After Midnight

42
THE INVITATION

“Oh, my,” Elroy said.
I gave him the eye and asked, “You didn’t go and get married, did you?”
Fat chance.
But you never know. It’s amazing, some of the losers who end up getting married. All they need to do is find someone who’s an even bigger loser.
“Nope,” Elroy said. “No ball and chain for yours truly. I’ve gotta have my freedom.”
“Going with anyone?”
“Aren’t we inquisitive?”
“I wouldn’t want to get you into hot water with your sweetie.”
“Hot water? How?”
“By having you over for dinner tonight. I happen to be house-sitting for my friends, this week. I’ve got their whole house all to myself. We could have cocktails by the swimming pool, and I’ll barbecue some steaks on the outdoor grill. How about it?”
I’d been watching his face go through changes. The way I read it, he was shocked and delighted by the invitation, but afraid I might be trying to embarrass him with a phony offer.
Casting me a smirk, he said, “Surely you jest.”
I tried to look hurt. “I thought you said you were glad to see me.”
“I am,” he insisted. “It’s just that…You aren’t serious about…what you just said about dinner. Are you?”
“Of course I’m serious.”
“Well, it sounds lovely, but…”
“Turn right at the next light.”
“Why?”
“It’s how we get there,” I explained, smiling.
“No, I mean…I’d be happy to just drop you off. You don’t have to make dinner for me.”
“I don’t have to, I want to.”
“That’s the part I don’t get.”
To be frank, I didn’t quite get it, myself.
Until running into Elroy, I’d only wanted to get home as soon as possible and be alone. Have a drink, have a meal, take a nice long bath, and go to bed. And sleep and sleep and sleep.
However. Being given the car ride would save me at least two hours of hard walking. I owed Elroy for that. Besides, I could spend an hour or so treating him to dinner, and still be ahead of the game timewise.
Another thing. I needed a chance to figure out whether or not Elroy was a threat to me. If asked, he could testify as to the time and place he’d picked me up. But did it matter? If it did matter, I needed to figure out how to prevent him from talking.
And. This may seem odd, considering. For one thing, I’m pretty much of a loner. For another, I’d always figured Elroy for a dork. But I actually liked the idea of having him around when I got home.
Life is strange.
I don’t know why anything happens. Why did I really ask Elroy to have dinner with me?
Maybe it was in my genes to invite him. Or in the cards. Or in the stars. Maybe I was programmed to do it by the Great Computer. Or moved by the Master of Games. Maybe God made me do it. Or the Devil.
If you want the truth, though, I guess the main reason must’ve had to do with Murphy.
It was Murphy, more than anything, that made me reluctant to be alone.
Too bad it couldn’t be him instead of Elroy keeping me company.
But Elroy would be better than nobody.
I supposed.
“What are you scared of?” I asked him in a teasing way.
“Me?” Elroy asked. “I’m not scared.”
“You seem awfully nervous.”
“Do I? I’m just…surprised, that’s all. We haven’t seen each other in ages, and all of a sudden you’re inviting me over to your place for dinner.”
“My friend’s place. Anyway, it seems like a fine idea to me. I always felt that we should’ve gotten to know each other better.”
“I asked you out, remember? You turned me down.”
I remembered, all right. He’d asked me out three different times, and I had always politely refused, claiming to have prior commitments.
“I had a rule against dating anyone at work,” I explained. “But now that I don’t work there anymore, I don’t see any reason for us to stay away from each other. Do you?”
“Me? No. I never did.”
“Then you’ll have dinner with me?”
“I’d be most honored.”
“Good deal.”
After that, I gave him directions now and then, while he filled me in on doings at the office, gave me a summary of his own recent activities (dull as mud), and asked about mine. I didn’t want to admit much of the truth, so I told him that I was now a mystery writer.
“Oh, how exciting! Have you had anything published?”
“Just one book, so far.”
“But that’s spectacular! I’m so excited for you.”
“Thanks.”
“The big bad girl makes good!”
I smiled at him. “Watch it, buddy.”
“So, what’s the title of your book?”
“Depths of Darkness.”
“Excellent! It’s so…evocative! And is it published under your own name? I do hope so. You’ve such an absolutely luscious name for a mystery writer.”
“Think so?”
“Oh, indeed,” he said. “But did you? Use your own name?”
“Absolutely.”
“Oh, good for you!” He spoke my name slowly and dramatically, so it almost sounded like poetry. (My actual name, not Alice.) “It’s so perfect, I just bet everyone must think it’s a pen name.”
“Maybe so,” I said, starting to regret the fabrication.
“ ‘She writes with a poison pen.’ ”
“Good one,” I said.
“I can’t wait to read it. It isn’t about intrigue in a law office, is it?”
“Not exactly.”
“Am I in it?”
Throwing him a mysterious smile, I said, “You’ll have to read it and find out.”
“Oooh. This is so exciting.”
“I’ll give you a copy if I can ever manage to get my hands on some.”
“You don’t have any?” He sounded shocked and appalled.
“Not at the moment. I only had twenty to start with. By the time I gave copies to my relatives and a few friends…and sent half a dozen to this film producer in Culver City…I’m trying to get more, but it isn’t easy.”
“That’s awful.”
“Well, it’s ridiculous. Seems like everybody has the book but me.”
“You don’t even have a copy for yourself?”
“Not at the moment. I loaned my last copy to a friend. But don’t worry about it, I’ll send you one the moment I get a new shipment.”
“I can hardly wait. Now, tell me about the movie version.”
This is the sort of crapola one gets into, on occasion, when one lies.
So I kept making up more lies, sometimes telling him to make turns, until finally we reached Serena and Charlie’s house.
“And here we are! Just go ahead and pull into the driveway.”
He slowed his car, made the turn, and the house came into sight.
I nearly panicked.
What if I missed something?
I’d done my best to clean up the place and get rid of every trace of Tony, but I suddenly wasn’t at all sure that I hadn’t overlooked something.
A gob of brain on the front stoop…
I should’ve kept my mouth shut, let Elroy drop me off at the curb, told him thanks and goodbye—not invite him in!
Better yet, I never should’ve gotten into his car in the first place.
Thanks for the offer, Elroy, but I’m not allowed to ride with strangers—and I don’t know anyone stranger than you.
“This is an absolutely lovely house,” he said, and stopped his car. “I can’t wait to feast my eyes on the interior.”
“It’s pretty nice,” I admitted.
Gosh, Elroy, you know what? I’m not feeling so well all of a sudden.
It wouldn’t be a lie.
Would you mind terribly if we didn’t do this tonight? Why don’t I give you a rain check? Better yet, why don’t you give me your phone number, and I’ll call you?
Very cute.
Only two problems with it. First, I would look like a creep. Second, I didn’t really want to get rid of him.
I did a fine job of cleaning up. He won’t find anything.
And if he does?
“Are you having second thoughts?” he asked.
“No. Are you kidding? This’ll be great.” With that, I opened the car door.
“Wait,” Elroy said, opening his door. “I’ll come around to your side and give you a hand.”
“No, that’s…”
He leaped out.
Clutching the backpack against my chest, I burst from the car. I made it to my feet about two seconds before Elroy arrived.
“Here,” he said. “Allow me to take that.”
“I’m fine.”
He reached for my pack, anyway.
“No!” I snapped, and whirled around to put my back in the way. “I’m perfectly capable of carrying it myself.”
“Whoa! Jeezle-peezle! Okay! Sorry.”
“That’s all right,” I said, and turned around to face him.
“What do you have in there, the Crown Jewels?”
Terrific. Now I’ve made him curious.
Grinning, I said, “Curiosity killed the Elroy.”
He laughed. “You are such a stitch, Alice. You haven’t changed a single whit.”
“I’ve changed my underwear once or twice.”
His face went crimson.
“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“Of course you meant to embarrass me. It’s part of your charm.”
“Really?”
“Such a naughty girl.”
“That’s me,” I said, and stepped around him. “Let’s go this way.”
He stayed by my side as I walked down the driveway. When we came to the rear corner of the house, I quickly scanned the pool area, the back yard and the edge of the forest. I saw no one. Everything looked fine.
“Why don’t you make yourself comfortable over by the pool?” I suggested. “I need to trot upstairs and take care of a few things, then I’ll be right down and make us some drinks.”
“Fine and dandy,” he said.
But as I headed for the garage, he kept walking beside me.
“Is this your garage?” he asked.
“It’s where I live. I just rent the upstairs.”
“I’d be curious to see what it looks like.”
I was beginning to remember why I’d formed such a strong dislike for Elroy.
“Maybe some other time,” I told him.
“I’ll stay out of your way.”
“Why don’t you just wait over there by the pool?”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to carry your pack up the stairs for you? You could go up first and unlock the door.”
“No, that’s fine. I can take care of it.”
“I’d be more than happy to help.”
“I’ll be down in a few minutes,” I said, hurrying forward.
This time, he stayed put.
I started trotting up the wooden stairway.
With the pack clutched against my chest, I couldn’t see the steps in front of my feet.
So, of course, I fell.