned. Who got married?
One of the surgical nurses, last July. That slips been washed half a dozen times since then. How long do vibes linger?
Charlie drank his tea laced with God knew what and winked at them. Depends on the strength of the memory. Did you have fun?
No.
Ah, well, bads as weighty as good. Eyes closed, he fingered the lace trim. Relax, Johnny, he advised. This isnt black magic. Its just a little tap I sometimes have into a part of the brain most of us dont use.
What could he say to that? Johnny watched Meliana sip her tea while she in turn watched Charlie psychoanalyze her slip.
To be truthful, he didnt dislike Charlie Lightfoot. He just felt a little edgy around the guy. But then, he felt edgy around most people these days. Thus his requested leave from active duty and a solo retreat to Blue Lake.
Charlie pressed three fingers to the headband he habitually wore. If he started humming, Johnny thought hed have to leave the room. He might have to get out anyway. The air in the cramped apartment was ripe with the smells of simmering herbs, strawberry incense and two grizzled old terriers.
Charlie sat barefoot on a faded Persian carpet, across from Meliana. He wore a cotton T-shirt with a peace symbol on the chest, worn jeans and three earrings in his left lobe. His hair was as long as Johnnys, although there wasnt quite as much of it, and it was much darkeralmost the same color as Melianas, in fact.
Different heritage, though. Johnny drank the beer Charlie had given him and slid his gaze to his wife. Charlie Lightfoot was half Blackfoot, half French. Meliana was one quarter Hawaiian on her mothers side and 100 percent drop-dead gorgeous. Johnny had fantasized about her hair while hed been undercover. It was very nearly black, extremely thick and just the slightest bit wavy. It skimmed her collarbone these days, though when hed met her five and half years ago it had actually been several inches longer.
Different heritage, though. Johnny drank the beer Charlie had given him and slid his gaze to his wife. Charlie Lightfoot was half Blackfoot, half French. Meliana was one quarter Hawaiian on her mothers side and 100 percent drop-dead gorgeous. Johnny had fantasized about her hair while hed been undercover. It was very nearly black, extremely thick and just the slightest bit wavy. It skimmed her collarbone these days, though when hed met her five and half years ago it had actually been several inches longer.
Calhoun, Charlie said clearly.
That was the grooms name. Reaching out, Meliana gave the slip a tug. Forget weddings.
Maybe you need to be in it for the vibe thing to work, Johnny suggested.
Always a possibility. Charlie stared unblinking at the fabric. Johnny had no idea how he did it. His head was throbbing, and his eyes stung from the herbs and incense. And Jethro Tull on scratchy vinyl in the background wasnt helping.
He massaged his temples. Do you need the rose?
Could be. Charlie bunched the slip and breathed in. Sounds lunatic, I know, but this really does work sometimes. Tell me about the other roses, Mel.
Johnny moved his lips into a smile. Yes, tell both of us.
She set her cup aside. They appeared in different places each time. I found the first one four weeks ago on the drivers seat of my car. The second showed up ten days later on my desk at the hospital. The third was in my locker, which wasnt lockedyes, I know, Johnny, not smartand the fourth found its way into my lab coat pocket. He must have slipped it to me while I was making my rounds. It could happen, she said with a shrug. You bump into people all the time in hospital corridors.
Nurses, orderlies, patients? Charlie assumed.
Other doctors, maintenance workers, visitors. Meliana sighed. Sorry. Unless Im in the O.R., I interact with a lot of people on a daily basis.
No surprise there. Hey, can we put this on hold for a few minutes? I need the bathroom, and mines out of commission. Lucky for me, Ive got an obliging neighbor downstairs.
Johnnys head was beginning to buzz. It was a bad sign. He blocked the images that wanted to creep in and focused on Meliana.
She wore jeans tonight, faded blue with a leaf embroidered on the hem of her flared left leg. Her T-shirt was pale yellow and short. Though he hadnt gotten a good look at it yet, he could envision the tiny gold ring she wore in her navel.
Shed had it pierced on their honeymoon. Hed had his left earlobe done. The rings had been engraved with the same design as their wedding bands.
God, it felt like years ago that theyd been lounging on that beach in Papeete. Theyd eaten dinner at an outdoor restaurant, watched Polynesian dancers, then returned to their cabana where it had been his turn to watch her do a hula just for him.
Shed been good, damned good.
He rolled the cold bottle of beer across his forehead and decided it might be wise to block that memory, as well. They were separated now, a nightmarish fallout from his last assignment. Hed changed, he knew it, and so did Meliana. Hed been coiled up inside when hed returned, prone to fits of inexplicable rage. Hed feared becoming violent. Hed feared hurting Meliana.
The nightmare was over, yet, oddly, much of what had happened in the two-year interim was still available to him only in fuzzy snippets.
What the hell, he wondered in exasperation, had he been thinking, accepting a two-year undercover stint on the street?
He swore, then looked around as two pairs of eyes landed on him. Charlie had returned without him noticing it. Sorry, he said. Im bummed about the flowers. Not a total lie. Come on, Lightfoot, what sort of guy does stuff like this?
Charlie resumed his modified lotus position. Your basic pervertll indulge himself from time to time, but it isnt always that drastic a scenario. Could be someone whos lonely, a teenager with a crush. The lingerie, though, that goes deeper. Now were probably talking obsession, deviant thoughts.
How deviant?
I cant He halted, raised his head. He had Melianas slip in his hands again. Razor blade, he said. I see a flat razor blade being used to slice off the thorns.
Meliana glanced at Johnny. The thorns were removed from all the roses.
Whos using the blade? Johnny wanted to know.
I dont know, but hes doing it on an old plank board, like barn wood.
Johnnys lashes lowered in suspicion. Are you sure youve only got herbs boiling in those pots?
Charlie laughed. Positive. And theyre the kind you can consume without seeing pink elephants. Im blank now, Mel. I think thats it for tonight.
Im impressed. She braved one of the cookies hed set out, and with it between her teeth reached for her slip. Grateful, too. She took a bite. I know you get tired of the quack stigma. These are good, by the way.
Demerara sugars the secret. You can unwind now, Johnny, he said without looking over. Black magics done.
Johnny tipped back his beer to finish it. Chris Blackburn uses a flat-blade razor to shave.
So does your father, Meliana pointed out.
My father lives in Indianapolis.
Chris didnt steal my lingerie, Johnny.
He knows your alarm code.
Hes FBI.
Doesnt mean he isnt twisted.
The look she sent him told him clearly what her thoughts on that subject were.
A delighted Charlie shifted his gaze from one to the other. Really cool, guys. Dont keep anything bottled up inside.
Yeah, well, thats only one bottle opened. Johnny pushed out of his chair. We have several more.
And apparently the numbers growing. Standing, Meliana kissed Charlies cheek. Thanks for the magic. Are you at the hospital tomorrow?
Day after. Im holding a clinic on suppressed aggression, if anyone heres interested.
Johnny ignored the remark and located his keys. You should let him touch Lokie while youre at it.
Charlie adjusted his headband. Your dog? Why?
He was a gift, Meliana explained. Possibly from the rose guy.
A live gift, huh? Charlies brow furrowed. Im not sure I like that.
Like it or not, shes mine, and Im keeping her. Thanks again.
Yeah, me, too, Johnny echoed.
Charlie caught his arm as he started to follow Meliana out. Keep an eye on her, man. I dont like some of those last vibes I got.
Better and better, Johnny thought.
He took the rickety stairs to the front door. If you could call it a door. It looked more like a piece of dented metal with a faulty latch. It was a miracle the guy lived to hold clinics.
The rain had stopped. He caught up with Meliana in the parking lot. I wasnt looking for a fight, Mel. I just have trouble believing in psychic power.
Uh-huh She was standing dead still.
His brows came together as he regarded her. Problem?
Id say so. Taking his wrist, she turned him so he was facing his SUV. There, written in bold white block letters across the front windshield were the words LEAVE HER ALONE!
HER 11:00 A.M. OPERATION was postponed, first by a gunshot wound, then by an acute appendix in an overtaxed E.R. Meliana didnt mind the extra work. It kept her from thinking about roses, underwear and warnings written on the windshield of an SUV.