Part 16 (1/2)

While Kevin kicked back on the sofa and channel-surfed, Alex fished around in the closet. ”Hope you don't mind sleeping on my crummy couch,” he called from the bedroom. ”It's the best I can do, but at least you'll have clean sheets and blankets.” He spied them wrapped in plastic at the far end of the top shelf.

”I'm fine with whatever!” Kevin yelled back. ”You know me, Sis, I can sleep anywhere.”

Alex grimaced. If only he did know the stranger on the couch, he wouldn't feel so stressed. The nightmare that gripped him just kept getting worse.

With sheets, blankets and pillows pulled from their wrappings piled to his eyebrows, Alex deposited the bedding on the chair. ”Can you make up your bed or shall I?” Since when did his English become so proper?

”I can do it. No problem. Are you going to bed already?”

Alex feigned a big yawn. ”Ahhh. I'm beat. I thought I'd turn in early so we can take in some sights tomorrow.”

”Great. I'd like to see the big city. Do you mind if I watch a little TV before I turn in? It won't disturb you will it?”

”No, of course not. Watch as long as you'd like. Goodnight.” Alex closed the bedroom door and plopped down on the side of the bed. ”Great,” he mumbled. ”What'll I do now? I'm not even tired.”

He eyed the telephone and picked it up. He dialed his own number.

”h.e.l.lo?” Cynthia answered after several rings, sounding half asleep.

”Cynthia, it's me.”

”And?”

”I told your brother we'd do some sight-seeing tomorrow. You have to come.”

”It's not like I had any other plans, Alex.”

”I wanted to make sure you'd be there with me. Right now I'm holed up in your bedroom to make sure I don't screw up.”

”What's Kevin doing?”

”Watching TV.”

”You're certainly not being very hospitable, but I think I prefer that over you spilling the beans. Is he okay?”

”I gave him clean sheets and stuff. He's a big boy. He can entertain himself.”

”So, if you're in the bedroom and he's in the living room, and you don't have a problem, tell me again why you called. I came home because I was tired, but because I've been worrying about leaving you two alone, I just now fell asleep.”

”I called to hear my own voice I guess. I can't sleep either. I have to face tomorrow morning with him. What if he....”

”Okay...here's your voice telling you not to stress. Worry doesn't change anything, so try and get some sleep. Maybe you'll heed the advice since I haven't been able to convince myself. Just like working on the case, we have to take things as they come. Nothing's really changed since my brother arrived, so good night, Alex.” She hung up.

He held the receiver away from his ear and stared at it. ”That wasn't very nice considering I'm playing host...hostess to your brother. Now that you've brought up the case, I'll be lucky to catch forty winks.”

The sound of screeching tires woke Alex. He leapt up and ran for the window before he was fully awake, then howled in pain when his foot collided with Cynthia's cedar chest at the end of the bed. A string of mumbled obscenities colored the air as he grabbed his injured toe and hopped around on one foot. He sucked in his breath, quite certain Cynthia wouldn't have uttered such foul words.

The noise outside no longer seemed important and he sat on the bed and inspected his throbbing digit. Great! I'll probably lose my ... her toenail. He already hated her shoes and this would only make finding a comfortable pair more challenging. Sounds from the living room indicated Kevin was awake.

Alex hurried to the bathroom, pulled Cynthia's frilly robe on, steeled himself for another day of Oscar-award winning acting and opened the bedroom door.

Kevin stood, folding his blankets.

”Good morning, Kevin. I hate to ask, knowing where you slept, but did you rest well?”

Kevin chuckled. ”You of all people should know I can sleep on a bed of nails.”

”It's a good thing. My sofa isn't quite that bad, but it's as close as I'd care to come....”

”What was all that noise a few minutes ago?”

”Oh, nothing, I stubbed my toe, but I think I'll live.”

”Judging from what I heard, you've increased your vocabulary a bit.”

”Sorry about that. I usually don't cuss, but....”

”Hey, you're an adult. No apology necessary. What's for breakfast? I'm starved.” Kevin plopped down on the sofa and rubbed his stomach.

Alex gulped, grappling for an answer. He ate his own cooking but he wasn't sure he should foist it on an innocent victim. ”How about we get dressed and go out for a bite?” he offered.

”Well, I guess we could do that, but I was kinda counting on some of your tasty hotcakes.”

”Hotcakes?” What in the h.e.l.l were hotcakes? Pancakes? Finally, it dawned on him. ”Oh! Hotcakes.”

”Yep, with heaps of b.u.t.ter and loaded with your special vanilla syrup. My mouth is watering just talking about it.”

A slight panic welled within Alex. Even if he faked a hotcake, he had no idea how to make vanilla syrup. The drooling look on Kevin's face made Alex believe steering him away from the kitchen might not be easy. ”Hey, I have an idea. Why don't we give Alex a call and invite him to join us for breakfast out? We'll have pancakes tomorrow.”

”You got a thing for him, huh, Sis? I had hoped we could visit a little without a third party. Besides, there's something a little strange about that guy. I just can't figure out what it is.”

”Oh for heaven's sake, he's just a friend...and strange how?” Alex found Kevin's a.s.sessment a little insulting. ”He's quite a good-looking fella don't you think?” He moved to the cabinets, opening doors and searching for coffee.

Kevin c.o.c.ked his head and looked up at Alex. ”You don't ask one guy if he thinks another is good looking. Now, show me a pretty girl and I'm an authority.”

”Well, you have to admit, he's a nice guy.” The defensive side of Alex took over. He found the can he sought and filled the carafe with water, then filled the basket with grounds.

”Yeah, he seemed nice enough, but do we have to eat breakfast with him?”

”No...I guess not.” Alex's stomach knotted. ”But I did invite him to do some sightseeing with us. I'll just whip up something here...but...I'm fresh out of vanilla.”

”Oh, Cyn, you knew I was coming.” Kevin's mouth pulled into a pout.

”Sorry, but I didn't make it to the market.” Alex's mind whirred. What exactly could he whip up?

”No worry. I'm sure whatever you make will taste great. While you cook, I'm gonna jump in the shower.” He disappeared into the bedroom.