Murder on the Mainline: another Mike Claymore Mystery Chapter 05

CHAPTER FIVE
2ND WEDNESDAY

By eight twenty Mike arrives in the parking lot at CPX and parks by Len’s old Pontiac. Len has the tractor under the pin at the dock and waves to him as he comes across the yard. “Good morning, sleepy head.”

“Good morning, Lenny. Have you got the bills for that load yet?”

“They’re just adding some more to it for Penticton. Should be out of here by nine.”

“Seen Tony around this morning?”

“Not yet, but he should be in before long. A lot of the locals are in already.” Just then the paging system rings out with a call for Mike Claymore to call the switchboard. Mike steps up on the dock to use the phone there. He dials zero and the girl on the board asks him to hold while she switches him to an outside call.

“Mike, you there?”

“Nina, what’s up? Where are you?”

“On my way to work. I saw your car wasn’t home this morning so I figured you must have a run. I stopped here in POCO at the drugstore to call you. What did you want yesterday when you called? Have you found out anything new?”

“Haven’t you got my cell phone number?”

“Not with me. I seem to have misplaced it. Can you give it to me again?” He does.

“I was just trying to find out where Ray was being held so I could see him, but I found out through another source so I didn’t bother you again. Has any more forensic reports come in yet?”

“Nothing yet, but I’m keeping my eyes open. Can we have lunch today?”

“Sorry, itty bitty pretty one. I’m off to the Okanagan and I won’t be back until late tonight. I’m picking you up a crate of those apples, right?”

“Oh yes. Thanks very much. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow. Do you think so?”

“Maybe, but no promises. I’ll see you with your apples sometime tomorrow anyway. Got to run now. You take care.”

He hangs up and shakes his head. She is still hot and he’s going to have to watch himself around her. He wonders how long this is going to last. Too bad they live so close by and Jeff is such a good friend, he thinks. It sure would be nice… He cuts the thought off in mid stride.

He goes up to dispatch and looks over the office copy of his bills. Not a lot for Penticton. They should have most of it loaded now. He goes back down into the warehouse but still doesn’t see Tony. No time to talk to him now, anyway. They are just closing up his trailer and attaching the seal. Len has checked the loading and signs the bills. He says to Mike, “Well, are you all ready?”

“Let’s hit the dusty trail, pardner.”

They pull over to the pumps and fuel up for the run then pull out of the yard. Within three quarters of an hour they are rolling into Mission and Mike signals to turn for Abbotsford.

“How come your not going straight on out through Agassiz, Mike?”

“Forgot my briefcase this morning; haven’t done that in a long time. Going to make a quick stop by the house.”

It’s near ten thirty when he pulls around the corner and the condominium comes in sight. Mike hit’s the brakes and pulls to the curb. A car is sitting in his driveway and it’s not Marlene’s. He studies it a moment and the truth dawns on him. It’s Jeff’s car. Len watches him and says, “Aren’t you stopped at the wrong house? That’s yours up there, isn’t it?”

He has only been here one time so he isn’t sure if he’s right or not and Mike doesn’t say anything. In a minute Jeff comes down the drive and gets into his car. He waves at the front window and pulls out into the street. He drives away and Mike puts the Kenworth in gear. He pulls back out into the street and pulls to the curb again in front of his place.

He goes up the drive and into the house through the side door. Marlene is in the kitchen in a bathrobe with a large wet spot on her backside. She turns and says, “Why Mike, I thought you’d be half way to the Okanagan by now. What’s up?” She appears nervous.

Mike looks unconcerned as he says, “Forgot my briefcase.” He dashes downstairs and brings it back up to the kitchen. “Was Jeff here? I thought I saw his car going up the street as I came around the corner.”

“No, I haven’t seen him. Maybe he was home picking something up… if it was him; funny time of day for him to be home, though.”

Mike drops his case on the table and plants his hands on the counter, one on each side of Marlene. He proceeds to give her a long kiss. He says, “You seems nervous, my dear.” He pulls the tie on her robe allowing it to fall open and reveal her nakedness. He moves in again and says, “Mmmmm, maybe I shouldn’t rush off this morning, my most beautiful girl in Abbotsford.” He kisses her again and draws her close so he can run his hand up between her legs. She’s coated and running, dripping even with thick slick fluid and her bush is soaking wet with lather. He draws back saying, “But then again, I suppose Len might get tired waiting for me. I guess I better go.” He picks up his briefcase to leave.

She looks guiltily at him and says, “Go find your truckstop whores then and leave me in peace.”

“Tsk tsk, my dear. The pot mustn’t call the kettle black. See you tonight.” He kisses her again to show her he still cares.

As they roll out of Abbotsford and onto the Trans Canada Highway he whistles a tune and thinks to himself, “Nina, baby, look out when I get back!”

They pull into Laidlaw and Mike stops to see Trudy. She brings them coffee and he asks if she can get away for half an hour. Her eyes light up and she says, “I’ll try. Be right back.”

When she returns it’s with a triumphant grin as she takes off her apron and comes around the counter. “We going to the sleeper?” She sounds excited. Mike asks Len to wait for half an hour and he says, “No problem,” with a grin. Mike hustles her out of the restaurant to the truck and boosts her up into the cab. He follows her and she is already through the curtain. As he pushes it back he notices that she’s half undressed.

Mike holds up his hand and says, “Honey, that’s a good idea but it’s not why I brought you out here.”

“What! Quit teasing and get undressed or at least get that weapon of yours out here for action.”

“Sorry, but I’m serious.” He pulls in the briefcase from the console and opens it. He hands her the file and says, “Guard that with your life and don’t let anyone know you have it or have even seen it. It’s the RCMP file on the murder in POCO. It’s an indictable offense to even have that thing in your possession. Have you got a safe place to keep it?”

“Sure, in my purse until I get home. Do you want me to get dressed again?”

“Hmmmm, better not just yet.” He grins. “Now, about this file. I want you to study it and see what you make of it. I’ll see you on the weekend and compare notes. I’m missing something in the photos and I haven’t fully figured out what it is. There’s an elusive clue there somewhere and I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe you can spot it.”

“Put your finger on this.” She’s grinning and drawing his hand to her body so the stop begins to take on a double purpose. Soon they are entwined and all too soon it’s over.

As Mike and Len hit the road again, Mike is whistling and Len grins from ear to ear. All is well for this trip.

They pull back into the yard on Kingsway just after one AM. By the time they’ve dropped the empty on the line and spotted the full trailer at a door then parked the tractor, it’s going for two. Mike throws his briefcase in the back of the convertible and waves to Len as he leaves. He backs out and heads for Abbotsford.

He pulls the Mustang in behind Marlene’s station wagon and grabs his briefcase. He goes up the drive and notices the house is in darkness. Looking over towards Jeff’s he sees a glow behind sheer curtains at a back, side window. He slows and in a moment he sees the form of Nina come into the room with a gown loosely thrown over her shoulders. For only a moment her compact breasts fill his sight before the light goes out. Mike pulls out his keys and opens the side door. He goes up into the kitchen in sock feet, leaving his shoes by the door. Again he looks out the kitchen window towards Jeff’s but the bedroom window is out of sight behind the next-door condominium. Jeff’s is a separate home on the next lot.

He takes the briefcase down to his office then goes upstairs to grab a shower and go to bed. Marlene is sleeping peacefully so he undresses by the glow of a nightlight. After his shower he crawls into bed. Marlene moves in her sleep to cuddle against him and he wonders if she’s dreaming of him or Jeff. What’s the difference, it feels good, so he puts his arm around her and holds her close. By the time he goes to sleep her head is resting on his chest and she has one leg thrown over him.

Mike sleeps in late and gets up around ten. He grabs coffee in the kitchen and hears Marlene rummaging around downstairs. Soon she comes up with an armful of clean folded clothes and spots him. She says nothing so Mike smiles and says, “Good morning, my love.”

She gives a small guilty smile back and says, “Your not mad at me?”

“Tit for tat, I guess. What can I say? I know I leave you here at home alone a lot. It was foolish of me to think you would remain home alone forever. Wasn’t it?” He steps forward and kisses her over her burden of folded clothes. “I don’t love you any less for it, if that’s what’s bothering you. Okay?”

“Thanks.” She seems relieved.

Mike says in an offhand way, “How long have you two been making it?”

Marlene looks suspiciously at him and mutters, “About eight months now, I guess.”

“And Nina hasn’t caught him yet? I’m surprised. She must suspect something. You would.”

“I never thought about it. He always comes here when you’re on the road and she’s at work, while the kids are at school. I’m taking these clothes up to the bedroom.” She turns to leave and Mike sits down to drink his coffee. In a moment she’s back with another armload of dirty clothes. She speaks to him from the doorway. “So who have you been screwing?” Her voice has the old edge to it and Mike just grins.

“The odd truckstop waitress, but no one in particular.”

“Oh.” She turns to leave.

“Put the clothes down here on the table and sit down. I know you want to talk this out.”

Reluctantly she does as he suggests and gets herself a cup of coffee. “So, what do you want me to do about it?”

“Go on screwing him, if you want. Jeff’s a nice enough guy. Why not? It hasn’t slowed you down when I came home in the past. You’ve always been there for me. I’m just surprised, that’s all.”

He holds out his hand and she takes it as he guides her down to sit in his lap. She sips her coffee and says, “I guess you might be right. Nina must suspect something’s going on. He’s probably not as sexy at home as he used to be. Like you at times!”

“Hasn’t it occurred to either of you that the neighbors must know what’s going on?